Notebook: Reds rookie receives rousing ovation

Walking slowly to home plate, outfielder Josh Hamilton heard the din starting to build.

By the time his name was announced as a pinch hitter at Great American Ball Park, the crowd was on its feet for an extended ovation that made him back away from the plate and break into a broad smile.

In that moment, he hadn’t done anything yet as a major leaguer. His at-bat in the eighth inning of the Cincinnati Reds’ 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday was the first of his career.

It’s what he had already accomplished in his personal life – getting his cocaine addiction under control, getting his life back on track – that made the crowd of 42,720 stand and cheer.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that,” Hamilton said. “I’ve never been part of anything like that. The way I’m feeling is hard to describe.”

Hamilton flied out to left field in his first major league at-bat, then got another cheer when he headed back to the dugout. His teammates walked over to congratulate him – just for being there.

“I never saw anybody more excited in my life,” said outfielder Adam Dunn, who hit two homers Monday and was the only player to get a louder ovation. “He deserves every single bit of it, if not more.”

“Reds outfielder Chris Denorfia had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow and is expected to be out of action about six months.

Selig makes big money

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig earned as much last year as some of the league’s top players.

Selig received $14.5 million in the 12 months ending Oct. 31, according to Major League Baseball’s tax return, which was obtained by the Sports Business Journal.

Baseball’s central office paid $77.3 million in salaries and benefits to 231 employees, the report said. The NFL paid $41.5 million to 839 employees in 12 months ending March 31, 2006, and the NHL $13.9 million to 56 employees in the year ending June 30, 2005, when staff was reduced because of a lockout.

Mitchell asks for interviews

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell finally asked to interview active baseball players as part of his steroids investigation and is awaiting a reply from the players’ association.

Union general counsel Michael Weiner said a March 28 letter making the request to speak with “a number of current and former players” was received Monday.

“We haven’t responded yet,” Weiner said in an e-mail.

Mitchell was hired by commissioner Bud Selig on March 30, 2006, and he said last week that interviewing players would be one of the final phases of his probe. He said in January that his staff has been slowed by a lack of subpoena power and suggested Congress could become involved if he’s stymied.

Mitchell’s staff also has been negotiating with the union to obtain waivers that would allow his investigation access to medical records.

Union head Donald Fehr said players would make individual decisions on whether to cooperate with Mitchell and his staff. The Detroit Tigers’ Gary Sheffield was quoted last month by USA Today as saying: “The association told us this is just a witch hunt. They don’t want us to talk to them. This is all about getting (Barry Bonds).”

Mitchell said last week that he hopes and expects to complete the investigation “in the coming months.”

Clearing the bases

The Washington Nationals put center fielder Nook Logan on the 15-day disabled list with a left foot injury and recalled Kory Casto from Triple-A Columbus. … Chris Carpenter will miss his next turn in the St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching rotation because of right elbow inflammation. … Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin expects Jose Capellan to join the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.