Cubs could call about BoSox Coco?

With Cubs center fielder Felix Pie struggling and Alfonso Soriano on the disabled list, it seemed like Chicago could come calling for Boston's Coco Crisp again. But Crisp, slowed during spring training by a groin problem, now is bothered by a sore hamstring. -- Rocky Mountain News

Giants interested in former A's slugger Johnson

San Francisco remains interested in first baseman Dan Johnson, who was designated for assignment by Oakland on April 10, giving the A's until Sunday to make a move with Johnson. -- Rocky Mountain News

Indians GM Shapiro concerned by slow start

After losing six of their past seven, outscored, 49 to 24, in the six losses, the Indians are not about to reach for the panic button. But as General Manager Mark Shapiro said before Thursday night's game against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field, the time for a hard look is definitely approaching. "After 15 games, it necessitates concern, not action, from a front-office standpoint," Shapiro said. "We hope it's a glitch. There's not enough there to address yet." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer

Giambi's final days in Bronx

This is the final year of Jason Giambi's seven-year, $120 million contract he signed with the Yankees in the winter of 2001. It is highly unlikely they Yankees would pick up his 2009 $22 million option, so these likely will be the final days of Giambi in pinstripes. -- NY Post

Flanagan: O's would have still signed Tejada at older age

The Orioles still would have signed free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada in 2003 even if they had known his correct age, a club official said yesterday. But it probably would have been a shorter deal if they had known he was about to turn 30. "I don't think it matters being a couple years," said Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan, who, along with Jim Beattie, signed Tejada to a six-year, $72 million contract in December 2003. "That still would have been considered his prime." But, "we probably wouldn't have signed him for so long," Flanagan said. -- Baltimore Sun

Kirk Radomski, former steroid dealer, nearing book deal about the craft

Kirk Radomski, the former Mets clubhouse attendant who acknowledged providing performance-enhancing drugs to dozens of major leaguers, told the Daily News Thursday that he is close to landing a book contract. "Nothing has been signed yet," said Radomski, shooting down a published report that said a six-figure deal already had been finalized. Radomski declined to discuss the contents of the book, but a publishing industry source said he expects it will be a tell-all that sheds new light on Roger Clemens and other players linked to drug use in the Mitchell Report on baseball and steroids. Radomski, a partner in a Long Island auto detailing business, said the book will provide him an unfiltered opportunity to tell his story. -- NY Daily News

Frank Robinson: I don't miss managing Nats

Frank Robinson is now 18 months removed from his last time in a major league uniform, the last game he served as the manager of the Washington Nationals. At the time his contract wasn't renewed by the club, he was upset, and the way the transition was handled left him bitter. Thursday at Shea Stadium, however, Robinson wandered into the Nationals' clubhouse, sat with his replacement, Manny Acta, in his office, and even talked with General Manager Jim Bowden in the clubhouse and by the batting cage. The time away, Robinson said, has given him a different perspective. "What I've [done] is stepped back and said, 'Do I miss it? No,' " Robinson said. "And I think what it was, it was probably time for me to do something else." Robinson, 72, works for Major League Baseball. He said when his tenure with the Nationals ended, he couldn't understand it was time to move on. "You don't," Robinson said. "You're too close to the situation. If I had still been managing, I still think I could've done the job. But I think it's just time to get away from it for me." -- Washington Post

Yanks A-Rod leaves Abreu hanging

Because every move he makes is under a huge spotlight, Alex Rodriguez was asked last night why he doesn't shake hands, exchange fist knuckles or acknowledge Bobby Abreu when Abreu homers in front of him. As Abreu approaches the plate Rodriguez is off to the left side going through his preparation to hit, a program that includes a violent practice swing. "I have always done that because I don't like celebrating on the field," Rodriguez said before last night's 7-5 loss to the Red Sox in which he went 1-for-4 and 0-for-1 in the clutch to lower his batting average to .067 (1-for-15) with runners in scoring position. "When the hitter in front of me strikes out, I don't go over and pat him on the shoulder." -- NY Post

Hochevar to be called up by Royals?

Royals left-hander John Bale will now get until May 1, at a minimum, to build some strength back in his ?dead arm.? The club placed Bale on the 15-day disabled list before Thursday?s game against the Angels. Reliever Joel Peralta was recalled from Class AAA Omaha to fill the roster vacancy. The decision to recall Peralta suggests the club will make another move before Sunday to replace Bale in the rotation. The likely choice is Luke Hochevar, who will be able to pitch that day on normal rest. -- KC Star

Granderson to rejoin Tigers next week

Jim Leyland said Thursday he would prefer that Curtis Granderson get 20-25 at-bats, minus any setbacks, before Granderson rejoins the Tigers, which likely is to occur during next week's homestand against the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels. -- Detroit News

Will Braves deal for pitching help?

