Newz Forum: BASEBALL: Cedeno, Reed suspended for run-ins

NEW YORK (AP) - St. Louis outfielder Roger Cedeno was suspended for four games and Colorado reliever Steve Reed was suspended for three games Friday for their animated run-ins with umpires. Both players also were fined undisclosed amounts.

The penalties imposed by Major League Baseball were set to begin Friday night, when the Cardinals played at Texas and the Rockies visited Tampa Bay. If appealed, they would not take effect until hearings are held. Cedeno was suspended after spraying an umpire with spit Tuesday. Reed was penalized after throwing glove in an umpire's direction Sunday.

Cedeno was ejected after breaking his bat on home plate after a check-swing strike against the Chicago Cubs. Plate umpire Rick Reed said Cedeno then spat on him.

Asked if he thought it was intentional, Reed said, "Yes. ... He was pretty profane. His obscenities were pretty personal."

Cedeno thought he'd held up his swing, and Reed called it a ball. But Cubs pitcher Matt Clement appealed to third-base umpire Alfonso Marquez, who ruled it a strike. Reed upheld Marquez's call, and Cedeno banged his bat on home plate. Umpire Bruce Dreckman tossed Steve Reed during a game between the Rockies and San Francisco.

A.J. Pierzynski leaned his right elbow into Reed's pitch with the bases loaded, giving the Giants a 10-2 lead. Reed argued that Pierzynski didn't try to get out of the way. Manager Clint Hurdle ran out to argue and had to shove hard to restrain Reed, who bumped Dreckman and was ejected.

Reed stayed on the field, and Colorado teammates helped Hurdle keep the pitcher separated from Dreckman. Reed threw his glove in Dreckman's direction when he eventually walked toward the dugout.

i have always thought that players suspensions should be served during the teams home game schedule only, the fans in opposing ball parks get only a limited number of games to see the stars of the visitors, to have players suspended and not playing isn't fair to these fans. the suspension penalizes the fans as well as the players themselves