Sanchez back in lineup for Devil Rays
around the horn
Alex Sanchez returned from a 10-day suspension for violating baseball’s new policy on performance-enhancing drugs Thursday and was in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ lineup against the Baltimore Orioles.
The first player to be disciplined under the tougher rules started in center field and batted third. There was hardly any reaction from the small crowd at Tropicana Field when Sanchez came to the plate in the first inning and hit into a force play.
Sanchez missed eight games during the suspension, which began April 4 – the day Tampa Bay opened the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. He lost $32,787 of his $600,000 salary and is eager to put behind him the stigma of being the first player publicly cited for failing a drug test under the stricter guidelines.
“I’m done with my suspension, so now I’m just focused on playing baseball. I’m leaving everything else behind,” said Sanchez, who was tested during spring training while he was with the Detroit Tigers.
Sheffield quarrels with fan
New York Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield got into a brief scuffle with a fan at Fenway Park during the game against the Boston Red Sox.
Sheffield was fielding Jason Varitek’s two-run triple along the right-field fence in the eighth inning when a fan swung a short uppercut in his direction, appearing to graze the side of the slugger’s face with his right arm.
After Sheffield picked up the ball, he shoved the fan before throwing the ball back into the infield. Then he whirled around with a cocked fist, but restrained himself and began shouting in the man’s face.
Sheffield did not throw a punch at the fan, and a security official quickly jumped in to separate the two.
Reese’s progress slow
Pokey Reese may not be suiting up for the Seattle Mariners quite as soon as he or others expected. On the disabled list with a strained right shoulder since the season began, Reese threw for just the third time on Thursday, and didn’t appear to be throwing “all out” - or if he was, there wasn’t much there yet.
“He’s not ready to play,” trainer Rick Griffin said.
Manager Mike Hargrove suggested it may not be a quick rehabilitation assignment for the shortstop.
“I’m just guessing, but I think he’s going to need to play 10-15 games before he’s ready,” Hargrove said.
Twins get good news
The Minnesota Twins received encouraging reports about injured right-hander Carlos Silva and first baseman Justin Morneau.
Silva, initially expected to miss at least half the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee, had a throwing session and “looked very good,” manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Silva will make the road trip to Cleveland with the team and catch a flight from there to Beloit, Wis., on Saturday in preparation for a rehabilitation assignment that includes a start on Sunday with the Snappers of the Class-A Midwest League. Gardenhire said the plan is for Silva to come off the disabled list on April 22.
Morneau, who hasn’t played since being hit in the head by a pitch against Seattle on April 6, took batting practice for the first time since the beaning. Tests have shown that he does not have a concussion.
Francisco case delayed
The misdemeanor assault case against Texas reliever Frank Francisco for throwing a chair into the stands at an Oakland game last September was postponed because the judge was unavailable for personal reasons.
District attorney Erin Kingsbury said the case would be continued April 28. Both sides said they would discuss pleading out the case before then.