Umps Want Change In Suspensions Arbiters Feel System Not Tough On Confrontational Players

Baseball umpires intend to demand today that players who physically confront them serve suspensions before arguing their appeals.

“We are going to urge that the appeal process be streamlined,” umpires union head Richie Phillips said a day before the sport’s summit meeting on on-field conduct. “We will be, not urging, but demanding the myth of the player being automatically entitled to a stay by filing an appeal from a suspension, that that mythical concept be eradicated.

“That is something the league presidents agreed to last year at the beginning of the World Series. We are going to demand they reiterate their support … and that go out to the players to serve as a deterrent.”

While there is no provision in the collective bargaining agreement, owners have in recent years not imposed suspensions until appeals are decided. Owners are reluctant to change that tradition, fearing the union would file a grievance.

“What was agreed upon was that physical acts upon umpires will not be tolerated,” N.L. president Len Coleman said Monday. “Discipline will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The policies and the procedures are what is on the table.”

Gene Orza, the union’s No. 2 official, said Phillips’ “remarks are unfortunate, but I’ll save our response for the meeting.”

After Roberto Alomar spit at umpire John Hirschbeck on the final weekend of the regular season, umpires were incensed that A.L. president Gene Budig suspended the AllStar second baseman for just five games and postponed it until the first week of the 1997 season.

“There are cases where to grant a stay is a tremendous injustice,” Phillips said. “There should be a willingness on the part of the leagues to take on the players’ association rather than take on the umpires, who are the victims.”

Paid suspensions will be studied.