Roundup

Kent back at camp aiming for Opening Day return

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- San Francisco second baseman Jeff Kent sounded optimistic about returning to the Giants' lineup by opening day.

"My rehab history has been quick, so I think this prognosis is good for us," Kent said Thursday upon his return to the Giants' training facility.

Kent left for the Bay Area on Sunday for tests on the broken bone in his left wrist, which revealed minor ligament damage. He returned to Arizona to begin rehab work with Giants trainer Stan Conte.

"Sometimes soft tissue damage can limit what you can do," said Kent, the NL MVP in 2000. "This gives us the motivation to work the area. We can do more than if the tissue damage was worse."

Kent, who said he injured the wrist in a fall while washing his truck last week, has been the subject of comic routines for San Francisco radio talk show hosts and in the print media.

"People are having fun with it, but it's not funny to me," said Kent, who turned 34 Thursday. "It's odd. I can't play a game I love to play, and am paid to play. When you make fun of someone washing his truck, that's sad."

Kent reiterated that's he's just a regular guy despite a multimillion dollar contract, and still doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

"I'm not like everybody else," Kent said. "I don't have maids or car wash guys or nannies. I clean my own clothes, I wear torn underwear and cheap socks. I'm cheap."

Meanwhile, Kent will be put on a daily regimen that includes running, throwing and one-arm swinging. His wrist will be re-examined every week to monitor his progress and reevaluate his rehab program.

"I'm still going to prepare myself for opening day physically," Kent said. "We have a chance to play good baseball this year and I want to be part of that."

Bohanon to have surgery

"We are going to take the fractured piece out and hopefully have him throwing in a few days," Reds team physician, Dr. Timothy Kremchek, said Thursday.

Kremchek will perform the surgery in Cincinnati.

Bohanon is expected to return to the Reds' complex to begin rehabilitation on Tuesday.

Bohanon, who signed a minor league contract on Jan. 11, will start the season on a minor league disabled list.

"We'll start rehab here for 10 days and see how he progresses," Kremchek said. "We're optimistic that if he starts now, he'll be at the big league level in a few weeks."

Bohanon will be the third Reds pitcher to have surgery this spring.

Chris Booker will miss the entire season because of a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Jose Silva is expected to miss about six weeks following removal of bone chips and spurs from his right elbow.

Koskie out 10-14 days

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins third baseman Corey Koskie has a deep bruise on his left wrist and will need 10-to-14 days to rehabilitate.

Koskie flew back to Minnesota from Twins spring training camp in Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday for an exam Thursday by a hand specialist.

Koskie reported having trouble with the wrist in batting practice on Sunday. Team officials feared he'd broken the wrist and would need more time to recover.

He is one of 10 Twins to miss time this spring, although most of the injuries have been minor.

Carter to coach with Mets again

Carter, who narrowly missed being voted into the Hall of Fame this year, will join the Mets in spring training for five days later this month.

Carter will be with the Mets from March 19-22 and again on March 28 and 29. During the regular season he will travel to the six minor league clubs in the Mets organization.

Carter played with the Mets from 1985-89 and hit 324 home runs and had a .262 career batting average during his career. Carter missed making the Hall of Fame by 11 votes this year.

Expos sign two

The Expos have 39 players on their 40-man roster under contract for the 2002 season.

Pitchers Tony Armas, Jr., and Britt Reames, as well as infielder Geoff Blum agreed to contract terms Wednesday.

Mills, 35, a 12-year major league veteran, spent last season with Baltimore, going 1-1 with a 9.64 ERA, allowing 15 runs over 14 innings in 15 relief appearances.

Mills has a career record of 39-32 with a 4.12 ERA in 474 games with the New York Yankees, Baltimore and Los Angeles.

 

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