Brewers plan serious offer to Sabathia

October 19, 2008

The Brewers plan to make a "serious" offer to keep CC Sabathia, although the team's immediate priority is to hire a manager in the next few weeks, team executives said yesterday. Sabathia was acquired by Milwaukee in a July trade with Cleveland and became the team's ace, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts. "It's hard to handicap our chances," owner Mark Attanasio said during a conference call. "We've had a couple of things to deal with in front of player personnel, one being [finalizing an extension for general manager] Doug [ Melvin] and the second being the manager situation." Melvin says there are about five candidates on his list as he searches for a new manager and the search could take weeks.

New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, speeding, and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle near his hometown of Lincoln, Neb., at about 1 a.m. yesterday, according to Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deborah Collins . . . Not even Yankee pride can overcome the poor economy. The last ball hit out of Yankee Stadium didn't leave the auction block in a memorabilia auction celebrating Bronx Bombers history. The ball, smacked by catcher Jose Molina Sept. 21, was one of several big-ticket items that failed to sell in early bidding at Madison Square Garden. A collection of 15 World Series and American League championship rings that once belonged to former Yankees owner Del Webb was also pulled by the Guernsey's auction house after the high bid of $325,000 fell short of expectations.

Steve Yzerman was handed the reins for the 2010 Canadian Olympic hockey team, and a strong management staff will help in the quest for gold in Vancouver. Ken Holland and Kevin Lowe will serve as associate directors to Yzerman, the squad's executive director. Yzerman takes over from Wayne Gretzky, who put together the gold medal-winning team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the club that struggled at the 2006 Turin Games . . . The Philadelphia Flyers have changed the start time for Saturday's game against New Jersey from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. to avoid a conflict with Game 3 of the World Series . . . Johnny Boychuk and Martin St. Pierre scored for the Providence Bruins, who fell to the host Worcester Sharks in overtime, 3-2 . . . The Vancouver Canucks sent center Kyle Wellwood to Manitoba of the AHL after he cleared waivers.

Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai, who was listed as doubtful, was downgraded and will miss the Colts' game today at Green Bay because of a hamstring injury. Tight end Gijon Robinson will also miss the game because of an ankle injury . . . Reserve nose tackle Paul Soliai has been suspended by the Miami Dolphins for one game for violating an undisclosed team rule and will sit out today against Baltimore.

Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the Madrid Masters, as Gilles Simon rallied to win, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), and advance to the final against Andy Murray, who beat Roger Federer, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, in a rematch of last month's US Open final . . . Venus Williams rallied from a set down to beat second-seeded Ana Ivanovic, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the Zurich Open semifinals. Williams will face Flavia Pennetta in today's final. Pennetta defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).

Cavaliers rookie forward Darnell Jackson is out indefinitely with a fractured left wrist. Jackson, who played in Cleveland's first four exhibition games, first told the team last Tuesday the wrist was bothering him. An examination Friday revealed the fracture. Jackson said the wrist will be in a cast for about 10 days . . . Nick Weatherspoon, who played seven seasons in the NBA with Washington, Seattle, Chicago and San Diego, died in his hometown of Canton, Ohio. He was 58 . . . Cyclist Alberto Contador has confirmed he will ride for Astana in 2009. The Spaniard's future had been unclear after Lance Armstrong joined the team . . . Trainer Doug O'Neill, who plans to saddle two horses in the Breeders' Cup, was placed on probation for a year after one of his horses had a positive drug test. He agreed to pay a $7,500 fine and serve a 30-day suspension, but will still be able to saddle Azul Leon and Square Eddie in the Juvenile at Santa Anita . . . Ben Weider, who helped turn bodybuilding into a worldwide sport and was instrumental in launching Arnold Schwarzenegger's career in the United States, died in Montreal. He was 85.