Pavano injury result of untold accident
Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano has a pair of broken ribs, the result of a car accident several weeks ago that he initially didn’t tell the team about.
Pavano, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since June 2005 due to shoulder, back, buttocks and elbow injuries, is still scheduled to make a rehabilitation start Wednesday at Triple-A Columbus.
New York general manager Brian Cashman said Monday that Pavano has made three rehab starts with the rib injury. He disclosed it to the team Saturday after feeling discomfort in his most recent minor league outing.
“Of course I’m angry,” Cashman said, adding that “it’s extremely frustrating” and “it’s extremely disappointing.”
Pavano signed a $39.95 million, four-year contract as a free agent before the 2005 season.
He was 4-6 with a 4.77 ERA in 17 starts for New York last year.
Cox faces losing season
All the signs say an era is ending in Atlanta.
The Braves are all but mathematically eliminated from winning the N.L. East, ending the team’s streak of 14 straight division titles.
They are five games behind Cincinnati in the wild-card race. Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine are pitching for other playoff-contending teams. Leo Mazzone now guides the Baltimore pitching staff.
Cox’s reign in Atlanta continues, but for the first time in almost a quarter of a century, he is closing in on finishing below .500 for a season in which he has managed from start to finish.
Cubs activate Lee
The Chicago Cubs activated first baseman Derrek Lee from the 15-day disabled list, and he was in the lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Lee was on the disabled list since July 24 with post-traumatic inflammation of his right wrist. It was the second time on the DL this season for the defending National League batting champion.
He was on the 15-day disabled list from April 21-June 25 after he fractured the distal radius and distal ulna bones in his right wrist on April 19 in Los Angeles.
Ticket costs on the rise
Be prepared to pay if your team makes it to the World Series.
The price of regular box seats will be $250, according to notices some teams have started sending to their season ticket holders.
That’s up from $185 last year, a 35 percent hike that is the steepest in nearly a decade, since Major League Baseball doubled the price from $75 to $150 in 1998. The cost rose to $160 in 2000, $175 in 2001 and $185 in 2004, where it stayed last year.
Clearing the Bases
The Cincinnati Reds sent right-hander Mike Burns to the Boston Red Sox, getting right-hander Tim Bausher and cash in a swap of relievers. Also, Reds catcher Javier Valentin agreed to a one-year contract extension through 2007, with a club option for one more season. …Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Escobar will have right shoulder surgery in the next week to 10 days and will miss the rest of the season. …Pirates closer Mike Gonzalez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow tendinitis.