By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

Word started getting back to Vernon Macklin shortly after he returned to Florida's campus early last fall after a summer on the camp circuit. Teammates and training staff wondered if the senior had seen freshman All-American Patric Young, who had recently arrived.

The last time Macklin had seen him, Young was a wide-eyed high school senior attending games as a touted signee. But things had changed over those months.

"I went to a bunch of camps so when I came back everybody was telling me how much bigger Pat had got since he had been here," said Macklin, who teams with Young tonight in the second round of the SEC tournament in Atlanta. "I actually met him outside in the parking lot the day I got here and I was just like, 'This dude is huge' because he went home and got bigger. So the first thing going through my head was this is going to be a physical battle every day in practice because this guy is much bigger than I thought he was."

The transformation was evident to all but Young.

"I didn't notice it," Young said. "I went through a little program during the summer, and I didn't really notice that I got that much bigger. I guess compared to the last time (he saw Macklin) before I came to Florida, Vern said there was a big difference."

It turns out Macklin was right — the physical battles in practice between the two former McDonald's All-Americans would be unbelievable: the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Macklin's tall, thinner frame vs. Young's 6-9, 245 pounds of muscle and power. Day in and day out, the veteran schooled the 19-year-old in the subtleties of the collegiate game, forcing him to use his mind in addition to his brawn. And the rookie banged nonstop with the 24-year-old man, making him tougher. And Young was constantly on his cell phone sending text messages to Macklin. He wanted more.

"I didn't know what he would say at first or what his response would be," Young said. "I was just trying to be like, 'Do you think we could work out some time, maybe go into the gym and just get some shots?' I didn't want to sound like I was scared, but I didn't want to sound pushy like I was demanding something."

Macklin never turned him down, and they became a solid duo that has given the Gators their most formidable frontcourt in three years.

"There are certain guys that like physical confrontation, and Patric is one of those guys," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "I really think in the frontcourt in order to get better you have to have guys that like physical confrontation. That's what we had with Brent Wright, (Matt) Bonner, Donnell Harvey and (Udonis) Haslem. There was physical confrontation all the time. But they were mature enough to understand that physical confrontation was going to make them better, and I think Vernon last year did not have enough competition physically in practice and it wasn't good for Vernon.

"Patric comes in and almost in a way irritates Vernon," Donovan added. "And Vernon irritates Patric. It's not that they don't get along but it's this: Vernon would like it to be a little easier and it's 'calm down, calm down.' And then Vernon uses his skill or his intelligence and experience and drives Patric a little nuts, too. But he learned, too. … I don't think there's any question Vernon's experience has really, really helped Patric grow. And I also think going against a guy like Patric every day, Vernon needs that because he's going to get that against a lot of SEC teams."

As a starter, Macklin is averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Young is averaging 3.3 points and 3.4 rebounds off the bench. Their collective presence inside has given Florida an inside-outside combination, making the outside shooting of Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker and Chandler Parsons much more of a threat.

"We're playing as hard as we can, and I love it," Macklin said. "I think Coach Donovan loves it, our coaching staff and the fans love it, and I'm glad to be a part of this right now. I'm having fun, and I just love this team."

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com. Follow her blog at tampabay.com/blogs/gators.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

USF's first recruiting commitments for 2012 are starting to come in, and Rayshawn Jenkins, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound quarterback and safety from St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut, said he accepted a scholarship offer on Wednesday to play for the Bulls.

Jenkins, a state champion last year in the 110-meter hurdles and runner-up in the 300 hurdles, said he'll play free safety at USF, though he'll continue to play quarterback and even occasionally receiver at Farragut. He said USF offered him two weeks ago, and he chose the Bulls on Wednesday over interest from Florida State, Georgia and Kansas.

"USF is a rising program, and I wanted to be a part of that," Jenkins said. "It's close to home."

Jenkins was recruited to USF by assistant Vernon Hargreaves, and he'll make much the same transition as rising sophomore JaQuez Jenkins, who was a high school quarterback at Lakewood but has made his mark at USF at safety. Jenkins knows JaQuez (no relation) and safety Jerrell Young, as well as defensive end Julius Forte. Asked for his strengths on the field, Jenkins cited his "leadership and hard work." He said he would like to compete in track while at USF as well.

According to 247sports.com's Josh Newberg, USF picked up a second commitment on Thursday from Ryan Brown, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive end from Marrero (La.) Archbishop Shaw.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Florida Gators will unveil three statues outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at halftime of the Orange and Blue spring game on April 9, featuring the school's three Heisman winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996) and Tim Tebow (2007).

The life-sized statues will be installed on the west side of the stadium near the skybox entrance, and the unveiling will be shown on

Florida's scoreboards inside the stadium. All three honorees will participate in the event in some form.

