By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

TAMPA — The usual process when trying to find holes in an opposing goaltender's game is to study video to evaluate tendencies and quirks.

But when it comes to solving Tim Thomas, video doesn't provide many clues. The Bruins goalie, Lightning players and coaches said Monday at the St. Pete Times Forum, is so unconventional he doesn't have a style to critique.

"An enigma," coach Guy Boucher said.

"He could do one thing on one shot and the next play it's going to be exactly the same shot and he's going to do something else," left wing Simon Gagne said. "He's really tough to understand."

And so good, Gagne said, the Lightning's "biggest challenge" in the Eastern Conference final will be to "stop Thomas."

"We could play amazing and he could stone us," Boucher said. "We're expecting him to be what he is — outstanding."

Thomas, 37, who actually was in Lightning training camp before the 1999-2000 season, which he spent with Detroit of the old International Hockey League, has been just that.

The Flint, Mich., native is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the league's top regular-season goalie after going 35-11-9 with an NHL record .938 save percentage, a league-best 2.00 goals-against average and a career-best nine shutouts.

His 2.03 goals-aga inst average in 11 playoff games and .937 save percentage are second in the postseason to Tampa Bay's Dwayne Roloson.

"What I like about Tim right now is he is very confident," Bruins coach Claude Julien told Boston reporters. "He seems very calm as well, not overly busy in net. But when he is busy, it's because he's making a big save."

So, how do you solve an enigma?

"It's hard," Lightning center Vinny Lecavalier said. "You don't really know his tendencies because he's, I don't want to say he's all over the place, but he's just different. He always makes saves in different positions. The thing we know is he's very aggressive. We have to take advantage of that.

"You've got to make sure he can't come out as much as he does and have guys in front of the net. It comes down to putting the puck in the (crease) and plugging away in there and have some sticks in there and more than one guy. It comes down to having screens and making sure we have guys there."

In other words, center Dominic Moore said, "We have to focus on our mentality and not focus too much on his style, per se. Just do what we need to do to get pucks in there and rebounds."

For Thomas, 10-4-0 against the Lightning with a 2.26 goals-against average and .930 save percentage, the worry is Tampa Bay's transition game.

"They'll counterattack," he said. "They'll attack off the rush if they get the opportunity. If all else fails, the pretty plays, they'll get the puck to the net. They have guys who will crash the net."

That is when Thomas' athleticism and competitiveness will come into play.

"It's his battle level," said Lightning wing Marty St. Louis, Thomas' teammate from 1993 to 1997 at the University of Vermont. "He's got his own style. He's unpredictable. You don't know what he's going to do. But I know he's going to compete."

Which probably looks pretty good on video.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Florida Gators freshman pitcher Hannah Rogers has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week honors following her performance that helped the Gators earn their fourth consecutive SEC Eastern Division title with a series sweep over No. 3 Tennessee at home in Gainesville this past weekend.

Rogers was instrumental in UF's success in the past week of play, picking up her third career save in UF's 1-0 victory over FSU, working the final 2.1 innings of the game, while also picking up all three wins in the Gators' sweep over the Lady Vols, having only started Sunday. Rogers threw a complete game in the series finale, and allowed just two runs in her four appearances over the past week, while walking just three batters between the four match-ups to finish the week's play with a 0.91 ERA and 13 strikeouts.

Rogers has a UF freshman-record 30 wins this season and has struck out 175 in her 43 appearances. She is fifth in the Gator record book for single-season wins and ranks in the top five in the country, first among freshman, in wins this season.

Through the 2011 regular-season league schedule, Rogers had an SEC-leading 25 appearances, 18 wins and starts and a conference-leading 128.2 innings pitched. Rogers did not allow an earned run in her first six conference games and has allowed one or fewer in 17 of her 25 SEC appearances.

Florida will open play in the SEC tournament Thursday against No. 7 seed Auburn. The game will be televised on ESPNU at 2:30.

The Gators have learned this season that just knocking home runs out of the park isn't the only way to win. Florida coach Tim Walton has turned this team into a group that thrives on the little details of the game - and it's working.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

When Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said last week that he and his scouts would be watching the progress of Swedish goaltender Viktor Fasth at the world championship, he probably had no idea he would get such an eye full.

