Baseball Notes | Rap lyrics land Milledge in trouble

New York Mets prospect

Lastings Milledge

is in trouble with the team for making a rap CD that uses foul and offensive language.

The song "Bend Ya Knees" was on the Web site www.souljaboirecords.com, the record label the 22-year-old outfielder founded. Milledge can be heard using a racist term for black people and language derogatory to women.

"We don't approve of the lyrics," New York general manager Omar Minaya said yesterday.

Minaya said he spoke to Milledge - now at triple-A New Orleans and on the disabled list - and conveyed the team's position. Minaya said that no disciplinary action had been taken, but added that that could change.

Last season as a Mets rookie, Milledge hit .241 with four home runs and 22 RBIs in 166 at-bats.

A pitcher in the Mets' minor-league system was suspended after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Lino Urdaneta will miss 50 games for violating the minor-league drug policy.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan appeared in two games for the Mets this season, allowing one run on two hits in one inning. He also appeared in 10 games for triple-A New Orleans, recording six saves in 121/3 innings.

"It's something you don't want to deal with, but we are," Minaya said.

Last week, pitcher Jorge Reyes was suspended for 100 games for a second violation of the drug policy. Reyes, 22, made one start this season for single-A Savannah.

Hank Aaron will take on an increased role with the Atlanta Braves after the team's sale from Time Warner Inc. to Liberty Media Corp.

The deal, which Braves chairman Terry McGuirk said valued the franchise at $450 million, was unanimously approved by baseball owners at a special meeting called last night to beat a midnight change in tax laws.

The Braves put lefthander Mike Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left elbow and recalled lefty Macay McBride from triple-A Richmond.

Third baseman Chipper Jones was back in the starting lineup after missing four games with hand and thumb injuries.

Slumping Tampa Bay outfielder Rocco Baldelli (.204) could be headed for the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

Boston righthander Josh Beckett will not make his scheduled start tomorrow because of torn skin on his right middle finger, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

The Texas Rangers put outfielder Brad Wilkerson on the 15-day disabled list because of a pulled right hamstring. Wilkerson is hitting .250 with six home runs and 20 RBIs.

The Minnesota Twins placed reliever Jesse Crain (1-2, 5.51 ERA) on the disabled list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

The city of Harrisburg has agreed to sell the Senators minor-league team to an Illinois partnership for $13.25 million, a deal that includes a provision to keep the team in the city for at least 29 years.

The team was purchased by Senators Partners LLC of Northbrook, Ill., an ownership group controlled by Michael Reinsdorf, the son of Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox.

The Senators are the Washington Nationals' double-A affiliate in the Eastern League.

- Inquirer wire services