Polanco intends to play after all
Detroit Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco said Monday he hopes to play this weekend at Kansas City, contradicting his assessment a day earlier when he stated he was finished for the season because of a separated left shoulder.
“I was very confused yesterday,” Polanco said. “I said it because I was really frustrated about a lot of things. We had just lost the game that we should have won, I’m not able to do anything and my arm is extremely hurting.”
A contrite Polanco said a cortisone shot he got Saturday, the first of his career, had initially caused him pain that was similar to the discomfort he felt in the days following the injury. That’s one factor he blamed in his premature season-ending declaration. He was also upset by the Tigers’ 10-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Polanco was put on the disabled list Aug. 16 after hurting the shoulder making a tumbling catch at Boston. The first-place Tigers are 12-20 without him in the lineup and their once-comfortable lead has shrunk to 11/2 games over the Minnesota Twins following Detroit’s 8-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Minnesota was idle Monday.
Polanco said his shoulder felt much better and he was able to take batting practice before the Tigers opened the key series with third-place Chicago.
“I do apologize about yesterday,” Polanco said. “It was frustration. I was in a lot of pain. I regret it. I should have never said it.”
Tigers manager Jim Leyland refused to discuss his injured second baseman’s situation, saying: “Don’t talk to me about Polanco. Next question.”
Polanco is batting .294 with three homers and 44 RBIs. Neifi Perez started at second base Monday night.
Rose baseballs declare guilt
Baseball’s disgraced all-time hit king may have hit an all-time low by signing balls with this shocking inscription: “I’m sorry I bet on baseball – Pete Rose.”
Thanks to a New Jersey auction house, you, too, can share in Rose’s sorrow. Robert Edward Auctions plans to sell 30 of the baseballs for an expected $1,000 a pop.
“This is where the baseball collectibles field has impact on the history of the game,” said Rob Lifson, president of the Watchung-based Robert Edward Auctions. “The collectibles field is not just shadowing the game – it’s affecting its history.”
It also could dash any hope Rose, who was banned from the sport he loved in 1989 for betting on baseball, has of getting into the Hall of Fame.
Clearing the bases
New York Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon was ejected in Toronto against the Blue Jays by home plate umpire Bill Miller for arguing a called strike on teammate Hideki Matsui from the on-deck circle. … Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir won’t pitch again this season because of a left shoulder injury. Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon announced the decision, which had been expected, after Tampa Bay’s loss to Baltimore. … The Chicago White Sox turned a triple play, their second of the season, in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers. There have been five triple plays in the majors this season, the previous one coming when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays turned it against Seattle on Sept. 2. The major league record is three in one season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Six teams have accomplished the feat.