BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Hough Knuckled Under by Hip Injury

Charlie Hough, baseball’s oldest player at 46, was put on the disabled list Wednesday, and he doesn’t expect to pitch again. He has been bothered by a hip ailment that will require replacement surgery.

“He doesn’t feel there’s any chance for him to pitch any more with his hip the way it is,” Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski said.

With a shrug, a smile and a cigarette, Hough accepted the end of a major league career that began in 1970.

“I’m pretty simple with stuff like that,” he said. “When I came out of high school, I didn’t picture myself throwing a baseball for 28 years. It’s been fun.”

Hough started and won the first game in Marlin history last year, and he was the team’s opening-day starter again this season.

Last month, Hough became the second-oldest player to throw a shutout, beating St. Louis, 7-0. That was his last victory. In seven starts since, Hough had an ERA of 9.47.

Hough lost his final five decisions to wind up with a career record of 216-216. This year he was 5-9 with an ERA of 5.15.

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Cincinnati Red reliever Rob Dibble, in his first appearance since shoulder surgery in April, started for triple-A Indianapolis against New Orleans and allowed one run in one inning. Dibble threw 16 pitches, including a wild pitch that allowed a run to score, and had one strikeout and one walk.