Suspended Tabata Quit On Teammates

This was not a good week for Jose Tabata, the 19 year-old top outfield Yankees prospect who finally let expectations get the best of him and lost his cool after a called strike three. The result was an onfield temper tantrum followed by a three game suspension, some Tabata overreaction, a dash of embarrassment and a lesson in humility.

From NJ.com:

"The expectations of who I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do finally got to me," Tabata said through assistant coach and translator, Julius Matos. "I made an irrational decision. Maybe it was immaturity, inexperience or just that I didn't know how to handle what was happening. I just kept thinking I am not producing the way I should be and maybe I didn't belong here."

With no home runs, 12 RBIs and just three extra-base hits heading into the weekend, Tabata slammed his bat down in frustration following the strikeout Saturday afternoon.

According to team sources, Tabata bolted from the dugout and headed to his locker, where the talented but struggling Venezuelan quickly gathered his things and left the stadium.

"I just felt like I had to go," Tabata said in an exclusive interview with The Times yesterday. "It was a rash decision, but after talking to my wife, she asked me if this was really what I wanted to do and if leaving (the team) was the right decision to make. I thought about it a little and realized I am not a quitter. I was either going to face the consequences, learn from this and grow, or I was going to run away. So, here I am."

Tabata admitted he contemplated going so far as to ask the Yankees for his release, a request that most assuredly would have been denied.

Tabata first reconciled the potentially explosive situation with manager Tony Franklin, then his teammates, before rejoining the club in Norwich Tuesday.

"I was just really sad and upset ... mainly at myself," Tabata said. "But I realized that if I was man enough to quit on my teammates, then I would have to be double the man to come back and face them again, explain that I was sorry and make sure they knew it would not happen again. I am willing to do whatever it takes to earn their respect again."

Maybe those Manny Ramirez comparisons will hold water after all.

Melky, Shelley Drop AppealWill Miss Two Games

According to the Star Ledger, Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan have both dropped their appeals and will sit out the next two games. The penalty for each player has been reduced from the original three game suspension:

Center fielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Shelley Duncan dropped their appeals of their three-game suspensions for the bench-clearing incident between the Yankees and Rays in spring training. Both players had their suspensions reduced to two games, and Cabrera will serve his tonight and tomorrow, with Duncan serving his Sunday and Monday.

We'll see if this quells any possible confrontation during the Tampa Bay series this weekend.

Sour Grapes From Toronto Columnist

Richard Griffin, a biased frustrated reporter from the Toronto Star voiced his displeasure over the appeal situation which allowed Melky Cabrera to play and star in last night's game. I find it hard to believe the Blue Jays players and coaching staff were in the locker room throwing up their arms before the game, incensed that a juggernaut such as the Melk Man would be permitted to play through his suspension:

Cabrera’s suspension stemmed from a fighting incident on March 12 vs. the Rays at spring training. That’s 21 days ago. Appeals are heard in the offices of Major League Baseball in New York. We are in New York. The hearing on the appeal should have been held Monday, or at least yesterday morning. It’s ridiculous.

Anyway, the way major league rules work, Cabrera had the right to appeal and, thus, was allowed to play in the opener. He will probably wait for this weekend against the Rays or when the Yanks travel to Kansas City and drop the appeal, immediately serving his three days against an inferior opponent. Baseball justice?

Had it been Alex Rodriguez shirking a suspension for sucker punching an ump or Derek Jeter skipping a penalty stemming from a corked bat incident, then it would be believable. As it stands, the writer sounds like he's chomping down on some serious sour grapes.

Melky, Shelley's Appeals Update

From Ed Price of the Star Ledger:

Melky Cabrera's appeal of his three-game suspension will be heard Monday, along with Shelley Duncan.

Both players were suspended for their parts in an April 12 altercation with the Tampa Bay Rays. It started when Shelley Duncan spiked second baseman Akinori Iwamura with a slide, and Cabrera is alleged to have thrown a punch as the benches emptied.

Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes was suspended two games, and his appeal is set for Friday.

Fans will pray for an eighth inning in which Joba Chamberlain takes the mound against Gomes. He could ask Kevin Youkilis for advice.

Happy Hangover Links

[Rhona Mitra, star of the new horror flick Doomsday, helps spice up a lazy Sunday afternoon]


- The Yankees added lefthanded reliever Billy Traber to the 40-man roster. Traber has pitched very well this spring, striking out five and allowing zero runs in four innings of work. He does not have dominating stuff but shockingly throws strikes and flashes a serviceable breaking ball. Joe Girardi likes what he's seen thus far through Spring Training, though Traber could just as easily become a relief version of last year's Chase Wright emergence.

From LoHud:

This not necessarily mean that Traber will be on the man roster on March 31. But don’t bet against it. He has appeared in five games this spring. His line: 4 3 0 0 0 5. Opponents are hitting .167 against him.

“Very intriguing,” Joe Girardi said.

In Other News . . .

• Joba Chamberlain is not having a great Spring, but don't overreact says Pete Abraham.

• Roger Clemens [and Brian Cashman] helped ease the heartache for a family who lost their son during the tragic events of 9/11.

• Shelley Duncan will appeal his three-game suspension. So will Melky Cabrera.
  
  
• Bill Madden says the young Yankees pitching faces some daunting history.
  
  
• Murray Chass wonders if the AL East is becoming a four team derby?
  

Cabrera, Duncan Suspended 3 Games

Both Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan have been suspended three [regular season] games stemming from Wednesday's incident in which Duncan spiked a Tampa Rays player. Jonny Gomes was suspended two games for his weak dance move shove attempt after riding in from rightfield.

Coaching staff, including Joe Girardi were not suspended but fined for what appears to be nothing. Early word from the "brawl" fallout reveals Girardi instructed his players not to go crazy in looking for retribution toward the Rays. It's unclear if the Yankees can or will appeal the suspensions, especially because of the substantial length of time before the season starts.

Joe Girardi had that talk with Shelley Duncan about his actions during yesterday's game.

Any suspension arising from the near brawl between the Yankees and Rays would be implemented during the regular season.

In unrelated news, Jorge Posada and Bobby Abreu have given their names to a tri-state whine maker.