Baseball Capsules: Feds ask appeals court to stay drug decision
NEW YORK — Arguing the evidence may be destroyed, federal prosecutors have asked an appeals court to stay its decision that government agents illegally seized drug testing records and samples of more than 100 baseball players.
In a filing late Monday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. attorney’s office in San Francisco said the Solicitor General, in consultation with the criminal division of the Justice Department and the U.S. attorney’s office, was considering whether to ask the Supreme Court to review the decision.
The deadline for a filing with the Supreme Court is Nov. 24.
"There is good cause for a stay," the government wrote in a motion filed by Joseph P. Russoniello, the U.S. attorney in San Francisco, and signed by Barbara J. Valliere, chief of his appellate section.
Prosecutors wrote that if the decision isn’t stayed, "the district courts will obtain jurisdiction over this case, and the materials seized pursuant to the warrant and subject to the grand jury subpoena may be destroyed. Destruction of the property may render the issues presented by the government’s appeals moot."
The 9th Circuit, in a 9-2 decision last week written by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, ruled prosecutors had the right only to the records of 10 players named on their original search warrants, executed as part of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative investigation.
Federal agents raided the offices of baseball’s drug-testing companies in April 2004, seized a spreadsheet containing the drug-testing records of all baseball players, mixed in on a computer with those from other sports and businesses, then obtained additional search warrants.
Prosecutors argued they had a "plain-view" right to the records of all baseball players whom they said tested positive.
The appeals court set new rules for searches of digital evidence, saying the "plain-view" doctrine shouldn’t apply.
"The decision apparently prescribes a code of conduct that the government must follow in applying for warrants to conduct searches of computers and in executing those warrants," prosecutors wrote in their filing.
"The decision appears to conflict with decisions of the Supreme Court holding that nothing in the language of the Constitution or in the Supreme Court’s decisions interpreting that language suggest that, in addition to the requirements set forth in the text of the Fourth Amendment, search warrants also must include a specification of the precise manner in which they are to be executed."
The filing added, "The decision also appears to conflict with decisions of other courts of appeals that have rejected the argument that a search protocol is required for computer search warrants."
The appeals court said federal agents trampled on players’ protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Several players have been publicly linked to the list, including Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who admitted they were on it.
The decision whether to take the case to the Supreme Court will be made by Solicitor General Elena Kagan, former dean of Harvard Law School.
American League
Guillen insists White Sox haven’t given up
MINNEAPOLIS — Over the last month, the Chicago White Sox committed to more than $100 million in future money by adding an elite starting pitcher and an accomplished everyday outfielder.
They picked up Jake Peavy and Alex Rios and were serious about winning the weak AL Central. Now, after the late-night trades of popular teammates Jim Thome and Jose Contreras, the White Sox appear to be in next-year mode. They entered Tuesday’s game at Minnesota with eight losses in their last nine.
But manager Ozzie Guillen insisted he’s not approaching the situation that way.
"When you go to sleep and think about how good or how bad you are, you’re not lying. I’m not lying to myself. Do we have a shot? Of course," Guillen said. "If we keep playing like that, are we going to have a shot? No chance."
The White Sox were six games behind first-place Detroit, with the Twins 3½ back. Six of their last nine games are against the Tigers, so they’ll still officially be in the race for a while.
"We’re not mathematically out, so you’ve got to believe that we can do it," outfielder Jermaine Dye said. "If not, so be it."
Thome had a half-hour to decide whether to waive his no-trade clause and go to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"He’s all smiles. You never see him down. It’s sad to say, but last night was the first time I actually saw him down — when he was told what was going on," Dye said. "You could see it in his face. He didn’t know what to do, but after he made his decision he was happy. Their club is pretty much guaranteed to get in the playoffs, and he has a chance to win a World Series."
Thome will be a free agent after the season.
"It’s hard. That’s the way baseball is. You hang around long enough in this game, you see that thing go on and on, come and go," Guillen said. "Sometimes you lose people you really love, and sometimes you keep people you don’t like."
The 39-year-old Thome hasn’t been quite the same slugger he’s been this decade, but the man with 564 career home runs will be missed in the lineup as well as the clubhouse.
"I think we’ll be a different ballclub without him. Everybody has to play better and pick it up a notch," Guillen said. "But a white flag? No."
