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Nationals 3, Mets 2

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Nationals 3, Mets 2

WASHINGTON — Rick Ankiel scored on Ian Desmond's chopper up the middle in the ninth inning, lifting Washington. With runners on second and third and the infield in, Desmond bounced the ball over pitcher Bobby Parnell, who deflected it with his glove.


Marlins 3, Braves 1

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Marlins 3, Braves 1

ATLANTA — Ricky Nolasco scattered 12 hits, Emilio Bonifacio homered and the Marlins handed the Braves the 10,000th loss in franchise history. Atlanta squandered numerous scoring chances to become the second team in history with 10,000 losses. The Phillies reached that mark in 2007. The Braves picked up their 10,000th win a couple of weeks ago, including time in Boston and Milwaukee.

Reds 9, Giants 0

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Reds 9, Giants 0

CINCINNATI — Johnny Cueto pitched a three-hitter to save a tired bullpen, Joey Votto added a three-run homer and tied his career high with five RBIs, and Cincinnati completed a three-game sweep. Todd Frazier hit his first career home run and Drew Stubbs had a career-high four hits as the Reds posted three consecutive wins for the first time since sweeping the Dodgers June 13-15.

Blue Jays 7, Rangers 3

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Blue Jays 7, Rangers 3

TORONTO — Brandon Morrow struck out a season-high 11 to win for the third time in four starts and Edwin Encarnacion homered for Toronto. After allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles, Morrow pitched seven dominant innings against Texas. Rangers left-hander C.J. Wilson lost his second straight decision and has been hit hard in both.

Royals 5, Indians 3

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Royals 5, Indians 3

CLEVELAND — Danny Duffy pitched into the sixth inning starting for the injured Kyle Davies, and Jeff Francoeur and Alex Gordon homered to lead Kansas City. Cleveland lost for the eighth time in 10 games. The last-place Royals took two of three from the Indians this weekend and have won eight of 12.

Yankees 4, Orioles 2

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Yankees 4, Orioles 2

NEW YORK — Freddy Garcia pitched six strong innings and Brett Gardner hit a bases-loaded triple as New York moved to a season-best 22 games over .500. Signed as a free agent to hold a spot until New York's youngsters were ready, Garcia has become a rotation mainstay and is 8-3 in 12 starts since late May. "You got to be really happy. This division is really tough," Garcia said. "Hopefully I can pitch the way I've been pitching."

Tigers 3, Angels 2

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

DETROIT — Justin Verlander came within four outs of a no-hitter, outdueling an angry Jered Weaver as the Tigers beat the Angels 3-2 on Sunday in a testy game that grew particularly heated late.

"That was a lot of fun," Verlander said of the battle between AL Cy Young Award candidates.

Maicer Izturis lined an RBI single to left with two outs in the eighth for the Angels' only hit. Verlander was trying for his third career no-hitter and second this season.

"Even when we were playing catch before the game, I knew the ball felt really good coming out of my hand," he said.

Weaver was ejected for throwing a pitch over Alex Avila's head in the seventh, right after Carlos Guillen showboated on a home run by flipping his bat, posing and skipping a few steps sideways.

Plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt warned both benches. But Weaver threw the next pitch near Avila's head and was ejected. He gestured angrily and cursed at Detroit's bench.

"I had a lot of respect for those guys, but then they stand at the plate and do something like that," Weaver said.

Patient Braves come up with needed leadoff bat

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

ATLANTA — While other NL contenders beefed up for the playoffs, the Braves seemed to keep missing out on players who could've boosted their hopes.

Turns out, they landed the guy they wanted all along.

Atlanta acquired speedy CF Michael Bourn from the Astros on Sunday in a five-player deal, giving the Braves their first true leadoff hitter in at least six years.

The Astros received CF Jordan Schafer and three minor-league pitchers, but the Braves kept their top pitching prospects.

"We haven't had that kind of threat in the top of our lineup in a long time," said 3B Chipper Jones, one of the numerous Braves slowed by injuries.

Bourn, a Gold Glove winner last season, is hitting .303 with a .363 on-base percentage and leads the majors with 39 stolen bases. He goes from the last-place Astros to a playoff contender that has one of baseball's best rotations but was desperate for offense because of ailments and lackluster performances.

The Braves haven't had a prototypical leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal left after the 2005 season.

