RED SOX: Boston’s Manny Ramirez strolled into the middle of the clubhouse with a bat in his hand and smile on his face Friday, ready to put his dugout dustup with teammate Kevin Youkilis as far away as some of the 503 career homers he’s hit.
“It’s in the past,” he said of his brief spat with Youkilis in Thursday’s 7-1 victory over Tampa Bay. “It’s a new day.”
TV cameras showed Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis being separated after exchanging words in the dugout at the end of the fourth inning. Ramirez pointed at Youkilis before being escorted down the runway toward the clubhouse by trainer Paul Lessard and a few players.
Later in the game, NESN, the team’s broadcast network, showed grainy footage of Ramirez apparently taking a swipe at Youkilis.
Ramirez was not listed in Friday’s starting lineup, saying his right knee has been sore.
But the knee was not what most of the media wanted to learn more about.
“Don’t worry about it,” was a phrase he repeated a few times. “It’s a new day.”
When asked what he might have said to Youkilis, Ramirez just replied, “what happened is nobody’s business.”
Youkilis took the same approach a few minutes earlier when he headed out for batting practice.
“It’s good,” he said, quickly walking past reporters. “It’s over. A new day.”
TIGERS: Detroit put infielder Ramon Santiago on the 15-day disabled list, reinstated right-hander Denny Bautista from the DL and added minor league infielder Michael Hollimon.
The Tigers also announced Friday outfielder Clete Thomas was going to the DL, retroactive to June 4, and right-hander Aquilino Lopez was on bereavement list. Detroit also added outfielder Brent Clevlen. Santiago is sidelined with a separated left shoulder and Thomas is out with a sprained right ankle.
RANGERS: Right-hander Sidney Ponson, who seemed to have his career back on track, was designated for assignment by Texas in a surprise move prior to Friday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Texas general manager Jon Daniels was vague about the reasons for the decision, saying Ponson had been dumped “for disrespecting teammates and club personnel.”
“I’m not going to get into details other than to say that we’re clearly trying to put together a team here in the true sense of the word … and based on recent comments and other such things, it was pretty clear that he didn’t want to be part of that,” Daniels said. “That’s not something we’re going to tolerate. We want guys who want to be here, guys who are going to pull for their teammates and be proud of the organization.”
Texas has 10 days to trade, release or outright Ponson to the minors. Daniels said Ponson had done nothing illegal and hadn’t violated any club rules.
The Rangers signed Ponson as a minor league free agent on March 10, and the 31-year-old Aruba native began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma. He was called up by the Rangers on April 26, and had been one of Texas’ most successful starters, compiling a 4-1 record and 3.88 ERA for a pitching staff that began Friday last in the majors with a 5.09 ERA.
PADRES: Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi will miss four to six weeks with a separated shoulder after he fell while running the bases against the Mets on Thursday night.
YANKEES: Co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said he wants to re-sign general manager Brian Cashman, whose current three-year deal ends after this season.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” Steinbrenner said.
Steinbrenner spent time with Cashman this week during the 2008 baseball amateur draft, and said the GM is interested in staying with the team.
“Certainly I would like him to stay,” Steinbrenner said. “Either he decides to stay or he doesn’t.”
Associated Press
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