BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Mets’ Saberhagen Throws Tantrum

Pitcher Bret Saberhagen of the New York Mets, who recently acknowledged having thrown firecrackers at reporters, threw a locker room tantrum about three hours before the Mets’ were scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game was rained out and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader today.

The incident came after Met vice president Gerry Hunsicker got a report on an incident July 27 during which bleach was thrown on reporters in the Met locker room. Saberhagen has denied throwing the bleach; Hunsicker said he would not make any announcement until he discussed the situation with the Players Assn.

Saberhagen arrived at Shea Stadium about 4:30 p.m. EDT. About 20 minutes later, he took a bat and smashed a clothes hamper located near his locker. When he finished, he grabbed the hamper and threw it into the middle of the clubhouse. Saberhagen then grabbed a water gun and smashed it to pieces against the wall near the players’ shower area.

Saberhagen then returned to his stall, grabbed a box of golf balls and flung them behind his back across the room, where they landed in Darren Reed’s locker, scattering clothes and baseball equipment. Finally, Saberhagen returned to his locker, grabbed a stuffed animal that was hanging and threw it into the center of the room.

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A test Friday showed no traces of marijuana in the system of Cincinnati Red pitcher Tom Browning, Browning’s attorney told a Boone County (Ky.) District Court. Browning was arrested July 29 on a misdemeanor charge of possessing the drug.