Charlotte.com: Baseball / MLB

Note to player's union: Nobody wants Bonds

Sun, 11 May 2008 06:49 EDT

And the Major League Baseball Players' Association probably wonders why the average fan can't stand it.

Once, long ago, almost all of us were in the MLBPA's corner, as players whose salaries averaged $19,000 annually in 1967 fought to get a bigger piece of baseball's huge financial pie.

But in the decades since, through numerous strikes and considerable intransigence, the MLBPA has simply commandeered that pie. Now more than 60 percent of the game's revenues go to the players. Everyone else -- owners, front office staff, grounds crew, minor leaguers, etc., share the rest.

This year, the average player's salary topped $3 million for the first time.

And yet it's never enough for the MLBPA and its leader, Donald Fehr (and loathing). The organization always seems ready to find something certain to tick off those of us who support the game.

The latest incident concerns Barry Bonds, whom I was hoping never to mention again in one of these columns.

Last week, the association "expressed concern" to the baseball commissioner's office over the lack of offers to Bonds, asking for additional information about the offseason's free-agent market.

"We've raised both general concerns and some player-specific concerns," said association counsel Michael Weiner. He added that Bonds was only player specifically brought up in discussions. The implication, of course, was that BarryRoid was a victim of collusion by the game's clubs.

Uh, Mike and Don, let me explain this to you from the viewpoint of a club owner and a general manager:

• Virtually everyone inside and out of the game believes Bonds took steroids. The federal government is so certain of this that it has indicted him on perjury charges for saying he didn't. Because of the court case hanging over him, he would be a huge distraction for any team that signs him.

• Bonds is 43 now, and while he'd likely still be somewhat effective, there's that trade-off. Especially for a team -- like San Francisco, his former club -- that is trying to build with youth.

• Bonds, bulky and slow, can no longer play in the field -- for the past few years, he never played day games following night games, even though his left field job consisted mostly of standing around.

Which means that only AL teams, with their designated hitters, were candidates to sign him to begin with, reducing his chances by more than half.

• Last but in no way least, Bonds is a terrible teammate. He's a me-first guy who props his expensive leather recliner in front of his three lockers (at least he did with the Giants) and does what he wants, when he wants.

His managers there deferred to him -- after all, he was the face of baseball in San Francisco -- but find me another manager who would want that spilling all over their team chemistry.

And, Mike and Don, even the Giants, for whom he set that tainted, shameful all-time home run record, didn't want him back this year.

Guys, that doesn't sound anything like collusion.

It sounds like common sense.

Hopefully, finally, we've seen the last of Barry Bonds, and someday in the not-too-distant future, we'll see his record obliterated as well.

Until then, and for a change, I truly hope the MLBPA thinks before picking its fights.

IN MY OPINION Stan

Olson

Baseball Notebook | Willis to face Knights on Monday

Sun, 11 May 2008 06:54 EDT

All-star pitcher Dontrelle Willis will be on the mound at Knights Stadium on Monday, pitching for the Toledo Mud Hens against the Knights. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Willis, a two-time NL All-Star and the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year while with Florida, is on a rehabilitation assignment from Detroit. Willis was a member of the Marlins in 2003 when the franchise won the World Series. The Tigers placed him on the 15-day disabled list on April 12 with a knee injury.

Around the leagues

ATLANTA: John Smoltz hopes to resume throwing as early as today. He has been shelved for two weeks because of biceps and rotator cuff problems in his right pitching arm. A starter when the season began, he will go into the bullpen once he returns.

BALTIMORE: Second baseman Brian Roberts is day-to-day after leaving Saturday's game against the Royals with a foot injury.

BOSTON: 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon allowed one run and four hits in three innings during a rehab start for Class AAA Pawtucket. Colon threw 36 of 49 pitches for strikes and topped out at 94 mph.

DETROIT: Left-hander Kenny Rogers picked off his major-league record 92nd runner Friday night, in Detroit's 6-5 win against the Yankees. He picked Wilson Betemit off first base in the second inning.

FLORIDA: Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, 24, has agreed to the framework of a $70 million, six-year contract, according to sources. Ramirez's contract would average $11.7 million.

MILWAUKEE: Ace pitcher Ben Sheets set a franchise record when he struck out St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols in the first inning on Saturday. Sheets now has 1,082 strikeouts with the Brewers, surpassing Teddy Higuera, who played in Milwaukee from 1985-91 and 1993-94.

NEW YORK YANKEES: Derek Jeter hit his first home run of the season, in his 128th at-bat. It's the longest homerless drought to start a season for the Yankees' slugger.

