Gagne Suspended for Being on Bench

Major League Baseball suspended Eric Gagne for two games and fined the All-Star closer an undisclosed amount Friday for being on the Dodger bench in uniform while on the disabled list.

Gagne had been banned from the bench since his ejection April 6 at SBC Park in San Francisco for yelling at an umpire when Dodger pitcher Odalis Perez didn’t get called strikes on several pitches.

Gagne said he probably would appeal the suspension, which is not scheduled to begin until he returns from the sprained elbow that has sidelined him since the start of the season.

“I was just disappointed because I didn’t do anything that bad,” Gagne said. “Guys who fight get suspended for two games; I was just on the bench.”

Gagne may have alerted officials to his presence in the dugout Tuesday when he spoke to home plate umpire Greg Gibson after Gibson had warned the Dodger and Arizona Diamondback benches about retaliatory pitches.

“I’m sure that helped the situation along,” said Dodger Manager Jim Tracy, who intended to speak with Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president of on-field operations, about the suspension.

Gagne said he was supposed to get a letter informing him that he couldn’t be in the dugout or in the bullpen following his ejection.

“I don’t know if I got it or not,” he said. “I don’t think so. If I did, I didn’t read it.”

Gagne said he usually kept to himself on the bench unless there was a major development on the field.

“I don’t really talk a lot on the bench,” he said. “I talk to my players a lot but not to umpires. I know two umpires maybe. I’m not really too caught up in that umpiring stuff.”

Gagne said he would have to watch Friday’s game between the Dodgers and Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium “on TV somewhere.”

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Gagne threw 35 fastballs in the bullpen and is scheduled to throw again Sunday during a session in which he will also incorporate his changeup and curveball. He said he could return within two weeks “at the most.” ... Wilson Alvarez probably will be activated Monday or Tuesday after his strong performance with triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.