Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, Don Zimmer and Karim Garcia Fined for AL Playoff Game

AP ^ | 12 Oct 03 | By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

[Alas Babylon!]

BOSTON (AP) - Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox were fined Sunday along with coach Don Zimmer and Karim Garcia of the New York Yankees for their actions in Game 3 of the AL championship series.

Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, did not announce specifically why the four were being fined, other than to say it was for their behavior in the fourth inning of New York's 4-3 victory Saturday.

The amounts of the fines were not disclosed.

"I'm very disappointed in the behavior of some of the participants in last night's game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "I have instructed the umpires and told the clubs that any future misconduct by either team will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely."

Zimmer apologized for his role, fighting off tears as he made a brief statement before Game 4 on Sunday.

"I'm embarrassed for what happened last night," he said, his voice quivering and body shaking. "I'm embarrassed for the Yankees, the Red Sox, the fans, the umpires and my family."

During a regular-season game, umpires might have issued ejections.

"Some of the things that happened out there I was a little surprised that no one was thrown out," Boston manager Grady Little said.

Saturday's game at Fenway Park turned ugly after Martinez threw a pitch at Garcia's head in the fourth inning and it nicked the batter's shoulder. Garcia later made a hard slide at Boston second baseman Todd Walker, causing players to come out of the dugout.

Then, in the bottom half of the fourth inning, Ramirez took offense to a pitch by Roger Clemens of the Yankees that was slightly inside. He started yelling and walking toward the mound, bat in hand. The benches and bullpens emptied, and Zimmer charged at the 31-year-old Martinez, who threw the 72-year-old coach to the ground.

There was also a ninth-inning bullpen fight involving Garcia, Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson and a member of Boston's grounds crew, Paul Williams.

Watson said that fight was "under review" and added it was unclear if he or the police would make the final determination on the bullpen fight.

"Because it's the playoffs, I think the commissioner will end up having the final say," Watson said Sunday.

After Saturday's game, Yankees president Randy Levine argued with Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office, claiming the security in Boston was insufficient. Alderson disagreed.

In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Martinez should have been arrested for throwing Zimmer to the ground.

"If that happened in New York we would have arrested the perpetrator," Bloomberg said. "Nobody should throw a 70-year-old man to the ground, period. ... You just cannot assault people, even if it's on a baseball field."

Little disagreed.

"In situations like that, the reality of the situation is totally unlike the perception," Little said. "You're going to get two different perceptions, I'm sure, from two different cities."

AP-ES-10-12-03 1905EDT

[Alas Babylon!]

I hope this and tonight's rain delay cools some hot heads before the next game.

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[jwalsh07]

Garcia got fined for not letting Martinez in the head with the baseball?:-}

[brewcrew]

In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Martinez should have been arrested for throwing Zimmer to the ground.

Mayor Mike needs to shut his cakehole. Even if it was classless on the Punk's part, it was CLEARLY Zimmer that was coming after him.

Mayor Mike, get back to running the Big Apple into the ground, you RINO.

[annyokie]

Me, too. I haven't seen such an ugly game in ages.

[Batrachian]

Karim Garcia didn't do anything wrong, but they fined him in order to be "even handed".

The Red Sox are a bunch of cry-baby sore losers who laugh and joke when they're winning but when the chips are down they show their true colors. They tried to start a riot with the fans in 1999 when they lost to the Yankees. I shudder to think what they'll do when they lose this time.

[Texas Eagle]

Then, in the bottom half of the fourth inning, Ramirez took offense to a pitch by Roger Clemens of the Yankees that was slightly inside.

That pitch wasn't even close to hitting Ramirez's empty head. The home plate umpire should have tossed his ass out the moment he took one step towards the mound.

And I'd be embarrassed to be a Boston Red Sox fan after watching Pedro Martinez throw a 72 year old man to the ground. What a punk.

[Texas Eagle]

The Red Sox are a bunch of cry-baby sore losers who laugh and joke when they're winning but when the chips are down they show their true colors.

In other words, they act like a bunch of Liberals.

[nutmeg]

ping!

[AgentEcho]

I despise (am jealous of as an Astros fan) the Yankees, but you gotta love Zimmer for having that kind of fire. I'm rooting for Boston, but Pedro could have acted a lot more reponsible in all of his actions last night. I lost much respect for him.

Æ

[jwalsh07]

There's no moral relativism in baseball!

[sinkspur]

Watson said that fight was "under review" and added it was unclear if he or the police would make the final determination on the bullpen fight.

The Red Sox organization needs to tell the cops to cool it.

If they hot dog and take action against Garcia, they'll make the situation worse.

The Red Sox groundsboy had no business celebrating in the Yankee bullpen.

[BobFromNJ]

Bump! Keep out of it, Mayor, 'cause you do not know what you are talking about!!

[STARWISE]

DITTO!!!! PEDRO MARTINEZ IS A PUNK!!

[Senator Pardek]

[John Robertson]

Disagree, Eagle. I watched the game and saw the entire sequence, not just a sports highlight (which is not to say you didn't do the same).

Here's what I said on another thread:
Pedro only acted defensively. Zim was swinging, he deflected, then pushed him aside. Since Zim is old and pear-shaped and had created his own momentum by charging Pedro, he hit the dirt.

Now, Pedro DID stir things up the prior inning, but let's all remember that these guys are drama queens, and when they get brushed back or take a hit that doesn't hurt (as that Yankee batter did), the act like the pitcher has sworn a death oath against their family. It's really gratifying, whenever these bench-clearing brawls happen in the major leagues, to see how many professional athletes just don't know how to fight. Most of them look like a bunch of fifth-grade girls slapping each other around.

And here's what another Freeper said of it on the same thread:

Let's face it. Pedro didn't do a heck of a lot and Zimm practically rolled over. Zimm should have stayed on the bench.

[Texas Eagle]

In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Martinez should have been arrested for throwing Zimmer to the ground.

Relax, Bloomy. It's not as if Martinez was smoking. He should be ashamed of himself though for throwing a 72 year old man to the ground. What a creep.

[Texas Eagle]

Pedro only acted defensively. Zim was swinging, he deflected, then pushed him aside.

I don't dispute that Zimmer was coming at Martinez, but come on. Martinez grabbed Zimmer by the head and threw him to the ground.

[jwalsh07]

Pedro only acted defensively. Zim was swinging, he deflected, then pushed him aside. Since Zim is old and pear-shaped and had created his own momentum by charging Pedro, he hit the dirt

This account is false. Martinez grabbed Zimmer by the head with both hands and threw him to the ground face first.

And the damndest thing was the expression on his face immediately after, he was damn proud of himself.

[DeweyCA]

I agree with you. I thought at the time that Zimmer should have been tossed out of the game. He threw a punch at Martinez. Martinez would have been justified in decking him, but instead he used the old fart's own momentum to throw him to the ground. Zimmer was lucky he got off so easy. If he had been a regular player, he would have been tossed, and deservedly so. He got the umpires' sympathy, and was allowed to stay. The annoncers were shameless in their defending him. People can talk about his fire, but Zimmer got off easier than he deserved. BTW, I am NOT excusing Martinez and Ramirez for their other actions.