Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Rangers 8, Indians 7

11 innings

ARLINGTON, Texas — Elvis Andrus scored from second on Josh Hamilton's infield single to win it for Texas. He reached on a two-out bunt, went to second on a wild pitch and didn't stop running on Hamilton's soft grounder to short.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Nationals 5, Rockies 3

DENVER — Rick Ankiel had three hits and Ryan Zimmerman and Danny Espinosa two for the Nationals. Ankiel and Espinosa singled to lead off the game and scored on Zimmerman's triple. In the fourth, pitcher Jordan Zimmermann hit a two-out bloop double and scored on Ankiel's single.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 4

PHOENIX — Rod Barajas homered and drove in three for the Dodgers. The loss prevented Arizona, beginning a 10-game homestand, from tying for the West lead. Los Angeles tied a season high with six in the third capped by Barajas' two-run double.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Angels 1, Mariners 0

10 innings

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Vernon Wells singled home the winning run for the Angels, who ended the Mariners' three-game win streak. Torii Hunter led off the 10th with a single, advanced on a wild pitch and came home when Wells lined a 2-and-2 pitch to left-center. Jered Weaver struck out eight in nine innings in his first start since he was suspended for throwing at a batter. The Mariners are 2-17 in their past 19 in Anaheim.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

But Will explained that Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley had flown to Austin, Texas, interviewed him, then offered the job.

"He said, I'm going to be at Florida," Larry Muschamp said. "I was absolutely stunned."

Muschamp's path has gone through six states with stops at some of the most powerful programs in America, including Auburn and LSU. He has worked with some of the best coaches in the game. His ultimate goal was to be a head coach by age 40, which he turned on Wednesday.

"It doesn't surprise me at all that he's a head coach, I always knew he would be," said John Clifford, a former Gator safety who was Muschamp's coach at Oak Hall School in Gainesville. "Even in eighth grade he was like having another coach on the field. It was almost as if he was groomed to be a coach. And I have no doubt he's going to be a great one for Florida."

Formative years

Muschamp's love of the game stems from growing up within a stone's throw of Florida Field, an avid Gator fan who walked to Florida games from his home at 1122 NW 22nd Street. His family's season tickets were in the north end zone. But his understanding and respect comes from Larry, a former school headmaster and longtime football coach. The toughness that coaches and former players constantly refer to was earned in backyard battles with two older brothers.

"We had a lot of good football games (at that home)," Muschamp said.

On fall weekends in Gainesville he learned to enjoy the game not only as a fan, but as a future coach. "Every Saturday and Sunday, we would sit and watch the games and talk about why they did this, and why they did that, why this didn't work and why that did work," Larry said. "He's just always been enamored with football."

Muschamp made the Oak Hall varsity football team as an eighth-grader, and was an instant success. In his first game against Bronson, he had 121 rushing yards, three interceptions and threw a pass to set up the winning field goal with no time left, Clifford recalled.

"He was an unbelievable player, his toughness and just the way he went at it and wouldn't back down," Clifford said. "My biggest regret is that I didn't get to coach him but one year."

Chance and fate

At the end of Muschamp's eighth-grade year, Larry took a job in Rome, Ga. Yet Muschamp's heart still belonged to the Gators. He longed to be recruited by Florida. But as a junior at the Darlington School in Rome, Muschamp, who also played baseball and basketball, sustained a severe injury — a compound fracture that left "both bones sticking out of his leg." The injury and Florida's program woes ultimately ruined any chances he had at being recruited by UF. Hank Rone, a Gator punter from 1986-89 who played in high school with Muschamp's brothers, remembers many conversations with Will about wanting to be a Gator.

"My senior year in '89 after the Florida State game, I can remember I was in the locker room and he was there," Rone said. "That's when he had just come off that bad injury. We had no head coach, Gary Darnell was the interim, and he was thinking even then that he was going to have to walk on. Nobody knew who the coach was going to be. He was a Gator at heart. If he had had the opportunity to come to Florida, he would have. But in the end, I think it worked out better for him."

Muschamp decided to walk on at Georgia, but a few days into preseason practice, he broke his collarbone. Forced to sit out a year and redshirt, he watched games and studied film, which turned out to be invaluable. He eventually earned a scholarship at safety and became a captain.

Road back

His first coaching job was as a defensive graduate assistant at Auburn under coach Terry Bowden in 1995. There he met current Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, who eventually played a pivotal role in Muschamp's career. The two remain close friends today — even sharing ownership of a vacation beach home.

"He's a great coach, good competitor, all those things," Fisher said. "You know you've got your hands full. … But just because you know a guy, to me that doesn't bother me as far as things from that standpoint. I'm happy for him and his family. It's a great opportunity for him."

Muschamp spent two seasons at Auburn, then had stints at West Georgia, Eastern Kentucky and Valdosta State. In 2000, while in Atlanta visiting in-laws, Muschamp contacted Fisher, an LSU assistant, about coming to the Georgia Dome to watch practice. He was introduced to then-LSU coach Nick Saban.

"I went, watched practice and sat on the side during a walk-through," Muschamp said. "I talked with Nick for about 20 minutes and we kind of hit it off."

One month later, LSU needed a secondary coach and Fisher and assistant Rick Trickett recommended Muschamp. Much like the Florida job, he was hired in about 48 hours. He credits Saban, now Alabama's coach, with helping him become who he is today.

