TAMPA – Major League Baseball has ordered Reggie Jackson out of uniform for the remainder of spring training games after the Hall of Famer was on the field during this past Wednesday’s altercation.
Jackson, who was on the field dressed in gray baseball pants, windbreaker and Yankees hat, was fined $250 by MLB. Jackson, a special advisor during the season, also doubles as a spring training instructor.
“I am going to call Bud (Selig) today,” said Jackson, who explained he was on the field in the role of a peacemaker. “I called him (Saturday) and left a message. I was trying to make peace. I didn’t have my number (44) on but I had the windbreaker that a lot of guys wear. (Don) Zimmer was on the field. He walked out; I jogged.”
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Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg responded to Hank Steinbrenner saying Friday that he doesn’t want teams like the Rays to forget who subsidizes them.
“Off the field, we are partners in trying to strengthen and grow the game of baseball,” Sternberg told the St. Petersburg Times via e-mail. “On the field, we expect our teams will compete with energy and passion, and none of us – whether as an owner, a player or a fan – would want it any other way.”
Joe Maddon refused to talk about Steinbrenner’s comments.
“He is the owner and he has the right to say that,” Maddon said. “That’s their right to say that.”
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Umpires didn’t issue a warning before the game after doing so this past Wednesday.
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Ian Kennedy pitched a scoreless first and third innings but gave up two runs in the second when Eric Hinske and Chris Richard homered.
Kennedy says he needs to get his adrenaline out to avoid shaky beginnings which have been a problem going back to his high school days.
Kei Igawa hurt his chances of making the team by giving up five hits and three runs in three innings. One of the hits was a towering homer off the hitting backdrop in center field by Hector Gimenez.
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Yankees added non-roster invite Billy Traber to the 40-man roster yesterday and placed Andrew Brackman on the 60-day DL. Traber had an out clause in his contract at the end of the camp and has an option remaining.
Asked if Traber looked at the move as an indication he has a chance to be the lone lefty in the bullpen, Traber said, “Definitely not, there is still a lot of spring left.”
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Maddon may not approve of Shelley Duncan’s method of sliding into second base but the Rays manager believes Duncan is a good person thanks to having spent time conducting clinics in Europe with is father, Dave, and brother, Chris.
“I know from the family background that he is a good person,” Maddon said.
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Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman said yesterday that they hadn’t seen the videotape used by MLB to suspend Melky Cabrera. Cashman said it was up to the players to decide to appeal their three-game suspensions.
“I haven’t seen the video but Melky says he didn’t do it,” Cashman said.
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Rays ace Scott Kazmir’s first start of the spring was slated for today but he was pushed back indefinitely because the Rays want the lefty to build arm strength.
“He is fine, there is nothing wrong,” Maddon said of Kazmir, who hasn’t pitched in a game yet due to an elbow problem. “We wanted his arm stronger before we put him in a game. This definitely knocks him out of the Opening Day assignment.”