Yankees’ start ‘unacceptable’
George Steinbrenner has spoken: For now, Joe Torre has his backing to turn around the New York Yankees following a start the owner termed “clearly not acceptable.”
Torre was joined by general manager Brian Cashman on the team’s charter flight to Texas for a three-game series against the Rangers that starts tonight.
Steinbrenner challenged players and staff “to show me and the fans what they are made of” and said of his $195 million team: “I believe in them.”
Court records released
Federal prosecutors charged Kirk Radomski, the former New York Mets clubhouse worker who admitted selling performance-enhancing drugs to major league players, on April 12 but asked a federal judge to seal the case until Radomski testified before the same grand jury investigating San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds for perjury.
The court records were unsealed after Radomski, 37, pleaded guilty Friday to felony charges of distributing steroids and laundering money.
Verizon phone records of Radomski’s mobile phone, according to the search warrant affidavit, show “some numbers belonging to current and former MLB players have been already identified.”
The affidavit also said investigators found 23 deposits of checks written by “MLB associated individuals” into Radomski’s bank account between May 2003 to March 2005 for $33,935 combined. The names were blacked out on the publicly available documents.
Clearing the bases
The Orioles put right- handed pitcher Jaret Wright (sore right shoulder) on the 15-day disabled list. … The Toronto Blue Jays placed left-hander Gustavo Chacin (strained left shoulder) on the 15-day disabled list. … Toronto Blue Jays minor league pitcher Matt Roney was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse. … The New York Mets placed pitcher Orlando Hernandez (bursitis in right shoulder) and second baseman Jose Valentin (partially torn knee ligament) on the 15-day disabled list. … Braves closer Bob Wickman went on the disabled list with an upper back injury. … The San Diego Padres recalled left-hander Royce Ring from Triple-A Portland.