Back Injury Concerns Ripken

Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles, acknowledging that he might have to go beyond cortisone shots to alleviate pain in his injured back, never mentioned the word “retirement” in his first meeting with the media since going on the disabled list Monday. But he didn’t dismiss that option, either.

His plan appeared to be to work toward returning to action, although he remains unsure as to the best means of recovery.

“I’m here today to say I’m going to be OK. It’s no big issue in my whole life,” he said. “I have to look hard at my injury situation, evaluate that with my whole career, and make decisions and judgments.”

Ripken, 38, played in a major league record 2,632 consecutive games before willingly ending his streak last September. He had never been placed on the disabled list before this week.

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Texas Ranger catcher Ivan Rodriguez escaped with nothing more than a bruised cheekbone from Thursday night’s home-plate collision with Matt Lawton of the Minnesota Twins. . . . The Seattle Mariners signed left-hander Jamie Moyer to a $15-million, two-year contract extension.