Notes: Duncan's suspension reduced
ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan had his suspension cut in half after a conference call with John McHale, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of administration. Duncan's four-game suspension for his part in an Aug. 24 altercation between the Cardinals and Pirates was reduced to two contests.
Duncan already served one game of the suspension, so Wednesday night's game will be the only further game he misses.
"I still think it's excessive," said Duncan, "but I appreciate them reconsidering and listening to what I had to say."
Duncan's $1,000 fine was upheld upon review.
"I thought it was an awfully big fine for what involvement I had," Duncan said. "I thought it was an excessive fine."
Before the Aug. 24 game, Duncan approached Pirates pitcher Rick White to ask about an inside pitch that White had thrown to Hector Luna the night before. Accounts vary somewhat on what exactly happened after that, but then-Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon confronted Duncan about his exchange with White, and Perry intervened soon after.
Television replays indicated some sort of physical contact between Perry and Duncan. The Cardinals coach asserts that he was punched by Perry, while Perry maintains he only pushed Duncan.
Duncan was permitted to participate in pregame activities, but had to be out of uniform by game time on Wednesday.
"I look at it as an opportunity to say, 'No comment,'" said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "I appreciate that Dunc had a chance to explain his position. Whatever they decided is what it's going to be."
Grudzielanek scratched: In addition to his top lieutenant, La Russa had to make do without one of his core players. Mark Grudzielanek was unavailable because his back was sore, forcing Luna to be inserted in the lineup at second base. Grudzielanek has a lifetime .340 batting average against Cubs starter Greg Maddux, so it was not a move La Russa would have preferred to make.
"His back is barking a little bit, so we didn't want to risk it," La Russa said. "I think he could have played if we really wanted to push him. I'm not sure we wanted to push him. If it was the playoffs, could he play? Probably."
Sanders close? La Russa said before Wednesday's game that the plan is still for Reggie Sanders to play on the Cardinals' current homestand, but nothing is certain yet. The manager all but ruled out Sanders playing over the weekend against the Mets, leaving the series next week against Pittsburgh as a target.
"I don't expect him to play this next weekend," La Russa said. "I think there's a chance he'll play this homestand."
Pujols nominated for Miller award: On the same day he was announced as the Cardinals' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, Albert Pujols was nominated for another prestigious piece of hardware. Pujols is the team's finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, presented annually by the MLB Players Association in recognition of the "Major League Baseball player whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement."
In a new twist on the Miller award, fans may vote on the winner. Voting is being held at www.MLBPlayers.com, the official Web site of the Players Association.
Cardinals participate in relief effort: The Cardinals took part as Major League Baseball chipped in for Hurricane Katrina relief on Wednesday. All teams playing at home held in-stadium collection drives to give fans the opportunity to donate to the American Red Cross relief effort. In addition to Red Cross volunteers, Cardinals wives participated in the in-stadium fundraising.
All players wore an American Red Cross decal on their batting helmets on Wednesday, emblematic of the relief effort. Also, the Red Cross logo, along with the telephone number to call in donations, appeared on the sides of the bases and on commemorative lineup cards.
Today in Busch Stadium history: On Sept. 7, 1998, Mark McGwire hit his record-tying 61st home run of the season. McGwire's blast to tie Roger Maris was a solo job off the Cubs' Mike Morgan in the first inning of a 3-2 St. Louis victory. Thanks to Project Retrosheet for the information.
Baby 'Birds: Class A Palm Beach opened up the Florida State League playoffs with a 4-3 win over Vero Beach on Tuesday. Michael Parisi pitched seven strong innings for the win, and Brian Martin and Tony McQuade each had a run and an RBI. ... Short-season New Jersey beat Staten Island, 5-3, as Adam Rodgers doubled twice and drove in a run.
The player of the day is Martin, who reached base three times and was in the middle of both of Palm Beach's rallies. He singled, doubled and walked. Martin, 25, signed with the Cardinals organization this past winter as a Minor League free agent.