Fasth has been outstanding at the worlds: 4-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average, three shutouts and a .983 save percentage, having stopped 113 of 115 shots. Word also came Tuesday, through TSN's Darren Dreger, that Fasth was named Sweden's player of the year.

It is an interesting time for Lightning goaltending, which, thanks to Dwayne Roloson, hasn't been this good since Nikolai Khabibulin led the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup championship. But as sturdy as things look right now, Yzerman has some serious decisions to make.

Roloson, who will be 42 next season (though he is playing like he is 24), will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. And the player the Lightning wanted as its backup, AHL Norfolk's Cedrick Desjardins, is battling a shoulder injury that has lingered since January, which raises all kinds of questions about his durability.

There are a number of teams interested in Fasth, the Oilers and Rangers, reportedly, among them. And certainly Yzerman, at this stage, hasn't made any final decisions on what his path will be. But Fasth is making an even bigger name for himself with his performance at the world championship. He also is putting more money in his future pockets.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

If it feels like you've seen this headline before, that's because you have.

Yes, another Tampa Bay Buccaneer was arrested on Monday. This time, it was defensive end Alex Magee, who was cited by Tampa police after an officer allegedly found a small amount of marijauna in Magee's car during a traffic stop.

We're not going to get preachy here, because this is far from the most egregious offense an NFL player has been accused of. But what's important here is the context. The Bucs are under tremendous pressure to erase the appearance that theirs is a team with a discipline problem.

The questions are more than fair. This is the fourth member of the organization arrested since March, beginning with pro scouting coordinator Shelton Quarles (DUI), cornerback Aqib Talib (aggravated assault with a deadly weapon) and coaching assistant Jay Kaiser (DUI). Combined with a series of arrests and troubles last year that include the felony drug arrest of former tight end Jerramy Stevens and the one-year drug suspension of safety Tanard Jackson, and it's not hard to see where the reputation comes from.

The point is, this was a very bad time for Magee -- a promising but still marginal player -- to have this happen. To say that people associated with the franchise are going to be on a short leashes probably goes without saying. Will Magee be cut once the lockout is lifted and NFL teams can resume making roster moves? Well, that's far from a given.

But don't be surprised if the Bucs, at some point, start cracking down in a more public fashion. They know fans are watching. And, more important, so is commissioner Roger Goodell.

Times staff
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Tampa Bay Lightning will open its Eastern Conference final series against the Boston Bruins Saturday in Boston.

Game 2 will be Tuesday, May 17 in Boston. Games 3-4 will be Thursday, May 19 and Saturday, May 21 in Tampa.

If necessary, Game 5 will be Monday, May 23 in Boston; Game 6 Wednesday, May 25 in Tampa; and Game 7 Friday, May 27 in Boston.

All games except Game 4 will start at 8 p.m. and be televised on Versus. Game 4 will be at 1:30 and carried by NBC. All games will be aired on WFLA-AM 970 radio except Game 6, which will be on WDAE-AM 620.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Lakers coach Phil Jackson fell well short of a hoped-for 12th NBA championship when Los Angeles was embarrassingly swept from the playoffs this week. But Jackson, who plans to retire, leaves the game as its greatest champion, his 11 titles superior to any coach in the game's history.

His expected departure prompted us to take a look at some of the most accomplished coaches in sports. It's a list full of greatness and memories, some relatively ancient, others more recent.

All, however, will be hard to top.

NBA

Phil Jackson's 11 championships seem unlikely to be surpassed in a day when NBA coaches routinely are fired before the holidays. Jackson benefited greatly from great players: He won six titles with Michael Jordan and the Bulls and rode Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to five titles in Los Angeles, the last two coming after O'Neal's departure. But we don't think that lessens his impact since simply managing those huge personalities is a job unto itself (remember how much Bryant and O'Neal despised each other?). If you're wondering, Red Auerbach won 16 titles with the Celtics, but only nine came as head coach. The others were won while he served in the roles of general manager or president.

NFL

Of the 24 Steelers enshrined in the Hall of Fame, nine were with the team during a single era. The Steelers of the 1970s and early '80s, led by Coach Chuck Noll, were dominant, winning four Super Bowls and helping lay the foundation for many defensive nuances still used today.

