Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

July 11, 2012

Major League Notebook: Selig unhappy about movie

The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has gone to the Boston Red Sox with complaints over a film Bobby Valentine produced about Dominican prospects.

"Ballplayer: Pelotero," a documentary that tracks corruption in the process of signing Dominican amateurs, opens Friday.

"I expressed our concerns to Red Sox ownership and that was it. What they did from there is up to them," Selig said Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "There were a lot of things that were inaccurate."

MLB said many of the issues have been rectified since 2009, the period covered by the film.

"It doesn't really reflect what's happened in recent years in the Dominican," said Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president of economics and league affairs, in a statement.

Valentine, in his first season as Red Sox manager, said in a text message to The Associated Press that he did not think he would respond.

Jon Paley, Ross Finkel and Trevor Martin, the film's co-directors, issued a statement defending their work.

"It is frustrating to hear Commissioner Selig state that our film is inaccurate," they said. "We stand by what we documented in 'Ballplayer: Pelotero' and would welcome the opportunity to showcase the documentary to Mr. Selig so he can specifically address what he feels is inaccurate."

 

METS: Pitcher Dillon Gee had surgery to remove a blood clot from an artery in his throwing shoulder.

The team said no timetable has been set for this return.

 

INDIANS: The baseball players' union may file a grievance against the Indians if they withhold pay from pitcher Nick Hagadone, who injured a hand in frustration.

Indians GM Chris Antonetti said Hagadone was hurt after a bad relief outing against Tampa Bay on Friday night and said the injury was self-inflicted.

Cleveland optioned Hagadone to the minors Saturday, then placed him on its minor league disqualification list the following day. His next payday is Sunday, and he has a contract calling for a $480,500 salary in the major leagues and $78,250 in the minors.

"If Nick is not paid what he in our view is supposed to be paid on July 15, then we'll have a fight about it," union head Michael Weiner said.

 

YANKEES: Reliever Joba Chamberlain is off to a strong start with his minor league rehab assignment, pitching one effective inning in a Gulf Coast League game.

Chamberlain struck out two and allowed an unearned run in rookie ball against the GCL Pirates, his first game since injuring his ankle during spring training.

Chamberlain dislocated his right ankle bouncing on a trampoline with his son in March.

 

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