Former pitcher Joe Niekro dies at 61
Former major league pitcher Joe Niekro died Friday at age 61.
Niekro suffered an aneurysm and was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital.
He was later transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa on Thursday.
Brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, Joe pitched 22 seasons in the majors before retiring in 1988 with a lifetime record of 221- 204.
He was an all-star in 1979 when he won 21 games for Houston, then followed it with 20 victories in 1980.
Other than the Astros, Niekro pitched for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego, Detroit, Atlanta, New York Yankees and Minnesota.
Niekro is also the father of San Francisco Giants player Lance Niekro.
World Series ratings hit a low
Game 4 set yet another record low for the World Series in the television ratings.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night got a 10.4 rating and 17 share, Fox said.
The rating dropped 20 percent from last year’s 13.0 for the 1-0 finale in a four-game sweep by the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros.
Bonds will test market
Barry Bonds plans to file for free agency the first day he can, and no negotiations have taken place with the Giants about keeping the slugger in San Francisco.
The first time Bonds would be eligible to file is today, the day after the final game of the World Series.
The seven-time National League MVP’s $90 million, five-year contract is up with San Francisco.
He had indicated he would like to return to the Giants, but that was before owner Peter Magowan said on Oct. 2 that if Bonds returns, No. 25 will no longer be the centerpiece for the Giants franchise.
Bonds has spent 14 of his 21 big league seasons with San Francisco and helped the Giants draw 3 million fans in all seven seasons of their waterfront ballpark’s existence.
Giant welcome for Bochy
Bruce Bochy had no intention of leaving a winning situation with the San Diego Padres – until the division rival Giants came calling.
Bochy concluded a whirlwind week with his introduction as San Francisco’s manager. After guiding the Padres to consecutive division titles, his task now is to turn the Giants into a contender after two “off-track” seasons by his assessment.
Bochy agreed to a three-year contract worth roughly $6 million to replace Felipe Alou after working out details late Thursday. Fittingly, Bochy’s opening-day opponent in April will be the Padres, his employer the past 24 years.
Padres look for new manager
The San Diego Padres might not have to look far for a new manager.
General manager Kevin Towers began putting together a list of candidates in recent days as it became apparent that Bruce Bochy, who managed the Padres the last 12 seasons, was going to be hired for the same job by the division rival Giants.
Although Towers wouldn’t reveal any names, it’s believed that a leading candidate is Angels pitching coach Bud Black, who was a teammate of Tony Gwynn’s at San Diego State and lives in exclusive Rancho Santa Fe just north of San Diego.
Black also interviewed for the job Bochy got with the Giants.
Fans will choose Gold Gloves
Fans will be able to vote for a 50-year Gold Glove team, with winners to be announced at next year’s All-Star break.
Fifty players will be on a ballot selected by baseball historians, managers, former players, executives and reporters, the company said.
Voting will start during spring training, with balloting conducted on-line, on mobile devices and at retail locations.
Rawlings plans to honor the initial Gold Glove team from 1957: pitcher Bobby Shantz, catcher Sherm Lollar, first baseman Gil Hodges, second baseball Nellie Fox, shortstop Roy McMillan, third baseman Frank Malzone, and outfielders Al Kaline, Willie Mays and Minnie Minoso.
Separate teams for each league began the following year.