Nationals
Harper returns from DL
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper came back from a lengthy stint on the disabled list Monday and didn’t shy away from expressing how he thinks Manager Matt Williams should address the lineup questions posed by his return.
Harper, who missed 57 games because of a torn ligament in his left thumb, was batting sixth and playing left field as the Nationals opened a series against the Colorado Rockies on Bryce Harper bobblehead night.
That meant Ryan Zimmerman, who’s been playing left since being activated from his own stay on the DL, was back at third base. Anthony Rendon shifted from third to second, and Danny Espinosa was on the bench.
Asked about Zimmerman, Harper said: “He’s great. I think he should be playing left.”
“I mean, Rendon is a great third baseman, he should be playing third and we’ve got one of the best second baseman in the league in Danny Espinosa,” he said. “Of course, you want the best-hitting lineup in there and I think Rendon playing third and Zim playing left is something that’s good for this team and I think that should be what’s happening.”
That would presumably put Harper back in center — where he played the majority of his games during his NL rookie of the year season in 2012 — in place of Denard Span.
Williams was glad to get Harper in the lineup. As for Harper’s lineup opinions, Williams didn’t say much.
“I think that I would say we’re happy to have him back,” Williams said. “And when he’s out there, regardless of where he’s at, we’d like him to catch it when it’s hit to him and hit it when it’s thrown to him. And play the way Bryce plays. That’s important for us. I don’t have any comment other than that.”
To make room for Harper, the Nationals optioned left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno to Triple-A Syracuse.
Cedeno pitched in one game during his third stint in the majors this season. He threw a scoreless inning on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
DODGERS-TWINS
Former pitcher Castillo dies at 59
LOS ANGELES — Bobby Castillo, a former Dodgers and Minnesota Twins pitcher credited with teaching Fernando Valenzuela how to throw a screwball, died Monday in a Los Angeles hospital after a battle with cancer, the team announced. He was 59.
Castillo, also affectionately known as “Babo,” pitched for the Dodgers from 1977-1981, including in the 1981 National League Championship Series and the 1981 World Series, and in 1985, his last season in the majors. The right-hander was with the Twins from 1982 to 1984.
Valenzuela called Castillo a great teammate and friend in a statement released through the Dodgers, adding: “I’ll always be grateful for his influence on my pitching.”
Castillo made his major league debut for the Dodgers on Sept. 19, 1977, retiring Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for his first big league out.
Funeral services are pending.
ORIOLES
Machado starts suspension
BALTIMORE — Orioles third baseman Manny Machado began serving a five-game suspension Monday, nearly three weeks after Major League Baseball initially levied the sentence and five days after his appeal hearing.
Machado was suspended and fined on June 10 for intentionally throwing his bat on the field during an at-bat in Baltimore’s game against Oakland on June 8. Machado immediately appealed the suspension, and spoke for about an hour Wednesday in an appeal hearing in Baltimore with MLB official Joe Garagiola Jr.
The initial decision was upheld, meaning Machado will miss the Orioles’ four-game series against visiting Texas that began Monday, along with Friday night’s game in Boston.
The Orioles will be forced to play with a 24-man roster. Chris Davis, who usually plays first base, was at third base on Monday night.
“That’s the worst part about it. We’re down a man,” Machado said. “Obviously I don’t want to put my team in that situation, especially five tough games.”
METS
Former GM Cashen dies at 88
NEW YORK — Frank Cashen, the general manager who wore a signature bow tie and fashioned a New York Mets team that rollicked its way to the 1986 World Series championship, died Monday. The team said he was 88.
He died at Memorial Hospital in Easton, Maryland, after a short illness, the Mets said.
Cashen was a longtime sports writer in his Baltimore hometown and went to law school before joining the Orioles and eventually becoming their GM.
The Orioles won two titles while Cashen worked for them, but it was in New York where he put his stamp on a franchise with the likes of Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.
Hired in 1980, Cashen transformed a last-place team into an outfit that became the most dominant force in baseball. Those Mets were brash and full of swagger, not at all like the personality of the man who built the club.
Cashen made the trades that brought star first baseman Keith Hernandez and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to the Mets, and oversaw the draft picks of Gooden and Strawberry.
Cashen also hired his former second baseman in Baltimore, Davey Johnson, to be the Mets’ manager.
By 1986, the Mets were ready to take over. They powered their way to 108 victories, won a tough playoff series with Houston and then rallied past Boston to win the World Series in seven games.
“Frank Cashen revitalized our franchise when he took over,” Mets chairman Fred Wilpon said in a statement. “I dealt with Frank on a daily basis and he was a man of integrity and great passion.”
“No one had a more diverse career than Frank. He was also a lawyer, sports writer and marketing executive. His accomplishments will always be an integral part of our team history,” he said.
Cashen, who also worked as an executive in Major League Baseball, was inducted into the team Hall of Fame for both the Orioles and Mets.