Arizona notes..

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The Diamondbacks received some temporary relief when they learned that right fielder Danny Bautista wouldn't receive a suspension for his role in a bench-clearing incident with Colorado pitcher Shawn Chacon on April 15.

"I'm glad it's over with," said Bautista, who was assessed a $1,000 fine for cocking his bat after Chacon hit him with a pitch in the left shoulder and started walking toward him.

The Diamondbacks were expected to learn Thursday whether pitcher Miguel Batista would be suspended, a likely proposition, but no announcement came from Major League Baseball headquarters in New York, nor was a telephone message returned.

Batista was allowed to leave Thursday afternoon for New York to get ample rest for tonight's start because the team wasn't expected to arrive at its Manhattan hotel until early this morning.

Even if MLB slaps Batista with a suspension, Batista could appeal it and pitch until he receives a hearing.

Batista is under investigation for his actions Sunday at St. Louis.


Batista hit St. Louis' Tino Martinez in the right shoulder and was warned to quit staring at Martinez. One batter later, Martinez charged Batista, who threw a baseball at Martinez, igniting a benches-clearing brawl.

Bautista, meanwhile, hasn't played since suffering a right hip flexor strain April 16 but is expected to play tonight.


Injury update


Manager Bob Brenly reported that pitcher Curt Schilling (appendectomy) felt "awkward" while playing catch for 12 minutes at 90 feet in the Valley and will have his next scheduled start pushed back to at least Wednesday.

Schilling may throw again today and a bullpen session Saturday.

First baseman Lyle Overbay said his left hamstring felt better and he hopes to start tonight after a vigorous session with massage therapist Russell Nua.

"Oh, my God," Overbay said of the treatment by Nua. "I was thinking the DL (disabled list) after that. But a couple of hours later, it was feeling better."
 

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UPDATE

UPDATE

Arizona pitcher Miguel Batista was suspended for 10 games and St. Louis first baseman Tino Martinez for four games for their fight last weekend.

In addition, Cardinals pitcher Jeff Fassero was suspended for three games and St. Louis manager Tony La Russa for one game by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline. All four were fined, as were Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny and Arizona coach Eddie Rodriguez.

Batista and Martinez appealed, meaning any penalties will be delayed until after a hearing before Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. Fassero also plans to appeal his suspension, which is to start Wednesday.



La Russa, who was to sit out Saturday against Florida, was leaning toward serving his penalty.


``My only comment is (about) the perception fans get, because we had more guys fined, that the bad guys Sunday were the Cardinals,'' La Russa said. ``It's the opposite. The bad guy was the Arizona guy that instigated the whole thing.''

Batista was penalized for ``inciting a bench-clearing incident, fighting and throwing a baseball at the head'' of Martinez, who was cited by Watson for ``charging the mound and fighting.''

Watson penalized Fassero ``for intentionally throwing at and hitting Luis Gonzalez'' after a warning, and La Russa was punished for ``comments directed at Batista'' and for Fassero's ``intentional pitch at Gonzalez after a warning.''

Fassero declined to comment.

``I thought I'd get two or three games at the most,'' Martinez said. ``I'm going to appeal it and see if I can get my side of the story in, and see if I can get it reduced by a game or two.''

Batista hit Martinez in the right shoulder blade in the fifth inning of Arizona's 1-0 win. The two had words from a distance, and Martinez went to first. After Marinez was forced at second, he suddenly made a right turn to attack Batista.

The right-hander threw the baseball at Martinez, missing with it as Martinez threw a punch. Both benches quickly cleared and Batista, constantly backing up, threw a few more punches before manager Bob Brenly forced him all the way into shallow left field.

Russa and Fassero were ejected in the ninth after Gonzalez was hit in the ribs. Fassero admitted he intentionally hit the batter.

``I don't play this new style of baseball,'' Fassero said after the game. ``I still believe in the old ways, settling scores for teams and stuff like that. I think that's how baseball should be played.''
 
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