Mariners officially cut Olerud
Former American League batting champion John Olerud was released Friday by the last-place Seattle Mariners.
Olerud, the Washington State University product, was hitting .245 with five home runs and 22 runs batted in during 77 games when he was designated for assignment last week. He was in the final year of his contract, earning $7.7 million this season.
The 35-year-old Olerud hit an A.L.-leading .363 with Toronto in 1993, when the Blue Jays won their second consecutive World Series title. His career average is .295.
The Mariners tried to trade Olerud but couldn’t work out a deal.
Manager Bob Melvin said before Friday night’s game against Anaheim that he expects Olerud to sign with a team as a free agent.
“I think the interest will pick up now,” Melvin said. “Now, he’ll pick and choose as opposed to us going to him. I think he’ll hook up with somebody now.”
Olerud was a standout first baseman and pitcher for Washington State University from 1987-89.
Cubs begin Wrigley inspection
The Chicago Cubs began a thorough inspection of the concrete on the underside of Wrigley Field’s upper deck after an employee found a third piece of concrete that likely fell from the 90-year-old stadium’s upper deck.
After concrete chunks fell at different spots on June 9 and July 16, a team employee found a fragment Wednesday that was “relatively small, palm-of-your-hand” sized, said Mike Lufrano, the Cubs vice president for community affairs.
Employees conducted an inspection before Wednesday’s game between the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, and made repairs to the upper deck, Lufrano said. A follow-up inspection Thursday revealed a “probable spot” from which the piece fell, Lufrano said.
The latest inspection began Friday morning, but the Cubs declined to discuss results.
“First baseman Jim Thome, the majors’ homer leader, was kept out of the Philadelphia Phillies’ starting lineup because of tendinitis in his right index finger. Phillies closer Billy Wagner was also unavailable to pitch because of a sore shoulder and will miss the rest of the series.
“Three college umpires worked the start of the Phillies game against the Cubs after poor weather forced major league umps to change their travel plans.
A plane from Cleveland carrying Joe West, Paul Emmel and Mike DiMuro was diverted to Baltimore because of rainy conditions in Philadelphia. Darren Spagnardi, traveling on his own, arrived on time.
The three umpires arrived at the ballpark in the first inning and took the field before the bottom of the second.
Ordonez back on DL
Chicago White Sox star Magglio Ordonez went back on the disabled list because of an injured left knee and could spend up to eight weeks on crutches, putting in doubt his status for the rest of the season.
Ordonez has a fluid problem in his knee, stemming from a collision the All-Star right fielder had with second baseman Willie Harris on May 19 in Cleveland.
He went on the 15-day DL a week after the collision and had surgery to repair torn cartilage on June 5.
Ordonez will spend from four to eight weeks on crutches, and will only be able to exercise through a swimming regimen.
Ruth’s bat on display in Cleveland
The bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium more than 80 years ago is on display at a sports show and could be sold for more than $1 million.
The bat is among the memorabilia displayed at The National Sports Collectors Convention, which runs through Sunday.
The owner of the bat, SportsCards Plus, said in June that it planned to auction it. On Thursday, Sotheby’s said it would handle the auction Dec. 2 in New York.
The sale possibly could exceed the original cost to build Yankee Stadium — $2.5 million.
Clearing the bases
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi each returned to the lineup for the game against the Boston Red Sox after missing the last two games. … Blue Jays radio announcer Tom Cheek was in the broadcast booth for Toronto’s game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, calling his first game since undergoing surgery last month to remove a brain tumor. … New York Mets outfielder Shane Spencer cut his right foot when he stepped on broken glass in a bar and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. … An estimated $15,000 in jewelry taken this month from a hotel room where Cubs pitcher Matt Clement and his family were staying has been recovered. An employee of the Pfister Hotel was arrested.