Yankees rookie told to sit a spell

Rocky Wire Reports

Saturday, September 1, 2007

NEW YORK - Yankees rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain was suspended for two games Friday and fined $1,000, a day after he threw consecutive 98- to 99-mph pitches over the head of Boston's Kevin Youkilis.

Chamberlain will not appeal the penalty and was set to sit out Friday night and today against Tampa Bay. Under the Yankees' rules for him, the 21- year-old reliever wouldn't have been available to pitch Friday, anyway.

Chamberlain, ejected Thursday by plate umpire Angel Hernandez, claimed the ninth-inning pitches slipped and that "there was no maliciousness."

TRIPLE LOSS: The Athletics on Friday lost three players for the remainder of the season - six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez, center fielder Mark Kotsay and rookie outfielder Travis Buck.

Chavez will undergo surgery on his troublesome right shoulder Wednesday. Buck also will have an operation, Sept. 10, on his right elbow. Kotsay has been sidelined since Aug. 17 because of lower back spasms.

ETC.: Cardinals outfielder Juan Encarnacion was struck on the left eye by a foul ball while waiting in the on-deck circle in the sixth inning Friday night. He was taken to a hospital for further examination. . . . Left- hander Mark Mulder, coming back from an operation Sept. 13 to repair a torn rotator cuff, could rejoin the Cardinals rotation next week. . . . The Cubs acquired right-hander Steve Trachsel from the Orioles. Trachsel was drafted by the Cubs in 1991 and pitched for them from 1993-99. . . . Right-hander Pedro Martinez threw so well in a bullpen session that he might return to the Mets next week without making another minor league rehabilitation start. . . . The return of left-hander Cole Hamels to the Phillies rotation has been postponed at least a week after he felt elbow discomfort during a bullpen session. . . . The Cardinals acquired power-hitting Russell Branyan from the Phillies for a player to be named. . . . Astros right-hander Brandon Backe was activated from the 15-day disabled list and will start Tuesday in his first appearance in almost a year after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery. . . . Brewers left-hander Manny Parra was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken left thumb. . . . Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells will undergo an exam after the season to determine whether his sore left

shoulder needs surgery. . . . Pirates outfielder Chris Duffy underwent shoulder surgery Friday and is expected to be ready for the 2008 season. . . . Dodgers left-hander Randy Wolf will have diagnostic arthroscopic surgery on his sore left shoulder Wednesday. . . . The Nationals recalled pitcher Matt Chico from Triple-A Columbus. . . . The Braves will call up 49-year-old first baseman Julio Franco and two other minor leaguers when the rosters expand today.