Phillips Refuses To Back Down In Alomar Case

Umpires union head Richie Phillips said Wednesday that owners might make players serve some future suspensions before appeals hearings, but management sources said Phillips was mistaken.

Phillips, still upset Roberto Alomar won’t have to serve his five-game suspension until next season, took several of his umpires to meet Tuesday with A.L. president Gene Budig and N.L. president Len Coleman.

“The concept that there is an automatic stay is an anathema to the umpires,” Phillips said during a pregame news conference at Yankee Stadium before the A.L. playoffs opener.

While the expired collective bargaining agreement between owners and players - still in force because of a court order - doesn’t contain anything addressing the topic, players who appeal suspensions haven’t been made to serve the penalty until after their hearing.

Management lawyers, speaking on the condition they not be identified, said the practice is unlikely to change. Instead, league presidents will try to schedule appeals hearings more quickly, one management source said.

Raspberries for Robbie

New York Yankees fans expressed their opinion about Roberto Alomar’s spit by showing a little polish.

They simply booed.

They booed and heckled him during batting practice. They booed heartily during the pregame introductions - and even louder during his first at-bat.

And those boos turned to thunderous cheers when he struck out looking in the first inning.

He gently laid down his helmet and bat, then teammate Bobby Bonilla brought his glove out to him as he took the field for the bottom of the first.

In the second inning, the crowd cheered derisively when Paul O’Neill’s grounder kicked off the heel of Alomar’s glove for an error. However, on the very next play, Alomar made a fine backhand flip to second on Mariano Duncan’s grounder.

But despite concerns about violence - in the form of hurled batteries, or other projectiles - nothing flew through the air except a few expletives and unprintable chants until a controversial home run call in the eighth inning. And Alomar wasn’t involved in that incident.

Ozzie’s patsy

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa decided to start Ozzie Smith at shortstop in the N.L. championship series opener instead of Royce Clayton.

“This was a case where Ozzie had more experience against John Smoltz than Clayton. Ozzie was just the better choice,” La Russa said.

Smith only started 50 games this season. Smith is a .322 career hitter against Smoltz (19-for-59), while Clayton was 3-for-15 (.200).

Ambassador Cecil

Before playing for the Detroit Tigers, New York first baseman/designated hitter Cecil Fielder played one season in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers.

During batting practice Fielder recognized several Japanese television journalists and greeted them with a slight bow and a few words of their native language.

“He gave them a baseball hello,” said a producer for Nippon TV.

Almost worthless

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa never hesitated when asked if he remembered his brief stay with the Atlanta Braves at the end of the 1971 season.

“I’ve never been so embarrassed,” he recalled before the NCLS opener.

“I was traded here for a player to be named later,” La Russa said. “I got into a few games and went 2-for-7. They got me because their second baseman (Felix Millan) was a little banged up.”

Atlanta, however, never gave up that so-called “player to be named later” to Oakland for the utility infielder.

”(Owner Charles O.) Finley told the Braves - the kind of player he was - don’t worry about it. He wasn’t that good,” La Russa said with a grin.

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