Detroit Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez was suspended for four games Friday for arguing with the plate umpire during a game against Oakland last week. Rodriguez was also fined an undisclosed sum. His suspension was scheduled to begin Friday night, but he said he would appeal. Rodriguez was ejected in the fourth inning of the Tigers' 9-5 loss on July 30 for arguing balls and strikes. He then went chest to chest with umpire Ted Barrett, touching him on the shoulder with his mask. Manager Alan Trammell tried to break up the argument, and Rodriguez threw his mask before leaving the game. When he returned to the dugout, Rodriguez tossed a bag of balls and his shin guards onto the field. "It was a pretty serious offense because he was throwing stuff out of the dugout," Barrett said after the game.