• Alex Rodriguez is scheduled for an MRI on Monday and can come off the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

ST. LOUIS: Jason Isringhausen was yanked from his role as closer after blowing his league-leading fifth save on Friday night. Manager Tony LaRussa said the closing duties will be split between Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer.

TORONTO: Center fielder Vernon Wells could miss six to eight weeks with a broken left wrist. Wells was injured while making a diving catch Friday night in Cleveland.

INSIDE BASEBALL

Sun, 11 May 2008 06:57 EDT

Olsen revives career with Marlins

Midway through the best game of his career, Scott Olsen was pitching as if double-parked. He threw a strike, caught the return toss from his catcher, took one step back to reposition himself on the rubber and looked in for another signal.The quick pace was understandable, because Olsen can't distance himself from last year fast enough.

An arrest, suspension and last-place ranking among NL starters made 2007 mostly miserable for Olsen, but he has revived his career this season to become an ace for first-place Florida.

Olsen takes a 4-1 record and 2.22 ERA into today's start at Washington. Even the confident left-hander is surprised by his success.

"I don't think I would have thought things would have gone this well, that's for sure," he said.

The 24-year-old finished one strike shy of his first complete game Tuesday, allowing only two hits in 8 2/3 innings to beat Milwaukee 3-0. That sort of performance is an especially big deal for the Marlins, whose starters had the highest ERA in the major leagues last year. They've gone without a complete game since September 2006.

The rotation remains shaky, but Olsen has helped the Marlins stay atop the NL East despite the smallest payroll in the majors. They've spent more than three weeks in first place, and they're 6-1 when Olsen pitches.

"You see a certain swagger in him when he takes the mound," teammate Luis Gonzalez says. "I think he's turning the corner and becoming a professional pitcher. This guy is in his third year in the major leagues. For a left-hander, if you start to develop like that early, you're going to be around for a long time." -- associated press

Igawa can't help himself or Yankees

A three-run rally by the New York Yankees in the ninth inning made Friday night's final score look respectable: a 6-5 victory for the Detroit Tigers, their fourth triumph in four tries over the Yankees this season.

But for most of the night in Comerica Park, the Yankees were lackluster at best and perhaps something worse than that. They fell below .500 again at 18-19, and their pitching problems are compounding in the rotation and in the bullpen.

The pitching report included a disappointing start for left-handed starter Kei Igawa in his return to the major leagues and a disabling elbow injury to Jonathan Albaladejo. Igawa (0-1), who was just called up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre gave up six runs and 11 hits in three-plus innings.

Yankees catcher Chad Moeller said Igawa seemed to be "feeling some pressure" in the first appearance in his second season after being acquired from Japan in a five-year deal that cost the Yankees $46 million.

Manager Joe Girardi said that Igawa could not control his breaking pitches and that this allowed the Tigers to wait for and wallop his fastball. With Ian Kennedy demoted to Scranton and Phil Hughes injured, Igawa likely will get at least one more start, Girardi said. -- new york times

Pitchers makea fantasy splash

Rookie Max Scherzer has been the talk of baseball since retiring 13 consecutive Houston Astros, including seven via strikeout, with ridiculous ease in his big-league debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 29.

The performance won the hard-throwing right-hander a spot in Arizona's starting rotation and helped make him the most coveted fantasy wire pick-up last weekend.

As big a splash Scherzer has made, an even greater one could be forthcoming courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Clayton Kershaw, the 2007 Sporting News Minor League Pitcher of the Year who could be another Esteban Loaiza or Hiroki Kuroda implosion away from arriving at Chavez Ravine.

Kershaw, the 11th selection in the pitching-rich 2006 draft that included Scherzer (seventh) and current big-league hurlers Luke Hochevar (first), Andrew Miller (sixth), Tim Lincecum (10) and Joba Chamberlain (41st), is the jewel of the Dodgers' farm system and future face of the franchise.

The 6-foot-3-inch left-hander has drawn comparisons to Phillies All-Star Cole Hamels, thanks to an upper-90s fastball that's complemented by a wicked curveball that turns batters into statues.

Kershaw turned heads, most noticeably that of Dodgers Hall-of-Fame southpaw Sandy Koufax (who gave his young apprentice rave reviews), during spring training, when he allowed one earned run and eight hits in 14 innings with 19 strikeouts and only three walks -- effectively showing Dodgers manager Joe Torre he was ready whenever Torre was.

