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By BRANT JAMES, Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2001
Thanks to injury, Marlins' Floyd is an All-Star after all
ST. PETERSBURG -- First he was in, then he wasn't, now he is -- really.
Marlins outfielder Cliff Floyd was named to the National League All-Star team Sunday after Mets pitcher Rick Reed pulled out with lower back spasms.
"I'm at a lack of words," Floyd said. "I pray for nobody to get hurt, but maybe it was meant to be."
Floyd is among the NL's top 10 in average (.342), home runs (21), RBI (70), runs (73) and hits (107). His exclusion had heightened the acrimony between him and Mets and NL skipper Bobby Valentine.
Floyd had claimed Valentine called him last week to tell him he was on the squad as a reserve, then left him off the official roster. Floyd said he will try to put the issue to rest quickly in Seattle.
"All you do is go up to (Valentine) and shake his hand and be a man about it," Floyd said. "Things happen. I'm just going to forget about it and thank him for the opportunity. The issue got out of hand and it's between Valentine and me. I just want to enjoy it. Some things you just have to let go."
EVERETT VENTS: Red Sox centerfielder Carl Everett, disabled with a sprained right knee, responded to recent comments by Trot Nixon that seemed to suggest Everett wasn't doing enough to speed up the healing.
Everett blamed the media, saying it twisted Nixon's words.
"The only thing you all been doing is (expletive) lying," Everett said Saturday. "You all need to go over there and apologize to him before you all even ask me a damn thing. ... You all lied to him. Until you all go (expletive) apologize to Trot Nixon, don't even come to my locker."
Everett was told Nixon did not back off his comments and did not believe he was owed an apology.
"You all (screwed) him," Everett said, adding he and Nixon have talked. "You all tried to make him sound like a bad dude and he wasn't. So what you all need to do is take your Boston same old (expletive) out the door. That's what you all need to do. There ain't no controversy here. You're always starting the same (expletive), so bye. Toodle-oo."
Meanwhile, Red Sox right-handed reliever Rich Garces, disabled since June 26 with a pulled right hamstring, threw 11 pitches, seven for strikes, in a one-inning rehabilitation start for Class A Lowell.
UMP HURT: Plate umpire Lance Barksdale left the game between the Pirates and White Sox after being hit on the head with a bat. Chicago's Carlos Lee fouled off a pitch and struck Barksdale on the back of the head with the backswing in the first. White Sox trainers attended to Barksdale, who had a small cut.
ASTROS: Right-handed reliever Nelson Cruz sustained a right shoulder strain and is day-to-day.
MARINERS: Left-hander John Halama, demoted June 28 to Triple-A Tacoma, pitched a perfect game Saturday night in a 6-0 victory over Calgary. It was the first nine-inning perfect game in the 99-year history of the Pacific Coast League.
PADRES: Outfielder Rickey Henderson's first-inning single was his 2,963rd hit, moving him past Willie Keeler for 27th on the career list. Sam Crawford is next at 2,964.
ROCKIES: An MRI on outfielder Larry Walker's inflamed right elbow showed only swelling, clearing him to play in his fifth All-Star Game Tuesday in Seattle. ... Colorado placed right-handed reliever Kane Davis on the 15-day disabled list and purchased the contract of veteran right-hander Dan Miceli from Triple-A Colorado Springs.