BASEBALL NOTEBOOK

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jul 13, 2008

Former Yankee great Murcer dies of cancer

NEW YORK -- Former All- Star outfielder and longtime Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer has died at 62.

The Yankees said he died Saturday at home in Oklahoma City following a 19-month battle with brain cancer.

Murcer played 17 seasons in the majors with the Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs from 1965 to 1983. He batted .277 with 252 home runs and worked as a Yankees broadcaster for 23 seasons.

Murcer was a fan favorite in New York. He had surgery in December 2006, four days after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He returned to the broadcast booth last season and briefly this year.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX closer Bobby Jenks got through a bullpen session Saturday without any problems and should be ready to pitch after the All-Star break.

Jenks has been on the disabled list with bursitis near his left (non-pitching) shoulder. He was placed on the DL on July 9, retroactive to June 30. He will be eligible to be activated before the White Sox play their first game after the All-Star break Friday at home against Kansas City.

YANKEES OUTFIELDER-DH Hideki Matsui resumed on-field batting practice Saturday, taking 55 swings as he continues to rehab a sore left knee.

Matsui, who went on the 15-day disabled list June 27, also hit off a tee and took part in a soft-toss session for the fourth consecutive day.

Left fielder Johnny Damon underwent treatment for his injured left shoulder and still plans to hit off a tee Monday.

DAVID ORTIZ is tentatively scheduled to return to the Red Sox on July 25, the opening game of a weekend series at Fenway against the New York Yankees according to Manager Terry Francona.

Francona said Ortiz will begin a six-game rehabilitation stint in the minor leagues Thursday, starting with three games in Triple-A Pawtucket, followed by three games in Double-A Portland.

Ortiz has been on the disabled list since May 31 because of a partial tear of the sheath that surrounds the tendon in his left wrist.

THE RED SOX placed shortstop Julio Lugo on the 15-day disabled list with a left quad strain on Saturday.

Lugo was injured Friday night while running out an infield single in the ninth inning of Boston's 7-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Lugo began to limp as he approached first base, then dropped to ground shortly after hitting the bag.

The Red Sox on Saturday called up shortstop Jed Lowrie from Pawtucket to replace Lugo.

ROY OSWALT, one day after pitching just an inning in the Houston Astros' game with the Washington Nationals, reported that he was sore -- and he doesn't know when he'll pitch again.

Oswalt left Friday night's game when his left hip began bothering him. He hadn't pitched since June 30.

There were no immediate plans to place Oswalt, who is 7-8 with a 4.56 ERA, on the disabled list, manager Cecil Cooper said.

THE ASTROS agreed to terms Saturday with first-round draft pick Jason Castro, the catcher who helped Stanford reach the recent College World Series.

The 20-year-old batted .376 with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs in 67 games last season. Castro is the eighth catcher selected in the first round in Houston's franchise history.

KERRY WOOD expects to sit out the All-Star game because of a blister on his pitching hand.

Wood still plans to attend All-Star festivities at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. It was unclear whether he'll be replaced on the National League roster because the commissioner's office, as of Saturday night, had yet to be officially notified of Wood's injury.

The Associated PressFormer Yankee great Murcer dies of cancer

NEW YORK -- Former All- Star outfielder and longtime Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer has died at 62.

The Yankees said he died Saturday at home in Oklahoma City following a 19-month battle with brain cancer.

Murcer played 17 seasons in the majors with the Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs from 1965 to 1983. He batted .277 with 252 home runs and worked as a Yankees broadcaster for 23 seasons.

Murcer was a fan favorite in New York. He had surgery in December 2006, four days after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He returned to the broadcast booth last season and briefly this year.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX closer Bobby Jenks got through a bullpen session Saturday without any problems and should be ready to pitch after the All-Star break.

Jenks has been on the disabled list with bursitis near his left (non-pitching) shoulder. He was placed on the DL on July 9, retroactive to June 30. He will be eligible to be activated before the White Sox play their first game after the All-Star break Friday at home against Kansas City.

YANKEES OUTFIELDER-DH Hideki Matsui resumed on-field batting practice Saturday, taking 55 swings as he continues to rehab a sore left knee.

Matsui, who went on the 15-day disabled list June 27, also hit off a tee and took part in a soft-toss session for the fourth consecutive day.

Left fielder Johnny Damon underwent treatment for his injured left shoulder and still plans to hit off a tee Monday.

DAVID ORTIZ is tentatively scheduled to return to the Red Sox on July 25, the opening game of a weekend series at Fenway against the New York Yankees according to Manager Terry Francona.