Soriano hopes to play in All-Star Game

ST. PETERSBURG -- Alfonso Soriano is not ready to count himself out of the All-Star Game.

The Cubs' left fielder is leading National League outfielders in votes, but has a broken bone in his left hand, suffered June 11 when he was hit by a pitch. He was projected to be sidelined a minimum of six weeks, which would mean that Soriano would not be ready for the July 15 Midsummer Classic.

"That's very nice," Soriano said, when told he was still leading in votes. "A lot of fans like how I play, especially in New York. I think they're excited to see me back in New York."

But will he be ready by then?

"I hope so," he said. "I think before the All-Star Game, I'll be ready to play. That's what I hope. If I can play, I'll go."

This trip would be special for Soriano, a six-time All-Star, who began his Major League career with the New York Yankees.

"[Yankee Stadium] is where I played my first game in the big leagues," he said, "So I'd like to go and see it for the last time."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella has a more realistic timetable.

"One thing I can say about Alfonso is, if anybody can get back quicker than the timetable, it's him," Piniella said. "He's always been ahead of schedule, injury-wise. This is a broken bone, and it's a different story than a pulled hamstring. We feel we'll get him back within the time frame or slightly before."

Soriano, who joined the team in St. Petersburg, will have more X-rays taken on Friday when the Cubs return to Chicago.

"On Friday, I think I'll have a better idea," Soriano said. "They want to take another picture and they'll see how far I am. I'm very positive and I think I'll be quicker."

"He might tell me he's ready on Friday," Piniella said. "We'll have a better idea, according to [athletic trainer] Mark O'Neal, because [O'Neal] thinks the first 10 days paint a pretty good picture."

The swelling has gone down, but Soriano still has to wear a brace to avoid re-injuring his hand. He's limited to doing cardio exercises, and no baseball activities. He didn't go to Toronto, and only watched the games on television.

"It's very weird," Soriano said about watching. "You play for the team and watch the team play -- it's very weird for me. I have to sit down and wait a little more."

Soriano will likely need a few at-bats in the Minor Leagues before he gets the go-ahead. If he's miraculously ready for the All-Star Game, would he take part in the Home Run Derby?

"No," Soriano said, smiling.

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Schilling has setback, returns to Boston

PHILADELPHIA -- By now, Red Sox right-hander Curt Schilling planned on being able to throw batting practice. However, the veteran wasn't able to get to that point. Instead, he will fly back to Boston and be examined by Red Sox medical director Thomas Gill on Wednesday.

After having initial optimism over the way things were going in bullpen sessions, Schilling had a disappointing side session on Friday in Cincinnati. The Red Sox hope that the visit with Gill will reveal only the natural progression that a pitcher can go through when he's coming back from an arm injury.

"Hopefully he's [just] hit a little bit of a plateau -- maybe it's a bump in the road," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "But we need to go have him examined before he starts doing anything else. It's been a frustrating week for him. We'll get him back, get him looked at, then we'll go from there."

Schilling declined to speak to reporters before leaving the clubhouse.

Is the pitcher experiencing pain? Francona didn't go that far.

"I just think he's gotten to a point where, plateau is the best word I can give you," Francona said. "He's kind of stuck. We want to see what the next move is."

It has been a frustrating time for Schilling, who last pitched in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series. Before Spring Training even started, Schilling felt sharp pain in his arm while trying to do get on a throwing program.

His injury is listed as right shoulder weakness.

Schilling has a career record of 216-146. Perhaps most impressive is his postseason resume, where he is 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 starts.

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Ortiz may have cast removed this week

CINCINNATI -- David Ortiz is making progress as he heals the torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, and the hard cast, running from elbow to hand, could come off his left arm as soon as this week.

"The pain is actually gone, which is good news," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

The announcement confirmed what doctors initially suspected: As long as the pain subsides and there are no further complications, Ortiz will be able to return this season and avoid surgery.

