Knee Surgery Puts Alomar on the Sideline

Catcher Sandy Alomar of the Cleveland Indians will have arthroscopic surgery today to have two bone chips removed from his left knee and will be sidelined for at least a month.

The six-time All-Star, who last week said he couldn’t remember exactly how many knee operations he has had, was put on the 15-day disabled list this week. He had hoped a cortisone injection would get rid of the pain in his knee.

With Alomar sidelined, the bulk of the Indians’ catching duties will fall to rookie Einar Diaz. In 20 games, Diaz is batting .257 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks put right-hander Todd Stottlemyre on the 15-day disabled list and recalled left-hander Brian Anderson from triple-A Tucson to replace him in the rotation. Stottlemyre will be sidelined four to six weeks while a tear in the rotator cuff of his pitching shoulder heals.

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Bullpen coach Tom Burgmeier of the Kansas City Royals will be sidelined much of the season because of injuries suffered in a car-bicycle accident. Burgmeier, 55, was hurt while riding his bicycle to Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday. He underwent surgery after suffering several fractures in the left knee area and two fractures of the right wrist. . . . The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a 30-year lease for a new baseball park along the Ohio River that will open in 2003, baseball sources confirmed. Architects are still working on a design for the ballpark.