Coming up: The Mets make their first, last and only regular-season visit to Busch Stadium, starting Thursday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Chris Carpenter will aim for win No. 21, best in the big leagues, while Kris Benson will toe the rubber for visiting New York.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
Duncan already served one game of the suspension, so Wednesday night's game will be the only further game he misses.
"I still think it's excessive," said Duncan, "but I appreciate them reconsidering and listening to what I had to say."
Duncan's $1,000 fine was upheld upon review.
"I thought it was an awfully big fine for what involvement I had," Duncan said. "I thought it was an excessive fine."
Before the Aug. 24 game, Duncan approached Pirates pitcher Rick White to ask about an inside pitch that White had thrown to Hector Luna the night before. Accounts vary somewhat on what exactly happened after that, but then-Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon confronted Duncan about his exchange with White, and Perry intervened soon after.
Television replays indicated some sort of physical contact between Perry and Duncan. The Cardinals coach asserts that he was punched by Perry, while Perry maintains he only pushed Duncan.
Duncan was permitted to participate in pregame activities, but had to be out of uniform by game time on Wednesday.
"I look at it as an opportunity to say, 'No comment,'" said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "I appreciate that Dunc had a chance to explain his position. Whatever they decided is what it's going to be."
Grudzielanek scratched: In addition to his top lieutenant, La Russa had to make do without one of his core players. Mark Grudzielanek was unavailable because his back was sore, forcing Luna to be inserted in the lineup at second base. Grudzielanek has a lifetime .340 batting average against Cubs starter Greg Maddux, so it was not a move La Russa would have preferred to make.
"His back is barking a little bit, so we didn't want to risk it," La Russa said. "I think he could have played if we really wanted to push him. I'm not sure we wanted to push him. If it was the playoffs, could he play? Probably."
Sanders close? La Russa said before Wednesday's game that the plan is still for Reggie Sanders to play on the Cardinals' current homestand, but nothing is certain yet. The manager all but ruled out Sanders playing over the weekend against the Mets, leaving the series next week against Pittsburgh as a target.
"I don't expect him to play this next weekend," La Russa said. "I think there's a chance he'll play this homestand."
Pujols nominated for Miller award: On the same day he was announced as the Cardinals' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, Albert Pujols was nominated for another prestigious piece of hardware. Pujols is the team's finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, presented annually by the MLB Players Association in recognition of the "Major League Baseball player whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement."
In a new twist on the Miller award, fans may vote on the winner. Voting is being held at www.MLBPlayers.com, the official Web site of the Players Association.
Cardinals participate in relief effort: The Cardinals took part as Major League Baseball chipped in for Hurricane Katrina relief on Wednesday. All teams playing at home held in-stadium collection drives to give fans the opportunity to donate to the American Red Cross relief effort. In addition to Red Cross volunteers, Cardinals wives participated in the in-stadium fundraising.
All players wore an American Red Cross decal on their batting helmets on Wednesday, emblematic of the relief effort. Also, the Red Cross logo, along with the telephone number to call in donations, appeared on the sides of the bases and on commemorative lineup cards.
Today in Busch Stadium history: On Sept. 7, 1998, Mark McGwire hit his record-tying 61st home run of the season. McGwire's blast to tie Roger Maris was a solo job off the Cubs' Mike Morgan in the first inning of a 3-2 St. Louis victory. Thanks to Project Retrosheet for the information.
Baby 'Birds: Class A Palm Beach opened up the Florida State League playoffs with a 4-3 win over Vero Beach on Tuesday. Michael Parisi pitched seven strong innings for the win, and Brian Martin and Tony McQuade each had a run and an RBI. ... Short-season New Jersey beat Staten Island, 5-3, as Adam Rodgers doubled twice and drove in a run.
The player of the day is Martin, who reached base three times and was in the middle of both of Palm Beach's rallies. He singled, doubled and walked. Martin, 25, signed with the Cardinals organization this past winter as a Minor League free agent.
Coming up: The Mets make their first, last and only regular-season visit to Busch Stadium, starting Thursday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Chris Carpenter will aim for win No. 21, best in the big leagues, while Kris Benson will toe the rubber for visiting New York.
Source: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/
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