CBSSport Bob Feller is back watching his beloved Cleveland Indians, a bounce in his step as he is treated for leukemia.

The third-oldest living member of the Baseball Hall of Fame at age 91, Feller said Sunday that hes “feeling better than I have in weeks,” following two days at Cleveland Clinic and a week of outpatient treatment.

“I just didnt have my usual energy, so I went in for a checkup and they said my blood count was low,” Feller said. “I spent two days in the hospital and they gave me two quarts of blood. Then they gave me some pills, and I went back every day for a week. They injected three shots of chemo a day.

“Ive got my energy back. I feel very good. Ill go back for a checkup next month.”

Feller was at his usual seat in the press box after missing the first five games of the Indians current homestand.

He burst on the baseball scene in 1936 as a 17-year-old schoolboy from Iowa. Signed for $1 and an autographed baseball, the right-hander never pitched in the minors and spent 18 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, compiling a 266-162 record. He missed 3½ seasons at the peak of his career to serve in the Navy during World War II.

He pitched three no-hitters and 12 one-hitters. In 1938, he struck out 18 in one game, a record at the time. Two years later, he pitched the only no-hitter on opening day and won a career-high 27 games. Fellers best season was 1946, when he went 26-15 with a 2.18 ERA, 348 strikeouts, 10 shutouts and 36 complete games.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962, Feller is younger than 92-year-olds Lee McPhail and Bobby Doerr among living members.

CBSSpo The Chicago White Sox gave The Big Hurt a big honor on Sunday, retiring Frank Thomas number before their game against the New York Yankees.

Ex-player Billy Pierce helps unveil a portrait of Frank Thomas on the outfield wall during a ceremony to retire Thomas number. (Getty Images) Thomas fought back tears during an emotional ceremony that included fireworks and several of his former teammates. He thanked the organization and the city, saying “you can only dream of something like this” as his voice cracked.

Among those on hand to see Thomas become the ninth White Sox player to have his number retired were Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk and former World Series MVP Jermaine Dye, who both played with him. They got big ovations along with Billy Pierce and Minnie Minoso, while former manager Terry Bevington got booed.

The biggest reaction was for the honoree.

“It brought back a lot of memories, thinking about teammates and all the great times and bad times,” Thomas said. “It just got to me. Emotion caught up. Im a very, very proud man today, and this was probably was the proudest day of my life.”

There was a video tribute for Thomas, who was then presented a painting and framed jersey by chairman Jerry Reinsdorf near home plate. Thomas image with his No. 35 was unveiled along the wall in left-center and fireworks went off. The team later announced plans to install a bronze sculpture of Thomas in the outfield concourse next season, adding another honor on a day that Thomas said hell remember for the “rest of my life.”

The tributes are fitting, considering he is regarded by many as the greatest White Sox player of all.

“You want to talk White Sox, Frank Thomas name has got to be No. 1,” said Ozzie Guillen, his former teammate and manager. “I know Luke Appling played here. I know Nellie [Fox] played her all those guys. I think Frank Thomas did stuff for this organization that people are not going to forget.”

Thomas retired in February after a 19-year career in which the two-time AL MVP hit .301 with 521 homers and 1,704 RBI.

The Big Hurt made his major league debut in 1990 and set club marks for homers (448) and RBI (1,465) before splitting his final three seasons with Toronto. That came after a messy split with Chicago following the 2005 championship season, but the ill will eased in recent years, with the White Sox hiring him as an ambassador last month.

When he left Chicago, Thomas was upset when the club bought out his option for $3.5 million that December, and things got particularly nasty during the 2006 spring training. He sounded off against the organization in an interview with the of suburban Tinley Park, Ill., and general manager Ken Williams responded by calling him “an idiot.”

Thomas was angry with the organization for portraying him as a damaged player, although injuries to his left ankle limited him to 34 games and made him a spectator as the White Sox grabbed their first World Series title since 1917. So it was a bitter end to an otherwise storied tenure with the team.

