Competition flourishes this season

Commissioner Bud Selig has said it many times. In his dream baseball world, every team leaves spring training with a chance of playing in October. Every fan has hope that their team will be the last one standing as the leaves fall to the ground.

It hasn’t happened yet, and it may never happen. As long as there are 30 teams, some will be subject to youth movements, rebuilding efforts and others nuances that will simply have fans realizing that it isn’t their year.

But, as summer chugs toward us in the baseball season of 2004, something interesting is happening. A whole bunch of teams have a chance. Bud’s dream hasn’t come true, but there is hope in many cities.

Entering Saturday, 13 teams were within five games of first place in their divisions.

A year ago, eight teams were within five games of first entering the games of June 5.

In 2002, 10 teams were within five games of first at that point of the season.

In 2001, six teams were.

Major League Baseball might not be the NFL, but there’s plenty of parity this season.

“I love it,” Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz said. “More teams have hope. This is great for our industry.”

“It’s tremendous for the sport,” Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro said. “It’s great for the fans. Think how many of them aren’t going to bail on their teams in June.”

Sosa takes some swings, remains unsure of return

Sammy Sosa is not sure when he can return to the Chicago Cubs after taking his first swings in the batting cage Saturday since injuring his back while sneezing.

The Chicago Cubs’ slugger is on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his lower back, an ailment brought on by two violent sneezes May 16 in San Diego.

After working out before Saturday’s game, Sosa said he is still experiencing pain in his back at the end of his swing. He does not have a definite timetable for his return and does not plan to rush.

“I don’t know when I will come back,” said Sosa, who is batting .291 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs. He is on the DL for the fifth time in his 16-year career.

Jeter sidelined by tight groin

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter missed Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers because of a tight left groin.

“We don’t want to take a chance,” manager Joe Torre said.

Jeter left Friday night’s game in the fourth inning and probably won’t play again until Tuesday. He originally tweaked the groin Thursday when he scored from first base on Gary Sheffield’s seventh-inning double against Baltimore.

The Yankees didn’t seem concerned about Jeter’s injury. General manager Brian Cashman said the captain was being held out as a precaution so his groin doesn’t become a major problem.

“If it was the playoffs he’d be playing,” Cashman said.

Jeter was getting treatment before the game and was not available for comment.

Ordonez has knee surgery

White Sox slugger Magglio Ordonez had arthroscopic surgery on torn cartilage in his left knee and is expected to be out four to seven weeks.

“Everything looks fine,” head trainer Herm Schneider said before Chicago played the Seattle Mariners. “He walked in and walked out.”

Phillies’ Wolf likely headed for DL

The Philadelphia Phillies will place starter Randy Wolf on the 15-day disabled list if closer Billy Wagner has a good outing in a rehab assignment today.

Wagner, on the DL with a strained left groin, will pitch for Double-A affiliate Reading in Bowie, Md.

Wolf, who has tendinitis in his left elbow, finished his scheduled bullpen session Saturday before the Phillies’ 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves, but he felt tight and couldn’t adequately extend after releasing the ball.