Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Orioles 6, White Sox 4
10 innings
BALTIMORE — Nolan Reimold hit a two-run homer off Jason Frasor in the 10th inning as Baltimore ended Chicago's five-game winning streak. The Orioles blew a four-run lead before winning for only the second time in eight games. After Chris Davis singled off Frasor with one out in the 10th, Reimold hit the next pitch over the centerfield wall.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Blue Jays 8, Athletics 4
TORONTO — Rookie Brett Lawrie hit his first career grand slam for Toronto. Both benches and bullpens emptied in the eighth inning, when Oakland's Jordan Norberto hit Yunel Escobar on the left arm with a pitch. Escobar yelled and took several steps toward the mound but was restrained by catcher Kurt Suzuki. No punches were thrown and the field was soon cleared.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays did so many things wrong in Wednesday's game, it seemed oddly appropriate they won it on a mistake by the Royals.
Sam Fuld scored the winning run on an errant throw to cap a wild five-run ninth as the Rays won 8-7.
Fuld laced a ball to right-center and raced to third then got up and scrambled home as second baseman Johnny Giavotella's relay throw to third skipped past Mike Moustakas.
The Rays were down 7-3 entering the ninth.
Matt Joyce, with three hits during an unexpected one-night stint in the leadoff spot, led off with a single off Aaron Crow and Johnny Damon followed with another. Evan Longoria, hitless in his first four at-bats, greeted close Joakim Soria with a double that scored Joyce, and Ben Zobrist brought in Damon with a groundout.
The Rays got within one run when Casey Kotchman reached on an infield single and Longoria scored. B.J. Upton struck out, but then Fuld — who got picked off third in the eighth as one of the Rays' many mistakes — delivered.
"Great redemption," Fuld said. "The craziest 360 feet I've ever run."
It's the second time in team history — the first at the Trop — that the Rays overcame a deficit of four or more in the ninth or later to win, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The Rays made other mistakes earlier. Kotchman also got picked off first. Upton popped out on a bunt. Joyce fouled out to the catcher with the bases loaded.
And the biggest was Jake McGee giving up a three-run homer in the ninth to Melky Cabrera, the third consecutive game he has allowed a homer.
The Rays improved to 62-54 and stayed 8½ behind the AL wild card-leading Yankees.
The Rays didn't do a very good job of putting in the ball in play. During a stretch over the sixth and seventh innings, five of their eight batters popped out to the catcher. Most damning was when Joyce did it with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth.
Rays starter Wade Davis got through the first inning, which was something of a victory by itself. He had allowed 10 runs in the first innings of his past three starts — three in Kansas City on July 22, five in Oakland on July 28 and two against Toronto on Aug. 4 — and overall for 20 starts had a 7.65 ERA in the first and 3.96 afterward.
Davis planned to warm up a little more intensively and then be less aggressive when he got to the mound, and it seemed to work as he retired the Royals in order, and on 13 pitches. Alex Gordon struck out, Cabrera grounded to short and Billy Butler went down swinging. It was his first one-two-three opening frame since July 1 vs. St. Louis.
Davis actually got through the first three innings unscathed but got into trouble, and got behind 2-0, in the fourth, allowing a double to Jeff Francoeur, a triple to Giavotella then a sac fly to debuting catcher rookie Salvador Perez. He gave up another run, on a double and two fly balls in the fifth, and a leadoff single by Perez in the seventh led to a fourth, Cabrera hitting a sac fly off reliever J.P. Howell.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Padres 9, Mets 5
NEW YORK — Leadoff hitter Will Venable had four hits and San Diego's bullpen rebounded from consecutive flops. Second baseman Logan Forsythe made an error to let the Mets get within four in the ninth but made a leaping grab of Willie Harris' line drive with the bases loaded to end it.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Braves 6, Marlins 2
MIAMI — Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 31 games and Tim Hudson pitched into the eighth inning, helping Atlanta to a three-game sweep. Uggla's two-run single in the first inning tied Rico Carty (1970) for the second-longest hitting streak in franchise history. Tommy Holmes hit in 37 straight for the Boston Braves in 1945.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
CLEVELAND — Ubaldo Jimenez showed why Cleveland traded for him by winning his home debut, and rookie Jason Kipnis went 5-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs as the Indians shaved another game off Detroit's lead in the AL Central by beating the Tigers 10-3 Wednesday night.
