HeraldNet: Sexson suspension cut to five games



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Mariners Blog

May 10, 2008

Sexson suspension cut to five games

Posted at 4:43 pm by By Kirby Arnold

In days gone by -- OK, until a couple of years ago -- players who were handed suspensions had to wait weeks before Major League Baseball heard their appeals. Now, when a player is suspended, MLB conducts a hearing within days via conference call.

In the case of Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson, that's a good thing and a bad thing.

Two days after Sexson charged the mound Thursday and was handed a six-game suspension, his case was heard this afternoon. The suspension was trimmed to five games and Sexson began serving it immediately.

MLB's quick handling of the matter is good in the sense that Sexson and the Mariners don't want it hanging any longer than possible. However, it could be a bummer tonight because he has a career .400 average against White Sox starter Javier Vazquez.

Still, Sexson said it's best to start serving the suspension now. He won't go on the road trip to Texas -- good thing, because the Rangers and their fans could be laying for him -- and will be eligible to play again Friday at Safeco Field against the Padres.

"I don't want to get hot in Augusst and then have to serve the suspension," Sexson said.

Mariners fans had better hope Sexson gets hot before August.

Other pregame notes:

With Sexson out, manager John McLaren said he would mix and match at first base. Tonight, he has Miguel Cairo playing first.

This is one of McLaren's more interesting lineups because he also has benched shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt for at least a game in an effort to temper his wild-swinging tendency. Willie Bloomquist is starting at short. Here's the lineup:

Ichiro Suzuki, center field
Willie Bloomquist, shortstop
Adrian Beltre, third base
Raul Ibanez, left field
Jose Lopez, second base
Jeff Clement, DH
Kenji Johjima, catcher
Wladimir Balentien, right field
Miguel Cairo, first base

McLaren also has dropped Lopez down in an effort to get more production out of the middle of the order.

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