Though impressed, Torre and the Dodgers' brass weren't quite ready and assigned Kershaw, who turned 20 in March, to Class AA Jacksonville for more seasoning and with the expectation that he would join the big club at some point after the All-Star break.

Kershaw accepted his reassignment to Jacksonville without blinking and has been practically unhittable. In six starts for the Suns, Kershaw is 0-3 but with a 1.12 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, and he's allowed just 23 hits and struck out 36 while walking 11 in 32 innings. Opponents are batting .197 against Kershaw.

-- The Sacramento Bee

30 Seconds with the Mets' Ryan Church

Sun, 11 May 2008 07:02 EDT

Ryan Church joined the New York Mets in a November trade with the Washington Nationals. He suffered a concussion in spring training and, two weeks later, became a father for the first time. His wife, Tina, gave birth to their son, Mason Alexander, on March 14. Church, a 29-year-old outfielder, entered Saturday hitting a team-best .328 with six home runs, 24 RBIs and four outfield assists.

Q. Are you more relaxed since becoming a father? I'm at peace with a lot of things. I go home and he smiles, and if I go 0-for-4, he doesn't care. He loves me for who I am. He doesn't know what I do. He throws up and doesn't care. He poops on me and pees on me. It's great.

Q. How much has it changed your lives? The biggest adjustment was for our cat. She's the one who first heard the baby and just took off. She's a real skittish cat. Now, she jumps out of bed, sniffs him, smells him, lays right there by his feet.

Q. You live in Viera, Fla., in the offseason. What has the experience been like of raising him in a Manhattan apartment? Totally different. I don't know how people do it. I'm used to backyards, front yards, grass, parks. Here, it's elevators, subways. You can't just hop in a car and go where you need to go.

Q. How about the sleep? Well, I was expecting it, but I didn't know it was going to be this bad. Actually, sleep-wise, it's been relatively easy for me. She's been really good. He cries, she gets up and lets me try to stay there and try to sleep. Still, I wake up, and it's one of those things where you hear a noise and you're like, OK, I have to go pick him up.

Q. How do you plan to repay her for letting you sleep? Having my kid. I've gotten her some gifts. We're planning on going on a trip this offseason or something.

Q. Just the two of you? Hopefully. We'll see how that works.

Shields pitches 1-hitter, Longoria homers as Rays top Angels

Sat, 10 May 2008 13:46 EDT

James Shields pitched a one-hitter and Evan Longoria's two-run, ninth-inning homer snapped a scoreless tie and gave the Tampa Bay Rays a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Shields (4-2) rebounded from the second-shortest outing of his career to post his second shutout in his past three starts.

The 26-year-old right-hander limited the Angels to Brandon Wood's one-out single in the third and retired the last 17 batters he faced after hitting Erick Aybar with a pitch in the fourth.

Angels starter Jon Garland allowed no runs and four hits in eight innings. He walked three and struck out two before being replaced by Justin Speier (0-2), who gave up a leadoff single to B.J. Upton in the ninth.

Carlos Pena, who had two of Tampa Bay's hits off Garland, grounded to first base, moving Upton to second. Three pitches later, Longoria hit his fourth major league homer into the seats in left-center.

Shields, who tossed a two-hitter to beat Boston 3-0 at Tropicana Field on April 27, struck out eight and walked none. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in a 12-4 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park last weekend, throwing 98 pitches in just 3 2-3 innings.

This time, he only needed 70 pitches to get through the first seven innings, limiting the Angels to two baserunners.

Garland allowed three walks and three singles over the same stretch. But only one of the runners got as far as second base, and the Angels helped their starter with a pair of double plays.

The Rays wasted their best opportunity to score off Garland in the eighth, stranding pinch runner Nathan Haynes at third base after Gabe Gross led off the inning with a double to the gap in left.

Garland escaped the jam by getting Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford to ground out.

Los Angeles, already playing without injured infielders Chone Figgins, Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis, lost shortstop Erick Aybar when he was hit by a pitch in the left pinkie finger leading off the fourth inning.

X-rays were negative, and the Angels said Aybar is day-to-day with a bone bruise.

Notes:@ American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado, a native of nearby Sarasota, sang the national anthem. ... Figgins missed his fifth consecutive game for the Angels with a strained right hamstring. He took batting practice and did some running before the game, and manager Mike Scioscia said a decision on whether to place him on the disabled list will be made soon. ... Rays DH-OF Cliff Floyd (right knee surgery) took batting practice and could be close to returning.