With its 13th straight win at Progressive Field over Detroit, Cleveland closed within two games of first place. The Indians can sweep the Tigers for the second time this season but must beat Justin Verlander today.
Jimenez, acquired in a blockbuster deal from Colorado at the trading deadline, pitched eight strong innings.
Kipnis hit a two-run homer off Rick Porcello in the second. He added three singles and a double and became the first Cleveland rookie in 59 years to get five hits and four runs. Jim Fridley did it April 11, 1952, at Philadelphia.
Indians manager Manny Acta is convinced Jimenez, whom he referred to as "The Big U," has the "stuff to be a No. 1 starter. The guy that gets everyone's attention."
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Brewers 5, Cardinals 1
ST. LOUIS — Randy Wolf pitched eight sharp innings and Milwaukee jumped on Jake Westbrook early to win for the 13th time in 14 games. Prince Fielder had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and an RBI double in the third to help the NL Central-leading Brewers open a five-game cushion on second-place St. Louis. Milwaukee clinched only its fifth road series win of the season and will try for a three-game sweep tonight.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Redskins haven't won the NFC East since 1999. Rex Grossman believes that drought will end this season.
The defending division champion Eagles have grabbed the offseason headlines with their free-agent spending spree. The Cowboys are a candidate to rebound. The Giants won the division in 2008.
But Grossman said the team no one is talking about will come out on top.
"We're fine being the sleepers right now," the former Florida quarterback, No. 1 on the Redskins' depth chart, told Comcast SportsNet. "You know, we're just waiting in the wings, ready to take over the NFC East.
"Nobody's talking about us. That's right where we want to be. You look at us from top to bottom out here, there's a bunch of great players. And we don't need people saying we're the best right now, but when it's all said and done, I really feel like this team's going to win the East."
Broncos: Tim Tebow said he expects to be the second quarterback to play in the preseason opener at Dallas tonight, after No. 1 Kyle Orton.
Chargers: Pro Bowl offensive tackle Marcus McNeill is expected to miss two weeks after surgery to remove a bone spur from his knee, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. This is McNeill's second minor knee procedure of the year, ESPN reported.
Browns: Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi had a foot-to-knee cast removed from his left leg and was in a walking boot. Coach Pat Shurmur has said he has a bone injury.
Eagles: Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith signed a one-year deal. The free agent from the Giants sustained a season-ending left knee injury against the Vikings on Dec. 13 and had surgery. He said he believes he'll be able to play soon.
Giants: Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora told a reporter from NFL Network that he was going to Atlanta to get his left knee examined after he worked with trainers at practice for the first time in almost a week, simulating snap counts. He hasn't practiced since reporting to camp a day late, July 30, because he's upset the team has not reworked his contract, which will pay him $7.1 million over its final two years. Former USF end Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the majority of reps with the first team.
Packers: Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews said he played the second half of the 2010 season and the postseason with a broken leg. "I don't make a big deal of it," said Matthews, who had 13½ sacks during the season and 3½ more during the team's run to the Super Bowl title.
Patriots: All-Pro guard Logan Mankins agreed to a six-year deal, ESPN reported. Mankins was assigned the team's franchise tag this season. He was set to earn $10.1 million on a one-year contract but preferred the added security of a long-term deal. Last season Mankins didn't report until the eighth game of the season because he was unhappy the team wanted to give him a one-year deal instead of a longer one.
