ANAHEIM – The Yankees expect Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez to get suspended for his role in Monday night’s altercation with Angels outfielder Torii Hunter.
“We get guys suspended for less,” GM Brian Cashman said yesterday. “This time there were swings.”
Rodriguez and Hunter were ejected in the sixth inning of the 12-1 Angels victory.
Hunter bumped Rodriguez on a tag play at the plate, Rodriguez responded by using his mitt to get Hunter off him.
Hunter then pushed Rodriguez from behind and Rodriguez missed Hunter with an open-handed slap.
Calls yesterday to Bob Watson, MLB’s top cop, weren’t immediately returned. The league office is expected to discipline Hunter and Rodriguez today.
Considering MLB hasn’t given Edwar Ramirez a date for his appeal of a three-game suspension he received on July 31, today’s announcement is swift.
According to Joe Girardi, Rodriguez wasn’t in last night’s lineup due to a stiff neck.
“He has a little whiplash,” said Girardi, who used Chad Moeller to catch Alfredo Aceves. “He said he was available but not feeling great.”
Rodriguez said it was nothing serious.
“I feel good, it’s a little sore but not a big deal,” said Rodriguez, who has never been suspended. “I don’t know, we will see (about a suspension).”
According to Rodriguez, Hunter and him met Monday night and apologized to each other.
As for others who may face disciplinary action, Dan Giese was very active in the scrum although he appeared to be playing the role of a peacemaker by holding Hunter back.
“I don’t think it will be anybody else,” Girardi said. “Nobody else got ejected.”
Andy Pettitte isn’t discounting his hectic offseason in which he was named in the Mitchell Report and testified in front of Congress about buddy Roger Clemens as a reason he hasn’t had the type of year he expected.
“I feel beaten up this year, maybe. I wasn’t able to work out, you know what I went through,” said Pettitte, who was behind at the beginning of spring training. “There were times I didn’t want to leave the house never mind work out.”
Pettitte, a free agent, says he wants to decide quickly this winter whether to play again.
He is 13-12 with a 4.49 ERA and is encouraged that his left elbow, a problem throughout his career, feels fine.
Cashman, who made a rare West Coast swing, flew home yesterday ahead of the Yankees, who leave today after the game.
According to Girardi, Joba Chamberlain won’t pitch winter ball.
Jeter has been nominated for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award which is given to a player for on-field performance and contributions to his community.
Pitching coach Dave Eiland, who passed out in the dugout Monday night, was back to full duty last night. Eiland was suffering from a cold, didn’t eat and was taking medication. He was examined and allowed to resume working.