Sep 27 2007 01:06 PM
I don't know what the status is on Anderson's and Milledge's suspension appeals, but the papers are carrying reports on the hearings with something of a livid Marlon:
Anderson Takes a Cut at the Umpire Who Ejected Him
By BEN SHPIGEL
Published: September 27, 2007
Marlon Anderson was optimistic after his hearing that his two-game suspension would be reduced, but said he left Major League Baseball’s offices feeling “sick to my stomach” after reading the report filed by the umpire who ejected him for arguing a called third strike in the ninth inning of the Sept. 15 game against Philadelphia.
Anderson, who most likely received the suspension for flinging his helmet toward the plate, said the umpire, Dan Iassogna, wrote that Anderson had used profane language in three instances.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t use that kind of language,” Anderson said.
He added, “It’s amazing that a grown man can write all these lies and not even show up and defend himself.”
Anderson said he was encouraged to learn that another umpire, Mike Winters, was suspended for the rest of the regular season after a heated confrontation with San Diego’s Milton Bradley on Sunday, because it demonstrated that players have recourse when they feel they have been wronged.
“My reputation speaks a lot, and I don’t like my reputation being dragged through the mud like this,” Anderson said.
Anderson said he expected a decision on his suspension by this morning. But either way, the Mets can expect to be without Anderson, their best pinch-hitter, for at least one game. Since joining the Mets in mid-July, Anderson has batted .370 (10 for 27) as a pinch-hitter, and his 14 pinch-hits this season are tied for the third most in baseball.
