BELLE TO STAY PUT: Albert Belle says he's with the Chicago White Sox for the long haul, no matter how bad they get.
Belle said he has no plans to ask for a trade to escape a team that was playing well under .500 ball and far out of first place in the American League Central Division ."I told (manager) Jerry Manuel I'm going down with the ship, that I made a choice to play with the White Sox when I signed a contract and I'm going to do it," Belle said.
DODGERS-REDS TRADE: The Los Angeles Dodgers, continuing their team makeover, obtained NL All-Star reliever Jeff Shaw from the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday in exchange for infielder Paul Konerko and left-hander Dennis Reyes.
The Dodgers completed the trade during their game against the San Francisco Giants. Konerko and manager Glenn Hoffman left the Los Angeles dugout and headed to the clubhouse before the bottom of the first inning.
Only 14 players remain from the Dodgers' opening day roster. Their biggest move came in a May 15 blockbuster trade when they sent Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile to the Florida Marlins for Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Jim Eisenreich.
Tom Lasorda, the Dodgers' interim general manager, said the Dodgers had lost too many games this season because they did not have a quality closer. The role has been shared by Antonio Osuna and Scott Radinsky, who will return to their normal roles as setup men.
Shaw, 31, had a 2-4 record and 1.81 ERA while recording 23 saves in 28 save opportunities in 39 games for the Reds this season. He ranks third in the NL in saves and made the All-Star team for the first time.
Konerko was the Dodgers' opening day first baseman but has bounced between the majors and minors this season. The rookie has batted .215 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 49 games this season for the Dodgers.
Konerko, 21, the Dodgers' first-round selection in the 1994 draft, was named the minor league player of the year last season when he hit .323 with 37 homers and 127 RBIs at Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League.
Lasorda said it was tough to trade away Konerko, but the Reds insisted they would not make the deal for Shaw unless they got the rookie infielder.
JIN HO CHO RECALLED: Jin Ho Cho, a 22-year-old Korean right-hander, was recalled from the minors this afternoon and promptly made his major league debut against the Chicago White Sox.
Cho became the first Korean pitcher for Boston and the second in the majors. Chan Ho Park pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
PIAZZA GETS AN EARFUL: Mike Piazza left the New York Mets' game against Atlanta on Saturday after being hit in the head by Gerald Williams' bat.
With two outs in the second inning, Williams jarred the left side of Piazza's head on the follow-through of his swing, giving Piazza a contusion to his left ear.
Piazza, the NL All-Star starting catcher, appeared dazed as he walked off the field alongside Mets trainer Fred Hina and was replaced by Todd Pratt.
Piazza, taken to Piedmont Hospital to be examined by a neurosurgeon, is listed as day-to-day.