Baseball notebook: Padres’ Roberts battling cancer
Dave Roberts, whose stolen base for Boston in the 2004 playoffs sparked the Red Sox to an elusive World Series championship, is being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Roberts was diagnosed in mid-March. He said the cancer was detected early and he’s undergone two rounds of chemotherapy. The prognosis is “good,” he said.
“I expect to beat this and be fully recovered,” Roberts said during a conference call Monday.
The 37-year-old Roberts, who is working for the San Diego Padres as a special assistant, said he wanted to keep his illness private but knew that his appearance would be changing as he underwent chemotherapy.
Roberts said he began feeling soreness in his neck before spring training, then discovered a lump that began to grow. He continued to work with players during spring training.
Roberts played 10 seasons in the majors for Cleveland, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston, San Diego and San Francisco. The speedy outfielder retired after 2008 and worked in television last year for the Red Sox.
“I expect Dave can probably outrun anything,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
Clearing the bases
Phillies reliever Ryan Madson will have surgery today on the broken right toe he injured when he kicked a chair after blowing a save. Madson blew his second save of the year in Philadelphia’s 7-6, 11-inning win over San Francisco last week. … Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson will be out four to six weeks following surgery on his right hand and wrist. The Reds called up outfielder Chris Heisey to take his place. … Hoping to revitalize Alex Gordon’s offense, the Royals are moving him on defense. One day after the Royals optioned Gordon to Triple-A Omaha, Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said that Gordon will shift from third base to left field. … The Oakland Athletics have activated right-handed setup man Michael Wuertz from the 15-day disabled list after he was sidelined with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. The A’s optioned lefty Brad Kilby to Triple-A Sacramento. … The Chicago White Sox activated backup catcher Ramon Castro from the 15-day disabled list and optioned backup catcher Donny Lucy to Charlotte.