Chicago White Sox: Slugger Frank Thomas has suffered a setback in his return from surgery on his left ankle, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday. Thomas is suffering from tendinitis in the ankle and received a cortisone shot Tuesday for the discomfort it has caused since his rehab began in January. Due the shot, Thomas must rest until at least Monday, supporting speculation that Thomas won't be able to return until mid-May at the earliest, the paper reported. Thomas, 36, will not be allowed to perform running, hitting or balance drills until he gets medical clearance, the paper said. Everett bruises shoulder:
Carl Everett bruised
his left shoulder and left Thursday night's game against the
Cleveland Indians. Everett ran into the left-field wall at Jacobs Field in the
first inning while trying to catch a fly ball hit by Ben Broussard. The ball sailed over Everett's head and his momentum took him
headfirst into the padded wall. He fell to the ground as center
fielder Aaron Rowand ran over to get the ball and throw it back to
the infield to hold Broussard at third base with a two-run triple. Team trainer Herm Schneider attended to Everett for several
minutes before manager Ozzie Guillen sent Timo Perez into the game
as a replacement. Everett slowly walked off the field by himself. Everett was making his first start in the outfield after being
the designated hitter in eight games for Chicago this season. "Carl played some out there in spring training and I thought he
played great," Guillen said before the game. "He showed he still
can play the outfield."
Texas Rangers: The misdemeanor assault case against reliever Frank Francisco for throwing a chair into the stands
at an Athletics' game last September was postponed because
the judge was unavailable for personal reasons. District attorney Erin Kingsbury said the case would be
continued April 28. Both sides said they would discuss pleading out
the case before then. "We hope to have the matter resolved then," defense attorney
Rick Minkoff. Francisco, 25, is charged with one count of misdemeanor assault
for breaking a woman's nose after throwing a chair into the stands
at a Rangers-Athletics game last year. Francisco pleaded not guilty to the charge on Oct. 29. If
convicted, he could face a year in county jail and a maximum 3
years' probation. Francisco threw the chair during a Sept. 13 loss to the A's at
the Oakland Coliseum after a group of fans seated near the bullpen
began heckling players. The chair hit Jennifer Bueno of Livermore,
whose husband Craig was among the hecklers. Francisco was not required to appear in court because the charge
is a misdemeanor. He is currently on the Rangers' disabled list
with an injured elbow, and is on a minor league rehabilitation
assignment.
Minnesota Twins: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was
ejected from Thursday night's 10-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers
for arguing after Twins starter Brad Radke was warned for hitting
Marcus Thames with a pitch. After giving up a single to Craig Monroe in the top of the fifth
inning, Radke plunked Thames in the belt. Plate umpire Ed Hickox
immediately warned Radke and both dugouts that another beanball
would warrant an ejection. Gardenhire sprinted out of the dugout, apparently upset that
Hickox did not warn Tigers starter Nate Robertson earlier in the
game after he hit Lew Ford and Shannon Stewart and nearly plunked
Luis Rivas. Gardenhire stood at home plate inches from Hickox's face and
berated the umpire, motioning to his face to mimic glasses several
times. Hickox responded by tossing Gardenhire with the Twins
leading 5-2. "We're up three runs, they have a man on first, I guarantee
Radke's not trying to hit anybody," Gardenhire said. "It
completely blows my mind. I know what the umpires have to do ... I
just disagree." It was the first time this season Gardenhire has been ejected
and the 16th time in his career as Twins manager. Encouraging news on Silva, Morneau:
The Twins received encouraging reports about injured right-hander Carlos Silva and first baseman Justin Morneau. Silva, initially expected to miss at least half the season with
a torn meniscus in his right knee, had a throwing session and
"looked very good," manager Ron Gardenhire said. Silva will make the road trip to Cleveland with the team and
catch a flight from there to Beloit, Wis., on Saturday in
preparation for a rehabilitation assignment that includes a start
on Sunday with the Snappers of the Class-A Midwest League.
Gardenhire said the plan is for Silva to come off the disabled list
on April 22 and start that night against the Tigers in Detroit. Morneau, who hasn't played since being hit in the head by a
pitch against Seattle on April 6, took batting practice for the
first time since the beaning. More ...
Florida Marlins: Right-hander Ismael Valdez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hairline fracture in his right shin. The move is retroactive to April 4, the date the injury occurred, making Valdez eligible to return as soon as Tuesday. Valdez was hit by a line drive pitching in a minor league
game. The Marlins said they'll wait until Friday to fill the 31-year-old Valdez's spot on the roster. Right-hander Brian Moehler took Valdez's turn in the rotation Saturday and may fill in again Tuesday at Washington. Florida planned to use Valdez as a fifth starter behind Josh Beckett, Al Leiter, A.J. Burnett and Dontrelle Willis this season. The starters have combined for four complete games, double the total of all the other major league teams. The Marlins acquired Valdez from the San Diego Padres last July.
Seattle Mariners: The Mariners optioned infielder
Justin Leone to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday and will activate
pitcher Joel Pineiro from the disabled list. Pineiro is scheduled to start Friday night against the White Sox
in Chicago. He was set to be the Mariners' opening-day starter when
spring training started, but was slowed because of stiffness in his
right shoulder. Ripken works to honor former teammate's son Cal Ripken Jr. is raising scholarship
money in memory of a former teammate's son. Ripken was in East Lansing to help Steve Vander Laan by hosting
a banquet Wednesday in memory of Brian Vander Laan, 17, who was
killed in a car crash in 2003. Vander Laan and Ripken were teammates on the Miami Orioles, a
Class A team in the Florida State League. Ripken went on to star
with the Baltimore Orioles while Vander Laan became a middle-school
teacher. About 300 people who paid at least $60 were treated to dinner,
two auctions and a post-dinner presentation from Ripken at Michigan
State's Kellogg Center. Vander Laan was optimistic about the sum that would result from
eight live-auction and 40 silent-auction items. Event tickets
brought $10,000 to $12,000, he added. "It's a real tribute and honor for me," Vander Laan said,
referring to Ripken. "I'm absolutely honored that he's here.
Without him, this event would not happen." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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