Thames assessed 5 games, Wise 3

7/19/2005

Yesterday IL president Randy Mobley suspended Mud Hens outfielder Marcus Thames for five games and Dewayne Wise for three as a result of the fight with Buffalo on Friday.

Each was also fined an undisclosed amount by the league office.

Thames already has served three games of his suspension, missing yesterday's contest with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as well as the twinbill against Buffalo Sunday. Wise's suspension will begin when Thames' suspension ends.

"[Marcus] charged the mound and delivered a pretty good blow," Mobley said of the reason Thames received five games. "Wise's move was an aggressive move from the coach's box, and it was a pretty dangerous move as well."

Mobley said penalties for the Buffalo players involved in the brawl have yet to be determined, but he said that ruling would come in the next day or two.

The fight began when Buffalo's Jose Diaz threw a breaking ball that hit Thames high on his body, and Thames immediately ran to the mound and threw a right uppercut that connected with Diaz's chin.

Wise came from the coach's box and tackled Diaz as both benches emptied. IL rules mandate a $150 fine for any player who leaves his bench or position on the field to participate in a fight.

No appeals process exists for these sanctions.

Mobley talked with the umpires for Friday's contest immediately following the game and received their written report over the weekend. Mobley reviewed the video of the fight yesterday and told Mud Hens general manager Joe Napoli of his ruling at about 7:30 p.m.

Toledo manager Larry Parrish talked to Mobley after the suspension was levied and felt a three-game suspension was what was warranted. Both he and Thames declined comment on the suspension.

Mobley was asked to compare Friday's fight with some of the other fights that have taken place around the International League this season:

"It's not the worst, but it's closer to that than the ones where people go out and dance around," he said. "It had some significant elements to it, but fortunately it didn't get any worse than it was."

- John Wagner