Nicholson a victim of circumstances

Erie SeaWolves outfielder Derek Nicholson apparently had been victimized by international headlines earlier this week when he tested positive for a banned substance at the Olympics.

According to several published reports, Nicholson tested positive for a diuretic that is used to treat hypertension. The Erie News reports that several SeaWolves said they were aware Nicholson takes medication to control his blood pressure.

Nicholson, who left the SeaWolves on Aug. 1 to play for the Greece National Team, appears to be the victim of a technicality. International rules permit athletes to file documents identifying medications they take that might show up during drug testing, shielding them from discipline.

Dusty Rhodes, manager of the Greek baseball team, told The Washington Post that Nicholson completed the proper paperwork, including information from his doctor. But Greek Olympic officials told the newspaper that Nicholson's paperwork was filed too late for his medication to be included on an approved list for testing.

Greek pitcher A.J. Brack also was dismissed from the team after he tested positive for steroids.

Nicholson, 28, learned last spring that he was eligible to play in this year's Olympics because his paternal grandmother was born in Greece. Nicholson lives in Redondo Beach, Calif., and is a U.S. citizen.

READING REPRESENTS: Three former Reading Phillies were among the athletes participating in opening ceremonies in Athens Friday night.

Outfielder David Francia and pitcher Pete Nyari, both of Italian ancestry, are part of Italy's team. Catcher Andy Stewart is representing Canada.

Former Rock Cats first baseman Justin Morneau was slated to represent Canada until the Mientkiewicz-to-Boston deal opened a permanent slot in Minnesota.

EVER THE ANIMAL: Longtime pro wrestling fans will remember the husky oddball with the green tongue who would venture into a corner of the ring and start taking apart the turnbuckle with his teeth after his match.

Why George "The Animal" Steele, of course. Well old George is alive and well and evidently will recreate his legendary ring role if the price is right.

Steele threw out the first pitch before Friday's game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa., and did it in typical "Animal" fashion. He took a bite out of the baseball, ripped the cover clear off, then fired the remainder of the ball homeward - toward a bewildered Sean Walsh, the R-Phillies third baseman who served as the catcher.

Now there's something for the Rock Cats' promotional staff to shoot for.

CAT-A-LOG: While the Rock Cats' chances of making the EL playoffs are in the miracle category, the pitching staff is performing like anything's possible.

The starting rotation, even with spot starters filling roles, has turned in an eight-game string of credible games. Boof Bonser has become the stopper with a 4-0 record and 2.56 ERA over his last five starts (31 2/3 innings, 7 walks, 38 Ks).

After silencing Trenton Friday, Bonser has now gone two consecutive games (14 innings) without issuing a walk. Lefty Francisco Liriano has been impressive in two starts (12 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 15 Ks). Henry Bonilla has battled back from three straight sluggish starts.

But the bullpen has been the story. The current group of relievers has fashioned a 2.34 ERA since June 1.

Bobby Korecky leads the EL with 22 saves. When Korecky was on the disabled list, Travis Bowyer, Kevin Cameron and Jason Miller all stepped up. Cameron has a 1.13 ERA, Bowyer is at 1.76 and Miller, who just came back from 10 days on the disabled list, is at 2.67.

Korecky, in five outings since coming off the DL, has four saves and allowed just one run in seven innings.

Jim Abbott, recently returned from arthroscopic shoulder surgery, and Erik Lohse, have contributed, too.

Offensively, Garrett Jones and Kevin West have been at the forefront.

Since July 1, Jones is batting .350 with 14 homers and 43 RBI in 40 games. He's working on an eight-game hitting streak in which he's hitting 13-for-29 (.448) with four homers and 12 RBI. The first baseman has homers in four of his last six games.

West has surpassed Michael Cuddyer for the top spot on the career home run list (38) and Doug Mientkiewicz on the career doubles list (76). He is one away from tying catcher Jeff Smith atop the RBI list.

Outfielder B.J. Garbe is an enigma. After a streak that saw him go 38 at-bats with only one hit, he delivered a clutch single Friday at Trenton. His batting average, a meager .178 last year, has dwindled to .207. Garbe was the Twins' first-round selection (5th overall) in the 1999 draft.

Catcher Bryan Kennedy is hitting .294 with five homers and 14 RBI since returning from his knee injury on June 19. Ryan Owens has hit in tough luck all season but when your third hitter is batting .174, that's a source of concern.

Matt Scanlon, who usually hits third, has endured diminishing late-season returns for the second straight season. His average dipped from .293 on July 5 to .241 through July 7 but he's back up over .250.

Cliburn said in June that the fate of this club would rest on production from Scanlon and Garbe. Therein lies the doubt for postseason action.

LOCAL REPORT: Former New Britain High ace Kevin Rival is faring well in his late-season debut in the Milwaukee Brewers chain.

Rival, hurling for the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League, has allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings over five games as a set-up man. He has walked three and struck out nine.

Chris Denorfia of Southington, in Double-A with the Chattanooga Lookouts in the Cincinnati Reds system, is hitting .277 with five homers and 21 RBI in 36 games. He moved up from Class A Potomac where he hit .312 with 11 homers and 51 RBI.

Jesse Carlson, the former Berlin High southpaw, is 4-0 with one save for Round Rock (Astros) in the Double-A Texas League. In 48 1/3 innings, the 6-1, 160-pound UConn product has allowed 48 hits and 21 walks while striking out 44. The ERA is at 5.40 through 36 games.