MLB: Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was the leadoff witness Wednesday on the first day of testimony in a complicated grievance filed by the players’ association after first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez refused to sign his contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Shortly after the Aug. 15 midnight deadline had passed for draft picks to sign, Alvarez agreed to a minor league contract with a $6 million signing bonus. When he later refused to sign the deal, he was placed on the restricted list by the commissioner’s office.
Given that Selig was the only witness to complete his testimony and the hearing was recessed until Sept. 23, it appears that barring a settlement, it will be several months before the case is decided.
ANGELS: The Los Angeles Angels clinched at least a share of their fourth AL West title in five years, with Robb Quinlan hitting a two-run single Wednesday in a 4-2 victory at home over the New York Yankees.
WHITE SOX: Paul Konerko has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and the first baseman isn’t sure when he’ll be able to play again as the Chicago White Sox try to hang onto the AL Central lead. Konerko had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed the mild sprain. He was injured in the fifth inning Tuesday night against Toronto when his foot slipped while making a throw to second base.
RAYS: Tampa Bay backup catcher Shawn Riggans needs surgery on his right knee and could miss four weeks, Rays manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday night.
BRAVES: Despite Atlanta’s worst season since 1990, longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox vowed Wednesday to return next season. The 67-year-old Cox signed a one-year contract extension in May, but his team was ravaged by injuries, especially to the pitching staff
BREWERS: Right-handed reliever Todd Coffey was claimed Wednesday by the Milwaukee Brewers to add another arm to their bullpen. Coffey, who made 213 appearances over four seasons in Cincinnati, was designated for assignment on Tuesday by the Reds, who were in Milwaukee.
… Brewers right fielder Gabe Kapler left Wednesday’s home game with a strained right shoulder after making a hard throw to the plate in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds.
With the Reds leading 3-1, Kapler’s throw kept Edwin Encarnacion from attempting to score on Jay Bruce’s single, but Kapler, in the lineup for struggling All-Star Corey Hart, immediately winced in pain and grabbed for his shoulder.
CARDINALS: St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus will miss at least a handful of games after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday and getting a second cortisone injection for his strained right shoulder. The Cardinals were missing three players for Wednesday night’s game with the Chicago Cubs. Outfielder Rick Ankiel was resting his lingering abdominal injury, and right-hander Kyle Lohse decided to drop his appeal of a five-game suspension for an incident against Cincinnati. The team’s medical report on Wednesday said pitcher Chris Carpenter was also unavailable and was scheduled for “further diagnostic tests” Thursday to determine his status.
DODGERS: The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers activated pitcher Brad Penny from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and plan to use their former ace as a reliever. Penny went on the disabled list Aug. 14 because of inflammation in his right shoulder.
PHILLIES: The Philadelphia Phillies activated Geoff Jenkins from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and placed Andy Tracy on the DL with a broken hand that will cost him the rest of the season.
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