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Bagwell to Have Shoulder Surgery

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From Associated Press

Jeff Bagwell will have surgery on his arthritic right shoulder early next month in hopes of prolonging a career that has been derailed by pain.

The Houston Astro first baseman has been out since May 3. He was put on the disabled list Tuesday for the first time in seven seasons because of the degenerative shoulder condition that will require surgery, the team said before Sunday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants.

“To be honest, I’m excited about it,” Bagwell said. “I want to show myself and the organization that I can still play. I really believe it will work. This is my best opportunity to play again.

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“It has been tough on me not playing, but it got to where it wasn’t getting any better and I’m at a point where I can’t do it.”

The procedure, called an arthroscopic capsular release, will be performed by Dr. Richard Hawkins in Spartanburg, S.C.. The rehabilitation is expected to last three months.

Bagwell, who turns 37 this month, has been bothered by pain in the shoulder for four years and had surgery on Oct. 26, 2001. There has been speculation that the pain will force Bagwell to retire.

“The scary part is thinking that my career might be over,” Bagwell said. “I’m not going to help anybody the way I am. It is the only way I can continue to play.”

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The Oakland A’s fan who threw a cup of beer at New York Yankee slugger Jason Giambi will face multiple criminal charges, officials in Oakland said.

Eric Anduri of Lafayette, Calif., spent Saturday night in jail after pelting Giambi with the beer when the former Oakland star returned to the New York dugout after flying out in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 15-6 win.

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Anduri, whose age wasn’t available, was arrested and charged with battery, public intoxication and throwing objects on the field, said David Rinetti, the A’s vice president of stadium operations. A spokesman for the Oakland Police Department would not confirm the charges Sunday.

Giambi, the longtime A’s slugger who won the 2000 AL most valuable player award while playing for Oakland, has been booed loudly at the Coliseum ever since he left Oakland in December 2001 to sign a seven-year contract with the Yankees.

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Oakland right-hander Rich Harden went on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained stomach muscle.

The Athletics recalled right-hander Seth Etherton from triple-A Sacramento, and reliever Keiichi Yabu will take Harden’s turn in the rotation Wednesday against Boston.

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Washington put infielder Henry Mateo on the 15-day disabled list because of a right shoulder injury, making room on the roster for outfielder Marlon Byrd, who was acquired in a trade Saturday.... Texas outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring and the Rangers purchased the contract of outfielder Andres Torres from triple-A Oklahoma.... Seattle catcher Wiki Gonzalez was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring and the Mariners called up catcher Rene Rivera from double-A San Antonio.

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