Sosa asks league to reconsider his eight-game ban

BALTIMORE -- Sammy Sosa is done talking. All he can do now is wait.

Sosa on Tuesday appealed his eight-game suspension for using a corked bat. After speaking for about an hour with Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, Sosa could only hope for the best.

"I'm waiting for the decision they're going to make. Whatever punishment they're going to do, I accept it," he said.

A decision from major league baseball could come as soon as today.

Sosa made a short statement to the media late Tuesday afternoon, then exited without taking questions. Cubs officials said Sosa would not speak with reporters again during a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles that concludes Thursday.

Sosa met with DuPuy at the hotel where the Cubs are staying in Baltimore. After hearing the appeal, DuPuy paused briefly before getting into a cab.

"We had a very nice talk," he said.

Asked when a decision would be rendered, DuPuy replied, "As soon as I get to it."

Future still cloudy

Sosa started in right field against the Orioles, but the Cubs were unsure how much longer he would be with the team.

"You'd like to get it over with so we can put it behind us and move forward," Cubs second baseman Mark Grudzielanek said. "Obviously he's a vital part of our offense and our team, and we kind of want to know what's going to happen."

Sosa was suspended for eight games Friday by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, but the appeal allows him to play until a ruling is made.

He was ejected from a game against Tampa Bay on June 3 when his bat shattered after hitting a ground ball and umpires discovered cork halfway up the handle of the bat.

Tests on 76 bats taken from Sosa's locker found no foreign substances, and five of his bats at the Hall of Fame were also determined to be clean. Sosa claims he mistakenly grabbed a bat he uses for batting practice and used it in the game.

"It's been a tough week for me," he said Tuesday. "Once again, I want to apologize to everybody for the mistake that I made."

Suspension still likely

It's almost certain that Sosa will receive a suspension of some sort. The only question is how long.

"If they reduce it, it will only be a day or two," Grudzielanek said. "If not, let's go with it. Whatever needs to be done, let's get it done."

Chicago went 10-7 without Sosa last month while he was on the disabled list after undergoing surgery on his big toe. But they would love to have him in the lineup next week against Toronto and NL-Central foe Cincinnati.

"Let's get it over with now, so when we go play Cincinnati we'll have everybody that we need," Cubs reliever Mike Remlinger said.

Entering Tuesday's game, Sosa had gone 61 at-bats since his last home run on May 1. But his value to Chicago transcends home runs; he had a .407 on-base percentage and 27 RBIs in 44 games through Monday.

"Obviously, Sammy is a huge part of this ballclub," first baseman Eric Karros said. "The sooner he can focus entirely on what happens on the field, the better off we'll be as well."