Woodard’s Elbow Injury Latest Setback for Indians

Steve Woodard, struck on the right elbow by a line drive Monday night, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday by the Cleveland Indians, who can’t seem to get sound.

Only one week into the season, the Indians have four pitchers and their all-star third baseman on the disabled list. And Manager Charlie Manuel said Tuesday that Travis Fryman will be sidelined until at least May 1 and more likely June 1.

Last season, injuries cost the club a sixth consecutive American League Central title.

“Got to make do. I’ve been in tougher situations,” Manuel said. “We just need somebody to get hot and carry us for awhile. We’ve got some strong guys. We’ll be all right.”

With Woodard sidelined, the Indians signed right-hander Willie Blair to a minor league contract. The club released Blair less than two weeks ago because of salary concerns.

Woodard was drilled in the arm by a liner hit by Frank Thomas in the sixth inning of Monday’s 9-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He spent several agonizing minutes on the ground in pain before his arm was placed in an air cast and he was taken off on a stretcher.

Woodard suffered only a bruise but was hospitalized overnight as a precaution. An Indian spokesman said Woodard was released and sent back to Cleveland for further X-rays and tests.

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Boston Red Sox coach Tommy Harper said he will accept an apology from the manager at a Baltimore hotel where he claimed he was harassed when the team stayed there on its season-opening trip.

Harper, 60, was sitting near the team bags in the hotel lobby last Thursday when a fan struck up a conversation with him. Harper, who is black, said a hotel security guard came up and began questioning him but not the fan, who is white.

Asked whether he thought he was singled out because he is black, Harper said, “Obviously, yes.”

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Jose Canseco insists he’s ready to play and has several productive seasons left at age 36.

Finding a major league team willing to believe it is another matter.

Two weeks after being released by the Angels, Canseco is home in Miami working out and looking for a major league job. While interest appears minimal among the 30 big league teams, he’s not ready to give up playing.

“Baseball is my life,” he said. “I’m so close to 500 home runs and 2,000 hits, and I’m a young 36. It’s not like my ability has diminished at all. I’ve got so much left to give to the game of baseball, it’s incredible.”

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Shortstop Neifi Perez of the Colorado Rockies, who won his first Gold Glove last season, may not need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

After watching Perez take batting practice and field grounders at Coors Field in Denver, Rocky General Manager Dan O’Dowd said he was “very encouraged” Perez would not need surgery.

Perez will be evaluated daily and could return to the lineup in a few weeks. He is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list April 23, a scheduled off day for the Rockies.