The statues weigh a combined 17,000 pounds and were provided to the university through private donations. They were sculpted by Sandy Proctor.

Florida is one of eight schools in the nation with at least three Heisman trophy winners and one of two with at least three quarterbacks who have won the award.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

Making news

Printed, online guide has Bay area covered

A guide to environmentally responsible boating and angling in Tampa Bay is now available for free from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Produced by TBEP and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay was last updated in 2009. Like previous guides, the new publication features a large, fold-out map on one side, depicting natural features, recreational amenities and navigation aids. The reverse side contains photos and descriptions of bay habitats and inhabitants, along with smaller maps showing boating speed zones and a directory of important phone numbers. The revised guide contains updated lists of boat ramps, fishing piers, and designated clean marinas. FWRI also has updated the online guide. The interactive digital guide contains some information not found in the printed version, such as paddling trails, fish identification and current fishing regulations. Users can enlarge and print just the information they need for a specific purpose or region of the bay. The online version also includes pages for piers and boat ramps, with pictures and information about each facility. Visit www.tbep.org and click on the Digital Boating and Angling Guide icon.

Upcoming events

Basic sailing class

The Boca Ciega Yacht Club's five-week Adult Basic Sailing Class begins Wednesday. The course includes five Wednesday evening classes and four weekend waterfront sailing sessions. Students will sail the club's Catalina 16.5 fleet. The cost is $225 per person, including all classroom materials and an U.S. Sailing Association Basic Keelboat manual. For registration information, visit www.sailbcyc.org or call Jennifer Rogers at (727) 345-7544.

Flats fishing event

The Snell Isle Flat Fishing Invitational will be April 2. The entry fee is $100 per boat before March 31; $125 after, with proceeds going to help the families of fallen law enforcement officers. Eligible species are redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, snapper, Spanish mackerel and sheepshead. The captains' meeting is 5-8 p.m. March 31 at Fish Tales Seafood House (1500 2nd St. S., St. Petersburg). For information, call (727) 542-4398 or e-mail flsharky@aol.com.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

By Jim Huddleston, Times Correspondent


Thursday, March 10, 2011

What's hot: Spring brings higher water levels and an abundance of bait moving into the shallows. The increase in water temperature means larger fish foraging on the flats of north Pinellas County. The most abundant species of late has been redfish. They are hammering baits and lures thrown on high tides around most any oyster bar or mangrove shoreline. There have been larger trout in the 4- to 5-pound range mixed in. On warmer days, some snook have moved onto the grass flats.

Strategy: When the wind blows, stay a good distance from the target zone. Focus on which direction the wind is blowing; this will often help with locating where the fish lay up. By using a pinfish or shrimp under a cork, the offering can be kept above the oyster bars or right along the edge of a treeline. Note which direction the tide is moving, and work tight to the structure, allowing the water movement to cover a stretch of shoreline.

Signs of reds: Tides that follow a new or full moon have a tendency to be higher and bring the larger schools of redfish up on the flats. Work spoons along the edges of mullet schools and look for ospreys that hover over water, as this is a sure sign of schooling mullet, and redfish won't be far behind. On higher tides, most oyster bars are holding large quantities of 2- to 4-pound reds.

More drum: Because of all the stone crab traps inside the gulf passes, giant black drum are following the scent trails in. Forty-pounders can be seen mudding up the grass flats, but anglers need to use large shrimp pegged with a large split shot to hold on the bottom. These huge drum will test most inshore gear.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at (727) 439-9017 or at jim@captainhud.com.

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor


Thursday, March 10, 2011

. fast facts

Tampa Bay Boat Show

What: Latest in boats, accessories, marine and electronic equipment.

When: Today and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

Admission: Free

Information: tampabay boatshows.com

Fishing School speakers: Captain's Corner correspondents Pat Damico, Bill Hardman, Paul Hawkins, Neil Taylor and Tyson Wallerstein, plus others.

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, March 10, 2011

When the wind is blowing 15 knots and the redfish are unwilling to eat, the conversation moves to the finer points of the angling experience. "There are days when the fishing is just awesome," Paul Hawkins said as he poled his skiff across the sea grass bed. "And then there are days when God couldn't catch a fish on a dare. Everything else is somewhere in between."

Hawkins, who started guiding the shallows of Tampa Bay a decade before it was called "flats fishing," has seen his share of good days and bad days on the water.

He's a man of vast experience earned the old fashioned way — hour by hour, day after day, standing on the back of a boat, fishing rod in hand.

"Everybody always wants to know if I have any secret spots," Hawkins said. "I tell them that I've got spots so secret that even the fish haven't found them yet. That usually shuts them up."

Usually, folks pay about $500 to fish with the 60-year-old sage and share his wit and wisdom. Occasionally, the cantankerous charter captain who has been on the water since the 1960s will get off the boat and take the stage for seminars, such as this weekend at the Tampa Bay Boat Show at Tropicana Field.

