AP News
(2010-07-27 03:01:01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland has been suspended one game and fined by Major League Baseball after a row with an umpire.
The league said in a statement Leyland was punished for his "inappropriate and aggressive conduct" in the third inning of the Tigers' 5-0 loss on July 26 when he confronted an umpire and subsequently ejected.
Leyland has said he was accused by umpire Marty Foster of deliberately spitting at the official during a heated debate when he protested a call.
"I had some sunflower seeds in when I was talking," Leyland told MLB.com. "Some sprayed on him, and he indicated that I deliberately spit on him, and I'm not going to take that from anybody. I'm not going to do it."
Leyland, who was also fined an undisclosed amount for the incident, will serve his suspension when Detroit plays Tampa Bay later on Wednesday.
(Writing by Simon Evans in Houston; Editing by Frank Pingue)