GM Frank Wren was asked if the Braves have enough depth to pick up the slack and fill in for Peter Moylan, or if they'll try to make a trade. "I think we do have depth in our bullpen, but we're continually looking to improve that area," he said. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Nats Cordero benched as closer with velocity issues

A day after Nats closer Chad Cordero had an alarming performance -- throwing his fastball between 76 and 82 mph -- Cordero said he understood why Acta wouldn't use him in closing situations until his velocity improves. "I understand it," he said. "It's going to be strange for me. Who knows how long that's going to be? Hopefully, it's not very long. But in order for me to do that, I have to get in there and throw some innings. Hopefully I'm not throwing once a week. That's not going to help very much. . . . For me, the more I throw, the stronger I get." -- Washington Post

Brewers could shakeup lineup?

Brewers manager Ned Yost would not say whether Corey Hart would stay in the No. 5 spot in the order. Bill Hall had been batting fifth but was in a 2-for-21 skid on the trip. "I'd like to get guys comfortable in the spots where they're going to hit," Yost said. "But I'd like to score some runs, too. Corey will do good anywhere you put him." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Who Knew?

Even though Prince Fielder didn't smack his first homer until the Brewers' 15th game, he is tied with the pace he set a year ago en route to socking 50. Fielder hit his first homer in his second game in 2007 and didn't hit No. 2 until his 16th game on April 20. He finished with six for April. -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Braves Moylan will likely need elbow surgery

It's likely that Braves reliever Peter Moylan will need reconstructive elbow surgery, though he will wait two weeks before a final decision is made. The Braves' top setup man was examined Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, who concurred with an earlier diagnosis by a team doctor: There's a bone spur pressing against the ulnar collateral ligament in Moylan's pitching elbow, which has "compromised" the ligament. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Neil Walker not ready to take over for Pirates

In the minors, the Pirates heir apparent at third base is Neil Walker at Class AAA Indianapolis, but he is little more than a year removed from the team converting him from catcher and is not, by any measure, ready defensively. Moreover, he is batting .196. -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Rays' Pena leaves with tight hamstring

1B Carlos Pena left Thursday's game against the Twins in the fourth inning with what the Rays labeled "right hamstring tightness." Though the left-handed slugger is listed as day to day, the injury comes at a tough time for a club that already has had 10 players land on the disabled list this year. Pena has played in every game, hitting .179 with a team-high six home runs. -- St. Petersburg Times

Phillies' Myers determined to stay aggressive

Brett Myers did not pitch like himself in his first two starts. It showed in the numbers. He was 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA after two starts, but he is 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his two games since. Yesterday, he allowed five hits, one run, and one walk in seven innings of a 10-2 victory over the Houston Astros. He struck out eight, a season high for Phillies pitchers. "Every five days, I get to go out there to prove to the team that I can keep competing," Myers said. "I don't like going out there and rolling over on anybody, so I want to go out there and actually be the aggressor of the game and set the tempo early. "My bullpen [warm-up] today was terrible. I think that's what helped me focus, because nothing was going right. My pitches weren't going anywhere I wanted them to. When I saw Michael Bourn step in [in the first inning], that's when I decided to lock it in." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

Giants add former Pirates relief pitcher

The Giants have added a relief option, signing 27-year-old right-hander Josh Sharpless to a Triple-A contract after his release by Pittsburgh. Sharpless had a 1.50 ERA in 14 games with the Pirates in 2006 but spent most of last season at Triple-A Indianapolis and struggled. Control has been an issue as the 6-5, 240-pound Pennsylvania native walked 39 and struck out 69 in 641/3 innings in 2007. -- SF Chronicle

Tribune Makes `Steady Progress' on Wrigley Field Sale

Tribune Co. Chairman Sam Zell said the Chicago-based company is making ``steady progress'' on the sale of Wrigley Field and doesn't foresee any problems in making payments on its $13 billion in debt. ``From where we sit right now, it does not appear we will have difficulty meeting our commitments going forward,'' Zell said on a conference call with bondholders today. The company is in compliance with loan covenants and liquidity is little changed this year, Chief Financial Officer Chandler Bigelow said. Tribune, the second-largest U.S. newspaper publisher, is cutting jobs and consolidating businesses to counter advertising declines at its newspapers and pay back bonds and loans. The owner of the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune has $1.85 billion in debt maturing by the end of 2009. -- Bloomberg

Dontrelle near Tigers rehab

Dontrelle Willis could be a week from beginning his own rehab stint in the Tigers minors. Willis, who hyperextended his right knee during an April 11 start in Chicago, threw off flat ground Thursday and reported no problems. "Feeling comfortable," Willis said Thursday. Leyland said he would prefer Willis, when ready, pitches in at least two games in the minors before rejoining the Tigers. -- Detroit News

