Catching great has four brain tumors

Times wires
Saturday, May 21, 2011

NEW YORK — Hall of Fame C Gary Carter said doctors discovered four "very small" brain tumors after he had an MRI exam Friday in Florida.

Carter, 57, said he expects to learn more about his diagnosis when he is examined again Thursday at Duke Medical Center.

"My wife, Sandy, and our children and family thank you for your thoughts and prayers," Carter said in a release issued Saturday by the Mets and the Hall of Fame. "We ask that you please respect our privacy as we learn more about my medical condition."

The statement did not say whether the tumors are malignant or benign.

Friends and former teammates were stunned when they heard the news.

"The last time I saw him a couple months ago, he looked well. He was Gary," said Mets first-base coach Mookie Wilson, a teammate of Carter's in the 1980s. "He seemed himself. No indication anything was wrong.

"Whatever the situation may be, of course I wish him well. And I hope things turn out for the best."

Lee Mazzilli, another teammate on the 1986 Mets, was on his way to Yankee Stadium when his wife called him with the news about Carter. He said he plans to reach out to Carter and his family when the time is right.

"You hope that it's not what you think it is," said Mazzilli, who works in corporate sales and sponsorships for the Yankees. "It breaks your heart. But I think if anyone has an optimistic outlook, he has one."

Fox broadcaster Tim McCarver, a Mets announcer in the 1980s, said he immediately thought of Carter's bright smile.

"The ear-to-ear smile that only Gary has. And obviously a smile is very important at a time like this," McCarver said. "I think everybody is kind of in that wait-and-see mode. … But certainly he has occupied our thoughts since we heard the news."

GARZA OUT: The Cubs scratched former Rays RHP Matt Garza from his scheduled start for today's series finale against the Red Sox.

Manager Mike Quade said Garza had a "little stiffness with his elbow" and will be checked out Monday. The club was uncertain who would start today, but Quade indicated that LH reliever James Russell was the leading candidate.

Garza, who was 34-31 with a 3.86 ERA in three seasons with the Rays, was acquired in an offseason trade. He is 2-4 but with a 3.72 ERA this season.

BRAVES: RF Jason Heyward was scratched because of lingering right shoulder soreness.

CUBS: OF Marlon Byrd was beaned in the second inning by Red Sox LHP Alfredo Aceves and left the game.

INDIANS: Rookie RHP Alex White went on the 15-day disabled list with soreness in his right middle finger.

ORIOLES: RHP Alfredo Simon was reinstated from the restricted list. Simon has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in his native Dominican Republic.

PIRATES: 3B Pedro Alvarez went on the 15-day disabled list with a right quadriceps injury. INF Pedro Ciriaco was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.

ROCKIES: 1B Todd Helton was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game because of back spasms.

TIGERS: LH reliever Brad Thomas went on the 15-day disabled list with an inflammed pitching elbow. Touted LHP prospect Charlie Furbush was recalled from Triple-A Toledo.

YANKEES: Backup OF Chris Dickerson was cleared to play three days after he was hit in the head by a fastball that left him with a concussion.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/catching-great-has-four-brain-tumors/1171145

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