Puerto Rico Might Be Next ‘Home’ for Expos

As many as 20 Montreal Expo home games could be moved to Puerto Rico next year under a plan baseball officials discussed Thursday before Game 5 of the World Series.

In addition, management and union officials discussed the possibility of moving the season-opening series between the Seattle Mariners and Athletics from Oakland to Japan.

The commissioner’s office operates the Expos on behalf of the other 29 teams, which bought the franchise earlier this year from Jeffrey Loria, who purchased the Florida Marlins. Baseball officials want to move the team from Montreal, where the Expos drew only 812,000 fans this season, but have pretty much ruled out a relocation for 2003.

Charlotte, N.C., Portland, Ore., and Washington, have also been considered for Expo home games, but the focus is on Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, one lawyer familiar with the discussions said Thursday on the condition of anonymity.

The shift of games was discussed Thursday during a meeting that included Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer; Rob Manfred, the owners’ top labor lawyer; and three officials of the players’ association.

*

Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez won the Hank Aaron award for the second consecutive year, with broadcasters voting them the best hitters in their leagues this season.

Bonds hit a major league-best .370 with 46 homers and 110 runs batted in for the San Francisco Giants. He also set records with 198 walks and 68 intentional passes.

Rodriguez, the Texas Ranger shortstop, led the majors with 57 homers and 142 RBIs and batted .300.

*

St. Louis Cardinal closer Jason Isringhausen had surgery on his right shoulder that could limit his availability early next season.

Team doctor George Paletta said the operation was a “cleanup” of the shoulder. During the procedure, a small tear was discovered in the labrum, which lines the shoulder socket, but Paletta said the rotator cuff was sound.

Isringhausen had 32 saves and a 2.48 earned-run average for the National League Central champions.

But down the stretch, he was unable to pitch on consecutive days, it took him longer to get loosened up in the bullpen and he couldn’t warm up multiple times during a game.

Isringhausen also was sidelined twice during the second half of the season.

He will wear a sling for two to four weeks and probably will need to catch up when spring training begins.