By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Phil Esposito on Wednesday recalled how much he enjoyed playing for the Bruins, how much he appreciated the way the people of Boston embraced him and how he loved going to the Italian restaurants and delis in the city's north end.

But when it comes to the Eastern Conference final between the Bruins, for whom he starred from 1967-75, and the Lightning, the team he founded, well, it's no contest.

"Not in the slightest," Esposito said. "I've been gone from Boston since 1975. Yes, I had my greatest career years there and loved playing there, but those days are over. I'm a Lightning guy. I gave birth to this thing."

Esposito scored 459 of the 717 goals in his Hall of Fame career for the Bruins, including a then-record 76 in 1970-71. There also were Stanley Cup titles in 1970 and '72.

He said he even turned down a $1 million signing bonus from the Vancouver Blazers of the old World Hockey Association to stay with Boston, which then traded him to the Rangers 12 games into the 1975-76 season.

But Esposito said establishing the Lightning, in its first conference final since the 2004 Stanley Cup run, gives him the most satisfaction. And the Lightning, he said, reminds him of some of his old Bruins teams.

"When I watch this team play, they care for each other," said Esposito, Tampa Bay's vice president for corporate relations and in his 11th season as the team's radio analyst. "I don't know about the social part, and who cares. When they're on the ice, they're together. Nothing else matters."

Esposito declined to predict how the series will go other than it will take six or seven games. He said the X factors are the Lightning power play and Bruins D Zdeno Chara.

"Who the hell is he going to play?" Esposito said. "Is he going to play against Vinny (Lecavalier) or (Steven) Stamkos? If he plays against Vinny, that should give Stamkos more room."

ON THE DRAW: Bruins C Patrice Bergeron plays in all situations, but losing him to a concussion will hurt Boston most in the faceoff circle.

Bergeron leads the playoffs among players with more than 200 draws with a 64.2 winning percentage.

"It's going to be up to the other centermen to really buckle down," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "Having said that, in order to win face-offs you need everybody in there. You can create a battle with your centermen and the loose puck, and it's up to the other guys to make sure they win the battles. So, that's going to be up to everybody here to step in and to really do a better job until we get Patrice back."

COUNTING THE MINUTES: Lightning D Eric Brewer's average ice time in the playoffs is 26:09, four minutes more than any other Tampa Bay defenseman and about four minutes more than he played for the Lightning during the regular season. But don't look for coach Guy Boucher to starting backing off of Brewer's minutes now.

"This is the time of the year when it's time to win,'' Boucher said. "And if he's one of your top horses, it's time to let him run. He's going to be a major part of this series as he was in the last.''

Boucher said certain game situations could allow Brewer to play fewer minutes. For example, when the Lightning blew out the Penguins 8-2 in Game 5 of the first-round, Brewer played just under 22 minutes. If the games are close, however, look for Brewer to continue pushing 26 minutes.

"You just have to be aware of line changes and lengths of your shifts and the coaches help monitor that,'' Brewer said. "It's just a matter of being aware, but in the end, you just do it. It's what you have to do.''

Times staff writer Tom Jones contributed to this report. Follow the team at lightning.tampabay.com.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

When former Vermont hockey coach Mike Gilligan thinks about two of his favorite former players, Lightning wing Marty St. Louis and Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, plenty of similarities come to mind.

They are cut from the same competitive cloth, battlers who had to overcome the odds and "labor through a lot of organizations that weren't believing in them in the early going." It was that drive that led St. Louis, 35, to go from being undrafted to an NHL MVP and Stanley Cup winner, and Thomas, 37, to persevere through several seasons in the minors and in Europe before finally making it to the NHL at age 28 and turning into arguably the league's top goaltender.

"Both," Gilligan said, "have the hearts of lions."

St. Louis and Thomas have remained good friends since starring for the Catamounts in the mid 1990s, but the stakes for a reunion have never been higher for a reunion as the upcoming Eastern Conference final, beginning Saturday in Boston. To Gilligan, the stage is fitting.

"It proves to a lot of young athletes and proves to a lot of guys that don't get a break," Gilligan said. "Both are great role models for fighting their way into things."

•••

The way St. Louis and Thomas played in college, it's surprising to Gilligan they had to wait so long to get a shot.

St. Louis was a Hobey Baker finalist as college hockey's top player for three seasons, pairing with former Lightning Eric Perrin as a dynamic one-two punch.

"He was probably one of the top players I've ever seen in college," Gilligan said. "He sees the game like he was sitting in the stands looking down at the ice. He knows what plays to make all the time. You couple that with tremendous heart and work ethic, and it's quite a package.

"Whenever Marty touched the puck, everyone was on their feet because they just knew something was going to happen."

To Gilligan, it was hard keeping St. Louis off the ice, saying no one played more minutes in four years than him.

"He'd come to the bench sometime, and I wouldn't even open the doors," Gilligan said. "Just let him rest and get back out there."