However, unlike Jackson, who has no peers among active coaches, Noll might not always hold this title. Keep an eye on Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has three titles and a guy named Tom Brady under center.

Major League Baseball

Casey Stengel spent 54 years in Major League Baseball, some of it — unbeknownst to many today — as a .284 hitter during an impressive 14 seasons. But when considering he won 10 World Series titles with the Yankees in a span of 12 seasons, you can understand how his exploits as a player might be a bit overshadowed. During one nine-year span between 1949 and 1958, Stengel's teams averaged a staggering 98 victories.

NHL

Perhaps the closest thing to Jackson in the modern era of pro sports is hockey's Scotty Bowman, who won nine Stanley Cups with three teams (Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit). Bowman coached from 1967 to 2002, but he got his fingerprints on three more titles in various roles in team front offices. Bowman coached in three of the most hockey-crazed markets in the game, and had success every step of the way.

College football

Alabama's Bear Bryant left a lasting legacy. Heck, even the man's trademark hat is easily identifiable by avid college football fans. But we'll remember the Bear for those six national titles he won, a mark that remains unmatched. He battled accusations of racism and he admittedly drank too much, but his program was the envy of college football in the 1960s and '70s. (The Crimson Tide won the national title in 1978 — the same year Bryant checked himself into rehab but continued drinking anyway.) Unlike some of today's loosely-run programs, Bryant won despite ruling with an iron fist, once suspending Joe Namath for drinking and kicking carouser Ken Stabler off the team.

College basketball

Between 1967-1973, the number of teams that won NCAA basketball championships was particularly short: One. Coach John Wooden's UCLA teams redefined success during his tenure as the Bruins' coach. The history associated with Wooden's name goes beyond his 10 championships, including the aforementioned seven consecutive titles. There's that whole 88-game winning streak in the early '70s, one that seems unlikely to ever be threatened. The Bruins also had three 30-0 seasons.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Florida Gators RB Mike Blakely has decided to transfer, UF coach Will Muschamp announced today.

Blakely is a former Bradenton Manatee standout.

"Mike has come to the conclusion that the University of Florida is not where he wants to play football," Muschamp said. "We wish him the best of luck."

A 5-9, 198-pound freshman, Blakely missed all of spring drills while undergoing rehab for a shoulder injury.

"Everyone at Florida has been very supportive of me in my time here and I'm thankful for the experience that I had, but I've made a decision to continue my college football career somewhere else," Blakely said in a statment released by the university.

By Ed Walker, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The biggest news in local fishing is the arrival of tarpon along Suncoast shores. While there have been tarpon in Tampa Bay for a month now, the fish are now appearing in good numbers along the beaches and deeper flats all the way to Hernando County.

Early season: Fishing along the beaches does not get real good until late May or June. This year, however, extended warm weather in April warmed the water quickly, and it appears the normal tarpon migration cycle has been moved up a few weeks. As the fish settle in along the coast, they will form schools of varying sizes. While the larger, more obvious schools might draw the attention of numerous boaters, there are almost always smaller or less apparent pods that can reward an observant angler.

Finding your own: There are many angles to locating tarpon. The first is obviously to go where there are fewer boats. Many anglers prefer to run to the best-known spots or where they see others fishing. This might get you some shots, but it seldom leads to more hookups. Having the first bait in front of a school of tarpon is key. Whenever possible, run the opposite direction as the other guys. You are far more likely to catch a tarpon with a school of 10 fish to yourself than 100 fish being chased by a group of boats. The same goes for time of day. Daybreak is nice, but often the fish bite best after the westerly sea breeze turns on and the gulf gets choppy. It is a little harder to see them, and the boat gets tossed around a little, but the fish bite really well and most tarpon anglers have gone home.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at info@lighttacklecharters.com or (727) 944-3474.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Minor-league baseball: 11 a.m. on MLB Network. The Rays' Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls, takes on the Indianapolis Indians, the affiliate of the Pirates.

Live From the Players Championship: 7 p.m. on Golf Channel. Getting you ready for this weekend's tournament at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

By Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

. Tonight

FC Tampa Bay (1-2-2) vs. Edmonton FC (3-0-2)

When/where: 7; Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg

How to follow: Live stream at fctampabay.com; live radio broadcast on 1010-AM.

