Times wires
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
PHOENIX — Brewers right-hander Zack Greinke is likely to begin the season on the disabled list because of a fractured right rib he sustained while playing pickup basketball in the offseason.
The former AL Cy Young winner is expected to be out two to four weeks. Initial X-rays were negative, but an MRI exam Monday revealed a hairline fracture in one rib and a bruise in a second.
Greinke, acquired from the Royals in the winter, said he was hurt when he went up for a rebound and fell on his side.
"Everyone always told me not to do it because I was going to get hurt," he said. "It finally caught up to me."
The Brewers open the season March 31 in Cincinnati.
"I'm feeling good but it's not worth it," Greinke said.
MORNEAU RETURNS: Twins first baseman Justin Morneau hit a three-run double and played first base in a "B" game, the first time he has played since a concussion sidelined him in July. "We figured now is as good a time as any to see if my body was ready for this," he said. "I'll have a day off (today). Then I'll come back and get some more work."
BELTRAN STILL HURT: Mets All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran has tendinitis in his left knee and will miss four to five days. Beltran was limited to 64 games last season after right knee surgery in January 2010.
ALI VISITS CHISOX: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali visited with the White Sox at their spring facility in Glendale, Ariz., to help spread the word about his charity organization. More than 100 people packed the clubhouse for the workshop about Ali's foundation, Athletes for Hope.
ONFIELD SCUFFLE: The Brewers and Dodgers cleared the benches after Los Angeles right-hander Roman Colon punctuated a strikeout that ended the sixth with a fist pump. There was no pushing and no punches were thrown.
NEW HIRES: Joe Garagiola Jr. will replace Bob Watson as Major League Baseball's disciplinarian, and Dodgers assistant general manager Kim Ng will join the commissioner's office as an aide to Joe Torre.
AGENT CHARGED: Sports agent Rodney Fernandez, 31, of Coral Springs was charged with stealing more than $305,000 from Angels first baseman Kendry Morales. Fernandez turned himself in on a grand theft charge.
DEAL WITH MINORS: Major League Baseball and the governing body of the minors agreed to a six-year extension of their deal through 2020.
CARDINALS: Right-hander Chris Carpenter said he felt no pain after a bullpen session, his second since he left his spring debut with a strained hamstring.
ORIOLES: First baseman Derrek Lee will have his sore right wrist examined by a specialist, manager Buck Showalter said. … Second baseman Brian Roberts sat out with back spasms.
RED SOX: Right-hander Josh Beckett was solid for 32/3 innings against an Astros split squad in his first start since getting hit in the head by a line drive Feb. 28.
TIGERS: Tests on right-hander Joel Zumaya's sore right elbow showed no structural damage. The reliever won't throw for at least a week.