Surgeon Says Torre’s Prognosis ‘Excellent’

The surgeon who removed Joe Torre’s cancerous prostate gland Thursday believes the disease had not spread, and said the prognosis is “excellent” for the New York Yankee manager.

“It was very routine,” said Dr. William Catalona, a pioneer in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. “I think he had a very early prostate cancer and it went very smoothly.”

Lab tests on the removed gland and surrounding lymph nodes won’t be complete for a few days, but Catalona said, “The way it looked to the naked eye, the prognosis is excellent.”

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men and the second deadliest behind lung cancer. The walnut-sized gland is at the base of the bladder in men. Men 50 and older are most at risk.

In cases where cancer is confined to a removed prostate, the patient’s prognosis is essentially as good as for a man who never had the disease, Catalona said.

Torre, 58, underwent the 2 1/2-hour surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where he was expected to remain for three to four days. Torre will then recuperate in Florida, said a family friend.

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Former major leaguer Jack Morris called police in St. Paul, Minn., after he apparently took his pickup truck from an impound lot without paying.

The truck was towed from a tavern parking lot Wednesday night because police suspected it had been involved in a hit-and-run accident.

Police spokesman Michael Jordan said Morris called police at about 8 a.m. and “provided us with information concerning his whereabouts.” The traffic and accident unit of the department is investigating the case. Jordan said further details would be available after the investigation is finished.

Before the former Minnesota Twin pitcher showed up at the impound lot early Thursday, Jordan said the attendant received a call from the tavern asking if the pickup was there.

Morris arrived at the impound lot shortly after that and asked the attendant to open the lot.

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Yankee right-hander David Cone retired all 15 batters he faced in New York’s 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Cone threw only 58 pitches, 36 for strikes. . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to wedge four outfielders into three positions, and it looks more and more like the odd man out is Al Martin. Martin, nearly traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks last month, now seems to have definitely lost his left fielder’s job to Brian Giles. He apparently won’t unseat Jose Guillen in right field, either.