Cabrera bows out of N.L. batting race
Melky Cabrera ended the debate over whether a suspended drug cheat should be able to win a batting title. The San Francisco outfielder asked Major League Baseball officials to disqualify him, and on Friday they agreed.
With less than two weeks left in the regular season and Cabrera on track to win the N.L. batting championship, MLB and the players’ association reached a deal on a one-season-only change in the rule governing the individual batting, slugging and on-base percentage champions.
Serving a 50-game suspension, Cabrera entered Friday with a league-leading .346 average, seven points ahead of Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen. Cabrera, the All-Star game MVP, was suspended Aug. 15 for a positive test for testosterone and is missing the final 45 games of the regular season.
Guillen laughs off rumors of firing
Ozzie Guillen has heard the rumors that his job may be in trouble.
“Ha. Ha. Ha,” the Miami manager said. “That’s the last thing going through my mind every day, if I’m going to have a job next year. I’m going to have a job. I don’t know if it’s managing the Marlins, but I will have a job. I don’t know if it’s managing in the big leagues, but I will have a job.”
Collins apologizes to Mets for criticism
A day after criticizing his players following an embarrassing loss to the Phillies, Mets manager Terry Collins went around the clubhouse apologizing.
“I don’t ever want to challenge anybody’s integrity. That’s wrong,” Collins said. “Sometimes you say, what can I say to maybe make them mad enough to say, ‘you know, I’ll show that (guy).’ ”
New York has lost 25 of its last 30 games at its Citi Field.
Clearing the bases
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar was kept out of the starting lineup after serving a three-game suspension for wearing eye-black displaying an anti-gay slur written in Spanish during a game last weekend against Boston. … The Baltimore Orioles activated designated hitter Jim Thome and left-hander Troy Patton from the 15-day disabled list. … Manager Dusty Baker wasn’t with the Reds as they closed in on the N.L. Central title, forced to miss a third straight game because of an irregular heartbeat.