Surgery will end Cobb’s season
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb will have season-ending elbow ligament replacement surgery.
Cobb said before Friday night’s game against Texas that several doctors have told that the ligament has a full tear. Surgery may be next week.
“It’s a tough decision because you want to hold on to every last hope of being able to pitch this year,” Cobb said. “But I think not only for my own future and going into next season and contributing for the team next year, better not to waste any more time and just go ahead and do it.”
Cobb, who left a spring training start March 17 because of pain in his forearm, was going to start opening day but instead began the season on the 15-day disabled list.
He went 10-9 with a 2.87 ERA in 27 starts last season.
SF mayor signs law banning chew
San Francisco has become the first city in the nation to outlaw chewing tobacco from its playing fields, including AT&T Park, home to the San Francisco Giants.
Mayor Ed Lee signed into law an ordinance to prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco at athletic venues, specifically singling out baseball, which has a long history of players masticating and spitting tobacco juice in view of children who worship them. Use of smokeless tobacco has been prohibited in the minor leagues since June 15, 1993.
Clearing the bases
Reds first baseman Joey Votto was suspended for one game and fined by MLB for making contact with an umpire during Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory at Pittsburgh. Votto is batting .311 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 28 games. … The Royals placed LHP Jason Vargas on the disabled list and reinstated SS Alcides Escobar from the seven-day concussion list. The Royals also placed 3B Mike Moustakas on the three-day bereavement list before opening a three-game set against the Tigers. … Red Sox DH David Ortiz lost his appeal of a one-game suspension for bumping an umpire and sat out Friday night’s game against the Blue Jays. Ortiz bumped plate ump John Tumpane in an April 19 loss to Baltimore. … Reds pitchers David Ayala and Adolfi Telleria were suspended 25 games each for violating baseball’s minor league drug program and free-agent pitcher Dawson Brown was banned 50 games. Brown was disciplined for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. … Cardinals 3B Matt Carpenter will miss this weekend’s series in Pittsburgh because of fatigue and an accelerated heart rate. … Red Sox manager John Farrell says he will handle the duties of pitching coach for at least two days after the firing of Juan Nieves. Farrell said the team could announce a replacement on Saturday. … Rangers OF Josh Hamilton is scheduled to join Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. The Rangers said Hamilton is set to move up from extended spring training this weekend. …The opener of the Reds’ first series at the White Sox in 14 years was postponed by rain. The rainout will be made up in a traditional doubleheader today.