By Associated Press, 4/28/2004 17:55
NEW YORK (AP) Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood was suspended for five games and Chicago manager Dusty Baker for one game Wednesday for confronting umpires during their recent series against Cincinnati.
Baker will serve his suspension during Wednesday night's game at Arizona. If Wood chooses to appeal, he could continue to play until a hearing is held.
The penalties were handed out by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president for on-field operations.
On April 16, Baker screamed at plate umpire C.B. Bucknor over a disallowed double switch. A day later, Wood yelled at plate umpire Eric Cooper about balls and strikes after being removed in the ninth inning.
Baker insisted he had signaled a double switch when he inserted shortstop Ramon Martinez and pitcher Kent Mercker in the top of the seventh inning. Mercker was supposed to bat in the eighth spot, with Martinez hitting ninth but crew chief Mike Reilly said Bucknor was never notified.
When Martinez led off the bottom of the inning with a double, Reds bench coach Jerry Narron asked Bucknor if there'd been a lineup switch. Bucknor said no, and Martinez was called out for batting out of order.
Baker tossed his lineup card on the ground, and Bucknor ejected him. Then Baker threw his hat on the ground and gestured wildly before kicking bats in the dugout.
The next day Wood became angry with Cooper after walking Reds outfielder Adam Dunn on a 3-2 pitch in the ninth inning. Dunn later scored the go-ahead run on a double by Willy Mo Pena, leading Baker to pull Wood.
After Baker made the pitching change, Wood sprinted off the mound and began screaming at Cooper before he was ejected. As he walked down the dugout, Wood heaved a batting helmet and gloves onto the field. Fans at Wrigley Field then littered the warning track with debris and the game was held up for several minutes.
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NEW YORK (AP) Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood was suspended for five games and Chicago manager Dusty Baker for one game Wednesday for confronting umpires during their recent series against Cincinnati.
Baker will serve his suspension during Wednesday night's game at Arizona. If Wood chooses to appeal, he could continue to play until a hearing is held.
The penalties were handed out by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president for on-field operations.
On April 16, Baker screamed at plate umpire C.B. Bucknor over a disallowed double switch. A day later, Wood yelled at plate umpire Eric Cooper about balls and strikes after being removed in the ninth inning.
Baker insisted he had signaled a double switch when he inserted shortstop Ramon Martinez and pitcher Kent Mercker in the top of the seventh inning. Mercker was supposed to bat in the eighth spot, with Martinez hitting ninth but crew chief Mike Reilly said Bucknor was never notified.
When Martinez led off the bottom of the inning with a double, Reds bench coach Jerry Narron asked Bucknor if there'd been a lineup switch. Bucknor said no, and Martinez was called out for batting out of order.
Baker tossed his lineup card on the ground, and Bucknor ejected him. Then Baker threw his hat on the ground and gestured wildly before kicking bats in the dugout.
The next day Wood became angry with Cooper after walking Reds outfielder Adam Dunn on a 3-2 pitch in the ninth inning. Dunn later scored the go-ahead run on a double by Willy Mo Pena, leading Baker to pull Wood.
After Baker made the pitching change, Wood sprinted off the mound and began screaming at Cooper before he was ejected. As he walked down the dugout, Wood heaved a batting helmet and gloves onto the field. Fans at Wrigley Field then littered the warning track with debris and the game was held up for several minutes.
wil.
