Sheets' season could be over

By wire services
Published August 28, 2005

MILWAUKEE - Ben Sheets was put on the 15-day disabled list by the Brewers on Saturday with a torn back muscle and might miss the rest of the season.

Sheets left Friday's game against Atlanta in the eighth inning with what the Brewers said was a strained upper back. He awoke Saturday with discomfort and had an MRI exam, which revealed a tear of the latissimus dorsi, a muscle in the upper back that moves the shoulder.

Brewers team physician Dr. William Raasch said the injury typically requires four weeks to two months to heal.

"There's a lot of swelling," Raasch said. "We can't tell you how quickly he'll heal. Best-case scenario is 15 days, if he's feeling great. Worst case, two months."

CARDINALS: Left-hander Mark Mulder was scratched from his scheduled start against Washington with a stiff neck. Mulder said he wasn't exactly sure how he got hurt but added that he hoped to be able to start today. Manager Tony La Russa said that if Mulder is unable to pitch Sunday, the most likely candidate for a spot start would be reliever Brad Thompson. METS: Catcher Mike Piazzamight be out for the season, missing the team's first playoff chase since 2001. Last week, Piazza was optimistic about returning as soon as he was eligible to come off the disabled list, which is Friday. But after seeing a physical therapist, Piazza discovered not only is the small pisiform bone at the base of his thumb broken, but the ligaments in his left wrist and forearm have been affected. "It's not feeling any worse, but it's not feeling better," said Piazza, who will seek a second opinion Monday in New York. "It's just not responding the way I'd hoped."

PHILLIES: The team acquired outfielder Michael Tucker from San Francisco for minor- league pitcher Kelvin Pichardo.

Tucker, 34, is hitting .240 with five home runs and 33 runs batted in over 104 games this season.

Pichardo, 19-year-old right-hander, was 3-2 with a 4.17 earned run average in 10 games, nine starts, with the Phillies' rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate in his third professional season.

PIRATES: Rookie Zach Duke was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained left ankle. Duke was hurt running the bases Tuesday, and the roster move was retroactive to Wednesday. He is eligible to be activated Sept. 8.

YANKEES: Outfielder Matt Lawton was acquired from the Cubs, then plugged into the starting lineup against the Royals, where he went 1-for-3 with a walk.

Manager Joe Torre slotted Lawton in right field, batting eighth, and used regular right fielder Gary Sheffield as the designated hitter.

Lawton batted .268 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs over 120 games this season with Chicago and Pittsburgh.

[Last modified August 28, 2005, 01:15:11]