Sosa issued 8-game suspension

By Nancy Armour
Associated Press

The Cubs' Sammy Sosa has received ample fan support despite being caught using a corked bat Tuesday night. Associated Press

Sosa was suspended for eight games yesterday by major league baseball. He immediately appealed the decision in hopes of getting it reduced.

"As he stated all week, he understood he made a mistake," Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "He knew there was going to be a suspension, and I think he feels it's worth the appeal to try to have it reduced."

A hearing won't be held until next week at the earliest, meaning the Cubs' slugger was eligible to play in this weekend's highly anticipated series with the New York Yankees. He started in right field in yesterday's rain-delayed game.

Jason Giambi had three RBIs to back David Wells, and the Yankees beat the Cubs, 5-3, yesterday in their first game at Wrigley since the 1938 World Series.

Sosa wouldn't talk about the suspension directly, saying after the loss, "Ask about the game tonight, I don't want to talk about anything else."

But when someone asked if this week's events have been draining, he said he's fine.

"I believe the world's not ended yet. I'm still here," he said, smiling."

A piece of cork was found just above the handle in Sosa's bat Tuesday night after it shattered on a groundout in the first inning of the Cubs' 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay.

Sosa didn't deny the bat was his, but said it was a batting practice model he grabbed by accident.

Boston Red Sox pitching ace Pedro Martinez said the incident has been blown out of proportion because of racial bias by the media.

"If it was (Mark) McGwire, it would still be a big deal, but not like this," Martinez said. "We might be Latin and minorities, but we're not dumb. We see everything that happens."