No more clubhouse visits for Manny

June 11, 2009

There will be no more visits by Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers' clubhouse during media access periods for the remainder of his 50-game suspension. A Dodgers spokesman said yesterday the club received a "friendly reminder" from the commissioner's office that Ramirez wasn't allowed in the clubhouse when it is open to reporters. Ramirez's suspension for violating baseball's drug rules runs through July 2 . . . The Phillies' Raul Ibanez is bristling at the suggestion in a blog that his increased power numbers could be the result of performance-enhancing drugs. "There should be some accountability for people who put that out there. You can have my urine, my hair, my blood, my stool - anything you can test," Ibanez said Tuesday night, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report . . . Alcohol was found in the woman who was driving Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart after they were both killed in a collision in April, according to toxicology tests.

Two more Boston College players were selected, both by the Astros. Pitcher JB MacDonald went in the 18th round and infielder/outfielder Barry Butera went in the 21st . . . Rhode Island hit a three-bagger as the Padres picked pitcher Nick Greenwood in the 14th round, Tampa Bay grabbed shortstop Dan Rhault in the 26th, and the Giants took pitcher Luke Demko in the 29th . . . The Royals picked former Salisbury School star Chris Dwyer of Swampscott in the fourth round. He pitches for Clemson . . . UMass pitcher Mitchell Clegg was selected in the 21st round by Washington . . . Boston English catcher Nelfi Zapata of Dorchester was selected by the Mets in the 19th round . . . Former Everett High star Matt Nuzzo was selected by Toronto in the 25th round. Nuzzo attended Brown, where he played shortstop . . . Thayer Academy pitcher Kyle McKenzie, who is from Canton, was selected by the Yankees in the 30th round . . . Yale pitcher Brandon Josselyn was taken in the 25th round by Seattle . . . Former Wellesley High pitcher Nate Freiman of Duke went to San Diego in the 25th round . . . The Mets took Dartmouth outfielder Nick Santomauro in the 10th round . . . Oakland tapped Northeastern pitcher Ryan Quigley in the 22d round.

The Vikings have suspended their pursuit of Brett Favre after the retired quarterback failed to report to organized team activities as coach Brad Childress had ordered, team and league sources told ESPN . . . The Jets reached a five-year contract agreement with quarterback Mark Sanchez, the fifth overall pick in April's draft.

Three Molson brothers confirmed they have made an offer to buy the Montreal Canadiens, the Gillett Entertainment Centre, and the Bell Centre. Geoff, Andrew, and Justin Molson say the bid was delivered to George Gillett, who owns the Bell Centre and about 80 percent of the team. Geoff Molson refused to comment further, citing a confidentiality agreement. Molson Coors already owns 20 percent of the franchise . . . Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie said on his website he's "one step closer" to bringing the Phoenix Coyotes to Ontario, a day after a US Bankruptcy Court hearing on his bid to buy and move the team despite league objections . . . The Dallas Stars fired coach Dave Tippett. A person familiar with the decision confirmed the move on condition of anonymity.

Northeastern's Nate Hunter advanced to the shot put final tonight in the NCAA championships with a qualifying throw of 59 feet 11 3/4 inches in Fayetteville, Ark. . . . Alana Beard scored 15 points and Crystal Langhorne added 14 as the Washington Mystics improved to 3-0 for the first time ever with a 75-69 victory over the Detroit Shock in the WNBA. The Minnesota Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks, 87-76, to go 3-0 as Seimone Augustus scored 30. The Phoenix Mercury topped the New York Liberty, 91-84, behind Cappie Pondexter's 26 points and Diana Taurasi's 21 . . . The NBA Coaches Association selected Celtics great Tommy Heinsohn to receive the inaugural Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, given to a coach who made special contributions to the sport . . . Stuart Holden scored in first-half stoppage time, and the Houston Dynamo extended their win streak to four with a 1-0 victory over Chivas USA in the MLS.