And when the Catamounts slipped, Thomas was there to save them. He remains third all-time in the NCAA Division I in career saves (3,950). While Gilligan said Thomas was more "happy-go-lucky" than the serious St. Louis, he was a picture of intensity in net.

"Timmy's style has always been erratic, but centering around the puck and stopping it, he's just so tough," Gilligan said. "He'll take it off the helmet, the shoulder, he'll do anything to stop a shot."

Gilligan said it was the "heyday" for the Vermont program, including its first Frozen Four in 1996. "That four-year period, we could beat anybody," Gilligan said. "A lot of it had to do with those guys."

•••

Gilligan was very surprised St. Louis went undrafted. "I made several calls to people I knew in the business," he said. "They said, 'Maybe if it was a Russian last name they would take a chance on him.' Just because of his lack of height. A lot of people missed the boat on him."

As St. Louis' career took off upon joining the Lightning in 2000-01, including winning the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2004 and hoisting the Cup, Thomas followed from afar.

"It was pretty awesome being able to watch him when he won the Cup and it's been awesome watching him on TV for a number of years," Thomas said. "These past few years, I've been able to join the party, so to speak."

Thomas spent several years in the minors, and overseas, including four stints in Finland. He was actually in Lightning training camp before the 1999-2000 but didn't make his NHL debut until 2002. He seized the Bruins starting role for good in 2007, winning the Vezina Trophy for the league's top goaltender in 2009 and could win it again this year. St. Louis, after his sixth 30-goal season, is a finalist for the Hart.

"(Thomas) battled through it just like I did, and the success he had is well-earned," St. Louis said. "You have to admire that."

Gilligan said he's going to try to attend one of the two games in Boston, but will likely sit on his hands like he usually does when watching St. Louis and Thomas play, afraid to root for either.

"I grew up outside of Boston," Gilligan said. "But when Marty plays, I don't say a word."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — The Players Championship is unofficially called golf's fifth major. But lately that depends on who you ask. The top ranked player in the world, Lee Westwood, as well as No. 6 Rory McIlroy, have opted not to play the tournament this year.

Westwood is not playing because he is not a PGA Tour member and is limited to only 10 PGA events per year. He opted to go back to Europe after the Masters instead of staying in the U.S. for the three weeks leading up to The Players Championship. It marks only the third time since 1974 that the No. 1 player has not been in the field. Tiger Woods did not play in 2008, but that was due to injury.

This is also the fifth year the tournament has been played in May. It used to be played in March, but was moved back two months in order to put a big tournament between the Masters and the U.S. Open.

While The Players Championship has the largest purse on tour ($9.5 million) and one of the most recognizable holes in golf (the island 17th), has it lost some of its luster?.

"Certainly not having the number one player in the world weakens the field," said No. 3 ranked Luke Donald. "You miss a couple of the top ten players and it weakens the field. I know Lee has played here a few times and he doesn't feel it suits his game very well. But it is still an extremely strong event."

Graeme McDowell, the No. 5 ranked player in the world, knows The Players is more than just another tournament, but it's certainly not a major.

"I've heard it called the fifth major and you expect the world's best players to be here," No. 5 ranked Graeme McDowell said. "But it's only a title that it's been given. I completely understand that guys choose not to play it. The top players in the world play against each other many times in a season nowadays. An event with this prestige to not have the world's best players here is disappointing."

Adam Scott, who won the tournament in 2004 when it was in March, believes the course itself isn't as strong in May.

"In my opinion, I don't think they've got the setup quite right for the May event," Scott said. "With the different grass I'd like to see them set it up a little differently than they do. I think I'd like to see the rough cut down a little more, get the ball running through the runoff areas, into the fairways and trees, and we could do away with the thick rough."

Don't tell No. 4 ranked Phil Mickelson The Players has lost its prestige. March or May, Mickelson believes The Players Championship is like a major.

"It certainly is in my mind," Mickelson said. "Since I've been on Tour this is one of the tournaments that I would like to win the most right along with the majors. Everybody's got their own personal deal, but I disagree with their thought process."

Tiger returns

Tiger Woods picked up a golf club for the first time in nearly a month on Monday. On Tuesday he played nine holes at TPC at Sawgrass in preparation for The Players Championship. He played another nine Wednesday morning. Woods injured his left knee and Achilles heel during the third round of the Masters and played through it during Sunday's final round. He finished tied for fourth. Woods withdrew from last week's Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte because of the injury.

Despite his lack of playing time, Woods still has one goal for this week.

"Same as always, try to win the event," he said.

Woods looked fit and ready to go after Tuesday's nine hole practice round with long-time friend Mark O'Meara. But looks have been deceiving for the past year and a half. Woods hasn't won since November of 2009, a stretch of 18 months. And history isn't on his side this week. While he won The Players Championship in 2001, he has finished in the top 10 only four times in 13 tries and withdrew from the final round last year with a neck injury.

Woods has fallen to No. 8 in the world rankings.

"I miss winning," Woods said. "That's how you get to be No. 1."

