Heart Irregularity Sidelines Simon

First baseman Randall Simon did not practice with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday after an irregularity was detected in an electrocardiogram.

The team’s position players were given physicals before the first full-squad workout in Bradenton, Fla. Simon was called off the practice field before drills began and observed the remainder of the 2 1/2-hour workout.

“The trainers told us they needed to run additional tests,” Pirate Manager Lloyd McClendon said. “We took him off the field so they could get that accomplished. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Minor league first baseman Walter Young also did not work out for the same reason. Simon and Young will be retested today.

Simon, 27, acquired from Detroit in November, said the problem was detected while he was being given an EKG.

“They want to make sure everything is fine,” he said. “I feel great. I was practicing every day at home and didn’t have any problems. They just want to make sure everything is positive.”

With the temperature approaching 80 degrees, the Pirates didn’t want to run the risk of having Simon exposed to the heat.

“I wouldn’t jump the gun and say [Simon] has problems,” McClendon said. “They just want to redo a couple of tests and make sure he’s OK.”

Meanwhile, pitcher Brian Shouse, 34, a nonroster player invited to the Texas Rangers’ camp, was flown to Baylor Medical Center in Waco, Texas, for further tests after his electrocardiogram showed an abnormality at the club’s spring training camp in Sunrise, Ariz.

“I don’t believe this to be life-threatening, but I’m not a cardiologist,” said Jamie Reed, the team’s medical director and head trainer.

“He’s had this condition with other clubs, but it never affected his play,” General Manager John Hart said. “After talking with the doctors, we decided to hold him out of practice and take the safe-rather-than-sorry route.”

*

Jose Canseco, in his first interview since being jailed earlier this week, said the pending custody battle for his 6-year-old daughter is more important than a possible return to baseball.

Speaking to ESPN Radio on Thursday from Miami-Dade County Jail, the six-time All-Star outfielder said his first few days in jail have been uneventful but embarrassing following his probation violation and sentencing Tuesday.

Canseco said he will meet with his lawyers in the next few days to see where he stands legally. Canseco could remain in jail until a March 17 sentencing hearing for violating terms of his probation for a 2001 fight at a Miami Beach nightclub.

The arrest stemmed from a probation officer’s report that he was not taking his sentence seriously and had failed to begin anger control classes and community service, and that he had left Florida for longer than 30 days, all violations of the terms of his sentence.

Canseco said he was aware of the terms of his probation, but his custody battle over his daughter had taken up his time and had led to the violations.

“I was aware, but I got caught up with a lot of things in Los Angeles with the child-custody issue with my daughter and that just consumed me completely,” Canseco said.

“It’s just ironic where I’m trying to spend time with my daughter and I end up in jail for 30 days which keeps me away from my daughter for 30 days. It’s extremely difficult to handle.”

*

Kevin Millar agreed to a $5.3 million, two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. The contract includes a $3.5 million player option for 2005 that would become guaranteed if he has 800 plate appearances the next two seasons.... First baseman Tony Clark has agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets. Clark, a switch-hitter, also will be looked at in left and right field.