"I'm excited," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He makes the defense do things they don't want to do."

RANGERS SOLIDIFY PEN: AL West-leading Texas completed its second deal for a reliever in less than 18 hours with the acquisition of RHP Mike Adams from the Padres. The Rangers sent minor-league LHP Robbie Erlin and RHP Joe Wieland to San Diego.

The Rangers on Saturday acquired Orioles setup man Koji Uehara for RHP Tommy Hunter and 1B Chris Davis.

Adams had a 1.13 ERA in 48 appearances for the Padres.

BOSOX NIX ONE, MAKE ANOTHER: Hours after backing out of a deal for A's RHP Rich Harden over his medical records, the Red Sox acquired LHP Erik Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team deal involving the Dodgers. Boston also got RHP Josh Fields from Seattle. Boston sent C Tim Federowicz and RHPs Juan Rodriguez and Stephen Fife to Los Angeles for OF Trayvon Robinson and OF Chih-Hsien Chiang. Boston then sent those two prospects to Seattle.

PIRATES ADD POP: Pittsburgh acquired OF Ryan Ludwick from the Padres for a player to be named or cash considerations. Ludwick batted .238 with a team-leading 11 homers.

RELIEF FOR D'BACKS: Arizona acquired RH reliever Brad Ziegler from the Athletics for LHP Jordan Norberto and 1B Brandon Allen. Ziegler has a 2.39 ERA in 372/3 innings. Diamondbacks relievers entered Sunday with a cumulative 3.46 ERA since the All-Star break.

FURCAL TRADE COMPLETED: The Cardinals sent minor-league OF Alex Castellanos to the Dodgers for SS Rafael Furcal, who waived his no-trade clause.

DEAL OFFICIAL: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez passed his physical, completing a trade that sent him from the Rockies to the Indians for four minor-leaguers.

YANKS STAND PAT: Every team in a playoff position added to its roster during the final week of July — except the Yankees, who made no July trades for the first time since 1998, when they ended the month in first place by 15 games. In other Yankees news, SS Derek Jeter left the game against the Orioles in the third inning after being hit by a pitch on his right knuckles and is day to day.

CARDINALS: RF Lance Berkman returned to the lineup after missing four games with a sore right shoulder.

GIANTS: Rookie SS Brandon Crawford was optioned to Triple-A Fresno to make room for new SS Orlando Cabrera.

ROYALS: RHP Kyle Davies was scratched from his start against the Indians because of a sore right shoulder and replaced by LHP Danny Duffy.

WHITE SOX: 1B Paul Konerko left the game with the Red Sox after being hit in the knee with a pitch in the fourth inning. … The team unveiled a statue in the outfield concourse to honor former slugger Frank Thomas, its career leader in nearly every offensive category.

. Key pickups

Braves: CF Michael Bourn

Cardinals: SS Rafael Furcal, RHP Edwin Jackson

D'backs: RHP Jason Marquis, RHP Brad Ziegler

Giants: OF Carlos Beltran

Indians: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, RF Kosuke Fukudome

Phillies: RF Hunter Pence

Pirates: 1B Derrek Lee, OF Ryan Ludwick

Rangers: RHP Mike Adams, RHP Koji Uehara

Red Sox: LHP Erik Bedard

Tigers: RHP Doug Fister, RHP David Pauley


Sports in brief: Serena Williams wins Bank of the West Classic

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Tennis

Serena Williams Hoists Trophy again

STANFORD, Calif. — Serena Williams smashed one final serve, dropped her racket and raised her arms in triumph. At long last, a champion again.

After blood clots in her lungs and two foot operations threatened her career for nearly a year, Williams captured her first tournament title since returning with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Marion Bartoli in the Bank of the West Classic final Sunday.

"Coming back and hearing the claps when I walk out there are moments that I truly missed," Williams said. "It's so awesome to be back and to be a part of those moments. Not everyone can be a sports, I don't know if 'star' sounds full of myself, but I've worked hard for that title. So, yes, I say it and I take pride in it."

The 13-time major champion overcame two breaks in the first set to rally for a dominating finish. She went ahead 5-0 in the second and left no doubt.

Williams entered the tournament unseeded and ranked 169th, so the victory will vault her into the top 80.

"I hated those triple digits," she said, chuckling. "Now I've got to get to single digits."

