Lovullo serves one-game suspension

SAN FRANCISCO -- Arizona manager Torey Lovullo was somewhere in AT&T Park for Tuesday night's game against the Giants. He just wasn't in the D-backs dugout, having been suspended one game by Major League Baseball for his role in Sunday's dustup with St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
Lovullo was suspended and fined an undisclosed amount for inappropriate actions and told reporters he agreed with the discipline.
"I support that," Lovullo said before Tuesday's game. "I made some mistakes. I'm passionate. I do things because of that passion that might be done the wrong way, and I said the wrong things and I think that led to the whole thing. I have to serve the suspension and I will do it."
Bench coach Jerry Narron served as the D-backs' interim manager while Lovullo served his suspension.
Lovullo and Molina got into a heated exchange in the second inning of Arizona's game in St. Louis, moments after Lovullo was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. During his discussion with home-plate umpire Tim Timmons, Lovullo motioned in Molina's direction and uttered a profane word that set the eight-time All-Star catcher into a rage.
Molina was also hit with a one-game suspension for bumping an umpire but is appealing and remains eligible to play until the appeal is heard.
Lovullo was playing basketball with some of his staff at nearby UC Berkeley when he was notified by Joe Torre, MLB's chief baseball officer, of the suspension. The two men spoke for about 15 minutes, with Torre doing the majority of talking.
Lovullo did inquire about an appeal, even though managers are not allowed to appeal.
"I asked Joe that on the phone and he said, 'I am the one you'd appeal it with and there's zero chance this will get overturned,' so we had a good chuckle," Lovullo said. "I respect Joe Torre on a pretty incredible level and we have a very good relationship that I'm thankful for. What he did give me was one minute to explain myself. There's some conflicting things as to what happened. I know what happened and I'll stand by that."
Lovullo had not figured out where he would watch the game from when talking to reporters almost two hours before the game. He was allowed to be with the team up until first pitch then had to exit the clubhouse.
"I don't know where I'm going to watch the game or how I'm going to watch the game but I'm going to because I want to be around these guys and see what they do," Lovullo said. "I haven't quite determined what I'm going to do but I'd like to be around. I'm going to probably stay around.
"I'll get a different perspective. I know Jerry's in a situation that he's been in before. This team is in very capable hands with Jerry and I know that he's excited about it so I want to totally step away from any part of it and allow these guys to do their job."
• Infielder Jake Lamb, out with a sprained left AC joint, took swings off a tee and fielded ground balls on his knees before Tuesday's game. Lamb will have a day off Wednesday before taking more swings in the cage and ground balls in the field. The D-backs have not determined if Lamb will need a rehab stint in the Minors before returning.