Notes

MLB Four fined for exchange

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Major League Baseball fined umpire Tom Hallion and Tampa Bay pitchers David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore for their dust up last weekend.

Each of the pitchers was fined $1,000. It was unknown how much Hallion was docked.

Hallion was the plate umpire and crew chief during a game Sunday at Chicago against the White Sox and Price thought he missed a pitch. They exchanged words and the AL Cy Young winner accused Hallion of directing an expletive at him while he walked off the field.

Hallion called Price a “liar”after the game.

Price, Hellickson and Moore later made comments about Hallion on Twitter. The pitchers were fined for violating MLB’s social media policy that forbids “displaying or transmitting content that questions the impartiality of or otherwise denigrates a major league umpire.”

Price said that he didn’t want Hallion to be fined, only to be given an apology. After the Rays-Kansas City Royals game was postponed Thursday, Price said, “I’ve got no more comments.”

Asked if he was happy the saga was over, Price replied, “I guess so.”

YANKEES Chamberlain goes on disabled list

NEW YORK - Joba Chamberlain is joining the New York Yankees’ crowded disabled list.

The reliever has a strained oblique on his right side and will be put on the DL retroactive to April 28. He’ll become the 10th player on New York’s disabled list.

“He showed up yesterday at the ballpark early complaining of some mild pain on his right abdomen,” Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said Thursday. “When he was in the bullpen, warming up the night before, he felt something.”

Chamberlain joins a DL that already included shortstop Derek Jeter (broken ankle), third baseman Alex Rodriguez (hip surgery), first baseman Mark Teixeira (torn tendon sheath in wrist), outfielder Curtis Granderson (broken forearm), infielder Kevin Youkilis (sprained back), catcher Francisco Cervelli (broken hand) and pitchers Ivan Nova (tightness in triceps), Michael Pineda (shoulder surgery) and Cesar Cabral (broken elbow).

“It seems like it’s possible it could resolve within the two weeks but I can’t certainly guarantee it,” Cashman said. “Joba is a pretty miraculous healer, more so than anybody I’ve seen. He does get hurt, but when he does he usually bounces back pretty quick.”

David Robertson, another right-handed reliever, also had a scan Thursday on a knee that has pain where the hamstring attaches. Cashman said Robertson is day to day.

BLUE JAYS Johnson on DL, Romero to start

TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays have put pitcher Josh Johnson on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his right triceps and say lefty Ricky Romero will make his season debut this weekend.

The Blue Jays made the move Thursday and recalled right-hander Brad Lincoln from Class AAA Buffalo.

Johnson was scratched from a start today, and his move to the DL was retroactive to April 29. He is 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in four starts since being acquired in an off season trade with Miami.

Romero will start tonight at home against Seattle. He was an All-Star in 2011, but struggled in spring training this year and began the season in the minors to work on his mechanics.

Romero made one start for Class A Dunedin, allowing one run in seven innings.

ROCKIES Oswalt gets minor-league deal

DENVER - The Colorado Rockies have agreed to a minor-league deal with three-time All-Star pitcher Roy Oswalt.

The team announced the news on their Twitter account Thursday, with Oswalt expected to report to extended spring training.

The 35-year-old Oswalt has a career record of 163-96. He’s also 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA at Coors Field.

On his Twitter account, Oswalt tweeted: “Always loved the mountains, im back!”

Oswalt hasn’t pitched in the majors since Oct. 2, when he was with the Texas Rangers. He’s also played for Houston and Philadelphia.

The first-place Rockies certainly could use a boost on the mound with righty Jhoulys Chacin on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained lower back.

RED SOX

Farrell upset by allegations

TORONTO - Boston Red Sox Manager John Farrell is upset by accusations pitcher Clay Buchholz was putting a foreign substance on the ball during Wednesday’s victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Former major league pitcher Dirk Hayhurst, now a broadcast analyst for the Blue Jays, told Toronto radio station CJCL-AM, 590, on Thursday that Buchholz was “absolutely” cheating in Wednesday’s start.

An article on the stations website included photographs of Buchholz, including one showing him wiping his first two fingers across his forearm, which appeared to be partially covered with a white substance.

Buchholz brushed aside the allegations, saying he puts rosin on his arm and occasionally wets his fingers to get a better grip.

Farrell insisted the photos were “false” and backed Buchholz’s claim about rosin.

Buchholz (6-0) leads the majors in victories and the AL in ERA (1.01).

Sports, Pages 24 on 05/03/2013

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