Six Days After Beaning, Snow Returns to Work

San Francisco Giant first baseman J.T. Snow, six days after getting smacked in the face by a 97 mph fastball from Seattle’s Randy Johnson, has been cleared to resume workouts.

However, there’s no word on when he’ll be able to play again and Giant officials have said they doubt he’ll be back in time for the season opener April 1 against Pittsburgh.

“I’m real excited and feel real lucky,” Snow said during a news conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he was injured last Tuesday. “I didn’t know if it would be this quick, but I just made little improvements day by day. I just feel fortunate to be sitting here on the brink of getting back to working out.”

Some puffiness and redness around his eye were the only signs of the injury.

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St. Louis pitcher T.J. Mathews and Cincinnati outfielder Deion Sanders have appealed penalties imposed on them by National League president Len Coleman for their behavior in a bean-ball incident last week.

Mathews was given a six-game suspension and fined $2,000 for hitting Cincinnati’s Bret Boone with a pitch Wednesday. Sanders, who came out of the dugout to yell at Mathews, was fined $1,500 by Coleman.

Coleman, in handing down the penalties last Friday, said the suspension was to start April 1. The players association notified the league of the appeal on Monday, delaying the penalties until after a hearing.

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Curt Schilling broke off contract talks with the Philadelphia Phillies, prompting the staff’s No. 1 starter to predict he will be traded before opening day. Schilling is seeking $15 million for three years, all guaranteed, while the Phillies are offering a base salary of $9 million plus incentives, including number of innings pitched.

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Reliever Jose Mesa has returned to Cleveland from Florida so he can attend today’s preliminary hearing regarding rape and other charges. Mesa, scheduled for trial March 31, and a friend were accused by two women of improperly touching them Dec. 22 after meeting them at a Cleveland night club. . . . The San Diego Padres aren’t likely to deal Hideki Irabu’s rights to the New York Yankees before today’s deadline imposed by his agent, and the ballyhooed right-hander is prepared to return to Japan and sit out the season. “We’re leaving Wednesday,” agent Don Nomura said. . . . The Texas Rangers reached agreement on a minor-league contract with right-hander Kevin Gross, who was 11-8 last season despite two stays on the disabled list because of a torn ligament in his back. The deal is contingent upon Gross passing a physical. . . . A bill limiting taxpayer money for a new Milwaukee Brewers stadium to the original total of $160 million was passed by a Senate committee in Madison, Wis., despite warnings it could jeopardize the project if it suffers cost overruns. The stadium is expected to cost $250 million.