Hit Batter Reignites Wild West Feud

Nearly two dozen hit batsmen in the last three years. A bench-clearing brawl. And now, after the latest incident in Scottsdale, Ariz., between National League Wild West clubs, a verbal battle between friends.

The bitter feud between San Francisco and Colorado was reignited when Giants pitcher Jose Bautista hit Andres Galarraga of the Rockies on the right arm with a pitch.

It was the same arm that was broken by a pitch from San Francisco’s Dave Burba last July 28, and touched off a fresh round in what is turning into one of baseball’s most intense - and painful - rivalries.

“Maybe we ought to take their top three and our top three and put them in a boxing ring and let them settle it and get it all over with,” Giants manager Dusty Baker said.

In 23 regular-season games between the teams, 11 Giants and 10 Rockies have been hit by pitches. And that’s not including the beaning of San Francisco’s Robby Thompson by the Rockies in spring training last year, or Galarraga getting plunked.

The latest incident left usually lowkey Colorado manager Don Baylor furious - and warning of retribution. Baylor holds the major-league record of getting hit by 267 pitches.

Galarraga also warned he’ll no longer tolerate getting hit.

Baker, a close friend of Baylor, remained mystified by the uproar and reiterated there was no intention of throwing at Galarraga.

Baker said Galarraga, who has an open stance and lunges toward the plate, has to learn to avoid pitches.

Phillies starter injured

Tommy Greene, whom the Philadelphia Phillies were counting on as their No. 2 starter, will miss at least the first week of the season after reinjuring his shoulder.

Two other starters, Curt Schilling and Bobby Munoz, are also nursing injuries, although team physician Dr. Phillip Marone was more optimistic about their status.

Marone said Greene has an inflammation in his right (pitching) shoulder similar to the inflammation he felt last season that required surgery.

Schilling has tendinitis in his triceps and is expected to pitch in Sunday’s exhibition game against Baltimore.

Munoz has bursitis, Marone said, and would definitely be available to pitch in Monday’s exhibition game against Toronto.

Duncan settles for less

A week’s delay cost Mariano Duncan $50,000.

Duncan signed a one-year, $350,000 contract with the Philadelphia Phillies one week after he declined a $400,000 deal.

Duncan, last year’s starting second baseman for the National League All-Star team, gambled that a better offer would be forthcoming.

Like a lot of other free agents, he was wrong.

Duncan gave several reasons for choosing to return to Philadelphia.

“Here I think I have a better chance to play a little bit more,” Duncan said.

And, Duncan said, the Phillies have a good chance to win.

Maddux has chicken pox

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, diagnosed with chicken pox, will miss at least a week of spring training and his starting assignment in the Atlanta Braves’ season opener April 26.

Maddux, who turned 29 Friday, said he probably caught the illness from his 16-month-old daughter, Amanda Paige, who was just getting over it when he left home for spring training 10 days ago.

Because the illness is contagious, team officials surveyed all 55 players, coaches and staff in the Braves’ camp. Thirty-nine said they already had chicken pox, 10 said they did not and six weren’t sure.

Salary arbitration

As New York Yankees pitcher Jack McDowell headed 56 players filing for salary arbitration, owners asked a circuit court to rid them of the 21-year-old process.

Arbitration filing, which usually takes place Jan. 15, was delayed this year but was restored March 31 when U.S. District Judge Sonia Sotomayor issued an injunction forcing teams to restore the rules of the old collective bargaining agreement until either a new deal was reached or there was a legitimate impasse in talks.

Atlanta pitcher Steve Avery, Braves outfielder Marquis Grissom, and Expos outfielder Moises Alou are among the top names who filed for arbitration.

Two players already are in arbitration: California outfielder Chili Davis and Oakland pitcher Steve Ontiveros.

Astros moves

The Houston Astros signed relief pitcher Todd Jones and two recent acquisitions to one-year contracts.

Also under contract are shortstop Ricky Gutierrez, part of the team’s 12-man trade with the San Diego Padres last December, and righthanded pitcher Juan Castillo.

The Astros acquired Castillo on Tuesday to complete a deal that sent Pete Harnisch to the New York Mets.

Good news, bad news

The best thing to say about Tom Browning’s first outing of the spring is that his bones did not break.

But a discouraging cluster of hits, walks and runs accompanied the lefthander’s first appearance against major-league hitters since his arm snapped while delivering a pitch last May.

The 34-year-old Browning - 120-87 with a 3.91 earned run average in 10 years with Cincinnati - was signed by Kansas City last week to a Triple-A contract.

Lilliquist signed

The Boston Red Sox signed lefthanded relief pitcher Derek Lilliquist to a minor-league contract.