DODGERS: BEIMEL A LOSER IN ARBITRATION.

Byline: TONY JACKSON 

Staff Writer

The Dodgers had forgiven Joe Beimel. But that didn't mean they had forgotten.

Four months after the left-handed reliever cut his pitching hand on a glass while drinking in a bar two nights before the club's playoff opener -- making him unavailable for what became a three-game sweep by the New York Mets -- the Dodgers won their arbitration case against Beimel, leaving him with a $912,500 salary for this season.

Although it is unclear how much that well-publicized incident played into the decision by a three-person panel, club officials acknowledged it was used against Beimel during Friday's hearing in Phoenix.

The panel rendered its decision Saturday.

"Certainly, it was a part of his season," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "We would have been remiss in not mentioning it, considering the impact it had on the team, on the organization and on the fans."

That incident aside, Beimel was a key figure in the Dodgers' run to the National League wild-card last year and also brought a professional attitude to the clubhouse. Called to the majors May 1, he stayed the rest of the season and posted a 2.96 ERA in 62 appearances in what was easily his best season.

But after cutting himself in that Manhattan bar in the wee hours of Oct. 3 -- and after initially telling team officials the incident happened in his hotel room -- Beimel was sent back to Los Angeles for treatment. He apologized to teammates in a closed-door meeting before Game 3, but was then sent home from Dodger Stadium by Colletti and manager Grady Little.

Soon after, Beimel expressed public remorse over the incident, and Dodgers officials made it clear that all was forgiven.

But when the two sides couldn't agree on a contract for this season -- Beimel made $425,000 last year and was seeking $1.25 million this year -- the Dodgers were free to rehash the incident in their first arbitration hearing in three years.

It is believed the Dodgers also played up the fact Beimel, who has just more than four years of big-league service time, had a nondescript career before lastseason.

Beimel chose, as most players do, to attend the hearing. Such hearings often lead to hurt feelings because everything said about the players by attorneys arguing for the club is negative. But Joe Sroba, Beimel's Richmond, Va.-based agent, said his client was at peace and ready to go to spring training.

"A lot of players get shaken up by this process, win or lose, but Joe was very mature about it," Sroba said. "You never know how different someone is going to be wearing a suit instead of a uniform, especially given that this was his first time to go through this process. But Joe was very professional."

Colletti and assistant general manager Kim Ng said they each shook hands with Beimel before and after the hearing. Sroba said he called Ng shortly after the decision came down to congratulate her and Colletti. Ng confirmed that she received such a call from Sroba.

The Dodgers made a last-ditch effort to avoid arbitration, making a final offer slightly above the club's filing number just after the parties arrived Thursday night in Phoenix. It isn't clear what that offer was, but Sroba said, "It wasn't tempting."

Both sides said there were never any talks of a multi-year contract for Beimel.

The Dodgers now have about $103 million, including signing bonuses, committed to 18 players for this coming season.

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Joe Beimel will earn $912,500 with the Dodgers this season, due to an arbitrator's ruling. He was seeking $1.25 million.

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

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AP