Judge Bars Umpires From Striking
Maybe the focus can return to the field now.
After a tumultuous week of accusations and threats, a federal judge stopped baseball umpires from striking Friday, saying their anger at Roberto Alomar did not justify a walkout that would violate their labor contract.
During a 45-minute hearing in Philadelphia that appeared to be scripted - and was, according to a source involved in the negotiations - umpires union head Richie Phillips railed at baseball officials over last week’s incident in which Alomar spit at umpire John Hirschbeck. He accused them of causing “very serious decay” in the sport.
After brief statements by lawyers from both sides and without hearing any witnesses, U.S. District Judge Edmund V. Ludwig barred a walkout. While an appeal is possible, it’s unlikely the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would consider the case until the off-season.
“To not grant the injunction would cause irreparable harm to the ballclubs,” Ludwig said.
La Russa wants birthday gift
Tony La Russa celebrated his 52nd birthday Friday. Will he have his cake and eat it too?
His St. Louis Cardinals, leading the San Diego Padres 2-0 in their best-of-5 National League division playoff series, could make it possible today in San Diego.
“That would be a great birthday present,” La Russa said, but added with characteristic caution: “We’ve got to be very realistic about knowing where the rainbow is. The payoff is on three (wins), not two.”
Nomo takes on Braves
The Los Angeles Dodgers will tell you he has more courage than anyone on the pitching staff, perhaps the entire team.
There is no one the Dodgers would rather have pitching for them today than Hideo Nomo, who has the task of staving off elimination in the first round of the National League playoffs.
The Dodgers trail the Atlanta Braves 2-0 in the best-of-5 series, and only a magnificent performance by Nomo may be able to save them.
“I know what I have to do,” Nomo said. “As I learned last year, I’m just going to try not to allow any runs.”
Nomo, who flopped in the Dodgers’ season finale last year when he gave up seven hits and five earned runs in five innings in Game 3 of the playoffs against the Cincinnati Reds, has been nasty against the Braves this season. He is 2-0 with a 1.61 earned-run average, striking out 19 in 22 innings.
Rogers meets ex-mates
When Kenny Rogers left Texas for the New York Yankees, he said it was “good to be going to a winner.”
The quote could come back to haunt Rogers today when he starts against Bobby Witt in Game 4.
“It’s a surprise to me the Rangers made it,” Rogers said. “I just didn’t want to spend my career without pitching in the playoffs. That’s why I came here.”
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