Notebook: Selig attends Bonds’ games
Commissioner Bud Selig didn’t even have to leave his own backyard to catch Barry Bonds’ chase for the home run record.
The San Francisco slugger was two home runs from tying Hank Aaron’s career mark of 755 on Friday, the 31st anniversary of the Hammer’s final career shot – and Selig said he plans to attend all three of the Giants’ upcoming games in Milwaukee unless Bonds is not in the Giants’ starting lineup.
“It’s here, and I felt that it was the right thing for the commissioner to do,” Selig said.
Piazza returns
Mike Piazza was activated from the disabled list by the Oakland Athletics and was in the starting lineup as the designated hitter for the game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Piazza had been on the disabled list retroactive to May 3 with a sprained right shoulder.
Ortiz sued
A sports memorabilia company sued Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz for $1 million, claiming he breached a contract by failing to autograph a required number of items and appear at “meet-and-greet” events.
“Ortiz has constantly remained substantially below the amount of memorabilia items required to be signed under the agreement,” according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court.
A-Rod signs books
Alex Rodriguez signed copies of his children’s book, sang “Do-Re-Mi” with his daughter, posed for paparazzi, and spoke in English and Spanish to a horde of camera crews before heading up to the Bronx for a tilt with the Devil Rays.
A long line of fans waited to have their copy of “Out of the Ballpark,” or “!Jonron!” as the Spanish version is titled, signed by the Yankees superstar.
Clearing the bases
Right-hander Steve Trachsel was activated from the disabled list by the Baltimore Orioles after being out with a strained gluteus muscle for nearly a month. … Washington Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young was removed from the starting lineup against Colorado because of a bruised left heel. … The Minnesota Twins put outfielder Michael Cuddyer on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb.