MBL
CLEVELAND-All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the Boston Red Sox after an exam showed swelling in his surgically repaired right wrist. Team doctor Bill Morgan said an MRI exam showed “no new adverse developments … other than inflammation.” `”The good news is there is nothing damaged,” Garciaparra said in a statement issued by the team. `’But the bad news is that the inflammation increased to the point where I have to shut it down completely and let it heal.” Garciaparra’s loss comes as the Red Sox enter a critical stretch in their quest for a postseason spot. `”We’ve played all year without Nomar,” manager Joe Kerrigan said before Wednesday night’s game against the Indians. After consulting with team doctors, Garciaparra decided it was best to rest his wrist now. Kerrigan said there was no discussion about Garciaparra shutting down for the season. “This way it removes all temptation for him (to play),” Kerrigan said. “It was the right thing to do.” Lou Merloni was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Garciaparra’s roster spot. Garciaparra played Sunday night in Texas, going hitless in four at-bats after getting the day off on Saturday when the Red Sox played 18 innings against the Rangers. On the team flight to Cleveland on Sunday night, Garciaparra told Kerrigan that his wrist was sore and the club decided to send him back to Boston for an examination. “He probably shouldn’t have played on Sunday,” Kerrigan said. “But he kept quiet and wanted to play. He didn’t want to let his teammates down.” The Red Sox, who dropped four games behind Oakland in the wild card race, play their next 12 games against the Indians and AL East-leading New York Yankees. Garciaparra had wrist surgery in April. He originally was hurt when he was hit by a pitch from Baltimore’s Al Reyes in September 1999.
The 28-year-old Garciaparra returned to the Red Sox on July 29 in dramatic fashion, hitting a home run and two-run single in a win at Fenway Park over the Chicago White Sox. But Kerrigan has had to rest the three-time All-Star at least once every four days, and Garciaparra has said it would probably take a full year for his wrist to fully heal. He is batting .289 with four homers and eight RBIs in 21 games since returning. But 17 of his 24 hits have been singles, a sign that he can’t generate power because of the wrist. “He just didn’t have the ability to get on top of the inside fastball,” Kerrigan said.
NFL
The NFL’s first job action in 14 years means replacement officials on the field for exhibition games and increased concerns about player safety. Just as in 1987, when the NFL used replacement players for three regular-season contests, the games will go on. Ten officials will work each game this weekend, beginning Thursday night. They will be rotated in and out, both to provide a break and determine who are the best. League officiating supervisors also will serve as on-field officials, perhaps in more than one game each. Identifying the people blowing whistles and throwing flags will be virtually impossible after the regular officials were locked out by the NFL following stalled contract negotiations. Some players fear avoiding injuries could be more difficult, as well. “I think pro games should be officiated by professionals,” Detroit defensive end Robert Porcher said as the Lions prepared for Thursday night’s game against Tennessee. Asked if he considered officials from NFL Europe and the Arena League to be professionals, he added, “I don’t see too many players from those leagues in the NFL.” The schedule begins Thursday with five other games: Buffalo at Pittsburgh, the New York Jets at Philadelphia, Indianapolis at Cincinnati, Washington at New England, and Jacksonville at Dallas.
On Friday, it’s the New York Giants at Baltimore in an afternoon game, followed by Minesota at Miami, Tampa Bay at Atlanta, Cleveland at Carolina, Kansas City at St. Louis, Green Bay at Oakland, San Francisco at Denver, and San Diego at Arizona. Saturday, it’s New Orleans at Seattle to close out the preseason. Vikings guard Corbin Lacina voiced the concerns of his peers by admitting, “There are going to be safety issues.” “There are things with the quarterback-how long a guy’s been hit or whether he’s in the grasp,” Lacina said. “There are things on the line-high-low blocks. There are things on defense, whether a guy is hit in the head. “It moves fast. You have to be trained to handle it, so that’s a concern.” In addition to turning to NFL Europe and Arena Football, the NFL will be using some college officials, although several conferences balked at allowing on-field officials to work NFL games. Steelers tackle Wayne Gandy wonders how well the college refs and linesmen will adapt. “For safety, these guys are probably even tougher (than the NFL officials),” Gandy said. “We get away with a couple of little things out there, hits to the back. Up here, you can hit somebody in the face mask and maybe get a warning. But in college, if you hit somebody in the face mask, they throw a flag. They don’t even give you a warning.” Added Giants guard Glenn Parker: “I don’t think the rule book will be a problem. I think the speed of the game will be the problem for these guys. Ask any player who went back to his first college game after being in the pros, and he’ll say he couldn’t believe how slow it was. It’s going to be a big step up in the speed department for them.” Several coaches emphasized that who is blowing the whistle shouldn’t have an impact n the players’ performances. Of course, NFL coaches always try to eliminate preoccupations and excuses-and poor officiating can be a whopper of a distraction. “It’s not going to affect us,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “These guys have been officiating college ball for a long time. I’m sure they’ll do a good job.”