Woods held the No. 1 spot in the world for 623 weeks. Since turning pro in 1996, he has never gone this long without a win.

"I knew I would go through periods like this throughout my entire career," Woods said. "I went through some periods when there were some down times, but this one has lasted a little longer than I would expect."

O'Meara plays with Woods often. He played practice rounds with him at the Masters. O'Meara believes Woods is close to getting back to form.

"I think he's very close," O'Meara said. "It's been a long road back, but he's an unbelievable talent. You've got to take little steps, then you start jogging, then you start running and then you start sprinting. I think his play at Augusta on Sunday was evidence that he's taken a turn in the right direction."

Poor play and injury aside, Woods said he sees reason for optimism. He said the injury has set him back, but he thinks he can peak by the time the U.S. Open rolls around in June.

"Things are starting to piece together," Woods said. "It takes time. It's starting to get dialed in."

Criticize at your own risk

Bubba Watson said last week that he thinks Woods is headed in the wrong direction. "I think he's so mental right now with his swing. Just go out there and play golf," Watson said.

Even though Woods was far away from Charlotte, where Watson was playing in the Wells Fargo Championship, he heard Watson's comments. Woods does not like other players commenting on his game, and he said he'll get with Watson this week.

"That was interesting," Woods said with a wry smile about Watson's comments. "We'll talk."

Woods' swing coach, Sean Foley, went off on Watson during an Irish radio interview.

"He has the right to his own opinion but you probably shouldn't make comments about a guy who has won 69 more times than you and you are virtually the same age, you know what I mean?," Foley said.

Watson didn't back off his comments this week, but he said he'll straighten it out with Woods.

"I didn't say anything wrong," Watson said. "I just stated my opinion. I told his people that. His camp knows that. I just haven't talked to the boss yet."

Bubba likes tournament, not course

Watson is having the best season of his five year career. He has won twice and made nearly $3 million. Despite the success, Watson gives himself little chance this week.

"This golf course is too tough for me," Watson said. "It just doesn't look right to me. I haven't played it very well. But my mind is in the right spot right now and I feel great."

Watson's best finish at The Players Championship is a tie for 37th in 2009. In his other three attempts he has failed to make the cut. In 10 total rounds at The Players, Watson has only one round in the 60s. So what is his strategy for playing better? He's not going to play TPC at Sawgrass until he has to.

"I'm trying to not play it that much so I don't think about how tough it is," Watson said. "I'm not going to play a practice round. I'm just going to hit some balls. There's really no trick to it. I've just got to man up and figure out how to play it. I've got to stay focused and not worry about how the golf course looks and how it doesn't fit my eye.

"It's hard. I want easy. For my eye, when you put bunkers and hills out there, I get distracted easily."

Defending champ

Tim Clark was an improbable winner last year. If he pulls off a repeat it would be close to a miracle. Clark has been sidelined with a right elbow injury since January. He last played at the Masters, where he missed the cut. Prior to the Masters, Clark played two season opening events in Hawaii.

"I'm probably 70 or 80 percent right now," Clark said. "I do feel like I'm able to play and get through it. The strength is coming back, which is a good thing. It's more just a case of in the back of my mind I'm worried about just one shot setting me off again. That's the biggest hurdle."

Part of being the defending champion is getting to raise your country's flag in the circle of champions. Clark is from South Africa, but he requested a flag of Spain be raised in the circle this year to honor Seve Ballesteros.

"I think it's really fitting to have that there," Clark said. "Seve was a hero of mine growing up."

From no name to contender

Not many people heard of Charl Schwartzel prior to the Masters. But since his win at Augusta, Schwartzel is getting recognized more often. And he has to be considered a player to watch this week.

"It was definitely life changing," Schwartzel said of his Masters win. "I don't think I realized how many people actually watched it. I realized that when I got back home (to South Africa). Everywhere I went, shopping mall, fueling my car, people remembered the green jacket. The recognition is much bigger than you get at other events."

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Astros 4, Reds 3

HOUSTON — Hunter Pence hit a tiebreaking double in the ninth, and the Astros avoided a series sweep. Reds reliever Mike Leake walked J.R. Towles with one out in the ninth, then Pence's full-count hit landed in the rightfield corner and sent Towles home. Houston led 3-1 before Cincinnati tied it with consecutive homers by Chris Heisey and Drew Stubbs in the seventh.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Padres 13, Brewers 6

MILWAUKEE — Cameron Maybin drove in the go-ahead runs and Ryan Ludwick homered in an eight-run eighth after the Padres had squandered a big lead. San Diego had a season-high 23 hits.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Tigers 9, Twins 7

MINNEAPOLIS — Brandon Inge hit an RBI triple off the centerfield wall in the ninth to lift the Tigers to their fifth win in a row. Inge's hit off Twins closer Matt Capps scored Ramon Santiago, and Austin Jackson followed with a squeeze bunt. Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 11 games for Detroit.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Fellow players say goodbye to Ballesteros

Friends and family gathered in Pedrena, Spain, on Wednesday for the funeral of Seve Ballesteros, the five-time major winner and Ryder Cup stalwart who died Saturday at 54 of a brain tumor. Ryder Cup captains Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Sam Torrance and Jose Maria Olazabal and players including Miguel Angel Jimenez marched as part of the procession from Ballesteros' home to the church of San Pedro de Pedrena. Children wore replicas of the navy blue outfit he wore for his first British Open win, in 1979, and held a 3-iron, the only club Ballesteros owned when he learned to play golf.

