Angels P part of sex assault probe
ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Lefthander Jarrod Washburn of the Anaheim Angels has been sidetracked from his focus on the baseball playoffs because his name has been linked to a police investigation.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Anaheim Police Department is conducting the probe and Washburn is a subject. The paper reported the incident occurred Sept. 1.
KABC-TV in Los Angeles reported that a 16-year-old girl called police from a hospital in Orange County, Calif., to tell them of the incident. No charges have yet been filed by the district attorney's office.
"The allegations brought forth are baseless and without merit," Washburn's agent, Scott Boras, told the paper. "And in time that will be brought forth. Jarrod's going to be back here because Jarrod's a baseball player. He's not going to have his job interrupted by baseless allegations. Jarrod's going to perform his normal course."
The paper said Washburn, 28, arrived at Edison Field in Anaheim shortly before Tuesday's game against Oakland, but left before the team gathered to be told of his situation.
"Jarrod expects to continue his career," Boras said. "He didn't want to be a distraction for the team. He wants the team to pursue a great year. An unfortunate thing about professional athletes is these allegations become newsworthy. They should take due course and then decide if there is merit."
"This case is under investigation, and unfortunately, because of the nature of the case, we're not at liberty to go into details of exactly what is occurring and what may have occurred," said Sgt. Rick Martinez, a police spokesman.
The club released a two-sentence statement which read: "We are fully cooperating with authorities regarding this issue. Out of respect to all parties involved, any additional comments would be inappropriate."
Boras said the investigation has been ongoing for nine days and the results have yet to be turned over to the district attorney.
Washburn, the team's leading pitcher this season with a 17-5 record and 3.32 ERA, is still on the active roster and could pitch as early as Thursday in the finale of the four-game series with the A's.
Angels Manager Mike Scioscia met with the team before the contest for 45 minutes before batting practice Tuesday. Most of his teammates declined to discuss the matter.
"I don't think anyone knows anything, really, so we can't make any judgments," said rightfielder Tim Salmon, a 10-year veteran. "We still have to play and we're still in a pennant race. That'll be enough of a motivation. If it becomes an issue, it's because the media will be around every day asking us about it. We don't know enough details. He's a teammate and we stand behind him. We've got business to do on the field, and we've got the kind of players who I don't think will be distracted by it."
Scioscia agreed.
"This club is going to keep its focus," he said. "We know what needs to be done on the field. Although this is difficult, our club is going to be able to go out and continue to play good baseball."
Washburn, who is married and has one small boy, is finishing his first full season with the team even though he has three years of Major League service. He came into the 2002 season with a 28-20 record and 4.14 ERA in 75 games.
Devil Rays sign No. 1 draft pick
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays Wednesday signed high school shortstop B.J. Upton, the second overall pick in the June draft.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Upton, 17, was considered the No. 1 overall prospect in the draft by Baseball America. The Devil Rays pounced on him with the second pick after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Ball State pitcher Bryan Bullington.
"We think he (Upton) has a chance to be an outstanding major league player and look forward to watching him progress through our minor league system," said Devil Rays General Manager Chuck LaMar.
The 6-3, 180-pound Upton will report to the Devil Rays' instructional league camp on Sept. 17.
Upton hit .641 (50-for-78) with 11 home runs and 32 RBI last spring for Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, Va. He also walked 24 times for a .756 on-base percentage, struck out only twice, and was 21-for-21 in stolen bases.
As a pitcher, he was 5-0 with two no-hitters and a 0.33 ERA, and struck out 78 batters in 43 innings.
As a junior at Greenbrier Christian, Upton batted .647 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI.
Hawks sign Newble
ATLANTA, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Hawks Wednesday re-signed veteran forward Ira Newble, who generally was assigned to the opposition's top scoring guard or forward last season.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"We are happy to have Ira back after the outstanding defensive contributions he made to the team last year," said Hawks General Manager Pete Babcock. "He played a major role in our ability to play above the .500 level from February on, and we look forward to more of the same this year."
Newble, 27, made the most of his second opportunity with the Hawks after he was released during training camp.
After a brief stint in the Continental Basketball Association, Newble was signed to the first of two 10-day contracts on Jan. 22, and signed for the remainder of the season on Feb. 11.
Along with his solid defensive play, the 6-7 Newble averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest in 42 games, hitting nearly 50 percent of his field goal attempts. In 35 starts, he averaged 8.2 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Wizards sign Bryon Russell
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Washington Wizards have signed Bryon Russell to a two-year contract after failing to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Russell, an athletic small forward, averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest in his nine-year career, all with the Jazz, and was a
starter on both Western Conference championship teams in 1997 and '98.
However, those Jazz teams lost twice in six games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. Perhaps the most enduring image of the 1998 Finals came in Game Six, when Jordan hit a game-winning jump shot over Russell in the final seconds to give the Bulls their sixth NBA title.
Jordan came out of retirement last season and added injury to insult for Russell. In the first meeting between the two since the memorable shot, Russell suffered a hairline fracture in his
pelvis while guarding Jordan and missed the next 18 games of the season.
Ironically, the Wizards signed Russell, 31, to replace Jordan at small forward. Coach Doug Collins plans to use Jordan at shooting guard off the bench unless Jordan opts to retire.
"Bryon not only fills our need for an athletic small forward, but he also provides us with veteran experience that includes nine trips to the playoffs and two NBA Finals," said General
Manager Wes Unseld. "In addition to helping us win games, we are also confident that he will help in the development of our younger players."
The Wizards were hoping to obtain Russell in a sign-and-trade for salary cap purposes. They reportedly were to receive Russell and center Greg Ostertag from the Jazz for forward Christian Laettner, point guard Tyronn Lue and shooting guard Hubert Davis, but could not work out the deal.
Russell is projected to start at small forward with Brendan Haywood at center and either Kwame Brown or Etan Thomas at power forward. Hamilton will be joined in the backcourt by either Larry Hughes or Chris Whitney.
Russell averaged a career-high 14.1 points in the 1999-2000 campaign, but slipped to 9.6 points last season.
Leg injury sidelines Holzinger
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Holzinger is expected to be sidelined up to four months because of a broken left leg.
Holzinger suffered a fractured left fibula while working out at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, Fla., and will be out at least three months. The Lightning added that Holzinger will be fitted with a cast and that surgery is not recommended at this time.
It is yet another setback for Holzinger, who missed 52 games last season with a left shoulder injury.
Holzinger was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on March 10, 2000, and has appeared in 107 games over three seasons with the Lightning, recording 15 goals and 45 points.
Penguins re-sign Rozsival
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday re-signed Michal Rozsival, who led all defensemen on the squad in goals, assists and points last season.
Terms were not disclosed.
Rozsival, 24, had nine goals, 20 assists and 47 penalty minutes in 72 games. The Czech Republic native has played in 184 NHL games, all with the Penguins, and has 14 goals and 41 assists.
Montreal gives Fichaud one-year deal
MONTREAL, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender Eric Fichaud to a one-year contract with a one-year club option.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Fichaud, 26, returns to the Canadiens after playing two games for them in the 2000-01 campaign, and will compete for the backup job behind Jose Theodore.
Last season, Fichaud played five games with Manitoba of the American Hockey League before heading to Germany, where he played 16 games with the Krefeld team.
Fichaud, a first-round pick in 1994, played six seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Nashville, Carolina and Montreal. In 95 games, he had a 22-47-10 record and a 3.14 goals-against average.
