BOSTON — Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana was carted off the field on a stretcher with his left leg in an air cast after blocking home plate for an out in the seventh inning of Monday night’s game with the Boston Red Sox.
Pinch hitter Daniel Nava singled to right and Shin-Soo Choo fired a strike to the plate. Santana made the catch, then blocked the plate with his leg as Ryan Kalish came in sliding hard.
Santana remained on his stomach in obvious pain as most of the Indians players on the field huddled around him. Television replays showed his left leg buckled.
He was seated before being helped onto a stretcher and off the field. The crowd gave him a nice ovation as he was taken off.
"He tested well with the trainers," manager Manny Acta said after the game. "They feel he doesn’t have any serious damage with his ACL or MCL. He’s leaving tomorrow for Cleveland to get an MRI."
Santana never left the ballpark and was in the trainer’s room after the game, but was unavailable to the media.
He was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2008 and started the season at Triple-A Columbus where he batted .316 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs before being recalled June 11.
In 46 games with the Indians, he hit .260 with six homers and 22 RBIs.
The game was delayed for 12 minutes.
"He made a great play," outfielder Shelley Duncan said. "A game-saving play."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sporting News staff reports
BOSTON — Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana was carted off the field on a stretcher with his left leg in an air cast after blocking home plate for an out in the seventh inning of Monday night’s game with the Boston Red Sox.
Pinch hitter Daniel Nava singled to right and Shin-Soo Choo fired a strike to the plate. Santana made the catch, then blocked the plate with his leg as Ryan Kalish came in sliding hard.
Santana remained on his stomach in obvious pain as most of the Indians players on the field huddled around him. Television replays showed his left leg buckled.
He was seated before being helped onto a stretcher and off the field. The crowd gave him a nice ovation as he was taken off.
"He tested well with the trainers," manager Manny Acta said after the game. "They feel he doesn’t have any serious damage with his ACL or MCL. He’s leaving tomorrow for Cleveland to get an MRI."
Santana never left the ballpark and was in the trainer’s room after the game, but was unavailable to the media.
He was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2008 and started the season at Triple-A Columbus where he batted .316 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs before being recalled June 11.
In 46 games with the Indians, he hit .260 with six homers and 22 RBIs.
The game was delayed for 12 minutes.
"He made a great play," outfielder Shelley Duncan said. "A game-saving play."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have traded third baseman Jhonny Peralta to the Detroit Tigers for minor league left-hander Giovanni Soto.
Peralta was in the lineup for Cleveland’s game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, but was pulled at about 6 p.m. He’s batting .246 with seven homers and 43 RBIs in 91 games.
Peralta will likely fill-in for Brandon Inge, the Tigers’ injured third baseman.
The 28-year-old Peralta is in the final season of a five-year, $13 million contract, which includes an $11 million option for 2001. He’s making $4.6 million this season.
The 19-year-old Soto has spent the entire season at Class-A West Michigan. He is 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts.
Infielder Luis Valbuena has been called up from Triple-A Columbus to take Peralta’s roster spot.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have traded third baseman Jhonny Peralta to the Detroit Tigers for minor league left-hander Giovanni Soto.
Peralta was in the lineup for Cleveland’s game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, but was pulled at about 6 p.m. He’s batting .246 with seven homers and 43 RBIs in 91 games.
Peralta will likely fill-in for Brandon Inge, the Tigers’ injured third baseman.
The 28-year-old Peralta is in the final season of a five-year, $13 million contract, which includes an $11 million option for 2001. He’s making $4.6 million this season.
The 19-year-old Soto has spent the entire season at Class-A West Michigan. He is 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts.
Infielder Luis Valbuena has been called up from Triple-A Columbus to take Peralta’s roster spot.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay Rays All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford left Tuesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles after being struck in the groin with a pickoff throw to first base.
Crawford reached on a fielder’s choice in the top of the first and was leaning off the base when Orioles rookie Jake Arrieta threw toward first. First baseman Ty Wigginton missed the ball, which hit Crawford between the legs.
Crawford rolled off the base and was tagged out.
He remained doubled over for several minutes before finally walking off the field with help from trainer Ron Porterfield.
"Carl Crawford is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with," said Wigginton, who was a teammate of Crawford’s in 2006 and 2007. "He’s a true gamer, and if that guy don’t bounce up, it’s not good."
Crawford was later taken by ambulance to a hospital, where tests were negative. He was diagnosed with a testicular contusion and listed as day to day.
"You couldn’t hit it in a better spot. It just took the wind out of me," Crawford said. "Right now it’s real sore, but the doctor said there was no damage. I’m guessing I’ll take (Wednesday) off."
Crawford said he doesn’t wear a protective cup because it’s too restrictive, and he insisted he won’t change that practice.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre suffered a torn testicle last August when he was struck by a ground ball. Like Crawford, Beltre was not wearing a cup. Beltre was on the disabled list for almost three weeks
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay Rays All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford left Tuesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles after being struck in the groin with a pickoff throw to first base.
Crawford reached on a fielder’s choice in the top of the first and was leaning off the base when Orioles rookie Jake Arrieta threw toward first. First baseman Ty Wigginton missed the ball, which hit Crawford between the legs.
Crawford rolled off the base and was tagged out.