Quote of the day

"I think winning before a big tournament like this kind of equates to winning before a major. It brings you back to reality because it's such a big event. There's not a lot of time to dwell on it."— Lucas Glover, who won last week's Wells Fargo Championship

Number of the day

0 Repeat winners at The Players Championship since the tournament started in 1974. Tim Clark won last year.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Baseball classic: 8 p.m. on ESPN Classic. Today is the 10th anniversary of A.J. Burnett's no-hitter for the Marlins against the Padres. And here's the replay of that game.

Conan: 11 p.m. on TBS. Former Lakers star Magic Johnson, now an analyst for ABC, is one of the scheduled guests.

Sports Connection: 11 p.m. on BHSN (Ch. 47). A roundtable to discuss center Dwight Howard's future with the Magic.

By Pat Damico, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Top thrill time: The greatest thrill in fly-fishing is available within minutes of our shores: large tarpon. Prevailing early morning easterly winds create calm conditions for early risers to scout the beaches for fish between 80 and 150 pounds that are easily seen as they roll on the surface. Quiet nights have them relaxed and happy, which encourages them to eat.

Technique: A few trips will help you find the beach areas they prefer, usually ones with baitfish. Having the sun at your back makes their silver bodies easier to see as they slowly roll on the surface. I have seen them inside the swim markers. Shallow water will improve your chances. A push pole is ideal for stealthily putting your boat ahead of moving fish. Electric motors would be necessary in deeper water, but they are more likely to alert the fish to your presence. The tarpon should come to you for a head-on shot, the most successful approach.

Prepare: An 11- or 12-weight fly rod with a floating or a clear sink-tip lines that can be comfortably cast to 50 feet is needed. A 10-foot leader with a 60-pound butt section, 20-pound class tippet and 60- to 80- pound shock tippet will attach to your fly. A toad pattern (such as the fly of the month featured May 6 on the Gulf & Bay page) is ideal, although Keys-type flies are also popular. Lighter color flies will replace combinations of black and purple for early morning and low-light conditions as the day brightens. Yellow polarized glasses offer the best visibility. Resist setting the hook with a couple of hard strip strikes until you feel the fish. Then hang on for a thrill.

Fly fisherman Pat Damico charters lowers Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpat.com or (727) 504-8649.

Times staff, wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman wasn't shy Wednesday praising the Red Wings, who have tied their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal with the Sharks 3-3 after trailing 3-0.

"Knowing the coaching staff, the entire organization and the players, I'm very happy for them," said Yzerman, who was with Detroit for 27 years as a player and vice president. "They've competed hard. Every time someone wants to write them off as 'It's the end of an era' or 'They're too old,' they just come back stronger than ever."

Game 7 is tonight in San Jose. The series is the third this season to go to Game 7 after one team trailed by at least two games. One was the Lightning's first-round win over the Penguins, a series in which Tampa Bay trailed 3-1.

"Every game is so close," Yzerman said. "So I think that teams, when they get behind, as long as they're not discouraged and make any adjustments they see fit, there's always hope."

Sharks captain Joe Thornton told NHL.com his team is "confident. Very confident. Extremely confident."

The Sharks will have to get better play out of some of their top players, including Thornton, who is minus-3 in the past three games. Patrick Marleau, who led the team in scoring in the regular season, has no points in the series, and Dany Heatley has one goal. The vaunted power play unit is 0-for-10 the past three games.

"There's a lot of pride in this room," said forward Devin Setoguchi, who had a hat trick in Game 3, including the overtime winner. "I know a lot of guys will take it upon themselves to maybe step up their game, which will trigger other guys to follow."

coyotes: After hours of testimony and discussion, the Glendale, Ariz., City Council voted 5-2 late Tuesday to give the league $25 million for arena operating costs for next season. That ensures the financially troubled franchise, a constant subject of relocation rumors, will play at city-owned Jobing.com Arena for another season. Now the league, which bought the Coyotes out of bankruptcy in 2009, must either figure out a way to revive the stalled purchase of the team by Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer or find a new buyer.

Times staff writer Damian Cristodero contributed to this report.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Quote to note

"When you see them attack, they are ferocious. Everything is thrown at the net. Everything goes to the net. There may be some occasions where there is some peripheral stuff, but it's always a direct line. So you have a tremendous skill package and speed package up front, and you have a good disciplined system in the back." — Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli, on the Lightning

Coaching carousel

Bruins coach Claude Julien and Lightning coach Guy Boucher met at coaching clinics in Quebec and then knew each other as opponents in 1996-97 in the Quebec Major Junior League. Julien coached Hull, and Boucher was an assistant for Rouyn-Noranda. "He's a good coach," Julien said of Boucher. "He has his own style, a different style, and the Lightning is a very good hockey team."

