www.grandforks.com Posted on Thu, Mar. 06, 2003 BETH HARRIS Associated Press

ARCADIA, Calif. - Laffit Pincay Jr. broke a bone in his neck when he was thrown from his horse during a race and the injury could end the career of thoroughbred racing's winningest jockey.

Pincay was hurt last weekend at Santa Anita and will spend the next eight weeks in a cast, his son said Thursday.

"We expect a full recovery, and a decision on his career will be made at a future date," Laffit Pincay III said.

The 56-year-old Pincay was initially thought to have had muscle contusions to the back of his neck. He was expected to return to riding Friday and was booked on six mounts.

However, the injury is far more serious. Pincay III said his father will be fitted with a halo cast and leave a Los Angeles hospital in a day or so. He said his father was in good spirits.

The fractured bone is cervical 2, track spokesman Vince Bruun said. Cervical 2 is one of the uppermost seven vertebrae of the spine.

Pincay, who has more victories than any other jockey with 9,531, was thrown to the grass when his mount, Trampus Too, fell on the turn for home in the fifth race Saturday.

Jockey Tony Farina was suspended for seven days for altering course without sufficient clearance on Rainman's Request, which resulted in the spill that injured Pincay.

Pincay passed Bill Shoemaker's career record of 8,833 wins three years ago and has been determined to reach 10,000 victories despite his age.

"I have surprised myself that I'm still riding and competing the way I am," he said last summer, joking that he can't quit because his phobia about public speaking would preclude a retirement speech.

Pincay's 39-year career includes election to racing's Hall of Fame in 1975, a 1984 Kentucky Derby victory, three Belmont Stakes victories, five Eclipse Awards, and mounts on such great horses as Affirmed and John Henry.

The son of a famous rider in Panama and Venezuela, Pincay came to the United States at 17, speaking only Spanish and carrying a $500-a-month riding contract. He taught himself English by watching "Hollywood Squares" on TV.

He reached the winner's circle on his first U.S. mount, in 1966 at Chicago's Arlington Park.

Pincay's achievements haven't come without injury. He's broken his collarbone 11 times, broken 10 ribs, had two spinal fractures, two punctured lungs, two broken thumbs and a sprained ankle.

What's most remarkable about Pincay's longevity is his ability to control his weight.

Pincay has battled the scale since he was a teenager. Back then, he was told he was too big to be a jockey. He weighs 113 pounds and rides at 117 pounds, which includes his saddle and tack.

"He's built like a fighter, and the desire and ability he has, even today, is just unbelievable," Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally has said.

Pincay has said he'll keep riding as long as he enjoys himself. His only distraction outside the sport is his family, including second wife Jeanine and their 6-year-old son.

"I just love to ride horses. I love competition. I love the excitement of the game," he said in 1999. "I know it's a little dangerous and that's kind of exciting, too. You get hooked every day winning races. It makes you feel good."

www.polkonline.com Web posted Thursday, March 6, 2003

WINTER HAVEN -Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel will autograph copies of his book, "Omar! My Life On and Off the Field," on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Cleveland Indians Team Shop in Chain of Lakes Park.

In the book, Vizquel tells about his life in baseball, from the sandlots of Caracas, Venezuela, to the seventh game of the World Series and beyond. The book covers his career through the 2001 Major League Baseball season.

"Omar!" includes the Indians star's thoughts about his success as a player. He writes about how he learned to play baseball and how he approaches the game today.

The author shares candid opinions about the game and humorous anecdotes about current and former teammates and opponents. "Omar!" also includes several chapters about Vizquell's personal life, including his childhood in Venezuela, coming to the United States as a non-English-speaking 17-year-old boy, adjusting to life in the minor leagues, lfe with his family and his many hobbies.

Vizquel is considered by many sportswriters and players to be one of the best defensive shortstops ever to play the game. He has won nine consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, which is an American League record. He has the highest fielding percentage of any shortstop ever to play at least 1,000 games in the major leagues.

An All-Star selection from the American League on three occasions, Vizquel has played in two World Series.

Outside of baseball, Vizquel is a painter, has designed his own house, and dabbles in music and stand-up comedy.

Working with Vizquel on "Omar! My Life On and Off the Field" was Bob Dyer, who has won 17 regional and national writing awards since joining the Akron Beacon Journal in 1984. He collaborated with Vizquel for more than a year, helping to research and write the book.

"Omar! My Life On and Off the Field" is $24.95 for the hardcover, 256-page edition that features 41 color photos. The publisher is Gray & Co., a Cleveland-based publishing house and is available at the Indians gift shop at Chain Of Lakes Park.