Hawkins won't tell you where to fish.

"There are enough tower boats and trolling motors out here for my taste already," he quipped.

But he will tell you how to fish.

"That way, it doesn't matter where you live, you will know what to do when you come across a school of redfish," he said. "Or better yet, you will learn what not to do."

For starters, you have to understand your quarry. Red drum, a.k.a. redfish, inhabit the inshore and offshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts to Key West, and the Gulf of Mexico.

A long-living species — some specimens have reached 40 years old — redfish spend most of their early lives in inland bays and estuaries before moving offshore to spawn.

The fish that anglers typically encounter around the grass flats, sand bars, mangrove shorelines, oyster-lined creeks and docks are juveniles.

While Hawkins pursues his prey wherever they may swim, he prefers fishing in the shallow, open areas.

"If you are going to hunt deer you are not going to drive around in a Jeep and expect the animals to sit still while you shoot at them," he said. "The same holds true for fishing. You have to approach a redfish the same way you would a wild animal."

Hawkins doesn't use a trolling motor. In fact, there are times when he won't even pole his boat for fear of spooking the fish.

"Sometimes you have to get out of the boat and walk," he said. "You have to be quiet. You have to be patient. Sometimes you have to just let the fish come to you."

The word "stealth" comes up repeatedly when Hawkins talks about redfish.

On a low tide, redfish tend to spread out, and anglers may find themselves casting to individual fish.

"But when the tide comes in and puts another foot of water on the flat, they will bunch together," he said. "This is usually when anglers start making mistakes."

To find schooling redfish, look for large concentrations of black mullet or diving birds. Feeding reds sometimes show their tails or display a "deep V" head wake as they move across the flat.

Redfish are creatures of habit. If you find an area they use more than once, chances are you will find them there again in similar tidal and atmospheric conditions.

If you spot a school, don't chase it with a trolling motor. It is better to just get upwind of the school and use a push pole, or drift down to the school.

"Too many people make the mistake of throwing their bait right into the school," he said. "But a baitfish rocketing in from outer space hitting a redfish right in the nose is not always the best approach."

Hawkins said he will sit for an hour just to watch a school move along, waiting for them to swim in his direction.

"If you spook one fish, you will spook them all," he said. "It is hard to get somebody to stop in the kitchen to eat if they are running from a house fire."

Hawkins said the best advice he can give an angler, be it on his boat or in a fishing seminar, is to "be quiet, be patient and the fish will come to you."

By Brandon Wright, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

Dave Ewart spent Wednesday afternoon driving from one athletic store to the next, searching out shoes for his team. In the cash-crunched landscape of Arena Football, even the new coach of the Tampa Bay Storm, the most decorated AFL team in history, isn't above extra responsibilities.

"Just another day at the office," said Ewart, 41, while trying desperately to find a pair of size 16 cleats for center Ryan McDonald. "Got to do a little bit of everything."

Ewart may have been picking up shoes this week, but he will be attempting to fill a big pair tonight. Ewart takes over for longtime coach and AFL Hall of Famer Tim Marcum when Tampa Bay opens its season in New Orleans.

"It's an opportunity that I am excited about," Ewart said. "This team, the tradition, the fans … there is a lot to live up to around here, and that's what we intend on doing."

Though Ewart, an assistant under Marcum and the Storm's director of player personnel since 2002, was eager to become an AFL head coach, he did so at the expense of a good friend.

"Me and (Marcum) hung out all the time and were always together. … We were like Frick and Frack," Ewart said. "As a friend, it was tough to see what happened unfold."

Marcum, the winningest coach in AFL history, resigned four days before the opening of training camp last month amid controversy surrounding racially insensitive and pornographic e-mails found on his work computer that were revealed during a deposition.

"It all happened so fast, but I didn't anticipate anything coming from it, but (Marcum) had a meeting (with the owners) and I knew something wasn't right," Ewart said. "You're talking about something that wasn't against the law. If he was a normal guy on the street what do they do? Nothing."

Ewart doubted he would be promoted to head coach.

"Any time they make a big move like that, in the back of your mind you think they got rid of a legend, why not clean everybody out?" Ewart said. "I've been in this business 17 years. I know how it works."

Though the job is now his, Ewart is far from inexperienced. He was head coach of the AFL's St. Louis Stampede (1996), Texas Terror (1997) and Florida Bobcats (2000-01) and took over as interim head coach of the Storm in 2005-06, going 3-2 while Marcum served a suspension for salary cap violations.

Still, Ewart said he has a lot to prove.

"I know I don't have the Tim Marcum name," he said. "This is definitely a dress rehearsal for me, and I understand that."