Mutual admiration

Lightning G Dwayne Roloson, who leads the playoffs with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage, and Bruins G Tim Thomas, right behind him at 2.03 and .937, traded compliments this week. "The reason why he's been able to have so much success for so long in the NHL is because he's been able to adapt his game to the way the NHL has developed," Thomas said of Roloson, 41. "For a while he developed himself into a total butterfly goalie because that's what the game called for. But now, with the new NHL, it's opened up a lot. You've had to adapt to that, and he's been able to do that." Said Roloson of Thomas, "His numbers don't lie. He's a great goalie. He's the reason the Bruins are where they are. He's one of those guys who will never quit on a puck. For us to beat him, it's going to be a challenge."

Number of the day

38 Lightning goals, most in the playoffs

Tickets

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

East final schedule

Game 1: Saturday, at Boston, 8, Versus

Game 2: Tuesday, at Boston, 8, Versus

Game 3: May 19, at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus

Game 4: May 21, at Tampa Bay, 1:30, Ch. 8

Game 5: May 23, at Boston, 8, Versus *

Game 6: May 25, at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus *

Game 7: May 27, at Boston, 8, Versus *

Radio: All games on 970-AM except Game 4, which is on 620-AM.

* If necessary

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

NEW YORK — Yankees setup man and former Rays closer Rafael Soriano will likely avoid the disabled list after an MRI exam on Wednesday revealed only mild inflammation in his right elbow.

Manager Joe Girardi said the right-hander wasn't available Wednesday night. Soriano is scheduled to play catch today and might be available when the Red Sox visit Friday night.

Soriano had 45 saves to help Tampa Bay win the AL East last season but he has a 5.79 ERA in 15 appearances for New York.

In other Yankees news, trainer Gene Monahan, 66, will retire after the season, ending one of the longest tenures of service in franchise history after 49 years.

MORALES ENDS REHAB: Angels 1B Kendrys Morales won't play this season after deciding to have another surgery on his left ankle. The Cuban slugger broke his ankle last May 29 while jumping on home plate to celebrate a game-ending grand slam. Also, the Angels put RH reliever Francisco Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury. RHP Kevin Jepsen was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.

ASSISTANT ARRESTED: Charlie Samuels, the Mets' clubhouse manager for 27 years, amassed a secret hoard of memorabilia, including an autographed 1986 World Series warmup jersey, that he intended to use to fund his retirement, prosecutors said in announcing his arrest. In other Mets news, 1B Ike Davis returned to New York for an MRI exam on his injured left calf.

AYBAR WAS JAILED: Former Rays INF Willy Aybar was imprisoned for three months in the Dominican Republic after he beat his wife, according to the website raysindex.com. Aybar's wife spent time in intensive care. Aybar also was jailed in 2008 on domestic violence charges. Aybar, 28, who spent the past three seasons with Tampa Bay, signed Tuesday with the Edmonton Capitals of the independent North American League.

LA RUSSA'S RECOVERY: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa headed to St. Louis to recover from a painful bout with shingles but was in touch with interim manager Joe Pettini before the game against the Cubs.

EX-GM DIES: Bill Bergesch, who was Reds general manager from 1984-87 and also spent several years in the Yankees front office during a long career as a major-league executive, died Tuesday at a retirement home in Stamford, Conn. He was 89.

OBITUARY: Dick Walsh, a former executive with the Dodgers, Angels and the North American Soccer League who played a key role in the development and construction of Dodger Stadium, died May 6 at his home in Fullerton, Calif. He was 85.

A'S: LHP Dallas Braden is scheduled to have surgery Monday in New York to repair a torn capsule in his left shoulder.

BRAVES: RH reliever Peter Moylan will have surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back and said the recovery could take eight to 12 weeks.

BREWERS: LF Ryan Braun left the game early with a left ankle contusion and is day to day.

CUBS: C Geovany Soto went on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain. C Welington Castillo was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. … LHP Doug Davis is set to start Saturday in his first appearance since elbow surgery in October.

DODGERS: LH reliever Hong-Chih Kuo went on the 15-day disabled list with what the Los Angeles Times reported is a psychological issue. LHP Scott Elbert was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.

PHILLIES: C Brian Schneider strained his left hamstring and expects to miss some time. Starting C Carlos Ruiz is already on the disabled list with lower back inflammation. … 2B Kevin Frandsen, who was playing at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, was suspended for 50 games after a positive test under baseball's minor-league drug program.

ROCKIES: RHP Esmil Rogers will have an MRI exam for suspected rotator cuff damage after cutting short a throwing session.

Times staff, wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

TAMPA — All signs continue to point to USF bringing in former Florida receiver Chris Dunkley in the fall.

Dunkley's coach at Pahokee High said Wednesday that USF is just waiting to receive his formal transcript from Gainesville, potentially the final hurdle to Dunkley signing scholarship papers with USF.

