Deal could spare two players suspensions
Major League Baseball put the suspensions of Baltimore’s Jay Gibbons and Kansas City’s Jose Guillen on hold for 10 days, giving lawyers for players and owners more time to reach an agreement toughening drug rules.
The outfielders were suspended for 15 days each by commissioner Bud Selig on Dec. 6, following media reports linking them to performance-enhancing drugs. The penalties were to start Sunday, when the U.S. portion of the major league season begins.
“Pretty surprising,” Gibbons said after Friday’s announcement. “Put it this way: I’m cautiously optimistic – at least they’re talking.”
Negotiators are close to an agreement that would call for more frequent drug testing and would strengthen the authority of the independent program administrator. If there is an agreement, the suspensions of Gibbons and Guillen most likely would be eliminated as part of an overall amnesty for players implicated in the Mitchell Report.
Players try out stadium
The Washington Nationals scheduled their first practice at their new ballpark, giving them their first chance to answer everyone’s favorite question.
Will Nationals Park be a pitcher’s park or a hitter’s park?
Certainly, it will take more than one practice or one game to get a good feel for the answer, but the players already know one thing for certain: It will be a better park, as in better than RFK Stadium.
“We thank D.C. for making it happen,” said right-hander Jason Bergmann, who is scheduled to start today’s exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles, “because RFK was wearing on everybody.”
The initial speculation is that the new stadium, located along the Anacostia River about a mile south of the Capitol, will slightly favor pitchers. The dimensions aren’t much more intimate than those at roomy RFK.
Nationals Park is 335 feet down the right-field line, 370 in right-center, 402 in center, 377 in left-center and 336 down the left-field line. RFK’s posted dimensions were 335-380-410-380-335, although players doubted whether the measurements to the power alleys were accurate.
Ticket prices rise
It will cost a lot more to root, root, root for the home team this year.
Major League Baseball’s average ticket price increased 10.9 percent this season to $25.40, the Team Marketing Report said.
That’s the steepest increase since a 12.9 rise in 2001.
Around the majors
Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Doug Davis has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Davis, 32, is expected to undergo surgery on April 10. The defending N.L. West champions don’t know when Davis might return. … Jeff Conine signed a one-day contract with the Florida Marlins so he could retire as a member of the team with whom he won two World Series championships. … Billy Consolo, a former major league infielder and longtime Detroit Tigers coach, has died of an apparent heart attack. He was 73.