Promotion: Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than usual. Beers will be two for one from 5:30 to 6:30.

Last meeting: This is the first meeting. FC Edmonton is a first-year expansion team.

Last time out: Tampa Bay lost 3-1 at home to Carolina on Saturday night, extending the club's winless streak to four games. … Edmonton ended a two-game skid Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Atlanta.

Skinny: Tampa Bay is coming off arguably its most frustrating loss. Making his first professional start, former USF and Countryside GK Jeff Attinella allowed three goals, but coach Ricky Hill called the scores "three of the cheapest goals that I've ever conceded." … Tampa Bay has scored just three goals in five games, tied with Atlanta for fewest in the league despite outshooting opponents 81-55. … Defenders Omar Jarun, Frankie Sanfilippo and JP Rodrigues have played every minute of each game (450 minutes). … M Pascal Millien, F Mike Ambersley and M Takuya Yamada are tied for the team lead with two points apiece. … Defender Andres Arango is questionable for tonight (ankle sprain).

Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

Times wires
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was diagnosed with shingles and was having tests Tuesday at the Mayo Clinic, and it was uncertain when he would return to the team.

General manager John Mozeliak said he was waiting to talk with La Russa for an update. St. Louis started a series at Chicago on Tuesday night.

Bench coach Joe Pettini will run the Cardinals in place of La Russa, 66, who is in his 16th season as St. Louis manager.

La Russa's problem was initially identified in mid April as conjunctivitis, an inflammation commonly known as pink eye. But last week he called his illness a viral infection.

The entire right side of La Russa's face was swollen for a while, although La Russa continued to hit fungoes at practice until the last homestand.

DODGERS SAGA: A former baseball executive appointed by commissioner Bud Selig to help monitor the troubled team was relieved of his duties after it was discovered he was a paid consultant last year to ex-team CEO Jamie McCourt. An attorney for owner Frank McCourt wrote in a letter that Richard Freeman worked for Jamie McCourt in early January 2010.

In other Dodgers news, SS Rafael Furcal, on the disabled list for four weeks with a broken left thumb, is at least several days from being able to begin a rehab assignment, manager Don Mattingly told MLB.com.

UTLEY JOINS THRESHERS: Phillies All-Star 2B Chase Utley, out all season with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, began a rehab assignment at Class A Clearwater. There is no timetable for Utley's return.

RYAN NEARS APPROVAL: Owners will approve Nolan Ryan as controlling owner of the Rangers when they meet Thursday. In other Rangers news, RHP Tommy Hunter aggravated his groin injury during a minor-league rehab start and will be shut down for 2-3 weeks.

ANGELS: CF Vernon Wells went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin, and OF Reggie Willits was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.

BLUE JAYS: 1B/DH Adam Lind, out of the lineup with lower back spasms, had an MRI exam and is likely to go on the disabled list.

BRAVES: SS Alex Gonzalez sat out as a precaution after tweaking his left hamstring over the weekend.

GIANTS: CF Andres Torres (Achilles' tendon) and 3B Mark DeRosa (wrist) were activated from the disabled list and in the starting lineup. Struggling INF Miguel Tejada was benched.

MARINERS: Closer David Aardsma, who has been rehabbing from offseason hip surgery at Triple-A Tacoma, has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.

MARLINS: RHP Javier Vazquez went on the bereavement list after the death of a relative on his wife's side of the family in his native Puerto Rico.

ORIOLES: SS J.J. Hardy, on the disabled list since April 13 with a strained left oblique, was activated. RH reliever Josh Rupe was designated for assignment.

ROYALS: LHP Bruce Chen will go on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left side. RHP Vin Mazzaro will be recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

YANKEES: RHP Phil Hughes plans to start throwing on flat ground Thursday. Hughes had a cortisone shot about two weeks ago to relieve discomfort in his right shoulder.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

TAMPA — Lightning coach Guy Boucher doesn't mind starting the Eastern Conference final with the Bruins on the road.

There are fewer distractions on the road, Boucher said, and more pressure on the home team to get off to a fast start.

"So we're fine starting on the road," he said, "definitely."

