Ortiz drops suspension appeal
By Bob Hohler, Globe Staff | August 2, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing their second game in the post-Nomar Garciaparra era, the Red Sox yesterday were missing another potent bat with David Ortiz out of the lineup. Ortiz decided before the game to begin serving his five-game suspension for a tirade in Anaheim, Calif., July 16 after it became clear Major League Baseball planned to reject his appeal.
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"What can I do?" Ortiz said. "I tried to get a game or two [taken off], but they didn't want to listen to me."
Ortiz spent more than two hours last week in Baltimore in a hearing with MLB officials arguing for a lighter suspension. But they apparently saw no reason for leniency. Ortiz, vehemently protesting a called third strike, pushed manager Terry Francona into plate umpire Matt Hollowell and tossed two bats from the dugout toward umpires Mark Carlson and Bill Hohn. He also was fined $4,000.
Rather than wait for an official ruling, the lefthanded-hitting Ortiz chose to start his suspension as the Sox entered a stretch in which they face four lefthanded starters in five games, starting yesterday with Twins ace Johan Santana. The Sox will face lefties Mark Hendrickson tonight and John Halama Wednesday in Tampa Bay and expect to see lefthander Mike Maroth Friday in Detroit.
"This is the way we saw as least painful," Francona said. "I hope it is."
Ortiz has hit .256 this year against lefthanders and .336 against righthanders. He has homered four times in 129 at-bats against lefties and 23 times in 268 at-bats against righties. No Sox player had appeared in more games this year than Ortiz (99) before he began serving his suspension.
With Ortiz out, Orlando Cabrera made his Sox debut in the third spot in the lineup and homered off Santana in his first at-bat. Francona indicated he is likely to bat Cabrera third during Ortiz's suspension and then would consider moving Cabrera into the fifth spot, formerly occupied by Garciaparra. The versatile Cabrera hit second, third, fourth, and fifth for the Expos.Blind spot
With Johnny Damon saying he is color blind and unable to clearly track fly balls in the Metrodome during the day, the Sox made last-minute changes to the lineup, shifting Damon to designated hitter, moving Gabe Kapler from right field to center, and using Kevin Millar as the right fielder instead of the DH.
Damon, who had not started as a DH since at least 2002, said, "It just seemed like every ball that was hit in batting practice, I had no clue. I've always had trouble with it, but it seems like it's a little bit worse now."
Damon, 30, said his vision may be affected by the aging process and indicated he may see an eye specialist.
"It probably wouldn't hurt," he said. "I saw one in spring training because I had a little blind spot the first part of spring training."
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He said his problems could be related to the serious concussion he suffered last year colliding with Damian Jackson in the Division Series in Oakland.
"It would not have done our team any good if I was out there [in center field]," he said. "It would have been a blowout because I just couldn't see anything, not even the easy ones. Mark Malaska was shagging better than I was."
Damon said he does not anticipate problems in the dome at Tampa Bay because the conditions are better, particularly for night games.
Delayed reaction
The Sox need not worry about losing Jason Varitek, Kapler, or Trot Nixon any time soon to the suspensions they received for their roles in the July 24 brawl at Fenway Park with the Yankees. Hearings on their appeals have been scheduled for Aug. 26. That made it easier to send catcher/ first baseman Andy Dominique back to Triple A Pawtucket to make room for Cabrera without worrying about needing a backup for Doug Mirabelli if Varitek were to miss time. The Sox hope their appeals are not resolved until after Sept. 1, when they can expand their 25-man roster . . . Outfielder Dave Roberts, who was acquired Saturday from the Dodgers for Triple A outfielder Henri Stanley, tried to join the Sox in Minnesota but was stalled by a fatal accident on Interstate 5 in California. He is scheduled to join the team today in Tampa Bay. Roberts, who stole 95 bases over the previous two seasons and has swiped 33 this season, will add another dimension to the Sox with his speed. Though Roberts primarily has played center field, he is expected to play all three outfield positions for the Sox. Kevin Youkilis is likely to return to Pawtucket to make room for Roberts . . . Francona faces a delicate balancing act trying to mix in the new players while maintaining harmony with incumbents such as Millar, Kapler, and David McCarty. He started all three yesterday, including McCarty at first base over newly acquired former Gold Glover Doug Mientkiewicz.
Striking match
Pedro Martinez fanned 11 batters, marking the 68th time he has struck out 10 or more in a game for the Sox, tying him with Roger Clemens for the club record. Martinez's strikeout of Lew Ford in the third inning was the 2,563d of his career, tying him with Tim Keefe for 23d all time. Bob Feller ranks 22d with 2,581 . . . Manny Ramirez's solo shot off Santana in the fourth was the 375th home run of his career, matching Mike Piazza for 55th all time . . . While Scott Williamson's elbow apparently has healed, he has yet to regain his command in three rehab outings for Pawtucket. The Sox hoped one outing would be enough, but he has allowed five earned runs in two innings over the three outings. In his latest appearance Saturday, Williamson allowed a walk and a run-scoring double while striking out two in one inning of a 10-2 loss to Columbus. He also fired a wild pitch. Though opponents have hit only .133 (2 for 15) against him, he has walked six and hit one batter. He is expected to try again for Pawtucket as soon as today. "He's just not quite where he needs to be," Francona said. "I think he acknowledges he needs some more work." . . . A team source said the complex, four-team deal involving Garciaparra would not have been completed had the Sox rejected a request by the Cubs for Single A outfielder Matt Murton. The 32d pick overall in last year's draft out of Georgia Tech, Murton signed with the Sox for just over $1 million. He showed considerable promise at Single A, batting .301 with 11 homers, 55 RBIs, and a .372 on-base percentage . . . The three-game series drew a total attendance of 113,297, the most for a three-game series at the Metrodome since 116,365 turned out to see the Twins play the Sox Aug. 16-18, 2002.
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