Posted on Sun, May. 11, 2008
Punchless (at the plate) in Seattle
As if the offensive-challenged Seattle Mariners didn't have enough problems, they are losing their top power hitter, Richie Sexson.
The veteran first baseman was fined and suspended for six games by Major League Baseball on Friday, a day after he charged a Texas pitcher. After an appeal, the suspension was reduced from six games to five. The Mariners said Sexson would begin the suspension with last night's game against the Chicago White Sox. He will miss the final two games of the series against the White Sox, and all three games Monday through Wednesday against the Rangers in Texas.
Sexson charged the mound and flung his helmet off the back of Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard after the lefthander threw an eye-high pitch to him. The benches cleared, and there was a lot of tackling, but no Dave Schultz-type punches were thrown.
Bob Watson, MLB's vice president in charge of discipline, cited Sexson for "violent and aggressive actions."
The Mariners thought Gabbard was retaliating for a teammate, Ian Kinsler, who had been hit by a pitch after homering earlier in the game.
Gabbard "can hit corners at will," Sexson said. "I'm 6-8 - and all of a sudden it's up that high? I'm a huge target; how hard is it to hit me in the back or the thigh? You get up around my face, it's not good."
A-Rod update
Alex Rodriguez is making progress in his rehab from a strained right quadriceps, and the third baseman could rejoin the Yankees by the end of the week. For the Yankees, that's the good news.
The bad news: Rodriguez's replacement, Wilson Betemit, left yesterday's 5-2 win over Detroit after straining his right hamstring following a fourth-inning double.
Rodriguez, the three-time AL MVP, is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow and is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Thursday, so don't expect the Yanks to make a deal for, say, Wes Helms.
If Rodriguez gets the go-ahead after his MRI, he could be cleared to start playing rehab games in extended spring training. He took 65 swings in batting practice yesterday and fielded 31 grounders at during a workout at the Yanks' minor-league complex.
Give me a "T". . .Give me an "O". . ..
Toronto centerfielder Vernon Wells will miss six to eight weeks with a broken left wrist suffered when he made a diving catch in Friday's game against Cleveland.
"I want to stay with the team and give my support," said Wells, who leads the Blue Jays in homers (5) and RBIs (24). "I'm a part of this team, though for a while it's going to be as a cheerleader."
The Jays, hit by a rash of injuries, also placed reliever Jeremy Accardo on the DL with tightness in his right forearm.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.
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