He remained doubled over for several minutes before finally walking off the field with help from trainer Ron Porterfield.
"Carl Crawford is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with," said Wigginton, who was a teammate of Crawford’s in 2006 and 2007. "He’s a true gamer, and if that guy don’t bounce up, it’s not good."
Crawford was later taken by ambulance to a hospital, where tests were negative. He was diagnosed with a testicular contusion and listed as day to day.
"You couldn’t hit it in a better spot. It just took the wind out of me," Crawford said. "Right now it’s real sore, but the doctor said there was no damage. I’m guessing I’ll take (Wednesday) off."
Crawford said he doesn’t wear a protective cup because it’s too restrictive, and he insisted he won’t change that practice.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre suffered a torn testicle last August when he was struck by a ground ball. Like Crawford, Beltre was not wearing a cup. Beltre was on the disabled list for almost three weeks
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee told the Chicago Tribune he holds no grudge against pitcher Carlos Zambrano and expects the right-hander to be welcomed back to the team.
It was Zambrano’s shouting match with Lee in the dugout on June 25 that ultimately led to his team-imposed suspension.
"The guy has been my teammate since I’ve been here in ’04," Lee said. "Carlos and I are friends. It’s like family. You argue with the family, and you get over it."
Sporting News staff reports
Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee told the Chicago Tribune he holds no grudge against pitcher Carlos Zambrano and expects the right-hander to be welcomed back to the team.
It was Zambrano’s shouting match with Lee in the dugout on June 25 that ultimately led to his team-imposed suspension.
"The guy has been my teammate since I’ve been here in ’04," Lee said. "Carlos and I are friends. It’s like family. You argue with the family, and you get over it."
ARLINGTON, Texas — Cliff Lee is suddenly in the starting rotation for the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, who pulled off a big deal despite bankruptcy proceedings and unsettled ownership.
The Seattle Mariners sent the ace left-hander and reliever Mark Lowe to the Rangers on Friday for rookie first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers. Texas also receives cash as part of the deal.
It was the third trade in less than a year for Lee, who went 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts for Seattle. He can become a free agent after this season.
For now, he will be starting for the Rangers (as early as Saturday against Baltimore), who landed one of the most coveted players on the trade market despite financial constraints that made it uncertain if they could make such a move before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
General manager Jon Daniels has repeatedly said the Rangers had some financial flexibility to make a deal, but he had never been specific on how that could work.
"Everybody knows our situation. When we take on salary, we have to look at that and see if we can justify it within our budget," team president Nolan Ryan said. "As long as we stay within our budget, we don’t really have restrictions on us to where we can’t do things."
Considering that a bankruptcy judge in May approved a multimillion-dollar loan from Major League Baseball to keep the Rangers afloat during bankruptcy proceedings, there are sure to be those who question the team’s ability to make such a deal.
"I’d guess they’ll be some unnamed sources, but I don’t expect a lot of phone calls," Daniels said when asked if he anticipated any backlash from other teams.
The 31-year-old Lee has a $9 million salary this season and is expected to command a lucrative, multiyear deal in the offseason – unless Texas signs him to an extension before that.
Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason outings last year, including 2-0 in the World Series against the New York Yankees.
He said he spoke with Yankees ace and former Cleveland teammate CC Sabathia on Thursday night and both thought Lee might be traded to New York. Instead, he joins a different first-place team – and the Yankees avoid facing him.
Lee had been scheduled to pitch for Seattle against the Yankees on Friday night. Once the deal was completed, David Pauley was given the assignment for the Mariners.
The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner for the Indians, Lee was acquired by Seattle from the Philadelphia Phillies last December after the NL champions scored fellow ace Roy Halladay in a deal with Toronto.
Smoak is considered one of the top prospects in the majors, though the switch-hitter batted only .209 with eight homers and 34 RBIs in 70 games for the Rangers this season. Seattle also obtained right-handers Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke, and infielder Matt Lawson.
The Mariners were expected to contend for the AL West title this season but quickly fell off the pace. They had lost four straight going into Friday night and were 16 games out.
Seattle’s problems made Lee one of the biggest commodities available, and about a dozen teams were believed to have inquired about the pitcher.
Now, Texas gets a big boost in its quest for its first playoff berth since 1999.
"We’ve always said if we had a chance to improve, we would," Daniels said. "We’re excited about it."
Lee missed the first month of the season with an abdominal injury but quickly made up for the lost time. He is 5-1 with a 1.76 ERA in his last six starts, throwing four of his major league-best five complete games.
Lee, who has 89 strikeouts and six walks in 103 2-3 innings this year, now will wear a Rangers uniform in Tuesday night’s All-Star game in Anaheim, Calif.
Also leaving Seattle is Lowe, one of the Mariners’ most consistent relievers in recent seasons. But he likely is out for the year following back surgery last month.
Smoak and Beavan are the big pieces headed to Seattle. Smoak was the Rangers’ No. 1 draft pick in 2008 and Beavan was their top selection a year earlier. Beavan was 10-5 with a 2.78 ERA in 110 innings for Double-A Frisco this season.
"(Lee) is a great pitcher. They want to take it to the next level here. This can always happen in baseball," Smoak said. "It’s tough, being new to this business. You think you’re going to be on a team for a while and then things change overnight."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Cliff Lee is suddenly in the starting rotation for the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, who pulled off a big deal despite bankruptcy proceedings and unsettled ownership.
