Mike Piazza might not be in the New York Mets' lineup on opening day. The crosstown rival Yankees aren't sure when Steve Karsay will pitch again.
Piazza and Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota were suspended for five games each and fined on Monday for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl last week during an exhibition game.
The suspensions will start on opening day unless they are appealed. Piazza was fined US$3,000 and Mota US$1,500, while Mets outfielder Jeromy Burnitz was fined US$500 by baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson.
PHOTO: AP
``Naturally I'm disappointed in the ruling,'' Piazza said in a statement. ``I have seven days to weigh my options. I plan to use that time to decide what course of action I will take.''
Karsay, the Yankees' top right-handed setup man, has a sore right shoulder and won't pitch until the pain subsides.
He looked tentative in walking one batter over a scoreless inning Sunday against Houston, his first outing since hurting the shoulder March 3 in his initial outing of the spring.
``This morning he felt something,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said Monday. ``He said warming up and in the game he didn't feel anything. But the fact he came in with a little cranky shoulder -- we just need to shut him down.''
Torre said trainer Gene Monahan recommended rest and treatment, but the manager didn't rule out any tests.
Karsay is coming off back surgery in November. If he is sidelined during the regular season it could really cost the Yankees, who lost relievers Ramiro Mendoza and Mike Stanton in the offseason.
A key holdover in a revamped bullpen, Karsay's job is often to pitch the eighth inning -- sometimes more -- and set up All-Star closer Mariano Rivera. It's an especially important role considering New York's aging rotation, which includes 40-year-old Roger Clemens, 39-year-old David Wells and 34-year-old Mike Mussina.
Karsay was second on the team to Stanton last year with 78 appearances. The right-hander even filled in as the primary closer while Rivera was injured and finished the season with 12 saves.
Red Sox 9, Indians 4
At Fort Myers, Florida, Tim Wakefield gave up his first runs this spring, but the Boston knuckleballer pitched well again. He allowed two runs in five innings, striking out four. Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez homered on back-to-back pitches.
Expos 4, Dodgers 1
At Vero Beach, Florida, Los Angeles closer Eric Gagne, pitching in a game for the first time in two weeks, had his third injury of the spring when he was struck in the right calf with a line drive.
Gagne, who had an a medical resonance imaging exam for a sore groin muscle last month and another for a stiff lower back earlier this month, threw just five pitches before being hit with a ball off the bat of Scott Hodges. Gagne was diagnosed with a bruised calf and hopes to pitch again tomorrow as originally scheduled.
Darren Dreifort allowed two earned runs and six hits in four innings, with six strikeouts and two walks.
Orioles 7, Mets 4, 8 innings, rain
At Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Rick Helling allowed one run in five innings and Baltimore hit three homers off New York's beleaguered pitching staff. Jeff Conine, Jerry Hairston and Marty Cordova homered for the Orioles.
Tigers (ss) 4, Blue Jays 4, 10 innings
At Dunedin, Florida, Warren Morris hit a three-run double in a four-run ninth for Detroit. Former NBA player Mark Hendrickson, trying to win a job in Toronto's rotation, allowed six hits in four shutout innings.
Twins 5, Pirates 4
At Bradenton, Florida, Shane Andrews' two-run homer in the ninth, the first runs off Pirates reliever Duaner Sanchez this spring, rallied Minnesota.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care