A’s don’t need Tejada
Miguel Tejada’s 2004 season must have many A’s fans shaking their heads and saying, “If only… .”
The former Oakland shortstop is leading the majors with 107 RBIs and having another MVP-type year, but he’s doing it for the Baltimore Orioles.
Tejada thinks the A’s are just fine, though, with Bobby Crosby — he predicts greatness for the rookie shortstop.
“I’ve been watching him, and they don’t need Miguel Tejada now,” Tejada said with a big grin before a recent Orioles game at Yankee Stadium. “Bobby will probably be a better player than me. He’s got the talent.”
Monday night at Camden Yards, the A’s got to see their ex-teammate for the first time since he signed a six-year, $72 million deal with Baltimore last winter.
“I’m excited to see those guys and say hello to them. It’s a good group and I miss Chavvy (Eric Chavez) and (Barry) Zito so much, (Ricardo) Rincon and all those guys,” Tejada said. “But I really want to see everyone in Oakland, all the fans. I can’t wait to go there and see what it’s like on the other side.”
Tejada will return to Oakland next week when the Orioles visit for a four-game set, and he is likely to get a warm welcome, unlike another free agent who left the A’s: First baseman Jason Giambi has been booed mercilessly at the Coliseum since he jumped to the Yankees after the 2001 season.
The circumstances of Tejada’s departure were much different. The A’s announced even before last season started that they did not plan to re-sign him, in large part because Crosby was waiting in the wings.
“The fans know I didn’t want to leave. I always wanted to be in Oakland, ” Tejada said. “I’ll never forget all my happy memories there. They were behind me for six years, and last year I started really slow, and they never booed me.”
Bad news for Soriano, Guardado
Right-hander Rafael Soriano, a key member of the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen last season, will undergo exploratory surgery on his right elbow Tuesday in Los Angeles, the team said Monday.
The Mariners said last week that Soriano, 24, had a torn ligament in his pitching elbow.
The Mariners said Dr. Lewis Yocum of Los Angeles, the Anaheim Angels’ team doctor, confirmed an abnormality that showed up on Soriano’s MRI and would perform the surgery.
Yocum also confirmed Dr. Larry Pedegana’s diagnosis of a torn rotator cuff in left-handed closer Eddie Guardado’s pitching shoulder.
Pedegana is the Mariners’ medical director.
“No determination has been made on the next step in Guardado’s recovery,” general manager Bill Bavasi said.
Mientkiewicz starts at second
Former Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz got a rough introduction in his first career start at second base.
Moved over Monday night in an usual lineup shift by Boston manager Terry Francona, Mientkiewicz was knocked over by Toronto’s Carlos Delgado after fielding a ground ball in the second inning.
Mientkiewicz, the 2001 Gold Glove winner at first base for Minnesota, had played second base for a total of one inning — last season — since coming to the majors in 1998.
Francona said he made the move to load the Red Sox lineup with left-handed hitters, and also because of an injury to third baseman Kevin Youkilis.
Clearing the bases
All-Star outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. had surgery to repair his torn right hamstring and is expected to return for spring training. … Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood‘s appeal was rejected and he will begin serving his five-game suspension for confronting umpire Eric Cooper on April 17 today. … Outfielder Shane Spencer signed a minor league contract with the Yankees. … White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount for arguing with umpires during an Aug. 9 game. … Cardinals outfielder Ray Lankford accepted a minor league assignment to Triple-A Memphis. … Phillies slugger Pat Burrell decided to delay season-ending surgery on his injured left wrist after consulting with a hand specialist. … Injured Indians third baseman Aaron Boone needs arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage from his left knee, and will not play this season.