More Tennis

Tampa's Fish short in back-to-back bid

Two in a row was not meant to be for Tampa resident Mardy Fish. Latvia's Ernests Gulbis rallied past the top-seeded Fish 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to win the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles and his second career ATP tour.

Gulbis, who entered the tournament on a five-match losing streak, went ahead 5-1 in the third set. Fish, the world No. 9 who won at Atlanta last week, broke Gulbis' serve and rallied to 5-4 before Gulbis won three straight points in the final game.

"I was tired and I was fatigued," said Fish, who has a sore right heel. "I played a lot of matches this past month. He was a wee bit fresher than me."

Horses

Baffert wins Haskell a record fifth time

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won the $1 million Haskell Invitational a record fifth time when Coil unleashed a last-to-first rally and beat Preakness winner Shackleford by a neck at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

Breaking last out of the No. 1 post, Coil dropped behind the field of eight 3-year-olds, but jockey Martin Garcia allowed the horse to settle and gather momentum. Coil was still last rounding the last turn but began picking off horses through the stretch, collared Shackleford for the lead and edged away.

"When he straightened out for home and he was digging in and moving on Shackleford it was unbelievable what I was seeing," said Baffert, who won with Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002), Roman Ruler (2005) and Lookin At Lucky (2010).

Et cetera

Boxing: Unseeded super heavyweight Brett Rather defeated No. 1 seed Jonathan Hamm 83-81 in a tiebreaker at the U.S. Olympic trials in Mobile, Ala. Chris Pearson and Edgar Alvardo Jr., the top two middleweights, lost first-round matches in the double-elimination event.

Soccer: Two favorites in the Under-20 World Cup came through as expected with Spain and Nigeria picking up wins as the group play wrapped up. Spain defeated Costa Rica 4-1 in Group C, and Australia drew 1-1 with Ecuador. In Group D, Nigeria routed Guatemala 5-0 and Saudi Arabia beat Croatia 2-0.

basketball: Lindsay Whalen hit a fadeaway jumper with 1.5 seconds left to give visiting Minnesota a 70-69 WNBA win over host San Antonio. … The United States won its fourth straight gold medal at the under-19 women's world championship, beating Spain 69-46.

Times wires

Burress passes on Giants, gets one-year Jets deal

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Sunday, July 31, 2011

NEW YORK — Plaxico Burress, a former Super Bowl star with the Giants who was recently released from prison after serving 20 months on a gun charge, agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets on Sunday.

Burress, who turns 34 on Aug. 12, pleaded guilty in August 2009 to attempted criminal possession of a weapon after accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.

He took $3.017 million guaranteed instead of a Giants offer that might have been worth more, but with incentives.

Burress will wear No. 17 — Braylon Edwards' number the past two seasons. Edwards, a free agent, likely now will move on, with the Cardinals a possibility.

Burress wrote on his Twitter page: "East Coast here I come!"

Bears: Six-time Pro Bowl pick Olin Kreutz's 13-year run is over after the team agreed to a two-year contract with former Seahawks center Chris Spencer. Kreutz was willing to take a one-year deal, but the sides were apparently $500,000 apart.

Broncos: Running back Willis McGahee signed and will complement starter Knowshon Moreno with his powerful style.

Cardinals: Two-time All-Pro tight end Todd Heap signed a two-year deal. The Ravens cut him last week after 10 seasons.

Eagles: Prized free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha cited a "first-class'' organization in what attracted him. "To a man, and woman, everybody that was on my team, they knew that the No. 1 team was the Eagles, from March," he said. "When the Eagles became a possibility, we knew it was a match."

Jaguars: Punter Matt Turk, 43, signed a one-year contract worth nearly $2 million, joining his seventh franchise in 18 seasons. Pro Bowl tight end Marcedes Lewis ended a five-day holdout.

Ravens: All-Pro fullback Vonta Leach left the Texans and signed a three-year, $11 million deal.

Redskins: Running back Tim Hightower was acquired from the Cardinals for defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday and an undisclosed pick. He will push Ryan Torain for the starting job.

Seahawks: Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu was cut. The defensive captain reportedly declined to restructure his contract. That leaves linebacker Leroy Hill and cornerback Marcus Trufant as the last links to the 2005 team that lost in the Super Bowl.

