LEFTOVERS: Catcher goes ‘Tyson’ on infielder

There’s no crying in baseball, but there is biting.

Perhaps, fired up by some old Mike Tyson footage, Albuquerque catcher Miguel Olivo bit off a part of teammate Alex Guerrero’s ear during a fight in the dugout Tuesday night in the Isotopes’ 7-4 loss at Salt Lake City.

Olivo, 35, is clearly “chomping” at the bit to get back to the big leagues, but the Los Angeles Dodgers farmhand might’ve bitten off more than he can chew in the ugly incident — which is ear-ily similar to the infamous 1997 fight in which Tyson chomped off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear.

Guerrero, an infielder from Cuba who signed a $28 million, four-year deal with the Dodgers in October, was taken to a local hospital. His agent, Scott Boras, told ESPN.com that his client was scheduled to have plastic surgery on his ear. If he wants a second opinion, Holyfield is always willing to lend an ear.

According to ESPN.com, Guerrero told Salt Lake City police he didn’t want to file a report until after talking to a lawyer. He might still believe in the notion that to ear is human, to forgive is divine.

The Dodgers on Wednesday suspended Olivo pending an investigation.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the argument began when Olivo became upset that Guerrero failed to tag out a runner at second after a throw from Olivo — who confronted Guerrero on the mound during a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The disagreement continued in the dugout in the top of the eighth, when the altercation became physical.

“Olivo was stressed about it,” Boras said. “They had some words going into the dugout. Guerrero was in the far end of the dugout. He went to the front to get his bat and helmet to hit. As he walked across, Olivo decked him.”

Boras said the players had to be separated by teammates, and when they pulled off Olivo, he had a piece of Guerrero’s ear in his mouth.

Olivo — a 13-year big-league veteran who has appeared in eight games this season for Los Angeles — has exploded on the field before, charging at Jose Reyes and missing him with a wild punch during a 2007 altercation between the Marlins and Mets.

The 27-year-old Guerrero, who was beaten out for the Dodgers’ starting second base job by Dee Gordon in spring training, is batting .376 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in the Pacific Coast League.

Guerrero, who has played second base and shortstop for Albuquerque, reportedly can’t catch an ear of corn.

Olivo will no doubt catch an earful from fans when and if he returns. The 51s host the Isotopes in a four-game series beginning July 11.

Sources said Guerrero could miss five weeks as the Dodgers will no doubt ear on the side of caution when it comes to their high-priced prospect.

If the incident spells the end of Olivo’s baseball career, he can always give boxing a try.

Either way, one day he’ll have a cautionary tale to tell his grandchildren: “A teammate once tried to fight me. I ate his ear with some fava beans and a nice chianti.”

COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL