Baseball

Ex-Jay accused of theft

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays released pitching prospect Pasqual Coco after he stole money from teammate Diegomar Markwell's locker, the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun reported Sunday.

Coco was cut Friday. He and Markwell shared an apartment at spring training and were teammates in Toronto's minor-league system.

Blue Jays spokesman Jay Stenhouse did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Coco told the Star there was "a good reason" he took the money, but he said his agent advised him not to say anything further until he finds another job in baseball. The money was returned to Markwell and no criminal charges have been filed.

During spring training last year, the Yankees released outfielder Ruben Rivera after he took a bat and glove from Derek Jeter's locker.

-- TIMES WIRES

Phils to test Lieberthal

CLEARWATER -- The Phillies should know by the end of this week if catcher Mike Lieberthal will be ready to open the season with them.

Lieberthal, out since Feb. 28 with a pelvic injury, is scheduled to return to the lineup today against the Yankees at Jack Russell Stadium.

Lieberthal is expected to play three innings today and three Tuesday. He will take Wednesday off and catch four innings Thursday night.

"We've got to get him out there," manager Larry Bowa said. "I don't think you get a sigh of relief until you see him out there."

Lieberthal has passed a series of agility and running tests, but he admitted he won't know anything for sure until he has to run the bases in a game.

"My guard is still up," he said. "I'm not going to go crazy on the bases. I'm still skeptical about running full speed because I haven't done it."

Elsewhere on the medical front, leftfielder Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins returned to the lineup Sunday during the Phillies' 12-5 win over the Twins.

McGRAW UPDATE: Tug McGraw's family issued a release that said the former reliever was in good spirits and stable condition at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa.

The release said McGraw is under the care of Dr. Steven Brem, the program leader of Moffitt's neuro-oncology program and an expert in brain mapping and neuronavigation.

Brem said it still is not known if McGraw's two brain tumors are malignant. The family said that surgery on McGraw is scheduled for early this week.

A long list of McGraw's friends and former teammates have visited him at the hospital.

-- BOB BROOKOVER

Veteran Clemens dominates

TAMPA -- If this is Roger Clemens' last season, he is giving no indication.

The right-hander, 40, struck out five during five scoreless innings in the Yankees' 1-0 win over the Astros on Sunday.

"(Clemens) looks like he's 25, and he's throwing like it," Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said. "It's a lot of fun to see a guy work hard and come ready to pitch every time.

"I would hate to see him (retire). I love his attitude. Everyone wants to see him pitch."

MONDESI GETS HELP: Raul Mondesi drove in the winning run in the ninth inning, scoring Alfonso Soriano, who was pinch-running for Chris Widger.

Mondesi hit 26 home runs last season but batted .232 and was mentioned in trade rumors all offseason. Saturday, GM Brian Cashman said that trade talks had cooled and Mondesi would be the team's starting rightfielder on opening day.

Manager Joe Torre said Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson has been working with Mondesi to help him improve his swing. Jackson, however, has not been helping Mondesi with the long ball; just the opposite. "We've all said to take the home run out of the equation," Torre said. "All he's needed is to get a few good at-bats here."

TAKING IT EASY: Right-hander Steve Karsay saw his first action in two weeks with a scoreless sixth inning, but he admitted he held back so as not to aggravate his sore throwing shoulder.

"I tried not to overthrow," he said. "I tried to keep myself and my body under control. I feel fine now, but (today) will be a good indication of how I really feel."

-- JEREMY RASMUSSEN

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