Pena has enough of losing

By wire services
Published May 11, 2005

KANSAS CITY - Tony Pena resigned as manager of the last-place Royals on Tuesday night.

General manager Allard Baird said Pena informed him of the decision after the Royals' loss to the Blue Jays at Toronto, which dropped them to 8-25, worst in baseball.

Team spokesman Aaron Babcock said Pena would be replaced on an interim basis by bench coach Bob Schaeffer .

"I felt that at this time we have not played to the top of our abilities," Pena said in a statement issued through the club. "The Kansas City Royals are on the right track by committing to their young players. I believe the Royals will be contenders for a long time if they don't change their direction."

Pena was AL Manager of the Year in 2003 after the surprising Royals led the Central for more than 90 days and finished third. Last season the team plummeted to 104 losses.

NEW YORK - Jason Giambi could be headed to the minor leagues if he doesn't start hitting.

With Giambi's average down to .195, Yankees manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman met with him and asked if he thought he would benefit from a minor-league assignment.

"We touched on it," Giambi said.

He said he thinks staying with the big-league team would be the best way to regain form. As a veteran, he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent.

Also, Yankees reliever Felix Rodriguez tore cartilage in his left knee, and the team is recommending surgery that would knock the right-hander out four to six weeks.

WORLD CUP COMING: A 16-team World Cup-style international tournament will be held next spring training, Baseball America reported. Major League Baseball and the players' association will announce the tournament, tentatively titled World Baseball Classic, today or Thursday, the magazine reported on its Web site.

SHOULDER PAIN STOPS BAGWELL: Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell went on the disabled list for the first time in seven seasons, an ominous setback in his battle with a degenerative shoulder condition.

GIANTS ACE SIDELINED: The Giants placed right-hander Jason Schmidt on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Schmidt joins slugger Barry Bonds and closer Armando Benitez on the disabled list for the Giants.

DODGERS FIGHT ROWDINESS: The Dodgers want uniformed Los Angeles Police Department officers to patrol the stands at Dodger Stadium in the wake of fan misbehavior last week. The Police Commission must approve the plan.

ANGELS: General manager Bill Stoneman said he's not optimistic the team will sign right-hander Jered Weaver , the team's first-round pick last June.

A'S: Right-hander Kiko Calero went on the disabled list with tendinitis in his pitching elbow.

CARDINALS: Third baseman Scott Rolen left in the fifth with a sprained left shoulder after a violent collision with Dodgers first baseman Hee-Seop Choi .

CUBS: Right-hander LaTroy Hawkins has lost his job as the top setup man amid reports that he might be tipping his pitches.

PIRATES: Left-hander Oliver Perez will miss his scheduled start today because of stiffness in his pitching shoulder.

RANGERS: Right-hander Ryan Bukvich will have ligament replacement surgery on his pitching elbow Friday and miss the rest of the season. His exit follows season-ending elbow injuries to top right-handed setup men Frank Francisco and Carlos Almanzar .

REDS: Utility player Ryan Freel pleaded guilty in Campbell County (Ky.) District Court to DUI. A judge suspended Freel's driver's license for 90 days and assessed fines and court costs totaling $600. ... A line drive hit left-hander Brandon Claussen on his upper arm, forcing him out of his start in the fourth. X-rays were negative.

RED SOX: Left-hander David Wells , disabled for two weeks with a sprained right foot, is scheduled to throw in the bullpen today so doctors can check his progress.

- TIMES WIRES

[Last modified May 11, 2005, 02:15:03]