Thursday, March 20, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Hideki Irabu, still prevented from signing with the New York Yankees, said so long to the United States, took his 100 mph fastball and went home.
The star right-hander got on a plane Wednesday in Los Angeles and followed through with his threat to return to Japan.
Even if the San Diego Padres don't deal his rights to the Yankees, Irabu could end up pitching in North America this summer, albeit it at a much lower level.
The Regina Cyclones of the independent Prairie League sent a letter to baseball officials in both New York and Tokyo on Wednesday, notifying them they will pursue Irabu for the 1997 season and asking whether such a deal would jeopardize his future in major league ball.
"I don't believe anybody knows of a rule," Cyclones owner Dave Ferguson said in a telephone interview. "I think the independent leagues would be a perfect place to play until all his problems and controversies are rectified.
"It would be a great loss to the world of baseball if a fellow with such talents would have to sit out," said Ferguson, who also is vice president of the Prairie League. "He loves the sport and has dedicated himself to it, so why not play ball?"
Meanwhile, Chris Sabo was cut by the Seattle Mariners in what probably signals the end of his baseball career. Sabo, 35, played third base for Seattle manager Lou Piniella on the Cincinnati Reds' 1990 World Series title team.
"Will somebody call me? Probably not. Do I think I can still play and help some team? Yes," Sabo said. "I know about baseball. It's my age. I've been a starter all my life and I don't think I'm a starter any more. The problem is most teams don't look at me as a part-time player."
In addition to Sabo, the Mariners reassigned 32-year-old Kevin Reimer to their minor-league camp. Reimer played in Japan in 1994 and 1995 before returning to the United States last season, when he played at Triple-A Tacoma and Salt Lake City.
* MARINERS 13, PADRES 12: At Peoria, Ariz., Dave Silvestri cost himself a homer by passing a runner at first, getting credit for a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth instead of a three-run homer. Ken Caminiti homered twice, doubled and drove in four runs for San Diego.
* ATHLETICS 16, GIANTS 7: At Scottsdale, Ariz., Mark McGwire hit a three-run homer in the first. Dave Magadan also homered, while Izzy Molina and Tony Batista each had three hits and three RBIs for the A's, who beat San Francisco for the first time in four spring games.
* BREWERS 8, ROCKIES 3: At Tucson, Ariz., Dante Bichette, still on the mend following knee surgery, struck out swinging against Bob Wickman in his first at-bat of the spring for Colorado. Bichette had surgery Oct. 9 on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
* DODGERS 9, REDS (ss) 2: At Vero Beach, Fla., Brett Butler, who appears just about certain to return for another season, went 4-for-4 with four singles, a stolen base, two runs scored and two RBIs as Los Angeles won its sixth straight. Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer off Kevin Jarvis in the first, and Hideo Nomo allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings with six strikeouts.
* PHILLIES 9, INDIANS 2: At Winter Haven, Fla., Ruben Amaro homered and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Philadelphia got four runs in the ninth off Jose Mesa.
* ASTROS 7, TIGERS 5: At Lakeland, Fla., Derek Bell hit his fifth spring homer and Luis Gonzalez also connected, sending Detroit to its seventh straight loss.
* MARLINS 5, EXPOS 4: At West Palm Beach, Fla., Luis Castillo had four of Florida's six stolen bases off catcher Darrin Fletcher. Marlins starter Mark Hutton gave up two runs and nine hits in five innings.
* RANGERS 3, RED SOX 0: At Port Charlotte, Fla., John Burkett allowed three hits in six shutout innings and Mike Simms hit a two-run homer, leading Texas to its fifth consecutive win.
* TWINS 12, WHITE SOX 10: At Fort Myers, Fla., Matt Lawton homered twice and drove in six runs, and Denny Hocking hit a three-run homer.
* REDS (ss) 10, PIRATES 6: At Plant City, Lenny Harris and Hal Morris homered on consecutive pitches off Marc Wilkins during a four-run seventh.
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