Saints: A $336 million upgrade that began after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the Louisiana Superdome in 2005 is finished, and owner Tom Benson said the upgrade measures up to a new stadium he was pushing for before the 2005 storm.
Retirees upset: Attorneys for retired players, the NFL and the players union are still trying to resolve legal issues from the lockout. U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson had the sides sit down in St. Paul, Minn., with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who brokered the agreement that ended the lockout. The retirees still have a lawsuit pending against the league. They say they were left out of the talks.
Taylor case: A man who pleaded guilty to arranging a sexual encounter between an underage prostitute and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was sentenced to seven years in prison in New York.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA notified Ohio State by letter last week that it is still investigating issues involving the program, ESPN reported.
Ohio State already has a Friday meeting with the NCAA Committee on Infractions. But the letter could result in a second notice of allegations and a second trip through the NCAA justice system.
Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch said president Gordon Gee got a letter from the NCAA on Aug. 3 but it said "absolutely nothing about additional allegations."
"The university has not received any additional allegations from the NCAA," he said. "We do not anticipate discussing any additional allegations with the Committee on Infractions on Friday other than those self reported in March 2011."
The infractions to be discussed Friday, which led to the departure of coach Jim Tressel, relate to memorabilia sold to a local tattoo parlor owner.
The NCAA is not charging the school with "failure to monitor" the program. It concluded the charge, which can bring heavy penalties, was "unwarranted" due to the athletic department's efforts in educating players and coaches about NCAA rules about extra benefits.
The NCAA can either accept Ohio State's self-imposed penalties, which include two years of probation and vacating last year's 12-win season and share of the Big Ten championship, or it can add to them. Also, star quarterback Terrelle Pryor left the school, and four others were suspended for this season's first five games. There is no timetable for a decision.
Meanwhile, Gee said the investigation has cost the school about $800,000 so far.
Presidents discuss simplifying rule book
INDIANAPOLIS — NCAA presidents want to take a leaner, meaner approach to rule breakers.
On the final day of the governing body's presidential retreat, 56 presidents and a handful of other university leaders spent nearly four hours discussing ways to simplify the 439-page Division I rule book and punish those schools with the most serious violations.
"I think there is a very strong sense among presidents and chancellors that we need to be very clear and very severe where infractions do exist and that we want to send a message about certain behaviors," said Oregon State president Ed Ray, chairman of the NCAA's executive committee. "There needs to be very serious penalties for very serious violations."
Ray said the group did not discuss any potential sanctions, deferring instead to a working group that is expected to make recommendations to the full membership. But there is a general consensus, he said, that the rules need simplification.
"For example, instead of 1,000 or 10,000 rules, we need to determine what are the 100 most important things," he said.
A&M TO SEC? Texas Gov. Rick Perry said his alma mater, Texas A&M, and the SEC are discussing membership. "As far as I know, conversations are being had," he said. "That's frankly all I know. I just refer you to the university and the decision makers over there." Several reports have cited tension among Big 12 schools over Texas' ESPN-affiliated Longhorn Network. A&M president R. Bowen Loftin, recently said there was "uncertainty" regarding the university's future membership in the Big 12. A&M released a statement Wednesday, saying: "President Loftin is committed to doing what is best for Texas A&M not only now, but also into the future. We continue to have wide-ranging conversations regarding all aspects of the university, including both academics and athletics."
Paterno back: Penn State coach Joe Paterno returned to practice two days after being blindsided. No media was allowed in, but a picture on the team's website showed a smiling Paterno on a golf cart, his right arm in a sling. Paterno, 84, injured his shoulder and pelvis after a receiver hit him. He spent almost two days at a hospital before being released, saying in a statement he wanted to shift the attention back to his team.
