PEORIA, Ariz. – The Mariners got a major surprise Wednesday when they got news that starting pitcher Cliff Lee was handed a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for what was ruled a pitch thrown intentionally in the area of Arizona catcher Chris Snyder’s head.

    The incident, which took place in the third inning of the Mariners’ game Monday at Tucson Electric Park, caused both benches and bullpens to empty, although no punches were thrown.

    The fine and suspension, which were announced by Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for major league baseball, are almost certainly going to be appealed by Lee, although the left-hander didn’t talk about the situation Wednesday.

   Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said he assumed something would happen, but he seemed to think the five-day suspension was a little heavy-handed for a spring-training pitch that hit no one.

    “We’ll just let the process take place,” Wakamatsu said, “and we’ll see where we’re at.”

    General manager Jack Zduriencik admitted to some surprise, too, but was noncommittal beyond that.

    “It is what it is,” Zduriencik said. “I’m sure Cliff is going to appeal it, and we’ll see where that takes us.”

    Lee was down to start the second game of the season as part of the Mariners’ five-man rotation. If the suspension is lowered to four games or less, the Mariners can still go with a five-man set, even though they’d have to change the order in which do it.

    If it’s not reduced, the Mariners probably would not be able to start the season with an 11-man pitching staff, which is the tentative plan, and that would cost a hitter, perhaps first baseman/designated hitter Mike Sweeney, a spot on the roster.

    “Certainly we’d like to get a definitive on this sooner or later so we can set our pitching,” Zduriencik said. “That’s in everyone’s best interest for the ballclub, the other pitchers on staff and Cliff, for that matter.”

 

John Hickey is a national baseball writer for AOL FanHouse (www.fanhouse.com). PostGlobe relies on your donations.

 

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