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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2003)
Kotsay trade leaves Athletics bare at catcher Oakland will have to find a new catcher after jettisoning catcher Ramon Hernandez By Laurence Miedema Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT) OAKLAND, Calif. — The A's on Wednesday resolved the contract is sues holding up the trade that would bring Mark Kotsay from San Diego, but the deal now hinges on the center fielder receiving medical clearance from team doctors. An MRI scan of Kotsay's back, which hampered him most of this season, was supposed to be sent to the A's medical staff earlier this week, but according to a Padres source the transfer was delayed because the scan was misplaced. A's team doctors should get a look at them on Thursday, and if all checks out the widely reported deal will be completed. IWtWMWMMHMMMWM Apparently General Manager Billy Beane isn't too worried. He boarded a plane with his wife Tara, on Wednes day evening for a trip to London. The A's will send All-Star catcher Ramon Hernandez and outfielder Terrence Long to the Padres in the proposed deal. Ixmg's days with the A's had been numbered since he demanded a trade the day after the season ended be cause of a running feud with Manager Ken Macha. The inclusion of Heman dez leaves the A's with an enormous void at catcher, but it was the only way the Padres would consider making the trade. Hernandez blossomed as a hitter this season, setting career highs with a .273 average, 21 homers and 78 RBIs and was the hero of the A's playoff opening win over Boston. But his pri mary value was behind the plate. Her nandez's handling of the pitching staff is considered one of the biggest reasons the A's led the American League in ERA the past two seasons. "It surprises me because he's an in tegral part of the staff even though he's not a pitcher; he operates the staff, " A's left-hander Barry Zito said Wednesday. "But I understand we're going for some more offense I'm sure Billy's got something up his sleeve as far as a catcher." (c) 2003, San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.). Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services. BASKETBALL continued from page 13 Jersey mishap When Brooks appeared in his first exhibition game, he took the court wearing No. 30. In Monday night's ex hibition, Brooks wore No. 00. The Ducks realized after the first game that No. 30 is a retired number at Oregon, formerly worn by Ron Lee, who played for Oregon from 1972-75. Kent said it all happened by mistake. "Mis uniform was ordered this summer and ordered by someone who doesn't have a total feel for what numbers are retired and not re tired," Kent said. "We just got him another jersey and Aaron was com fortable with it." Kent said he has spoken with Lee about the mishap, and Lee had no problems with Brooks wearing the jersey in the first game. Pre-season rankings In the annual Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball media poll that was released on Nov. 6 the Ducks were picked to finish fourth. Arizona was picked as the favorite, receiving 26 first-place votes. Stanford earned the runner up bid — earning seven first-place votes — and Califor nia was tabbed in third, gamering one first-pi ace vote. Do the Ducks feel they deserve to be chosen fourth after finishing as the 2003 Pac-10 Tournament Champions? "We don't really worry about it," Joseph said. "Last year we were picked second and ended up fifth. Pre-season polls really don't mean nothing. It de pends on how you start playing when you get to the Pac-10." For the past 10 years, the poll has picked the correct team seven times, but only Arizona last year was the cor rect pick out of the last three. Injury update It is still unknown exactly when guard Jordan Kent and center Matt Short will return to the court from in jury, but Ernie Kent said the two are expected to be out of their boots by the end of the week. The Ducks are ready to have the op portunity of a bigger lineup and more depth on the bench. "They are two of our quickest guys in the post and on the wing," Cross white said. "It's hard right now when they're not in there. When they come in it's going to be a big boost for this team." Contact the sports reporter at jessethomas@dailyemerald.com. !EFS Skipper signs with Ducks The Oregon men's track and field program caught a big one Wednesday. Oregon announced on Wednesday that it signed the 2003 Track and Meld News Prep Athlete of the Year lommy Skipper to a scholarship to compete for the Ducks for the 2004 indoor and outdoor seasons. Skipper, who is considered one of the most accomplished national prep athletes in history, holds the outdoor high school pole vault record. I le has also scored in the state level in the sprints and javelin, giving him great versatility in coming to Oregon. This is our program's best signing to date, and one of the most notable additions in UO athletic history," Oregon track head coach Martin Smith said. "Tommy owns incredible natural abilities and has shown great maturity in several high-caliber meets. "To sign the nation's top athlete and a national record holder is special honor, and the fact that he's an Ore gonian with deep Duck ties makes it ■iWWWWK that much more special." The Sandy High School graduate was also recently awarded the 2003 boy's national athlete of the year hon or after his record-breaking senior year. Skipper concluded his prep ca reer taking second in the outdoor na tional title in June in the USA Junior Championships in the pole vault at 18 feet and one-half inch. In the same month, he broke the national prep record, clearing 18-3 to win the Golden West Invitational. Skipper follows in the footsteps of his brother, Art, who was also a prep standout that competed at Oregon in the javelin. The former school record holder at Oregon threw 259-10 while in high school. Women’s track adds coach Oregon track and field finally com pleted its coaching staff on Tuesday in hiring assistant coach Rock Light. Light will oversee the women's sprinters, jumpers, heptathletes and hurdlers after former women's coach Dan Steele shifted to the men's sprint, hurdle and middle distance crew to replace Steve Silvey, who resigned in September. "I've been to Eugene for many meets, and the atmosphere is leg endary, so it's a part of a dream come true," Light said. "I'm looking forward to being a pan of a staff that is incredi bly talented, excited and hard-work ing." Light is best known for his days as an assistant coach at Louisiana State from 1989-95. He oversaw the men's and women's multi-event and high jump athletes, and in six seasons, his athletes claimed four NCAA titles. — Jesse Thomas American Cancer Society's Great American Smoke-Out Thursday, November 20th Smokers often say, "Don't tell me why to quit, tell me how " There is no right way to quit, but there are some key elements in quitting smoking successfully. These 4 factors are crucial: • Making the decision to quit • Setting a quit date and choosing a quit plan • Dealing with withdrawal • Maintenance or staying quit Stop by the Health Center's Peer Health Education Office for a free Quit Kit and tips for staying quit. To make an appointment for free nicotine replacement (either patch or gum) call 346-4456. UO Health Center Health Education Program Call 346-0562 for information. healthcenter.uoregon.edu
