Tony Phillips lost the first round in his battle against American League umpire John Shulock, receiving a two-game suspension from AL President Gene Budig Tuesday. But Phillips still hopes to win the war, saying he will fight what he termed a “bootleg suspension.”
The suspension, which resulted from his first-inning ejection in an April 21 loss to the Yankees, was to begin Wednesday. But the Players Association will file an appeal, keeping the White Sox leadoff hitter available until a hearing.
Budig was not available for comment about the decision, which was issued at the end of business Tuesday. The AL release said Phillips was being suspended “for his actions leading up to and following his ejection.”
Phillips and Shulock first engaged in an animated discussion during a game April 20, when Shulock barked at him from behind first base to get into the batter’s box. The two continued the debate April 21, with Phillips getting the thumb three pitches into his first at-bat. He charged Shulock but did not appear to make contact.
“I didn’t expect this,” Phillips said. “How can you explain a suspension on something like that? You have confrontations every day. I expect suspensions when somebody bumps someone or pushes someone, something of that nature. That’s the only time I’ve seen someone get suspended. . . . If you’re going to suspend people after confrontations, you might as well get out your pencil and look around the league every day.”
Phillips’ appeal is likely to be heard June 10-11, when the Sox make their final trip into New York. Budig could travel to Chicago to hear Phillips’ side of the story before then.
The Sox apparently believe Shulock provoked Phillips, but they are not making that opinion public for fear of reprisals from other AL umpires. “At this time, I won’t talk about those things,” manager Terry Bevington said. “That’s for the league to handle. I think Gene Budig ought to look into it even deeper than he already has.”
No magic number: Schueler has placed Bevington and his players on notice that there could be major changes if they do not play well on the 11-game, 13-day homestand that began Tuesday. He was asked how many games the Sox must win to avoid repercussions.
“I don’t want to put any numbers on it,” Schueler said. “I just want us to play consistent, play hard, and good things will happen.”
Bevington said he has not been given direct orders from Schueler but understands the importance of winning. “Every game is big to me,” he said. “That’s the way it has always been.”
Drabek stays put: Doug Drabek, who has worked more than four innings only twice in five starts, is in no immediate danger of losing his spot as the Sox’s fourth starter. Bevington said Drabek will take his previously scheduled turn Friday against Anaheim, with fifth starter Danny Darwin not starting until May 10.
“He’s our fourth guy,” Bevington said of Drabek. “There’s no reason to think that Drabek won’t go out next time and throw seven innings of shutout ball. Plus (if Drabek were moved to the bullpen), you’re taking a guy and putting him in a situation he hasn’t ever been in.”
Short hops: The Rangers successfully employed an over-shifted infield against Harold Baines. He grounded to third baseman Dean Palmer, who was near the shortstop’s spot, in the seventh inning. . . . Chris Snopek was out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive time against a right-handed starting pitcher, with Phillips moving to third base and Lyle Mouton starting in right field. . . . Buffalo Grove’s Josh Paul, the Sox’s top pick in last year’s draft, is on the disabled list at Double-A Birmingham. That leaves veteran Rick Wrona as the Barons’ top catcher.