"Honestly, I believe it's going to happen with USF," said coach Blaze Thompson, noting that he continues to get calls from other programs interested in the former five-star recruit, who redshirted in his only season at UF.

Thompson said Cincinnati, West Virginia and Marshall were among the callers, and that Dunkley's grades were good enough to meet the NCAA requirements to transfer and accept a scholarship elsewhere.

USF is also in the mix for another Florida transfer, Bradenton Manatee running back Mike Blakely, who enrolled in Gainesville in January only to find the head coach, offensive coordinator and running backs coach had all changed from the staff he signed with. USF has received a release to speak with Blakely.

Fiesta fined $1 million but stays in BCS

At the cost of a $1 million fine, the Fiesta Bowl will keep its place in the Bowl Championship Series.

The BCS presidential oversight committee imposed the penalty in the wake of a scandal at the Arizona-based game that included apparently illegal campaign contributions from staff and lavish spending by the former CEO on parties and at a strip club.

Under the ruling, the Fiesta Bowl can remain part of the system for deciding college football's national champion, though in addition to the fine it also must meet certain BCS demands such as strengthening the Fiesta Bowl's board and imposing greater supervision over bowl executives.

"The message is they had cleaned house and addressed their problems, but our group doesn't believe they went far enough," said Bill Hancock, executive director of the BCS. He added that the $1 million fine was meant to reflect the "serious nature of the matter."

The money will be donated to charities serving Arizona youth.

There shouldn't be trouble coming up with the cash. In a filing with the IRS this year, the Fiesta Bowl listed more than $15 million in net assets.

Still, an NCAA panel will decide whether to continue licensing the bowl. The panel recently delayed the decision, saying it needed to gather more information.

FSU, miami get prime time on same day: Florida State and Miami will host prime-time games on Sept. 17 against traditional national powers.

The Seminoles host Oklahoma, and the Hurricanes host Ohio State. Both games will be at 7:30 or 8 and broadcast on either ABC or ESPN.

In other FSU news, its opener Sept. 3 against visiting Louisiana-Monroe will start at 3:30 and the Sept. 10 home game against Charleston Southern at 6.

Ohio State investigation: The Buckeyes compliance office will investigate the purchases of four dozen or more vehicles by athletes and their families from two Columbus dealerships, the Columbus Dispatch reported. The newspaper had reported that documents showed former linebacker Thaddeus Gibson had purchased a 2007 Chrysler 300 for $0. Gibson refuted the report, claiming he had been making payments, and now Bureau of Motor Vehicle documents back Gibson, showing he paid $13,700.

Newton statue: Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said he has no reservations about erecting a statue for former quarterback Cam Newton while an NCAA investigation continues, and he expressed confidence that Auburn will ultimately be cleared of any wrongdoing.

The NCAA cleared the Heisman winner and top NFL draft pick to play in the SEC and national title games — when Auburn briefly declared him ineligible — after finding that Newton's father had solicited money from Mississippi State during recruiting. Jacobs pointed to comments from NCAA president Mark Emmert, who said "there was no evidence that money had changed hands and there was no evidence that Auburn University had anything to do with it."

Basketball

Tubby had cancer surgery: Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, 59, says he's "feeling great" and free of prostate cancer after dealing with the disease for the past year. Smith, who had not previously revealed his condition, said he had surgery April 21 to remove the cancer and says he "can't wait" for next season.

Traylor dies: Former Michigan standout and NBA player Robert "Tractor" Traylor died in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was 34. Police said he was found dead Wednesday on the bedroom floor of his apartment. Police and Traylor's team, the Bayamon Cowboys, said he had been missing for a few days and apparently died from a heart attack. The 6-foot-8, 300-pound Traylor was injured and had not been playing, the team said.

Texas: Coach Rick Barnes, entering this 14th season, received a $200,000 raise that boosts his pay to $2.4 million annually.

Other sports

SOFTBALL: USF freshman pitcher Sara Nevins, a former Pinellas Park High standout, was named to the All-Big East first team. She led the Bulls with 15 wins, a 1.75 ERA and 187 strikeouts. … Florida senior outfielder Kelsey Bruder was named SEC player of the year and the Gators' Tim Walton was named co-coach of the year. Joining Bruder on the All-SEC first team were senior infielder Megan Bush and sophomore utility player Brittany Schutte.

TENNIS: USF's Irene Rehberger was named the women's co-player of the year in the Big East, and fellow senior Lucas Jovita earned the honor on the men's side. Joining Rehberger on the women's All-Big East team were USF junior Janette Bejlkova and sophomore Ecaterina Vasenina. Joining Jovita on the men's side were USF junior Wael Kilani and freshman Federico Sabogal.

