Success of Twins, Expos ‘adds exciting dimension’ according to commish

New York Commissioner Bud Selig is not unhappy that Minnesota and Montreal are winning, and thinks the success of the endangered teams adds “a very exciting dimension” to baseball’s contraction issue.

Selig, in an interview Thursday with a group of Associated Press Sports Editors, said baseball was not embarrassed that the two teams most often cited for elimination next season are doing well.

Minnesota is one game behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, and heading into Thursday night’s games the Expos were in first place in the NL East.

“If we were going to contract a club and they win their division, we’ll confront that issue at that time,” he said.

Selig said he is asked all the time about the teams’ success, with people telling him, “Look at how well the Twins are doing, and Kansas City stinks and Milwaukee stinks.”

“I still think it adds a very exciting dimension and we’ll worry about that later.”

Orioles put Johnson on disabled list

Baltimore Jason Johnson broke the middle finger on his pitching hand in a freak mishap Thursday, an injury that will sideline the Baltimore Orioles’ right-hander for approximately three weeks.

The Orioles put Johnson on the 15-day disabled list, a move that further weakens an already shaky starting rotation. Johnson was scheduled to start Friday in Kansas City but will be replaced by Sean Douglass, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester.

Johnson fractured his finger on the hard dirt of the mound while going through his pitching motion about 90 minutes before the Orioles faced Boston.

Hitchcock throws six strong innings

Tampa, Fla. New York Yankees pitcher Sterling Hitchcock gave up one run and three hits over six innings in a minor league rehab start for Class-A Tampa on Thursday night.

It was Hitchcock’s second start since being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain at the end of the spring training.

Hitchcock likely will make a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus next week.

Rockies reliever scuffles with Cincy cab driver

Cincinnati Colorado Rockies reliever Mike James fought the cab driver who brought him to Cinergy Field for a game Thursday night and wound up with scrapes and torn clothes.

James said the driver went in the wrong direction, then took offense when he told him to turn around. They fought after the driver dropped him off at a stadium gate.

The right-hander said he wasn’t seriously hurt and would be available to pitch against the Cincinnati Reds. He didn’t plan to file a police report, and police said the cab driver had not filed a report Thursday evening.

“It’s unfortunate you can’t pick your cab driver,” he said.