The Seattle Mariners sent the ace left-hander and reliever Mark Lowe to the Rangers on Friday for rookie first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers. Texas also receives cash as part of the deal.
It was the third trade in less than a year for Lee, who went 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts for Seattle. He can become a free agent after this season.
For now, he will be starting for the Rangers (as early as Saturday against Baltimore), who landed one of the most coveted players on the trade market despite financial constraints that made it uncertain if they could make such a move before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
General manager Jon Daniels has repeatedly said the Rangers had some financial flexibility to make a deal, but he had never been specific on how that could work.
"Everybody knows our situation. When we take on salary, we have to look at that and see if we can justify it within our budget," team president Nolan Ryan said. "As long as we stay within our budget, we don’t really have restrictions on us to where we can’t do things."
Considering that a bankruptcy judge in May approved a multimillion-dollar loan from Major League Baseball to keep the Rangers afloat during bankruptcy proceedings, there are sure to be those who question the team’s ability to make such a deal.
"I’d guess they’ll be some unnamed sources, but I don’t expect a lot of phone calls," Daniels said when asked if he anticipated any backlash from other teams.
The 31-year-old Lee has a $9 million salary this season and is expected to command a lucrative, multiyear deal in the offseason – unless Texas signs him to an extension before that.
Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason outings last year, including 2-0 in the World Series against the New York Yankees.
He said he spoke with Yankees ace and former Cleveland teammate CC Sabathia on Thursday night and both thought Lee might be traded to New York. Instead, he joins a different first-place team – and the Yankees avoid facing him.
Lee had been scheduled to pitch for Seattle against the Yankees on Friday night. Once the deal was completed, David Pauley was given the assignment for the Mariners.
The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner for the Indians, Lee was acquired by Seattle from the Philadelphia Phillies last December after the NL champions scored fellow ace Roy Halladay in a deal with Toronto.
Smoak is considered one of the top prospects in the majors, though the switch-hitter batted only .209 with eight homers and 34 RBIs in 70 games for the Rangers this season. Seattle also obtained right-handers Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke, and infielder Matt Lawson.
The Mariners were expected to contend for the AL West title this season but quickly fell off the pace. They had lost four straight going into Friday night and were 16 games out.
Seattle’s problems made Lee one of the biggest commodities available, and about a dozen teams were believed to have inquired about the pitcher.
Now, Texas gets a big boost in its quest for its first playoff berth since 1999.
"We’ve always said if we had a chance to improve, we would," Daniels said. "We’re excited about it."
Lee missed the first month of the season with an abdominal injury but quickly made up for the lost time. He is 5-1 with a 1.76 ERA in his last six starts, throwing four of his major league-best five complete games.
Lee, who has 89 strikeouts and six walks in 103 2-3 innings this year, now will wear a Rangers uniform in Tuesday night’s All-Star game in Anaheim, Calif.
Also leaving Seattle is Lowe, one of the Mariners’ most consistent relievers in recent seasons. But he likely is out for the year following back surgery last month.
Smoak and Beavan are the big pieces headed to Seattle. Smoak was the Rangers’ No. 1 draft pick in 2008 and Beavan was their top selection a year earlier. Beavan was 10-5 with a 2.78 ERA in 110 innings for Double-A Frisco this season.
"(Lee) is a great pitcher. They want to take it to the next level here. This can always happen in baseball," Smoak said. "It’s tough, being new to this business. You think you’re going to be on a team for a while and then things change overnight."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CHICAGO — White Sox general manager Ken Williams is done being patient.
After watching his team struggle during its current homestand, Williams is ready to look at options to improve the club.
"Some changes need to take place. I don’t know what and I don’t know when but some changes need to take place," Williams said before Wednesday night’s game against Detroit. "Things aren’t happening the way we envisioned and when they don’t happen as we envisioned we have to make an adjustment or two."
Chicago was 2-5 with two games remaining on the homestand. The White Sox began the day trailing first-place Minnesota by 9 1/2 games in the AL Central.
Williams made it clear he’s not ready to make drastic changes, but is still looking at his options.
"We’re not talking about tearing something down. If we do something, it would still be along the lines of reshuffling the deck with the expectation that we’re going to add impact guys that can help us win," he said.
A month ago, Williams had a hard time listening to other teams inquire about his players. But with the White Sox already nine games below .500, he has changed his stance.
"It is what it is. I have to listen. It’s not that I want to, but I’m not blind," Williams said.
With more than 100 games left to play, Williams is having a difficult time getting other teams to discuss potential trades.
"I guess I’m not so much on my own timeline as I am on other clubs’ timelines," Williams said. "Still early part of June and a lot of clubs are trying to figure their situations out and determine whether they’re in it or not in it, or what kind of money they have to spend. There are a lot of variables that go into the mix, so even if I want to do something it’s not always in my control."
Williams also is concerned with the play of second baseman Gordon Beckham. After a successful rookie season, when he hit .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs, Beckham is batting just .199 in 51 games. Despite the struggles, Williams isn’t ready to demote him to Triple-A Charlotte.