MLB Notebook | Sexson suspended 6 games for charging mound

Sat, 10 May 2008 09:00 EDT

Mariners slugger Richie Sexson was suspended for six games and fined Friday by Major League Baseball after charging the mound and throwing his helmet at a Texas pitcher the previous night.

Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, cited Sexson for "violent and aggressive actions."

Sexson asked the players' association to appeal, and any suspension will be delayed until after a hearing.

Seattle's Felix Hernandez and Texas' Gerald Laird and Sidney Ponson also were fined.

Sexson charged the mound and flung his helmet at Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard after the left-hander threw an eye-high pitch to him in the fourth inning of Seattle's 5-0 loss. The benches cleared, but no punches were thrown. Sexson was ejected. -- associated press

Around the leagues

COLORADO: The Rockies-Padres game was delayed for four minutes in the third inning after a woman sitting in the field level behind first base was struck on the chin by a foul ball by Willy Taveras.

The woman was seen by a doctor at the first aid office at Petco Park, then taken to a hospital for stitches, the Padres said.

DETROIT: Gary Sheffield has 1,583 RBIs, tying former Tiger Al Kaline for 35th place in major league history.

MILWAUKEE: Former All-Star closer Derrick Turnbow accepted an minor-league assignment and will report to Class AAA Nashville on Monday.

N.Y. YANKEES: Kyle Farnsworth's suspension was cut from three games to one by Major League Baseball following an appeal by the right-handed reliever. He was to serve the suspension Friday, the start of a series in Detroit.

Watson announced the original penalty April 19, after Farnsworth threw a fastball behind the neck of Boston's Manny Ramirez. Farnsworth wasn't ejected and said the ball slipped.

PHILADELPHIA: NL most valuable player Jimmy Rollins was activated and scheduled to bat first against San Francisco.

SAN DIEGO: Center fielder Jim Edmonds was released after his batting average dipped to .178 -- more than 100 points below his lifetime average -- and he struggled to track down fly balls.

TEXAS: David Murphy was the AL rookie of the month in April.

TORONTO: The Blue Jays acquired Kevin Mench in a trade with Texas and signed free agent Brad Wilkerson.

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Rangers, Mariners scuffle in Texas' 5-0 win

Fri, 09 May 2008 02:35 EDT

Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer and then got hit by a pitch, setting up a fourth-inning brawl in the Texas Rangers' 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.

Richie Sexson charged the mound and flung his helmet at Rangers starter Kason Gabbard after the left-hander threw a pitch eye-high to him in the bottom half.

Both benches cleared, but no punches were thrown. Sexson was ejected.

Gabbard was not, but was removed two batters later with what appeared to be a leg injury and relieved by Franklyn German (1-0), who pitched 1 2-3 innings.

Gabbard, who had just come off the disabled list gave up just two hits in 3 2-3 innings. He and German combined with Jamey Wright, Eddie Guardado and Frank Francisco to shut out the Mariners for the second night in a row, after a 2-0 win on Wednesday. Seattle hasn't scored in 22 straight innings.

Felix Hernandez (2-3) struggled with his control through five innings, allowing four walks and six hits.

Ramon Vazquez had four hits, including a sixth-inning RBI double.

Notes:@ Seattle OF Brad Wilkerson, designated for assignment on April 30, was given his unconditional release Thursday. ... Mariners DH Jose Vidro missed his third straight game with back spasms. "He's feeling better but he's not even close to 100 percent," manager John McLaren said. "We're just taking it day by day." ... Rangers SS Michael Young, who left Wednesday's game in the bottom of the first because of injury to his left hip flexor, was held out. ... Before the game, Gabbard and infielder Travis Metcalf were taken off the DL. LHP A.J. Murray was optioned back to Class AAA Oklahoma City and 1B Ben Broussard was designated for assignment.

MLB Notebook | Trump says A-Rod not so good under pressure

Fri, 09 May 2008 06:39 EDT

Even Donald Trump has strong feelings about New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. Trump was in Arkansas to speak at the Economics Arkansas luncheon.

According to arkansasbusiness.com, Trump talked about Rodriguez, three-time AL most valuable player who has been criticized for his perceived inability to come through in important situations.

"He always plays bad under pressure," Trump said. "Derek Jeter, he's the greatest. People love Derek Jeter. Are those cameras on? This is going to get broadcast back home. Oh, now he'll leave my building."

