Baseball

Ex-Phillie McGraw set for brain surgery today

CLEARWATER -- Former Phillies and Mets reliever Tug McGraw was scheduled for brain surgery at 7 a.m. today at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt visited his former Phillies teammate Sunday night and relayed the positive report he received from McGraw's family.

"There's no cancer in any other parts of his body, and the doctors think that's encouraging," Schmidt said. "The news has been very positive. The initial reports when he first went in the hospital were very gloomy, but it has been a total about-face since he went into the Moffitt Cancer Center."

McGraw, 58, reportedly had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after he was hospitalized Wednesday at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater. But Dr. Steven Brem, leader of the neuro-oncology program at Moffitt, said evidence of a malignant brain tumor is "inconclusive."

"The downside is not something anybody wants to think about," Schmidt said. "You do what you can do as a friend. You pray and you give him support. You know that Tug's attitude toward life is good, so if anybody can beat this, it's him."

Schmidt did something else for McGraw. "I took him a black and white milkshake," said Schmidt, who, like McGraw, has been in the team's spring training camp as a guest instructor. "I saw a Dairy Queen on my way to the hospital and stopped and got him one. We used to get them every day on our way to the World Series games (in 1980). Tug sucked it down."

The team honored McGraw on his favorite holiday, St. Patrick's Day, with a tribute before its game Monday against the Yankees. Parking lot attendant Charles Marullo, who sang the national anthem, also sang When Irish Eyes are Smiling, and the team placed green shamrocks on the bases for McGraw.

POWER SURGE: Jim Thome put on his most impressive power display of the spring, launching a pair of opposite-field home runs during a 10-6 rain-shortened loss. They were his first homers since his first at-bat of the Grapefruit League season on Feb. 27. His first homer off left-hander Andy Pettitte in the second inning sailed over the 30-foot scoreboard in left-centerfield. Thome said he was more impressed by the home run off Pettitte than his legendary batting-practice homer that landed on U.S. 19 earlier in the spring. "It was the (opposite field) and it was in a game," he said.

-- BOB BROOKOVER, TIMES WIRES

Jays' Hinske, Wells cash in

DUNEDIN -- Moving to keep two of their top young players, the Blue Jays agreed to five-year contracts with third baseman Eric Hinske and centerfielder Vernon Wells.

Hinske, the AL rookie of the year last season, is guaranteed $14.75-million. Wells is guaranteed $14.7-million.

"It was a two-month process for us," general manager J.P. Riccardi said. "We have two quality players and people here to lay a foundation for the future."

Wells, the team's first-round draft pick in 1997, hit .275 with 23 homers and 100 RBIs.

"Both of us together are going to take this team to the next level," Wells said. "Both of us are here now to be leaders on this team and lead it to the next level."

"I love the city of Toronto," Hinske said. "Now I just can worry about what goes on on the field."

-- TIMES WIRES

Yanks shut down Karsay

CLEARWATER -- Yankees reliever Steve Karsay has a sore right shoulder again, and won't pitch until the pain subsides.

Karsay looked tentative in walking one batter over a scoreless inning in Sunday's 1-0 win over Houston.

"This morning he felt something," manager Joe Torre said. "He said warming up and in the game he didn't feel anything. But the fact he came in with a little cranky shoulder -- we just need to shut him down."

It was Karsay's first outing since hurting the shoulder on March 3. Torre said trainer Gene Monahan recommended rest and treatment, but the manager didn't rule out any tests.

Karsay had back surgery in November and earlier said he tried to do too much in his initial appearance two weeks ago.

ALSO: LHP Chris Hammond, slowed by discomfort behind his throwing shoulder, reported no problems one day after throwing off a bullpen mound. He is scheduled to throw again today. Barring any setback, he could pitch in a game this week. ... 2B Alfonso Soriano (right shoulder tendinitis) is scheduled to play in the field today. He hasn't played in the field for the past 12 games. ... RHP Jeff Weaver, the leading contender for the fifth-starter spot, will pitch a minor-league game Wednesday. RHP Jose Contreras will pitch Wednesday against Cleveland.

-- TIMES WIRES

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