Mcdowell’s Future Clouded By Puzzling Nerve Injury

Jack McDowell, the 1993 A.L. Cy Young Award winner known for his split-fingered fastball and fiery presence on the mound, said Friday he’s finished for the season and that doctors told him his future in pitching is uncertain.

McDowell, a workhorse who pitched more than 250 innings three straight years in the early ‘90s, has nerve damage in addition to a bone bruise that developed following minor surgery on his pitching elbow in May. The nerve injury, which surfaced this week and befuddled some of sports’ best doctors, forced the Cleveland Indians pitcher to do something he rarely did on the mound - throw in the towel.

“They told me they’ve never seen anything like it in their life,” said McDowell, who’s been on the disabled list since May for a minor operation that was the first of his nine-year career. “There’s not a whole lot we know about it, to tell you the truth.”

McDowell has likely thrown his last pitch for the Indians, who are not expected to exercise his $4.8 million option for 1998, but he vowed to make a comeback.

Expansion draft in Phoenix

Phoenix was selected as the site of baseball’s Nov. 18 expansion draft, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays will stock their rosters.

The two clubs will each select 35 players from the 28 existing franchises in the draft’s three rounds.

Lasorda’s number retired

Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda became the ninth man in franchise history to have his number retired when the Los Angeles Dodgers mandated in a ceremony held Friday that their 20-year manager’s jersey No. 2 never be worn again.

Lasorda was quoted in a newspaper report on Friday that - contrary to previous reports - he does not want the job held by Fred Claire, the executive vice president and general manager of the Dodgers.

Lasorda served as a team vice president this season.

Who doesn’t like Murdoch?

If opposition arises to Peter O’Malley’s sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers to Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp., the Atlanta and Chicago cable giants are thought to be potential ringleaders.

That may prove to be the case, but an N.L. owner suggested this week that he may be looking in the wrong places.

“According to the tom-toms, Peter’s friends to the north and south are working to undermine the deal,” he said.

The reference was to the Padres and Giants, who are said to worried about the money Murdoch could pour into the Dodger franchise.