Baseball

Fall sidelines Colorado's star rookie

By wire services
Published June 7, 2005

DENVER - Rockies rookie sensation Clint Barmes is expected to miss at least three months after breaking his left collarbone in a fall while carrying groceries up the stairs in his apartment building.

Barmes, a shortstop leading NL rookies in most offensive categories, is scheduled for surgery today and isn't expected to return until at least August.

Monday, Barmes said he was returning home the previous night with groceries cradled in his left arm and a sweat shirt in his right hand. He got tired of waiting for the elevator and decided to take the stairs to his fourth-floor apartment.

"I figured, I'm an athlete, I can walk up the stairs, it's not that big a deal," he said. "Obviously, if I had to go back, I would have waited, or at least been a bit more careful going up."

Barmes said when he felt himself slipping, he dropped the sweat shirt and tried to grab the railing. Next thing he knew, he had landed directly on his shoulder.

Also, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle missed the game against the White Sox so he could be with his daughter, who was admitted to the hospital earlier in the day. Madison , 2, was also hospitalized last month with seizures. Bench coach Jamie Quirk took Hurdle's place.

CHIPPER OUT INDEFINITELY: The Braves placed third baseman Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list and still aren't sure how long their team leader will be out.

Jones left Sunday's game in Pittsburgh when he re-injured his left foot. He was examined by team orthopedist Joe Chandler and was scheduled to see a foot specialist and have an MRI exam today.

The Braves called up third baseman Andy Marte from Triple-A Richmond. Marte, 21, considered one of baseball's top prospects, was hitting .276 and led the team with nine homers and 35 RBIs.

SURGERY FOR BAGWELL: Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell is scheduled for surgery today on his arthritic right shoulder and may be out for the season.

DRUG SUSPENSIONS: Four minor-leaguers were suspended 15 games by the commissioner's office for testing positive for performance-enhancing substances, bringing the total to 70. They were Angel Rocha , a pitcher in the Arizona organization; Baltimore first baseman Mario Delgado ; Boston pitche r Felix Romero ; and Toronto outfielder David Smith .

BALCO CASE: Barry Bonds ' personal trainer has joined two defendants in the BALCO steroids case and withdrawn his motion to suppress evidence gathered in the investigation. Greg Anderson withdrew his motion the day before the evidentiary hearing had been scheduled, joining BALCO founder Victor Conte and vice president James Valente . The three had contested the legality of the police raid of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative and Anderson's house, both in Burlingame, Calif.

CARDINALS: Outfielder Roger Cedeno , who has a minor hamstring strain, went on the 15-day disabled list.

DODGERS: Former Devil Rays left-hander Wilson Alvarez went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 31 with shoulder tendinitis.

YANKEES: Right-hander Jaret Wright increased his throwing distance as part of a rehabilitation program for his injured pitching shoulder. Wright threw from 90 feet during his fourth session over eight days at the spring complex in Tampa.

[Last modified June 7, 2005, 02:15:48]