Nomar Garciaparra reinjured his left knee during the fifth inning of Wednesday night's game between the Dodgers and Pirates. Garciaparra was trying to score on a two-out single, but then he changed his mind and hurt himself trying to make it back to third base.
Garciaparra was tagged out on the play and stayed on the ground for several minutes after the inning ended. Calling Nomar injury-prone would be a severe understatement, and in honor of his teammate Manny Ramirez, we'll just call it "Nomar being Nomar."
John Maine said Monday that, if he's able to pitch again this season, he would be willing to join the Mets' bullpen and even close games. Maine has been on the DL since late August with with a bone spur in his right shoulder.
There are very few major league players who are brave enough to join the disastrous Mets' bullpen, so Jerry Manuel should give Maine a big hug for volunteering. Maine's numbers as a starter this year weren't stunning (10-8, 4.18 ERA), but New York needs all the help it can get to avoid another September collapse. Maine said he is aiming to return to the team sometime next week.
It seems like pieces are being removed from the Milawaukee Brewers every day. First manager Ned Yost was fired, and now relief pitcher David Riske needs surgery to remove a bone spur. Riske hasn't pitched since Sept. 7 and he is scheduled for surgery later this month, which will end an ineffective 2008 campaign.
According to Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, Theo Epstein and the team are close to agreeing on a contract extension . I doubt that Epstein will ever need to worry about unemployment, but his current deal does expire at the end of next month. Henry said an announcement will come very soon.
As some may remember, the last time the two sides tried to work out a new contract, Epstein ran away from his job and the team for three months in a bizarre series of events that included him escaping from Fenway Park in a gorilla suit (trust me, look it up). Perhaps things will go more smoothly this time around - although the Julio Lugo signing is kind of a resume-killer.
It has to be, right? The Houston Astros have to be extremely effected by either the aftermath of the hurricane, being away from home or being forced to travel, basically into a home game for the Chicago Cubs, because the formerly hottest team in baseball was nearly no-hit by another Cubs pitcher for the second game in a row Monday.