"I certainly wouldn't be in the shoes I'm in now if not for the opportunity he gave me at LSU, so I'm appreciative of that," Muschamp said. "Philosophically we believe a lot of the same things about running a football team and an organization and how you do it. … Having discipline within the program with the players, having accountability, responsibility. There are a lot of similarities I had a great working relationship with Nick. He's very smart, detail-oriented, very organized in what he wants to do and the vision he sees for his program."

Saban said Muschamp is among the best assistants who have come under his tutelage.

"Will is always one of my favorites," Saban said. "He's a hard worker, he's got great principles and values, and philosophically as a football coach he's a really hard worker. He's very enthusiastic, has a leadership quality about him that really affects people in a positive way, especially players. I think he'll do a really good job. He's done a really good job everywhere he's been."

Muschamp joined the Texas staff in 2008 after two seasons as Auburn's defensive coordinator and secondary coach. It was there that he made such a strong impression he was named the coach in waiting. After so many moves over the course of his career, Muschamp said he would be the coach at Texas until they fired him.

He meant it, his father said. Until Florida came along.

"It's a dream come true for him," Larry Muschamp said.

Leading by example

"Get ready, we're going to get this thing right again," Muschamp told senior quarterback John Brantley in his inaugural meeting with the team in January.

And then, like the detailed task-master he's known as, he set a plan. He gave his staff notebooks with his strategy for the first 100 days. He began letting players know what he would do — and most of all what he expected of them in return.

"You could tell he was a guy who was going to demand respect, but at the same time he gave us respect right away," defensive end William Green said. "He was very professional. The whole staff has brought a professional attitude and you can see it has carried over to all of the players. It's much more business-like."

Muschamp's recognition of every player on the team — including walk-ons and non-star players, has endeared him to the team.

"He's a real personable guy," Brantley said. "I always see him walking into the training room after one of his workouts saying hey to anybody. Even if they are not on the team, he'll act like they are on the team. He's just a real nice guy. Real personable. And I think that's still some of the position coach in him. He's just a great coach to play for. I'm proud to say that he's our coach."

It is, Muschamp said, what makes him who he is as a coach.

"I think the strength of me as a coach is relating with people," he said. "It really doesn't matter whether you have head coaching experience or not. When it all boils down to it, it's about relating with people. Every kid has got a key and it's your job as a coach, whether you're the head coach or a position coach or coordinator, to find that key."

Since he took over in January, Florida has the No. 4 recruiting class for 2012, a testament to his reputation as a top-notch recruiter. Five players have transferred since his arrival and All-SEC cornerback Janoris Jenkins was dismissed after his third run-in with the law. It comes with the territory, he said.

"When you're in the business of education and you're educating young people, you're constantly having a mental conditioning stage for making good choices and decisions," Muschamp said. "And regardless of what you do and sometimes the type of people they're around, sometimes they make poor choices and decisions. That's part of the educational process as well. That's the job we're in. We wear a lot of hats as a football coach. It's not just what we do on Saturday afternoon."

Florida opened fall camp on Saturday, and Muschamp admits he has briefly thought about what it will be like to run out of the tunnel as Florida's head coach for the first time on Sept. 3. But with so much uncertainty at key positions, just getting his team ready consumes him most.

"I know he'll be successful at Florida because he'll work harder than anybody there," his father said. "And they'll all see that, they'll all know that. And they'll be better because he's there. That's just part of his persona."

Antonya English can be reached at English@sptimes.com. Follow her coverage at gators.tampabay.com.

GAINESVILLE

Larry Muschamp was sitting in his Rome, Ga., home on a leisurely Saturday afternoon in December when his phone rang unexpectedly. It was Will, the youngest of his three sons. "I picked it up and Will said 'Dad, do you know you're talking to the new head coach at Florida?' " Larry Muschamp recalled. "I can't tell you what I said at first. Then I said, 'Come on, Will.' He said, 'No, really, I just took the job.' I said, 'Hold on, it's going to take me a minute to get everything together in my mind.' " Muschamp was supposed to be the heir to the Texas throne. The third-year defensive coordinator was the head coach in waiting to Mack Brown and all expectations — including that of Larry Muschamp — were that Will's first head coaching job would be at Texas.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

How long until Jets coach Rex Ryan says something incredibly stupid?

He might already have. He was quoted last week saying, "I just know what I believe in my heart, and that's that this is going to be our year.'' He sounds like he's already making plans to take his team to meet President Obama at the White House.

That's all well and good. You want your coach to come with a dose of swagger. But didn't ol' Rex say pretty much the same thing last year? And the year before that? Pretty soon, you cry "Super Bowl'' enough and folks stop listening. What is seen as bravado comes off more like desperation.

Now it is true that the Jets have come within a few plays of making the Super Bowl each of the past two seasons. And they made some interesting moves in the offseason, most notably picking up receiver Plaxico Burress. The defense remains as good as any in the NFL, and quarterback Mark Sanchez, who already has more postseason victories than Joe Namath, is another year older.

The Jets are good. Real good. And maybe this is their year. But Ryan's act is starting to get a little old. Eventually, you have to cover the checks that your mouth is writing.

The Dolphins aren't seriously interested in Brett Favre, are they?

Let's hope not. This actually might have made sense a year ago, when Favre, who turns 42 in October, was coming off a productive season in which he led the Vikings to the NFC title game. But last season, he looked old, worn down, broken. Most of all, he looked finished.