"I spoke to him and just asked him to do one thing for me and that’s just to go back to being Gordon Beckham," Williams said. "Go back to his setup of last year. Free his hands up, take his hacks and not worry about contact as much as just putting a good swing and driving the ball, and he’s looked a lot better more recently. He looks a lot more like himself, but he will have to work out his issues for at least in the near future. As long as he has his confidence up and doesn’t start dragging his head then we will keep confidence in him."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CHICAGO — White Sox general manager Ken Williams is done being patient.
After watching his team struggle during its current homestand, Williams is ready to look at options to improve the club.
"Some changes need to take place. I don’t know what and I don’t know when but some changes need to take place," Williams said before Wednesday night’s game against Detroit. "Things aren’t happening the way we envisioned and when they don’t happen as we envisioned we have to make an adjustment or two."
Chicago was 2-5 with two games remaining on the homestand. The White Sox began the day trailing first-place Minnesota by 9 1/2 games in the AL Central.
Williams made it clear he’s not ready to make drastic changes, but is still looking at his options.
"We’re not talking about tearing something down. If we do something, it would still be along the lines of reshuffling the deck with the expectation that we’re going to add impact guys that can help us win," he said.
A month ago, Williams had a hard time listening to other teams inquire about his players. But with the White Sox already nine games below .500, he has changed his stance.
"It is what it is. I have to listen. It’s not that I want to, but I’m not blind," Williams said.
With more than 100 games left to play, Williams is having a difficult time getting other teams to discuss potential trades.
"I guess I’m not so much on my own timeline as I am on other clubs’ timelines," Williams said. "Still early part of June and a lot of clubs are trying to figure their situations out and determine whether they’re in it or not in it, or what kind of money they have to spend. There are a lot of variables that go into the mix, so even if I want to do something it’s not always in my control."
Williams also is concerned with the play of second baseman Gordon Beckham. After a successful rookie season, when he hit .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs, Beckham is batting just .199 in 51 games. Despite the struggles, Williams isn’t ready to demote him to Triple-A Charlotte.
"I spoke to him and just asked him to do one thing for me and that’s just to go back to being Gordon Beckham," Williams said. "Go back to his setup of last year. Free his hands up, take his hacks and not worry about contact as much as just putting a good swing and driving the ball, and he’s looked a lot better more recently. He looks a lot more like himself, but he will have to work out his issues for at least in the near future. As long as he has his confidence up and doesn’t start dragging his head then we will keep confidence in him."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
SEATTLE — In his prime, Ken Griffey Jr. was considered the best player in baseball, on pace to rewrite the record books.
Injuries derailed his chance to become the home run king. His spot as one of the game’s all-time greats is without question.
Ken Griffey Jr. is credited with playing a large role in keeping big-league baseball in Seattle.
Now relegated to part-time duty and with little pop left in that perfect swing, Griffey unexpectedly decided Wednesday night to retire after 22 mostly brilliant seasons.
The Kid that once saved baseball in the Pacific Northwest with his backward hat, giddy teenage smile and unrivaled talent, had become a shell of the player who dominated the 1990s.
The 40-year-old Griffey wasn’t at Safeco Field on Wednesday. He simply released a statement through the Seattle Mariners – the franchise he helped saved in the 1990s and returned to for the conclusion of his career – that he was done playing.
Griffey said goodbye before Seattle played the Minnesota Twins after 13 All-Star appearances, 630 homers – fifth on the career list – and 1,836 RBIs. He’s an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.
"While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back that I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said.
"I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be," he said.
There will be no farewell tour, just as Griffey wanted. He called Mariners’ team president Chuck Armstrong and said he was done playing. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu called his players together before the start of batting practice to inform them of Griffey’s decision.
"To play with him is a treasure I will keep deep in my heart," Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki said through an interpreter. "I have played 19 years in professional baseball and I can say he was one of my best teammates and my best friend."
Milton Bradley, Griffey’s teammate for only a few months, turned to Mike Sweeney during batting practice and said, "on a day like this, it should rain in Seattle." After Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Minnesota, Bradley was emotional speaking about his former teammate.
"I hit left-handed because of Griffey. I wanted to play baseball, be an outfielder, make diving catches, style on a home run because of Griffey," Bradley said. "Guys like him don’t come around every day. He’s just as magical off the field as on it."
The team put his number 24 in the dirt behind second base and showed a 5-minute video tribute to a standing ovation before the game.
"It’s a sad day for the Mariners, our fans, for all the people in the community that have loved Ken, admired him as a tremendous baseball player and a great human being," Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said. "It’s always tough for great superstars like Ken or anyone else to make a decision to retire. This has been his life for so many years, but he has made his decision and will support it. We will honor him in every way possible."
A star from the time he was the overall No. 1 pick in the 1987 draft, Griffey also played with his hometown Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. He hit .284 with 1,836 RBIs.
But his greatest seasons, by far, came in Seattle.
Griffey played in 1,685 games with the Mariners and hit .292 with 417 homers, most coming in the homer-friendly Kingdome, and 1,216 RBIs. He won the AL MVP in 1997 and practically saved a franchise that was in danger of relocating when he first came up.
Griffey returned to the Mariners in 2009 and almost single-handedly transformed what had been a fractured, bickering clubhouse with his leadership, energy and constant pranks.
