Orioles May Discipline Belle

June 10, 1999 / 9:28 PM EDT / AP

Sullen slugger Albert Belle faced possible disciplinary measures by the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday after engaging in a shouting match with manager Ray Miller.

The struggling Belle yelled at Miller and had to be restrained by teammates after being removed from Wednesday night's 4-2 win over the Florida Marlins in Miami.

"When things like that happen on the bench or in the clubhouse, those are the type things we deal with internally," Orioles general manager Frank Wren said in Atlanta, where the Orioles had an off-day before a weekend series with the Braves.

Belle, who signed a five-year, $65 million free-agent deal with the Orioles in December, has been suspended six times during his career and is well-known for his disdain of the media.

It wasn't clear what, if any, disciplinary measures would be taken against Belle.

"What was said and what was done is an internal matter," Wren said, adding that Miller "isn't going to say anymore about it, either."

Miller could not be reached for comment Thursday. A call to his Atlanta hotel room was answered by an unidentified person, who hung up when the reporter identified himself.

The incident occurred in the top of the ninth inning in the Orioles dugout after Belle, who went 0-for-5 in the game, failed to run out a ground ball.

With two runners on and two outs in the ninth and the Orioles leading 4-2, Belle grounded to Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell. Belle slowed up halfway to first, but Lowell's throw pulled first baseman Kevin Millar off the bag.

Miller replaced Belle in the outfield with Rich Amaral on a double switch, a move he said he had planned to make before Belle's groundout.

"Amaral knew he was going in if Albert made the last out when the inning started," Miller said Wednesday.

Belle was unaware of the move until he was on his way to his outfield position, eventually jogging back to the dugout.

In the dugout, TV cameras caught an exchange of expletives between Miller and Belle. Belle yelled angrily at Miller and was restrained by teammate Jeff Reboulet. Miller waved Belle off with a toss of his hand.

"My comment is that what happens internally will stay internal and will be taken care of internally," Miller said. "What goes on between me and anybody stays in the clubhouse."

Belle, approached by reporters after the game, responded with a stream of expletives.

Belle, struggling with a .244 batting average, has hit only one home run in his last 21 games. The Orioles, with a $78.5 million payroll, are the most disappointing team in baseball with a 22-36 record and there has been speculation that Miller's job is in jeopardy.