“Its going to be some ups and downs if you play anywhere as long as I played,” Thomas said. “It happens to all the big players. Sixteen years in one city and played at a high level for such a long time, youre going to have your ups and downs. Im sorry, people want to knock you down sometimes. Im used to that. I had broad shoulders; I had to get broader shoulders.

“There were some days that I wanted to just go in my locker and cry with all that stuff. But I kept finding a way to get it done. Im proud of what I accomplished over 16 years here and thank all of Chicago,” he said.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Au Police have charged former major league pitcher Ambiorix Burgos with kidnapping and attempted murder after his ex-wife said she was forced to eat rat poison.

Judge Freddy Frias ordered Burgos on Saturday to remain in jail for three months while prosecutors prepare the case.

The 26-year-old is suspected of kidnapping Dilenia Reynoso on Thursday from a prosecutors home where she was hiding after allegedly receiving death threats from him.

In 2008, authorities dropped charges against Burgos, who was accused in a fatal hit-and-run involving two women.

Last year, a New York jury found Burgos guilty of assaulting his girlfriend in a hotel near Shea Stadium. He was sentenced to nine months in jail.

Burgos pitched for the Kansas City Royals from 2005-06 and the New York Mets in 2007. He was released by the Mets in December 2008.

CBSSpor A person with knowledge of the situation confirms that Major League Baseball is investigating New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova and a former minor-league teammate for allegedly injecting each other with B-12 shots.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because MLB is not discussing the matter publicly.

The first reported the investigation Saturday, saying that baseball was looking into whether Nova and pitcher Wilkin De La Rosa injected each other last season while they were teammates with Double-A Trenton.

B-12 is not on baseballs list of banned substances, but the Post said MLB is focused on the issue of whether the players injected each other and wants to make certain the shots were in fact B-12.

The person who spoke to the AP confirmed those details.

Nova is scheduled to start Sunday for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox.

“We talked to him about it. We are unaware of any investigation at this time,” New York manager Joe Girardi said Saturday. “We talked to him yesterday just to say you might be asked about it. I feel like his head will be in the right spot.”

The 23-year-old Nova was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last weekend and pitched well in his first major-league start Monday at Toronto.

Asked on Saturday about the investigation, Nova said: “I have no comment on that.”

De La Rosa is still at Double-A Trenton, where he has been used primarily as a reliever this year.

CBSSports Rookie right-hander Mike Leake went on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a tired pitching shoulder, but the Cincinnati Reds expect him back before the end of the season.

They also might get opening day starter Aaron Harang back next week, too.

The NL Central leaders are tinkering with their staff, trying to get ready for a strong September run while protecting their young pitchers from overuse. Leake was one of their concerns, appearing to wear down while his innings piled up lately.

The 22-year-old pitcher made the jump directly from Arizona State to the majors, winning the final spot in the rotation during spring training. He was among the NLs top rookie pitchers during the first half of the season, winning five in a row while leading all NL rookies in innings pitched.

He was less effective in August, prompting the Reds to move him to the bullpen to cut down on his innin so the Reds sent him for a shoulder exam.

“We think its better for him,” manager Dusty Baker said. “He still may be eligible for down the stretch and the playoffs. Hes not throwing the ball where he wants to throw it, even though he has good velocity. Hes been examined by the doctors. Since he has a little shoulder fatigue – we were going to try to do something with him anyway. We think now its time for him to get on a strengthening program and not worry about pitching as much.”

Leake went 8-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 22 starts. The Reds expect him to be back in September, giving them another option.

Harang has been sidelined by back spasms since July 6. He had no problems during a rehab stint in the minors.

“I havent had any issue with the back at all,” Harang said. “I think thats the last thing on my mind when Im pitching now.

“The hardest part right now is just that ample amount of down time, not being able to get out there and participate. You have to go out there and be more of a cheerleader. After a little while, you want to be back out there. You dont want to be the cheerleader anymore.”

Harang gave up 14 hits and 11 runs in 11 innings during two starts for Triple-A Louisville, but wasnt concerned about the results.

