NEW YORK -- Yankees reliever Scott Proctor was suspended
four games and manager Joe Torre was penalized one game by Major
League Baseball on Monday, a day after a skirmish between the
Seattle Mariners and New York.
Proctor appealed his suspension, meaning he can pitch until a
hearing is held and a ruling is issued. He also was fined $1,500.
"Thought it was a little strong," Proctor said. "Whatever it
was I was willing to handle it."
Torre wasn't in the dugout for Monday night's 3-2 loss to the
Mariners. Bench coach Don Mattingly managed the Yankees in his
absence.
The problems started after Josh Phelps slid hard into Mariners
catcher Kenji Johjima. When Phelps came up again, Jarrod Washburn
hit him in the back with the first pitch. At that point, the
umpires warned both dugouts for the second time in three days.
Proctor then threw an inside pitch to Yuniesky Betancourt in the
seventh. Betancourt pointed his bat toward the mound, catcher Wil
Nieves grabbed him, and the benches and bullpens emptied. No
punches were thrown. roctor and Torre were ejected.
Proctor, used heavily all season, joked that the suspension
would give him a welcome rest.
"They can wear me out pretty good before that," he said.