Sports Briefs October 5, 2010
Baseball
The New York Mets, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh gave their managers the boot Monday, firing them after disappointing seasons with underperforming teams.
The mediocre Mets got rid of manager Jerry Manuel along with general manager Omar Minaya after the team's fourth consecutive season in which the high-payroll team failed to make the playoffs.
Ken Macha was officially dismissed by the Brewers after consecutive losing seasons that following their 2008 postseason appearance as the NL wild card.
John Russell was booted by the penurious Pirates after 299 defeats in three seasons, which extended the woebegone franchise's consecutive losing years to a major league record 18.
• The Cincinnati Reds have completed a contract extension with manager Dusty Baker.
Baker is only the second manager to lead three different National League teams to the playoffs. The Reds won the NL Central this season, which was the final year on Baker's original contract.
• Justin Morneau's season is over.
The first baseman hasn't played since July 7 because of post-concussion symptoms stemming from an inadvertent knee to the head during a slide into second base.
A four-time All-Star and the 2006 AL MVP, he has begun to improve and hasn't had any recent setbacks, but general manager Bill Smith said the team doesn't want to rush Morneau back.
Already ruled out for the first round of the playoffs, Morneau had hoped to be ready for the AL championship series or the World Series. But Smith says there's not enough time for him to return to full strength.
The Twins expect Morneau to join the team for the start of spring training.
Football
The Big Sky Conference has honored Montana State quarterback Denarius McGhee and Montana defensive tackle Bryan Waldhauser among its league players of the week.
McGhee earned offensive honors after completing 26 of 43 passes for a career-high 385 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in tenth-ranked MSU's 64-61 overtime win at Sacramento State.
Waldhauser shares defensive honors with Portland State safety Manoa Latu. Waldhauser had seven tackles, a sack and forced two fumbles in 12th-ranked Montana's 30-7 win at Northern Colorado. Montana had six sacks in the UNC game.
• Boise State coach Chris Petersen said he harbors no hard feelings against voters who dropped the Broncos to No. 4 in the latest Associated Press college football poll.
Despite trouncing New Mexico State 59-0 Saturday, Oregon claimed the No. 3 spot held by the Broncos since the start of the season. Voters were impressed by the Ducks' 52-31 victory over Stanford.
Petersen is no big fan of early-season polls anyway.
If was up to him, polls wouldn't be taken until later in the season when voters can make better decisions on performance.
It may be a while before the 4-0 Broncos have a chance to prove they deserve a higher ranking. Boise State plays Toledo at home Saturday and doesn't face another ranked foe until the Nov. 26 game at No. 23 Nevada.
Hockey
Free-agent forward Ruslan Fedotenko agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the New York Rangers.
The 31-year-old left wing had one goal and six assists in five games with New York during the preseason, topping his new club in points.
Basketball
The Chicago Bulls have confirmed fourth-year center Joakim Noah agreed to a multiyear contract extension.
The contract is worth about $11 million per season plus incentives.
- The Associated Press