Vikings: First-round pick Christian Ponder, a quarterback from FSU, signed for four years and about $10 million. Also, defensive back Mistral Raymond, a sixth-round pick from USF, and former Leto High receiver and 2004 first-round pick Michael Jenkins, slowed by a shoulder injury last season in Atlanta, signed.

Tampa Bay Rays: B.J. Upton, James Shields relieved they weren't traded

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Today: Off

Next game: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg. TV: Sun Sports

Starting pitchers

RAYS

LH David Price (9-9, 3.76)

JAYS

LH Ricky Romero (8-9, 3.08)

On deck

Wednesday: Blue Jays, 7:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (9-9, 3.03); Jays — Carlos Villanueva (6-2, 3.60)

Thursday: Blue Jays, 12:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (8-7, 4.62); Jays — Brett Cecil (4-4, 4.34)

Friday: A's, 7:10 p.m., Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (5-4, 3.51); A's — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer



Trade deadline quotes of the day

"I didn't know what to think. I really wasn't going to be surprised with whatever happened."

CF B.J. Upton on the possibility of being traded.

"I thought we went through this properly, we danced the dance the right way and now we can move along and try to get this thing rolling."

manager Joe Maddon, on the process.

"I'm glad to be a Ray, for sure. … I didn't want to leave."

RHP James Shields, on not being traded.

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Tampa Bay Rays rookie Desmond Jennings continues to get on base, spark offense

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, July 31, 2011

SEATTLE — Desmond Jennings figures he has a simple job description as the Rays' leadoff hitter: find a way to get on base, then get around the bases as quickly as he can.

"Any way I can get on," he said. "Any way. If it's a walk, a hit, a hit-by-pitch. Anything. Just find a way to get on. With the guys hitting behind me, there's a good chance I'm going to score."

In the first nine games since his promotion from Triple-A Durham, he has done pretty well, reaching base 19 times in 41 plate appearances for a .463 on-base percentage to go with his .333 average. Plus he has had three doubles, a triple and his first big-league homer.

"It was all right," he said. "Could have been better, but I'll take it."

Sunday, he provided a prime example in the first inning, manufacturing a run — reaching on an error, stealing second, advancing to third on an errant throw and scoring on a groundout — that provided the impetus for the Rays' 8-1 win.

"That set the whole thing up," manager Joe Maddon said.

Jennings showed his aggressiveness, and his speed, on the scoring play, breaking as soon as Evan Longoria hit the ball to third and sliding headfirst to beat Chone Figgins' throw.

Jennings said he was planning to dash home if there was a ground ball, and third-base coach Tom Foley encouraged him. "I didn't think (Figgins) was playing too close, I got a good secondary (lead), I was just anticipating a ground ball being hit somewhere and I got a good jump, a good break on it," he said.

Added Maddon: "That's all Desmond right there. … The aggressive mentality that is derived from that play kind of helps your whole group. I really liked what he did. That's who we have to be, that's how we've got to play. That was what, three runs on one hit over the last two days to that point. We have to be able to do those things to beat the better teams."

BABY STEPS: The Rays are hoping the fact that Longoria is walking a lot means that he will soon be hitting more.

Though Longoria was still hitting just .232 after a 1-for-3 Sunday, Maddon said it's "a good first step" that he has apparently reorganized his strike zone and was chasing fewer bad pitches. In 25 July games, Longoria had 20 walks and 18 hits (for a .197 average).

"What he's doing now could lead to a hot streak as opposed to what he had been doing, chasing everything and then trying to fit in a well-struck ball now and then," Maddon said. "I just think he's working better at-bats."

REHAB REPORT: RHP Juan Cruz (groin strain) came through his one-inning Saturday rehab appearance for Class A Charlotte with no problems and is expected to be activated when eligible on Tuesday.

HELLO CHARLIE: Sean Rodriguez was the first batter to see Charlie Furbush when the rookie reliever was called up by Detroit in May and drew a walk off him. Sunday, Rodriguez was the first batter Furbush faced after being traded to the Mariners, and he homered off him.

MISCELLANY: Ben Zobrist extended his hitting streak to 11 games. … The Rays won their first series since beating the Cardinals July 1-3, and on the road since at Houston June 24-26. … Durham OF Brandon Guyer may be sidelined into September due to his oblique strain.