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski expressed surprise at the move, but declined to criticize general manager Kenny Williams.
"I don’t have any influence on the moves. I don’t have any influence on who’s here and who’s not here," Pierzynski said. "I just go out there and play."
Closer Bobby Jenks called Thome "one of the nicest men" he’s ever met.
"It’s just part of the game. People come and go all the time. I think everyone in this clubhouse knows it and accepts it. We’ve still got to go out there and try to win, and hopefully this week coming up at home take a better run at this thing."
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was relieved.
"Good!" he said, when asked for his reaction to the trade. "I like Jim Thome a lot, but he’s probably hit more homers here than anybody. So I’m glad he’s out of here for the last two games."
Williams was not available for comment.
Last month, after Rios was added, he defended the risk of his moves and touted the team’s makeup.
"Yeah, we’re out on a limb a little bit with the last two acquisitions, but what we’ve seen in recent games at home is our fans are starting to wrap their arms around this team," Williams said then. "People are getting excited about the possibility. I think they can see this team being a dangerous team when we get to the playoffs and match up against anyone."
Getting there this year is not impossible, but hardly probable.
Tests on Peavy’s right elbow showed no structural damage, just a bone bruise from a line drive that hit him there eight days ago while he was pitching. But after leaving his rehab start on Sunday while experiencing stiffness, Peavy must wait for swelling to subside before he can play catch again.
In the clubhouse after Monday night’s game, Peavy said he wasn’t ready to shut down his season.
"We’ve come this far, and we’re not going to quit just yet," he said.
He hasn’t pitched since June, long before the trade with the San Diego Padres. He hurt his ankle and has been working his way back from that injury, and after finally feeling as strong as he could he suffered the setback with his elbow.
"And obviously the team is not going well, so that adds on to the frustration," Peavy said.
Guillen said he hasn’t been counting on Peavy to return to the rotation since the trade was made.
"When Peavy says, ‘Ozzie I’m ready to go,’ I’ll pencil him in," Guillen said.
The White Sox returned second baseman Chris Getz and outfielder Dewayne Wise from their rehabilitation assignments and reinstated them from the disabled list. They also recalled third baseman Josh Fields and right-hander Carlos Torres from Triple-A Charlotte and purchased the contract of catcher Tyler Flowers on the day major league rosters were allowed to expand. Torres will start in Thursday’s makeup game against the crosstown Cubs.
-- Dave Campbell
Mariners’ slugger Griffey sees doctor for knee
SEATTLE — One superstar in, another back out for the Seattle Mariners.
All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was leading off and in right field Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels after missing eight games with tightness in his calf.
Just as Suzuki’s frustrating stay on the sidelines ended, Ken Griffey Jr. went to a doctor to find out why his surgically repaired knee still hurts.
The 39-year-old Griffey, the active leader with 625 home runs, had an MRI earlier Tuesday. The team expected the doctor’s diagnosis Tuesday night or Wednesday.
Manager Don Wakamatsu said Griffey has been having pain in a new place in his left knee. He hasn’t played since Thursday.
"He’s assured me he can pinch hit. I’m reluctant to (have him) do that," Wakamatsu said.
Griffey had arthroscopic knee surgery in October. He had the knee drained earlier this season.
Wakamatsu said Griffey likely will not play until Thursday in Oakland at the earliest.
Suzuki had been stewing over Seattle’s cautious approach in slowing his return from tightness in his calf. He entered Tuesday 16 hits short of becoming the first player to have nine consecutive seasons with at least 200, and the team wanted to ensure he stayed healthy upon his return to reach that record. He had played in 1,396 games since 2001, the most in the major leagues in that span.
Last weekend, he was asked whether he was frustrated over being held out.
"There should be no reason for me to answer that question. I’m not here to play soccer," Suzuki said.
He missed eight other games to begin this season, following a bleeding ulcer. The Mariners have gone 11-5 without him.
Griffey is batting .221 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 95 games. He has mostly been a designated hitter against right-handed pitching. In February, he returned to Seattle with a one-year contract worth a base salary of $2 million, with a potential for $3 million more depending on an intricate combination of health, plate appearances and attendance figures.
He has yet to earn any of those performance bonuses but is about to get at least $500,000, according to salary figures obtained by The Associated Press.
