Guerrero Slapped by NL for Illegal Bat

Rookie second baseman Wilton Guerrero of the Dodgers was suspended for eight games and fined an undisclosed sum Monday for using a corked bat a day earlier.

“I have learned of my penalty from the league office and I accept it with full responsibility,” Guerrero said in a statement shortly after NL president Len Coleman’s decision was announced. “I will say once again, as I said yesterday, I apologize to my team, to the league and to all of baseball.”

The players’ union filed an appeal Monday, then withdrew it about 90 minutes later.

Guerrero admitted he knew the bat was corked before shattering it Sunday at St. Louis. He was ejected when umpires saw the bat had been altered.

Despite Guerrero’s apology, Dodgers general manager Fred Claire was upset by the 22-year-old’s actions.

“I was shocked with what transpired, shocked and disappointed,” Claire said. “I’m sure my tone doesn’t carry a lot of pleasure with it.

“Honestly, with Wilton, I respect the way that he acknowledged it, he feels terrible about it. My point is really not to make it any more difficult for Wilton. I think he feels awful about it. But I am not the least bit happy about any of this.”

Claire said Guerrero’s agent, Jeff Moorad, asked if the Dodgers would pay Guerrero during the suspension, and Claire said no.

“I think that’s when the appeal was filed,” Claire said.

Claire said he was later told by the Players Relations Committee, which represents baseball owners, that the Dodgers were required to pay Guerrero’s salary during the suspension.

“Being required to and wanting to are two different things,” Claire said. “At that point, the union dropped the appeal. Thus, Wilton’s suspension begins.”

The suspension started Monday night in Houston. Barring postponements, Guerrero will be ineligible to play until the Dodgers face the Astros at Dodger Stadium on June 10.