Griffey signed a one-year deal last November for one more season in Seattle after he was carried off the field by his teammates after the final game of 2009. He hit .214 last season with 19 homers as a part-time DH. He was limited by a swollen left knee that required an operation in the offseason.
But the bat never came alive in 2010. Griffey was hitting only .184 with no homers and seven RBIs and recently went a week without playing. There was a report earlier this season – which Griffey denied – that he’d fallen asleep in the clubhouse during a game.
The swing that hit as many as 56 homers in a season had lost its punch and Griffey seemed to understand his time was coming to a close.
"Of course it surprised us. You never know what is in a players mind. They debate things here and there and in this particular case Ken made his decision and there wasn’t anything anybody could say," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "You support him, you’re behind him and again, he’s a legacy in this community and certainly in the game of baseball."
His career is littered with highlights, from homering in eight straight games to tie a major league record in 1993, to furiously rounding third and sliding home safe on Edgar Martinez’s double to beat the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series in 1995. His first major league at-bat was a double and Griffey homered the first time he stepped to the plate at home.
A year after making his big league debut, Griffey enjoyed one of his greatest highlights. Playing with his All-Star dad, Ken Griffey, they hit back-to-back home runs in a game for the Mariners.
And during the Steroids Era, his name was never linked to performance-enhancing drugs, a rarity among his contemporaries such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.
"Junior was one of the finest young men I’ve ever had the opportunity to manage," said Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella. "When we were in Seattle together, I believe he was the best player in baseball and it was truly an honor to be his manager."
Seattle catcher Rob Johnson watched Griffey in his prime while growing up in Montana. He then got a chance to claim a locker just a few feet away from Griffey’s.
"I think it’s pretty easy for me to personally say he’s the greatest player to ever play this game," Johnson said. "He did everything. He wasn’t just a home run hitter. The guy played outfield as good or better than anyone ever played. … To me he is the greatest player to ever live and to get a chance to play with him and to get to sit next to his locker is pretty special."
Griffey also is regarded as the player who helped keep the Mariners in Seattle, a point Armstrong noted during an impromptu gathering just a few steps from the batter’s box at Safeco Field. It was Seattle’s unlikely late season playoff run in 1995, spurred by the return of Griffey from injury, that led to the construction of Safeco Field and the future security of a franchise rumored for years to be on the move.
Once he left Seattle for the Reds, injuries began to take their toll and his production started to decline. Griffey’s final hit, during his lackluster final season, was fittingly a game-winning pinch-hit single against Toronto on May 20.
"He kept the team here. He drew people here because people wanted to see what he could do day to day," Seattle first base coach Lee Tinsley said, a former playing teammate with Griffey. "He was such a special player."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
SEATTLE — In his prime, Ken Griffey Jr. was considered the best player in baseball, on pace to rewrite the record books.
Injuries derailed his chance to become the home run king. His spot as one of the game’s all-time greats is without question.
Ken Griffey Jr. is credited with playing a large role in keeping big-league baseball in Seattle.
Now relegated to part-time duty and with little pop left in that perfect swing, Griffey unexpectedly decided Wednesday night to retire after 22 mostly brilliant seasons.
The Kid that once saved baseball in the Pacific Northwest with his backward hat, giddy teenage smile and unrivaled talent, had become a shell of the player who dominated the 1990s.
The 40-year-old Griffey wasn’t at Safeco Field on Wednesday. He simply released a statement through the Seattle Mariners – the franchise he helped saved in the 1990s and returned to for the conclusion of his career – that he was done playing.
Griffey said goodbye before Seattle played the Minnesota Twins after 13 All-Star appearances, 630 homers – fifth on the career list – and 1,836 RBIs. He’s an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.
"While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field and nobody in the Mariners front office has asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back that I will never allow myself to become a distraction," Griffey said.
"I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be," he said.
There will be no farewell tour, just as Griffey wanted. He called Mariners’ team president Chuck Armstrong and said he was done playing. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu called his players together before the start of batting practice to inform them of Griffey’s decision.
"To play with him is a treasure I will keep deep in my heart," Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki said through an interpreter. "I have played 19 years in professional baseball and I can say he was one of my best teammates and my best friend."
Milton Bradley, Griffey’s teammate for only a few months, turned to Mike Sweeney during batting practice and said, "on a day like this, it should rain in Seattle." After Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Minnesota, Bradley was emotional speaking about his former teammate.
"I hit left-handed because of Griffey. I wanted to play baseball, be an outfielder, make diving catches, style on a home run because of Griffey," Bradley said. "Guys like him don’t come around every day. He’s just as magical off the field as on it."
The team put his number 24 in the dirt behind second base and showed a 5-minute video tribute to a standing ovation before the game.
"It’s a sad day for the Mariners, our fans, for all the people in the community that have loved Ken, admired him as a tremendous baseball player and a great human being," Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said. "It’s always tough for great superstars like Ken or anyone else to make a decision to retire. This has been his life for so many years, but he has made his decision and will support it. We will honor him in every way possible."
A star from the time he was the overall No. 1 pick in the 1987 draft, Griffey also played with his hometown Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. He hit .284 with 1,836 RBIs.
But his greatest seasons, by far, came in Seattle.
