CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge faced hitters Wednesday for the first time since offseason surgeries on his right elbow and right knee.
Lidge threw 21 pitches at Philadelphia’s training complex, then went through a round of fielding drills.
Lidge, a graduate of Cherry Creek High School, had been limited since arriving at camp last month.
“That was a full day,” he said jokingly. “It felt like I was in spring training today.”
Lidge is expected to throw another live batting practice session Friday, and is scheduled to appear in a game Monday.
• Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter called black Latino baseball players “impostors” when it comes to the appearance of the number of African-Americans in the major leagues.
“People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they’re African-American,” Hunter said. “They’re not us. They’re impostors. . . . As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It’s like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It’s like, ‘Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?’ “
• First baseman Albert Pujols (back) and outfielder Matt Holliday (rib cage) were out of the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup.
• On his first day as Los Angeles Dodgers interim manager, hitting coach Don Mattingly said the team has made overtures about him eventually becoming Joe Torre‘s permanent replacement.
• Six years after he was traded away for the final pieces of Boston’s World Series puzzle, Nomar Garciaparra signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Red Sox for the purpose of retiring in the uniform of his original team. He finishes with a .313 career average with 229 home runs and 936 RBIs.
James expected to return Friday
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James (ankle) is expected to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lineup Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, while Antawn Jamison (knee) will be a game-time decision.
• New Orleans Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic is expected to miss at least two weeks with a lower abdominal strain.
• Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey, who collapsed on the bench during Friday’s game at Cleveland, has been cleared for exercise after extensive cardiac tests.
Footnotes.
Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones, who was the starting point guard on North Carolina’s national championship team in 1994, was introduced as the newest member of the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock.
• Usain Bolt won his second Laureus Sportsman of the Year award, and Serena Williams won the woman’s prize. Former Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo was presented with the Sport for Good award for his humanitarian work.
• John Baker was the first musher to leave the ghost town of Ophir, more than 660 miles from the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska.
The Associated Press
