The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 31

THE PALM BEACH POST FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2001 3B Baseball ON THE FLY BOUDREAU BURIED: Indians Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau, who died last week at the age of 84, had a fitting goodbye Thursday when a rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game was played at the end of his funeral. Chasing McGwire's 70 Total Games McGwire 53 121 47 How Barry Bonds, Luis Gonzalez and Sammy Sosa stand in the race to Mark McGwre's home run record: 45 43 120 119 47 47 Howwcd twice on TtwndAy. i Bonds Gonzalez A- JIT NL NOTEBOOK Boston fires Williams in favor of Kerrigan Sheffield's hospital stay 'precautionary' Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield was to remain hospitalized overnight Thursday after complaining of fatigue and dizziness. Team physician Michael Mellman ordered tests on Sheffield, and recommended that he remain overnight for observation. Dodgers spokesman John Olguin said.

"Exactly what they're searching for, I don't know," manager Jim Tracy said. "He got home (Wednesday night) and started feeling fatigued and dizzy." GM Dan Duquette hopes the move will spark the Red Sox down the stretch. The Associated Press BOSTON The Boston Red Sox fired manager Jimy Williams on Thursday in the middle of a playoff race after the team lost six of the past seven games and replaced him with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan. Sheffield i "We feel that it is in the best interest of the organization to make a managerial change at this time for everyone concerned, espe- ..11.. T) .1 if Justice Department drops inquiry of O's A U.S.

Justice Department Justice investigation of the Baltimore Orioles found no evidence the team discriminated in its hiring practices. Orioles owner Peter Angelos had been accused of 5 refusing to sign Cuban defectors in order to maintain good relations with the government of Fidel Castro. In a letter to Angelos released Thursday, John Trasvina, 1 special counsel for immigration related unfair employment practices, told Angelos that the investigation was closed. "Our investigation has found no reasonable cause to believe that citizenship status discrimination has occurred," Trasvina wrote. Joe Kehoskie, an agent who has represented 11 Cuban defectors, said Thursday that numbers indicate a Cuban boycott by the Orioles.

"There have been between 50 and 55 Cuban defectors over the last 10 years," Kehoskie said. "They've never sent a scout for one of my Cuban playars." Angelos said in a statement that "the Orioles have been scrupulous in our signing of ballplayers, and we will continue to search out the best talent, no matter what a player's origins may be." ANAHEIM: Scott Schoeneweis was worried about catcher Jorge Fabregas after he legged out a triple in the second inning. "That's about as far as Jorge can run," he said. BOSTON: The Red Sox, last in the AL in throwing out attempted base stealers, have retired four in a row. CHICAGO: Manager Jerry Manuel has 309 career wins and needs one victory to pass Nixey Callahan for eighth place in club history.

CLEVELAND: The Indians exercised their $7.5 million club option on first baseman Jim Thome for 2002. "In some ways, Jimmy picked up his own option," said Assistant General Manager Mark Shapiro. "He's had a year that made this a very simple decision." DETROIT: Catcher Robert Fick was suspended for eight games for his part in the fight with Kansas City last week. "We didn't start this," manager Phil Garner said. "It doesn't add up." KANSAS CITY: Mike Sweeney was suspended for 10 games for his role last week's brawl with Detroit.

Pitching coach Al Nipper was suspended for three games. MINNESOTA: Brad Radke threw.off a mound for the first I I tiauy it'u oox iaus, Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette said in a statement Kerrigan OHArtLtb tHUPAThe Associated Press Athought Boston GM Dan Duquette (left) and Jimy Williams had a strained relationship recently, there was no indication a firing was imminent. Sheffield, a former Marlin, was replaced by Bruce Aven for Thursday's 7-3 loss to Montreal. Sheffield went 2-for-5 in the Dodgers' 13-1 victory against the Expos on Wednesday night. Trainer Stan Johnston said Sheffield felt fine after the game.

But Sheffield's wife called Johnston on Thursday morning saying her husband felt ill. Mellman advised Sheffield to undergo testing at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood. I "We're just being precautionary," Johnston said. Also, pitcher James Baldwin, who strained an oblique muscle on his left side last Friday, will return to the starting rotation Saturday against the Mets. ARIZONA: Luis Gonzalez has 328 total bases and has a Chance to break Babe Ruth's mark of 457 set in 1921.

