Baseball

Nevin opts for surgery

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Padres leftfielder Phil Nevin will have surgery Tuesday on his injured left shoulder and could miss the season.

Nevin dislocated the shoulder making a diving catch Thursday against the Rockies.

Nevin will have the surgery at Scripps Clinic to repair damage to the joint capsule and tearing of the labrum. An MRI showed no tearing of the rotator cuff.

Nevin told the San Diego Union-Tribune he does not expect to play this season.

"It has to be put back together," Nevin said in Sunday's editions. "It has to be fixed. It'll happen again and again if I don't get it fixed."

Nevin's injury is the second serious blow to the Padres this spring. Closer Trevor Hoffman had surgery on his pitching shoulder Feb. 28 and will miss at least half the season.

"I'm sure the guys are wondering how does this keep happening," said manager Bruce Bochy, who is planning as if Nevin won't be available. "But it has happened and we will move on and do the best we can without Phil. We know we're not going to replace his bat."

Among Bochy's options in leftfield are rookie Xavier Nady, holdover Brian Buchanan and nonroster invitees Roberto Kelly and Brady Anderson.

"They're all going to play," Bochy said. "We're going to give them all a good look."

Also, Padres right-hander Jaret Wright strained his left oblique muscle in the sixth inning of Sunday's split-squad game against the Cubs and left after two batters. He will miss seven to 10 days.

SELIG CAN WAIT: Bud Selig said he is in no hurry to decide whether to reinstate Pete Rose, not while the commissioner is enjoying his most relaxing spring in years.

"This is not a popularity contest or anything," Selig said. "In the end, I'll have to do what I think is right."

The commissioner didn't say whether baseball will meet with the banned career hits leader or his representatives before spring training ends. He feels no pressure to reach a decision before opening day.

"We're very deliberate, very cautious," Selig said. "I know there's strong feelings on both sides. There's nothing new. I'm waiting for the results of the various investigations that are going on."

ANGELS: Tim Salmon, recovering from offseason knee surgery, made his first start in the outfield after two games at designated hitter.

D'BACKS: Closer Matt Mantei, who missed most of 2001 and half of last season with elbow problems, hit 99 mph on the radar gun and consistently threw his fastball at 96.

GIANTS: Before striking out against the Angels' Matt Hensley in the fourth inning, Barry Bonds took off his protective elbow gear and threw it down. "A guy in the stands yelled to me and asked me to do it, so I did," Bonds said.

INDIANS: Reliever Mark Wohlers will leave training camp to have his sore right (pitching) elbow examined. He has missed much of spring training. ... Rookie left-hander Billy Traber, trying to win one of two available rotation jobs, held the Pirates hitless until Brian Giles' homer in the fourth. He allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts in four innings. Left-hander Brian Tallet, also fighting for a starting job, allowed three runs on five hits in three innings of relief.

RANGERS: Rookie Mark Teixeira, battling for the starting third base job, hit his second homer of the spring.

REDS: Outfielder Austin Kearns is scheduled for surgery today to remove bone chips from his left elbow and is expected to miss seven to 10 days. An MRI found chips in Kearns' nonthrowing elbow. "It's something I think they can fix pretty easily. I think he should be on time to start the season," general manager Jim Bowden said.

ROYALS: Left-hander Chris George, trying to earn a rotation spot, allowed five hits, walked one and had two wild pitches in three innings against the Giants. He had pitched five shutout innings in his first two starts.

WHITE SOX: The team renewed left-hander Mark Buehrle's contract for $445,000 after failing to agree on a long-term contract. Buehrle will be eligible for salary arbitration after this season and free agency after the 2006 season.

OBITUARY: Dick Whitman, a pinch-hitter and reserve outfielder who played in two World Series, died Feb. 12 in Phoenix, apparently of a massive heart attack. He was 82.

© 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