What is interesting is there are even rumors floating around that the Dolphins would have interest in Favre. What it says is they don't have a quarterback and they will use the preseason to find one. They tried to pry Kyle Orton away from Denver, but the Broncos realize they can't turn over the keys to Tim Tebow quite yet. Right now, the best Miami has is Chad Henne, who was booed by fans — during workouts!

Henne was 1-7 at home last season, so you can understand the home crowd's frustration. The Dolphins added an offensive weapon in former Heisman winner Reggie Bush. But Henne is going to have to get better in a hurry if the Dolphins are going to improve on consecutive 7-9 seasons.

Which new coach has the best chance at success?

There are eight new coaches in the NFL this season if you count Minnesota's Leslie Frazier and Dallas' Jason Garrett, who had the "interim'' tags removed from their titles after coaching at the end of last season. Those two might have a slight advantage over the six brand new coaches who didn't have a chance to get to know their personnel in the offseason because of the lockout.

Garrett led the Cowboys to a 5-3 record in the second half while Frazier's hopes appear to rely on quarterback Donovan McNabb bouncing back from an awful 2010 season with the Redskins.

First-time coaches Ron Rivera (Panthers), Pat Shurmur (Browns), Hue Jackson (Raiders) and Mike Munchak (Titans) are longtime assistants who take over teams that were a combined 21-43 last season. Former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh comes in with a rah-rah attitude in hopes of turning around a 49ers team that went 6-10 last season. And former Panthers coach John Fox switches over to Denver and tries to sort out quarterback Tim Tebow.

All the new coaches, with the exception of Garrett, have quarterback worries, which is why Garrett likely will have the most success.

Which teams are behind the eight ball because of the lockout?

For starters, any team with a new coach and/or new coordinators were hurt by not being able to have offseason workouts. Next up, teams trying to break in new quarterbacks such as the Panthers and first overall pick Cam Newton. Instead of getting a playbook months ago, Newton has just a few days to decipher jargon, schemes and better defenders than he has ever seen.

Then there are teams that were partially gutted after the lockout, and the team that jumps out there is the Ravens. Gone are a slew of veterans, including tight end Todd Heap, receiver Derrick Mason, running back Willis McGahee and nose tackle Kelly Gregg. Not only do the Ravens have a month to replace those players on the field, but their leadership in the locker room. True, leadership is never a major concern when you have guys such as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. But don't underestimate how much the former players meant to this team that has been knocking on a championship for a few years now.

Are there any quarterback controversies to watch?

Plenty. The most intriguing would be in Denver, where Tim Tebow is trying to win the job over Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn. But early reports are Tebow is struggling again with his accuracy and Orton is back on top on the depth chart.

A few rookies are trying to win starting jobs. No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton is expected to be the man in Carolina, but veteran Derek Anderson could be the safe pick to start the season. Florida State's Christian Ponder is the future in Minnesota, but the present likely belongs to Donovan McNabb. Missouri's Blaine Gabbert is trying to supplant David Garrard in Jacksonville. And Jake Locker out of Washington will be the eventual starter in Tennessee, but the Titans went out and got Matt Hasselbeck to get them through this season.

After that, it's a battle among journeymen for starting jobs: Jason Campbell and Kyle Boller with the Raiders, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tyler Thigpen with the Bills, Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst with the Seahawks and Rex Grossman and John Beck with the Redskins.

Meantime, the Bengals search for a quarterback to replace the disgruntled Carson Palmer. And if the Bengals ever decide to trade Palmer, some of the teams mentioned above could be interested.

How do last season's Super Bowl combatants look?

Just fine. The Packers and Steelers tinkered a bit with their rosters, but all the key parts from last season's Super Bowl teams return. The Packers hope to get through the preseason healthy while the Steelers are just hoping James Harrison can keep his mouth shut long enough to keep from being suspended.

Football is finally here. The lockout is over. Teams are in training camp. And preseason games start this week. Here is a quick tour around the league for some of the story lines to keep an eye on:



Which team is the most intriguing heading into the preseason?

N o doubt, the Eagles. Already a good team (remember, they almost knocked the eventual-champion Packers out in the playoffs), the Eagles made the biggest splash in free agency. They signed quarterback Vince Young, running back Ronnie Brown, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins and defensive end Jason Babin and hooked the biggest free agent fish of all in shutdown cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Plus, Michael Vick is the starting quarterback from the get-go. The preseason will be for fitting all of these new pieces together and seeing what kind of puzzle they have. The Eagles believe it will end in a Super Bowl victory. But if we had to pick right now, we still say the Packers are the team to beat in the NFC.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

The Rays and the A's share a few bonds, and that's besides trying to decipher Grant Balfour's occasional Australian jargon. Their stadiums are in need of replacement, their budgets are on the small side compared to their division rivals, their success (when they have it) stems from innovation and creativity, and their methods are the subjects of recent books. Moneyball, written by Michael Lewis and published in 2003, premieres next month as a major Hollywood movie, with A's GM Billy Beane played by none other than Brad Pitt, and a cast that includes Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman (in uniform as Art Howe) and Robin Wright. (Plus cast roles for former A's/Rays such as Carlos Peña, Jim Mecir and Chad Bradford.) The Extra Two Percent, written by Jonah Keri about the Rays and published earlier this year, is not — for several reasons — likely headed for the big screen. But if it were, how would the cast look? We asked Keri for his list of who would play some of the top characters, then asked around to assemble ours.

