Olivo, Greinke, Guillen and Hillman suspended

[August 06, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Kansas City catcher Miguel Olivo and pitcher Zack Greinke were suspended for five games Tuesday for their actions during a weekend game with the Chicago White Sox.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended two games and Royals manager Trey Hillman was given one game. All four penalties also included fines.

Olivo and Greinke appealed their suspensions, which were to begin with Tuesday night's game against Boston. They can continue to play until the appeal process is complete.

"We are appealing it because I think that is too much for me," Olivo said. "Their pitcher (wasn't) suspended at all, nothing.

"I'm disappointed because I'm hurt. I got left hand hurt and my right hand. I know I'm going to get suspended, but not like for five days, maybe three or two games. I agree with that, but five games I think is a lot."

Guillen will sit out Tuesday and Wednesday against Detroit. The White Sox began the day percentage points ahead of Minnesota for the AL Central lead.

"My ballclub is going through a pretty tough time right now and I got to be with them 100 percent. I let my club down for two days," Guillen said. "This team can play without me, I believe in my coaches, I believe in the club. I don't think this team will play any differently having me here or not."

Hillman will serve his penalty immediately.

"You're always disappointed," Hillman said. "I don't ever look forward to being away from the competition. It is their decision. I don't have the advantage of the appeal process, so I've got to serve mine tonight."

Baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson issued the suspensions following Sunday's game in Kansas City. Olivo was suspended four games at the beginning of this season after throwing a punch at the Mets' Jose Reyes while playing for Florida in September.

The Royals were on their way to a 14-3 win when trouble began in the fifth inning.

Olivo already had two RBIs when he was hit by a pitch from White Sox reliever D.J. Carrasco and charged the mound, starting a bench-clearing brawl.

Olivo, Carrasco and Guillen were ejected when order was restored. Watson penalized Guillen for making contact with umpire Tim Timmons during the dispute and for his postgame comments, in which the manager said, "this is my 20-something year in the big leagues and I still don't understand what common sense they have when they make those decisions."

Both teams were warned against any retaliation. In the seventh, Greinke was ejected after hitting Nick Swisher with a pitch.

"I thought I might get suspended, but I wasn't sure for how long," Greinke said. "Five days is a long time. I was surprised it was that for that long. Still everything is in the beginning stages. I'm not an expert on it."

Greinke said he was not surprised Carrasco did not receive any punishment.

"Because at the time, teams weren't warned," Greinke said. "He didn't really try to fight Olivo really or anyone."

[Associated Press; By BOB BAUM]

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