Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Major League Baseball received its best grade for racial diversity in hiring, even as the percentage of black players dropped again last year.

MLB received its first A- for race yesterday from Richard Lapchick, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. Its grade was B+ in last year's study.

Among major leaguers, though, just 8.2 percent were black players, down from 8.4 percent in 2006 and the lowest level in at least two decades.

· SUIT SETTLED: ESPN says a settlement has been reached in the lawsuit filed by former baseball analyst Harold Reynolds over his dismissal.

Reynolds sued the sports network for at least $5 million in October 2006, three months after he was fired. He alleged he was wrongly fired after a female intern complained about what he called a "brief and innocuous" hug.

Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. An ESPN spokesman says the suit was settled last week in Hartford Superior Court.

· PITCHERS BAT EIGHTH: The Cardinals prevailed in a unique game that featured both pitchers batting eighth, for different reasons. Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa anchors his lineup with singles hitters, giving him a pair of leadoff types after the first time through the lineup to give Albert Pujols more RBI opportunities.

Brewers Manager Ned Yost does it with C Jason Kendall to cut down on double plays at the bottom of the order.

· OUT: A lfonso Soriano underwent an MRI exam after hurting his right calf while catching a ball at the top of the first inning. Test results will be available today.

-- From News Services