Mets manager hopes protest means new delivery for Otsuka

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Sunday, May 2, 2004 10:09 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- New York Mets manager Art Howe admitted that he probably won't win his protest of Saturday night's game, specifically the quirky windup of Padres relief pitcher Akinori Otsuka.

But changing the outcome of the 3-1 loss to the Padres isn't the only end that Howe is seeking.

"Maybe we'll get (Otsuka) to change his delivery," Howe said Sunday.

The Mets filed the protest during the eighth inning of Saturday's game, after Otsuka had thrown one pitch. Their rationale is that Otsuka's delivery, in which he quickly removes his pitching hand from his glove and then reinserts it before throwing the ball, stands in violation of baseball rules.

The protest goes before Sandy Alderson, Major League Baseball's executive vice president for baseball operations, who must render a verdict within five days. Padres manager Bruce Bochy said he expects to learn of the decision by today.

The Mets' objection is covered by Rule 8.01(a), part of which states: "The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his entire pivot on, or in front of and touching and not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and the other foot free. From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration."

Said Bochy: "There's no merit to this. It's his natural movement. (ESPN analyst Rob) Dibble was saying (Otsuka is) trying to deceive the hitter. There's nothing in (the rule book) about deceiving the hitter. That's part of pitching. You're trying to throw deception at the hitter."

Bochy wondered why no one else has protested Otsuka's delivery through seven years of Japanese baseball or 12 previous major-league appearances.

"If there was an infraction of the rule, it would have been brought up," he said. "Do you know how many different (umpire) crews he's thrown in front of?"

Howe countered by pointing out that first-base umpire Rick Reed, crew chief of Saturday's game, said he would have called a balk on Otsuka if a runner had reached base against him.

"If it's an illegal pitch with a runner on base, why is it not illegal when there's nobody on base?" Howe asked.

Otsuka said Saturday that he would be willing to modify his delivery should the commissioner's office deem it illegal.

Klesko update

Left fielder Ryan Klesko said his strained right oblique muscle felt much better Sunday, but he remained unsure when he would be able to return to the lineup.

"I've never done anything like this," said Klesko, who injured himself Friday when a teammate helped him up after stretching. "This muscle is real sensitive and doesn't heal fast. It depends on what degree of sprain it is, and they really can't tell yet because I'm so sore in that area."

Klesko hasn't played since the first inning Friday, and he estimated that he could miss another four days to two weeks depending on the severity of the strain.

Brian Buchanan replaced Klesko for the second straight game. Kerry Robinson and Terrence Long can also fill in at left field.

Relief for bullpen trio

There was no chance for Sunday's game to be played under protest because Bochy decided to hold Otsuka out, along with fellow relief aces Trevor Hoffman and Scott Linebrink.

Otsuka had thrown in three straight games, Hoffman in four out of five and Linebrink in three of four. The right-handers have developed into a devastating trio for the Padres between the seventh and ninth innings. Each boasts an earned-run average of 1.80 or better.

Short hop

INF Jeff Cirillo (broken finger) will join Triple-A Portland today to begin his rehab assignment. Manager Bruce Bochy said he expects Cirillo to return to the Padres for their homestand that starts on May 11.