Boucher's confidence certainly is helped by Tampa Bay's playoff-best 5-1 road record, compared with 3-2 at home. But the Lightning is not alone in kicking dirt in the face of opponents on their home turf.

Road teams are 37-32 this year. Eight of the 16 playoff teams have winning road records, including the 4-1 Bruins. Two teams are .500, meaning only six teams are road losers.

"That's weird," Lightning left wing Simon Gagne said Tuesday at the St. Pete Times Forum. "I don't remember seeing that in the past. Usually it's tougher to win on the road."

There were plenty of theories to explain the reversal of fortune.

Perhaps, defenseman Mattias Ohlund said, it is about mind-set.

"When you're playing at home, some teams might feel there's a little bit of pressure to be creative and make plays," he said. "When you're on the road, you don't have that pressure. You chip it in. You chip it out. That's how games are usually won in the playoffs, by staying with your structure and not making fancy plays."

Perhaps it has to do with environment. New arenas generally are bigger, with fans farther from the ice, which Ohlund said eliminates some of the "atmosphere" of the old buildings.

Gagne, for example, used bleepable language to describe the visitor's locker room at Pittsburgh's old Mellon Arena.

"With that room, you already felt not good," he said. "It's one of those things that could play with your mind."

Compare that with the relative comfort of Pittsburgh's new Consol Energy Center, where Tampa Bay was 3-1 during the East quarterfinal, including a Game 7 win.

"So, every team is equal when it comes to (getting on) the ice," defenseman Brett Clark said.

But not, Boucher said, when it comes to expectations.

"You've heard your entire life you have to win games at home because that's what home-ice advantage is," he said. "So, there's extra pressure on yourself to win. … It becomes an extra distraction you need to manage."

Other distractions are from outside. "Being at home, you get all kinds of people who are coming at you," Boucher said. " 'We're going to win tonight. We're going for the Stanley Cup.' It just builds something up you don't really want. You're already so cranked up to play, anything you add on … has a tendency to throw you over the emotional side."

That is why on nights before playoff games, Lightning players stay in a hotel near the Times Forum, in essence treating home games like road games.

Still, when the Lightning begins the best-of-seven series Saturday at TD Garden in Boston, road rules will be challenged. The Bruins are 4-2 at home in the playoffs. Only the 4-1 Red Wings have been better at home.

That said, "sometimes it's to a team's advantage to start on the road," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said. "There's less pressure, and if they can win one of the two games, it's a major accomplishment."

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

TAMPA — The last time the Lightning and Bruins met, on March 3, the teams combined for 44 minutes in penalties, including a fight and a pair of 10-minute misconducts, as well as penalties for roughing, cross-checking and high sticking.

With a ticket to the Stanley Cup final on the line, there likely won't be any shenanigans when the teams meet in the Eastern Conference final beginning Saturday. But the Lightning still is preaching discipline because the Bruins, particularly at home, are a physical team known for trying to goad opponents into bad penalties.

"Throughout the playoffs, discipline is huge," C Dominic Moore said. "It's a case where you want to keep your emotions in check. Obviously, everyone is excited to be where we are, but you've got to stay focused on the task at hand."

That might mean backing away from a face wash, skating away from a punch to the back of the head and not taking a dumb retaliation penalty to give the Bruins a man advantage.

"The last thing you want to do is get out of your structure because the team becomes emotional," coach Guy Boucher said. "That's what happened in the first games of the Pittsburgh series (the Lightning fell behind three games to one in the first round), and we corrected that."

Now the Lightning needs to carry that attitude against a team that makes it tough to turn the other cheek.

"We've kind of pushed the envelope with the penalties we've taken in both of the previous two series," D Eric Brewer said. "It's certainly something we're very aware of, and it's something we're going to rein in for sure."