Information from Times wires contributed to this report.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Orioles 4, Mariners 2

BALTIMORE — Chris Tillman pitched six three-hit innings, Adam Jones went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and the Orioles beat Felix Hernandez. Tillman and Jones were traded from the Mariners to Baltimore in 2008 as part of a five-player deal that sent pitcher Erik Bedard to Seattle. Although the Mariners didn't need a reminder of just how lopsided that trade was, Tillman and Jones did just that. Tillman gave up one run in his first start against Seattle, and Jones tied a career high for hits.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 3

TORONTO — John McDonald homered, Rajai Davis tied his career high with four hits and the Blue Jays swept a two-game series by pounding John Lackey. The right-hander lost his third straight start and matched a season high by allowing nine runs. Toronto blew it open by batting around in a five-run seventh, doing all its damage with two outs. Former Dixie Hollins standout Jesse Litsch won his second straight start.

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Phillies 5, Marlins 3

MIAMI — Jimmy Rollins delivered a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning as the Phillies rallied. Philadelphia fell behind 3-0, but its bats came alive after Cliff Lee left for a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Shane Victorino extended his hitting streak to 14 games when he led off the eighth with his sixth homer.

Times staff
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Horses

Bumped jockey to get windfall from derby win

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After missing out on riding eventual winner Animal Kingdom in the Kentucky Derby, jockey Robby Albarado will receive payouts from fellow rider John Velazquez and winning owner Barry Irwin.

Irwin said Wednesday that Velazquez will give an undisclosed portion of his share of the purse to Albarado and he will match it. The winner's share of Saturday's Derby was $1,411,800, so the standard 10 percent earned by Velazquez was $141,180.

"It's basically because we know what it means emotionally to a guy like that," Irwin said. "I like the guy and have a high regard for him as a jockey."

Albarado was set to ride Animal Kingdom but was replaced by Velazquez the day before over concerns about his health. He suffered a broken nose and facial lacerations when he slipped off his mount in a race earlier in the week.

But Albarado returned in time to win a Grade 1 stakes race on the Derby undercard. He did not return a call by The Associated Press.

Jockey death: Michael Baze, found dead in his car Tuesday in the Churchill Downs stable area, was set for a preliminary hearing on a cocaine charge today, court records show. According to an arrest warrant, he gave a Louisville detective consent to search him and his car on Nov. 18 and a small baggie of suspected cocaine was found in his pants pocket. There has been no report filed on the death because police say they are awaiting autopsy results.

Soccer

FIFA wants more info on alleged bid bribery

FIFA asked the former leader of England's 2018 World Cup bid and the Sunday Times newspaper to provide more evidence for their allegations that officials of soccer's world governing body were involved in bribery. Tuesday, David Triesman, speaking at a British parliamentary inquiry, alleged four FIFA officials requested bribes during the 2018 bidding, which went to Russia. The paper reported Qatar, which beat out the United States for 2022, paid $1.5 million to two FIFA officials.

Spanish league: Barcelona clinched its third straight title and 21st overall with a 1-1 tie at Levante. Real Madrid is assured of second for the third straight season.

ET CETERA

Hockey: Ex-NHL star Jaromir Jagr, 39, had a hat trick as the Czech Republic beat the United States 4-0 in the world championship quarterfinals in Slovakia. Also, Sweden beat Germany 5-2 behind a goal and two assists by St. Louis' Patrik Berglund. In today's quarterfinals, it's Canada-Russia and Finland-Norway.

Autos: Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will miss his third race this weekend. Bayne spent a week at the Mayo Clinic for what doctors called only an inflammatory condition. Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark said the team is encouraged by Bayne's progress but is being cautious. He added he should be ready for next week's Sprint Cup All-Star race.

Cycling: Giro d'Italia organizers promised to inspect part of a route in response to riders' concerns after the death of Belgium's Wouter Weylandt. The descent on Stage 14, set for May 21, has never been used and is partially unpaved. Riders also are concerned there are no crash barriers, just ski netting. Weylandt died Monday when he crashed during the descent of Stage 4.

Greyhounds: Hi Noon Renegade remained undefeated and Brother Buck, Kiowa Grand Gary and Kiowa Rousey also won second-round qualifiers in the $20,000 Gold Trophy Juvenile at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Qualifying resumes Saturday.

Obituary: Bill Gallo, a cartoonist and columnist for New York's Daily News whose characters included Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in a spiked Prussian military helmet, died of pneumonia. He was 88. Mr. Gallo profiled, in ink and words, many great figures, including Jack Dempsey, Man O' War, Jesse Owens and Dizzy Dean.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Times wires
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Dodgers 2, Pirates 0

PITTSBURGH — Hiroki Kuroda allowed three hits in seven innings for the Dodgers, who won back-to-back games for the first time in three weeks. Jerry Sands had an RBI double for Los Angeles, which hadn't posted consecutive road victories since taking two from the Padres in early April. Pirates starter Paul Maholm fell to 0-5 against the Dodgers, one of three National League teams he has never beaten. Pittsburgh has lost two straight to slip below .500.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

CLEVELAND — OF Matt Joyce paused for a moment Wednesday afternoon to ponder his accomplishments, then decided that as much fun as it was being the first Ray to beat LHP David Price in the FIFA 11 soccer video game, waking up leading the American League in hitting was indeed better.

