Questions Surround Umpire’s Statement

The Angels have asked the commissioner’s office to investigate the circumstances behind an umpire’s alleged claim that the team has a “well-documented” problem with A.J. Pierzynski, Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman said Sunday.

In the absence of proof, Stoneman said, “We don’t need people making things up.”

After the Chicago White Sox catcher was hit on the leg by the Angels’ Kelvim Escobar on Saturday, plate umpire Paul Nauert issued a warning to both teams. When the Angels protested, Scioscia said Nauert told him the umpires had “well-documented” information about “the problems with Pierzynski and your team.”

Escobar and Pierzynski were involved in two controversial plays in last year’s American League championship series. Scioscia said there were no lingering animosities, and Escobar said he was not throwing at Pierzynski.

Chicago Manager Ozzie Guillen, who lashed out at Escobar after Saturday’s game, said Sunday he had no interest in discussing the situation with the pitcher.

“I’ve known Kelvim since he was a kid,” Guillen said of his Venezuelan countryman. “It’s up to his conscience whether he did it on purpose or not. You can say one thing and, all of a sudden, you believe in what you say or did.

“I believe what he did was wrong, and he should know he was wrong and move on.”

Said Escobar: “If he wants to talk to me, fine. If he doesn’t want to talk to me, what can I do? ... He’s 100% sure I did it on purpose because of all the controversy last year. He has to support his players. I’m good with that.”

Guillen called Scioscia on Sunday to let him know a Times headline that he was “mad at Scioscia” was incorrect.

“I don’t want him to think I’m taking a cheap shot at him when he had nothing to do with it,” Guillen said.

Scioscia said there would be no bad blood between the teams.

“I don’t think there was anything there to begin with, but I think it’s over,” he said. “Whatever wasn’t there from the beginning is over.”

Still, Scioscia said Nauert “mishandled” the situation and asked the umpires to back up the claim of a feud between Pierzynski and the Angels.

“I would like to know where it’s documented,” Scioscia said.

Crew chief Charlie Reliford said he would not answer any questions.

“You can follow up with the league office,” he said. “That’s a pretty sensitive matter.”

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Kevin Gregg will make a spot start Thursday in place of Escobar, who has a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. In order to fortify the pitching staff for a week in which Gregg and Hector Carrasco will make spot starts, the Angels recalled Chris Bootcheck from triple-A Salt Lake and optioned outfielder Reggie Willits there.

In four starts at Salt Lake, Bootcheck is 2-0 with a 5.19 earned-run average. In 16 innings as a major league reliever, he has a 1.69 ERA, and Scioscia said Bootcheck would be used in the bullpen.