TALKING 'BOUT PRACTICE: The Lightning takes today off after a spirited, longer-than-normal 90-minute practice Tuesday that included a four-on-four scrimmage. LWs Ryan Malone and Sean Bergenheim did not practice; both were given rest days and will play in Game 1 of the Boston series. LW Simon Gagne, out since Game 1 of the Capitals semifinal series with a head injury, participated in full practice without restrictions. D Pavel Kubina, also out since Game 1 of the last round with an apparent head injury, didn't skate. Boucher said D Randy Jones (high ankle sprain) is fine and available to play but still not 100 percent. Jones played in the last three games of the sweep of the Caps but for a total of 19 minutes, 11 seconds.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Lightning said it will play a preseason game next season in Quebec City against the Canadiens. … Swedish G Viktor Fasth, who has drawn interest from the Lightning, continues to impress in the world championships in Slovakia. Sweden's player of the year is 4-0 with three shutouts, a 0.50 goals-against average and a .983 save percentage. The Rangers and Oilers also are believed to be interested in Fasth. … With Boston C Patrice Bergeron out for at least Game 1 with a concussion, rookie Tyler Seguin, last year's No. 2 overall draft pick, is expected to play his first NHL postseason game. Chris Kelly is expected to move up and take Bergeron's spot on a line with Brad Marchand and former Lightning W Mark Recchi.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Change of plan

Bruins G Tim Thomas, left, and Lightning G Dwayne Roloson have never met, but Thomas said Roloson affected his decision on where to go to college. Thomas in 1993 was recruited by UMass-Lowell. "But Dwayne Roloson would have been returning as a senior," Thomas said. "So I didn't pick UMass-Lowell because I could have redshirted. I decided not to go to UMass-Lowell because of Dwayne Roloson." Instead Thomas played from 1993 to 1997 for Vermont and was a teammate of Lightning W Marty St. Louis. "Obviously, over the course of the years, it changed how everything worked out," Thomas said.

Slow recovery

From Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett about assistant coach Wayne Fleming, below, who May 3 had high-risk surgery at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center to remove a malignant brain tumor: "Wayne Fleming is slowly progressing, as is to be expected after such an intricate procedure. He is expected to remain at the medical center for the next few weeks as he recovers."

Watch your step

The rules prohibiting anyone from stepping on the logo in the middle of the Lightning locker room have been in place for almost 10 years. Ignorance of the rule is no excuse; many out-of-town reporters have been scolded by players for treading where they shouldn't. Tuesday it was coach Guy Boucher who walked across the logo. There were no complaints from the players. Asked about it, Boucher noted next season's logo change, shrugged and said, "It's the old one."

Quote to note

"We were ready to play (Tuesday). It's been a while now. These guys are competitors. You want to compete on the ice, but at the same time, you don't want any injuries at this time of the year, so you're kind of dancing on one foot or the other. At the same time, it's time to get on with the show. That's how we feel right now."

Coach Guy Boucher, on the Lightning's 10-day break between games

Tickets

Tickets for Games 3 and 4 and a potential Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final against the Bruins at the St. Pete Times Forum go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the box office and via Ticketmaster (outlets, toll-free at 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com).

Times wires
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Nationals 7, Braves 6

ATLANTA — Jason Marquis earned his 100th career win, backed by three-run homers from Laynce Nix and Jayson Werth, and the Nationals capitalized on two Braves errors. Atlanta scored five in the eighth to nearly wipe out a 7-1 deficit, but Drew Storen got the final three outs. Marquis improved to 100-93 by beating his original team.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

MIAMI — In a matchup of aces, Roy Halladay's walk to Josh Johnson proved pivotal.

Johnson scored the Marlins' first run, and they squeezed out another in the eighth to beat Halladay and the Phillies 2-1 on Tuesday night.

"When you have those two horses going, you know it's a battle because you're going to have to scratch and claw for every run," said former East Lake standout Chris Coghlan, who had the winning RBI.

Johnson didn't get the win but kept his team in the game against the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, pitching seven innings and allowing only Ryan Howard's homer leading off the second. He pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the second and third.

"It seemed like I kept getting behind guys," Johnson said. "You've got to find a way to battle."

Coghlan's single in the eighth drove in the tiebreaking run, which was unearned after an error by shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

"This game came as advertised," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "I think the fans had a lot of fun."