"I'd rather take that one,'' he said. "Absolutely.''

Joyce's ascension to the top of the leaderboard isn't likely to last — though he held onto the top spot by going 2-for-5 Wednesday, improving to .358 — but is a clear measure of his progress.

Less clear is the reason for his success, which has increased the volume of the discussion over whether he should be in the lineup every day.

Manager Joe Maddon said he thinks a reason Joyce, a lefty swinger, has done so well is because his playing time is limited to primarily against right-handed pitchers. The stats back him up, as Joyce is hitting .396 (36-for-91) vs. righties and .133 (2-for-15) against lefties.

"There's two factors to be considered there," Maddon said. "No. 1, he's probably a lot fresher, and No. 2, the confidence derived from not having to scuffle against a left-hander and just play against right-handers. And I don't know if it would have any kind of impact if he saw more lefties."

Joyce said he thinks his success comes from playing more regularly — the Rays have faced 26 righty starters, 10 lefties — and growing into the opportunity.

"As you go along you know your swing better, you know yourself better, you get a little more comfortable," he said. "And when you get in there and you get more chances to play you get into a set routine."

Maddon said there are some lefties he will let Joyce face now, and he expects him to eventually become an everyday player. Joyce, acquired from Detroit for RHP Edwin Jackson, said he welcomes that chance. "I want to be in there every day," he said. "I know I can do it."

UPTON DOWN: CF B.J. Upton dropped his appeal and will start serving his two-day suspension today. If Upton does sit out today, Sam Fuld will start in center.

SONNY SUNDAY: Despite RHP Andy Sonnanstine's rough Tuesday outing (31/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 5 BB), the Rays are planning to give him another start on Sunday against the Orioles.

Maddon said he didn't want to be "harsh" in his evaluation of Sonnanstine since it was his first start of the season, having replaced injured Jeff Niemann in the rotation, and he expected him to be better next time.

SEEING DOUBLE: C John Jaso joked that if he'd seen the ball that fell out of umpire Dale Scott's bag and was closer to the plate during a key sixth-inning sequence Tuesday, he would have picked that one up to tag out Jack Hannahan.

The situation occurred when Juan Cruz's pitch got by Jaso, bounced up and struck Scott's thumb, and as he reacted he knocked a ball from his bag. Scott called it "a goofy play," one he'd never had or seen happen in 31 years on the job, but said the ruling would have been pretty simple.

"There's really no rule that covers that, but obviously if he picks up the wrong ball or they play the wrong ball we're just going to call time and award or place the runners like it had not happened," Scott said.

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell did well in his one-inning, 11-pitch appearance for Triple-A Durham on Wednesday and will pitch tonight in the last significant test in his rehab from May 2010 shoulder surgery. If all goes well, he will make a final appearance for Durham on Monday and rejoin the Rays Wednesday or Thursday in Toronto.

MISCELLANY: 2B Ben Zobrist had his first RBIs since his 10-RBI day in Minnesota April 28. … RHP James Shields said he'll get up around 7:30 to start preparing for today's 12:05 game.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Rays at Indians

When/where: 12:05 today; Progressive Field, Cleveland

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

Probable starters:

RAYS

RH James Shields (3-2, 2.01)

INDIANS

RH Justin Masterson (5-0, 2.25)

Watch for …

Shields up: The Indians have been a problem for Shields, who is 0-4, 4.06 in six starts, and 0-2, 5.11 in three in Cleveland. He has, however, been on an impressive roll, going 3-0, 0.81 in his past four starts and ranking fifth in the AL in ERA.

Master of his domain: Masterson, the former Boston prospect, has been impressive thus far, going at least 6 IP each start, though he is winless in his past two outings. He is 1-4, 6.00 in nine games (five starts) vs. the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Masterson

Johnny Damon 0-for-5

Evan Longoria 5-for-17

B.J. Upton 5-for-11, HR

Indians vs. Shields

Orlando Cabrera 6-for-18

Travis Hafner 2-for-11

Grady Sizemore 1-for-15

On deck

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 — Brad Bergesen (0-4, 5.57)

Sunday: vs. Orioles, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine (0-0, 2.87); O's — Jake Arrieta (4-1, 4.17)

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Historic note of the day

When Matt Joyce led the AL in hitting through Wednesday, it marked the second latest into a season a Ray has been on top in their 14 years of play. The list:

Player Avg. Date

Jason Bartlett .373 May 24, 2009

Matt Joyce .358 May 11, 2011

Sam Fuld .366 April 22, 2011

Quote of the day

"If anybody's going to pick up the other ball on the field, you would bet it would be Mikey Jaso."

Rays manager Joe Maddon, on his quirky catcher, above, and an odd play in Tuesday's game

Giveaway of the day

For Tuesday's game against the Yankees, the first 10,000 fans in Rays gear or with a military ID will get a Rays/Navy Seals T-shirt.