Sheffield not disciplined

By wire services
Published April 21, 2005

NEW YORK - Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield won't be punished for his role in a scuffle with fans at Fenway Park last week, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday.

"It just proves that I was right," Sheffield said. "I'm just glad I was an example of how to handle a situation without making it worse or hurting the Yankees or any organization for that matter, or any sport.

The commissioner's office said Bob Watson, in charge of discipline, concluded the fan reached over the barrier near the rightfield corner April14 and "struck Sheffield on the head as he was attempting to field a ball in play."

"Sheffield in response swung his arms in an effort to extricate himself from the situation and to avoid further abuse, then completed the play and returned to confront the fan," the statement said. "At that time no further altercation occurred."

SAN FRANCISCO - Giants outfielder Barry Bonds has been unable to begin baseball-related activities since the second arthroscopic operation on his right knee, and no timetable has been set for his return.

Bonds had his first operation Jan.31 and was expected to be available for opening day. After a handful of rigorous workouts, Bonds had more tests, which resulted in a second operation March17.

CUBS: Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra left Wednesday's game with a groin injury sustained while running out a grounder. His status is unknown.

METS: Rightfielder Mike Cameron, who hasn't played this season because of tendinitis in his left wrist, said he will take swings Friday.

NATIONALS: River Ridge High grad T.J. Tucker will miss 4-6 weeks with a strained right groin. He was hurt throwing a pitch Tuesday. Also, a man was critically injured when he fell from the top level of RFK Stadium during Wednesday's game. The man, 35, whose identity was not disclosed, fell from a ramp on the 500 level, hit several ramps and railings on the way down and landed on the concourse of the 100 level.

PHILLIES: Right-hander Vicente Padilla will remain in the rotation despite allowing eight runs and five homers in three innings Tuesday. It was his first start since surgery for tendinitis in his right elbow.

REDS: Right-hander Ramon Ortiz threw for 15 minutes and reported no problem with his strained groin. He's eligible to come off the DL on Sunday.

LUXURY TAX: Initial projections by the commissioner's office based on opening-day rosters have the Yankees owing a record $30,637,531, the Associated Press reported. The only other team projected to owe a tax is the Red Sox at $969,177. The Yankees had a payroll of $204.6-million, the Red Sox $131.2-million. Teams with payrolls above $128-million must pay the tax.

ROSE'S SON SIGNS DEAL: Pete Rose Jr. joined Long Island (N.Y.) of the independent Atlantic League. Drafted by Baltimore in 1988, Rose, 35, reached the majors in 1997. He played 11 games for Cincinnati, going 2-for-14 with nine strikeouts. He played in the independent Northern League the past three seasons.

UMPIRE INVESTIGATION: Umpire Paul Schrieber is under investigation for an alleged assault of a flight attendant during a trip last weekend, AP reported. American Airlines said the flight attendant was verbally abused and physically assaulted.

[Last modified April 21, 2005, 01:06:12]