And just for fun, how about:

Sam Fuld played by Chris Kattan

J.P. Howell by (Fast Times at Ridgemont High-era) Sean Penn

Dewayne Staats by Alex Trebek

Rocco Baldelli by Michael Cera



Got a minute? | Jake McGee

Must-see TV? I've been watching Wilfred (a comedy) and Breaking Bad (an intense drama), it's like one or the other.

Band you'd most like to be on stage with? Incubus, or Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Big-night-out meal? Go to a steakhouse and get prime rib. (His birthday was Saturday.)

Worst job? Stacking coffee cup sleeves in a warehouse in the off-season, in 2006 or '07.

With your wife Morgan's permission, dream date? Probably (actor) Mila Kunis.

Rays rumblings

The Rays checked into making it a Go-Go, Goo-Goo, Gaga weekend but found out the Lady would've cost $1 million. … Whatever the "personal reasons" that kept radio pre- and postgame host Rich Herrera off the air last week, he won't be back just yet as Triple-A broadcaster Neil Solondz comes in from Durham for the Royals series. … There's chatter on South Carolina message boards that top pick RHP Taylor Guerreri may spurn the Rays and USC and go the juco route at Spartanburg Methodist; signing deadline is Aug. 15. … Commissioner Bud Selig continues his Rays-friendly push to add two more wild cards to the playoff field, telling the New York Times "if I have my way it'll be in time for next year." … SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote "baseball people seem to agree that B.J. Upton needs a change of scenery" and also that "word has gotten out that manager Joe Maddon is frustrated with Upton." … With Bucs coach Raheem Morris sporting red and black Rays caps in recent media sessions, Maddon may reciprocate — with a full helmet. … Ex-Ray Carl Crawford turned 30 Friday, hitting .242 with 12 steals for Boston in the first of a seven-year deal. … Latest Rays personality on Twitter: radio man Dave Wills, @davewills34. … An exec with Japan's Orix team, Yogo Suzuki, led a contingent to the Trop over the weekend to study how the Rays do postgame concerts. … Maddon claimed no hidden meaning to last week's comment, and Tweet, that the Rays' offensive struggles "prove one thing — that's we're not cheating at home." It may have seemed otherwise with the Jays, who have been accused of doing so, in town. … In ESPN The Magazine's player issue, OF Sam Fuld reveals his pet peeve: wayward fingernail clippings left out in public.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

The poll

Which Florida school will win the most football games this season? 850 votes

This week's question

Which young Rays player excites you the most? Vote at rays.tampabay.com.

50%

34%

10%

USF

Florida State

Florida

Another poll

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, how do you feel about the Rays, essentially, standing pat? 349 votes

43%

33%

24%

Disappointed with no additions

Disappointed they didn't dump salary

Relieved a regular wasn't traded

4%

2%

Central Florida

Miami

By Jackie Otto, Times Correspondent
Saturday, August 6, 2011

What's hot: A steaming plate of lobster and scallops is the hot topic during the hottest months of Florida. Scallop season is in full swing and runs through Sept. 25, and spiny lobster season opened Saturday and runs through March 31. Harvesting these tasty seafoods is easy and full of family fun, though both come with strict rules. Your best bet is go to myfwc.com and research the requirements before planning a trip.

Techniques: Snorkel, mask and fins are needed. I also prefer to wear diving gloves and carrying a mesh bag to put scallops and lobsters in while floating, looking for another to add to my bag. When lobstering, I also carry a measuring tool. Catches must be 3 inches or longer (measured in the water, not out). The waters north of the Hernando County line to Bay County are for scalloping, and there are a few protected areas in the Keys where lobstering is not allowed. Again, do your research.

Tips: Look for two long spines sticking out from rock ledges as you float on the surface, then dive down and use a tickle stick to entice the lobster out. We are late in the season for scallops, but they're still plentiful.

Jackie Otto can be reached at Betts Fishing Center at (727) 518-7637 or jackieotto@msn.com.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

TAMPA — Depth charts usually aren't worth the paper they are printed on in training camp. But when the Bucs' list of starters is released Monday, a few names could be etched in stone.

Rookie Mason Foster will be the starter at middle linebacker.

That decision essentially was made when the team made Foster its third-round pick out of Washington.

Former USF standout Tyrone McKenzie and Derrell Smith, an undrafted rookie from Syracuse, are battling to back him up.

The Bucs love Foster's size (6 feet 1, 240 pounds) and instincts enough to put the responsibility of making all of the defensive calls on his shoulder pads.

"He's doing well. It's hard to say the job is his, and you've got to go through the bullets," coach Raheem Morris said of Foster. "You've got to go through the games. You've got to go out there and prove yourself. But you want to give him an opportunity to win it.

"He is getting some reps with the first group. It's fun."

The consensus opinion is the defense will be vanilla with Foster. But that's not Morris' flavor.

"With Coach Morris' personality, I don't think he would water down anything," said former Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, who watched rookie Jamie Duncan step in at middle linebacker in 1999. "I think he would ask Mason, if he earned that spot, to step up."

Brooks says Foster should take comfort in the fact Morris has had success starting rookies in the past.

"Take the position out of it," Brooks said. "You've had that in this Buccaneers defense the last three years. Some rookies have started and played prominent roles. It shouldn't be different at his position."

Other predictions: Jeremy Trueblood will be the starting right tackle over James Lee. You don't re-sign someone for $10 million over two years to be a backup.

And rookies Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers will be the starting defensive ends.

BLACKOUTS: The organization fired warning shots over the bow of its pirate ship last year about the likelihood of home games being subjected to local television blackouts.

