No Joy In Bahamas

Begging for the right to live freely and condemning “unjust detention” in the Bahamas, four Cuban baseball stars and five friends appealed Monday for asylum in Costa Rica.

Bahamian defense forces, meanwhile, rescued another 10 Cuban boat people and took them to the detention center in Nassau, Bahamas, where dozens of refugees protested the special treatment given to the Cuban players.

More than 100 Cuban men and women began a hunger strike to demand equal treatment with the ballplayers, detention camp director Arthur Rolle confirmed.

“One hundred and seven didn’t eat breakfast or lunch; they refused it,” he said. Lunch, he said, had been a traditional Bahamian meal of peas and grits with lamb chops.

Rolle said he had brought in more officers to increase security at the camp, where there have been occasional riots.

Lazaro Santana, a spokesman for ordinary Cuban refugees at the camp, said, “We are happy because they (the ball players) have saved their lives. The problem is that we Cubans here want to have the same opportunities as our brothers who play baseball. … “We don’t want to go back to Cuba.”

Cubs will use sub singers

Harry Caray’s widow, Dutchie, will lead spectators in singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the Chicago Cubs’ home opener on April 3 against Montreal.

The song was a trademark for Caray, who sang it during the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field. The popular broadcaster - known as much for the phrase “Holy cow!” as the song - died last month.

The Cubs plan to use various “guest conductors” throughout the 1998 season.

Rose earns Reds a reprimand

Pete Rose’s talk to Cincinnati Reds minor leaguers this month resulted in a reprimand, not a fine.

N.L. president Len Coleman, acting at the behest of acting commissioner Bud Selig, told the Reds of the decision.

The Reds had admitted that a minor league coordinator invited Rose to address the players March 11. Under the lifetime ban Rose agreed to in 1989 for gambling, baseball’s career hits leader is not permitted to do anything affiliated with any professional team.

White Sox sign Cordero

Wilfredo Cordero, searching for a team since Boston dropped him for wife beating, finally found one when the Chicago White Sox agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract. “I realize what I did was wrong,” Cordero said in a statement.

“I recognize that I’ve made mistakes and have worked hard to change. With the support of Chicago’s fans and the White Sox, I see this as a tremendous chance to redeem myself and my reputation.”

Appier faces surgery

Kansas City ace Kevin Appier, one of baseball’s most durable starting pitchers this decade, will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, the Royals said.

Appier’s status for the season will be determined after team physician Dr. Steve Joyce performs the operation.

Los Angeles first baseman Eric Karros will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today and is expected to be out 3-6 weeks, ending his streak of 267 consecutive games played.

Mitchell beats M’s

Kevin Mitchell’s bases-loaded walk capped a three-run seventh inning and the Oakland Athletics overcame Ken Griffey Jr.’s third homer of the spring to defeat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 at Phoenix.

Trailing 3-1 entering the seventh, the A’s loaded the bases on two singles and a walk off Bob Wells. With two outs, Jason McDonald had a two-run single that tied it.

Bobby Ayala relieved, walking Shane Mack to load the bases then Mitchell to break the tie.