It Didn’t Sit Well With Him

Fists and chairs weren’t flying the way they did in that Philadelphia bar Friday night, but Toronto Manager Jim Fregosi found himself in the middle of another heated dispute this week, this one with Angel volunteer coach Sam Suplizio.

Suplizio, a retired banker who attends about 50 games a year to work with Angel outfielders, went over to say hello to Fregosi and to pass on regards from former Angel manager Buck Rodgers before Tuesday night’s game. What he got in return was, in his mind, the equivalent of a swift kick in the rear.

“He said we were over the coaching limit by one and that he wasn’t going to let me sit on the bench for the game,� said Suplizio, who had sat on the bench for every previous Angel game he attended.

“I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’ That’s as big a jerk of a stunt as I’ve seen in 35 years as a coach. . . . We’ve been friends. With friends like that, who needs enemies?�

League rules limit the number of coaches on the bench to five, but teams often invite minor league instructors or guest coaches to spend time with the big league club, and opposing teams usually turn their heads at such minor infractions or grant permission for those coaches to remain on the bench.

But after Yankee owner George Steinbrenner ordered Maury Wills off the Blue Jay bench last year and another team refused to allow Toronto minor league catching instructor Ernie Whitt in the dugout this season, Fregosi said the Blue Jays adopted a team policy of not allowing extra coaches on the bench.

“[Suplizio] was on the bench when we were in California and I didn’t say one word,� said Fregosi, who received a black eye after being punched in the face at a bar near Veterans Stadium on Friday. “I went to him before the game as a common courtesy so I wouldn’t have to do it during the game. If he wants to make a big deal about it, I will.�

Suplizio watched Tuesday night’s game, as well as Wednesday night’s game, from a seat behind the Angel dugout, and he said he has no plans to complain to the league.

“I don’t want to make a big fuss about it,� Suplizio said, “but I think [Fregosi] is being very small.�

*

Jack McDowell, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 24 because of elbow problems, took a huge step toward a possible return Wednesday by throwing a three-inning, 46-pitch simulated game in the SkyDome.

“He looked good,� pitching coach Dick Pole said. “He won. He shut ‘em out.�

McDowell, who spent about 2 1/2 months on the disabled list last season, will start for the Angels in an exhibition game against their Class-A team at Erie, Pa., Monday.

“That will be a bigger test,� Manager Terry Collins said. “Today, he just tried to hit locations. Monday he’ll face hitters, so we’ll know a lot more after that.�

*

Utility player Tim Unroe, who was designated for assignment last week, cleared waivers Wednesday, and his contract was selected by the Angels. Unroe replaced Mike Colangelo, who was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a torn ligament in his left thumb. To make room on the 40-man roster for Unroe, the Angels moved center fielder Jim Edmonds, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, to the 60-day disabled list.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ KEN HILL (3-5, 4.87 ERA

vs.

BLUE JAYS’ KELVIM ESCOBAR (5-4, 5.59 ERA)

SkyDome, Toronto, 4 PDT

TV--Channel 9

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090), KCTD (1540)

* Update--This is an important start for Hill, who needs to rebound from an awful 5 1/3-inning, five-run, nine-hit effort against Arizona on Friday, in which the right-hander gave up three home runs and lost about 5 mph on his fastball. Hill has been erratic all season, pitching extremely well or getting rocked from one start to the next, and he leads the league with 48 walks. But one constant had been a strong and lively fastball, consistently in the 93-mph range. If Hill doesn’t regain his velocity, it could be an indication that the elbow problems that sidelined him for 2 1/2 months last season are flaring up again.