New Nats ownership retains GM Bowden
The Washington Nationals will retain general manager Jim Bowden when the team is officially sold to a group headed by Theodore Lerner, incoming team president Stan Kasten announced Friday.
Kasten said he had admired Bowden before the Lerners were granted team ownership, and that Bowden’s performance in Washington – including a highly regarded draft – was a reaffirmation of those beliefs.
“I came in believing this was the course I was going to take,” Kasten said. “This is what I always thought I was going to do.”
Bowden was arrested for drunken driving in Miami Beach, Fla., in May, but Kasten would not comment on the effect that incident had on his decision.
Kasten and Bowden refused to discuss the terms or length of his contract, and both declined to comment on the future for manager Frank Robinson.
Bowden, 45, was hired as interim general manager in November 2004, as Major League Baseball was planning the team’s move from Montreal to Washington. Before that, he was the general manager of the Cincinnati Reds from 1992 until 2003.
Rios remains hospitalized
Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Alex Rios remained in the hospital because of a serious infection in his lower left leg and could be sidelined through the All-Star break.
Rios fouled a ball off his leg during Tuesday’s 6-0 victory over Washington and the area swelled. He sat out Wednesday’s game as a precaution but the pain worsened Thursday, leading to his hospitalization.
Blue Jays trainer George Poulis described the injury as “weird,” because there was no visible break in the skin that might have allowed the troublesome bacteria to enter.
Rios’ leg was drained Friday, and manager John Gibbons didn’t know whether the outfielder would be placed on the disabled list.
Rios is under consideration for the All-Star game in Pittsburgh on July 11.
Garner granted review
Houston manager Phil Garner did not miss the Astros’ game at Texas after asking for a review of his one-game suspension.
Garner was suspended after tossing a chair onto the field following his ejection during a loss in Detroit on Monday. He was supposed to serve the suspension during the opener of the three-game series against the Rangers.
Garner said he would be given the chance to state his case during a conference call with major league officials. He didn’t know when that call would occur.
Clearing the bases
Troubled Tampa Bay prospect Josh Hamilton, on the restricted list the last two seasons, received permission from Major League Baseball to play in minor league games the rest of the year. The 25-year-old Hamilton, the overall No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft, was suspended in February 2004 for violating baseball’s drug policy. The outfielder hasn’t played since July 2002 because of injuries and unspecified personal issues. … The Los Angeles Angels swapped right-hander Jeff Weaver for his brother, promoting right-hander Jered Weaver from Triple-A Salt Lake. … The San Diego Padres named former general manager Paul DePodesta as special assistant for baseball operations.