“I went down there and worked on building my endurance up,” he said. “You want to get that feeling back and not worry about the outcome. Pitching is about feeling.”

The Reds called up utility player Juan Francisco from Louisville to take Leakes spot temporarily, with outfielder Laynce Nix bothered by a sore left ankle that he twisted on Monday. Francisco is in his third stint with the Reds.

The Reds also needed an extra position player because second baseman Brandon Phillips is bothered by a sore right hand, hit by a pitch in San Francisco on Wednesday. X-rays were negative. He was out of the lineup on Friday for the opening game of a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs.

“Hopefully hell be back in a day or two,” Baker said.

CBSSports.com wire Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia says his injured left foot is not healing quickly and that surgery may be required.

Pedroia will undergo additional tests when the Red Sox return home from a road trip in one week, at which time a decision on surgery will be made. The Red Sox played Tampa Bay on Friday night.

If there is not marked improvement, Pedroia said there will be “no choice” but to have the procedure to insert a screw into a bone that was broken on June 25.

“If Im not feeling any better and it shows that its not healing more, Ive got to go have the surgery,” Pedroia said.

Pedroia briefly played after spending seven weeks on the disabled list, but was placed back on the disabled list on Aug. 20 with soreness in the foot.

“Its upsetting, but I just want to get to next week and go on from there,” Pedroia said. “It hasnt been healing that well this whole time.”

If surgery is needed, the Red Sox expect Pedroia to be ready for spring training.

“A decision will be made, probably, pretty soon after we get home,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

Francona said right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, scratched from his start Wednesday by back stiffness, is scheduled to pitch Thursday against Baltimore.

Catcher Jason Varitek continues making progress in his workout program for a broken right foot. Varitek, sidelined since July 1, would likely need a minor league rehab assignment before returning.

“Hes doing really well,” Francona said. “I dont know the timetable. Well wait and see the next couple days. He would have to be cleared before he could go on rehab.”

Reliever Hideki Okajima, out with a strained right hamstring, threw 30 pitches off a bullpen mound. The left-hander could soon return from the disabled list.

Outfielder Mike Cameron underwent surgery for a lower abdominal strain. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (lower right leg infection) and infielder Eric Patterson (strained neck) were scheduled to start rehab assignment Friday night with Triple-A Pawtucket.

CBSSports Albert Pujols hit his 400th home run Thursday night, becoming the 47th major league player to reach the milestone.

The St. Louis Cardinals slugger led off the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals by sending an 0-1 fastball from starter Jordan Zimmermann into the right-center seats.

At 30 years, 222 days, Pujols became the third-youngest player to reach 400 homers. Alex Rodriguez hit No. 400 at 29 years, 316 days, and Ken Griffey Jr. reached the benchmark at 30 years, 141 days.

Pujols drive broke a three-way tie with Al Kaline and Andres Galarraga for 47th place on baseballs career list.

As soon as he completed his swing, Pujols stood and admired the shot. He was mobbed by teammates when he returned to the dugout after cutting the Nationals lead to 3-2.

CBSSports Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman spoke for a franchise when asked about the latest exam to be performed on Stephen Strasburgs valuable right arm.

“Im very anxious about that,” Riggleman said.

Thursday was a day of suspense at Nationals Park as the 22-year-old right-hander underwent his second MRI in less than a week. The results will be analyzed and announced on Friday, and the team is hoping they show nothing that will force th or worse.

Strasburg was pulled from Saturdays game at Philadelphia when he grimaced and shook his wrist after throwing a changeup. An MRI on Sunday confirmed the initial diagnosis of a strained flexor tendon in his forearm, but the test raised enough questions for the Nationals to order a more extensive MRI that uses an injection of dye into the arm.

Strasburg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday, the second time hes been sidelined in less than a month. This latest setback come in his third start since returning from the DL because of inflammation in the back of his right shoulder.

“The thing with Stephen, he was in my office yesterday saying, I could pitch tonight, I feel great,” Riggleman said. “But you never know. Jordan Zimmermann last year felt like he could pitch through the whole situation, and it wasnt to be.”