Many fans were put out that such a dire prediction (which came true) would be made before the start of the preseason.

The club is taking a more stealthy approach when it comes to revealing its ticket numbers this year, but it's reasonable to expect most of the seven regular-season and two preseason games will be blacked out.

If single-game ticket sales that commenced Friday are any indication, there could be two exceptions: the Monday night game on ESPN against the Colts on Oct. 3 and the Saturday night game against the Cowboys on the NFL Network on Dec. 17.

Waiting for discipline: Despite the rhetoric coming from the Bucs, they expect commissioner Roger Goodell to levy harsh punishments to the handful of players who violated the league's personal conduct policy during the lockout.

That includes CB Aqib Talib, whose trial on charges of assault with a deadly weapon has been moved to March 2012. The hope is Goodell will wait until Talib has his day in court and allow for the presumption of innocence.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — LHP David Price admits he has to pitch better.

With just one win in his past six starts and a losing record (9-10) overall, he takes the mound today needing to give up fewer hits with runners in scoring position (a .304 average). And to cut down on the number of home runs allowed (eight in his past six starts). Also, some better run support would help.

All that said, there is a question if something else is in play during his extended struggles:

Are the umpires against him?

Twice this season, Price has been ejected from games for protesting calls from the bench. Since then there has been a dramatic downturn in his success.

In Price's first 14 starts, he was 7-5 with a 3.51 ERA. He was ejected for the first time in Detroit on June 13, and in nine starts since he is 2-5, 4.21. And in the six starts since his second ejection, July 1, he is 1-4, 4.86.

According to baseball-reference.com data, the overall percentage of strikes called on Price's pitches has been roughly the same all season, in the 19-20 percent range.

But the amount of walks he has issued has risen curiously — and dramatically: from 15 in 971/3 innings (1.39 per nine innings) before his first ejection to 20 in 572/3 innings post (3.12 per nine).

If you want to believe in a conspiracy theory, that the diverse umpiring crews throughout MLB have somehow banded together to doom Price, the difference could be just a few borderline pitches a game going against him.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said that though he knows the umpires compare notes, he does not think they are working against Price.

"Honestly, I haven't seen anything different," Maddon said. "Of course they talk. That's undeniable. They'll be the first ones to tell you that, too. I know they have shared conference calls, and there's a lot of things they do in an attempt to make themselves better."

But not to conspire against a certain pitcher.

"I think it's hard to do that with today's technology to do the old-school thing where you're really going to stick it to somebody because there's too many checks and balances out there now compared to 10 years ago, 15 years ago where it was a lot easier for maybe a group to try to teach somebody a lesson," Maddon said. "It's much more difficult to do that in today's game."

CATCHING ON: Rookie C Robinson Chirinos is only in the majors because John Jaso (oblique) then Jose Lobaton (knee sprain) got hurt, but the Rays are intrigued enough that they want to see him play on a somewhat regular basis.

With Kelly Shoppach unlikely to return (a $3.2 million team option), their 2012 catchers could be a choice among Chirinos, Lobaton, Jaso and even Nevin Ashley, who is now at Triple-A Durham.

"Who knows. … It's just going to be a nice competition, I'll say that," Maddon said. "It's a nice problem to have."

Jaso (oblique strain) worked out on the field again Saturday and if he continues to progress could start a rehab assignment at Durham this week.

VETERAN MOVE: DH Johnny Damon told Oakland TV analyst Ray Fosse he agreed with the error call by official scorer Bill Mathews on the ground ball hit back to pitcher Craig Breslow in the sixth Friday. Even though it cost Damon a hit, he said he would have felt worse adding three earned runs to Breslow's stat line.

MISCELLANY: B.J. Upton's streak of reaching base ended at seven plate appearances, one off the team record, when he grounded out in the second. … Maddon used the exact same lineup for the second straight day — a bit of a rarity for him — and the same top seven for the fourth time in five days.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — LHP David Price admits he has to pitch better.

With just one win in his past six starts and a losing record (9-10) overall, he takes the mound today needing to give up fewer hits with runners in scoring position (a .304 average). And to cut down on the number of home runs allowed (eight in his past six starts). Also, some better run support would help.

All that said, there is a question if something else is in play during his extended struggles:

Are the umpires against him?

Twice this season, Price has been ejected from games for protesting calls from the bench. Since then there has been a dramatic downturn in his success.

In Price's first 14 starts, he was 7-5 with a 3.51 ERA. He was ejected for the first time in Detroit on June 13, and in nine starts since he is 2-5, 4.21. And in the six starts since his second ejection, July 1, he is 1-4, 4.86.

According to baseball-reference.com data, the overall percentage of strikes called on Price's pitches has been roughly the same all season, in the 19-20 percent range.

But the amount of walks he has issued has risen curiously — and dramatically: from 15 in 97⅓ innings (1.39 per nine innings) before his first ejection to 20 in 57⅔ innings post (3.12 per nine).

If you want to believe in a conspiracy, that the diverse umpiring crews throughout MLB have somehow banded together to doom Price, the difference could be just a few borderline pitches a game going against him.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said that though he knows the umpires compare notes, he does not think they are working against Price.

"Honestly, I haven't seen anything different," Maddon said. "Of course they talk. That's undeniable. They'll be the first ones to tell you that, too. I know they have shared conference calls, and there's a lot of things they do in an attempt to make themselves better."

But not to conspire against a certain pitcher.

