Clemens Fined in Bat-Throwing Incident

N E W  Y O R K, Oct. 24 -- New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens was fined$50,000 today for throwing the jagged barrel of a shattered battoward New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza in Game 2 of the WorldSeries.

Umpires in Sunday night’s game concluded that Clemens did notdeliberately throw the bat at the catcher, who had fouled off apitch and trotted a few steps toward first base.

“He just picked up the bat and winged it,” umpire crew chiefEd Montague said. “It was just an emotional deal that built overthe months.”

Clemens was notejected and pitched eight shutout innings in the Yankees’ 6-5 winover the Mets.

However, Frank Robinson, the vice president of thecommissioner’s office in charge of discipline, said today thatClemens engaged in “inappropriate conduct.”

Robinson did not disclose the reasoning for his decision or theamount of the fine, but two baseball officials, speaking oncondition of anonymity, said the fine was $50,000.

Clemens vs. Piazza

Game 2 was the first time the two players had faced eachother since July 8, when Clemens hit Piazza in the helmet with apitch.

After the game, Clemens said the whole thing was accidental andthat he was being emotional.

“This is the World Series, it shouldn’t overshadow what we’retrying to do,” Clemens said.

The players’ union can appeal Robinson’s decision to PaulBeeston, baseball’s chief operating officer.

“My understanding is Roger wants to put the matter off untilafter the World Series,” said Gene Orza, the union’s No. 2official.

Mets general manager Steve Phillips said he thought the matterhad been appropriately handled. “If they had come back and saidthey didn’t want to do anything, that’s fine, too,” he said. “It wouldn’t have broken our hearts either way.”

Said Piazza: “This is a situation that has taken prominenceover the ballgame, which is unfortunate. But that’s the way itis.”