Baseball

Rogers scolds cameraman at jail

The Rangers pitcher warns him that he's too close while turning himself in on an assault charge.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers had another run-in with a cameraman Monday when he turned himself in on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a tirade against two cameramen.

The three-time All-Star, appealing a 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine imposed by commissioner Bud Selig, was released after posting $1,500 bond.

Rogers jawed at a cameraman for Dallas-Fort Worth television station WFAA as he was booked into the county jail. Just as with the incident that led to the charges, the exchange was caught on tape.

WFAA reported on its Web site, wfaa.com, that Mike Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers turned to him and said, "You're getting really close; you know that? Do you hear me?"

Seconds later, Rogers turned to the camera, saying, "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too."

After Zukerman replied, "It's just my job, Kenny," Rogers responded: "Yeah. Your job. That's just your excuse."

Rogers was not available for comment before Monday's game against the Yankees. He is scheduled to pitch Thursday at home against Oakland, and Rangers officials said they don't know if Rogers' appeal will be heard Thursday or Friday.

"It's not a distraction as long as we can go out and do what we do on the field," Rangers shortstop Michael Young said. "That's what we do best, and (Rogers' situation) doesn't translate onto the field."

On June 29, Rogers lashed out at two cameramen as they taped him walking to the field for pregame stretching. Cameraman Larry Rodriguez of KDFW was hospitalized after Rogers ripped a camera from his hands and threw it to the ground.

Rogers apologized a week later, saying the incident was out of character and would never happen again.

[Last modified July 19, 2005, 05:10:04]