BASEBALL

BRAVES CUT TIES WITH CENTER FIELDER ANDRUW JONES

The Atlanta Braves are cutting ties with Andruw Jones, saying they can’t afford to keep the perennial Gold Glove center fielder who’s spent his entire career with the organization.

General manager John Schuerholz announced the decision yesterday, shortly after breaking the news to Jones during a one-on-one meeting at Turner Field.

While hoping to stay in Atlanta, Jones wasn’t caught off-guard by the team’s stance. He made $13.5 million this season and was looking for a hefty raise despite slumping badly.

“I’m fine with it,” Jones told the Associated Press when reached on his cell phone. “I’m appreciative of the chance they gave me to play for Atlanta all these years. I understand the decision they have to make. That’s just the way it is. It’s a business.”

RED SOX LEAVE WAKEFIELD OFF ROSTER AGAINST ANGELS

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield has been left off the playoff roster for Boston’s first-round series against the Los Angeles Angels because of his ailing back.

Manager Terry Francona said yesterday the goal was to get Wakefield healthy enough for later in the playoffs, should the Red Sox advance. Wakefield (17-12) threw Tuesday, but did not feel good.

“We all know Wake. He bleeds for us,” Francona said. “But he understands this is the right thing to do. We were going to possibly put him in a situation that was not fair to him or the team.”

Wakefield was 17–12 with a 4.76 ERA in 31 starts this season. He declined to comment before the decision was announced and wasn’t available afterward.

JIM LEYLAND TO STAY WITH DETROIT THROUGH 2009

The man who helped restore the Detroit Tigers’ roar will be with the team for an extra year.

Manager Jim Leyland got what he wanted Tuesday when the Tigers extended his contract by one year, keeping him in the dugout through the 2009 season.

Leyland said last week he planned to meet with Tigers president Dave Dombrowski the day after the season and hoped to drive home to Pittsburgh knowing he had two years on his deal.

MLB SETS AVERAGE ATTENDANCE RECORD, AT 32,785

Major League Baseball drew a record average of 32,785 fans to games this season, breaking the previous mark of 31,423 that was set in 1994 — before a 7 1/2 -month players’ strike caused a steep drop. The major leagues set a total attendance record for the fourth straight season, drawing 79.5 million, an increase of 4.5% from last year’s 76 million.

Twenty-three of the 30 teams increased attendance from last year, with eight setting season records: Boston, the Chicago Cubs, Detroit, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee, the Mets, and Yankees and St. Louis.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PUNTER SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS FOR STABBING STARTER

Former Northern Colorado backup punter Mitch Cozad was sentenced to seven years in prison yesterday for stabbing a rival in what prosecutors said was a brutal attempt to take over the starter’s role.

“Clearly, this was deliberate to hurt him, and you succeeded,” Weld County District Judge Marcelo Kopcow told Cozad as he announced the sentence.

“The goal is to not ruin your life,” Kopcow said. “I would like you to succeed in your life.”

Prosecutors said Cozad ambushed starting punter Rafael Mendoza on the night of September 11, 2006. Mendoza was left with a deep gash in his kicking leg but later returned to the team.