Ripken Goes to His Father’s Bedside

Cal Ripken was excused from the Baltimore Orioles’ training camp Tuesday to be at the bedside of his gravely ill father, former Oriole manager Cal Ripken Sr., 63, who has been battling lung cancer since October. The elder Ripken’s health has not improved since he began receiving chemotherapy.

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Nomar Garciaparra and the Boston Red Sox got good news--the star shortstop has tendinitis, but no ligament damage, in his ailing right elbow.

Garciaparra, runner-up for the AL most-valuable-player award, could resume playing this week as a designated hitter and is expected to be in the opening-day lineup April 5 at Kansas City.

The preliminary report on Garciaparra’s condition followed an MRI and examination on Monday by Tony Daly, the physician for the Clippers. Garciaparra also was examined Tuesday by Lewis Yocum, orthopedist and physician for the Angels.

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Orel Hershiser’s agent told the Philadelphia Phillies that the 40-year-old right-hander had better offers, ending the team’s pursuit of the pitcher. . . . The Cincinnati Reds signed former All-Star second baseman Carlos Baerga to a non-guaranteed minor league contract. Baerga will begin the season at triple A.