MLB’s decision won’t bother Bonds
Barry Bonds doesn’t want a party.
Even if he did, he wouldn’t be hurt if commissioner Bud Selig didn’t make it.
Bonds said Wednesday he has no problem with Major League Baseball’s decision not to honor him if and when he tops Babe Ruth’s mark of 714 home runs. The San Francisco Giants slugger hit No. 712 on Tuesday afternoon.
“Why would I be disappointed? What would ever give me a reason to be upset? Why would I be insulted? I have not seen Major League Baseball celebrate too many of any records,” Bonds said before the Giants played the Milwaukee Brewers at Milwaukee.
Bonds played despite being plunked in the forehead by a stray foul ball as he stood behind the batting cage. He went into the clubhouse to be examined, and came back out to hit after being cleared.
Selig said last week that baseball won’t honor Bonds because 715 isn’t a record. Hank Aaron holds the all-time mark with 755 home runs.
Selig also doesn’t plan to attend either of the Giants games in his hometown. The commissioner was in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
But many have questioned whether baseball would plan a party if another player were involved.
Lerner chosen as Nats owner
Major League Baseball at long last picked someone to buy the Washington Nationals, choosing a group that’s led by real estate developer Theodore Lerner and includes former Atlanta Braves executive Stan Kasten.
“This has been a long journey. … While I do apologize for the time, I think history will prove it maybe was time well spent,” Selig said in announcing the $450 million agreement.
Baseball bought the then-Montreal Expos in 2002 for $120 million, and eight groups entered the bidding process more than a year ago.
In the end, Lerner’s group was selected over those headed by former Seattle Mariners owner Jeffrey Smulyan, and by Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients, the heads of the Washington Baseball Club, which worked for years to bring a big league club to the capital.
The 80-year-old Lerner, a Maryland-based real estate businessman, grew up in the District and was a high-school classmate of former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, according to Selig.
Major league owners will vote on the sale when they meet May 17-18 in New York, and baseball officials hope the sale will close by mid-June.
Clearing the bases
The Los Angeles Angels optioned catcher Jeff Mathis, a former first-round pick, to Triple-A Salt Lake. … The Milwaukee Brewers put right-hander Tomo Ohka on the 15-day disabled list with a partial tear in his right rotator cuff and capsular injury. … Former Spokane Indians reliever Doug Brocail rejoined his San Diego Padres teammates at Dodger Stadium, almost two months after undergoing his second angioplasty since the start of spring training. … The Royals placed DH Mike Sweeney on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk in his upper back. Kansas City called up first-baseman Justin Huber to replace Sweeney on the roster. … The Florida Marlins claimed outfielder Joe Borchard off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. … An autopsy performed on former major league pitcher Steve Howe could not determine what caused his death, a Riverside, Calif., coroner’s spokesman said.