Robinson to Manage U.S. Team

Montreal Expo Manager Frank Robinson was selected Tuesday to manage the United States baseball team that will try to qualify for next year’s Athens Olympics.

Robinson will handle a professional team that is scheduled to begin training in the Arizona Fall League on Oct. 4. The Olympic qualifying tournament will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 11 at Panama City.

A U.S. team led by former Dodger manager Tom Lasorda won the gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Even so, the Americans have to earn the right to defend their title. Eight countries will play in the Olympics.

“That’s a lot of pressure,” Robinson said. “If you don’t win, you don’t make the Olympics. I look forward to the challenge. I really do. I’m really honored that they selected me, and I’ll do the best job I possibly can.”

USA Baseball did not say whether Robinson would manage the team if it qualifies for the Olympics. The Athens Olympics will take place toward the end of the major league season.

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Detroit Tiger outfielder Bobby Higginson was fined and began serving a two-game suspension by the commissioner’s office for throwing equipment that hit umpire Kevin Hollowell during a game against Toronto on Sept. 16.

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Manager Felipe Alou said he would leave some of his regular starters in San Francisco if the Giants must return to New York on Monday to make up the game postponed Aug. 14 because of a blackout

Baseball officials said that if the Giants are one-half game behind Atlanta after Sunday’s games, the tentative plan is to make up the game against the Mets.

If San Francisco beats New York and finishes with the same record as Atlanta, the Giants would have home-field advantage against the Braves in the league championship series because it won the season series against Atlanta, 4-2.

In the event of a makeup, San Francisco would have to play at home Sunday against the Dodgers, play in New York on Monday and return home to open the playoffs Tuesday.

“We would have to leave some regulars at home,” Alou said. “It’s impossible to tend to both games on different coasts. We are only human. We aren’t a team of 25-year-olds.”