Cubs 6, Cardinals 3

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Times wires
Sunday, July 31, 2011

Cubs 6, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS — Starlin Castro and Marlon Byrd had key hits as the Cubs broke up Jake Westbrook's perfect game with a four-run sixth and avoided a three-game sweep. Lance Berkman's three-run homer in the sixth made it interesting for St. Louis, which completed a disappointing 4-3 homestand against the two worst teams in the NL Central. The Cubs snapped a five-game skid.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign Adam Hayward to three-year deal

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed linebacker Adam Hayward to a three-year deal.

Hayward, an unrestricted free agent, can play all three linebacker positions. He also provides depth on an otherwise inexperienced linebacking corps.

He is the fourth significant Bucs free agent to re-sign with the team, following linebacker Quincy Black and offensive linemen Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood.

USF Bulls cornerback Quenton Washington matures on, off field

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

TAMPA — Oddly enough, Skip Holtz sees the emerging toughness and maturity of USF senior cornerback Quenton Washington best illustrated in the big smile the 22-year-old reluctantly flashes with quiet confidence.

You'd never know it, but three of his lower front teeth were knocked in during last year's game at Miami, when Washington was blocking on a punt and tripped, then another player stumbled and put his hand through his facemask. Washington pushed the teeth back forward with his tongue, got a new mouthpiece and got back in the game on the next series. His fourth-quarter deflection in the end zone forced Miami to settle for a field goal, keeping USF within a touchdown in a game where the Bulls rallied with two minutes left, then won in overtime.

His coaches, shocked that he'd made such a quick recovery, still had no expectations of seeing Washington at practice the next night, joking that they might not see him until the pregame walkthrough the following Friday.

"The M.O. on him when we came was how he didn't like to practice all the time. If his leg hurt, he wasn't going," Holtz remembered. "We go to practice on Sunday night (after Miami), and he's out there in line. It was like, 'Q, what are you doing here?' He said, 'Coach, look behind me. You see how long that line is? I work too hard to go to the back. I'm not giving this spot up.' Q has impressed me with how much he's grown as a football player."

Today, Washington is one of two seniors (along with guard Jeremiah Warren) that Holtz chose to represent USF at the Big East's media day in Newport, R.I., and to fully appreciate how much that honor means to Washington, you have to hear his coaches talk about the transformation he's made to earn it.

"It's remarkable to me, after being in it so many years, the change in him mentally and physically," said defensive backs coach Rick Smith, 63, entering his 40th year in coaching. "I've never had a player improve as much as he has in a year. He's just matured. It's unbelievable. If he keeps going, then I think he'll be drafted."

Smith didn't think much of Washington when he followed Holtz from East Carolina in 2010, going so far as to slide safety Mistral Raymond, a former walk-on, over to be a starting cornerback because he didn't trust what he had at the position, including Washington.

"He thought he was better than he was. He was lazy. Didn't work out like he should. I told him for a corner at his level, I said, 'You're weak as pondwater,' " Smith bluntly recalled.

At USF's pro day in March 2010, as his teammates worked out for NFL scouts, Washington made a comment to Smith about how his physique wouldn't matter once he showed off his time in the 40-yard dash. Smith promptly walked him over to a veteran scout, who told him he needed to be able to take his shirt off with confidence to be taken seriously as a prospect. The message got to Washington, who has flourished this year under new strength coach Mike Golden, turning what was literally a weakness into a source of pride.

"I can just tell in my body that I'm getting stronger and getting bigger," said Washington, who came to USF at just 172 pounds but is now a sturdy 200. "Coach Golden is a phenomenal strength coach. He makes you want to work out, and when you're seeing results, you really want to come back in there. What can I do today? What can I do today extra?"

As an experienced senior — his 24 career starts are the most on USF's defense — Washington is embracing a leadership role, something Smith said would not have been taken seriously a year ago.

"I felt like at one time he was a joke when he opened his mouth last year. Nobody would listen to him," Smith said. "But because of the way he's worked, he is a leader. You can't be a positive leader if you don't lead by example, and that's what he's trying to do."

In Smith, Washington has the same position coach for consecutive seasons for the first time in his five years with the Bulls. That's helped not only with familiarity, but in building the instincts that lead to trust from coaches. "He loves DBs that listen, but he hates robots," Washington explains. "He wants us to listen on the practice field, but when it comes to the games, he wants to be able to play and make decisions."