With 378 plate appearances, he needs 72 more over Seattle’s final 30 games to earn a $250,000 bonus.
The Mariners need to draw 139,180 more fans over their final 14 home dates entering Tuesday to reach 2 million in attendance — and at an average of less than 10,000, they will do that easily. That would earn Griffey at least $300,000 more. An additional $200,000 in attendance-related money comes if he reaches 400 plate appearances.
Once Seattle’s attendance reaches 2.1 million, Griffey gets $200,000 — plus $50,000 for each additional 50,000 paying customers up through 2.6 million.
Beyond numbers, Griffey has been a revelation inside a clubhouse that was fractured during a 101-loss season in 2008.
He is both the team leader and team crackup. He plays jokes on Wakamatsu, coaches, teammates and visitors. He has been particularly successful in dissolving the bubble around Suzuki, drawing out the often reclusive Japanese superstar with endless teasing and bear hugs.
Griffey has won games with dramatic home runs, spawning wild celebrations on the field and in the stands. Seattle’s fans, perhaps sensing these are his final games, routinely give him standing ovations for simply entering the batter’s box. Some of the scenes have brought back memories of Griffey’s Seattle heyday of the mid-1990s, when he led the Mariners to their first postseasons.
When asked if he’s gotten what he expected on the field from Griffey this season, Wakamatsu said: "Playing back all the big moments he’s had, I couldn’t be happier."
-- Gregg Bell
Exec Pelekoudas leaves Mariners after 30 years
SEATTLE — Another member of the Seattle Mariners’ old regime has resigned.
Vice president and associate general manager Lee Pelekoudas said Tuesday he is leaving to pursue other career opportunities.
Pelekoudas was Seattle’s interim general manager after the team fired Bill Bavasi in the middle of last season. The Mariners then hired Jack Zduriencik (Zur-EN’-sik) last fall as full-time GM.
Pelekoudas has been with the team since 1979, when he was the director of team travel. He moved to baseball administration in 1987.
He thanked team chief executive Howard Lincoln and president Chuck Armstrong for having confidence in him. He says he believes the Mariners are headed in the right direction.
Mariners activate Beltre from DL
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have activated Gold Glove third baseman Adrian Beltre from the 15-day disabled list.
The team also recalled first baseman Mike Carp and left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Beltre had been on the disabled list since Aug. 13 after getting hit in the groin by a hard grounder. His contract ends after this season.
Seattle also expects to have recently injured star Ichiro Suzuki back in the lineup Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels.
Converted OF among 3 pitchers recalled by Yankees
BALTIMORE — Left-handed reliever Mike Dunn, converted three years ago from an outfielder to a pitcher, was among five players added to the New York Yankees on Tuesday when rosters were expanded.
Dunn, 4-3 with two saves and a 3.31 ERA in 31 games between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, was recalled along with catcher Francisco Cervelli, infielder Ramiro Pena and right-handers Mark Melancon and Edwar Ramirez.
They were added when the 25-man roster limit was expanded to 40
"He’ll throw as hard as 95 (mph)," manager Joe Girardi said of Dunn, who has never appeared in the majors. "He threw pretty well for us in spring training. He’s young, he’s inexperienced, but it’s a good time for him to get a shot."
Dunn will become the third left-hander in the Yankees bullpen, joining Phil Coke and Damaso Marte.
Sergio Mitre will miss his scheduled Thursday start after being struck in the arm with a line drive in his last outing Saturday, and swingman Chad Gaudin will replace him. With the Yankees trying to limit the number of innings right-hander Joba Chamberlain throw, the 24-year-old Dunn could get some opportunities.
Dunn was switched from the outfield to the mound in the middle of the 2006 season with the Yankees’ Gulf Coast League team.
"I pitched in high school ... and it’s always something I knew I could fall back on," he said.
Pena, who made the Yankees’ opening-day roster, will be used to spell starters at second base, shortstop and third base. He is in his third tour with New York this year and hit .277 with seven RBIs in 53 games.
Cervelli hit .269 with a homer and nine RBIs, and threw out eight of 19 attempted base stealers in an earlier stint in New York while starting catcher Jorge Posada was on the disabled list.
Melancon has made nine relief appearances for New York this year, going 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Ramirez had no decisions and a 5.19 ERA in 15 outings with the Yankees in 2009.