Griffey played in 1,685 games with the Mariners and hit .292 with 417 homers, most coming in the homer-friendly Kingdome, and 1,216 RBIs. He won the AL MVP in 1997 and practically saved a franchise that was in danger of relocating when he first came up.
Griffey returned to the Mariners in 2009 and almost single-handedly transformed what had been a fractured, bickering clubhouse with his leadership, energy and constant pranks.
Griffey signed a one-year deal last November for one more season in Seattle after he was carried off the field by his teammates after the final game of 2009. He hit .214 last season with 19 homers as a part-time DH. He was limited by a swollen left knee that required an operation in the offseason.
But the bat never came alive in 2010. Griffey was hitting only .184 with no homers and seven RBIs and recently went a week without playing. There was a report earlier this season – which Griffey denied – that he’d fallen asleep in the clubhouse during a game.
The swing that hit as many as 56 homers in a season had lost its punch and Griffey seemed to understand his time was coming to a close.
"Of course it surprised us. You never know what is in a players mind. They debate things here and there and in this particular case Ken made his decision and there wasn’t anything anybody could say," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "You support him, you’re behind him and again, he’s a legacy in this community and certainly in the game of baseball."
His career is littered with highlights, from homering in eight straight games to tie a major league record in 1993, to furiously rounding third and sliding home safe on Edgar Martinez’s double to beat the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series in 1995. His first major league at-bat was a double and Griffey homered the first time he stepped to the plate at home.
A year after making his big league debut, Griffey enjoyed one of his greatest highlights. Playing with his All-Star dad, Ken Griffey, they hit back-to-back home runs in a game for the Mariners.
And during the Steroids Era, his name was never linked to performance-enhancing drugs, a rarity among his contemporaries such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.
"Junior was one of the finest young men I’ve ever had the opportunity to manage," said Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella. "When we were in Seattle together, I believe he was the best player in baseball and it was truly an honor to be his manager."
Seattle catcher Rob Johnson watched Griffey in his prime while growing up in Montana. He then got a chance to claim a locker just a few feet away from Griffey’s.
"I think it’s pretty easy for me to personally say he’s the greatest player to ever play this game," Johnson said. "He did everything. He wasn’t just a home run hitter. The guy played outfield as good or better than anyone ever played. … To me he is the greatest player to ever live and to get a chance to play with him and to get to sit next to his locker is pretty special."
Griffey also is regarded as the player who helped keep the Mariners in Seattle, a point Armstrong noted during an impromptu gathering just a few steps from the batter’s box at Safeco Field. It was Seattle’s unlikely late season playoff run in 1995, spurred by the return of Griffey from injury, that led to the construction of Safeco Field and the future security of a franchise rumored for years to be on the move.
Once he left Seattle for the Reds, injuries began to take their toll and his production started to decline. Griffey’s final hit, during his lackluster final season, was fittingly a game-winning pinch-hit single against Toronto on May 20.
"He kept the team here. He drew people here because people wanted to see what he could do day to day," Seattle first base coach Lee Tinsley said, a former playing teammate with Griffey. "He was such a special player."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
DETROIT — The Tigers found a taker for Dontrelle Willis.
Detroit dealt the left-handed pitcher and cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-hander Billy Buckner, who was sent to Triple-A Toledo.
The 28-year-old Willis was designated for assignment on Sunday, giving the Tigers up to 10 days to make a move with him. He was making $12 million this year.
"We are paying a substantial portion of that salary," said Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski, adding that a couple clubs showed interest.
Willis was 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance this season. He is expected to start Saturday night in Arizona against Colorado.
"I’m just excited to get a fresh start," Willis said on a conference call.
He joins a team that had lost eight in a row entering Tuesday night’s action and ranked last in the majors with a 5.89 ERA.
"He’s had extreme success, he’s had a period of struggles, and he’s hopefully coming out of it," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. "He’s always been known as a big personality and we’ve encouraged him to be himself and breathe some life into this team, which we need."
The former NL Rookie of the Year, All-Star and 22-game winner helped Florida toward the World Series championship in 2003, but failed to remotely regain that form in two-plus seasons with the Tigers.
"It was a great place to play baseball," Willis said. "I just didn’t get it done."
Arizona manager A.J. Hinch talked to Willis shortly after the trade went down.
"He’s an energetic guy who loves to play," Hinch said. "He wears his heart on his sleeve and has a lot of charisma. He had a lot of success early in his career for his play and his personality and his approach. He brings a fresh outlook to our team, and a fresh personality."
Willis joined the Tigers as part of the trade that brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit after the 2007 season, and signed a three-year, $29 million contract extension.
Willis was 2-8 with a 6.86 ERA in 24 games — 22 starts — and was put on the disabled list twice last season with what the team called an anxiety disorder, a diagnosis he disputed.
One of the better hitting pitchers in baseball, he said he was thrilled to be returning to the National League.
"Sometimes for an athlete it’s definitely rejuvenating that someone else wants you and someone else believes in you," he said.
Willis, who already had moved from Florida to Scottsdale, Ariz., is the first lefty on the Diamondbacks’ staff.
Asked if the pitchers’ recent inconsistency might be an added burden on the bullpen, Byrnes said, "It can’t make it any worse." The Diamondbacks’ bullpen ERA of 7.70 is by far the worst in the majors. Arizona lost 5-4 Monday night in Los Angeles on a ninth-inning balk to fall to 20-32, 11½ games behind NL West leader San Diego.