"Some of it may be how tender he is and how tender he isn't may have something to do with when it comes off," said Francona. "In talking with [general manager] Theo [Epstein] before we left, maybe keep [the cast] on a few days longer just because of how much we depend on this guy."

"I don't know the day, to be honest," Francona added later. "It's not like anybody's really hiding anything or there's any hidden medical issues. Just go off the pain, because when the pain goes away, he's going to be OK. We're not going to give him the bat and tell him to take 200 swings the first day. He needs to do range of motion [exercises] and things like that and build into it."

Ortiz felt pain in the wrist while taking a swing in the ninth inning in Baltimore on May 31. He went on the disabled list on June 3, leading the team in homers (13) and RBIs (43) at the time.

"[The] doctors say he should be OK," Francona reiterated. "I think we're all on the same [page]. You look at a big guy who needs to swing the bat and generate power and go, 'Uh oh,' but [the] doctors say this shouldn't be an issue."

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Burnett clarifies remarks about leaving

TORONTO -- The trade winds have hardly started to blow around baseball, it being only the third week in June. Even so, pitcher A.J. Burnett caused a minor stir at Rogers Centre on Sunday by giving an honest answer to a question about his future in Toronto.

Burnett, who will undoubtedly have his name floated around the July 31 trade deadline, was asked if he'd be open to a trade to the Chicago Cubs -- a club that could be in the market for pitching. Instead of hiding his thoughts, Burnett offered what he thought an understandable reply.

"As of right now, I'm a Blue Jay, and I'm going to pitch to the best of my ability as long as I'm part of this club," Burnett was quoted as saying in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times. "But if something were to happen and I'd have the opportunity to go to a place where baseball is breakfast, lunch and dinner, that would be awesome.

"Right now, my focus is with this club, but if something like that were to happen, I'd accept it with open arms."

It's been well-documented that Burnett has a clause in his contract that allows him the ability to opt out of his deal in order to become a free agent after this season. He inked a five-year, $55 million deal with Toronto prior to the 2006 season and is owed $12 million this year -- and in each of the next two seasons -- if he elects to stay with the Jays.

"I have an opt out in my contract," Burnett said. "So people are going to have their own opinion on that. Everybody's talking about me opting out, but nobody's talking about me staying. There's a 100-percent chance of that as well."

Considering his situation, Burnett's future has been a hot topic since he signed, and he knows that will continue to be the case. With Toronto struggling and Burnett's opt-out decision looming, there's a chance the Jays might entertain offers for the 31-year-old pitcher.

Knowing that's likely the case, Burnett made his comments to the Chicago newspaper. Following Sunday's game, he wanted to make sure he clarified that he wasn't implying that he desired to be traded. Burnett wanted to make it clear that his focus remains on the Blue Jays.

"My focus is toward this team and helping this team win," Burnett said. "Everything else is out of my control. Who would not want to play for the Cubs? That's the bottom line. I did say that my focus and my loyalty right now is with the Toronto Blue Jays and, until I'm told otherwise, it'll stay that way."

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi declined to comment on Burnett's remarks and manager John Gibbons limited his response, saying only, "I've got nothing to say to that." That didn't stop Burnett's quote from making its way around the Jays' clubhouse.

"Obviously, he knows his situation," Jays center fielder Vernon Wells said. "He knows that he can opt out at the end of the year, obviously, and he's a grown man. He can say what he wants to say, and all we care about is if he's still loyal to this team, which I know he is. We talked a little bit about it today."

Wells was quick to dismiss the possibility that Burnett's teammates would be bothered by the pitcher's comments.

"He said he wouldn't mind playing for a first-place team," Wells said. "Obviously, Chicago is a great city, but he knows what his job is. His job is to pitch for us and he answered a question truthfully, I guess, and he's going to have to answer questions about it."

Blue Jays fans might question whether Burnett was somehow insulting the city of Toronto by saying he'd like to play in a "place where baseball is breakfast, lunch and dinner." Burnett said he was merely describing the atmosphere surrounding the Cubs.

