ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Los Angeles Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto resigned Wednesday, abruptly ending his 3 1/2-year tenure with the club amid apparent tensions with manager Mike Scioscia.
Former general manager Bill Stoneman will take over as the interim GM for the rest of the season, the Angels announced.
The 71-year-old Stoneman was the Angels' GM from 2000-07, hiring Scioscia and presiding over their only World Series championship team in 2002. He has remained a consultant and adviser for the Angels since stepping down.
The Angels have been vague about the reasons for Dipoto's departure, but his moderately successful tenure apparently destructed shortly after a contentious team meeting last weekend.
Scioscia and Dipoto previously have clashed over philosophical differences during the GM's tenure, and the latest dispute reportedly concerned Dipoto's desire for the Angels to play with more attention to statistical analysis and scouting reports(see full story).
Cardinals: Garcia ruled out for Thursday
ST. LOUIS -- Jaime Garcia has been pushed back again and won't start Thursday for the St. Louis Cardinals because of what the pitcher calls a left groin strain.
The left-hander and the team are confident he won't be placed on the 15-day disabled list. Garcia could start early next week in Chicago against the Cubs.
MLB
Manager Mike Matheny said the replacement for the opener of a four-game series with the Padres will be a minor league call-up.
Garcia was injured rounding third base scoring a run in the eighth inning of his last start on June 24 in Miami. The team had previously referred to the injury as a groin cramp.
Garcia is 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts coming off thoracic outlet surgery to correct a nerve issue in his shoulder that cost him most of the previous two seasons.
Marlins: Fernandez returns following 13-month layoff
MIAMI -- Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez says his long layoff was a life lesson, even if it was lousy for his career.
Now he's back, saying he's a better person for having made the taxing, tedious recovery from Tommy John surgery. He'll pitch for the first time since May 9, 2014, when he faces the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
"I've been waiting 13 months," said the 22-year-old Fernandez. "If I've learned something, it's how to be patient at my age."
Fernandez has always been in a hurry. He pitched only 27 games in the minor leagues, joined the Marlins at age 20 and became NL Rookie of the Year at 21 in 2013.
He was the Marlins' opening day starter last year, but his ascent was interrupted by an elbow ligament injury that required reconstructive surgery.
Then came the wait to return. Is Fernandez proud of his patience?
"The first four months, no chance," he said with a laugh. "Now I feel like I've gotten a little better, not only for pitching, but for life" (see full story).