Cal Ripken gave a ringing endorsement to Andy MacPhail, the Orioles’ new president of baseball operations.
The Hall of Fame shortstop, who played his entire career with the team and still watches closely, has been frustrated with the Orioles’ futility. Ripken, however, appreciates the work MacPhail did with the Twins and Cubs.
“Andy MacPhail has a nice resume coming in, a good resume with Minnesota, a good resume with Chicago,” Ripken said. “Coming in it’s going to be a difficult task, to evaluate what’s there and what’s not. But certainly from the outside you could make a case that here’s someone that has done it before.”
Extra innings
The Cardinals called up former All-Star closer Troy Percival, almost two years after he retired. … Pedro Martinez threw to hitters for the first time since rotator-cuff surgery last fall, another benchmark in his quest to return to the Mets’ rotation by August. … Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada won’t be able to resume baseball activities for at least a month because of a fractured right wrist. He could be sidelined well into August. … Veteran lefty Randy Johnson (back) will return to the Diamondbacks’ rotation Thursday when he will face the Dodgers. … The Tigers placed right-handed reliever Fernando Rodney on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.
