Alomar’s Bum Knee Lands Him On 15-Day Disabled List
The baseball strike robbed the Cleveland Indians of their first pennant race in decades, and now it may have robbed them of their All-Star catcher.
The Cleveland Indians placed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to last Wednesday with a sore left knee.
Sandy Alomar’s surgically repaired knee needs more strengthening, at least partly because the Indians were unable to supervise his rehabilitation during the strike last winter, general manager John Hart said.
Alomar’s knee began bothering him last summer, but he continued playing until the strike began in August. He hit .288 with 14 homers in 80 games in what was his healthiest season since 1990, when he was a unanimous choice as A.L. rookie of the year.
It was Alomar’s seventh assignment onto the disabled list since May 1991.
Umps reject offer, picket
Baseball’s locked-out umpires gave players permission to cross their picket lines, and the season began with replacements officiating for the second time in five years.
“We would much rather be out on the field,” said National League umpire Harry Wendelstedt, a 30-year veteran. “Our hearts are out there, but we are not being treated fairly.”
Wendelstedt picketed even though management’s current offer would mean a $40,000 raise for him to an annually salary of $215,000. He said he’s fighting for the newer umpires.
“They are trying to starve our young people,” Wendelstedt said. Owners want to pay rookies $70,000.
Strike helps Baerga
The strike forced Carlos Baerga to do something he’d never consider doing voluntarily.
He took a few weeks off.
“I don’t know that the strike really helped anybody, but physically, it probably did help him,” Indians manager Mike Hargrove said.
The Cleveland second baseman hit .550 with five home runs and 18 RBIs, all team highs, in 11 games this spring.
Baerga usually plays year round, moving from the major-league regular season to winter ball to spring training.
Rijo likes it hot
No one enjoyed spring training more than Jose Rijo.
Temperatures were around 90 degrees every time he pitched - just how he likes it.
He didn’t have a bad outing all month. He went 10 innings without giving up a run, allowing just five hits while striking out 10.
Reality sets in today when the Chicago Cubs show up at Riverfront Stadium. Temperatures are expected to be in the 60s when Rijo takes the mound to open the season.
Grissom signs for year
Outfielder Marquis Grissom, acquired in a trade with Montreal, signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves.
The deal is worth $4.9 million for Grissom, who made $3.575 million with the Expos last year.
xxxx In full swing Today’s American League games Minn. (Erickson 8-11) at Boston (Sele 8-7), 10:05 a.m. Texas (Rogers 11-8) at New York (Key 17-4), 10:35 a.m. Chi. (Fernandez 11-7) at Milw. (Bones 10-9), 11:05 a.m. Balt. (Mussina 16-5) at K.C. (Appier 7-6), 11:35 a.m. Oakland (Stewart 7-8) at Toronto (Cone 16-5), 4:35 p.m. Det. (Moore 11-10) at Calif. (Finley 10-10), 7:35 p.m. Today’s National League games Chi. (Bullinger 6-2) at Cinc. (Rijo 9-6), 11:05 a.m. S.F. (Mulholland 0-0) at Atl. (Maddux 16-6), 1:05 p.m. L.A. (Candiotti 7-7) at Florida (Rapp 7-8), 4:05 p.m. Mont. (Fassero 8-6) at Pitt. (Lieber 6-7), 4:35 p.m. N.Y. (Jones 12-7) at Colorado (Swift 8-7), 4:35 p.m. Phil.(Schilling 2-8) at St. Louis (Hill 16-5), 5:05 p.m. Houston (Drabek 12-6) at S.D. (Benes 6-14), 7:35 p.m.