A company affiliated with Rodriguez bought an apartment at Trump Park Avenue in Manhattan for $7.4 million in 2005. -- Associated Press

Around the leagues

ATLANTA: Manny Acosta was mistakenly awarded his third save for recording two outs in Atlanta's 5-2 win against San Diego on Wednesday. The save was removed following a review by the commissioner's office. To qualify for the save, Acosta would have had to start the inning with a three-run lead or enter the game with the potential tying run on base, at the plate or on deck. He came in with one out and nobody on base.

BOSTON: Starter Curt Schilling, 41, played long toss before Thursday's game, continuing his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury. Manager Terry Francona said the session went well.

MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire rejoined the team after missing the past five games to be with his family in Oklahoma following the death of his brother, Mike Gardenhire, who was 54. Gardenhire's return was short-lived. He was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing with plate umpire Doug Eddings.

NEW YORK YANKEES: The only drama in the Yankees-Cleveland game came in the eighth, when Cleveland's David Dellucci, two nights after hitting a three-run homer against Joba Chamberlain, faced the young Yankees' pitcher again, and struck out, prompting an exaggerated, fist-pumping celebration by Chamberlain. "It's May baseball," Dellucci said. "The home run was in a much bigger situation. I didn't dance and scream. If a hitter did something like that, it would be bush. It's kind of interesting how a pitcher gets away with it."

WASHINGTON: Catcher Paul Lo Duca broke a bone in his right hand Wednesday night and will be placed on the disabled list today. The team expects him to miss four to six weeks.

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Webb weaves more magic

Fri, 09 May 2008 05:11 EDT

That new contract in the works for Brandon Webb might have grown a few digits.

Webb became the first pitcher in three years to win his first eight starts of a season, pitching his 13th career complete game to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Thursday.

The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner struck out four and didn't walk a batter in his first complete game of the year.

The easygoing Webb (8-0) became the first pitcher to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland of the Chicago White Sox in 2005, and the first in the NL since Pedro Martinez for Montreal in 1997.

"Everything has to go your way for these things to work," Webb said. "Guys hitting in situations and making plays. The bullpen has been coming through. Everything has to fall in place and it has whenever I've been out there."

Webb stifled the Phillies on three hits through eight innings before allowing two runs and three hits in the ninth.

Manager Bob Melvin came to the mound after the Phillies scored two runs in the ninth and had a runner on first with one out. With catcher Chris Snyder almost pleading with the manager to leave Webb in, Melvin relented.

"He said `You've got one batter,' " Webb said. `I said, all right.' "

Geoff Jenkins then lined one off the pitcher's glove that Webb turned in to a game-ending double play.

Webb is one of baseball's biggest bargains, or one of the most underpaid depending on the perspective, but the Diamondbacks are trying to work out a new deal. He is scheduled to make $5.5 million this season as part of a four-year contract that originally guaranteed him $19.5 million and potentially is worth $27.5 million over five seasons. He is due $6.5 million next year, and the Diamondbacks have an $8.5 million option for 2010 with a $1.5 million buyout.

"We've been talking a little bit and, hopefully, it's not something that drags out too long," Webb said. "We'll get something done."

Chris Young hit a two-run drive, his second home run in as many games, and Snyder had a two-run double for the Diamondbacks, who split the four-game series to finish their longest homestand of the season 5-5. Justin Upton added a solo home run for Arizona.

MLB: White Sox's blow up dolls a `team' issue

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:25 EDT

Notebook

MLB: White Sox's blow up dolls a `team' issue

Major League Baseball considers the blow up over blowup dolls in the Chicago White Sox clubhouse a team issue, not a league issue.Rob Manfred, executive vice president for labor relations, said the league had discussions with the team after a player placed two nude blowup dolls in the clubhouse at Toronto, but called it "fundamentally a club issue."

An unidentified player positioned the dolls with bats of the players fanning out around them -- a ritual of sorts to try to get the team out of its slump -- before Sunday's game, a shrine that some found offensive.

Manager Ozzie Guillen reiterated Wednesday he sees no reason to apologize, saying, "I don't think we did anything illegal. It was just a funny doll."

The Association for Women in Sports Media voiced its concerns about the White Sox's antics in an e-mail to the Chicago Sun-Times. -- Associated Press

Around the leagues

ATLANTA: Closer Rafael Soriano can resume throwing after tests on his sore right elbow revealed no major injuries. Soriano had an MRI and a bone imaging scan.

CLEVELAND: Victor Martinez was back in the lineup Wednesday, one day after he was scratched with a stiff neck. Martinez, an All-Star catcher, was the designated hitter against the New York Yankees.

