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New York Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani watches his solo home run off Florida Marlins pitcher Jesus Sanchez inthe first inning Monday in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Associated Press |
Associated Press
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Baltimore Orioles' flagship radio station said last night that Albert Belle will retire this week, but the agent for the ailing outfielder called the report "way premature."
WBAL radio, citing unidentified sources close to the situation, reported Belle will announce his retirement by tomorrow.
"At this point, all I can say is he plans on being seen by doctors in the next day or so," said Belle's agent, Arn Tellem. "We're waiting to get the doctors' advice, and then we'll decide."
Belle, hobbled by an injured hip, has missed all five of the team's spring training games.
Tellem said Belle will be examined by Dr. Michael Jacobs, the Orioles' team physician, and an outside doctor.
Red Sox hope Garciaparra ready by Opening Day
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The big problem for the struggling Boston Red Sox is developing off the field. Nomar Garciaparra's wrist injury may be worse than first thought.
He'll wear a cast for another one to two weeks, adding nearly a week to the original estimate made last Wednesday when the injury was announced, general manager Dan Duquette said yesterday.
That means Garciaparra, who won the last two AL batting titles, may not get the cast removed from his right wrist until March 20. But Duquette said he still could be ready for the season opener April 2 at Baltimore.
"He had a new cast put on yesterday and we're in the resting period," Duquette said. "We're just going to be very conservative in spring training."
Garciaparra has a split tendon and inflammation in the wrist, an injury traced back to Sept. 25, 1999 when he was hit by a pitch from Baltimore's Al Reyes.
He played last year with mild discomfort but the injury flared up in spring training.
Raines and son hook up for father-son game
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tim Raines doesn't usually make a habit of pocketing the lineup card of a spring training game. This one, however, was a keeper.
Raines batted leadoff for the Montreal Expos on Tuesday. His son, Tim Jr., occupied the same spot for the Baltimore Orioles.
"It's not every day that you get to play against your son," the elder Raines said. "This is something special. My wife is here, my father is here. It's a great moment for our family."
He made sure to get the Expos' lineup card, and instructed the younger Raines to secure the Orioles' card.
Raines, 41, outhit his 21-year-old son 2-1 but both got RBI singles in the Orioles' 7-6 victory.
Dad was replaced in the fifth inning and junior was removed in the fourth, yet both played long enough to gather a memory that will last a lifetime.
Smoltz pitches pain-free in comeback start
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — John Smoltz walked briskly from the dugout to the mound, easily beating his Braves teammates onto the field. He began his warmups so early he had to step aside to let NBA star Tracy McGrady throw out the ceremonial first ball.
"I told the guys, 'I've been waiting for this too long. Let's go!'" Smoltz said.
Pitching for the first time since undergoing the dreaded "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow last March, the Atlanta ace accomplished his main goal yesterday: He threw pain-free in a spring training game against Los Angeles.
The fact that he gave up a two-run homer to Chris Donnels, walked two in his only inning and wound up as the losing pitcher in an 8-4 defeat did not matter in the least.
"I could've given up 10 runs or gone six up, six down and it wouldn't have changed how I felt," Smoltz said. "It was a big day for me just to get to this point."
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