By Compiled from Times wires
Published August 15, 2003
NEW YORK - Giants star Barry Bonds left the team Thursday and headed back to the bay area to spend time with his ailing father.
Bonds was officially placed on baseball's bereavement list.
"This is an opportunity for him to go back and spend some time with his dad," Giants spokesman Blake Rhodes said. "He didn't really have a chance to do that at the All-Star break."
The NL West leaders hope their leftfielder, who leads the majors with 37 home runs and has won the past two MVP awards, can rejoin them Tuesday when they play Atlanta at home.
Former major-leaguer Bobby Bonds has been ill with lung cancer and numerous other ailments. Last month, Barry Bonds missed a game to be with his father when he had open-heart surgery.
In early June, Bobby Bonds was receiving oxygen to fight pneumonia and spent some time in the hospital. He had surgery on a brain tumor in April.
TRADE COMPLETED: The Reds acquired minor-league right-hander Matt Belisle to complete the trade that sent left-hander Kent Mercker to the Braves.
ASTROS: Houston signed right-handed reliever Rick White and sent right-hander Kirk Saarloos to Triple-A New Orleans. Houston announced White's signing last week but rescinded the move after learning he still was the property of the White Sox.
DODGERS: First baseman Fred McGriff rejoined the team after a three-game rehabilitation assignment, but he was not activated and could remain in a holding pattern for a few more days until the club weathers its pitching crisis. An illness to right-hander Andy Ashby, who has an upper respiratory condition, forced left-hander Wilson Alvarez and right-hander Kevin Brown to start on three days' rest Wednesday and Thursday, and extra-inning games Tuesday and Wednesday taxed the bullpen.
MARINERS: Third baseman Jeff Cirillo's tough season got a little more frustrating when he strained a muscle on the left side of his back during a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Tacoma. He returned to Seattle and was scheduled to be examined by a team doctor.
ORIOLES: First baseman Jeff Conine has bursitis at the base of his right biceps and is likely to miss a four-game series against the Yankees.
PIRATES: Manager Lloyd McClendon was ejected for the fourth time this season after screaming at umpires Eric Cooper and Mike Reilly during the fourth. McClendon charged out of the dugout as starter Jeff D'Amico was about to pitch to Edgar Renteria with a runner on first and St. Louis up 2-0. McClendon yelled at Cooper, the home-plate umpire, who quickly ejected him. As Reilly, the crew chief, began to steer McClendon toward the dugout, the manager angrily tossed his hat and threw his sunglasses. McClendon said Renteria bunted through a pitch that Cooper called a ball.
REDS: Outfielder Austin Kearns had surgery on his throwing shoulder and will wear a sling for two weeks. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
TWINS: Veteran right-hander James Baldwin was designated for assignment and replaced in the bullpen with right-hander Grant Balfour, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.
