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Sabathia Gets Opening Nods

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2009

TAMPA - CC Sabathia will start both the regular-season and home opener for the New York Yankees.

Manager Joe Girardi said Thursday the left-handed Sabathia will pitch the season opener at Baltimore on April 6, and will also throw the first regular-season pitch at the new Yankee Stadium 10 days later against Cleveland.

"I'm excited," Sabathia said. "To be able to take the ball the first one of the season and then to open the new stadium, I think it's going to be fun. It will be a special moment. It's cool to be able to have my family there and be part of it."

Sabathia agreed to a $161 million, seven-year contract with New York in December after leaving Milwaukee as a free agent.

Girardi is also "toying" with the idea of flip-flopping leadoff hitter Johnny Damon and No. 2 hitter Derek Jeter in the batting order. The manager plans to have Jeter hit first and Damon second on a regular basis during the remaining spring training games.

Tejada Receives Year Of Probation

WASHINGTON - With an apology to Congress, baseball and the kids who looked up to him, All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada received a sentence of one year of probation Thursday for misleading Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Tejada faced possible prison time, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay issued a sentence of one year of unsupervised release, 100 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine. Kay waived drug testing often required of other convicts on probation and said he wouldn't restrict the Houston Astros player's travel.

Tejada briefly addressed the court, speaking softly in accented English, and said he was sorry to Congress, the court, his sport and kids. "I learned a very important lesson," he said.

Tejada pleaded guilty last month to withholding information about an ex-teammate's use of steroids and human growth hormone when questioned by a House committee's investigators in August 2005.

He also acknowledged he bought HGH while playing for the Oakland A's, but said he threw the drugs away without using them.

Neither he nor his lawyers stopped to take questions as they left the courtroom. Asked by a reporter if he was relieved, Tejada replied, "Yes."

ASTROS: Third baseman Aaron Boone had open heart surgery to replace a bicuspid aortic valve.

ATHLETICS: All-Star pitcher Justin Duchscherer is likely to begin the season on the disabled list after he left a minor-league game with elbow pain.

PADRES: Ex-agent Jeff Moorad was introduced as San Diego's CEO and vice chairman, and he confirms that ex-NFL great Troy Aikman is a partner in his ownership group. Moorad's group has taken control of approximately 35 percent of the club and expects to own it all within five years.

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