http://0rz.tw/9fx8l Luminaries, fans help Mays celebrate birthday By Willie Bans / Special to MLB.com | 05/06/11 8:47 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO -- Willie Mays wore No. 24 as a Giants legend, but on Friday night a huge No. 80 cake made of cupcakes was placed near the pitcher's mound at AT&T Park to celebrate Mays' 80th birthday. He wasn't celebrating alone. Around the cake were many of Mays' former teammates, including two from his Negro League team plus Willie McCovey, Gaylord Perry and Orlando Cepeda. Mays was carted around the ballpark to join more than 40,000 fans as part of the birthday party. The crowd wore cone-shaped, orange birthday hats that matched the oversized hat on Mays' statue outside of the ballpark. It was all part of Willie Mays Day in San Francisco, according to a city proclamation, and he was treated to a special luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda joked on Twitter, "Thanks for inviting me to your party and letting me tell everybody how great you were." During the celebration, Mays had some heavy hitters send video birthday wishes, including Commissioner Bud Selig, fellow Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, singer Tony Bennett and former President Bill Clinton. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's birthday letter was read aloud by broadcaster Jon Miller. Of course, the fans sung "Happy Birthday" near the end. Then Mays showed his appreciation. "I'm just so happy I made it to 80," he told the crowd. "When you have so many people come out, it's just a wonderful, wonderful feeling." Torres to take more time in rehab stint SAN FRANCISCO -- Injured outfielder Andres Torres will stay at Triple-A Fresno through the weekend and be re-evaluated after that, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Friday. Torres, coming back from a strained left Achilles tendon, is eligible to return from the disabled list at any time. He was placed on the DL on April 15. On Thursday, Torres was 0-for-3 with a walk in four plate appearances for the Fresno Grizzlies. "He's coming along just fine," Bochy said. "He's going to be down there for a few days." Zito takes step forward by playing catch SAN FRANCISCO -- It was just catch, but injured starter Barry Zito threw off flat ground from a distance of 60 feet for about 10 minutes before Friday night's game. It is slow progress for Zito, who's on the disabled list because of a right foot sprain. Just about one week ago he was able to put pressure on it. "I don't know [what's next]," Zito said. "The trainers make up that schedule. I just go with what they tell me." Manager Bruce Bochy said Zito will see doctors this weekend, and then "we'll have a better read on him." DeRosa, Casilla making good progress in rehab SAN FRANCISCO -- Some smaller injured pieces to the Giants' puzzle got some work in before the Giants' series opener vs. the Rockies. Infielder Mark DeRosa could come off the disabled list Tuesday, according to manager Bruce Bochy. DeRosa participated in batting practice, and Bochy said DeRosa is feeling much better from left wrist inflammation that landed him on the DL on April 28. Meanwhile, reliever Santiago Casilla, on the disabled list with an inflamed right elbow since early April, threw a bullpen session. Bochy said Casilla threw well enough that his next step will likely be to face hitters. "We'll see tomorrow how he feels after throwing a [bullpen session]," Bochy said. Worth noting Giants outfielder Cody Ross was not in the starting lineup Friday against right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Ross is batting .229 against righties this season, but is hitting .200 overall with no extra-base hits in his first 14 games back from the disabled list. Asked whether he was just being given a day off, Ross said, "You don't get days off when you (stink)." Willie Bans is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. --

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