Baseball Notebook : Abreu takes some swings
Bobby Abreu took batting practice in a cage against a pitcher for the first time since straining his right oblique last month.
Abreu took 55 swings Friday, including some at almost full intensity.
“I tried to push it a little bit more,” the New York Yankees right fielder said. “It was fine. I feel great. I didn’t hurt at all. That makes me feel good.”
Abreu may take batting practice on the field this weekend and hopes to be ready for opening day on April 2.
“New York right-hander Humberto Sanchez, sidelined by right elbow inflammation, threw 25 pitches during his second half-mound session. He is expected to throw another session Sunday.
Uribe hearing postponed
A Dominican court postponed a hearing for Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe to give prosecutors more time to investigate allegations he shot a farmer last October.
The 27-year-old is at spring training in Arizona and did not appear at the court in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.
Judge Regina Carvajal denied a prosecutors’ request to find Uribe in contempt for skipping the hearing.
Sale of Braves unfinished
The proposed sale of the Atlanta Braves from Time Warner Inc. to Liberty Media Corp. won’t be finalized this month.
The agreement, which values the team at $450 million, calls for the transfer of approximately $1.27 billion in Time Warner shares from Liberty Media to the current owners. It must be approved by baseball owners.
Baseball historian dead
Charles A. Einstein, a former San Francisco Examiner and Chronicle reporter who became a noted baseball historian and collaborated with Willie Mays on a pair of books, has died. He was 80.
Einstein died March 7, said the Carlisle Funeral Home in Michigan City, Ind.
Clearing the bases
Randy Johnson is progressing well in his rehabilitation from back surgery, but the Arizona Diamondbacks still aren’t sure when the left-hander will be ready to pitch in a spring training game. … Gary Sheffield was expected to return to the Detroit Tigers today after missing several exhibition games. … Jim Edmonds has said that his right shoulder has improved and he may be available opening day for St. Louis. … Angel Berroa is in jeopardy of possibly losing his job as Kansas City starting shortstop. … Right-hander Emiliano Fruto, acquired in the trade that sent Jose Vidro to Seattle, was among three pitchers Washington optioned to Triple-A. In trimming their roster to 42 players, the Nationals optioned right-handers Beltran Perez and Chris Schroder to Columbus.