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Longoria's status for All-Star Game in doubt

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A Tribune staff, wire report

Published: July 14, 2009

Updated: 07/14/2009 06:52 am

ST. LOUIS - Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria has an infection of his right ring finger that threatens his status as the starting third baseman for the American League All-Star team tonight.

"He has an infection and is being treated with antibiotics," Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said Monday. "The injury is not serious, but it hasn't been determined whether he will be able to play."

Longoria was escorted out of the AL players interview session about 20 minutes early Monday after saying he wasn't feeling well. Vaughn said Longoria was feeling drowsy because of the medication.

The only one of Tampa Bay's five All-Stars voted in by the fans to start, Longoria is listed seventh in Manager Joe Maddon's lineup.

NATIONALS FIRE ACTA: Manny Acta is out after 21/2 seasons, and Jim Riggleman is in as the Washington Nationals manager.

The Nationals made the announcement Monday morning, confirming what took place Sunday night after the team returned from a road trip. Acta was fired with a 26-61 record, the worst in the baseball, and bench coach Riggleman, a Pinellas County resident, was chosen the interim replacement.

Riggleman has managed the Padres, Cubs and Mariners, compiling a 522-652 record over nine seasons.

Acta joins Colorado's Clint Hurdle and Arizona's Bob Melvin as major-league managers who have been fired this season.

CUBS MAY FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY: The corporate owner of the Chicago Cubs is considering having the baseball team file for bankruptcy protection as a legal step to hasten its long-awaited sale, according to two people with knowledge of the process.

Tribune Co., which itself filed for bankruptcy protection in December, intends for the Cubs' own stay in Chapter 11 to be as short as a day or two. If pursued, the filing would be done to give the team's next owners as "clean" a title to the Cubs as possible - to protect them from possible future claims by Tribune creditors.

One person said the filing is not imminent and is not necessary in order for a sale of the Cubs to take place.

The family of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts remains the front-runner to buy the team for about $900 million, but there is no final agreement.

REDS: Outfielder Jay Bruce's broken right wrist shows no damage to tendons or ligaments, but he is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.

LEYRITZ RELEASED: Former major-leaguer Jim Leyritz was released on bond Monday in Fort Lauderdale, hours after a Broward County judge ruled he would not have to await his upcoming DUI manslaughter trial in custody.

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