Touch 'Em All: MLB suspends Mattingly

Chipper Jones, bobblehead and all, is calling it a career.
Chipper Jones, bobblehead and all, is calling it a career.
Posted: August 20, 2012

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has been slapped with a two-game suspension for what MLB called "excessive arguing" with an umpire.

He was also fined an undisclosed amount for a minutes-long tirade which began soon after home plate umpire Angel Campos ejected Matt Kemp in Thursday's 10-6 loss in Pittsburgh. Amazingly, Kemp was in the dugout when he was tossed and the last pitch had been a ball.

Mattingly was also amazed, of course, and immediately went to Campos for an explanation.

To be fair, he vigorously sought an explanation but all he got was the heave-ho.

Crying over spilled Melk

After slugger Melky Cabrera was suspended for using testosterone to pump up his numbers, Giants GM Brian Sabean said he was shocked - shocked! - to find that his players used performance-enhancing drugs. "I was so taken aback, it was deflating," Sabean said. "Things happen out of left field."

With all due respect, we think Sabean's claims of surprise are as sincere as Capt. Louis Renault's claims of ignorance in Casablanca.

For a reminder, we go to the script: Interior, Rick's Cafe Americain casino.

Renault (played by Claude Rains) says loudly, "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

A croupier hands Renault a pile of money and says, "Your winnings, sir."

Renault (softly): "Oh, thank you very much."

Which brings us to the salient point of this screed: How could Sabean not know? Never mind that prior to their winning the World Series two seasons ago the only thing the Giants were known for was Barry Bonds and their association with the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (Balco), the firm that made PEDs widely available to cheaters.

What's more, in May reliever Guillermo Mota was suspended for 100 games for taking clenbuterol, a stimulant body builders use to build muscle and burn fat. Not to worry. Mota's suspension will be up soon. No word on whether he'll return to the team.

Cubs lock up Castro

The Cubs and shortstop Starlin Castro have agreed to a seven-year, $60 million contract extension, ESPN reported. The deal also includes a $16 million team option for the 2020 season for the 22-year-old all-star in his third full season in the bigs.

This article contains information from Inquirer wire services.

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