Umpire Forgives Alomar, Citing His And Baseball’s Need To End The Spat

Umpire John Hirschbeck forgave Roberto Alomar on Saturday, saying baseball needed to get beyond the problems stemming from last week’s spitting incident.

“I wish to state publicly that I forgive Roberto Alomar for his actions,” Hirschbeck said in a statement from his home in Poland, Ohio. “I am sure that he wishes as much as I do that this incident had never occurred.”

“Denise (Hirschbeck’s wife) and I speak today with the hope of putting the events of this past week to rest, and to begin the process of healing and restoration. It is time to bring closure to this matter,” he said.

Alomar, who issued a written apology last week, was glad to hear Hirschbeck had forgiven him.

“I hope this puts everything behind us. I hope that I can meet with him and his family to tell him how sorry I was that this happened,” Alomar said in the Baltimore clubhouse after the Orioles defeated the Indians 4-3 in 12 innings to win their American League playoff series.

Cleveland dreads Baltimore

Baltimore added insult to injury.

After losing its pro football team to Baltimore, Cleveland saw the Indians’ World Series hopes shattered by the Orioles.

And to make things worse, it was Roberto Alomar who homered in the 12th inning as the Orioles won the A.L. playoff series.

Alomar tied Saturday’s game in the ninth with a two-out RBI single before hitting his game-winning homer. The fact that his suspension did not go into effect for the postseason touched off angry reactions from many fans, including those in Cleveland.

“The biggest insult wasn’t losing to Baltimore, it was that it had to be Alomar,” said Gina Sigmund, 28, of Bedford Heights, Ohio. “He shouldn’t even have been in the game. What he did was wrong.”

Lasorda may go home

Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who underwent surgery to clear a blocked artery on Friday, could go home as early as today.

Lasorda, 68, was resting comfortably at Centinela Hospital Medical Center, where he underwent the angioplasty, team spokesman Jay Lucas said.

Lasorda hoped to be released today, the first birthday of his granddaughter, Emily Tess Goldberg, Lucas said.

Dr. Anthony Reid performed the angioplasty to reopen an artery that was operated on on June 26.

Florida owner can’t wait

The hiring of Jim Leyland has made Florida Marlins president Don Smiley eager for the off-season to end, even though it has barely begun.

“Spring training is about 130 days away,” Smiley said, “and we’re ready to go.”

Not so fast. Leyland might be just the first of several big-name additions for the Marlins in the coming months. By March, their roster could be positively star-studded.

Leyland rejected offers from three other teams this week, joining the Marlins because owner Wayne Huizenga wants to win and is willing to pursue high-priced players in the off-season.

“Wayne has made a commitment he would spend money if the situation is right,” Leyland said. “He’s given me no open checkbook to sign players, but there’s a possibility some things could happen.”