"That's just how it is there," Burnett said. "It's nothing against Toronto -- that's just how it is in Chicago."

Burnett added that he wasn't worried about the fans' reaction to his comments, pointing out again that he's been careful to say that he remains loyal to the Jays.

"I don't really care how the fans take it," he said. "If they can't read the part that I said where I'm at right now in my mind, then, whatever. I'm a Blue Jay now and I'm a Blue Jay until they tell me otherwise. I'm proud of that."

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CINCINNATI -- The 140 friends and family members who turned out to attend Kevin Youkilis' welcome-home party early on Saturday got the perfect end to their day.

Youkilis, the Cincinnati native getting his first start in his hometown, struck out in his first two at-bats but came back with two singles before launching the go-ahead homer to right-center field off reliever Mike Lincoln (0-2), and the Red Sox edged the Reds, 6-4, in 10 innings at Great American Ball Park.

"It was definitely a great home run, and just to be able to hit a Major League home run here in Cincinnati, something I've never done, having never played here, it was definitely exciting," Youkilis said. "But other than a personal thing, it was great for this team to get back on track and get a win."

"I think he's excited, naturally. I think he handles things real well," added manager Terry Francona. "I know he was very excited, though. I don't blame him, he ought to be. I wish we had three positions where he could have played Friday night."

The Red Sox, who improved to 15-21 on the road, conclude their series in the Queen City on Sunday.

"We needed to get a win here and get some wins on the road, have a good series and have a chance to win the series," Youkilis said. "It was definitely a good thrill to be able to hit a home run in that situation, and also to hit it here in Cincinnati is a great honor and great thrill because, who knows, I might never get to play here after [Sunday], and if I don't hit a home run [on Sunday], that might be my only one here."

Coco Crisp followed immediately with a solo homer of his own, helping the short-handed Red Sox overcome a rare blown save from Jonathan Papelbon (3-2) to even their Interleague series with the Reds.

"We had heard this ballpark plays really small. I agree," Francona said. "Youk took a great swing, and so did Coco."

Craig Hansen pitched the 10th for his first career save. He retired the first two batters before Jolbert Cabrera singled and Ken Griffey Jr. walked, but he got Brandon Phillips to fly out to right to seal the win.

"I had no clue," Hansen said. "When I was walking off the field, someone told me, and then it clicked. Drew gave me the ball, the popout, which everyone else in the stands thought was a home run."

Leading, 4-3, entering the ninth, the Red Sox and Papelbon were one strike away from a victory when Edwin Encarnacion, who fouled off two pitches back to the screen, lined a hanging splitter to left for a game-tying homer.

"I could have used the Green Monster today, he could have helped," said Papelbon of the line drive, which likely would not have cleared the left-field wall at Fenway. "I've been getting into this little funk lately where I'm not finishing my split. I've got to execute a pitch with two strikes, and put the guy away and win the ballgame. It's really that simple.

"Any big league hitter nowadays is going to make you pay for a pitch like that," he added. "It's right down the middle, hanging."

Francona, meanwhile, tipped his cap to the hitter.

"Encarnacion's at-bat against Pap was a good at-bat," he said. "He threw him every pitch he had. He couldn't get his fastball by him, throws him a split that was up too much, and all of sudden, here we go, we've got to keep playing, but the good news is we kept playing.

"And in that situation, where we're down to one strike and then all of sudden you've got to keep playing in the visitor's ballpark in extra innings, we did some good things."

It was Papelbon's third blown save and first since May 9. But thanks to Youkilis, Crisp and Hansen, he was credited with the win. He thanked Hansen afterward.

"I told him after the game, 'Way to pick me up and this ballclub up,' " Papelbon said. "He came into a situation where he battled through it and willed himself to keep that win for our ballclub."

In addition to David Ortiz, the Red Sox started the game without starters Manny Ramirez (right hamstring), Jason Varitek (strep) and Julio Lugo (stomach ailment), and without the DH in a National League city.

