CUBS: Chicago manager Lou Piniella was selected to replace fired New York Mets manager Willie Randolph on the NL coaching staff for next month's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. The decision by Colorado's Clint Hurdle, the NL manager, marks the second time he decided not to choose former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"Listen, I"m happy that they asked," Piniella said Thursday. "I accept. I look forward to going to New York. This will be the last time I'm in Yankee Stadium. I played there, I coached there and I was a general manager there. It'll be fun for me. I'm appreciative that they asked."
Piniella played for the Yankees from 1974-84, winning World Series championships in 1977 and 1978. He managed the Yankees in 1986 and 1987, then served a second stint as manager during the second half of the 1988 season.
Also, Carlos Zambrano wants to pitch in next month's All-Star game -- to help the Chicago Cubs gain homefield advantage in the World Series. Zambrano, 8-3 with a 3.13 ERA, went on the 15-day disabled list June 19 because of a right shoulder strain and likely will be activated to start July 4 at St. Louis. The All-Star game is July 15 at Yankee Stadium.
PIRATES: Pittsburgh right-hander Ian Snell was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a muscle strain in his right elbow. The move freed up a roster spot for right-handed reliever Denny Bautista, acquired Wednesday from the Detroit Tigers. Snell (3-7) complained of a sore elbow after lasting four innings during an 8-5 loss to Toronto on Sunday. Tests on Monday showed no ligament damage, and he was expected to miss only one start.
CARDINALS: St. Louis activated first baseman Albert Pujols and placed reliever Randy Flores on the 15-day disabled list with left ankle tendinitis. Manager Tony La Russa used Pujols, who's been out of the lineup since June 11 with a strained calf, as the designated hitter Thursday against Detroit to help ease his return to the lineup.
MLB: Umpire Brian Runge was suspended for one game for bumping into New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel before ejecting him earlier in the week. Manuel and center fielder Carlos Beltran also were fined by Major League Baseball for arguing with Runge in the fourth inning of the Mets' game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Beltran started talking to Runge after he took two called strikes from R.A. Dickey to begin the inning. Runge took off his mask and continued the dialogue before he brushed dirt off home plate. Manuel then came out and started arguing.
NATIONALS: Washington placed right-hander Shawn Hill on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right forearm and activated left-hander Odalis Perez from the DL. Hill's arm was examined Wednesday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and the team said doctors found no structural damage. Doctors attributed his pain to irritation of his forearm muscles, and they recommended rest and rehabilitation.
REDS: The fan who says he caught the baseball that Ken Griffey Jr. hit for his milestone 600th home run plans to sell it at auction. Joe Scherer says he decided to put the ball in the Aug. 1 auction after consulting with other people, including family and friends. Doug Allen, president of Mastro Auctions in suburban Chicago, thinks the ball will sell for at least $50,000, and as much as $100,000.
TIGERS: Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco was ejected from Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals for arguing with umpire Paul Schrieber about a called third strike. The normally mild mannered Polanco began shouting at Schrieber immediately after the umpire called him out in the sixth inning against Ron Villone. He was restrained by manager Jim Leyland, then teammate Carlos Guillen, before he threw his bat and walked to the dugout.
ORIOLES: Baltimore put right-hander Matt Albers on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation and activated right-hander Fernando Cabrera. Albers will get an MRI exam today.
RANGERS: Texas purchased the contract of first baseman Chris Davis from Class AAA Oklahoma and designated first baseman Chris Shelton for assignment. Davis has batted .333 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs in a combined 77 games for Class AA Frisco and Oklahoma this season. He leads all minor league players with 68 runs scored this season.
