Wells' suspension hearing scheduled for tomorrow, its about time

[riverside sluggers]

Wells's appeal to be heard tomorrow

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff | August 23, 2005

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With as much as $300,000 in incentives at stake, Red Sox pitcher David Wells is still hopeful that his six-game suspension will be reduced tomorrow when John McHale, executive vice president of administration for Major League Baseball, hears the appeal of his case here.

 

Wells, who is scheduled to pitch tonight's opener of a three-game series with the Royals, said he will be accompanied by his agent, Greg Clifton, union lawyer Michael Weiner, and Sox general manager Theo Epstein at his hearing. The 42-year-old lefthander remains adamant that he was unfairly ejected in a July 3 incident in Fenway Park in which he waved his glove in disgust at plate umpire Larry Poncino, then turned his back to him and uttered a profanity as Poncino returned to the plate, only to have second base umpire Chris Guccione toss him from the game.

 

In a subsequent ruling by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations, Wells was suspended six games and fined $2,500 for ''inappropriate conduct, including making contact" with umpires Guccione and Angel Hernandez during a heated confrontation that followed his ejection. TV replays appeared inconclusive on whether the pitcher had bumped the umpires. Unless Wells's suspension is reduced, he almost certainly will miss his next start, Sunday in Fenway Park against the Tigers. Rookie Jonathan Papelbon is the most likely candidate to make that start if Wells can't go.

 

''I don't think I should be suspended because I never should have gotten thrown out of the game," Wells said. ''The guy [Poncino] started it. I walked away from a confrontation and get thrown out? That's a joke." Wells's argument appears to have some merit. Poncino, after taking a few steps toward the mound after Wells gestured at him with his glove, was headed back to his position, and the incident appeared over until Guccione interceded.

 

Poncino, the chief of his umpiring crew, defended Wells's ejection after the game. ''David basically ran himself from the game," Poncino told the Providence Journal that night. ''I went out and I told him to get on the mound and pitch. I was giving him a chance to stay in the game. He didn't want to talk to me. Then he clearly swore at me. My partner clearly saw and heard what he said, and he was ejected for his illicit comments. Just because he turned his back to me and said it, if my partner hears it, Wells has got to go. That's rule No. 1. That's how the system works. His actions, in my mind, were totally uncalled for."

 

Wells's contract with the Red Sox has a base salary of $2.5 million but he earns an additional $200,000 for every start between his 11th and 20th starts, and $300,000 for starts 21-30. His base salary would not be docked during a suspension. Last September, Sox outfielders Gabe Kapler and Trot Nixon had their three-game suspensions overturned, stemming from the July 24 brawl with the Yankees, McHale finding there was ''no just cause."

[mosox]

This suspension has to be reduced. Anyone who sees the video would think Poncino should be suspended.

[Sizzlin22]

It won't be reduced, 5 games is the same as 1 game for a pitcher.