"I think it's hard to do that with today's technology to do the old-school thing where you're really going to stick it to somebody because there's too many checks and balances out there now compared to 10 years ago, 15 years ago where it was a lot easier for maybe a group to try to teach somebody a lesson," Maddon said. "It's much more difficult to do that in today's game."

CATCHING ON: Rookie C Robinson Chirinos is only in the majors because John Jaso (oblique) then Jose Lobaton (knee sprain) got hurt, but the Rays are intrigued enough that they want to see him play on a somewhat regular basis.

With Kelly Shoppach unlikely to return (a $3.2 million team option), their 2012 catchers could be a choice among Chirinos, Lobaton, Jaso and even Nevin Ashley, who is now at Triple-A Durham.

"Who knows. … It's just going to be a nice competition, I'll say that," Maddon said. "It's a nice problem to have."

Jaso (oblique strain) worked out on the field again Saturday and if he continues to progress could start a rehab assignment at Durham this week.

VETERAN MOVE: DH Johnny Damon told Oakland TV analyst Ray Fosse he agreed with the error call by official scorer Bill Mathews on the ground ball hit back to pitcher Craig Breslow in the sixth Friday. Even though it cost Damon a hit, he said he would have felt worse adding three earned runs to Breslow's stat line.

MISCELLANY: B.J. Upton's streak of reaching base ended at seven plate appearances, one off the team record, when he grounded out in the second. … The 11 shutouts are the Rays' most since 2004. … The seven total steals against the Rays were a record, as were the four by Coco Crisp, who suffered a strained right calf.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

AKRON, Ohio — Ryo Ishikawa amazed even his peers in a charity-driven sport when he pledged in March to donate his entire earnings on the golf course to the tsunami relief fund in his native Japan.

He could double the donation Sunday in a World Golf Championship event that is surprising even him.

Coming off a missed cut in Japan, never better than 20th in stroke play in America, the 19-year-old made six birdies and twice escaped trouble in the trees Saturday for 6-under 64 that put him in the final group, one shot behind Adam Scott in the Bridgestone Invitational.

Along with a $1.4 million payoff, Ishikawa could become the youngest winner of a PGA Tour event in 100 years.

"I think it's a little too early to think about winning this whole thing as of now," Ishikawa said. "But I do feel that I was able to play at a pretty good level, a pretty high level (Saturday). Actually, I'm a little surprised of how I performed out there."

Scott turned his fortunes around when he decided to stick with what was working, going to a fade off the tee. He poured in four birdies on the back nine for 4-under 66, giving the Australian, 31, a shot at his first World Golf Championship.

Scott was at 12-under 198, the lowest 54-hole score at Firestone in 10 years. Just ahead of Scott and Ishikawa today will be Jason Day, whose 66 also put him one shot back. Day and Scott tied for second in the Masters this year.

About the only thing Tiger Woods can get out of this week are four rounds and some points to help qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs at the end of the month. Woods, a seven-time winner at Firestone who hasn't played in nearly three months, struggled with his putting and shot 2-over 72. He was 13 shots behind in a tie for 38th in the 76-man field.

"I've just got to put together a good round and let it build," Woods said.

Scott in the lead should be compelling enough, especially with Woods back to golf. It was only two weeks ago when Woods announced he had fired his caddie, Steve Williams, and Scott then hired him full time.

PGA: Scott Piercy reeled off eight consecutive birdies to post 28 on the front nine and eagled the 616-yard closing hole to break the course record with 11-under 61, taking a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Reno-Tahoe Open in Nevada. Piercy enters the final round at 13-under 203, two ahead of Josh Teater and three ahead of a group that includes 1995 PGA champion Steve Elkington. Elkington shot 68 to get to 10-under 206. He was tied for third with 2006 Reno champ Chris Riley, first-round leader Nick O'Hern, Pat Perez, John Merrick and Blake Adams.

CHAMPIONS: Peter Senior shot bogey-free 67 and Palm Harbor's John Huston birdied No. 18 for 4-under 68 that left them tied for the lead at 12-under 132 after the second round of the 3M Champion­ship in Blaine, Minn. Jay Haas, the co-leader with Huston after the opening round, shot 69 and was one shot back.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

LINCOLN, Neb. — With millions of dollars potentially at stake, Bubba Starling is putting football at Nebraska on hold until he decides whether to sign with the Kansas City Royals.

Starling was a no-show for the Cornhuskers' first practice Saturday, and coach Bo Pelini said afterward that the 6-foot-5, 200-pound freshman quarterback won't participate in team activities until at least Aug. 15, if ever. That's the baseball signing deadline for Starling, a power-hitting outfielder who was drafted No. 5 overall in June.

"Obviously, he has got a lot at risk," Pelini said. "We communicated with the family about the best way to go about it. We're all on the same page."

Starling's father, Jimbo, confirmed that Bubba was still a member of the program.

Pelini said he's leaving a spot open for Starling on the 105-player preseason roster and that it wouldn't make sense for Starling to practice as long as there is uncertainty about his future.

Starling is taking summer school and working out on his own, "just like anyone else who's not on the 105."

Starling was a multisport star for Gardner-Edgerton High, southwest of Kansas City, Mo. According to his growing legend, he hits 500-foot home runs, throws a football 55 yards from his knees and dunks over basketball players half a foot taller.

His absence leaves the Huskers with three full-time quarterbacks — returning starter Taylor Martinez, redshirt freshman Brion Carnes and sophomore Ron Kellogg III. Freshman Jamal Turner is splitting time between quarterback and receiver.