One area he'll have to improve on is interceptions — he had 12 as a high school senior in 2006, including four returned for touchdowns, but he didn't get his first at USF until his 36th game, in the Bulls' bowl victory against Clemson. He's blocked two punts that have been returned for touchdowns, but now he'll have the chance to make big plays on defense as well.

Washington will graduate in December with a degree in communications with a minor in leadership, but more important than his football progress, Washington has grown up as a person. Last year, he became a father a week before the season started when his son, Quenton Jr., was born, and the past year has taught him to balance the demands of being a college athlete and a father, giving him a new source of motivation.

"I was blessed with a child, and it was time to step up and become a man, to put away my childish things," Washington said. "That's what I did. I feel like it helps me be a leader. It levels me out, from football to my home life. It helps me to come in here and know I have something I'm working for, a child to provide for. This is a great opportunity to do that."

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com and at (813) 226-3346. Check out his blog at tampabay.com/blogs/bulls and follow him at Twitter.com/gregauman.


Even after strong rookie season, Mike Williams has more to show Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans

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By Gary Shelton, Times sports columnist
Monday, August 1, 2011

TAMPA — As pass routes go, his was kind of tricky.

First, he had to get off the line in a hurry. He had to juke left at those who wondered about his ability. He had to cut hard past those who questioned his character. He had to run past those who wondered if he could make such an impact so soon.

And there he was, running free and clear toward the goal line.

A few more steps, and by golly, Mike Williams could be a star.

He is young, and he is talented, and he has the power to change the scoreboard. In his first season, we learned that about Williams. He is fleet, and he is athletic, and his hands have a grip like a politician's. He was good, and he was likeable, and he was in a hurry to be better.

That much, you have seen from Williams. So far, however, you have not seen it all.

And in the route to success, that may be the best news of all.

"Last year, he was running on raw ability," said Eric Yarber, the Bucs' receiver coach. "You didn't see all of his athletic ability. I'd say you saw about 70 percent. Maybe 75."

"I'd say about 60 percent," Williams.

"He had a good year," Yarber said. "I'd give him a B."

"Maybe a C," Williams said. "Maybe a C-plus."

Perhaps you would rank his season higher. Williams was a starter in the Bucs lineup before his cab left the parking lot, and his impact was immediate. He finished the season with 65 catches and 964 yards. His 11 touchdown receptions were the most by a rookie since Randy Moss in 1998. Just as importantly, he dispelled the questions about his character that dropped him to the fourth round of the NFL draft. He was likeable, and he was coachable.

Despite it all, the season doesn't seem to impress Williams as much as it does the rest of us.

"I'd say it was a pretty good year," Williams said, shrugging slightly. "But my goal is to win and win and win, and we didn't get into the playoffs. I don't consider that a great year.

"I could have done more. I was a little nervous. I was scared to make a mistake, scared to make a play. I was so timid, I was trying to go out and do the right thing. Now, I'm going to there to make the play. If I make a mistake, I make a mistake. But I'm going to do it at full speed."

Also, it appears, he will do it from different angles. The Bucs want Williams to know all of the receiver positions this year so they can move him around the field to avoid double teams. Late last year, Yarber says, opponents started to double team Williams.

"They showed me tapes of (Cardinals' receiver) Larry Fitzgerald," Williams said. "When he was playing one position, they could double-team him. When they started moving him around, it was harder on the defense."

Does that mean that stardom is guaranteed for Williams? Of course not. Receiver can be a funny position. In his rookie season, Michael Clayton caught 80 passes for the Bucs; the next year, he caught 32. Antonio Bryant caught 89 in his first year; 39 in his second. Bert Emanuel caught 41 his first season here; 22 the next.

Williams will have to learn to adjust to cornerbacks who will be more prepared for him. He will have to learn to handle disappointment, and he will have to learn to handle success. He will have to stay humble in the hardest position in the NFL to do so.

And yet, it is hard not to like his chances. He has such athleticism going for the ball, and he has Josh Freeman at quarterback, and he is hungry. Williams has a chance to be a very big deal around here.

"If he continues to take care of his body, if he continues to learn about the nuances of receiver play, he can be in the top 10, top five (receivers in the NFL)," Yarber said.