Times wires
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Yankees 3, Royals 1

NEW YORK — Freddy Garcia pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter drove in runs and the Yankees bullpen made it stand. Brett Gardner tripled and scored twice as New York won for the eighth time in 10 home games against the Royals. Kansas City has a major-league-best 15 wins at Kauffman Stadium but dropped to 3-9 on the road. Garcia won for only the second time in nine decisions against the Royals.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

CYCLING

FEDS GO AFTER ARMSTRONG

LOS ANGELES — U.S. investigators have made a request to French officials, trying to collect evidence in a drug case against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

In France, officials received a request last month for help gathering evidence about the cyclist and other members of his former U.S. Postal team.

The move indicates federal authorities are looking to bolster their case against Armstrong so they can give a grand jury in Los Angeles the fullest account possible of the cyclist's actions before deciding whether Armstrong, like former major-leaguer Barry Bonds, also should face criminal charges related to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Mark Fabiani, counsel to Armstrong, criticized investigators for leaking "self-serving information."

"This inquiry has been going on for a year now, and the only result has been an enormous waste of taxpayer dollars and diversion of prosecutorial resources," Fabiani said.

SAD RIDE: Wouter Weylandt's teammates crossed the finish line side by side with arms linked Tuesday at the Giro d'Italia, honoring the Belgian rider killed in a crash a day earlier. After a somber day of ceremonial riding in Italy, Weylandt's Leopard-Trek team withdrew from the race.

SOCCER

British claim fraud over World Cup bids

The sport's governing body faces new corruption allegations as six FIFA executive committee members were accused of receiving or demanding bribes during bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast were allegedly paid $1.5 million to vote for Qatar, according to evidence submitted to a British parliamentary inquiry by the Sunday Times newspaper. The Gulf nation beat the United States the final round of voting for the 2022 event. Qatar's federation denied the "serious and baseless" allegations. David Triesman, former head of England's 2018 bid, told the House of Commons committee that the conduct of executive committee members Jack Warner, Nicolas Leoz, Ricardo Teixeira and Worawi Makudi was "improper and unethical."

NFL

Vikings aim for new home in suburbs

The Vikings announced a deal with Ramsey County to collaborate on a $1.1 billion retractable-roof stadium about 10 miles north of the Metrodome. Still in question is the public part of the funding — a proposed $300 million from the state plus another $100 million in transportation improvements. The legislature is balking at those figures.

CARDINALS: Guard Alan Faneca, 34, an eight-time All-Pro who spent most of his career with the Steelers and Jets, retired.

JURISPRUDENCE: Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, accused of groping a waitress at a bar, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse. … Former Raider Anthony Wayne Smith pleaded not guilty to murder in the 2008 death of a man in Los Angeles County.

ET CETERA

TENNIS: Venus Williams pulled out of next week's Brussels Open, a warmup for this month's French Open. Also, David Nalbandian (illness) will miss the French.

HORSES: Jockey Michael Baze, 24, was found dead in his vehicle at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. He rode Kentucky Derby runnerup Nehro to his only win, Feb. 21 at Oaklawn. Police said there were no signs of foul play. Baze is a cousin of Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze and the son of retired jockey Mike Baze.

FIGURE SKATING: Ryan Bradley, who won his first U.S. title five months ago, retired at age 27.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

CLEVELAND — Sean Rodriguez started at shortstop Tuesday so he would have a chance to play during a long stretch of facing right-handed starters, manager Joe Maddon insisted, and not to keep struggling Reid Brignac from playing.

Maddon said he actually was encouraged by Brignac's form in the weekend games in Baltimore (though not the 1-for-9 results) and expects him to break out of his seasonlong skid this week. Brignac is hitting .195, has a .430 OPS and is the only player in the majors with 50 or more plate appearances who doesn't have an extra-base hit.

"I thought his swing was starting to come back," Maddon said. "I feel strongly you're going to see him swing the bat well over the next week."

But Maddon volunteered an interesting observation, then quickly said it wasn't a hint of what was to come, in pointing out that Brignac's 2010 offensive success (.256, 8 HRs, 45 RBIs) came primarily when he was filling in for since-traded starter Jason Bartlett.

"If you look at last year when he did really well, he wasn't playing every day," Maddon said. "He was playing sporadically, or at the right times with the right matchups, etc. And he did pretty good by that.

"I'm not suggesting that that's what I want to do again, but that was in the back of my mind a little bit. … But this decision is purely based on making sure I keep Sean involved."