DETROIT: Gary Sheffield'sRBI single was the 1,582nd of his career, pulling him within one of former Tiger and Hall of Famer Al Kaline for 35th on the all-time list.

OAKLAND: Chad Gaudin is moving from the rotation to the bullpen, where he's spent most of his previous five major-league seasons. The A's need to make room for the return of right-handed starter Rich Harden, who is scheduled to come off the 15-day disabled list.

PITTSBURGH: Shortstop Jack Wilson will remain out of the lineup for at least two more weeks with a strained left calf that has kept him out for all but three games.

ST. LOUIS: Starter Mark Mulder has a mild rotator cuff strain of his left shoulder, causing St. Louis to stop his injury rehabilitation assignment. Mulder is coming back from two shoulder operations.

WASHINGTON: Catcher Paul Lo Duca was injured while batting in the seventh inning against Houston. The team said he had a sharp pain in his right hand and would be examined today.

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Shelton, Flack lift Tar Heels

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:39 EDT

Kyle Shelton doubled three times and drove in two runs and Chad Flack reached the 200-RBI mark for his career to help No. 2 North Carolina notch a 9-2 win Tuesday against North Florida.

The Tar Heels (39-8) held the Ospreys (26-21) to four hits. It was North Carolina's 14th win in its past 15 games.

Left fielder Shelton went 3-for-5 with two runs, and third baseman Flack was 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Flack, who is the Heels' career leader in hits, games played and at-bats, is 14 RBIs behind the career record shared by Jarrett Shearin and Sean Farrell.

First baseman Dustin Ackley had three hits, while right fielder Tim Fedroff and shortstop Garrett Gore had two each.

Right-hander Adam Warren (7-1) earned the win for the Tar Heels. Righty Ty Prior (5-5) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits during 1 2/3 innings.

No. 19 N.C. STATE 6, CAMPBELL 3: Marcus Jones hit an eighth-inning double off the right-field wall to drive in two runs and break a 3-3 tie, propelling N.C. State to a win at Campbell.

The Wolfpack (33-14) struggled offensively but rode stellar pitching from Eric Surkamp and Jimmy Gillheeney, who combined on a five-hitter.

Campbell (17-31) lost its eighth consecutive game.

DUKE 2, DAVIDSON 1 (10): Michael Ghizzoni squeezed home Jeremy Gould with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning against visiting Davidson.

Gould started off the inning with a single, moved to second on an error on a failed pickoff attempt at first base and went to third on a wild pitch. After Chris Kennedy struck out Gabriel Saade for the first out of the inning, Ghizzoni laid down the bunt to drive in Gould.

It was the second one-run loss to Duke (34-14-1) this season for Davidson (10-33).

UNC GREENSBORO 4, HIGH POINT 3 (10): Host UNCG tied the score in the ninth with a run off High Point closer Bubba O'Donnell. UNCG (30-19) won in the bottom of the 10th when Matt Gaski singled home Adam Deleo. Spartans reliever Greg Smith (4-1) earned the win. High Point fell to 18-26.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 6, FURMAN 5: Kory Morian homered and drove in a pair of runs to lead visiting Charleston Southern (16-28). Furman is 29-16.

Reds GM: Griffey trade speculation premature

Wed, 07 May 2008 06:40 EDT

Notebook

Reds GM: Griffey trade speculation premature

Suggestions that the struggling Cincinnati Reds might trade outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. during the season are premature, general manager Walk Jocketty said Tuesday night without ruling out that a deal could happen.The outfielder, 38, is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. The Reds have an option to keep him next year for $16.5 million, and could buy out the option for $4 million.

The club's poor start has sparked speculation that Griffey and others could be traded in July if things don't improve on the field. The Reds were 13-21, 81/2 games out of first place in the NL Central, after losing 3-0 Tuesday in the second game of their series against the Chicago Cubs.

Griffey would have the right to block any trade. He said if the club comes to him at some point, he would listen.

Two of Jocketty's biggest decisions will involve Griffey and left fielder Adam Dunn, who gets $13 million in the final year on his deal. If the club is out of contention at midseason, both outfielders would be attractive in trade talks. -- Associated Press

Around the leagues

ARIZONA: Second baseman Orlando Hudson had tests on his sore right hamstring. Manager Bob Melvin said he was optimistic that Hudson wouldn't have to go on the disabled list.