Zimmermann, another premier prospect, ended up having elbow ligament replacement surgery. He happened to be making his first start in the majors in more than a year Thursday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Another bit of happenstance: Thursday was the day the Nationals introduced Strasburgs successor as the No. 1 overall pick, 17-year-old slugger-to-be Bryce Harper.

Strasburg is 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings with the Nationals and has thrown 123 1/3 innings total in the majors and minors this season. The Nationals were hoping he would throw 160 innings this year.

CBSSport Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez declined to comment on multiple reports that hes been put on waivers.

Ramirez shook off several reporters over an hour in front of his locker before Wednesday nights game in Milwaukee.

“No, man, Im good, thanks,” Ramirez said.

The White Sox are said to be interested in claiming him for a postseason push if hes available. Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said Tuesday if he were asked by general manager Ken Williams if he wanted Ramirez, he would say yes.

Ramirez was is in the starting lineup against the Brewers and playing consecutive games for the first time since coming off his third trip to the disabled list. Manager Joe Torre said the star left fielder will get Thursday off.

The reported Ramirez and teammates Casey Blake, Scott Podsednik and Jay Gibbons have been placed on waivers, a common process toward the end of the year that doesnt necessarily mean any players leave their current teams.

“Waivers are something that are supposed to be something very confidential and Im certainly not privy to it,” Torre said. “Its something thats not supposed to be talked about.”

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti declined to comment in an e-mail to the Associated Press, saying he doesnt discuss the process.

This year, Ramirez stopped giving substantial interviews to reporters in the spring. His play has been quiet, too, with right calf and hamstring injuries that have sent him to the disabled list for 58 games this year.

Ramirez is hitless in his last 10 at-bats. He came into Wednesdays game hitting .306 with eight homers and 39 RBI in 63 games and Torre believes Ramirez wants to stay in L.A. and finish his contract.

“Mannys always expressed that,” Torre said. “Hes had a tough year with the calf all year long. I think what would help right now is get a few hits in the game and things would feel a lot better for sure.”

Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers in 2008 and signed a $45 million, two-year extension in 2009 that included $10 million each season and three payments of $8,333,333 each from 2011-13. The 38-year-old is eligible for free agency in the offseason.

Ramirez has been adored in Los Angeles and his sometimes erratic play coined the phrase “Manny being Manny” in Boston during his 7½ seasons there after eight in Cleveland. He stayed a fan favorite in L.A. even after serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseballs drug policy last season.

“Mannys been a good soldier over here and continues to be a good soldier. Hes never given me a problem. Hes had a tough time here from when he was suspended a year ago because I think initially he was embarrassed by it and hes been trying to work his way back to where hes comfortable again,” the manager said.

Torre believes the 18-year veteran had to adjust to no longer being a power hitter, but came into spring training with the right mindset.

“I think once he realized the hitter he is where he may not hit as many home runs, he can still be productive,” Torre said. “His setup, everything right now is good, hes just a little bit behind. But hes still, he doesnt talk to you guys, but his personality in the clubhouse is about the same.”

CBSSports Stephen Strasburg will have a second MRI exam Thursday to determine exactly what is wrong with the Washington Nationals rookie ace.

Strasburg was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday with what the team called a right strained flexor tendon in his forearm.

After the initial MRI on Sunday, the team wanted him to undergo a more extensive test including an injection of dye.

“Hopefully the results will be good,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said. “Were just going to have to hold our breath until that time.”

Washington will call up right-hander Jordan Zimmermann to take Strasburgs spot in the rotation Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Zimmermann hasnt pitched in the majors this year after having Tommy John surgery last August.

Strasburg is 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings this season. This is Strasburgs second trip to the disabled list. He was placed on the DL last month with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Zimmermann was 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings as a rookie last season. He has pitched for Triple-A Syracuse since Aug. 1 after a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

“Everything has been as good as it can be in terms of health and his performance,” Riggleman said. “Every precaution has been taken.”

The team also announced that outfielder Josh Willingham had surgery on his left knee.