Howe fired, will finish the season
The New York Mets fired manager Art Howe on Wednesday but left him in the dugout for the final 2 1/2 weeks of a season gone awry after the All-Star break.
General manager Jim Duquette said he wanted to announce the firing after the year, but was forced to act this week after news broke of his plan. He said he asked Howe to stay for the final 17 games, and the manager agreed.
Howe’s contract runs through the 2006 season and he’s still owed $4.7 million. But with the Mets at 63-82 — following a 66-95 finish last year in his first season — management decided it was time for a change.
Owner Fred Wilpon said Duquette would choose the next manager, and there are sure to be plenty of prominent names in the mix.
Former Mets stars Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra and Wally Backman have been mentioned, as have current major league managers Lou Piniella and Buck Showalter, along with former Arizona manager Bob Brenly. Former manager Bobby Valentine, who guided the Mets to the 2000 World Series, could get a look.
The Mets began the year with a payroll of more than $100 million, highest in the National League. But injuries took their toll, and they rapidly fell out of contention after the midseason break.
Injured A’s fan, husband defend heckling of Rangers
The woman whose nose was broken Monday when Texas reliever Frank Francisco threw a chair into the stands said she will not decide whether to file a lawsuit against the Rangers until after prosecutors and baseball officials complete their investigation.
Jennifer Bueno, 41, with a large white bandage covering her nose and purple rings under her eyes, and her husband, Craig, appeared at a news conference with their attorney, who said they plan to seek compensation for her injuries.
“We definitely feel the Texas Rangers are responsible for this and that they should pay for this,” personal injury lawyer Gary Gwilliam said.
Prosecutors said they need more time to investigate before formally charging Francisco, who was booked by police Tuesday for felony aggravated assault. An arraignment scheduled for Wednesday afternoon was postponed.
His next appearance was set for Oct. 29.
Greene sidelined with broken finger
San Diego shortstop Khalil Greene has a broken bone in his right index finger that is expected to keep him out of the starting lineup for the rest of the regular season.
Greene, a leading candidate for National League Rookie of the Year honors, was injured in the fifth inning of Monday night’s 9-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers while fielding Odalis Perez’s hard grounder.
X-rays before Wednesday night’s game against the Dodgers revealed a small fracture.
Greene is hitting .273 with 15 homers and 65 runs batted in for 137 games, and is one of the N.L.’s better fielding shortstops.
Rolen sidelined at least a week with strained calf
After visiting the St. Louis Cardinals’ team physician, Scott Rolen’s day-to-day calf strain became a longer term injury.
The third baseman missed his fourth consecutive start and is expected to be sidelined at least another week after an examination by Dr. George Paletta on Tuesday night.
Rolen, who is tied for the N.L. lead with 121 RBIs, has taken batting practice the last three games. But for the time being, La Russa said he wouldn”t use Rolen even as a pinch-hitter.
Expos’ former partners seek to block move
Lawyers for the former limited partners of the Montreal Expos plan to ask a federal judge to block major league baseball from moving the team.
The commissioner’s office told the U.S. District Court in Miami on Tuesday that it intends to relocate the Expos for 2005 but did not specify where. Washington and Northern Virginia are the leading contenders, and a decision could be announced this month.