The Commissioner's Office has fined Cardinals manager Tony La Russa an unspecified amount for critical in-game comments made during Sunday's telecast of the team's Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Major League Baseball's vice-president for on-field operations Joe Torre spoke with La Russa Monday and notified him of the fine, according to a source familiar with the situation. La Russa declined comment Monday regarding any recrimination for his alleging that plate umpire Jerry Meals was employing different strike zones for starting pitchers Chris Carpenter and Cliff Lee during Sunday's Game 2.

Carpenter allowed four runs in three innings before being lifted. The Cardinals bullpen followed with six shutout innings in which it allowed one hit.

Lee eventually suffered the loss by failing to hold a 4-0 lead.

Speaking from the team's dugout during the game, La Russa told TBS, "I would add -- which could get me in trouble, but I'm going to add anyway -- is that we are pitching to two different strike zones."

La Russa also appeared to debate Meals regarding his zone during a second-inning mound visit.

Though MLB did not disclose the amount of the fine, it does not approach the amounts typically levied by the NBA and NFL against coaches who criticize officiating. The amount was described by a source as "four figures."

This isn't the first time La Russa has found controversy regarding umpires during the postseason. In 2005, La Russa called out plate umpire Wally Bell the day before Game 3 of the NL Championship Series about the strike zone he would afford Houston Astros starting pitcher Roger Clemens. La Russa was ejected from Game 4 for confronting Phil Cuzzi about balls and strikes.

La Russa was ejected from that game following a four-pitch walk of Lance Berkman, the Cardinals' starting right fielder today.