ATLANTA: Manager Bobby Cox continued to give Steve tfarsay his support as the team's closer, "I have five or six people I could use as a closer, but Karsay is doing just fine." CHICAGO: Jon Lieber (16-5) struck out four Wednesday, jeaving him seven short of 1,000 in his career. CINCINNATI: The Reds plan to call up right-hander Jose ftijo, 36, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 1995, today and use him in relief. COLORADO: Former Marlin Dan Miceli has a 2.81 ERA in 16 innings with 13 strikeouts for the Rockies. HOUSTON: Roy Oswalt, who left his last start Monday with tightness in his elbow, threw lightly Thursday and says he will be ready to make his Sunday start. MILWAUKEE: The Brewers have used 41 players this season, five fewer than they used in 1998, their first season intheNL.

MONTREAL: The Expos, 51-69 overall, improved to 21-16 during day games with Thursday's win. NEW YORK: Left-hander Tom Martin, out since May 13 4 with a strained left rotator cuff, was activated from the 15-day DL and optioned to Class AAA Norfolk. PHILADELPHIA: Scott Rolen, the NL player of the week, extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run homer Thursday. PITTSBURGH: The Pirates are 3-11 in one-run games on the road but are 13-6 in those games at home. ST.

LOUIS: Entering Thursday's game. Cardinals pitchers had a major-league best 3.01 ERA since the All-Star break. IZ SAN DIEGO: The Padres won their fourth straight against a left-handed starter Thursday. Before this streak, they had tost 21-of-29 games against lefties. SAN FRANCISCO: Rich Aurilia got an eighth-inning single Tor his 157th hit of the season, matching his career best from 1999.

Palm Beach Post Wire Services I time since his thumb was iammed by a line drive on Aug. 4 Boston remains two games behind the Oakland Athletics in the AL wild-card standings and a season-high five games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. Duquette said Kerrigan agreed to a two-year contract. "We have 43 games left. Our goal is to get into the playoffs.

That's all we're concerned about," said Kerrigan, who never had managed in the majors. Kerrigan said Williams wished him well. "He told me 'go for basically," Kerrigan said. The Red Sox have been plagued by injuries that sidelined ace pitcher Pedro Martinez and shortstop Nomar Garciaparra for lengthy stretches. Garciaparra, the two-time defending AL batting champion, played his first game of the season July 29 after having right wrist surgery on opening day, Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been sidelined by a strained shoulder since late June.

Martinez could return before the end of the month after experiencing no problems Thursday during a 60-pitch simulated game. Bret Saberhagen, also on the disabled list, threw 63 pitches in a simulated game and said he'll be and could be ready to start on Sunday. NEW YORK: With Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez close to'. ready to pitch Aug. 23 when he's eligible to come off the DL "We're all surprised," Garciaparra said.

"We've got to get back into playing good baseball no matter who's our manager." Williams, whose relationship with Duquette didn't appear to be close, was in his fifth season as Boston's manager, compiling a 414-352 record. He led the team to the playoffs in 1998 and 1999. Williams' relationship with Duquette has been cool but there was no indication a firing was imminent. Williams was not available immediately for comment. Duquette said he hopes the move will spark a positive reaction from the team as it heads down the final stretch.

Kerrigan had been Boston's pitching coach since 1996 after five years in that role for Montreal. Bullpen coach John Cumberland will handle more pitching coach duties and bullpen catcher Dana Levangie will assume Cumberland's duties. returning to the Yankees' rotation, either Sterling Hitchcock or Ted Lilly appears headed to the bullpen. OAKLAND: Miguel Tejada's 24 home runs are the second-most for a shortstop in A's history behind the franchise-record 30 homers he hit last season. SEATTLE: Mark McLemore walked in the first inning, giving him seven walks in a stretch of nine at-bats during the series against Boston.

TAMPA BAY: The Devil Rays' 42-80 record is their worst after 122 games in their four-year history. TEXAS: Third-base coach Bobby Jones returned to the team a day after chest pains sent him to a hospital. TORONTO: Brad Fullmer's homer in the third inning Thursday was his 500th career hit. Palm Beach Post Wire Services Zilch.9 Diddly.9 Naught.9 yWxr WeVe got your number. I I i i 0 f.

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