Notes

MLB Selig: No Olympic stoppage

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball won’t change its schedule to boost the sport’s chances of getting back into the Olympics.

Baseball was an Olympic medal sport from 1992-2008, then was dropped for last year’s London Games. International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge says baseball should make its top athletes available, as they are in basketball and hockey.

“Look, we can’t stop our season in August. We just can’t,” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig told the Associated Press Sports Editors on Thursday. “You can’t say to your fans: ‘We’ll see you in the next period of time. You’re club loses some players but yours doesn’t.’ ”

The IOC board meets next month to select one or more sports for consideration by September’s IOC general assembly. In an effort to boost the chance of readmission for 2020, the international baseball and softball federations are merging.

Some have suggested major leaguers could play in the Olympics during an extended All-Star break. Selig was clear that MLB’s schedule will not be interrupted, and that weather made an earlier start or later ending impossible.

“Do I wish I could? Yes,” he said. “But is it practical? No.”

The sport launched its own international event in 2006, the World Baseball Classic. The first two tournaments were won by Japan, and the Dominican Republic took this year’s title last month.

Many top American pitchers didn’t play for their national team, including David Price, Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Cain. Some clubs were reluctant to have their players participate.

“They just didn’t want to take a chance,” Selig said. “And frankly, if I were running a club, I wouldn’t either.”

He does hope to add another international competition.

“My ultimate goal, I hope I live long enough to see it, is a true World Series,” he said. “We have a ways to go.”

On another international matter, Selig would like to institute a worldwide amateur draft for 2014. Under baseball’s labor contract, MLB must notify the players’ association by June 1 of its intent to start an international draft for next year, and the union would have until June 15 to veto it.

MARLINS Below claimed off waivers

MIAMI - The Miami Marlins have claimed left hander Duane Below off waivers and optioned him to Class AAA New Orleans.

The Detroit Tigers designated Below for assignment earlier in the week to make room on their 40-man roster for reliever Jose Valverde. Detroit announced Miami’s claim Thursday.

Below has not pitched in the majors this year. He went 2-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 41 appearances for the Tigers over the past two seasons.

ROCKIES Helton on disabled list

PHOENIX - Todd Helton is back on the disabled list.

Sidelined by inflammation in his left forearm, the infielder was put on the 15-day DL Thursday by the Colorado Rockies, a move retroactive to April 20.

The 39-year-old is hitting .268 (11 for 41) with 3 doubles, 1 home run and 10 RBI.

The longtime face of the franchise, Helton was limited to 69 games last season because of a hip injury and had surgery in August to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. A career .320 hitter, Helton batted .238 with 7 home runs and 37 RBI in 2012.

BRAVES

Former pitcher dead at 60

RYDAL, Ga. - Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Rick Camp has died in northwest Georgia.

Bartow County Coroner Joel Guyton says 60-year-old Camp was found dead Thursday morning at his home in Rydal, about 55 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Camp’s cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

According to the Atlanta Braves’ website, Camp played with the team between 1976 and 1985. The Trion, Ga., native is perhaps best remembered for a home run he hit July 4, 1985, in the 18th inning of a game against the New York Mets. His run tied the game, but the Braves lost 16-13 in the 19th inning.

Camp, who became a lobbyist, was sentenced in 2005 to three years in prison for conspiring to steal more than $2 million from a mental health agency.