Phillies Notes: Bowa expects to hear from MLB over ejection

Larry Bowa said Wednesday that he expects a letter from Joe Torre, Major League Baseball's discipline czar, after the Phillies bench coach's ejection from Tuesday's loss to the New York Mets.

Bowa had not received word about a potential suspension or fine as of two hours before Wednesday night's first pitch at Citizens Bank Park. Major League Baseball, according to a spokesman, was "reviewing the circumstances" of the ejection.

The action by home plate umpire Dan Bellino stemmed from Bowa and the Phillies taking issue with a quick pitch from Mets reliever Hansel Robles, who began to pitch while Darin Ruf's head was down. Bowa, who was not available to the media after Tuesday's game, said Wednesday he was concerned for the safety of the batter.

"You can say old school, new school, whatever school you want, we're talking about injuries in the game of baseball," Bowa said. "And they're doing a great job with [protecting] the catcher, short, and second, trying to keep them in the game. A hitter can get killed on a 95 mile-an-hour fastball when he looks up and the ball's right there."

The Phillies also thought Robles had done the same thing Monday night on a two-strike pitch to Cameron Rupp.

"There's a right way and a wrong way to quick-pitch," Bowa said. "[Toronto Blue Jays reliever] LaTroy Hawkins quick-pitches, but every time he quick-pitches he deviates his windup."

As for his perceived threat to Daniel Murphy before leaving the dugout, Bowa confirmed his anger toward the Mets first baseman stemmed from his bat flip in the sixth inning of Monday night's rout. Bowa called Murphy's action "weak." That, he said, "had nothing to do with" his outrage over Robles' quick pitch.

Over the last week, optimism has grown regarding the status of the injured Maikel Franco. On Wednesday, interim manager Pete Mackanin said there was a "real good chance" the promising rookie third baseman will return to the field before season's end.

Franco, who turned 23 Wednesday, suffered a small fracture in his left wrist Aug. 11. He has taken ground balls and played catch several times since Sunday. Mackanin said he was not sure when Franco would resume swinging the bat.

"If he's 100 percent healthy, let him play," Mackanin said. "Get [him] as many at-bats here as you can."

Darnell Sweeney started at second base and batted leadoff in place of a slumping Cesar Hernandez, who has just six hits in his last 47 at-bats. ... Elvis Araujo did not allow a hit to the last 37 batters he has faced. The 6-foot-7 lefthander's streak is the longest among major-league relievers this season.

- Jake Kaplan