"It’s probably as bad as we could have imagined," Byrnes said, "and we’ve got to figure out a way to get out of it."
Buckner was 0-3 with an 11.08 ERA in three starts, which Dombrowski said were "not good," for Arizona this season. The 26-year-old righty has spent four years in the majors, going 4-6 with a 6.40 ERA in 13 starts last season for the Diamondbacks.
He started the season at Triple-A Reno after failing to win a spot in the rotation this spring and failed to take advantage of a recent opportunity to pitch for Arizona.
"He gives us depth at Toledo," Dombrowski said.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
DETROIT — The Tigers found a taker for Dontrelle Willis.
Detroit dealt the left-handed pitcher and cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-hander Billy Buckner, who was sent to Triple-A Toledo.
The 28-year-old Willis was designated for assignment on Sunday, giving the Tigers up to 10 days to make a move with him. He was making $12 million this year.
"We are paying a substantial portion of that salary," said Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski, adding that a couple clubs showed interest.
Willis was 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance this season. He is expected to start Saturday night in Arizona against Colorado.
"I’m just excited to get a fresh start," Willis said on a conference call.
He joins a team that had lost eight in a row entering Tuesday night’s action and ranked last in the majors with a 5.89 ERA.
"He’s had extreme success, he’s had a period of struggles, and he’s hopefully coming out of it," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. "He’s always been known as a big personality and we’ve encouraged him to be himself and breathe some life into this team, which we need."
The former NL Rookie of the Year, All-Star and 22-game winner helped Florida toward the World Series championship in 2003, but failed to remotely regain that form in two-plus seasons with the Tigers.
"It was a great place to play baseball," Willis said. "I just didn’t get it done."
Arizona manager A.J. Hinch talked to Willis shortly after the trade went down.
"He’s an energetic guy who loves to play," Hinch said. "He wears his heart on his sleeve and has a lot of charisma. He had a lot of success early in his career for his play and his personality and his approach. He brings a fresh outlook to our team, and a fresh personality."
Willis joined the Tigers as part of the trade that brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit after the 2007 season, and signed a three-year, $29 million contract extension.
Willis was 2-8 with a 6.86 ERA in 24 games — 22 starts — and was put on the disabled list twice last season with what the team called an anxiety disorder, a diagnosis he disputed.
One of the better hitting pitchers in baseball, he said he was thrilled to be returning to the National League.
"Sometimes for an athlete it’s definitely rejuvenating that someone else wants you and someone else believes in you," he said.
Willis, who already had moved from Florida to Scottsdale, Ariz., is the first lefty on the Diamondbacks’ staff.
Asked if the pitchers’ recent inconsistency might be an added burden on the bullpen, Byrnes said, "It can’t make it any worse." The Diamondbacks’ bullpen ERA of 7.70 is by far the worst in the majors. Arizona lost 5-4 Monday night in Los Angeles on a ninth-inning balk to fall to 20-32, 11½ games behind NL West leader San Diego.
"It’s probably as bad as we could have imagined," Byrnes said, "and we’ve got to figure out a way to get out of it."
Buckner was 0-3 with an 11.08 ERA in three starts, which Dombrowski said were "not good," for Arizona this season. The 26-year-old righty has spent four years in the majors, going 4-6 with a 6.40 ERA in 13 starts last season for the Diamondbacks.
He started the season at Triple-A Reno after failing to win a spot in the rotation this spring and failed to take advantage of a recent opportunity to pitch for Arizona.
"He gives us depth at Toledo," Dombrowski said.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
WASHINGTON — Sammy Sosa will not face a perjury investigation for his remarks to Congress about performance-enhancing drugs.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform said Wednesday the panel has decided not to have the Justice Department look into whether Sosa lied at a March 2005 hearing, when the longtime slugger stated: "I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs."
Last June, the chairman of the committee said he would look into the matter after Sosa’s name was reported to be on a list of baseball players who allegedly failed drug tests in 2003.
"After a review of the matter, we will not be taking any action," committee spokeswoman Jenny Thalheimer Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg had no further comment, but the committee might have been influenced by a five-year statute of limitations in such perjury cases. Under that time limit, the deadline to press charges expired in March.
Sosa therefore avoids the type of perjury investigation currently surrounding Roger Clemens, who told Congress in 2008 that he had not used steroids or human growth hormone. Clemens’ testimony was contradicted by his former personal trainer, and a grand jury has been hearing evidence for more than a year as it decides whether to indict the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
Sosa, who hit 609 home runs over 18 major league seasons, was part of one of the most infamous sports-related Congressional hearings on March 17, 2005, when he testified alongside Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro.
"Everything I have heard about steroids and human growth hormones is that they are very bad for you, even lethal," Sosa said in his prepared testimony that day. "I would never put anything dangerous like that in my body."
"To be clear," he added, "I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs. I have never injected myself or had anyone inject me with anything. "
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Sammy Sosa will not face a perjury investigation for his remarks to Congress about performance-enhancing drugs.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform said Wednesday the panel has decided not to have the Justice Department look into whether Sosa lied at a March 2005 hearing, when the longtime slugger stated: "I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs."