Alleged ponzi scheme: Former Georgia coach Jim Donnan and his wife have settled a legal dispute with a bankrupt liquidation company that accused him of recruiting coaches — including Texas State's Dennis Franchione, Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer and Texas Tech's Tommy Tuberville — to invest in a Ponzi scheme, according to federal court documents The two will transfer about $5.5 million in cash, stocks and other assets to West Virginia-based GLC to settle claims he profited by convincing investors to pump money into the company. Donnan has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing, and attorney Ed Tolley said his client was "absolutely not involved in a Ponzi scheme."
Tulane: The school said defensive back Renaldo Thomas is "doing well" and was expected to be hospitalized overnight after passing out during practice. The school did not speculate if weather, which was in the mid 90s with a heat index surpassing 100 degrees, was a factor.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Cubs 4, Nationals 2
CHICAGO — Reed Johnson, Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto homered to lead the Cubs. Chicago has connected in eight straight games and has 19 home runs over that stretch. Johnson added three singles in his seventh career four-hit game. Soriano also doubled and drove in two runs, and Soto scored twice to back Rodrigo Lopez, who pitched 5⅔ solid innings.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Rays vs. Royals
When/where: 12:10 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
Radio: 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Starting pitchers:
Rays
RH Jeff Niemann (6-4, 3.58)
Royals
LH Danny Duffy (3-5, 5.08)
Promotion: Raymond Cheer Stix for the first 10,000 kids 14 and under.
Watch for ...
Standing tall: Niemann has been on an impressive roll since coming off the DL in late June, 5-0 with a 2.26 ERA in eight starts. He is 3-0, 1.15 in four starts vs. the Royals, with 26 Ks and 5 BBs.
Double D: Duffy, a third-round pick in 2007 who finished last season at Double A, makes his 15th big-league start. In 72 2/3 innings, he has 64 strikeouts and 36 walks.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Duffy
None have faced.
Royals vs. Niemann
Billy Butler 1-for-13
Alex Gordon 2-for-7
Mitch Maier 1-for-7
On deck
Friday: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (9-10, 3.89); Yankees — CC Sabathia (16-6, 2.81)
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Pickup service of the day
David Price wasn't waiting inside the airport holding a sign with BRIGNAC written on it, but he provided quality pickup service Wednesday afternoon when Reid Brignac returned from the minors. "He just gave me a big hug and was like, 'Man, I'm just happy you're back,' " Brignac said. Price, though, was a bit late. "Just a couple minutes and he pulled right up," Brignac said.
Interesting company of the day
With eight complete games and four shutouts, RHP James Shields, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is one of only three AL pitchers in the past 17 years to have as many in a season. The others? Roy Halladay, for the 2009 Jays, and David Wells, for the 1998 Yankees.
Quote of the day
"Beck's a great kid, man. He's got that little thing about him that I like."
Manager Joe Maddon on SS prospect Tim Beckham, promoted Wednesday to Triple A.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Twins 5, Red Sox 2
MINNEAPOLIS — Jim Thome hit a tiebreaking RBI double during Minnesota's three-run eighth inning. Thome also had an RBI single, and the Twins got an outstanding effort from Nick Blackburn to snap a six-game skid and avoid a sweep. Thome hit Jon Lester's 119th pitch over former Ray Carl Crawford's head in leftfield for a 3-2 lead. Blackburn gave up only an unearned run in 62/3 innings. David Ortiz homered for Boston.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Mariners 4, Rangers 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Casper Wells had a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning for Seattle. Wells walked twice and had two singles, the last one driving in Mike Carp, who started the seventh with a bloop single off reliever Koji Uehara. Jason Vargas threw a season-high 121 pitches to get his first win in his past seven starts; he had gone 0-5 in that stretch. The Rangers finished a 4-2 homestand before heading on a 10-game road trip.
By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 11, 2011
New Tampa Little League is one win from the World Series.
Relying on powerful bats and clutch relief pitching from Conor Grady, New Tampa rallied for a 12-6 win over Alabama on Wednesday night to move into the Southeastern regional final.
New Tampa plays Warner Robins, Ga., at 8 p.m. Friday on ESPN for the right to advance to this month's World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.