Scioscia bobblehead made out of recycled plastic

Angels manager Mike Scioscia, on the Mike Scioscia bobblehead dolls given to fans Thursday night: "Half of [the materials] were recycled plastic from Lake Havasu, and the other half was from the Simi Valley landfill. They had to find enough plastic to put the bobbleheads together." -- LA Times

Twins to pull celebratory burial stunt

In the wake of the controversy over a Boston Red Sox jersey being buried by a construction worker in concrete in the new Yankee Stadium, supposedly to curse the franchise, look for the Twins in coming days to come up with a celebratory burial stunt in the concrete of their new ballpark. -- Pioneer Press

Padres having problems with weekday attendance

Drawing large crowds to early-season weekday games always has been a problem for the Padres, even at Petco Park. But the average attendance of 22,687 for the six weekday games of the 2008 season since the season opener is the lowest in the Padres' five seasons downtown. The average is off 21 percent from a year ago and more than 25 percent from Petco's opening season of 2004. Season openers are not included. -- San Diego Union-Tribune

Who Knew?

Rick Ankiel's 17-pitch at-bat Wednesday against Milwaukee's Carlos Villanueva was the longest plate appearance by a Cardinal in the past 20 years, according to research done by Viva el Birdos, a fan-produced blog. Using information back to 1988 available at Baseball-Reference.com, the blog concluded that Ankiel's 17-pitch walk was the first to last longer than 15 since Mike Difelice faced Bartolo Colon in June 1997 -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Did You Know?

11.57: ERA of Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia before Wednesday's game , the highest after three starts for a reigning Cy Young Award winner in history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It's now up to 13.50. -- Philadelphia Daily News

Rays have decision to make with Salas

Rays RHP Juan Salas, who had been stuck in the Dominican Republic for the past few months, reported to St. Petersburg on Thursday and threw a bullpen session. Maddon said the reliever was in the mix for a bullpen spot, but missing the entire spring has cost him. Though the club has 30 days before it has to remove him from the restricted list, executive vice president Andrew Friedman said it can be a theoretical substitute for spring training, and the Rays won't necessarily keep him on the list that long. "Physically, he looks great," Friedman said. "Now it's just a case of building up his arm strength and getting him in a position to go compete against hitters. We'll have a better feel for when he'll be ready to do that in seven to 10 days." -- St. Petersburg Times

Dusty Baker: my office is livelier than Reds clubhouse

The visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field was rocking, thanks to Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo's iPod, which was connected to the stereo. "It's better than the morgue that had been in there," Dusty Baker said. "Bronson asked me about it. I said I've got music in my office every day. My office is livelier than the clubhouse." Baker wants a variety of music played. "As long as there's no arguing," Baker said, "as long as everybody gets an equal opportunity to hear their music." -- Cincinnati Enquirer

BoSox J.D. puts energy into juice biz venture

Apparently $15 million just doesn?t go as far as it used to! Because Red Sox [team stats] outfielder - and resident holistic health nut - J.D. Drew [stats] is moonlighting peddling $40 bottles of a fruit-based nutritional substance called Mona Vie. And Drew is looking for Red Sox Nation recruits to help him sell cases of the fruit drink that purports to give users increased energy, a boost to the immune system and a reduction in joint pain. -- Boston Herald

Did You Know?

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis moved into a tie for the American League lead with three outfield assists after throwing Jim Thome out at third base on Wednesday. Markakis joined Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero atop the league -- Washington Post

Lance Armstrong to throw out first pitch at Fenway

Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong will throw out the first pitch at Saturday?s Red Sox-Rangers game. Armstrong, who is running the Boston Marathon Monday, will attend the game along with execs from Nike and his LIVESTRONG Foundation. While he?s here, the cancer survivor will also visit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. -- Boston Herald

Country music star takes BP with Orioles

Before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Thursday, country music star Kenny Chesney wore a No. 7 Orioles jersey while taking batting practice with the Orioles as a guest of first baseman Kevin Millar. -- Washington Post

Offensive image T-shirt of Cubs Fukudome is hot-selling item outside Wrigley

Kosuke Fukudome didn't have to wait long for the ugly American part of his welcome to Wrigleyville. A Fukudome T-shirt with a racist image is the hottest-selling item at a souvenir stand that sells unlicensed Cubs-related merchandise across Addison Street from the ballpark, according to Mark Kolbusz, who's in his fourth season operating the stand. On the front of the shirt is the traditional Cubs cartoon bear face but with slanted eyes and wearing oversized Harry Caray-style glasses. It's accompanied by the words ''Horry Kow,'' scrawled in cartoonish ''Japanese'' script. Fukudome's name and number are on the back. ''That's the No. 1 seller this year, by far,'' said Kolbusz, who estimates one in 10 customers complain about being offended. -- Chicago Sun-Times