FORMER RECRUIT KILLED: D.J. Jones, a former Texas A&M signee, was shot and killed Friday in Cartwright, Okla. He was 19. The Herald Democrat of Sherman, Texas, reported that Oklahoma authorities were searching for three suspects. Jones, who had been pursued by Florida among others, signed with Texas A&M as part of the 2010 recruiting class but returned to his hometown of Denison, Texas, without playing for the Aggies.

BYU: Defensive lineman Matt Putnam, expected to be a full-time starter, was ruled academically ineligible for the season.

TENNESSEE: Charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct against senior linebacker Austin Johnson were dropped. On July 24 he was arrested after trying to start a fight and hitting cars in a parking lot behind a bar in Knoxville.

By Ian Lanphier, Times Correspondent


Saturday, August 6, 2011

TAMPA — After three days of practice, USF took to the road after Saturday's workout for its second consecutive year of fall camp in Vero Beach.

Coach Skip Holtz said he liked the energy he saw during the first day of practice in pads.

"I really enjoy working with this team, just to come out here the way they're working together," he said. " … I thought they came out here and had a really focused practice. It was intense. There was hitting going on out there. I'm really pleased with the attitude and the work habits of this team."

The team plans to spend 12 days in Vero Beach, preparing for its Sept. 3 opener at Notre Dame.

"We're going to have a team meeting where we'll really start talking about camp and putting this thing together," Holtz said. "I think the players are really excited about it, but we got a good day's workout (Saturday)."

Waiting Game: TE Mike McFarland practiced, a day after joining the team following his transfer from Florida.

Holtz said the former Blake High standout is going through a five-day acclimatization period where he must wear shorts without pads in practice. The team awaits word on whether the 6-foot-5, 245-pound freshman will receive a hardship waiver, which would let him play immediately rather than sitting out the season under transfer rules.

"(McFarland's) a big body, but he's in the same boat," Holtz said. "He's like the rest of them right now. He's swimming, drinking through a fire hose, and it's all just being thrown at him really quick. But he is a big, athletic, good-looking young man. I'm really anxious to watch his development with everything."

This and That: Cornerbacks coach Rick Smith said depth at safety makes it the strength of the defense. … Smith said redshirt sophomore SS JaQuez Jenkins, a second-teamer, has three interceptions in as many practices. … Junior WR Evan Landi said the Vero Beach experience inspired unity last season that made the team as close as any he has played on.

UF: Good first day

GAINESVILLE — It was only the first day and there were no pads or hitting, but coach Will Muschamp saw some positives in Florida's first practice. Most notably — no injuries.

"It went okay," he said. "Everybody is excited. We had some very good retention, especially the older players, and decent retention with some of the younger players. I'm pleased with the first day, in helmets."

Despite having missed spring drills, Muschamp said senior RB Jeff Demps didn't miss a beat Saturday.

"He looked great, actually," he said. "He looked really good."

JOYER, STORY IMPRESS: Two area players caught Muschamp's eye, including RB Hunter Joyer out of Wesley Chapel, whom the coach said "did some nice things for us." He also liked what he saw from WR Ja'Juan Story out of Brooksville Nature Coast. "JaJuan Story looks like a guy that eventually can help us. How quickly that will happen I don't know," Muschamp said. "Although I love guys that play quarterback in high school because they've got to make a lot of decisions, but he hasn't played wideout a bunch."

Antonya English, Times staff writer

UM: Speedy to start

CORAL GABLES — Al Golden has told his Hurricanes plenty about the pace he'll demand from them during training camp. And in their first practice, he showed them what he meant.

Roaming from spot to spot during drills, stopping every so often for a few words with players before moving on to another group in a frenetic opening practice, a sweat-drenched Golden was in constant motion when Miami formally opened its first camp under the new coach.

"There's urgency," he said. "There's a sense of urgency in the building. I think the guys know we've got to get a lot done in a short period of time."

Times wires

UCF: All-around commit

ORLANDO — Kevis Jones, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound all-around player out of Oakland Park Northeast High, has orally committed. Jones has played linebacker, quarterback, defensive end and tight end and is rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.

Orlando Sentinel

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, August 6, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Really, it's no surprise that this happened. Alex Cobb is a 23-year-old making his ninth major-league start during his third stint with the Rays in a whirlwind rookie season no one saw coming.

He was going to have a rough outing now and then, and Saturday's 8-0 loss to the A's was one, as he failed to get out of the fifth inning before a Goo Goo Dolls-infused crowd of 24,939.

The bigger mystery was what happened to that perky Rays offense from the previous three games, as they were shut out, and shut down for the second time in two weeks, by the otherwise pedestrian Brandon McCarthy.

And also, if the Rays were playing under some rule that they couldn't throw a runner out, as they allowed the A's — of all teams — to steal seven bases, the most in Tampa Bay history, and all against rookie catcher Robinson Chirinos.

The result was the end of their hopes-raising three-game winning streak, and the reality of dropping back to 10 games out — of both first place in the AL East and the wild card, with the Red Sox beating the Yankees — with only 50 games to play.

McCarthy has been pitching well, with a 4-0 mark in five starts since the All-Star break. But that doesn't explain his mastery over the Rays, as he has thrown two eight-inning masterpieces, allowing one run on six hits on July 26 in Oakland then no runs on five hits Saturday. He is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA against the Rays this season, and 3-5, 3.79 against everyone else.

