Phillie Gross Suspended for 10 Days

PHILADELPHIA — The National League suspended Philadelphia pitcher Kevin Gross for 10 days Tuesday for putting sandpaper on his glove.

The suspension was appealed, but Gross admitted having the sandpaper.

The right-handed Gross was ejected from Monday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs by umpire John Kibler. The glove was sent to the league office along with a ball that Kibler said was clean.

“I was caught with sandpaper in my glove,” Gross said Tuesday before the Phillies met the Cubs again.

“They (umpires) thought I was supposedly scuffing the ball, and I was ejected. I was not scuffing any ball in the game last night.”

He said he was just “fooling with” the sandpaper. “I didn’t use it,” he said.

Katy Feeney of the National League office said Tuesday that sandpaper and an unidentified sticky substance were found on Gross’ glove.

League President A. Bartlett Giamatti said Gross’ suspension was effective immediately. Because of the appeal, however, the suspension was delayed pending a hearing.

Gross and the Phillies said the appeal was filed by the players’ association, not by the pitcher.

Phillie Manager Lee Elia said that if the appeal is rejected, he plans to go to a four-man rotation with three days’ rest.

Gross is the second pitcher ejected in the last 10 days. Joe Niekro of the Minnesota Twins was thrown out of a game against the Angels last week for carrying an emery board and sandpaper in his pocket.