For more information about the book, call 1-800-915-3609, or visit the publisher's Web site at www.grayco.com.

waymoresports.thestar.com

Mar. 5, 2003. 05:25 PM DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Roy Halladay pitched three perfect innings and Josh Phelps homered Thursday as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 in exhibition baseball action.

The win was the fifth straight for Toronto, the lone unbeaten team during spring training.

Phelps, who has been bothered by right knee problems, went 2-for-4 and homered in his first at-bat this spring.

"Some kid will get a souvenir at recess," Phelps said after his homer landed in the school yard behind the left-field fence. "It kind of made me giggle, being lucky in my first at-bat.

"But my main objective was to be pain free, and I was. It was no problem running the bases, especially when you get a jog."

Halladay didn't allow a ball out of the infield, throwing 21 of 31 pitches for strikes.

"He had a good fastball and slider," Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca said. "He threw the ball where he wanted to throw it."

Pete Walker allowed one run — Jason LaRue's homer — and three hits in three innings. Toronto closer Kelvim Escobar struggled in his first spring appearance, giving up two runs and three hits in one inning.

"He's a little bit behind (physically) because of the political situation in his country (Venezuela) because he couldn't get his work in," Tosca said. "He was just out there today to get his feet wet."

Loser Chris Reitsma gave up four runs and six hits in three innings.

Josh Dubois, taken by Toronto in the winter meeting draft, hit a three-run homer. The Blue Jays belted out 16 hits.

Jose Guillen had two of Cincinnati's seven hits.

NOTES — Toronto shortstop Chris Woodward (hamstring) is still a day or two away from appearing in a game, according to Tosca . . . Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, who left Tuesday's game after being hit on the right elbow, will be examined by team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek and could play Thursday.

minnesota.twins.mlb.com By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

Johan Santana is behind his normal spring schedule because he was not able to pitch in winter ball. (Jim Mone/AP) FORT MYERS, Fla. -- If Twins pitcher Johan Santana had a normal offseason, he would have arrived to Spring Training with 80 innings of work under his belt already from pitching in winter ball.

But like everyone else living in Santana's homeland of Venezuela, nothing was normal this winter. The nation remains paralyzed by a national strike and a continuing political crisis. Santana was ready to begin playing winter ball Dec. 4, but the strike started Dec. 2 and cancelled the rest of the Venezuelan league season.

"I had to shut down everything," Santana said.

The Twins have already tapped Santana to join their starting rotation after veteran Eric Milton reinjured his left knee and had surgery. The young left-hander still displayed some of the rust during his second spring start, walking four batters in two innings in a 5-0 loss to the Phillies.

Santana still doesn't have the feel for his best pitches -- the changeup and slider. On Wednesday, he struggled to locate his fastball because he was trying too hard, according to manager Ron Gardenhire.

"If you throw the ball 89 mph, don't try throwing it 92," Gardenhire said. "That's what he was doing out there. He was overthrowing the baseball."

In the first inning, Santana allowed a hit and walked three batters, including slugger Jim Thome with the bases loaded. He said he was not comfortable working from the stretch position, possibly another bi-product of his inactivity.

"I have to start all over again," said Santana, who is 1-1 this spring. "I'm in the process of putting everything back together. The good thing is I feel good. It's going to take a little while. That's what Spring Training is for."

  Johan Santana   /   P Height: 6'0" Weight: 195 Bats/Throws: L/L More info: Player page Stats Splits twinsbaseball.com

"He's just not there," pitching coach Rick Anderson said. "It takes ballgames and time. He has to work his way up like the rest of (the pitchers) for a change."

Complicating matters for Santana is that he had to recover from a pulled hamstring suffered in Venezuela, while practicing before the crisis. He was unable to seek proper treatment for the injury because a gasoline shortage prevented most citizens from driving.

Instead of pitching or recuperating, Santana spent much of his time waiting to fill his car with gasoline. The nation's rich petroleum business was also affected by the strike.

"I was in the line for eight days," he explained.

Santana didn't have to spend all of the time waiting in the car. Family and friends from his small town of Tovar Merida would take turns waiting too. Fellow Venezuelan pitcher Juan Rincon could sympathize about getting fuel and not throwing. He only had to wait three days in his town, but he had to do it alone. He passed the time playing dominoes with friends in other cars or sleeping.

"I'm the only one in my family who could do that," Rincon said. "My dad couldn't and my mom can't drive. I wasn't going to make my sister do it. I was the one who had to take the car."

