By MIKE PUMA

June 7, 2008

Hopefully, LaTroy Hawkins will at least be reimbursed for transportation from his visit to MLB disciplinarian Bob Watson's office.

In the end it was a wasted appeal, as Hawkins was informed yesterday that his earlier imposed suspension for throwing near Luke Scott's head on May 20 would be upheld, with no reduction in games.

Hawkins began his three-game suspension last night as the Yankees began a four-game series against the Royals, leaving the club short an arm in the bullpen until Monday.

Joe Girardi had hoped Hawkins might get his suspension reduced to two games after meeting with Watson - that was the case for Kyle Farnsworth after he threw behind Manny Ramirez's head in April.

"I'm disappointed," Girardi said. "There's not a whole lot we can do about it, and you just move forward and find a way to use your bullpen one guy short."

As he attempts to negotiate with the Yankees, top draft choice Gerrit Cole can't be thrilled about a picture that has surfaced of him from as a young fan at the 2001 World Series in which he's holding a sign that reads: "Yankee for Today Tomorrow Forever."

Cole, a 17-year-old right-handed pitcher from Orange, Calif., with a fastball that peaks at 98 mph, will decide between signing with the Yankees and pitching for UCLA.

"What we like about Cole is the absolute toughness mentality and get-after-it mentality he has on the mound," Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer said.

Though signing Cole could be a challenge - he's represented by Scott Boras -Oppenheimer said he isn't concerned about signing Stanford lefty pitcher Jeremy Bleich, whom the Yankees selected with the 44th overall pick.