Umpire released from hospital
Umpire Kerwin Danley was released from a Los Angeles hospital early Sunday morning, about 5 hours after he took a 96 mph fastball to the right side of his jaw – briefly losing consciousness when the pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Brad Penny slammed into his face mask.
Danley, a native of Los Angeles, was resting comfortably Sunday afternoon at the home of his mother, who attended Saturday night’s game and rode with him in an ambulance to the hospital. His brother, Kevin, met them at the hospital, where they were joined by umpire Greg Gibson after the game.
“He was released at 2 a.m. and his mom sat up with him all night,” Gibson said at Dodger Stadium before Sunday’s game. “I just talked to Kerwin on the phone – and, typical K.D., he’s worried about his chest protector. That’s kind of the way we’re geared and the way we think. But he was fine, and he’ll be back.”
Exactly when Danley will be back isn’t clear at this point.
Danley was struck by Penny’s first pitch of the fourth inning, which Gold Glove catcher Russell Martin completely missed because of a botched sign. The game was delayed for 18 minutes, with Danley lying nearly motionless behind home plate before being put on a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance.
Pirates release Morris
Matt Morris, the veteran right-hander added by the Pittsburgh Pirates late last season to stabilize a young rotation, was released after failing to pitch past the second inning in his latest start.
Morris fell to 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA after giving up six runs, three earned, and six hits in 12/3 innings during an 8-4 loss to the Phillies on Saturday night.
The decision to cut him will cost the Pirates more than $10 million, besides what they already have paid him this season. Morris is making $10,037,283, or about one-fifth of the Pirates’ payroll, and has a $1 million buyout for 2009.
“Matt Morris is a true professional,” manager John Russell said. “He’s had a great career. He wanted to help us win, but it just wasn’t working out.”