BOSTON: Pitcher Curt Schilling, 41, tested his ailing shoulder by playing catch on flat ground, but isn't ready to begin throwing off a mound. The right-hander threw 25 balls from 60 feet away. He'll repeat the exercise Thursday.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Before Sunday's game in Toronto, an unnamed player positioned two nude blowup dolls in the clubhouse with bats of the players fanning out around them -- a ritual of sorts to try to get the team out of its slump. Some found the shrine more tasteless than amusing. Manager Ozzie Guillen said it was a joke that has been blown out of proportion after it got play in the media. General manager Ken Williams said he was disappointed by the display.

"I don't think we tried to disrespect or hurt anybody's feelings. We just tried to have fun and to keep things loose. Obviously a lot of people took it the wrong way," Guillen said, adding he did not buy the dolls. "I'm not going to say I'm sorry. I don't know what to say. ... I'm not guilty. ... We just had a plastic thing sitting on a table and, wow, we're bad people."

CLEVELAND: The slumping Indians designated outfielder Jason Michaels, hitting .207, for assignment and recalled Ben Francisco from Class AAA Buffalo. The Indians have 10 days to trade or release Michaels, who has one hit in his past 21 at-bats.

• Catcher Victor Martinez was pulled from the lineup in New York because of a stiff neck.

MILWAUKEE: Closer Eric Gagne began this week's series at Florida leading the majors with five blown saves, but manager Ned Yost said he's sticking with Gagne.

Yost said it was "ridiculous" to even discuss a change, despite Gagne's 6.14 ERA in 16 games. Gagne blew a two-run lead in the ninth Sunday at Houston and entered Tuesday tied for third in the NL with nine saves.

PHILADELPHIA: Shortstop Jimmy Rollins thinks he's almost ready to rejoin the Phillies after going 2-for-4 with a home run in an extended spring game against the Yankees. He is recovering from a sprained left ankle suffered April 8.

SAN FRANCISCO: Left-hander Barry Zito, demoted to the bullpen last week, is returning to the rotation without having made any relief appearances. Manager Bruce Bochy said Zito will start today in Pittsburgh. Zito, who a year ago signed a $126 million, seven-year contract, lost his first six starts.

BONDS UPDATE: The players' association has expressed concern to the commissioner's office over the lack of offers to Barry Bonds, asking for additional information about the offseason's free-agent market. The union did not file a grievance on behalf of the outfielder, 43, who remains unsigned and hasn't received any offers since becoming a free agent.

A seven-time NL most valuable player, Bonds broke the career home run record last year, then was indicted in November on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice relating to 2003 grand jury testimony about illegal performance-enhancing drugs. A trial is unlikely to start before 2009.

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Roger Clemens apologizes for 'mistakes in personal life'

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:40 EDT

Roger Clemens apologized Monday for unspecified mistakes in his personal life, a statement Brian McNamee's lawyers intend to use to attack the pitcher's credibility at trial.

The Daily News reported last week Clemens had a decade-long relationship with country star Mindy McCready that began when she was 15 and an aspiring singer. The newspaper also linked the seven-time Cy Young Award winner to former Manhattan bartender Angela Moyer and Paulette Dean Daly, a former wife of champion golfer John Daly.

Clemens denied having an affair with a 15-year-old but didn't specifically address whether he had a romance with McCready.

"Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry," Clemens said in a statement issued by spokesman Patrick Dorton. "I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right."

The apology was first reported by the Houston Chronicle.

McNamee, Clemens' former trainer, accused the pitcher in December's Mitchell Report of using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000 and 2001, before players and owners agreed to ban them from baseball.

Clemens, a 354-game winner, has repeatedly denied using steroids and human growth hormone. The defamation suit is being contested in federal court in Houston.

"I think what it says without saying it is that he apparently admits he cheated on his wife and family. And if he cheated on them, I think it's reasonable to assume that he cheated his fans and baseball," Richard Emery, one of McNamee's lawyers, said in a telephone interview.

"I think this is all very probative of his behavior and his penchant for denying the truth, and it certainly will come into play in the defamation lawsuit. He certainly doesn't deserve to be compensated for loss of reputation when his reputation, to the extent he ever had it, of being a family man, was totally false and built on a house a cards, a tissue of lies, if you will."

Clemens tried to draw a distinction between McNamee's allegations and the Daily News reports.

"I believe my personal life has nothing to do with the accusations of steroid and HGH use," Clemens said. "I have already made clear that I did not use them. Now, I have been accused of having an improper relationship with a 15-year old girl. Nothing could be further from the truth. This relationship has been twisted and distorted far beyond reality. It is just one of many, many accusations that are utterly false.

