Parrish, Ausmus Suspended

June 7, 1999 / 9:10 PM EDT / AP

Detroit manager Larry Parrish and catcher Brad Ausmus were given two-game suspensions and $500 fines Monday by AL president Gene Budig, and said they will appeal the penalties.

Parrish and Ausmus were involved in an argument with umpire Chuck Meriwether and were ejected after making contact with the umpire on May 31.

Tigers pitcher Matt Anderson had just been ejected after hitting Mike Stanley in the seventh inning of an 8-7 loss to Boston.

Parrish said his brush with Meriwether was incidental and not intended.

"What's bad is everything was precipitated by a stupid call," Parrish said. "He pushed me twice, but I didn't really worry about that."

Ausmus' suspension was to begin Tuesday, while Parrish's was scheduled to start Friday.

"Overly aggressive?" Ausmus asked rhetorically. "I guess I'm guilty of that. But I don't know if the punishment fits the crime."

Because Ausmus appealed through the players' association, the penalty can't start until after a hearing before Budig.