Gagne to Serve Suspension Again

Remember the Dodgers playing short-handed for two games during the first series of the season because Eric Gagne served a suspension?

Turns out he has to do it over again. Gagne was activated Tuesday and began serving the suspension so he can be in the bullpen Thursday when the Dodgers begin a homestand.

Utility infielder Oscar Robles was optioned to triple-A Las Vegas, limiting the number of active players to 24. Second baseman Jeff Kent is still recovering from a hand injury, so Manager Grady Little had only 23 players at his disposal.

Gagne was suspended because in a game April 29, 2005, he violated terms of a reprimand that barred him from being on the bench or in the bullpen while on the disabled list. Three weeks earlier, while on the disabled list, Gagne was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Bill Hohn from the dugout.

Gagne appealed the penalty, so the issue dragged into this season. He didn’t pitch opening day, then the next day decided to immediately sit out the two games after taking an MRI exam.

The day after serving the suspension he went on the disabled list. The Dodgers eventually realized the sequence of events must have sounded awfully fishy to Major League Baseball.

“We are being preemptive by having Eric serve the two days again,” said Kim Ng, assistant general manager.

Gagne picked up saves in his two minor league rehabilitation appearances at Las Vegas, pitching a scoreless inning each time. He was on the disabled list recovering from surgery to remove a nerve from his right elbow.

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Kent, voted the National League All-Star second baseman in a landslide last season, is in fifth place in the first balloting results released Tuesday. He trails Craig Biggio (Houston), Chase Utley (Philadelphia), Marcus Giles (Atlanta) and Todd Walker (Chicago).

Nomar Garciaparra is in fifth place among first basemen, trailing overall vote leader Albert Pujols (St. Louis), Carlos Delgado (New York), Lance Berkman (Houston) and Derrek Lee (Chicago).

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After hitting doubles in the eighth and ninth innings on Tuesday, Garciaparra has hits in 14 of his last 16 at-bats after the sixth inning....Kent took ground balls before the game and hit in the batting cage. Little said he is hopeful Kent will be in the lineup tonight against the Braves....Shortstop Cesar Izturis had 14 at-bats the last two days in extended spring training games at Vero Beach, Fla. Little said Izturis could begin his 20-day minor league rehabilitation assignment at Las Vegas as soon as Thursday....General Manager Ned Colletti is in Montgomery, Ala., watching the Dodgers’ double-A Jacksonville team with player personnel director Terry Collins.