Blue Jays recall Inglett, RHPs Hayhurst and Wolfe
TORONTO — The Blue Jays recalled infielder Joe Inglett and right-handed relievers Dirk Hayhurst and Brian Wolfe from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday as major league rosters expanded.
Inglett has appeared in 29 games this season, his third with Toronto, batting .246 with no homers and four RBIs.
Hayhurst has no record and a 1.72 ERA in 12 appearances for Toronto. Hayhurst is in his second major league season, having pitched for San Diego last year.
Wolfe is 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA in seven games. This is Wolfe’s third major league season, all with Toronto.
Angels finish Kazmir deal, send Triple-A 2B to TB
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angels Angels have sent minor league second baseman Sean Rodriguez to the Tampa Bay Rays to complete last week’s trade for Scott Kazmir.
The Rays said Tuesday that Rodriguez will report to Triple-A Durham.
Tampa Bay traded Kazmir, their former ace, to the AL West leaders on Aug. 28 for two minor leaguers and a player to be named.
The 24-year-old Rodriguez was hitting .299 with 29 home runs and 93 RBIs at Triple-A Salt Lake. He played nine games for the Angels and hit two homers.
Indians’ Carrasco to make MLB debut after callups
DETROIT — The Cleveland Indians promoted pitcher Carlos Carrasco and outfielder Michael Brantley from Triple-A on Tuesday and immediately put them in the lineup for their major league debuts.
The right-handed Carrasco was set to start Tuesday night at Detroit. Brantley was batting ninth and playing left field.
The Indians recalled Carrasco from Columbus. They purchased the contracts of Brantley and right-hander Jose Veras from the same club.
Minor league pitching coordinator Dave Miller also was scheduled to join the Indians’ coaching staff.
Twins recall infielder Buscher
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have recalled third baseman Brian Buscher from Triple-A Rochester, and sent cash to Arizona to complete the trade for reliever Jon Rauch.
Buscher hit .227 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 52 games for the Twins earlier this season. He served primarily as the backup to Joe Crede at third base.
Buscher was sent down Aug. 1. He will provide some depth after Crede was placed on the disabled list with a back injury last week.
The Twins also announced that the Diamondbacks claimed Kevin Mulvey off waivers for cash considerations. Mulvey was one of three pitchers the Twins got, along with center fielder Carlos Gomez, from the New York Mets in the deal for Johan Santana.
Guillen back for Royals
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Kansas City Royals have activated outfielder Jose Guillen from the 15-day disabled list, more than a month after he injured his knee putting on a shin guard.
Guillen wasn’t in the lineup Tuesday night for the middle game of the Royals’ series against the Oakland Athletics, but was expected to play as the designated hitter Wednesday.
Guillen sprained his right knee on July 22 in the second inning of a 9-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. After playing two innings in the field, Guillen came in to get ready for his first at-bat.
While bending over to put on his shin guard, Guillen felt a pop and sharp pain in his right knee. He was immediately replaced by a pinch hitter and taken to the hospital.
Guillen, in his second season with Kansas City, is batting .245 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 79 games.
National League
Garland returns to ballpark as Dodger, not D-back
LOS ANGELES — Less than 24 hours later, Jon Garland was still absorbing his late-night trade from out-of-it Arizona to the NL West-leading Dodgers.
Dressed in Dodger blue, Garland wiped beads of sweat off his forehead as he stood in a corner of the dugout pinned in by media on Tuesday. His new team was taking batting practice; his old team had yet to emerge on a muggy afternoon under skies made smoky by wildfires in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains.
"It still hasn’t set in," he said. "There’s a lot of emotion. It’s kind of like starting all over again."
The right-hander was involved in the second of two deals pulled off by the Dodgers ahead of Monday’s midnight deadline for postseason eligibility. The first landed them slugger Jim Thome and cash considerations from the Chicago White Sox for minor league infielder Justin Fuller.
Thome was expected to join the Dodgers on Wednesday after leaving Minnesota, where the White Sox are playing, and stopping in Chicago to pack up his belongings.
Los Angeles got Garland from Arizona for a player to be named.
Garland knew something was up when he began receiving text messages during the game, won by the Diamondbacks in 10 innings. He went into the visitors’ clubhouse, showered, packed up and then made what he called a "definitely weird" walk to the Dodgers’ side.
