Pitcher loath to relive pain

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published January 1, 2006

Jeff Niemann said he can't remember the last time he watched the DVD of his shoulder surgery, and he sure isn't taking it out at parties.

"They shaved a bunch of bone off," the Devil Rays pitcher said. "I try not to watch that."

Not because of the obvious "yuck" factor.

"It just reminds me," Niemann said, "of how bad it really was."

The Rays' top 2004 draft pick had a sensational 2005 spring. There was talk he could be with the major-league team by the summer, and the 6-foot-9 right-hander with the mid 90s fastball struck out 42 in 302/3 innings with Class A Visalia and Double-A Montgomery. But a variety of injuries hampered him, and the soreness in his shoulder was constant. "Deep down you kind of knew something was not right," Niemann said. "I just didn't think it was as torn up as it was. It was good to get it cleaned out."

The arthroscopic procedure in October shaved the joint between Niemann's right shoulder and collarbone. He said weight training is strengthening the joint, and he should be able to throw in mid January.

He hopes to join a minor-league team by April.

"It was very disappointing," Niemann said of his season. "It was mentally challenging to overcome that. I'm ready to get back to where I was. You've just got to know you're good enough."

KEEPING TRACK: Niemann shares a Houston apartment with pitcher and former Rice teammate Wade Townsend, the Rays' top 2005 pick who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Niemann said Townsend's scar is "nasty" but added, "He's coming along great."

LUGO SILENT: Jeff Borris, agent for Rays shortstop Julio Lugo, again declined to address the lawsuit filed against his client and other prominent Dominican major-leaguers over supposedly defective phone cards.

According to the $35-million lawsuit filed in United States District Court in New York, Lugo, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez, Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada and Yankees pitcher Octavio Dotel promoted the cards that severely shortchanged users, primarily Dominicans in the United States who used the cards to call home.

The suit also goes after the cards' manufacturers and distributors.

Lugo could not be reached, and Borris said, "We have no coment about the situation at this time. Sorry about that."

SPEAKING OF SHORTSTOP: The possible trade of Lugo to the Red Sox does not mean defensively challenged B.J. Upton starts the season with Tampa Bay. It apparently is decided the Rays will sign or trade for another shortstop until Upton's defense is major-league ready.

NEVER-ENDING RUMOR: It's big and it's out there and the Rays would do it in a heartbeat. But there is no indication this blockbuster is going to happen.

Under the scenario circulating on Web sites and newspapers, a four-way deal would net the Rays coveted third-base prospect Andy Marte from the Red Sox, pitchers Aaron Heilman and Jae Seo from the Mets and New York second baseman Kaz Matsui.

Lugo would end up with the Orioles, closer Danys Baez with the Mets and centerfielder Joey Gathright with the Red Sox. The Mets would get Manny Ramirez and Tejada would go to Boston.

Heilman, by the way, told Newsday if he is not a starter in New York, he wants to be traded.

MODEST MUCH?: Forgive Yankees centerfielder Johnny Damon if he's feeling full of himself. He did just sign a four-year, $52-million contract. "A good leadoff hitter is tough to find," Damon said during his introductory news conference. "And I think New York just found the best leadoff hitter in the game."

MORE YANKEES: Hideki Matsui is the second Yankees player, with Alex Rodriguez, to opt out of the World Baseball Classic. The leftfielder, who faced pressure to play from the Japanese media and legendary Sadaharu Oh, said he was passing because of his commitment to New York.

"The reason I decided to go to the United States was to try to become a world champion with the Yankees, and I fear chasing two goals might get in the way of that dream," Matsui said in a statement to the Kyodo News Agency.

New York's Daily News reported the Yankees have been behind-the-scenes opponents of the tournament (injuries are the biggest fear), and successfully petitioned to have catcher Jorge Posada removed from consideration even though he wanted to play for Puerto Rico.

The News said the team also asked for restrictions on pitchers Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina, neither of whom Major League Baseball lists as participating.

PALMEIRO'S FUTURE: Rafael Palmeiro, whose career was tainted last season by a positive steroid test, told the New York Times, "I'm still interested in playing. ... If there's something that's intriguing, I'll do it."

Palmeiro, 41, is one of only four players to have 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. He said he still does not know why he tested positive, though he suspects the supposed B-12 vitamin he received from Tejada.

The Times said Tejada brought the vitamin from his native Dominican Republic, where steroids are not as tightly controlled, though Tejada has not tested positive.

"I wish I could have turned in the vial for testing, but ... it was long gone" said Palmeiro, who added, "I'm going to take the responsibility, me being careless and taking something (not) knowing if it was clean. It was careless, stupid and naive of me to think it was safe."

[Last modified January 1, 2006, 00:29:14]