Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Cards great Slaughter is in ICU

DURHAM, N.C. -- Cardinals Hall of Famer Enos "Country" Slaughter was in critical condition and remained in intensive care Wednesday at Duke University Medical Center.

Slaughter, 85, has been hospitalized since July 25 and has had two emergency operations. The first repaired a portion of his colon. He then had surgery to repair perforated ulcers in his stomach.

Slaughter's daughter, Gaye Currier, is an operating nurse at the medical center.

"He has made some improvements over the last couple of days, at least in my eyes," Currier said. "The prognosis is good that he can recover from this, but it will be a long process."

METS LAWSUIT: Co-owner Fred Wilpon asked a federal court to dismiss claims by his longtime partner that the team's appraisal was unfair. Wilpon sued Nelson Doubleday last month to try to force him to sell him his 50 percent share based on a $391-million appraisal by Robert Starkey.

In an answer to the suit, Doubleday said Tuesday the commissioner's office was "in cahoots" with Wilpon to put an artificially low value on the team. Doubleday accused commissioner Bud Selig of conspiring with Starkey, a former Arthur Andersen accountant, to "manufacture phantom operating losses," claims Wilpon and Major League Baseball denied.

According to Wilpon's court papers, owners began the year projecting an operating loss of $220-million, down $12-million from last year. Starkey gave owners the projection Jan. 16.

CARDINALS: Right-hander Woody Williams threw in the bullpen and hopes to be back in the rotation in about two weeks. Williams has been out since July 7 with a pulled muscle in his side. Also, right-hander Garrett Stephenson, who had surgery in early June to remove dead tissue from his injured left hamstring, is expected to start Saturday.

CUBS: Right-hander Jon Lieber, who won 20 last season, will have reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow.

D'BACKS: Right-hander John Patterson was demoted to Triple-A Tucson when right-hander Rick Helling was activated.

INDIANS: Right-hander Dave Burba, who won at least 15 for Cleveland three straight seasons, signed a minor-league deal.

ORIOLES: First baseman Jeff Conine returned after seven weeks on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

RANGERS: Right-hander Chan Ho Park went on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

ROCKIES: Manager Clint Hurdle agreed to a two-year contract extension with club options for the following two seasons. ... Right-hander Kip Bouknight pitched a no-hitter in Salem's 5-0 win over Frederick in the Class A Carolina League.

TWINS: Eric Milton was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an injured left knee.

YANKEES: Closer Mariano Rivera, recovering from a strained right shoulder, reported no problems a day after pitching two scoreless innings for the Gulf Coast League team in Tampa.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright