Touch 'Em All: Yankees' Pineda banned 10 games for pine tar

New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was suspended Thursday for 10 games, after being caught using pine tar. He said he won't appeal the penalty that will cost him two starts.

"I accept it," Pineda said. "I know I made a mistake."

Pineda was ejected in the second inning of Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox after umpires found pine tar on the right side of his neck. Pineda admitted he used the pine tar to help him grip the ball on a cool, windy night.

Pineda said he never used pine tar before this season.

The ejection set off a debate about pitchers who try pine tar, and whether it should be allowed in certain circumstances. Many former aces said they had done it, albeit in a more discreet manner.

Another Yankees righthander, Ivan Nova, has decided to have season-ending Tommy John surgery for a partially torn elbow ligament. The operation is scheduled for Tuesday by Dr. James Andrews.

Sammy Sosa, who was excluded from Wednesday's celebration of the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field, says he is willing to make amends with the Chicago Cubs.

"I should have been there; I would have liked to have been there," Sosa told ESPN Deportes.

"I think there is something that has to be resolved. If there is something to clarify, we will . . . clear it up," said Sosa, who hit 293 of his 609 home runs

at Wrigley.