Major League Baseball: News






Braves downplay Rocker suspension; union files grievance
Updated 6:16 PM ET February 1, 2000
NEW YORK (AP) As the Atlanta Braves returned to Turner Field on
Tuesday to start winter workouts, the players' association filed a grievance to
overturn John Rocker's suspension.

"I'm glad there's finally a decision," Braves manager Bobby Cox
said, a day after commissioner Bud Selig banned Rocker from joining the team
until May 1 because of disparaging comments against homosexuals, minorities and
foreigners.

"Maybe we can get this behind us one of these days," Cox said.

The players' union asked arbitrator Shyam Das to "rescind the
discipline," fully aware that many suspensions by baseball commissioners have
been overturned or shortened.

"The discipline is without just cause," the union said in a letter
sent to Selig's office. It was unclear when a hearing will be held.

Richard Moss, the association's former top lawyer, said he was
surprised Selig ruled Monday without a consensus on the punishment, which also
included a $20,000 fine and sensitivity training.

"For the commissioner's office to just do something without
consulting the players' association, without consulting Rocker and without
reaching agreement on what was acceptable to everybody was kind of stupid," Moss
said in a telephone interview from New York.

"What Rocker did was very wrong. The question is: What's the
appropriate way of dealing with it? It should have been worked out with all the
parties rather than a confrontational way. It's very stupid for the
commissioner's office to do it this way. I think there's a very good chance it
will get reduced, and they will look bad in the process."

In the meantime, several teammates and coaches were reluctant to
discuss Rocker's suspension, though general manager John Schuerholz denied a gag
order had been imposed by management.

"The players can say whatever they want," Schuerholz said. "We're
just through talking about it as a team. It's over. That's an old issue. We are
not going to let it be a distraction for our team."

Cox, returning from a hunting trip, said he would have preferred a
quicker decision from the commissioner's office.

"It's been a circus around here for well over a month," Cox said.
"It's really been the John Rocker show when it should have been about the
Braves."

Even though Rocker's SI tirade also included controversial comments
about his manager, Cox said he's talked with Rocker and is willing to forgive.

"I think he deserves a chance to present his case to the team and
the fans," he said. "He's suffered an awful lot already. ... I know he would
like to see this die down. Most people have already forgiven him and would like
to get him back on the right track."

Rookie outfielder George Lombard, who is black, considers himself a
close friend of Rocker's family and even spent the night at their home during a
trip to Macon.

"Of course, it's disturbing," Lombard said of the SI article. "He's
touched a lot of people. It's going to take time to mend those hearts."

Pitcher Kevin Millwood said he was "pretty shocked at how long the
tirade went on.

"I've known John for a long time and I've never seen any of this
come out of him," Millwood said.

In punishing Rocker, the commissioner noted that "his remarks
offended practically every element of society."

Rocker has apologized, saying he was angry at New York fans and lost
his cool. His agents issued a statement Monday saying the suspension - believed
to be the longest for an offense not related to drug use in nearly 23 years -
was too harsh.

In the meantime, Rocker could cause disharmony in the clubhouse of
one of baseball's most successful teams. The Braves have made eight straight
postseason appearances, losing to the New York Yankees in the World Series a
year ago.

"Obviously, this is a big problem for our team," Millwood said.
"He's put the whole team in a situation where not only John but the whole team
has to answer questions about it."

He was asked if Selig's punishment was appropriate.

"John hurt a lot of people and now he has to pay the price for it,"
Millwood said. "I don't think this has ever really happened where one player has
come out and gone on a tirade of this sort. There's nothing to look back on."

But Tim Raines, who signed with the Yankees on Tuesday, criticized
the commissioner's ruling.

"Anytime a guy gets suspended for that length of time, it's
excessive," said Raines, who is black. "It's a difficult question for me because
I am one of those minority groups."

Precedent indicates that Rocker's suspension is likely to be
reduced.

On July 26, 1971, defending AL batting champion Alex Johnson of the
California Angels was suspended for failing to hustle. The decision was
overturned an arbitrator who said Johnson had an emotional problem and should
have been placed on the disabled list.

On Aug. 16, 1981, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Garry Templeton was
suspended and fined $5,000 after making a series of obscene gestures toward
heckling fans at Busch Stadium. Two days later, an arbitrator ruled the
suspension should be lifted when Templeton checked into a hospital for treatment
of depression.

Templeton returned to hit .367 in the final three weeks of the
season, regaining the respect of teammates who were shocked by his initial
actions.

The Braves hope Rocker can follow that precedent.

"It's going to be kind of personal how he is received," Millwood
said. "I'm sure he offended some guys in here more than he offended other guys.
He could go up to one person and say he's sorry. But he's got a lot of people to
say it to."




Glenn A. Koch
Huntsville, Alabama

gkochsr@...

1999 Atlanta Braves * National League East Champions




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