Mets' Mgr. Fined & Suspended

June 10, 1999 / 9:39 PM EDT / AP

The National League saw through Bobby Valentine's disguise, suspending the New York Mets manager for two games and fining him $5,000.

Valentine was ejected in the 12th inning Wednesday night by plate umpire Randy Marsh for arguing a catcher's interference call on Mike Piazza. The manager returned to the dugout with a fake mustache and glasses.

NL president Len Coleman cited league rule 5.1, which says: "When a manager, player, coach or trainer is put out of a game by an umpire, he shall leave the field immediately."

The rule goes on to say ejected personnel "shall remain in the clubhouse until the game is ended or change to street clothes and either leave the park or take a seat in the grandstand well removed from the vicinity of his club's bullpen."

The suspension was to start Saturday but Valentine appealed, meaning it will not start until after a hearing before Coleman.

An eight-game losing streak, the team's longest in three years, prompted general manager Steve Phillips to fire three of Valentine's coaches last Saturday, a move the manager didn't agree with. Two of those fired, pitching coach Bob Apodaca and hitting coach Tom Robson, were close to Valentine.

Since the firings, the Mets have won four straight.

In other Mets turmoil, outfielder Bobby Bonilla told the team he was unavailable to play in Tuesday's and Wednesday's games.

Bonilla, hitting .167 with four homers and 17 RBIs, didn't take batting practice Wednesday and exchanged bitter words with Valentine before the game. Last week, Bonilla was upset after a report the Mets placed him on waivers and he wasn't claimed.

"I would like it to be resolved sooner rather than later," general manager Steve Phillips said Thursday.

Valentine wasn't in favor of the offseason trade that brought Bonilla back to New York from Los Angeles, but co-owner Nelson Doubleday pushed for the move. Phillips sounded as if the Bonilla matter was troubling.

"I think we have to look at all avenues," he said.

Also, outfielder Benny Agbayani was cleared to return today. The rookie, hitting .409 with eight homers in 66 at-bats, bruised his right eye in batting practice Wednesday when he hit a ball off the cage and it bounced back into his eye.

The Mets said a CT scan was negative and eye specialist Dr. Bruce Zagelbaum said Agbayani could return tonight against Boston.