Fielder Meant To Say That He’d Sleep On It

Cecil Fielder woke up Sunday morning to a pair of surprises. First, he found out he was locked into staying with the New York Yankees, then he learned he was late for work.

No surprise, neither side seemed overjoyed when the slugger walked into the clubhouse shortly before noon, 2-1/2 hours tardy and scratched from the lineup for the exhibition game against Philadelphia.

“We don’t want any distractions from here on out,” said Yankees manager Joe Torre, who indicated Fielder will be disciplined. “It’s time to play baseball.”

Fielder blamed his absence on a miscommunication with his agent. The mix-up came Saturday evening shortly before the Yankees essentially called Fielder’s bluff, a move that meant Big Daddy will be back as their designated hitter.

Fielder, 33, had until midnight to decide whether to drop his trade demand or become a free agent and lose his $7.2 million salary in 1997.

Owner George Steinbrenner offered a contract extension, but Fielder did not like the terms. At 11:59 p.m., with Fielder’s future uncertain, agent Bob Gilhooley rescinded the trade demand.

“I just feel like, hey, it didn’t work out,” Fielder said. “I’m under contract with the Yankees. I’m making an abundance of money.”

Now in right field …

Rudy Pemberton has gone from a statistical oddity to the Boston Red Sox’ regular right-fielder.

The 27-year-old native of the Dominican Republic hit .512 last season, going 21 for 41 during his September call-up. That’s a major-league record for players with more than 30 at-bats, beating Tripp Sigman’s 15-for-29 performance in 1929.

Pemberton also stole 20 bases in 1996, with success on three out of four attempts in the majors. Despite a groin strain that has sidelined him since Wednesday, Pemberton is batting .417 with two homers this spring, and Red Sox manager Jimy Williams decided there was no reason to delay his decision.

“He looks comfortable out there. He’s played well,” Williams said. “Can he sustain what he’s doing? There’s only one way to see, and that’s keep him out there.”

Tigers pick ex-Indian

Doug Brocail, just 11-22 in the major leagues, has been picked to start the Detroit Tigers’ season opener at Minnesota on April 1.

“I see a guy who competes,” Tigers manager Buddy Bell said. “He doesn’t have a lot of experience. But the way he’s pitched down here, I just feel comfortable leading off with him.”

Brocail, obtained in that nine-man December deal with the Houston Astros, has been limited by injuries to just 98 games since breaking in with San Diego in 1992. This spring, he has allowed just three earned runs in 11 innings over four outings.

Brocail began his procareer at Spokane in 1986.

Padres trade one

Former Spokane Indians infielder Luis Lopez was acquired by Houston Astros from the San Diego Padres for left-handed pitcher Sean Runyan.

Coming off a serious leg injury, Lopez, 26, played in 63 games for the Padres in 1996 and batted .180.

Mariners split

Jay Buhner’s 430-foot, two-run homer capped a five-run rally in the seventh inning as the Seattle Mariners rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 12-8 Sunday night at Peoria, Ariz.

Edgar Martinez drove in three runs, two on a single in the seventh, in Seattle’s second split-squad game of the day.

Doug Glanville went 3 for 4, hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the Mariners 9-5 in the afternoon game at Peoria.