Tavarez's incidents
May 31, 1996 -- While with the Indians, Tavarez threw a fastball behind the Brewers' Mike Matheny and, in the brawl that ensued, flipped umpire Joe Brinkman onto his back. He was suspended three games, and apologized to Brinkman, saying it was inadvertent.
1998 -- While with the Giants, he argued with umpire Sam Holbrook, threw his glove, and was suspended three games.
March 26, 2001 -- While with the Cubs, Tavarez was suspended for his part in a spring training brawl that began when Russ Davis of the Giants, believing Tavarez had shown him up after striking him out, charged the mound. Tavarez, who said Davis was yelling obscenities at him, retaliated with a karate-style kick. Tavarez was suspended five games, Davis three. Tavarez also was fined $16,000 and ordered to take sensitivity classes.
April 28, 2001 -- While with the Giants, Tavarez was fined and ordered to take sensitivity classes after saying, ''Why should I care about the fans? They are nothing but a bunch of [expletives] and [pejorative term for gays] here. That's what they are."
June 14, 2003 -- While with the Pirates, Tavarez was one of six players suspended for coming out of the bullpen and throwing punches during a brawl with the Devil Rays. Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said the fight was subsiding until ''Tavarez came out of the bullpen and started throwing right hands."
Aug. 20, 2004 -- While with the Cardinals, Tavarez was suspended 10 games for applying pine tar, an illegal substance, to his cap.
Oct. 18, 2004 -- While with the Cardinals, Tavarez broke two bones in his left hand after punching a dugout phone during Game 4 of the NLCS. He later was fined $10,000 for throwing a fastball behind the head of Houston's Jeff Bagwell in the same game.
March 27, 2006 -- In an exhibition game, Tampa Bay's Joey Gathright tried to score from third while a teammate got caught in a rundown. Tavarez tagged out Gathright, but before Gathright stood up, Tavarez struck him with his right fist on the left side of Gathright's face. Players from both benches and bullpens ran onto the field and tussled near the plate. Tavarez was suspended 10 games.
