Baseball Files Countersuit

The nasty feud continues between ESPN and Major League Baseball, with MLB countersuing the cable network over three late-season games that conflict with NFL telecasts.

ESPN sued MLB earlier this month after the sport terminated a regular-season contract with the cable network that was supposed to run through 2002.

MLB countersued Friday in papers filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The judge received the papers Monday.

MLB is claiming it should be paid damages because the cable television network broke its contract when it decided three football games would draw much higher ratings than three baseball games.

MLB said in court papers that ESPN deliberately broke its 1996 contract “solely to cut a deal that it viewed as promising and having a more positive impact on the network’s pricing structure and the corporate bottom line.”

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St. Louis Cardinal left-hander Donovan Osborne will be sidelined at least two months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder.

The Cardinals also learned that infielder Shawon Dunston was suspended for three games for charging the mound in a game against the Dodgers on Sunday. He has appealed, and can play pending a hearing.

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Third baseman Aaron Boone rejoined the Cincinnati Reds, while pitcher Denny Neagle received reassurances that he won’t need shoulder surgery.

The Reds called up Boone from triple-A Indianapolis to fill Neagle’s spot on the roster. Neagle went on the disabled list Monday because of weakness in his shoulder.

Doctors who have examined Neagle or looked at his test results said that there’s no need for surgery, General Manager Jim Bowden said.