Last June, the chairman of the committee said he would look into the matter after Sosa’s name was reported to be on a list of baseball players who allegedly failed drug tests in 2003.
"After a review of the matter, we will not be taking any action," committee spokeswoman Jenny Thalheimer Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg had no further comment, but the committee might have been influenced by a five-year statute of limitations in such perjury cases. Under that time limit, the deadline to press charges expired in March.
Sosa therefore avoids the type of perjury investigation currently surrounding Roger Clemens, who told Congress in 2008 that he had not used steroids or human growth hormone. Clemens’ testimony was contradicted by his former personal trainer, and a grand jury has been hearing evidence for more than a year as it decides whether to indict the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
Sosa, who hit 609 home runs over 18 major league seasons, was part of one of the most infamous sports-related Congressional hearings on March 17, 2005, when he testified alongside Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro.
"Everything I have heard about steroids and human growth hormones is that they are very bad for you, even lethal," Sosa said in his prepared testimony that day. "I would never put anything dangerous like that in my body."
"To be clear," he added, "I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs. I have never injected myself or had anyone inject me with anything. "
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
HOUSTON — Astros ace Roy Oswalt wants out of Houston. General manager Ed Wade said Oswalt’s agent, Bob Garber, contacted owner Drayton McLane earlier this week to make the request. When asked if it was a request or a demand, Wade said that distinction didn’t matter.
Roy Oswalt is willing to waive his no-trade clause. Astros officials aren’t inclined to peddle him.
"Roy’s contract has a no-trade clause, not a trade-me clause," Wade said. "There is no rule that allows a player in his contract status to demand a trade. So demand, request, hold your breath until you turn blue, it’s all the same. It’s acknowledged and noted."
Oswalt, 32, recently said he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Wade said he wants to win with Oswalt on the Astros. Houston went into Friday night’s game against Tampa Bay with the worst record in the National League at 14-27.
McLane said the call came a few days ago and that there has been no movement by anyone in the organization since then. That doesn’t mean the team won’t consider the request in the future.
"I always consider everything that would make the Houston Astros better," McLane said. "So we’ll certainly look at that, but we’ll look at a number of other things also."
Oswalt has made nine straight quality starts to open the season but is 2-6 with a 2.66 ERA. He has gotten the lowest run support in the league.
McLane said he’s been around long enough that nothing surprises him and that he wasn’t disappointed by Oswalt’s request.
"No. Roy is like I am," he said. "Do I want to win? Do I want to be a champion? Absolutely. And they want to win. So they want to know which direction we’re headed and that’s something we’ve got to consider … we have not played well and that raises questions."
Astros manger Brad Mills learned of the situation less than two hours before Friday’s game. He doesn’t think it will take way from the team’s focus.
"I hadn’t even considered that," he said. "I don’t think it should be a distraction at all. The guys are going to go out and play. They still have to perform. We’re professionals in how we go about our business and everything else."
A team official said Oswalt had no comment on the matter before Friday’s game.
Teammate Lance Berkman, who too has said he’d be open to waiving his no-trade clause in recent weeks, didn’t want to discuss Oswalt’s request.
"That’s his deal," Berkman said. "I really don’t have anything to say."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
HOUSTON — Astros ace Roy Oswalt wants out of Houston. General manager Ed Wade said Oswalt’s agent, Bob Garber, contacted owner Drayton McLane earlier this week to make the request. When asked if it was a request or a demand, Wade said that distinction didn’t matter.
Roy Oswalt is willing to waive his no-trade clause. Astros officials aren’t inclined to peddle him.
"Roy’s contract has a no-trade clause, not a trade-me clause," Wade said. "There is no rule that allows a player in his contract status to demand a trade. So demand, request, hold your breath until you turn blue, it’s all the same. It’s acknowledged and noted."
Oswalt, 32, recently said he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Wade said he wants to win with Oswalt on the Astros. Houston went into Friday night’s game against Tampa Bay with the worst record in the National League at 14-27.
McLane said the call came a few days ago and that there has been no movement by anyone in the organization since then. That doesn’t mean the team won’t consider the request in the future.
"I always consider everything that would make the Houston Astros better," McLane said. "So we’ll certainly look at that, but we’ll look at a number of other things also."
Oswalt has made nine straight quality starts to open the season but is 2-6 with a 2.66 ERA. He has gotten the lowest run support in the league.
McLane said he’s been around long enough that nothing surprises him and that he wasn’t disappointed by Oswalt’s request.
"No. Roy is like I am," he said. "Do I want to win? Do I want to be a champion? Absolutely. And they want to win. So they want to know which direction we’re headed and that’s something we’ve got to consider … we have not played well and that raises questions."
Astros manger Brad Mills learned of the situation less than two hours before Friday’s game. He doesn’t think it will take way from the team’s focus.
"I hadn’t even considered that," he said. "I don’t think it should be a distraction at all. The guys are going to go out and play. They still have to perform. We’re professionals in how we go about our business and everything else."
A team official said Oswalt had no comment on the matter before Friday’s game.
Teammate Lance Berkman, who too has said he’d be open to waiving his no-trade clause in recent weeks, didn’t want to discuss Oswalt’s request.
"That’s his deal," Berkman said. "I really don’t have anything to say."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
