Francona feels Watson didn't make right call
Terry Francona was critical yesterday of major league disciplinarian Bob Watson for what he believes are inconsistencies in recent punishments handed out to the Red Sox and Yankees.
Francona was suspended three games for his role in the April 24 beanball incidents with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but Yankees manager Joe Torre received only a one-game ban when New York and Detroit exchanged beanballs May 24.
''How did Joe just get one game and was allowed to stay in the clubhouse?" said Francona. ''Can somebody research that for me? If you go back and look at the tape of both incidents, how you come up with something different is beyond me. They warned a guy and he throws at somebody. Bronson [Arroyo] hit the guy in the thigh. I don't understand."
Francona said he served the three games (in Texas April 29 and 30, and May 1), was fined $3,000, and was not allowed to have any contact with his team during the games. He said he watched those games from his hotel room or the press box. Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella also watched from the press box while serving his three-game suspension.
''I think it's horrendous," said Francona. ''Not against Joe. That's against somebody else. The way they said it was you can't have contact. It just seems a little inconsistent."
American League spokesman Patrick Courtney said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman phoned the league on Torre's behalf concerning protocol for serving a suspension. Courtney said the same rules applied to Torre: No contact with coaches and players once the game begins and he had to be out of uniform. Courtney wasn't privy to Watson's reasons for letting Torre watch the game from his office at Kauffman Stadium.
Watson has not been at his New York office for about week because of a personal matter, which explains why he hasn't returned phone calls from Francona seeking an explanation. But Francona said he had tried to reason with Watson before that.
''It's one of the biggest disappointments of this year, really," Francona said. ''There are three incidents that I get the, 'Yeah, I'll check on it,' but the phone never rings. I think the league office is tired of hearing from me. When we had that incident with [umpire] Greg Gibson [who ejected Sox hitting coach Ron Jackson, who then had to serve a one-game suspension], I was upset. I think sometimes they just want to get you off the phone. Maybe to them it's not that big of a deal, but to us it is a big deal."
The Sox and Devil Rays were fined and suspended heavily for their actions, including Arroyo, who received a six-game suspension for hitting Chris Singleton in the thigh after both teams were warned. Yankees reliever Paul Quantrill received three games for throwing behind Tiger Jason Smith's head after New York's Alex Rodriguez had stroked two homers and had been hit by a pitch by Franklyn German. After a warning was issued on Quantrill's pitch behind Smith's head, he hit him with the next one, was ejected, and then challenged the Tigers' bench.
Return visit
Former Red Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera, whose Anaheim Angels play a three-game series at Fenway starting tonight, watched yesterday's finale of a four-game set between the Sox and Orioles from the Spanish radio booth.
''It's good to be back here," said Cabrera. ''It's a great place to play. The fans were good to me here. I have memories I'll never forget, but I'm happy in Anaheim and the Red Sox have a great shortstop. It worked out good for everybody."
Francona on Cabrera: ''He gave us a big lift. This kid came in and it was a little bit of a struggle the first couple of weeks. He fit in with the personality on this club. He was here for two months and he was a heck of a player."
First choice
Francona batted third baseman Kevin Youkilis first yesterday, but not for his speed. ''Youk will give you the at-bats that you need," said Francona. Youkilis went 1 for 4 with a double, and was also hit in the left arm by a pitch . . . Johnny Damon did not start because Francona thought the center fielder was still hurting after running into the wall bordering the Sox bullpen on Tuesday. Damon played Wednesday night but Francona thought he struggled. Jay Payton started in Damon's place yesterday, but Damon pinch hit in the seventh and went 0 for 2 . . . Francona said he was pleased with Kevin Millar's attitude with John Olerud starting again at first base. ''If he can handle Olerud being here and handling some of his playing time, and still be the team leader that he is, then this really works toward our advantage," said Francona . . . Brockton's Pete Damon, 32, who lost both his arms in Iraq in October 2003 when a Black Hawk helicopter tire he was filling exploded, threw out yesterday's ceremonial first pitch, gripping the ball using a prosthetic left arm. He threw an underhand strike to Kelly Shoppach from about 40 feet.
