by Shiner » Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:02 pm
From the Dallas Morning News.....
According to multiple club sources, the situation had been bubbling for days and came to a head in the last two days over a disagreement in Ponson's pitching schedule.
Ponson, who pitched on three days' rest (one less than normal) Wednesday, was told he'd get five days' rest before his next start, according to sources. He challenged the Rangers to release him.
The Rangers had asked Ponson (4-1, 3.88 ERA) to take an extra day of rest to keep Kevin Millwood on his normal four days' rest.
According to the sources, however, problems began to fester more than a week ago when the Rangers were in Tampa Bay.
The night before his start against the Rays, according to the sources, Ponson was seen late in the evening in the hotel bar. The next day, he lasted only five innings and allowed 12 hits in a 7-3 loss.
Club officials spoke with Ponson, 31, about comportment after the incident and reiterated the "one-strike" stance they took when they signed him in March. In essence, the club said it would cut ties if he had one behavioral issue.
By the time the Rangers made the announcement Friday afternoon, Ponson's locker had been cleaned out, and he'd left the clubhouse.