"I realize that many people want me to simply confess and apologize for the conduct that I have been accused of, but I cannot confess to, nor apologize for, things I did not do. I have apologized to my family for my mistakes, and having offered this apology to the public, I would ask that you let me and my family deal with these matters in private."

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said last week he will talk with his client about whether to proceed with the defamation suit following the wave of unpleasant publicity.

"He's getting pummeled," Hardin said. "I've never seen somebody get beat up like this. In some ways, I think we're on uncharted ground."

The decision on whether to drop the suit rests with Clemens.

"That's always a decision the client has to make," Hardin said. "That's not the lawyer's decision."

MLB Notebook | Clemens sorry for 'mistakes in personal life'

Tue, 06 May 2008 07:22 EDT

Notebook

Clemens sorry for `mistakes in personal life'

Roger Clemens apologized Monday for unspecified mistakes in his personal life, a statement Brian McNamee's lawyers intend to use to attack the pitcher's credibility at trial.The Daily News reported last week Clemens had a decade-long relationship with country star Mindy McCready that began when she was 15 and an aspiring singer. The newspaper also linked him to former Manhattan bartender Angela Moyer and Paulette Dean Daly, a former wife of champion golfer John Daly.

Clemens denied having an affair with a 15-year-old but didn't specifically address whether he had a romance with McCready.

"Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry," Clemens said in a statement issued by spokesman Patrick Dorton. "I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans."

McNamee, Clemens' former trainer, accused the pitcher in December's Mitchell Report of using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000 and 2001. -- associated press

Around the leagues

ARIZONA: Only 26 days after surgery for thyroid cancer, left-hander Doug Davis felt strong during a 65-pitch simulated game.

ATLANTA: The Braves acquired first baseman-outfielder Greg Norton from Seattle, giving their bench a boost after they put infielder Martin Prado on the 15-day disabled list.

The Mariners, who designated Norton for assignment on April 30, will receive a player to be named or cash.

Norton, 35, was 7-for-16 (.435) in six games for Seattle this season. He also played seven games for Class AAA Tacoma.

BOSTON: The Red Sox placed outfielder Brandon Moss on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Craig Hansen from Class AA Pawtucket. Moss had an appendectomy Saturday.

CINCINNATI: Right-handed reliever David Weathers was activated off the 15-day disabled list, giving the Reds their top setup man for the start of a series against the Chicago Cubs.

CLEVELAND: The Indians plan to cut Jason Michaels, one of several veterans with batting averages hovering around .200.

COLORADO: Right-hander Kip Wells will have surgery today for a blood clot in his right hand.

DETROIT: Outfielder Jacque Jones was cut by the Tigers. Designated hitter Gary Sheffield took over for Jones in left field.

PHILADELPHIA: Injured shortstop Jimmy Rollins went 4-for-4 with two RBIs in an extended spring training game in Tampa, Fla. Rollins (sprained left ankle) is on the 15-day disabled list.

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Pujols gets key hit as Cards top rivals

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:01 EDT

Albert Pujols reached base for the 32nd consecutive game, and he did it with a two-run double in the fourth inning that was the go-ahead hit in St. Louis' 5-3 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night.

Todd Wellemeyer (3-1) beat the team that drafted him in 2000 and gave him his first shot in the major leagues, with five solid innings, helping the Cardinals take two of three from their Central Division rival. All three games were sold out, the first capacity crowds since opening day, including attendance of 44,969 in the finale.

Jason Isringhausen worked a perfect ninth against the top of the order for his 10th save in 13 chances, shaking off recent woes, to help the Cardinals finish 7-3 on a season-long 10-game homestand.

Adam Kennedy had a pair of RBI singles and walked twice, and catcher Yadier Molina received a huge ovation in the fifth when he threw out Ryan Theriot attempting to steal second from his knees, ending up prone in front of the plate.

The Cardinals beat up on former teammate Jason Marquis (1-2), who surrendered five runs and seven hits in 51/3 innings. Marquis was 3-1 last season against St. Louis, where he was a starter for three years before signing with the Cubs.

Pujols struck out on an awkward swing and grounded into a double play in his first two at-bats before his two-out double just inside the third-base line snapped a 2-2 tie in the fourth. He drew his major league-high 33rd walk in the sixth, and entered the game with a major league-best .518 on-base percentage.

The Cubs took the lead in the second on Reed Johnson's RBI double and Alfonso Soriano's sacrifice fly and the Cardinals promptly tied in the bottom half with four straight out-one hits including RBI singles by Skip Schumaker and Adam Kennedy.