Mariners Put Fassero on the Disabled List

Jeff Fassero, the Seattle Mariners’ No. 2 starter behind Randy Johnson, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of inflammation of his left elbow.

He will be eligible to come off the DL on April 6.

Fassero, 35, is 0-2 with a 14.54 earned-run average in two starts this spring.

“I’m a little concerned about Jeff,” Manager Lou Piniella said. “I would assume he’ll miss his first two starts.”

With Fassero sidelined, the Mariners will go into opening night March 31 against Cleveland in the Kingdome with a starting five of Johnson, Jamie Moyer, Ken Cloude, Bill Swift and Felipe Lira.

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Colorado right-hander Roger Bailey, whose control problems have led to a 49.09 earned-run average this spring, was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of back pain.

Despite suffering severe whiplash in a car accident Feb. 24, Bailey said he pitched without pain in each of his four starts for the Rockies. Twice he was removed from games before recording an out.

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The Cincinnati Reds are waiting for major league baseball to decide whether they should be punished for allowing Pete Rose to talk to a group of minor leaguers.

Rose, who is banned from baseball because of gambling, visited the Reds’ minor-league camp March 11 to see his son, Pete Jr., work out. At the invitation of a Red minor-league official, he talked to a group of farmhands--a violation of his banishment.

The Reds could be fined for allowing Rose to talk to the minor leaguers. The club submitted a report after the violation occurred, but has received no indication what baseball will do, managing executive John Allen said.

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David Cone of the New York Yankees threw 83 pitches in a 2-0 victory over the Texas Rangers at Tampa, Fla., continuing his comeback from shoulder surgery last October. Cone (1-0) gave up two hits with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings in a triple-A start last Monday, and is scheduled to pitch the Yankees’ home opener April 10 against Oakland.

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The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres didn’t wait for opening day to begin marking territory in the NL West.

Reigning National League MVP Larry Walker and San Diego pitcher Sterling Hitchcock were ejected after the benches cleared in the Padres’ 10-6 win over the Rockies at Tucson.

“He just painted the largest bull’s eye you can paint on him,” Rockies’ Manager Don Baylor said of Hitchcock, who hit Colorado pitcher John Thomson and Walker.