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Baseball briefs

By MARC TOPKIN, Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 23, 2001

Hamilton to get more rest for back

Rays outfield prospect Josh Hamilton will miss the rest of the Arizona Fall League season because of a lower back strain but is expected to be ready for next season.

Diamondbacks back specialist Dr. Volker Sonntag examined Hamilton on Monday and recommended rest and rehabilitation rather than surgery. The Rays said in a statement "all indications" are that Hamilton will be okay by the start of spring training.

The back injury is the latest setback for the 20-year-old Hamilton, who began last season as one of the top minor-league prospects in the game.

Hamilton was involved in a car accident during spring training and, despite hope he could make the leap to the big leagues, was sent to Double-A.

He played 27 games in the regular season because of back and leg problems but recovered to the point where he was looking forward to recouping the lost development time by playing in the fall league.

But he missed the first week of the season with a sore shoulder, then played two games, going 0-for-7, and reported the back problems.

Owners' meetings set

NEW YORK -- Baseball owners will meet on Nov. 6 in Chicago, but there is no indication commissioner Bud Selig will push for decisions on a lockout and eliminating financially troubled teams.

Montreal is the most likely candidate for elimination if owners decide to contract, with Florida and Tampa Bay having been reported as possibilities.

Rays managing general partner Vince Naimoli's most recent statement on the issue came when the team released its 2002 schedule at the beginning of this month.

"There has never been any doubt in my mind whatsoever, and I have told others, that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will be playing at Tropicana Field next year and many years following," he said.

ASTROS: The team plans to interview Mike Cubbage, Tony Pena and Jerry Royster on Tuesday for the manager's job that opened when Larry Dierker resigned last week. Pena also told Houston television station KRIV that he interviewed Sunday for the manager's job with the Twins.

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