When it came time to go to the embassy for a visa to report to Spring Training, Santana's athlete status came in handy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------"I have to start all over again. I'm in the process of putting everything back together. The good thing is I feel good. It's going to take a little while. That's what Spring Training is for." -- Johan Santana ------------------------------------------------------------------------"I talked to those people (at the embassy) and the National Guard took me to the gas station and they took my car and filled it up," Santana said. "Because I was a ballplayer, they said 'OK.' They allowed me to get some gas."

Imagine his delight when he was filling his car back in the United States. He wasn't quite sure what to do.

"The first time I drove from Miami to here, the first thing that came to my mind was Venezuela," Santana said. "When I got to the gas station, there was nobody there and I thought maybe they ran out of gas."

The inactivity before Spring Training may have actually done Santana's shoulder some good. Innings not used up in December and January should provide him plenty of gas in his arm come September.

"Last year I was tired at the end," Santana said. "The last month of the season, I was feeling tired. But you get in a situation where you don't think about it." "I think it was the best thing to happen, that I didn't play in winter ball, because I was able to recover."

In 2002, Santana filled a jack-of-all-trades role for Minnesota's pitching staff. He worked well as a starter and in middle or situational relief. He led the club with 137 strikeouts in only 108 1/3 innings.

Because of the stability of working in a rotation, starting is Santana's favorite role. Although he would prefer not getting the job by default because of an injury to another pitcher, he's ready to run with it.

"I want to earn my spot the right way," Santana. "If they give me the chance, I don't want to waste any time or opportunity. I want to show I can start games."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This report was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

www.duluthsuperior.com Posted on Wed, Mar. 05, 2003 Associated Press

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Alex Escobar is eager to quit thinking about passing the next test and just play baseball naturally.

"I haven't been 100 percent for so long, I'm not sure right now what that feels like," Escobar said Wednesday after participating in base-running drills at the Cleveland Indians' training camp. "I can feel improvement every day, but I don't consider myself completely back until I don't wear a brace on my knee."

It has been just over a year since Escobar hurt his left knee when he ran into the center-field wall March 4, 2002, in an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Fla.

Before the injury, the 24-year-old outfielder was considered one of the brightest prospects in the game. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said he would not have made the multi-player trade that sent All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar to the New York Mets without getting Escobar.

Shapiro's insistence came from seeing Escobar bat .310 with 27 homers and 49 stolen bases in Class A ball in 1998, then rise through the Mets system. Escobar hit three homers in 18 games in his first trial in the majors in 2001.

"We regard Alex as a five-tool player, so the injury was a major setback and very frustrating," Shapiro said. "But Alex may have had the best outlook of anybody. I remember talking to him the next day and he was proud of the catch. He said, 'It was a great catch.' He was more concerned with making the play."

Escobar made a similar catch in a game Monday against Tampa Bay.

"It was just like the one I got hurt on," he said. "I took the test and I passed. I didn't even think of it at the time. Later, I said, 'Hey, that happened the same way, I hit the warning track then hit the wall.'

"To make that catch without thinking about it was a big step."

On Tuesday, he returned to Bradenton against the Pirates on the one-year anniversary of the injury.

"That was just a coincidence and I really didn't think about it because I know my knee is fine," Escobar said. "It is more the mental side that I'm overcoming now. I can't think about how I will catch a ball. It has to happen naturally and I am back doing that every time."

Escobar didn't go out to the wall and curse it or hit it with a bat.

"I'm too busy working on getting into shape to do things like that," he said.

Manager Eric Wedge said Escobar likely will begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo, wearing a knee brace and getting as many at-bats as possible to regain his hitting stroke.

"We'll see how things play out with Alex in terms of how much time he gets in the outfield," Wedge said. "We want a completely healthy Alex. At some point, the brace will come off - but not until it is time."

Escobar said that he will make that decision.

"The person who has to say when is me," he said. "Tuesday, I did some light jogging and sprints without it. It felt pretty good and I'm going to do it again this afternoon. Hopefully I can throw that brace away later this month.

"I still consider myself fast. Maybe with a brand new knee, I'll be even faster."

Coach Al Bumbry said he judges Escobar's conditioning on the way the slender outfielder looks after a workout.

"There hasn't been any problem for him in the outfield or on the bases," Bumbry said. "I watch him afterwards. I've seen him with a little more energy, not dragging, after practice."

Escobar said he works on conditioning with the understanding that his talents are still there.

"The other things, hitting, throwing, are natural instincts," he said. "They will come around the more I just get out and play.

Escobar could not play winter ball as planned in his native Venezuela due to political unrest this year.

"The day I was to start, they shut down the league," he said. "I was more concerned for my family because you don't know what is going to happen."