Silent Victorino not happy to get only suspension

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LOS ANGELESShane Victorino isnt commenting on the three-game suspension he received for his part in Friday nights bench-clearing incident in San Francisco.

Im not talking about it, he said in a snappy tone after the ruling was handed down by Major League Baseball on Monday afternoon.

A person close to Victorino said the Phillies centerfielder was not happy that he was the only player to receive a suspension. Teammate Placido Polanco, Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez and Giants catcher Eli Whiteside were all fined undisclosed sums.

Ramirez hit Victorino with a pitch in the sixth inning of the Phillies 9-2 win. Victorino believed he was thrown at intentionally. After getting plunked, he moved toward the mound and the benches cleared.

According to people with knowledge of the situation, Victorino was hit hardest for a couple of reasons. First, he aggressively freed himself from umpire Mike Muchlinski, who was trying to hold him back. And second, he charged the scrum after umpires had begun to restore order.

People close to Joe Torre, who is in his first year as MLBs executive vice president of baseball operations, say he is troubled by recent shows of aggression toward umpires and takes these offenses very seriously.

Manager Charlie Manuel was circumspect when talking about Victorinos suspension.

The Giants provoked it, Manuel said. I felt like Vic did what he had to do. He kind of stood up for himself.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. would not comment on the suspension.

Victorino has appealed the ruling. Suspensions are occasionally reduced in length once a player has had his say in the appeal.

In the meantime, Victorino is active.

E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.

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