A 20-Game Suspension for Rogers

Texas Ranger ace Kenny Rogers, a potential All-Star game starter who would be vital to the Rangers’ second-half chase of the Angels in the American League West, was suspended for 20 games and fined $50,000 by Commissioner Bud Selig on Friday for shoving two cameramen before Wednesday night’s game in Arlington.

The extent of the discipline is unprecedented for a player-media altercation and, according to agent Scott Boras, Rogers has appealed the decision through the players’ association. Selig, who issued the penalty, will hear the appeal, but probably not before next week, meaning Rogers is free to make his next scheduled start, Sunday in Seattle.

In a snit captured by other cameras and replayed on television often since, Rogers jostled the cameramen, sending one to the hospital by stretcher. He also threw a camera to the ground before kicking it. Rogers, who had been angered by speculation he’d ducked the Angels the night before as a contract negotiation ploy, eventually was led from the field by a teammate.

“Mr. Rogers’ behavior was unprofessional, unwarranted and completely unacceptable,” Selig said in a statement. “Major League Baseball is a social institution and all of us in the game have an important responsibility to act with reason and good judgment.

“While I recognize that the relationship between players and members of the media may sometimes be difficult, there is no circumstance in which a player may settle a difference of opinion or a dispute through physical means. Media coverage is important to the game and we in baseball are obligated to treat members of the media with respect and civility.”

Rogers, who is 9-3 with a 2.46 ERA, will be eligible for the All-Star game, to be held July 12 in Detroit. Selections are announced Sunday. Boras said he did not know if Rogers would participate if named to the team, and baseball officials already are uneasy about the distraction Rogers’ presence -- in the middle of an apparent suspension -- would cause.

Rogers broke a bone in his non-pitching hand when he punched a water cooler June 17, pitched once afterward, then skipped Tuesday night’s start against the Angels because of recurring pain.

He already had avoided the media for much of the season because of off-season reports that he threatened to retire if his contract was not extended; he disputed the reports, which apparently were leaked by Ranger management.

Rogers, 40, followed teammates from the clubhouse to the field Wednesday night, and became incensed when cameras followed him when he emerged from the dugout. He pushed one camera over the back of one cameraman’s shoulder. When the cameraman, Larry Rodriguez, hoisted the camera back to his shoulder, Rogers returned and wrestled the equipment away, dropped it to the ground and kicked it.

In a statement released Friday morning, the pitcher’s attorneys said Rogers would not speak because of the ongoing investigation. The statement continued, “On Kenny’s behalf, though, we would like to express to Mr. Rodriguez, Ranger fans, all baseball fans and his teammates that Kenny is truly sorry for the incident that occurred and regrets that it happened.”

If the 20-game suspension is upheld, Rogers would miss four or five starts. Previous incidents involving players and cameramen have resulted in fines alone, though one baseball official termed Wednesday’s occurrence as “pretty unique.”

Union chief Don Fehr, who is in Massachusetts on family business, said he would not have a comment until he could review the facts.

Boras likened Rogers’ actions to run-ins by Tim Belcher, Carl Everett and, to a lesser degree, Randy Johnson, who in the off-season scuffled with a cameraman on the way to his physical in New York.

“In Kenny’s case, there’s been a substantial deviation both in procedure and in application of precedent for disciplining this kind of conduct,” Boras said.

The Rangers have met with Rogers and have condemned his behavior.

“We’ve made it clear from the beginning this was an unacceptable behavior for the club,” Ranger General Manager John Hart told reporters in Texas. “I know Kenny, as evidenced by his statements, has expressed remorse. The commissioner has spoken and we’re going to move forward from there.”

The Angels, who led the Rangers by 6 1/2 games after splitting four games in Arlington this week, would appear to have the most to gain by the suspension of Texas’ ace.

“Who knows?” Angel pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. “Maybe he needed that much time off with his finger to pitch effectively. We’ll never know. Every team reacts to situations in different ways. You never know. Maybe it will be good for them. Let’s hope not.”

Said Angel Manager Mike Scioscia: “Any club that has championship aspirations has to be able to absorb some things. The Rangers have some young pitchers who have been stepping up. I’m sure they would like to have Kenny Rogers on the mound, but they have enough depth that they’ll still be a factor.”

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Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna, in Kansas City, Mo., contributed to this report.

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Major league suspensions

Some of the longer suspensions of major league baseball players and managers that don’t involve gambling or drugs:

*--* YEAR PLAYER DAYS REASON 1932 BILL DICKEY 30 Yankee catcher punched Washington outfielder Carl Reynolds and was also fined $1,000. 1977 LENNY RANDLE 30 Texas infielder beat up his manager, Frank Lucchesi. 1980 BILL MADLOCK 15 Pittsburgh third baseman shoved his glove in the face of home-plate umpire Gerry Crawford. Also fined $5,000. 1988 PETE ROSE 30 Cincinnati manager shoved umpire Dave Pallone. 2000 JUAN SAMUEL 15 Detroit coach threw punches in brawl against White Sox. 2004 FRANK FRANCISCO 15 Texas relief pitcher tossed a chair at a fan at Oakland. 2005 KENNY ROGERS 20 Texas starting pitcher gets in an altercation with two TV cameramen before an Angel game. Also fined $50,000.

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Source: Associated Press