Major League Baseball
World Series notebook: Giambi to have surgery on knee

By The Associated Press

	Jason Giambi
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NEW YORK — Jason Giambi has an inflamed tendon in his left knee and chronic patellar tendinitis, and the New York Yankees first baseman will have arthroscopic surgery after the World Series.

After playing the field in Games 3 and 4, Giambi was pulled from the starting lineup Thursday because of the knee. He will be the Yankees' designated hitter in Game 6 today as the Series against Florida returns to Yankee Stadium.

Giambi had an MRI exam yesterday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

"Jason has been dealing with a knee issue throughout the year," Cashman said. "We tried to tough it up and tried to keep it as quiet as possible. But then it got to the point where it was becoming a problem."

Cashman said Giambi will have diagnostic arthroscopic surgery soon after the final game.

Shortstop Derek Jeter often has ice packs on his left shoulder and rib cage, and has a thumb injury that's been bothering him, too. He dislocated his left shoulder on Opening Day, and it isn't clear if it will need surgery after the season.

Jeter said yesterday that he's OK.

"We'll go through Derek upon the conclusion of the season," Cashman said. "All I want to say on DJ is he's playing through a lot. Once the season is over, we'll address every need that he has."

David Wells, whose aching back forced him out of Game 5 after eight pitches, was at Yankee Stadium yesterday for treatment. He didn't say a word as reporters questioned him on his way out.

"We got to the ballpark this morning about 4-something," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Wells was trying to navigate from the bus to the parking lot with a suitcase. It wasn't very pretty."

Numbers game

If it seems as if a hit or two by the Yankees would have turned around the World Series, it's because the numbers bear that out.

While the Marlins are hitting .243 (9 for 37) with runners in scoring position, the Yankees are batting .163 (7 for 43), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. New York also is 0 for 6 with the bases loaded.

Florida has driven in three of five runners who have reached third base with less than two outs, and New York has knocked in two of seven.

Familiar surroundings

Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who grew up in New Jersey, is happy his team is facing the Yankees.

"I was always a Yankee fan," he said yesterday. "I spent a lot of time at Yankee Stadium — seemed like they got to the World Series so often, you think there can't be a World Series without having the Yankees in it.

"When we were sitting there in Chicago, waiting to see who we were going to play, the Red Sox or the Yankees, we didn't really care, we were happy to be there. But deep down in my heart, I'm saying, 'I want to play the Yankees, 'cause that's something special.' Your first World Series, you get to play in Yankee Stadium in the World Series. Win or lose, this is special."

The Soriano situation

After taking Alfonso Soriano out of the starting lineup in Game 5, Torre hasn't decided whether to put him back at second base today.

"We'll talk tomorrow," Torre said. "I'll see if I can read how he's doing. Again, he's pressing. When you go up against Game 6 and it's an elimination game, it doesn't make it any more relaxing."

Ratings still climbing

Television ratings for Game 5 of the Series between Florida and New York were 32 percent higher than a year ago.

Thursday night's game between the Yankees and Marlins posted a national rating of 13.2 with a 21 share for Fox Sports, well above the 10.0 and 17 share for Game 5 last year between the Anaheim Angels and San Francisco Giants.

For the first time since 1986, each game of this World Series has had a better rating than the previous year. Last year's Angels-Giants matchup drew the lowest ever TV rating for the event.

The five-game average rating for this World Series is 12.6, up 17 percent from last year.

The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, even if they are not in use. Each rating point represents 1,084,000 homes.

Note

• While Yankees right-hander Roger Clemens would be available in relief if there is a seventh game tomorrow, Torre doesn't plan to use the Rocket today.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company