Teams Are Warned Not to Escalate Situation

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. â€”  The Dodgers and New York Mets moved Friday to defuse the volatile Mike Piazza-Guillermo Mota situation, worrying it may cast a shadow over this weekend’s exhibitions in Mexico City.

The Dodgers refocused on the field before a 9-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Chain of Lakes Park, saying emotions stirred in Wednesday’s bench-clearing brawl, ignited when Mota hit Piazza on the left shoulder with a pitch, would not prompt them to initiate another battle across the border.

The Mets expressed similar views about the two-game series at Estadio Foro Sol, hoping to put the ugly episode behind them.

Regular-season disciplinary action against Piazza and Mota is expected to be announced early next week. Bob Watson, baseball’s man in charge of meting out such discipline, met with the Dodgers on Friday. The commissioner’s office informed the clubs they would face severe penalties for further on-field incidents during the exhibitions, serving notice to behave.

“We’re not using this weekend’s games as a forum for retaliation,� Met General Manager Steve Phillips said. “I can’t dictate what’s going to happen; just play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.�

That’s fine with the Dodgers.

“There’s no sense in making this thing go on and on,� right fielder Shawn Green said. “I’m really not expecting anything else to happen, but I wouldn’t charge the mound even if [he was hit with a pitch].

“With something like this, you just don’t want to make it any worse. It happened and it’s over with now, and I think everyone pretty much looks at it the same way.�

The Mets do, for the most part.

Manager Art Howe, addressing the club at its Port St. Lucie training complex, instructed players not to retaliate this weekend. The Dodgers seemingly made it easier for them to comply, removing Mota from the traveling squad, figuring the reliever’s presence wouldn’t be a good thing.

Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said he plans to resolve his differences with Howe, who accused the Dodgers of a “setup� to get Piazza after his altercation with Mota last spring. Tracy said he believes many things were simply “said in the heat of the moment.�

Said Howe: “It’s history. A lot of crazy things take place in this game and you can’t dwell on it, but I was pretty angry the other night.

“We had a little chat and nothing is going to happen ... at least not intentionally. The matter is settled as far as we’re concerned.�

The door is still slightly ajar for Dodger officials who are incensed Piazza entered their clubhouse seeking to confront Mota. The Mets acknowledged that was unfortunate.

“We do take security very seriously,� Phillips said. “If there are ever any lapses, we will reevaluate and respond accordingly.�

Shortly after Piazza left the visitors’ clubhouse Wednesday, Dodger General Manager Dan Evans spoke with Phillips about security at Thomas J. White Stadium, wondering why two sheriff’s deputies stationed at the entrance did not stop the then-irate catcher.

“Steve and I have a very good relationship and he was very professional about it,� Evans said. “He made it very clear that they’re going to look into it, and they’re going to do what they can to fix it and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. I’m satisfied with their follow-up on it.�

Stadium officials vowed to make improvements.

“He blew right by ‘em. What are you going to do?� said Ritchie Brooks, a stadium security employee for seven years. “It was, ‘Bam!’ Then it was over with.

“That’s never happened before and it’s never going to happen again. It was an unfortunate incident for the Mets, the Dodgers and the stadium.�

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Tracy wants 11 pitchers on the opening-day roster, meaning the Dodgers would be committing 12 of 24 spots to pitchers because Mota is expected to be suspended.

The Dodgers had planned to carry catcher David Ross in addition to starter Paul Lo Duca and backup Todd Hundley, but losing a roster spot will probably prompt them to consider alternate plans. The club may use Mike Kinkade, scheduled to catch in minor league games next week, as an emergency catcher, and Hundley has provided reason for optimism despite concerns about his defense and throwing, batting .500 with a homer and four RBIs.

“Would it be hard to go with three if we get cut down to 24 players?� Tracy said. “Let’s be honest about it: It would be very difficult to do.�

But are 11 pitchers at the outset a necessity?

“It’s not necessarily necessary,� Tracy said. “The thoughts that would go into that are, No. 1, we have members of a pitching staff [Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort] that are returning to health, and you want to guard against overdoing anything to jeopardize that. There is some risk involved if [they carry 10] even for a day.�

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Brown continued his strong spring performance, working four scoreless innings in relief Friday against the Indians despite a hard, slippery mound.

“It was a tougher day,� said Brown, who lowered his earned-run average from 1.50 to 0.90 in a 67-pitch outing. “The mound was definitely uncomfortable. I was sliding around and I couldn’t stop.... If I can walk [today] that’s a good sign.�

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Andy Ashby, expected to open the season in the bullpen, started and failed to record an out in the third. Ashby (0-1) gave up seven hits, including a home run, and seven runs (six earned) in two-plus innings. “It’s not uncommon to see a veteran starting pitcher just really do poorly in the spring,� pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ... Terry Shumpert, a versatile bench candidate, was three for four with a run and an RBI.... Mota pitched a scoreless fourth.... Closer Eric Gagne said he experienced no problems after a 40-pitch bullpen session.