News briefs: Padres' Peavy to skip next start

SAN DIEGO -- Padres ace Jake Peavy will skip his scheduled start on Saturday at Los Angeles because of pain in his right shoulder, and probably won't pitch again for a week.

Peavy, who leads the NL with 201 strikeouts, said he felt sharp pain in the back of his right shoulder for his last two starts.

He lasted only five innings on Sunday at Milwaukee -- although he held the Brewers scoreless in a game the Padres lost. In his previous start, he came out after 6 2/3 innings against Arizona on Aug. 30.

"I guess the doctor's choice is to let this thing rest and hopefully I'll be at full strength here," Peavy said before the NL West-leading Padres played Colorado on Thursday night. "I wasn't at full strength Sunday and I'm not going to help anybody by going out there and having to worry about how long I can go."

Peavy (12-6, 2.93 ERA) said he probably won't start again until next Friday night at home against Washington, although he and manager Bruce Bochy indicated there was a remote chance he could pitch Wednesday at San Francisco. Full story

Players Union backs Ponson

BALTIMORE -- The baseball players' association filed a grievance Thursday claiming the Baltimore Orioles improperly terminated the contract of Sidney Ponson this week and that the pitcher is due the remaining $11 million called for in his deal.

Baltimore said Sept. 1 it would release Ponson and void the remainder of his three-year contract, a move announced a week after he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Ponson cleared waivers, and the termination was effective after Tuesday's games, according to the grievance.

The union claimed in the grievance that the Orioles' termination "constitutes discipline without just cause." It also contended that an addendum in Ponson's contract allowing the team to convert it to a nonguaranteed deal was not authorized under baseball's collective bargaining agreement and was the result of a "concerted effort by the clubs."

Frank Coonelly, a lawyer in the commissioner's office, defended the Orioles' actions.

Nats' Vidro says he's ready to return

WASHINGTON -- Tired of watching the Washington Nationals struggle to stay in the wild-card race, injured second baseman Jose Vidro wants to start Friday night against NL East-leading Atlanta.

"I felt today that my knee was stronger than what it was," Vidro said before Thursday's game against Florida. "Right now, it's just going to be pain. ... The cortisone shot helped me a lot and also the time off the field I was able to get."

When Vidro last appeared in a game, on Sept. 1 in Atlanta, he left in the fourth inning because of tendinitis in his right knee. Ankle, quadriceps and knee problems have limited Vidro to a .270 average with seven homers and 31 RBI in 77 games.

In Atlanta, Nationals manager Frank Robinson said Vidro might be limited to pinch-hitting duties for the rest of the season. Despite Vidro's claims that he's ready to contribute, Robinson doesn't think he's healthy enough.

Cards' Morris working out kinks

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Morris threw to batters instead of a regular bullpen session in an effort to escape a recent slump.

Morris threw about 45 pitches, the vast majority sinkers, to Reggie Sanders and Chris Duncan. Duncan, a rookie and the son of pitching coach Dave Duncan, homered on one of them.

"It's different facing hitters," Morris said. "I just wanted to see some results and gain confidence in as close to game situation as I could."

Morris wanted the hitters to present a challenge, and complained at one point when Sanders, rehabbing from a broken leg, took several pitches while visualizing his technique. Morris remains on track to pitch Sunday against the Mets.

London a possible venue for MLB in '07

LONDON -- One of London's famous cricket venues has joined Major League Baseball's list of potential sites for regular-season games in 2007.

After moving games to Mexico, Puerto Rico and Japan, baseball officials have met with representatives of the Surrey County Cricket Club, which runs The Oval cricket ground in south London. Wet, chilly weather in the spring could make an opening-season game difficult, but a game later in the season is possible.

"Major League Baseball is very interested in playing games in Europe," baseball senior vice president Paul Archey said Thursday. "We're investigating possibilities in Europe where we may be able to play regular-season games as early as the 2007 season."

Archey, who is in the Netherlands for baseball's World Cup, said other venues in Europe being considered included Rome; Paris; Munich, Germany; and Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Rockies activate Neal, send him to minors

SAN DIEGO -- The Colorado Rockies activated right-hander Blaine Neal from the 60-day disabled list and sent him outright to Triple-A Colorado Springs after he cleared waivers.

Neal, returning from an elbow injury, was 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA in 11 games after being claimed on waivers from Boston on May 11.

Neal was on Boston's opening day roster after joining the Red Sox in a trade with San Diego on March 22. He was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in eight relief appearances before being designated for assignment by the Red Sox on May 8.