Gaby Sanchez skips appeal, begins serving 3-game suspension Friday

WASHINGTON Gaby Sanchez has chosen to forego his appeal of a three-game suspension stemming from last week's brawl with the Nationals. He will begin serving it Friday and miss the three-game set at Nationals Park.

Meanwhile, Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan, had his appeal heard Friday, but Major League Baseball has not issued a ruling. With his suspension not starting any earlier than Saturday, Morgan was in the Nationals' lineup, batting eighth on Friday.

"I'd rather have [Sanchez] sitting down against Washington than against Philadelphia," said manager Edwin Rodriguez, whose team returns home Monday to start a three-game series with the National League East-leading Phillies. "His offense will be more needed against Philadelphia."

Sanchez approached Rodriguez during early batting practice Friday with his plan.

"I just want to get it over with and not worry about when it's going to be," Sanchez said. "If I wait, then who is [the suspension] going to be against? Is it going to be against the Braves, who are ahead of us, or the Phillies, who are ahead of us? Just want to get it out of the way and not have to think about when a hearing is going to be, when this is going to be, what kind of suspension am I going to get?"

Sanchez is able to take part in batting practice, but he won't be allowed in the dugout during the next three games. With Sanchez sitting, Rodriguez put Wes Helms at first and Emilio Bonifacio at third against left-hander John Lannan.

Rodriguez did not take issue with Morgan playing.

"I'm 100 percent sure our players are ready to play baseball," Rodriguez said. "I was talking to some of the Nationals coaches and they turned the page. It's time to play baseball."



(sun-sentinel.com)