"One thing about Mike, though, his that he wants to be in the top five. ... He's a perfectionist. If he lines up wrong in practice, he gets (peeved) at himself. If he drops a pass in warm-ups, he'll say 'I can't grade 100 percent today.' "

Year two, and the kid is wiser. He knows his position. He knows the expectations. After catching "more than 1,000" passes from Freeman in the off-season, he knows his quarterback.

"Last year, we were trying to be friends," he said. "Now, we are. And it's better to catch a ball from a friend than someone you don't know."

Last season, he learned this about the NFL: Opposing secondaries are very fast and very smart and very quick to make adjustments.

Last season, he learned this about Mike Williams: He belongs.

"I found out I could play in the NFL," Williams said. "I always knew I had a chance, but I never knew I could be a player in the NFL, that I could go out there and do the things that Andre Johnson and Randy Moss and Percy Harvin do. I belong here. I can play here.

"I'm trying to be the tip top. The best. The best ever to do this. I want to break every record I can and get to as many Super Bowls as possible. I think if I keep working, if I keep watching what other players did, I can duplicate it."

Second time around, and what should fans anticipate from Williams? How about "more?" More catches. More yardage. More impact.

When a guy is running toward stardom, what else would you expect?

Tampa Bay Rays demote Mike Ekstrom, activate Juan Cruz from disabled list

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays RHP Mike Ekstrom, who got a four-day run out of his turn as the latest "reliever of the day," was optioned back to Triple-A Durham.

The Rays will activate RHP Juan Cruz, who had been on the DL since July 18 with a groin strain, for Tuesday's game vs. Toronto.

Tampa Bay Rays hope passing of trade deadline helps players relax, produce

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays, like other teams, still can make trades involving players who clear waivers (and in some cases, players who get claimed) and they figure to run many of their players through to see what opportunities arise.

But with as much that is made of the July 31 deadline for nonwaiver deals, manager Joe Maddon is hoping the sense of relief that seemed to spread through the Safeco Field clubhouse on Sunday turns into a boost when the Rays resume play Tuesday.

Specifically, that relaxed players become more productive players.

"I'm happy with the guys we have," Maddon said. "I like the guys we have a lot. You look at where we're at right now, and you look at the skill level of our guys, there's still something to be derived from several people.

"And if we get that out of them for the last month or two, it can be like an acquisition. And it can really give us a little bit of a booster into August and September."

One player who certainly fits that category is CF B.J. Upton, who was the focal point of extensive speculation in the weeks leading up to the deadline, and whose performance seemed to suffer as he hit .096 (5-for-52) in his past 13 games — after hitting .390 (16-for-41) in his previous 11. His season average is down to .224, 10th lowest of the 152 qualified big-league hitters.

"I think overall he handled it well," Maddon said, "and I'd like to believe now that he's settled you might see him turn it on a bit."

Another is 3B Evan Longoria, whose average isn't much better at .232.

Players claimed on waivers can either be pulled back (as most are), let go to the claiming team for nothing (as those with big contracts are), or traded to the claiming team. Players who clear waivers can be traded to any team.

Veterans with higher-priced contracts tend to be involved in the more interesting situations, which makes Johnny Damon ($5.25 million) among the Rays to watch. And the Rays may also be aggressive in claiming players — which is done by league in reverse order of record.

KING DAVID: With a .500 overall record (9-9) and just one win in his past six starts, LHP David Price (who won 19 last year and was runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award) takes the mound Tuesday trying to turn his disappointing season around.

"I need to definitely throw better," Price said. "I can definitely get into a little groove here the last two months I have left, so that's what I'm going to try to do."

Price, like the other starters, has been on a bit of an irregular work schedule as the Rays have manipulated his usage based on matchups and recently went to a six-man rotation. But he said he wasn't assigning blame there.

More relevant, he said, are his mistakes with runners in scoring position, evidenced by a .300 average and .838 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in those situations vs. .219 and .627 otherwise. "I've got to control damage," he said. "I feel like that's probably what hurt me the most this year."

TALL AT SHORT: INF Sean Rodriguez insists he can do anything on a baseball field, which, of course, includes playing shortstop in the big leagues. That was his primary position coming up through the Angels system until he moved to second in 2008. And since given the opportunity for regular duty (nine starts in the past 10 games) following the demotion of Reid Brignac, he has been impressive and at times dazzling.

