Gonzalez to Tigers: Move In the Fences

If the Detroit Tigers want to keep Juan Gonzalez, Comerica Park better get smaller.

“Yeah, it’s necessary,” said Gonzalez, the right fielder acquired from the Texas Rangers last November. “In my opinion, it’s necessary.”

Gonzalez, eligible for free agency after the season, is batting .275 with 13 homers in 269 at-bats. He is eligible for free agency after the season.

Gonzalez wants the left- and left-center-field fences moved in. It is 398 feet to the left-field power alley and 365 feet to right.

The Tigers don’t intend any changes.

“We’ve found the ball carries better with warmer temperatures,” General Manager Randy Smith said. “We think all of the [hitting statistics] bear that out.”

Three weeks ago, Gonzalez refused a trade that would have sent him to the New York Yankees.

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Boston Red Sox batboy Carlos Cowart intends to resign his part-time job with the team as an investigation continues into the discovery of illegal steroids found in the car he borrowed from a player.

The Boston Globe reported that Cowart had resigned, but the team said later in the day that he had not yet quit, but intends to.

Cowart, 20, was arrested June 30 in Boston’s Dorchester section on charges including driving without a license. Cowart, who has worked for the Red Sox for four years, had borrowed Boston infielder Manny Alexander’s car while Alexander and the team were in Chicago to play the White Sox, according to police.

Police said they found illegal steroids in the glove compartment of the car.

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Women make up 46% of the average crowd at a major league game, according to a report issued by the commissioner’s office that urges teams to market more to female fans.

Forty-three percent of women could not name a player on their home team’s current roster, according to “The Commissioner’s Initiative: Women and Baseball.”

Based on surveys in pilot markets in Atlanta, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and New York, the report said 81% of women have the final say on family consumer purchases, 76% of women determine family merchandise purchases and 58% of women determine family leisure activities.

The report, presented to owners at their July 14 meeting, urges teams to be innovative in their marketing to women.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates’ contract talks with catcher Jason Kendall are at a stalemate, apparently because of the significant amount of money the Pirates want to defer in a proposed $60-million, six-year deal. . . . The Toronto Blue Jays acquired former Blue Jay outfielder Rob Ducey from the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named. . . . The Cincinnati Reds traded reliever Manny Aybar to the Florida Marlins for Class-A pitcher Jorge Cordova.