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Sosa Suspended for Eight Games

Aired June 06, 2003 - 13:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Will the bat break the illustrious career of slugger Sammy Sosa? I don't think it will break his career, but major league baseball did suspend the Chicago Cub today for using that corked bat. The ball club says it will appeal.
CNN's Jeff Flock is live from Chicago with more on all this.

Eight-game suspension, that's pretty stiff, isn't it?

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think so. I think that's sort of what was expected, Miles. And they were thinking between perhaps five or ten games. And even Jim Henry, the Cubs general manager, said some punishment is warranted.

You know, you see we're outside Wrigley Field. This is a scene everybody knows. You can see the excitement already building. Another big story, of course, this weekend. The Yankees are in town, first time since 1938 and the World Series. But right now, that series being overshadowed by the punishment for Sosa announced by the Cub manager Jim Hendry in a press conference just a short time ago. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM HENDRY, CHICAGO CUBS MANAGER: ... This morning from the commissioner's office and Sammy will be -- has been given an eight- game suspension from the commissioner's office. That decision will be appealed. Sammy has been in contact with his representative and the players association. We support him in his appeal.

You know, we feel like that, obviously, the investigation proved that the -- his past and the present bats that he had in his locker were all clean. We have no reason to believe it was more than a one- time incident, as he described it. And we will support him in his rights that he exercises to appeal and hopefully have the suspension reduced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLOCK: Miles, yes, just listening myself to that. You know, there's going to be an appeal, but there's no suggestion that perhaps there'll be any less of a number reduced. I think the appeal just allows him to play in this weekend's series against the Yankees.

I'll kind of wade into the crowd. I see some folks with some Cubs memorabilia on here. What do you think, eight games fair? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's very fair. I mean, the man made a mistake.

FLOCK: You're a Cubs fan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes, have been. Oh, yes. He's a stand- up guy. I mean, he admitted he made a mistake and he'd take his punishment. And I think it's very appropriate.

FLOCK: I've got to ask you whether you believe Sammy Sosa when he says this was an accident or did he know that bat was corked? Does it make a difference?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it makes a difference. I think it could have been accidental; it could have been intentional. But you know, he's a stand-up guy and he's done a lot for this game. I'm going to go with him either way.

FLOCK: OK, Miles, I think he'd appreciate it.

I know this is your Father's Day present, came all the way from Knoxville, Tennessee. Good Cub fan.

I think that represents most of the Cub fans out here. They stand by their man, even though they acknowledge he certainly did something wrong -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Jeff, tell him he's in Braves country. He should be following the Braves.

But let me ask you this. Sammy Sosa, there's no question in my mind he knew what bat he picked up. I mean, these guys are very meticulous about what bat they go to the plate with, right?

FLOCK: Well, you know, that's one opinion. But you know, we were in the club house the other day. There are a lot of bats in every players' locker. And you know, it's possible that, you know, you got stuff going on and maybe you do pick up the wrong bat. A lot of them look alike there, you know. He had 76 bats in there. So could it be confused? I think reasonable people could say maybe there was confusion.

O'BRIEN: Benefit of the doubt is given to Sammy Sosa. He is, after all, a good guy. And they like to support the good guys.

All right.

FLOCK: I think so.

O'BRIEN: Jeff Flock, Cubs fan, from Chicago. We'll check in with you a little bit later.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired June 6, 2003 - 13:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Will the bat break the illustrious career of slugger Sammy Sosa? I don't think it will break his career, but major league baseball did suspend the Chicago Cub today for using that corked bat. The ball club says it will appeal.
CNN's Jeff Flock is live from Chicago with more on all this.

Eight-game suspension, that's pretty stiff, isn't it?

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think so. I think that's sort of what was expected, Miles. And they were thinking between perhaps five or ten games. And even Jim Henry, the Cubs general manager, said some punishment is warranted.

You know, you see we're outside Wrigley Field. This is a scene everybody knows. You can see the excitement already building. Another big story, of course, this weekend. The Yankees are in town, first time since 1938 and the World Series. But right now, that series being overshadowed by the punishment for Sosa announced by the Cub manager Jim Hendry in a press conference just a short time ago. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM HENDRY, CHICAGO CUBS MANAGER: ... This morning from the commissioner's office and Sammy will be -- has been given an eight- game suspension from the commissioner's office. That decision will be appealed. Sammy has been in contact with his representative and the players association. We support him in his appeal.

You know, we feel like that, obviously, the investigation proved that the -- his past and the present bats that he had in his locker were all clean. We have no reason to believe it was more than a one- time incident, as he described it. And we will support him in his rights that he exercises to appeal and hopefully have the suspension reduced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLOCK: Miles, yes, just listening myself to that. You know, there's going to be an appeal, but there's no suggestion that perhaps there'll be any less of a number reduced. I think the appeal just allows him to play in this weekend's series against the Yankees.

I'll kind of wade into the crowd. I see some folks with some Cubs memorabilia on here. What do you think, eight games fair? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's very fair. I mean, the man made a mistake.

FLOCK: You're a Cubs fan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes, have been. Oh, yes. He's a stand- up guy. I mean, he admitted he made a mistake and he'd take his punishment. And I think it's very appropriate.

FLOCK: I've got to ask you whether you believe Sammy Sosa when he says this was an accident or did he know that bat was corked? Does it make a difference?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it makes a difference. I think it could have been accidental; it could have been intentional. But you know, he's a stand-up guy and he's done a lot for this game. I'm going to go with him either way.

FLOCK: OK, Miles, I think he'd appreciate it.

I know this is your Father's Day present, came all the way from Knoxville, Tennessee. Good Cub fan.

I think that represents most of the Cub fans out here. They stand by their man, even though they acknowledge he certainly did something wrong -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Jeff, tell him he's in Braves country. He should be following the Braves.

But let me ask you this. Sammy Sosa, there's no question in my mind he knew what bat he picked up. I mean, these guys are very meticulous about what bat they go to the plate with, right?

FLOCK: Well, you know, that's one opinion. But you know, we were in the club house the other day. There are a lot of bats in every players' locker. And you know, it's possible that, you know, you got stuff going on and maybe you do pick up the wrong bat. A lot of them look alike there, you know. He had 76 bats in there. So could it be confused? I think reasonable people could say maybe there was confusion.

O'BRIEN: Benefit of the doubt is given to Sammy Sosa. He is, after all, a good guy. And they like to support the good guys.

All right.

FLOCK: I think so.

O'BRIEN: Jeff Flock, Cubs fan, from Chicago. We'll check in with you a little bit later.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com