Vicente Padilla

Just weeks before Phillies pitchers and catchers report to spring training, Vicente Padilla's agent yesterday quickly dismissed claims made by a Nicaraguan newspaper that Padilla has a serious drinking problem. The headline in Monday's El Nuevo Diario, one of the principal newspapers in Managua, Nicaragua's capital, read: "Vicente Padilla is destroying himself. " "There have been stories about Vicente on many occasions," said Rudy Valenzuela, Padilla's agent. "I've been around Vicente many times.

So much for his sore groin. New York righthander Mike Mussina shook off his minor injury to become the first pitcher in American League history to win 10 games for 15 straight years as the visiting Yankees bounced back from a historic loss with an easy win, 11-3, over the Cleveland Indians last night. One day after a 19-1 pummeling by Cleveland, tying the second-most lopsided defeat in their famed history, the Yankees looked much more like themselves. Mussina (10-3) allowed three runs and five hits in six sharp innings.

It's a fresh start for Vicente Padilla. That's his hope, anyway. The Texas Rangers introduced Padilla, the former Phillies righthander, yesterday at a news conference. They acquired Padilla on Monday in a trade with the Phillies for a player to be named. The Phils are deciding between two players: righthander Ricardo Rodriguez or minor-league infielder Julio Gonzalez. They could announce their choice next week. "I'm excited about pitching here," Padilla told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Texas Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla was suspended yesterday for seven games and Athletics outfielder Nick Swisher was given three games for an incident that occurred in the first inning of Sunday's game in Oakland. The former Phillie was suspended for intentionally throwing at Swisher, who charged the mound. Both players also received undisclosed fines, a decision made by baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson. Swisher began his suspension yesterday. Padilla appealed his suspension.

Ozzie eruption The loquacious Ozzie Guillen was in midseason form yesterday after his White Sox lost their third straight to Tampa Bay, saying Chicago general manager Kenny Williams should make some changes. "It could be me. It could be [hitting coach] Greg Walker, the players, anybody," Guillen told the Associated Press. "I'm sick and tired watching this for a year and a half. I'm not protecting anybody anymore. " Including, apparently, himself. Ouch During the 12-game losing streak that ended Saturday night, the Kansas City Royals gave up three grand slams, lost a five-run lead in the ninth, were no-hit, and were swept in consecutive four-game series.

On Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox fell out of first place in the American League East. Yesterday, they made some moves designed to help them regain the top spot - but not in time to prevent their fifth straight loss as Texas completed a three-game sweep. The Red Sox acquired slumping first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates for two midlevel prospects, and sent shortstop Julio Lugo and cash to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Chris Duncan. "We've been in the market for a player who can do some damage against righthanded pitching and help our depth at the corner infield," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein of LaRoche, who is batting .109 since July 4. Lugo, who signed a $36 million, 4-year free-agent deal before the 2007 season, was designated for assignment Friday and is owed about $13 million through next season.

El Duque's comeback attempt with the Texas Rangers has ended. Texas released Orlando Hernandez from his minor league contract yesterday, making him a free agent. Hernandez had 12 strikeouts over 11 innings in eight relief appearances for Triple A Oklahoma City since being activated 3 weeks ago. Hernandez, part of four World Series championship teams, last pitched in the majors for the New York Mets in 2007 before toe surgery. The pitcher's age has been questioned at times, and is listed as high as 43 by some accounts.

Bunt controversy An old debate flared up during Wednesday's Tigers-Red Sox game - should a player try to break up a no-hitter with a bunt? Detroit's Gerald Laird tried to bunt his way on to lead off the sixth inning against Josh Beckett. Had the bunt not rolled foul, it would have been a hit. Beckett, who lost his no-hitter with two outs in the seventh, hit Laird with a pitch on his next at-bat. "It's only 4-0. It's the sixth inning. It's not like it was the eighth inning," Laird explained on MLB.com.

Mark Teixeira was hit on the right shoulder by Vicente Padilla in the second inning. Then he was hit on the buttocks in the fourth. Convinced he was being thrown at, Teixeira followed with a slide at second that sent shortstop Elvis Andrus flying and sparked the Yankees in a seven-run fourth inning. New York coasted past the Texas Rangers, 12-3, last night to take over best record in the American League at 31-21. When Teixeira faced Padilla (3-3) for the first time on June 9, 2005, he homered in the first and third innings during Texas' 10-8 loss to the Phillies, then was hit by a pitch in the fifth.

If a poll had been taken in the clubhouse when Vicente Padilla still pitched for the Phillies, it wouldn't have been surprising to hear the players say he had the best stuff on the team. He just had problems showing it at the end. He hasn't lately. Padilla is 10-3 with a 3.74 ERA for the Texas Rangers this season. He faces Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels tonight. "I think the change of scenery did him good," manager Charlie Manuel said before last night's game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.