Ramirez pinch-hit for Papelbon in the 10th and struck out on three pitches. He did not stay in the game.

Starter Tim Wakefield allowed two solo home runs and struck out six over seven innings, and his offense scratched across three runs against Reds ace and nine-game winner Edinson Volquez, who recorded his 11th straight quality start.

"We definitely faced a great pitcher who had some great stuff, and we had to get him out of the game," Youkilis said.

Wakefield's highlight came in the second inning, when Phillips stole second with the Red Sox in a shift against Adam Dunn and no one covering third. But Wakefield made his way over to third in time to catch Phillips, who was trying to steal two bases on one pitch.

Dunn homered in the same at-bat for his 18th of the season and second in as many days.

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Braves place Soriano back on DL

ANAHEIM -- When Braves manager Bobby Cox had to determine how to create a roster spot for Charlie Morton to make his first career Major League start at Angel Stadium on Saturday night, he felt the right decision was obvious.

Cox's closer, Rafael Soriano, has basically been wasting a roster spot since coming off the disabled list, and that's why he's going to go back on it.

"We had to make a move and he can't pitch," Cox said. "We've been waiting."

Since ending a six-week disabled list stint on May 28, Soriano has made five appearances, and none of those have come since June 5. Since the Braves began this current road trip on Tuesday, the 28-year-old right-handed reliever has told them on a daily basis that his right elbow wasn't healthy enough for him to pitch.

Thus, it didn't come as a surprise when the Braves announced that they'd placed Soriano back on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, retroactive to June 6. He would be eligible to be activated to face his former Mariners teammates next Saturday. But because he has been battling elbow discomfort since the beginning of Spring Training, there are no guarantees that he'll be ready to pitch at that time.

"It drives me crazy because I don't know why this is happening," said Soriano, who has allowed four hits and issued seven walks, while recording 11 strikeouts in the nine innings that he's pitched this season.

Before signing Soriano to a two-year, $9 million contract in January, the Braves ran a series of tests that deemed the right-hander to be healthy. Three weeks ago, another MRI scan showed that his elbow discomfort wasn't a product of structural damage.

Angels team physician Lewis Yocum, who performed Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery on Soriano in 2004, visited the Braves closer before Friday's game and plans to look at the most recent MRI results again within the next week.

After making a career-high 71 appearances last year and knowing the Braves were counting on him to serve as their closer this year, Soriano opted not to pitch in the Dominican Winter League.

"I've been doing everything that I can to be ready for this season," Soriano said. "Then I got to Spring Training, and I don't know what happened."

With Soriano officially out of the mix again, Cox will continue to use a closer-by-committee approach that allowed Jeff Bennett to notch his first career save on Friday night.

The Braves still haven't provided indication about when Mike Gonzalez, who is returning from Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgery, will be available. In his three appearances for Triple-A Richmond, the veteran left-hander has worked four innings, surrendered three hits and allowed one run.

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Hudson treated for dehydration

CHICAGO -- After leaving Thursday afternoon's start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Tim Hudson was treated by the Braves medical staff for dehydration.

Hudson, who allowed just one earned run and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, seemed to be tiring during the seventh inning. When he left the game and went to the clubhouse, many of his body parts began to cramp.

"He couldn't bend his fingers," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

When the clubhouse was opened to the media, the Braves said that Hudson was unavailable to talk. He was still in the trainer's room with an IV providing him fluids.

The Braves said he was simply battling dehydration and that they were expecting him to accompany them on the charter flight to Anaheim.

This has been a rough week for Braves starters. Tom Glavine went on the disabled list with a sore left elbow on Tuesday. Later that same evening, Jair Jurrjens twisted his ankle while leaving Wrigley Field.

X-rays of Jurrjens' ankle taken on Thursday showed no damage, and the 22-year-old right-hander says he'll start Monday's makeup game against the Rockies at Coors Field.

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