Mr. October Forced Out of Yankees Dugout

Major League Baseball has dropped the hammer on Reggie Jackson, both forbidding him from his perch inside the Yankees dugout the rest of the season as well as fining him $250 for taking the field during the Yankees-Rays melee last week. From the New York Post:

"I am going to call Bud (Selig) today," said Jackson, who explained he was on the field in the role of a peacemaker. "I called him (Saturday) and left a message. I was trying to make peace. I didn't have my number (44) on but I had the windbreaker that a lot of guys wear. (Don) Zimmer was on the field. He walked out; I jogged."

The fine is just dumb. I mean, $250? That's a lunch tab for Reggie. But as far as being banished, fair is fair and even a personal appeal to Selig won't change anything. What Jackson doesn't realize is he's not being given the boot so much as being reminded he was never supposed to be there in the first place. The Red Sox ran into this same problem a year ago when MLB told them they couldn't have legend Johnny Pesky hanging around the dugout, since the rules limit team personnel to just players, managers and six coaches.

Spring Training 2008

Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera, right, and Maglio Ordonez stand around the batting cage during batting practice before spring training baseball action against the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota, Fla., Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland sits in the dugout during spring training action against the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota, Fla., Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Colorado Rockies' Willy Taveras, left, safely steals second base as San Francisco Giants shortstop Brian Bocock applies a late tag during the third inning of a spring training baseball game on Monday, March 17, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Rockies won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Colorado Rockies' Jayson Nix rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a spring training baseball game on Monday, March 17, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Rockies won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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San Francisco Giants' Randy Winn reacts after striking out against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning of a spring training baseball game on Monday, March 17, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Rockies won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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San Francisco Giants second baseman Eugenio Velez, left, of the Dominican Republic, tags out Colorado Rockies' Ryan Spilborghs during the second inning of a spring training baseball game on Monday, March 17, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Rockies won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Aaron Cook delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a spring training baseball game on Monday, March 17, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Rockies won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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San Francisco Giants right fielder Randy Winn catches the ball hit by Colorado Rockies' Garrett Atkins during the second inning of a spring training baseball game on Monday, March 17, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz. The Rockies won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Oakland Athletics' Dan Johnson doubles off of Kansas City Royals' Brian Bannister in the second inning of a spring training baseball game in Phoenix on Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Oakland Athletics' Emil Brown catches a fly ball hit by Kansas City Royals' Mark Teahen in the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game in Phoenix on Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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