"At second base you're used to seeing that from him," Maddon said after a series of impressive plays this weekend. "You're not used to seeing that at shortstop. At second base he never appears to be in trouble. Sometimes at short he appears to be in trouble."

MISCELLANY: RHP Juan Cruz (groin strain) is expected to be activated off the DL Tuesday, with RHP Mike Ekstrom likely sent down. … The deadline is noon Tuesday to purchase $250 tickets for Maddon's Summer Social, a post-Thursday-game reception with the manager, coaches and players. … Triple-A Durham goes for its 6,000th victory in franchise history tonight, with top prospect LHP Matt Moore on the mound.

USF Bulls hope to snare commitment from Jupiter quarterback Tyler Cameron

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 1, 2011

NEWPORT, R.I. — Skip Holtz and two of his seniors are representing USF here at the Big East football media gathering, where the Bulls find out today how high they'll be in the league's preseason media poll. But the day's biggest news could come tonight in Jupiter, where coveted QB Tyler Cameron is announcing his college decision, with USF a favorite ahead of LSU, Illinois and Purdue.

Cameron is a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, which ranks him as the No. 6 dual-threat quarterback in the country; the Orlando Sentinel rates him as the state's No. 18 overall recruit this year and the top player listed as a quarterback. His commitment would add to a promising recruiting class that was rated No. 20 in the nation in Rivals' initial ranking of the nation's 2012 classes.

Cameron, 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds, said Saturday he was waiting to publicly announce his decision until today, but another USF commitment, Gainesville CB Chris Bivins, may have let the cat out of the bag on Twitter.com. Bivins mentioned Cameron as a USF commitment on there, going so far as to say "Welcome to the family," but deleted the post soon after. "Don't be surprised if Tyler does commit," he later wrote.

Starter B.J. Daniels seems entrenched as a starter entering his junior season, but Cameron would overlap one season with Daniels, entering a competition with current sophomore Bobby Eveld and freshman Matt Floyd for the right to (in the least) succeed Daniels. USF already has two four-star recruits committed for 2012 in TE Sean Price and WR LaMarlin Wiggins.

LATE ADDITION?: Holtz won't release his fall roster until Wednesday as the Bulls work out the final members of the 105-player group that will head to Vero Beach for 11 days on Saturday. One name that could be a late addition to the list is former Blake TE Mike McFarland, who is transferring from Florida and waiting for word from the Bulls. If a scholarship isn't available, McFarland could join the Bulls as a walk-on, as Auburn transfer Dontae Aycock did last summer before going on scholarship this spring after a solid fall. McFarland said Sunday that he is exploring the possibility of a hardship waiver due to a family illness that would allow him to play immediately this fall without sitting out a year.

THIS AND THAT: Which Bulls player has the most career starts? That would be senior G Jeremiah Warren, who is in Newport representing the USF offense and has started all 26 games over the past two seasons. Fellow senior G Chaz Hine, the former walk-on from Newsome, is one start behind Warren with 25 career starts. ... Holtz will have a more traditional in-studio weekly coaches show this fall on Bright House Sports Network, taped on Tuesday morning and likely airing on Tuesday nights. Last year, Holtz's weekly news conferences were aired live with interviews afterwards, but Holtz will now be able to go over highlights from each week's games.

Captain's Corner: Packs of redfish are eager to eat

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By Neil Taylor, Times Correspondent
Monday, August 1, 2011

What's hot: Redfish remain the hot ticket in the Tampa Bay area. Redfish from 16-31 inches have become more cooperative the past week. They are not schooling up in acres of fish like they will be later in the month, but are in packs of five to 15. They are eager to inhale just about anything they see. As fall approaches even larger fish will be available.

Tackle and techniques: "Head for the trees" to find the redfish. They travel along mangrove-lined shorelines, shallow grass flats and around small islands, settling in to feed in the same areas on specific tidal stages. Get out before sunrise, fishing the coolest part of the day. As the sun gets higher, consider prospecting deeper waters around submerged oyster or in troughs. To draw strikes, twitch jigs slowly off the bottom or swim them just above the bottom. If you know there are deeper holes in a particular spot, let your lure dive down into them. Many times this will be where larger redfish are. Try areas that have a significant amount of baitfish. If there is no food source, there will likely be no redfish there either.

Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area and can be reached at strikethreekayakfishing.com or (727) 692-6345

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