Braves don’t want Jones back
The Atlanta Braves are cutting ties with Andruw Jones, saying they can’t afford to keep the perennial Gold Glove center fielder who has spent his entire career with the organization.
General manager John Schuerholz announced the decision Tuesday, shortly after breaking the news to Jones during a meeting at Turner Field.
“I’m fine with it,” Jones told The Associated Press when reached on his cell phone. “I’m appreciative of the chance they gave me to play for Atlanta all these years.”
The move was not unexpected as the 30-year-old Jones batted only .222 in the final season of his $75 million contract. He’s eligible to file for free agency after the World Series.
Randolph will return
Mets manager Willie Randolph sported a new, clean-shaven look as he walked past rows of empty lockers in New York’s clubhouse.
“It’s not a good time to be recognized in this town,” he joked. “Hoping to slip by and dodge a few daggers.”
Randolph dodged one, two days after his team completed an enormous collapse. General manager Omar Minaya announced Randolph will be back with the club next year.
Young, Pena win awards
Washington Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young was chosen as the N.L. comeback player of the year.
Young finished tied for eighth in the in batting with a career-high .320 average. He had 13 home runs and 74 RBIs.
“One season after being released by three teams, Carlos Pena put together the best performance in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history and was chosen as the A.L. comeback player of the year.
Pena batted a career-best .282 with a club-record 46 home runs and 121 RBIs.
Playoff schedule tweaked
Major League Baseball hopes to attract more TV viewers with the tweaks it made to this year’s playoff schedule.
An increase in the number of off days avoids undesirable scenarios such as holding two games at the same time and weekday games that start before noon on the West Cost.
“Why not put your great events on when the most people can watch it?” commissioner Bud Selig said.
Clearing the bases
Tim Wakefield, Gary Matthews Jr. and Bartolo Colon will be sitting out the first round of the A.L. playoffs. Boston left Wakefield off the playoff roster for their first-round series against the Los Angeles Angels because of his ailing back. The Angels scratched Matthews because of a left knee injury. Colon is experiencing pain in his right elbow. Right-hander Adam Eaton was left off Philadelphia’s postseason roster for their first round-series against Colorado. … Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland was given a contract extension through the 2009 season. … Major League Baseball drew a record average of 32,785 fans to games this season, breaking the previous mark of 31,423 that was set in 1994.