Washington, D.C. to study stadium sites

Washington With hopes high major league baseball will soon return to the nation’s capital, the city’s sports commission on Monday formed a committee to evaluate sites for a stadium.

The Major League Baseball Park Site Evaluation Project consists of six firms, each concentrating on a specialist discipline such as finance, transportation or design. Similar studies in the past have produced lists of possible sites, with the grounds of the current RFK Stadium always at or near the top of the list.

“Ultimately the goal will be to find a site where a team can financially succeed and fit into the vision of the district,” D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission president Bobby Goldwater said.

Ankiel not close to returning yet

St. Louis St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Rick Ankiel, who hasn’t pitched since March 3 because of tendinitis, needs at least two more bullpen outings before he’s ready to begin a rehabilitation assignment.

“There’s no real way to put a timetable on him,” pitching coach Dave Duncan said Monday. “You’re just watching him, evaluating him, trying to get a feel for when is the right time to take it to the next step. But it won’t be too long before he’ll be out there pitching.”

The 22-year-old Ankiel has been sidelined since suffering from tendinitis in his lone spring training start and is scheduled to throw Tuesday and Thursday in what manager Tony La Russa termed a “progressive program.”

Marlins’ Gonzalez won’t need surgery

Miami Florida shortstop Alex Gonzalez will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks but won’t need surgery on his left shoulder.

Gonzalez, who hurt his non-throwing shoulder Saturday at San Francisco, was examined Monday by team physician Dr. Dan Kanell. Infielder Homer Bush will take Gonzalez’s roster spot Tuesday at Cincinnati.