Sidney Ponson was dropped to the fourth spot in the Orioles’ rotation, a decision manager Lee Mazzilli insisted is not a disciplinary measure for his off-the-field behavior.
Ponson spent 11 days in an Aruba jail after he punched a judge in a Christmas Day brawl, and was arrested in Florida less than a month later for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Then on Tuesday the right-hander hurt his pitching hand in a scuffle that Ponson contends was started by an intoxicated man in a restaurant.
After he returned to Aruba to stand trial on assault charges, Ponson’s spring training debut was delayed while he waited to obtain a work visa. He is 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA in eight innings, numbers that led Mazzilli to put Ponson behind Rodrigo Lopez, Daniel Cabrera and Erik Bedard in the starting rotation.
“One, he’s missed a little bit and I want to make sure he’s stretched out,” Mazzilli said Saturday. “I looked at the matchups, and that the other kids got past what they need to get past, innings-wise.”
Lopez and Bedard have each pitched 21 innings this spring, and Cabrera has gone 17. Cabrera has a 3.00 ERA and Bedard is 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA.
Asked if the decision was partially motivated by a desire to discipline the pitcher, Mazzilli replied, “You look at things, you put things in perspective, and you never want to cut your nose to spite your face and do something rash. You’ve got to think what the right move is for the club and what I think is the best way to go.”
Phillies hurting
Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton and Marlon Byrd still are sidelined as the Phillies enter the final week of spring training.
Thome is day-to-day with a lower back strain. He will continue therapy but hasn’t been cleared to take batting practice. Thome has missed the last four games after being scratched from the lineup Wednesday. It’s likely he’ll be ready for the season opener against Washington on April 4.
Lofton, out since March 11 with a strained left hamstring, is improving and will continue taking batting practice. He is also day-to-day, but it’s unlikely he’ll start the season in Philadelphia.
Byrd hasn’t played since dislocating his right ring finger last Sunday. He hit off a tee Saturday, but will continue altered activity for the next week. His status for the opener is uncertain.
TEAM, SYNOPSIS
Atlanta Braves
With game vs. Mets rained out, OF Raul Mondesi took batting practice, ran bases and ran sprints about 70% full speed as he neared returning from right hamstring injury suffered last week.
Kansas City Royals
LHP Jimmy Gobble, competing for rotation spot, took loss in 8-3 Mariners win, giving up 5 ERs and 6 hits in 3 1/3 innings. “That’s the worst he has pitched this spring,” manager Tony Pena said.
Philadelphia Phillies
Rookie RHP Gavin Floyd, impressive in camp until now, yielded Jose Castillo’s 3-run HR while giving up 8 runs and 9 hits in 3 innings Saturday in 9-7 loss to Pirates. “I feel like I lost focus,” Floyd said.
Toronto Blue Jays
RHP Josh Towers, who had allowed only 4 runs in 14 previous innings, gave up 7 runs and 14 hits in 4 1/3 innings of 9-3 loss to Reds. “It was so hot it drained me,” said Towers of the 85-degree day.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
RHP Jorge Sosa pitched 4 perfect innings in 4-0 victory over Red Sox. Sosa, making 1st spring start in place of LHP Scott Kazmir, “did a nice job,” manager Lou Piniella said. “It was impressive.”
Detroit Tigers
Bobby Higginson, his release rumored to be near, had 2 hits, giving him 7 this spring, in 7-4 loss to Indians. “I don’t even want to comment,” manager Alan Trammell said. “Higgy doesn’t deserve that.”
Baltimore Orioles
Jay Gibbons had 2 hits and 2 RBIs in 7-3 victory over Marlins in a game that ended after 7 1/2 innings after Orioles, who scored 5 runs in 7th, had used up all 6 pitchers they took to Jupiter, Fla.
Milwaukee Brewers
Lyle Overbay hit 2-run HR and made 2 spectacular catches in foul territory in 8-3 win over Giants. While he missed 2 other popups, manager Ned Yost was satisfied: “Those were tough plays.”
Colorado Rockies
Shawn Chacon allowed only 1 hit in 4 innings of 7-6 win over Cubs to solidify spot in rotation “I kind of lobbied to get out there another inning, but that was all they wanted from me and I accomplished that, so leave it at that,” said Chacon, who threw 51 pitches.
Minnesota Twins
LHP Johan Santana scattered 3 hits in 5 2/3 innings and struck out 6 in 5-3 loss to Yankees. Santana allowed 2 runners in 1st inning, then sent Yankees down in order in each of next 4 innings. “Everything was working out pretty good,” Santana said.