Over in the Arizona clubhouse, infielder Rusty Ryal was sorry to see Garland go.
"He’s a good dude. I wish him the best," Ryal said. "He took me under his wing and I’m going to miss him."
The trade marks a homecoming for Garland, who was born in Valencia and grew up in the Granada Hills section of the San Fernando Valley. He spent Monday night at his home in the valley, where much of his family still lives.
"They were more shocked and surprised than I was," he said. "It was a little different to drive home and be a Dodger instead of a Diamondback."
Garland leaves Arizona, where he was in his first season with the Diamondbacks, who began Tuesday 18 games behind Los Angeles.
"I didn’t want it so late," he said, explaining his initial resistance. "This late in the season coming to a team that’s been going strong, they might feel they don’t need anybody. They’ve done all the work. I don’t want to feel like I’m sliding in easy. Hopefully they accept me well."
Garland is 8-11 with a 4.29 ERA. He gave up five hits and a walk over seven sharp innings in a 9-0 victory over Houston on Saturday, when he said a sinus infection made him feel tired and out of sync.
"There’s probably people out there who look at me and my numbers and wonder why they made the move," said Garland, who threw a bullpen session Monday with Arizona.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre told Garland he’ll start Thursday in the series finale against his old team.
"There’s definitely going to be some shock — just try to keep your emotions in check," Garland said. "The last two months I’ve really felt on top of my game."
Torre made it clear Garland will be part of the regular rotation, saying, "If we have six starters, so be it."
Garland made one start in the 2005 World Series for the White Sox en route to the championship. He pitched a complete game to earn the win in his one start in the ALCS.
"He’s somebody we had interest in this past winter and who we’ve watched for a while and have seen in our division," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "When you get to the month of August and you start looking for additional help and can add a veteran starter who can give you innings and is a winning-type player, you go for it."
Colletti wasn’t sure Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes would be willing to strike a deal within the division.
"To his credit, he said, ‘If we have a chance to help our club and move Jon to a team where he’s got a chance to win this year, we’ll give it consideration,"’ Colletti said.
Garland is due $1,161,202 from his $6.25 million salary this year and his contract includes a $10 million mutual option for next season. He gets a $2.5 million buyout if the team declines and $1 million if he declines. Because he was traded, the Dodgers cannot offer him salary arbitration if he is a Type A free agent.
Growing up, Garland attended games at Dodger Stadium with his grandfather, whose season seats were along the third base side. He played in two city high school championship games at the stadium in the mid-1990s.
He was in the crowd when Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic home run in the opening game of the 1988 World Series. The Dodgers went on to win the championship, something they haven’t come close to doing since.
"It’s definitely an unbelievable opportunity," Garland said.
-- Beth Harris
Cardinals extend deals with Franklin, Miller
ST. LOUIS — NL saves leader Ryan Franklin joked that he signed a new two-year contract without hard negotiating so there’d be room for the St. Louis Cardinals to work on deals for Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa.
"That’s why I definitely took a lot less to stay here," Franklin said Tuesday. "So we could sign those guys. I’m a team player, man."
The 36-year-old Franklin’s new contract runs through 2011 and is worth $6.5 million plus incentives. He had 35 saves in 37 chances while going 2-1 with a 1.05 ERA, and was selected to his first All-Star team in July.
Franklin, who lives in a suburb of Oklahoma City, Okla., wanted to stay close to home. The Cardinals gave him his first shot at closing last year while Jason Isringhausen was injured and he’s appreciative of the way he’s been treated, so he didn’t mind settling for less.
"I wouldn’t say hometown discount," Franklin said. "When you’re making millions it’s not a discount, not where I’m from. My mom and dad are 60 and 64 years old and they’re still working every day, so I’m pretty fortunate to be able to do what I’ve done and make what I’ve made in my time."
Franklin’s ERA is the majors’ best for a reliever and he had saves in his last 11 opportunities.
"It is no secret that when we entered spring training, the question of who would be our closer was unsettled," general manager John Mozeliak said. "‘Franky’ has responded to that challenge in a big way, and our club would not be where we are today without his outstanding performance and leadership."
The Cardinals also signed left-handed specialist Trever Miller to a new two-year deal for this year and 2010 worth $2 million in base salary per season. It includes a 2011 option for $2 million that would be guaranteed if he appears in 45 games next season.
