Is punishment coming Talbot's way?

NEW YORK: The Indians still insist that Mitch Talbot didn't hit Alex Rodriguez with a pitch intentionally on Saturday and the circumstances surrounding the event would seem to bear that out.

Nevertheless, Talbot could be in line for a fine and even a suspension, depending on how the umpires framed their report to the commissioner's office and the way Major League Baseball officials view the incident.

""I think I would appeal if they did give me a suspension,'' Talbot said Sunday.

Manager Manny Acta added, ""I don't think I'd be happy about a suspension. I didn't agree with it (Talbot's ejection). They should have enough sense to know that it wasn't called for. And we'd be losing one our of starters who has been doing very well.''

Orlando Cabrera bounced a hard ground ball off shortstop Derek Jeter's glove in the second inning today for his 2,000th career hit and he promptly stole second.

In his past six appearances, Rafael Perez has made three errors. The troubling part is that Perez usually pitches only one inning per outing.

""He's been here a few years now,'' Acta siad. ""Defense probably is not his strength, but he does get a lot of work on it.''