The Rays were not without any hope. They got two on to start the sixth, when Chirinos and shortstop Sean Rodriguez, snapping an 0-for-15 skid, singled to get to the top of the order. But rookie Desmond Jennings flied to right, DH Johnny Damon grounded into a fielder's choice and Evan Longoria — hitting .128 (6-for-47) in his past 13 games, .225 overall — flied to center.

Chirinos, while impressive offensively, has struggled defending the running game, having allowed 21 of 23 base­stealers to be successful.

Cobb, whose two playoff appearances last year for Triple-A Durham were his only games above Double A before this season, took his first big-league loss in his last start, July 30 in Seattle.

Saturday, he survived the first despite his own awkward error, when he mishandled a flip from first baseman Casey Kotchman then fell over the base and took down A's baserunner Coco Crisp.

But the A's got to him in the second, and every inning after that.

In the second, it was a home run by David DeJesus that started things.

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

By Stephen F. Holder and Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writers
Saturday, August 6, 2011

TAMPA — Bryan Glazer looked around at the animated crowd at Raymond James Stadium and smiled, taking pride in the turnout for a Bucs open practice Saturday night that filled about half of the venue's lower bowl.

But the team's co-chairman didn't attempt to mask reality: filling RJS on game day remains a chore despite a team that has Glazer thinking big.

"We're hoping (for sellouts) this year," Glazer said. "Obviously, the economy here is still in bad shape in the Tampa Bay area. But we think as the team wins and we move forward and the plan continues, the fans will start coming back."

Asked about the early signs from single-game ticket sales, which began Friday, Glazer said: "There's an increase, obviously, with the popularity of the two night games (Oct. 3 against the Colts and Dec. 17 against the Cowboys). But there's still a ways to go."

That seemed to be his way of saying blackouts remain likely one year after the Bucs were the only team in the NFL to see all of their home games blacked out on local television. Per NFL rules, games that do not sell out at least 72 hours before kickoff are not shown in the local market.

But Glazer, like the rest of the organization, continues to stress long-term objectives. He believes the team is on pace to accomplish its goals.

"We got the pieces we needed," he said. "We keep adding to it, and we have a young team that's going to be good for a long, long time."

Equally important is selling the fan base on the plan, which includes building through the draft and eschewing free agents who might be a quick fix.

"I think (fans) saw what happened at the end of last year," Glazer said, referring to the 10-6 season and playoff push that fell just short. "I think there are some people waiting to see what happens this year, but the plan continues to roll along. Each day, more and more people buy into it."

Many such people showed up Saturday.

"The turnout is fantastic," Gla­zer said. "Look at all these people on a Saturday night. We're having a good time. We're trying to make the team as accessible as we possibly can to all the people in the community, whether you can afford to come to a game or not. They're still a Buccaneer fan."

McCOY HELD OUT: DT Gerald McCoy's injured right shoulder is not a big concern, but the team was cautious enough to hold him out.

McCoy strained his right rotator cuff during Friday's practice but participated in the walkthrough Saturday morning.

The third overall pick in 2010 declined to give specifics, saying only, "Tell them you shook my hand and he was fine."

Coach Raheem Morris indicated the team wants to limit McCoy's exposure to contact.

"He's practice to practice, day to day," Morris said. "We'll check on him and see what's going on with the banging and stuff like that."

ROCKY TOP: Former Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton already has been under the throwing wing of two of the NFL's best passers, the Chargers' Phillip Rivers and the Patriots' Tom Brady.

Now he will get a chance to learn from the Bucs' Josh Freeman after signing a three-year deal Friday.

Crompton, a fifth-round pick by San Diego in 2010, spent time on the Chargers' and Patriots' practice squad last season.

"I was learning behind (Rivers) and then (Brady), so it's two of the best in the game right now," Crompton said. "It was a good experience, but now it's time to move on and have another opportunity. That's part of the business, and I'm just looking forward to getting in here and having fun."

Crompton is expected to compete with Rudy Carpenter for the No. 3 spot. Josh Johnson is entrenched as the No. 2 but is in the final year of his contract.

Soccer sale? The Glazer family is preparing to sell up to a quarter of Manchester United, its English soccer team, in a move that could raise more than $654.5 million, London's Daily Mirror reported. The sale would enable it to reduce its debt of about $818.2 million that currently costs it about $73.6 million per year in interest.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Brewers 7, Astros 5

HOUSTON — Prince Fielder finished a triple shy of the cycle and drove in four runs, and Milwaukee won for the 10th time in 11 games. Fielder hit a three-run homer in the first, a single in the third and an RBI double in the sixth.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Phillies 2, Giants 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Cole Hamels pitched a five-hitter for his first win in two weeks, and Philadelphia made two first-inning runs hold up to extend its season-high winning streak to nine games. Hamels faced five batters more than the minimum and got 14 ground ball outs. The Phillies backed the All-Star left-hander with two double plays in a game that took 2 hours, 14 minutes. Hunter Pence's two-out single in the first drove in Jimmy Rollins from second with the first run, then Chase Utley scored on a passed ball by Eli Whiteside.

Times wires
Saturday, August 6, 2011

Cardinals 2, Marlins 1

MIAMI — Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Chris Carpenter and the bullpen made it stand, helping St. Louis to its fourth win in five games. Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman and Pujols had extra-base hits, giving them 10 in the first three games of the series. The Cardinals held on despite stranding 12. They were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.