The option would become a club option with a $1 million buyout if Miller appears in 45 games next season and goes on the disabled list during 2010 for a left arm or shoulder injury. His old contract for this year, signed as a free agent last November, had been worth $500,000.
The 36-year-old Miller was 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA while holding left-handed hitters to a .100 average (8 for 80).
Miller said it took less than a week to reach terms on the new contract.
"It wasn’t going to be a hard sell for me, I’ll tell you that," Miller said. "I think that’s why it went fast."
The Cardinals activated Troy Glaus, sidelined all season following shoulder surgery in January, from the 60-day disabled list although manager Tony La Russa couldn’t promise him regular playing time. During Glaus’ absence the Cardinals traded for Mark DeRosa, recovered from a sore wrist that led to being scratched on Sunday but not in the lineup because he’s 2 for 20 against Brewers starter Braden Looper.
The Cardinals worked Glaus out at third base earlier Tuesday, testing an arm that had been the biggest stumbling point. Glaus said he had pain in the shoulder but was able to play through it.
"He’s looking to play every day, but that’s unrealistic," La Russa said. "We’ll give him an opportunity whenever we can and the better he looks, the more he gets."
Glaus hit .216 in 51 at-bats at Triple-A Memphis with three homers, eight RBIs and 17 strikeouts. He said a big reason was unfamiliarity with the minor league pitchers he was facing.
"The record against the guys I knew, it was obviously better," Glaus said. "The results weren’t fantastic but I felt good, felt ready to be here."
Pitcher Kyle Lohse, on the DL with a minor groin injury, was impressive in a simulated game and the Cardinals plan to activate him without a rehab assignment on Saturday. They haven’t decided whether he’ll start or relieve at first.
"I thought he really let it go," La Russa said. "His stuff had good life. I think it’s just a matter of harnessing it so he can locate really well."
-- R.B. Fallstrom
Rockies add Giambi, Contreras will start Saturday
DENVER — Jason Giambi insists he won’t mind being a backup in a new league.
"There is no small role when you’re in a pennant race," the former AL MVP said Tuesday after the Colorado Rockies added him to their roster.
Giambi, who has never played in the National League, gives the Rockies another veteran leader in the clubhouse, a powerful pinch-hitter and an accomplished first baseman who can spell Todd Helton at times.
Manager Jim Tracy has tried to give Helton regular rests this season so he doesn’t have a recurrence of the back problems that plagued him last season. Before Giambi’s arrival, that always meant juggling his lineup and the defense.
"I’m excited to be here, come and just fit in, be part of a team, especially a team in the pennant race and as great a team as they have clubhouse-wise," Giambi said. "Talking to Todd, I remember talking to him playing against them this year, and he just said the group of guys is incredible here. That’s one of the things that steered me toward here, getting a chance to play with these guys."
The Rockies entered their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night tied with the San Francisco Giants for the NL wild-card lead.
The 38-year-old Giambi signed with the Rockies on Aug. 24 and reported to Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he hit .444 (8-for-18) with four RBI and six walks in six games. He hit homers in back-to-back games Aug. 29-30.
"I wanted to get back in the swing of things. I had been out for almost a month. It was nice to get down there, get playing baseball again," Giambi said.
Giambi was cut by Oakland last month after hitting .193 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs. He had been on the disabled list because of a strained right quadriceps before the Athletics released him, cutting short the struggling slugger’s return to his first major league club.
A five-time All-Star, Giambi had returned to Oakland this season after seven seasons with the New York Yankees and spent plenty of time at DH, something the NL doesn’t have.
"That’s one of the things I focused on when I was down in Colorado Springs. I got a chance to DH a few roles down there, so I kind of took every at-bat like it would be a pinch-hit at-bat," Giambi said. "It definitely helped out."
Although he has played all 1,933 games of his career for American League teams, Giambi has a .274 batting average with 44 home runs and 137 RBIs in 193 games against NL clubs in his 15-year career.
Tracy said if the Rockies did reach the playoffs, Giambi, who has a .289 average in 42 postseason games, could be on the 25-man roster for the postseason even if he doesn’t get much playing time in September.