Entering the game with his team trailing 6-4 in the third inning, Grady retired all 12 batters he faced. He struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings, and finished with eight strikeouts.
New Tampa took the lead in the fourth. Grady singled, Jeff Guttentag walked, and Eddie Thinger singled to load the bases with no outs. Grady scored on a wild pitch, Ethan Thomas walked to force in a run to tie it at 6, and Clayton Coringrato doubled off the wall in right to score two more.
Bryce Martin (solo) and Grady (three-run shot) homered in the sixth to put the game away.
Times wires
Thursday, August 11, 2011
D'backs 6, Astros 3
PHOENIX — Willie Bloomquist homered to lead off the game and Arizona moved into first in the NL West for the first time since June 24. The Diamondbacks won for the third time in four games and edged ahead of the Giants. Houston starter Henry Sosa struggled in his major-league debut. He came in with one career start higher than Double A.
By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Making news
Captain Faces prison Time for undersized fish
A Holmes Beach captain faces a stiff penalty for possessing 72 undersized red grouper and destroying evidence to prevent seizure and impede a federal investigation. John L. Yates, 59, was found guilty by a federal jury last week and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14. Yates was captain of the Miss Katie when officials from the National Marine Fisheries Service boarded the vessel in federal waters in May 2010. They found the undersized fish and told Yates to report to the fishing village of Cortez so agents could seize the fish. However, Yates ordered his crew to throw the fish overboard. He was indicted on May 5, 2010.
Two arrested for baiting deer
Two hunters in Palm Beach County were arrested Tuesday for using bait to lure deer to a tree stand. According to an Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report, officers noticed corn kernels in a clearing last Friday, the day before archery season opened in the area. Officers responded the next morning and a specially trained resource detection dog tracked a hunter's trail to a tree stand. The other hunter was stopped as he was leaving the woods. Using bait to hunt wildlife is a misdemeanor in Florida, and as FWC Maj. Jeff Hubert put it, "It is also unsportsmanlike.''
Sailing
Classes on charts, skills for newbies
The St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron will host a two-hour seminar on how to use a chart from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the squadron's center at Demen's Landing. The course will focus on how to plot a safe course with the chart and how to use the United States Power Squadron plotter. Instruction is free, but there is a $30 fee for materials. To register, go to boating-stpete.org.
• The Boca Ciega Yacht Club will offer a five-week adult basic sailing class beginning Sept. 21. The course features five Wednesday evening classes as well as four weekend waterfront sailing sessions. Cost is $225 per person. Participants also receive a free three-month membership to the yacht club. For information, go to sailbcyc.org or call Jennifer Rogers at (727) 345-7544.
Got the old-timer
A 10-year-old Montana boy catches a bass estimated at 19 years old. 8A
Rodney Page, Times staff writer
Solunar table
AM PM major minor major minor
8/12 5:00 11:05 5:15 11:30
8/13 5:45 11:45 5:55 0
8/14 6:25 12:10 6:45 12:35
8/15 7:10 12:55 7:30 1:20
8/16 7:55 1:45 8:20 2:05
8/17 8:40 2:30 9:05 2:50
8/18 9:25 3:15 9:55 3:40
By Robert McCue, Times Correspondent
Thursday, August 11, 2011
What's hot: There were still decent numbers of tarpon in the gulf before the week's westerly wind. These fish either moved offshore or followed the migrating bait pods into the large estuaries such as Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. We worked the holes in the larger rivers that provided some shelter from the winds.
Pro logic: Using fresh dead bait requires preparation. Any legal fish that is fresh will likely draw a strike from a bottom-hugging tarpon. We collect ladyfish, mullet, large pinfish, catfish and sand bream, and place them between layers of ice and keep the cooler drain open to prevent the baits from soaking in water. In the predawn, we motor to the up current edges of holes in a large river. We cut the baits and fish them on 4/0 conventional tackle, 50-pound monofilament line and a 100-pound-test fluorocarbon leader rigged with a circle hook.
