Froemming umpires his 5,000th game

Bruce Froemming’s day began with a few congratulatory phone calls early in the morning. His family was in town to watch him work, and he was honored during an on-field ceremony at Fenway Park.
It’s not often an umpire is in the spotlight for doing something good. But Froemming garnered plenty of attention Wednesday night when he umpired his 5,000th major league game – the second-most total in big league history.
“I remember the first one,” Froemming said. “We were snowed out after five innings. It was the Mets and Montreal at Shea Stadium in New York.”
The 66-year-old Froemming, a major league ump since 1971, was behind the plate for Boston’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Before the first pitch, there was a video tribute to him on Fenway’s center-field scoreboard – no replays of close calls, just memories and a standing ovation from the crowd as “Congratulations” flashed on the screen.
Then he walked over to a microphone, thanked the fans and said “Play Ball!”
“That’s a lot of baseball. He worked behind my dad,” Oakland catcher Jason Kendall said. “He’s just a good person. He’s always talking back there. He’s been around that long for a reason. He’s good at what he does. That’s amazing.”
Now in his 36th season, Froemming has worked five World Series, 10 league championship series, eight division series and two All-Star games.
Dotel joins Yankees bullpen
Octavio Dotel returned to the major leagues 14 months after a ligament was replaced in his right elbow, and the hard-throwing righty threw 13 pitches in a relief appearance for the New York Yankees against the Baltimore Orioles.
Dotel, operated on in June 2005, spent most of this year rehabilitating his elbow at New York’s complex in Tampa, Fla.
Grudzielanek signs extension
Kansas City second baseman Mark Grudzielanek signed a one-year contract extension that runs through 2007.
Grudzielanek, in his first season with the Royals, also has a player option for the 2008 season.
He was hitting .288 with only two errors entering Wednesday’s game with the Chicago White Sox. The 12-year veteran hit his fifth home run of the season against Chicago.
Wilkerson requires surgery
Texas Rangers outfielder Brad Wilkerson is scheduled to have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder next week and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The club recalled outfielder Freddy Guzman from Triple-A Oklahoma to replace Wilkerson. Guzman is in his third stint with the Rangers this season.
Wilkerson has been bothered by his ailing shoulder all season and hasn’t played since Aug. 9. The Rangers hoped rest would help, but the injury hasn’t improved.
He is slated to have surgery in California on Tuesday, Texas general manager Jon Daniels said.
Reds get reliever from Toronto
The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-hander Scott Schoeneweis from the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named or cash.
Edmonds diagnosed
St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, one day after leaving a game because of dizziness and blurred vision.