"I’m excited," Giambi said. "Hopefully, I can bring that lightning in the bottle in National League parks, if we get guys on, hit a big three-run homer, or even give a good at-bat and get on base. With the speed that a lot of National League teams have, it makes a huge difference sometimes."
At least once face was familiar when Giambi walked into the clubhouse Tuesday. With uncertainty surrounding injured right-hander Aaron Cook, the Rockies acquired right-handed starter Jose Contreras from the Chicago White Sox for minor league pitcher Brandon Hynick and cash on Monday.
Contreras and Giambi played together with the New York Yankees.
"He had a great year for us in New York, he had some great years in Chicago. He can come in here and he might get a breath of fresh air," Giambi said. "He can be unbelievable. He’s got phenomenal stuff."
Tracy said he’ll start Contreras on Saturday night against Arizona.
"He completely understands this time of the season," Tracy said. "You’re talking about a guy who’s pitched in the World Series, he’s pitched in playoff games, he’s pitched obviously in important September baseball games. He hasn’t completely been himself this year but I’ve seen this scenario play itself out to a positive more than once where a guy gets a little bit of a change of scenery."
The Rockies also added right-hander Joel Peralta, left-hander Randy Flores and catcher Paul Phillips to their roster on Tuesday. To make room, they recalled pitchers Greg Reynolds and Greg Smith and placed them on the 60-day disabled list.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Mets pitchers Santana, Perez have surgery
NEW YORK — Mets pitchers Johan Santana and Oliver Perez have undergone surgery and are expected to ready for spring training.
Santana had bone chips removed from his left elbow Tuesday. Perez had scar tissue cleaned up in his right knee. Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek did both procedures in New York.
The left-handed Santana was 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA. The two-time Cy Young winner made 25 starts.
Perez was 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in 14 starts.
Mets activate David Wright from DL
DENVER — Third baseman David Wright has been activated from the 15-day disabled list and is in the New York Mets’ lineup at Colorado.
Wright sustained a concussion when he was hit in the head by a pitch from San Francisco’s Matt Cain on Aug. 15. At the time of his injury, Wright ranked fourth in the NL with a .324 batting average.
Catcher Josh Thole joined the Mets after being recalled from Double-A Binghamton on Monday. Thole was hitting .328 with 29 doubles at Binghamton.
Thole had the third-highest batting average in the Eastern League at the time of his promotion.
Elsewhere
Game time changed to avoid conflict with holiday
WASHINGTON — ESPN and Major League Baseball have agreed to switch the starting time of a Yankees-Red Sox game to avoid conflicting with Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.
ESPN told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Sept. 27 game was returning to its original start time of noon. It had been changed to 7 p.m. to accommodate ESPN’s schedule; Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and atonement, begins at sundown that evening.
"I am pleased we were able to resolve this sensitive issue that impacted many baseball fans and are able to move the game at Yankee Stadium to (noon)," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement, crediting ESPN for helping to "solve this conflict." ESPN will still televise the game.
Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., had sent a letter to Selig and ESPN President George Bodenheimer urging the game be returned to its original afternoon start time.
"There’s no reason why the largest Jewish community in the country should be punished for a last-minute scheduling swap," Weiner wrote in the letter.
Weiner told the AP that he had spoken with Selig earlier in the day. "He said he agreed, and that he had heard from his own rabbi, that this was a problem," Weiner said. "He said he was riding ESPN to change their position."
"It was a basic thing that they can do to be sensitive, and the right thing was done," he added.
The congressman said that ESPN had the contractual right to change the starting time. "There is the contract, there is the major league rule book, but then there is a higher authority that was dictating a lot of this for fans," he said.
Earlier this year, the NFL agreed to move the start time of the New York Jets’ home game against the Tennessee Titans on the same day from 3:15 p.m. to noon. That change was made after Jets owner Woody Johnson sent a letter to commissioner Roger Goodell suggesting the switch, so that fans could arrive home before sundown.
-- Frederic J. Frommer
Diamondbacks claim Minnesota RHP Kevin Mulvey
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired right-handed pitcher Kevin Mulvey off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins got cash from Arizona in return Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Mulvey was 5-8 with a 3.93 ERA in 24 starts for Triple-A Rochester. He made his major league debut this season and pitched two games for the Twins.
Arizona also said it received cash from the Twins to complete Minnesota’s waiver claim on pitcher Jon Rauch last week.