Robert McCue can be reached toll-free at 1-800-833-0489 or via www.GiantTarpon.com.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 11, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays don't know what will happen on their upcoming six-game road trip to New York and Boston, which third baseman Evan Longoria calls a "make-or-break stretch" and "pretty definitive of what happens the rest of the year."
"It's huge," veteran Johnny Damon said.
But considering their large uphill climb to the postseason — the Rays trail the wild-card-leading Yankees by 8 1/2 and the AL East-leading Red Sox by 9 1/2 — they couldn't have asked for more of a momentum booster than a four-game sweep of the Royals, clinched with Thursday's 4-1 win in front of 13,942 at Tropicana Field.
Energized by Wednesday night's historic ninth-inning comeback, Tampa Bay displayed the kind of baseball that it believes can get it back in the race, from solid pitching to sparkling defense, while blending timely hitting with aggressiveness on the bases. The Rays (63-54), who picked up their first four-game sweep at the Trop in more than six years, have won 10 of their past 14.
"We've gotten back to playing the way that we need to play to win games," Longoria said. "We talk about it all the time; we're not a team that's going to go out and hit three three-run home runs and win a game like that. But it's pretty exciting to see us playing up to our potential right now."
It all started with right-hander Jeff Niemann, who continued his impressive roll since coming off the disabled list in early June (6-0, 2.17 ERA in nine starts).
He wasn't as sharp as he has been, tying a season high with nine hits (all singles), but he battled through 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
Niemann got arguably the game's biggest out in the sixth, after loading the bases with two outs for Royals leftfielder Alex Gordon. Niemann threw a 2-and-2 fastball by Gordon, who checked his swing and was called out.
"That," Niemann said, "was the game."
Niemann credited the defense. Second baseman Sean Rodriguez came up with two great plays, and shortstop Elliot Johnson made a rocket throw from the hole to get Johnny Giavotella in the fourth. Johnson did so again after Casey Kotchman started a first-shortstop-pitcher double play in the eighth, and catcher Kelly Shoppach threw out first baseman Eric Hosmer trying to steal second in the seventh.
"Our defense was spectacular," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "If you're a baseball purist and were not entertained by our defense tonight, then there's something wrong with you. That was special to watch."
So was the stand-up, bloop triple by Rays centerfielder Desmond Jennings in the fifth. Jennings hustled around when his shallow fly ball bounced in front of a diving Melky Cabrera in center. Jennings scored on Longoria's sacrifice fly.
"An incredible feat," Maddon said.
The rest of the offense was supplied by rightfielder Ben Zobrist, who ripped a two-out, two-run triple in the third, and Rodriguez, who slapped a two-out, two-strike RBI single in the eighth.
It all set the stage for the upcoming AL East showdowns, starting tonight in Yankee Stadium. Maddon has talked about making up one game a week in the standings, saying "It's up to us," as they face New York and Boston a combined 18 times in the next two months.
"Now we're in a spot where we're pretty close to striking distance, and if we don't go out and perform well in these two road series, it's going to be tough to dig ourselves out of that hole," Longoria said. "If we can find a way to win some games on the road against these two teams that are in front of us, it's going to make for a pretty interesting September."
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 11, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — Manager Joe Maddon said rookie OF Desmond Jennings is "one of the fastest I've ever seen on a baseball field."
Part of what puts Jennings atop that list may be his instincts, which were on display Thursday as he ended up with a stand-up triple on a blooper to center.
"It really was the shortest triple I've ever seen," Rays OF Ben Zobrist said.
Jennings, leading off the fifth, didn't know if his pop fly would fall in front of Royals CF Melky Cabrera. But Jennings thought Cabrera would have to dive for it. And if Cabrera missed, Jennings believed he could at least get to second.
