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MLB suspends Papelbon for 7 games and fines him

SAN DIEGO - The last Phillies player to arrive Monday at Petco Park, Jonathan Papelbon, marched straight into the manager's office. For 18 minutes, the crotch-grabbing closer explained his actions.

Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. (H. Rumph Jr/AP)
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. (H. Rumph Jr/AP)Read more

SAN DIEGO - The last Phillies player to arrive Monday at Petco Park, Jonathan Papelbon, marched straight into the manager's office. For 18 minutes, the crotch-grabbing closer explained his actions.

"There was nothing for me to judge," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It's not for me to judge. I just listened to hear what he had to say."

Less than two hours after that meeting, Major League Baseball deemed Papelbon's lewd gesture worthy of a seven-game suspension and an undisclosed fine. Papelbon did not appeal the penalty; it started Monday. The Phillies issued a 59-word statement in support of the league.

The team said it had "no authority to make official judgments about activity which occurs on the field." But the final 12 words of the statement rendered plenty of judgment: "We apologize to our fans for the actions of our player yesterday."

The Phillies' anger at Papelbon, perhaps the game's most untradeable player, is evident. They extended no loyalty to a player they have long attempted to jettison. It is reasonable to wonder if the penalty would have been greater had the team issued it.

Nonetheless, the league's punishment is harsh. Pitchers who intentionally hit batters are barred for fewer games than Papelbon's seven. The Phillies closer clutched his crotch Sunday when he was booed by Citizens Bank Park fans after a blown save. He said in late July that he "enjoys" the home fans booing him.

He claimed Sunday his lewd act was not directed at the fans; instead, he said he needed to adjust his jockstrap at that moment.

Papelbon made contact with two umpires, which factored into the suspension's length. But he offended the paying customers, a high crime for a billion-dollar league that is financed by its fans.

There was no apparent punishment for Joe West, who umpired Monday in Tampa, Fla., and engaged Papelbon in a heated argument. Papelbon will be eligible to pitch in the season's final six games.

Sandberg, who offered no opinion on the incident, said Papelbon regretted the timing of his gesture.

"He had no intention of giving any type of a signal or gesture to the fans when he left the game," Sandberg said.

Major League Baseball decided otherwise.

"Well," Sandberg said, "I could understand the perception, and he indicated to me that he understood the perception also, and he thought that was unfortunate. From him, it was poor timing. He'd have much rather waited to get in the dugout. He indicated that to me. That was basically our conversation."

On Sunday, Papelbon said he planned to file a grievance against West for his actions. The closer did not stretch with his teammates before Monday's game and spent much of the time on the phone with his agents.

"I would love to say something," Papelbon said, "but I can't."

Papelbon, who watched the game from a suite at Petco Park, was not available for comment after the suspension was announced.

The suspension, at the very least, prevents the Phillies from pushing Papelbon closer to a $13 million vesting option for 2016. Papelbon, 33, must finish 100 games between 2014 and 2015 to trigger that money. He has finished 50 games in 2014.

Papelbon did not hide his desire this summer for employment elsewhere. He signed in Philadelphia because he wanted to win. But he must ride this sinking ship like everyone else. Papelbon has a 2.10 ERA and 37 saves in 41 chances, but his combative persona is known throughout the league. He mans a position that progressive teams have filled with cheap, hard-throwing arms rather than overpriced veterans.

Sandberg said Papelbon's abrasive attitude has caused no problems.

"He's been great this year," Sandberg said. "He's been a leader with the young pitchers. He's been on a tremendous roll all year for us. He's been a big part of the team. He's been outstanding. He's been one of the leaders."

For the next seven games, Papelbon is reduced to spectating.

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