Maddon's thought process could continue to evolve if Brignac continues to struggle. Also, if Rodriguez (.211, 1 HR, 8 RBIs) or Elliot Johnson (.237, 0, 1) were hitting enough to force their way into the lineup. Overall, Rays shortstops are hitting .198, 13th in the AL.

UPTON DOWN?: CF B.J. Upton said he is set on serving his two-game suspension Thursday (the last game in Cleveland) and Friday (first game of the homestand), but Maddon said a final decision had not been made.

"Nothing's for sure yet, nothing's written in stone, nothing's etched," Maddon said. "As far as I know, thinking has been definitely, definitely done."

Upton would seem unlikely to have his suspension reduced by going through the appeal process, so more likely it's a matter of dropping his appeal and sitting out the two games.

WALK THIS WAY: The Rays tied one of those team marks, with the fourth three-game stretch in franchise history where their starter walked at least five. Last time was July 2003, and the pitchers were Jeremi Gonzalez, Victor Zambrano and Jorge Sosa. … Tuesday's 11 walks were one off their record for a nine-inning game.

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell faces the last substantial hurdle in his recovery from May 2010 shoulder surgery when he makes back-to-back appearances tonight and Thursday for Triple-A Durham. If all goes well, he will make one more Monday and rejoin the Rays on the next road trip. "He's very, very close," Maddon said.

FREED WILLY: Former Rays INF Willy Aybar has surfaced, signing with the Edmonton team in the independent North American League. Aybar played with the Rays in 2008-10 then seemed to drop off the baseball radar, with no reports of even interest from any teams.

CALMED DOWN: LHP David Price starts tonight, coming off the disappointment of being pulled one out from a complete game in his last start. Price was admittedly mad at the time but said he went in to see Maddon before leaving the clubhouse after that game.

"It took 30 seconds, there was no yelling, angry tones, voice, nothing," Price said. "We just talked. … I wasn't going to leave the stadium mad."

Maddon called it "an absolute nonissue."

MISCELLANY: 3B Evan Longoria is back on Twitter as @Evan3Longoria. … 2B/RF Ben Zobrist's hitting streak ended at 14 games. … DH Johnny Damon didn't start, part of a two-day rest plan. … RHP Brandon Gomes and OF Brandon Guyer won the team's April minor-league pitcher and player of the month honors.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Rays at Indians

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Progressive Field, Cleveland

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers

RAYS: LH David Price (4-3, 3.26)

INDIANS: RH Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 4.97)

Watch for …

Price check: Price is coming off a solid 82/3-inning outing, upset only that he didn't get the complete game. He is 2-0, 2.76 in three starts against the Indians, including a win July 24 that snapped the Rays' 18-game losing streak in Cleveland.

Fresh arm: Carrasco is expected to be activated off the DL to make the start, having been sidelined with right elbow discomfort. He had made five starts before then, allowing 32 hits and 10 walks in 29 innings. He has never faced the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Carrasco

Johnny Damon 0-for-4

Indians vs. Price

Shin-Soo Choo 2-for-7

Travis Hafner 0-for-3

Grady Sizemore 2-for-2

On deck

Thursday: at Indians, 12:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (3-1, 2.01); Indians — Justin Masterson (5-0, 2.25)

Friday: vs. Orioles, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (3-2, 3.72); O's — Jeremy Guthrie (1-5, 4.09)

Saturday: vs. Orioles, 4:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (4-2, 3.07); O's — TBA

Sunday: vs. Orioles, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine (0-0, 2.19); O's — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

'Gifts' of the day

LHP David Price called the stack of boxes in the middle of the clubhouse a matter of paying his "friendship dues" to the rest of the team: 60 tins of caramel and cheese popcorn ordered and delivered from the famous Garrett shops in Chicago. "That will cover him for about a month," RHP James Shields said.

Off-day activities

Ohioan Adam Russell got to hang out at home, visiting with his sister, Tracy Galvin, who is battling breast cancer, and her children, Fiona and Tommy, whom he helped care for during the offseason. "Great off day," he said. Several players, such as Johnny Damon (Orlando) and Ben Zobrist (Nashville), went home to see their families. RHP James Shields flew home to California for the funeral of his 97-year-old great-grandmother, Dorothy.