Belle’s Suspension Cut To Two Games

After nearly three weeks of discussion and debate, Albert Belle will miss just one day for his collision with Fernando Vina.

American League president Gene Budig, facing a possible lawsuit by Belle if he didn’t settle the case, agreed Thursday to a deal proposed by the players’ association: Rather than serve a three-game suspension, Belle will miss Cleveland’s twilight doubleheader against the New York Yankees tonight and pay a $25,000 fine.

“Although the league president has taken action against me that he would not take against any other player, it is time for me to put the interests of my teammates, the Indians, and the fans of Cleveland ahead of my own,” Belle said in a statement issued by his agent, Arn Tellem. “I can best contribute to the team by putting this matter behind me and concentrating all of my efforts on the game of baseball.”

Budig originally imposed a five-game suspension for Belle’s forearm hit May 31 on Vina, the second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers. Following a hearing last week, Budig cut the ban to three games.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s Mike Matheny - also suspended because he charged Cleveland’s Julian Tavarez in that game, began serving his suspension, but that didn’t stop him from doing a little catching.

“I wouldn’t have been on that boat if I were playing today, so since I knew I was having a ‘vacation’ I got to go fishing and have a good time,” the Milwaukee Brewers catcher said.

Matheny participated in Bob Uecker’s Great Lakes Invitational to benefit the “Make A Wish Foundation” on after learning that American League president Budig had reduced his suspension from five games to three.

Matheny’s group caught a tournament-best 13 fish, and he reeled in four lake trout.

Dykstra out for season; Daulton at first

Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra will have major back surgery and will miss at least the rest of the season, and former catcher Darren Daulton is coming back, not in left field but at first base.

Current first baseman Gregg Jefferies will be moved to the outfield or another position.

Dykstra, who missed much of last season and has been on the disabled list since May 21, said he would have surgery for spinal stenosis within two to three weeks.

Daulton, meanwhile, will work out with the club in Philadelphia, then return to Clearwater, Fla., to continue his rehab with trainer Hap Hudson until he is ready for a rehab assignment.

Before Thursday, the Phillies had insisted they had no intention of playing Daulton anywhere but left field, so as not to disrupt the rest of the team.

Mets mishap

New York Mets pitcher Bill Pulsipher, catcher Todd Hundley and outfielder Chris Jones were involved in a single-car accident early Thursday morning.

The players were en route home after arriving back from Wednesday night’s road doubleheader in Pittsburgh.

Pulsipher, who was driving of the car, hit a pole while exiting the Cross Island Parkway.

Hundley was in the starting lineup and batted fourth in Thursday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, a 5-3 loss.

Former Cy Young winner facing court date

Former Cy Young winner Steve Bedrosian has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery after a man claimed the Danville (Va.) Braves pitching coach punched him and left him unable to work.

Tim Riddle, an iron worker, said Bedrosian punched him just below his left eye for no reason outside a restaurant on June 12.

Riddle said he landed badly on some steps after taking the punch and injured his back. He said he was unable to do his job the next day and has been told by a doctor not to lift anything before July 8.