Mesa apologizes

www.delawareonline.com By EDWARD DE LA FUENTE Staff reporter 03/14/2003

Amid a swirl of controversy and an investigation by Major League Baseball, Phillies closer Jose Mesa retreated from his threats against former Cleveland Indians teammate Omar Vizquel on Thursday.

Mesa issued a statement apologizing for his remarks in a newspaper report published Tuesday in which he vowed to hit Vizquel every time he faced the All-Star shortstop and said that "if he charges me, I'll kill him."

Mesa and Vizquel, once close friends, have been feuding for several years. Mesa was most angry at Vizquel's autobiography, released last year, in which he criticizes Mesa for his blown save in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series.

"I am sorry that my comments have caused a disruption," Mesa said in the statement. "I was hurt by remarks by a former teammate. I would never injure anyone.

"My goal is to bring a championship to Philadelphia. I would hope that this would not continue to be a distraction to the Philadelphia Phillies organization, my teammates or our great fans."

The Phillies have not taken any disciplinary action against Mesa, who wasn't given the opportunity to face Vizquel when the Phillies and Indians met Tuesday at Jack Russell Stadium. However, Bob Watson, who handles disciplinary issues for Major League Baseball, has said he is looking into the issue, and Mesa could face a suspension or fine.

Vizquel, a native of Venezuela, said Tuesday he thought Mesa, a Dominican, might not have realized the severity of the word kill.

"I don't know if he knows what he means in English," Vizquel said. "In Spanish, we say it a lot in the translation."

Phillies fodder

Infielders J.P. Roberge and Buzz Hannahan were on loan from the minor-league camp and were on the travel squad Thursday. ... The Phillies host Pittsburgh at 1:05 p.m. today, with right-hander Vicente Padilla facing Pirates righty Josh Fogg.0