PEORIA, Ariz. – Apparently the sins of spring training can have regular-season repercussions.
At least they do for Cliff Lee.
The Seattle Mariners left-hander could have his much-anticipated debut delayed after being suspended five regular season games – starting on opening day – and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Wednesday.
The suspension was levied against Lee “for intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder,” during Monday’s game in Tucson against the Diamondbacks, according to the press release issued by MLB.
Lee was unavailable for comment after the suspension was announced, but both general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Don Wakamatsu believed that Lee would appeal the suspension.
“It is what it is,” Zduriencik said. “I’m sure Cliff is going to appeal it, and we’ll see where it takes us.”
For the Mariners, any future planning in terms of slotting the rotation will have to wait until the appeal is heard by MLB and Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball Bob Watson.
“Certainly, we’d like to get a definitive (answer) on this sooner or later so you can set your pitching,” Zduriencik said. “That’s in everyone’s best interest for the ball club, the other pitchers on staff and Cliff for that matter.”
Wakamatsu and his staff had planned on finalizing the rotation on March 30. So obviously that could change some things. Pitching coach Rick Adair had slotted out the starters’ spring training innings and appearances to fit with how the rotation would set up, especially for Lee and Felix Hernandez. With the suspension, that’s been thrown into some level of uncertainty.
“Now we’ll have to look at it a little bit more,” Wakamatsu said. “The effect would be how many times he is going to pitch in the first three series, that’s where the biggest detriment is if it stays the course.”
If Lee’s suspension stays at five games, it could not only affect those three series, but how the 25-man roster would set up coming out of spring training. Any chance of the Mariners carrying an 11-man pitching staff would be nullified.
Lee was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Brian Knight.
After the game, he maintained that the pitch got away from him and that he didn’t intentionally hit Snyder.
“I was trying to go inside and a couple got away from me,” he said.
Lee later said that he might have overthrown the fastball, but said he was not trying to deliver a message to Snyder.
Griffey’s pranks continue
Mariners catching coordinator Roger Hansen was walking along on the minor league fields of the Mariners spring training complex watching players work out when he was told by fellow coaches to check out the workouts on the No. 2 practice field.
As Hansen neared Field 2, he was surprised to find no players practicing. And then he glanced over at Field No. 1 astonished to see a gigantic picture of Hansen being hugged by a smiling Ken Griffey Jr. covering the entire center field wall that measures about 30 feet high and 60 feet wide.
“I get there and see that,” Hansen said. “I can’t tell you the words that were going through my mind.”
Hansen, who has achieved almost mythical status for his gruff demeanor and tough language when it comes to working with catchers, doesn’t exactly appear to be a willing participant in the hug. The picture was taken by team photographer Ben Van Houten.
And Griffey last week told reporters of his “greatest prank ever.” That prank was having the picture blown onto a silk screen similar to what is used on billboards and having it placed on the wall by the Mariners grounds crew.
Hansen tried to get Griffey back, by calling his mother, Birdie, on the phone to tell her what her son had done.
“That’s not right,” Griffey said. “He called the governor on me. That’s cheating.”
But Hansen isn’t satisfied.
“There will be repercussions,” Hansen said.
Wakamatsu didn’t recommend revenge as such a good idea.
“Everybody talks about getting Junior back, but nobody has the resources for that kind of stuff that he has,” Wakamatsu said. “So you don’t want to mention it.”
Griffey shrugged off such threats, saying: “You know that isn’t going to happen. I will just keep going. I’ve been in this league for 20 years, I have unlimited connections.”
On tap
Seattle will host the Colorado Rockies at 1:05 p.m., and left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith will get the start for the Mariners. Right-handers Mark Lowe, Sean White, David Pauley and Chad Cordero are also slated to pitch.
The game will be televised on Fox Sports Northwest. The station is picking up the Rockies broadcast from Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483
ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
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