Once the ball kicked in front of Cabrera, Jennings was thinking third, having noticed the infielders didn't stray too far out. As Jennings reached second, he glanced back, which Maddon dubbed "a la, what Willie Mays used to do," to make sure Royals RF Jeff Francoeur wasn't close enough to retrieve the ball.
"I didn't want to make the first out at third," Jennings said.
Jennings cruised into third.
"I didn't think there was any way," Zobrist said. "I thought, 'Get two! Get two!' Next thing you know, he's standing on third base. I'm like, 'Sheesh.' "
PRICE CHECK: LHP David Price, who has won just two of his past nine starts, said he hasn't been through a stretch like this since his sophomore year at Vanderbilt. "It's tough," he said.
But Price has not let any of the frustration carry over between outings, nor has it impacted his fun-loving personality.
"I'm not going to let this bury me into the ground, I still have a good time," he said. "… I'm not going to sit here and dwell on my failure right now."
LEANING LEFT: LHP Jake McGee, who has allowed a homer in three consecutive appearances, said he has learned a lesson, with Maddon pointing out he has to make better decisions with pitch location in certain moments. McGee has thrown inside fastballs to right-handed hitters who can hurt him, and they've made him pay.
MINOR MATTERS: SS Tim Beckham, the 2008 top overall pick, made his Triple-A debut Thursday for Durham, getting one hit in his first four at-bats. … LHP Matt Moore will be on the mound tonight.
MISCELLANY: It was the Rays' third four-game sweep at the Trop in team history, the first since July 28-31, 2005. … The Rays are three games over .500 at home (31-28) for the first time this year.
Times staff writer Marc Topkin contributed to this report.
By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, August 11, 2011
S tanding on a dock near Englewood's Stump Pass, trying to convince a monster snook to eat a 1-pound mullet, I heard some yelling from two boats about 100 feet away.
Four anglers, fishing in a small boat anchored a few feet from the mangroves, tried to signal a charter boat captain who was cruising at a high rate through an idle speed zone.
Words were exchanged — the specifics of the conversation still a matter of debate — but what happened next is not. The owner of the pleasure boat yelled at the charter captain to slow down.
When the charter boat did not, an angler tossed a couple of ice cubes into the captain's tower boat. This prompted the guide to then run a tight circle around the recreational anglers' boat in what appeared to be an attempt to cut the four fishing lines.
So what differentiates this altercation from hundreds of others that happen each week on Florida's waterways? For starters, I witnessed the incident and was able to talk to both sides afterward (I'm actually quite an expert in conflict resolution, with two children, ages 7 and 10, and a nephew, 8, who like to fight).
The captain's first mistake was failure to obey a posted slow speed zone. Sure, he wanted to get his clients on some fish. But even if the area was not posted, he should have slowed down as soon as he saw the recreational fishermen so he wouldn't rock the boat.
The captain, a professional angler, apparently doesn't have much respect for weekend warriors. Perhaps even less for tournament fishermen, especially those who compete on the professional redfish and tarpon tours, who may think their tournament entry fee gives them the right to do as they please.
The recreational angler, in retrospect, probably should not have anchored so close to the channel if a restful afternoon's fishing was what he sought.
In the end, both probably felt that they had been equally wronged. And both would have basically the same advice for their fellow boaters: "Be nice. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
So the next time you are on the water and run across an inexperienced boater or angler who may not know the finer points of proper flats etiquette, instead of yelling, cursing and making a scene, make it a teaching moment. As I tell my son when he fights with his sister, "I expect more from a 10-year-old than I do a 7-year-old."
If you are new to fishing and boating, remember a few cardinal rules. If you see another angler fishing a spot, give him wide berth. Take the long way around or wait at a respectful distance for your chance to fish.
If you really want to catch fish, get there first. As one of my photo-snapping colleagues puts it, "Go early, stay late."
Remember, courtesy costs nothing. If you are wronged, take the high road. I tell my kids, "They call that class."
