Piniella, Schilling exchange barbs
around the horn
A day after Boston pitcher Curt Schilling used the word “idiot” in criticizing Lou Piniella, the Tampa Bay manager held a team meeting and fired back.
The Red Sox and Devil Rays tangled Sunday, with two-bench clearing scuffles and six ejections. The teams have had trouble in the past, too.
“The problem is when you’re playing a team with a manager who somehow forgot how the game is played, there’s problems,” Schilling said on a Boston radio station Tuesday. “This should have been over a little bit ago. Lou’s trying to make his team be a bunch of tough guys, and the telling sign is when the players on that team are saying, ‘This is why we lose 100 games a year, because this idiot makes us do stuff like this.’ They (Rays players) said that on the field.”
Piniella issued a statement Wednesday ripping Schilling.
“Forget how the game is played? I have forgotten more baseball than this guy knows,” Piniella said.
“On the idiot subject, I’m appalled he would actually say something like that. I had a meeting with my team and to a man they denied it. He’s questioning my character and integrity and that is wrong. He’s never played for me, never really spoken to me, so he really doesn’t know what I stand for.
“If I were Curt, I would be really embarrassed at the cheap shot he took and get the story correct. I’ll tell you I’ve always admired his pitching ability and competitiveness, but I can honestly tell you I’ve lost a lot of respect for him. I’m looking forward to talking to Curt myself and get this matter cleared up.”
Isringhausen goes on DL
Jason Isringhausen has undergone seven operations, so he’s used to setbacks.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ closer has another injury with which to deal.
Isringhausen was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right abdominal muscle. He was injured while pitching to Chris Magruder in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s win over Milwaukee.
Benitez may miss 4 months
San Francisco Giants closer Armando Benitez is expected to miss four months after tearing his hamstring Tuesday while covering first base.
San Francisco placed Benitez on the 15-day DL, but trainer Stan Conte said the reliever would be out for much longer after an MRI revealed that he tore his right hamstring tendons.
Clearing the bases
The New York Yankees called up right-hander Chien-Mien Wang to replace injured starter Jaret Wright. Wang will make his major league debut on Saturday against Toronto.
“The Los Angeles Angels placed infielder Maicer Izturis on the 15-day DL with a sprained left knee.
“Reliever Paul Shuey retired, ending his comeback with Cleveland Indians.
“C.C. Sabathia signed a two-year, $17.75 million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians that could keep the left-hander with the club through 2008.
“Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was given a two-year contract extension, only eight months after taking over as interim manager.
“Washington Nationals interim general manager Jim Bowden became a little less interim when the team extended his contract through the end of the season.
“The Chicago Cubs recalled reliever Roberto Novoa from Triple-A Iowa and sent down right-hander Jon Leicester.