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Baseball notebook

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 25, 2002

As expected,Gonzalez out for Arizona

ST. LOUIS -- Leftfielder Luis Gonzalez, the Diamondbacks' top power hitter, will miss the rest of the season and the playoffs because of a shoulder injury.

Gonzalez, hurt Monday in a collision with shortstop Tony Womack, was examined Tuesday by team physician Dr. Michael Lee, who said Gonzalez might need surgery.

Lee said Gonzalez, who had the winning hit in Game 7 of last year's World Series, had a shoulder separation and torn ligaments.

"Though we have not finalized a timetable, he is a likely candidate for a reconstructive surgical procedure," Lee said. "There is absolutely no reason to believe that he will not be at full strength and available for spring training."

Gonzalez was hurt when he dived for Tino Martinez's bloop double in the fourth inning of the Cardinals' 13-1 victory. Womack went back for the ball and ran full speed into Gonzalez, driving his knee into his teammate's shoulder. Third baseman Alex Cintron jumped over both to avoid a three-way collision.

Gonzalez returned to Phoenix on Tuesday morning.

He hit .288 this season and led the Diamondbacks with 28 homers and 103 RBIs, topping 100 for the fourth season in a row.

Last year, he had career highs of 57 homers, 142 RBIs and 419 total bases. He won the World Series in the ninth inning of Game 7 with a bloop single off the Yankees' Mariano Rivera.

CUBS: The team received minor-league right-handers Jason Karnuth and Jared Blasdell from St. Louis to complete last month's trade that sent reliever Jeff Fassero to the Cardinals.

DIAMONDBACKS: Despite an increase in attendance and a likely playoff appearance, the team is projecting operating losses of $40-million to $50-million this season, the Arizona Republic reported.

EXPOS: A six-game suspension and $1,000 fine imposed on pitcher Tomo Ohka was upheld by Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.

Ohka was penalized Sept. 13 by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, after the pitcher hit Atlanta's Andruw Jones on the helmet six days earlier. Ohka and Atlanta's Chris Hammond were ejected from the game. Hammond was suspended for three games and did not appeal the penalty.

PIRATES: The players' association filed a grievance on behalf of infielder Pat Meares, arguing he is healthy enough to play despite an injured left hand.

The team has kept Meares on the disabled list all season, contending the injury prevents him from playing the level required to perform in the majors.

TIGERS: Minor-league pitcher Jorge Cordova was acquired from Cincinnati, completing a July 23 trade between the teams.

INTERNET: Major League Baseball will offer streaming of postseason games for the first time to Web users, but only those outside the United States, Japan, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

The service, on mlb.com, will cost $19.95 for the entire postseason. Games will be available live, and fans also can watch them later on replays.

Baseball said the reason for blackouts in the United States and other areas is to protect television rights holders.

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