Varitek was one of eight players, including five Red Sox, disciplined by Major League Baseball for their roles in the latest violent installment of the ancient rivalry. Rodriguez also took a four-game and $2,000 hit, while Gabe Kapler, Trot Nixon, and Yankees pitcher Tanyon Sturtze each were suspended for three games and fined $1,000. Boston's Curt Schilling and David Ortiz and New York center fielder Kenny Lofton were each fined $500.
Bob Watson, MLB's vice president of on-field operations, ordered Varitek, Rodriguez, and Sturtze to begin serving their suspensions today. Kapler was scheduled to begin serving his penalty Tuesday and Nixon's timeout was to begin when he returns from the disabled list. But all five players who were suspended lodged appeals, which means their penalties will be held in abeyance until the process is completed.
Sox officials declined through a spokesman to comment on the development. The Sox, who had the day off in Minneapolis on the second leg of a four-city trip, also were bracing for Watson's ruling on Ortiz's appeal of his five-game suspension for a tirade against umpires July 16 in Anaheim, Calif. Even if Watson reduces Ortiz's penalty by one or two games, the slugger most likely will be ordered to begin serving his suspension when the ruling is announced, possibly today.
Rodriguez, as expected, considered his punishment unfair, even though Kapler may present the strongest case that he was drawn into the violence by Sturtze ambushing him from behind and locking him in a chokehold.
"I thought it was too much, four games," Rodriguez told reporters in the Bronx yesterday. "I was surprised it was that harsh."
Rodriguez contended he was a victim, saying he first was plunked by Arroyo and then became a target for Varitek, who struck the first blow of the melee.
"I was on my way to first base," Rodriguez said, "and I got punched in the mouth by a glove."
Or something like that. Rodriguez was so busy barking at Arroyo, then Varitek, that he almost seemed to lose his way to first base. In addition to twice telling Varitek, "Come on," Rodriguez exchanged a number of unpleasantries with the catcher.
Watson issued a statement saying Varitek and Rodriguez each were suspended "for inciting a bench-clearing incident and fighting."