Erick McIntosh, one of just eight players returning from last season's ArenaBowl team that lost to Spokane, said the players are ready to move on.

"Coach (Ewart) is a good man and a good football coach," he said. "We, as players, respect him and will be playing hard to get this city another championship."

Times staff
Thursday, March 10, 2011

30 Clubs in 30 Days: 7 p.m. on MLB Network. A season preview for the Cubs.

Baseball classic: 8 p.m. on ESPN Classic. A replay of White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle's perfect game against the Rays on July 23, 2009.

Sports Connection: 11 p.m. on BHSN (Ch. 47). NASCAR analyst Buddy Pittman interviews Kurt Busch, who is trying his hand at drag racing at this weekend's Gatornationals in Gainesville.

Times wires
Thursday, March 10, 2011

The ratings game

A record 6.6 million viewers tuned into the NFL Network's coverage of the scouting combine. That's a 27 percent increase from last season. Sunday's seven hours of live coverage, featuring quarterbacks, running backs and receivers, was the most-watched combine telecast ever with an average of 406,000 viewers.

Network of the day

Versus is celebrating St. Patrick's Day by showing three classic Notre Dame football games. The 1992 "Snow Bowl'' game against Penn State airs at 5 p.m, the 2005 "Bush Push'' Southern Cal victory against the Irish at 7 and the 1993 showdown between No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Notre Dame at 9. Versus also will air Notre Dame's spring game on April 16.

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Thursday, March 10, 2011

BROOKSVILLE — On its way to bigger things down the road, Nature Coast ran into a future star.

Erin Moynihan was the lone bright spot for Weeki Wachee as the Hornets fell 6-1 to the Sharks on Thursday afternoon on the road.

The freshman knocked off Nature Coast top seed Mallorie Pickersgill in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to improve to 9-1. Moynihan has thrived in the varsity environment, picking up her game as the leader for inexperienced Weeki Wachee (1-9).

"Last year, Mallorie would beat me (in youth tournaments)," Moynihan said. "But I've been working hard. I love it here. I'm excited about being the No. 1 seed and getting the chance to do that for all four years of high school."

The Sharks (9-1) kept right on rolling. Their depth was far too much for the Hornets as the program looks toward the postseason.

Nature Coast won the rest of its matches in straight sets, including a victory by No. 2 seed Delanie McCabe over Rebecca Scott (6-0, 6-0). McCabe, a junior, is 7-2 and will be important to how far the Sharks go after the district tournament in two weeks.

"This was a good win," Nature Coast assistant John Downey said. "Talent comes in all ranges. Keeping the kids focused is the key. Today was a good day for us, but we really have to keep our eyes on districts."

Other individual winners for the home team were senior Kaitlyn Bugden and freshmen Rosie Witherell and Zavanna Schmidt.

Times wires
Thursday, March 10, 2011

CLEARWATER — Phillies ace Roy Halladay struck out the Yankees' Jorge Posada with two on and two outs in the sixth inning, putting a clean finish on his stellar start in a 7-0 victory Thursday.

The NL Cy Young winner shut out the Yankees on four hits while striking out two and walking none.

"You try to get as close to a real situation as you can, so after a few quick innings there, it's kind of nice to try to work out and make pitches when you have to," Halladay said.

Manuel staying: Manager Charlie Manuel, 67, agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2013. Details weren't made public, but he will reportedly be paid between $7 million and $8 million total for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Timely shot: 1B John Mayberry Jr., who is competing for a spot on the 25-man roster, capped a four-run sixth inning with a two-run homer, his third of the spring.

Yanks: CC throws

CLEARWATER — Yankees starter CC Sabathia held up his half of the premiere pitching matchup against Halladay. He limited the Phillies to three hits in five shutout innings. "That's pretty much the CC we're used to seeing," manager Joe Girardi said.

Sabathia walked none and struck out two: "I felt pretty good, a lot better than the other day. It was a lot cleaner, and I was actually able to work on some things."

Short hops: Closer Mariano Rivera felt fine one day after throwing 35 pitches in his first batting practice session and didn't rule out making his initial game appearance Sunday. … Posada started at first. "Our plans are for him to DH," Girardi said. "It just gives us more options."

Jays: Litsch's effort

FORT MYERS — Toronto RHP Jesse Litsch, a Pinellas Park native, continued his bid for a rotation spot in a 7-4 victory over the Twins. He struck out one, walked two and gave up two runs off three hits in 3 2/3 innings.

"He was maybe wild in the zone," manager John Farrell said. "… He continues to maintain his stuff."

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, March 10, 2011

CLEARWATER

Years ago, they made quite the pair. A fledgling franchise and a rookie manager, each searching for hope in a thoroughly hopeless setting.

For 499 games, they stuck it out together. Through the losses, through the financial mismanagement, through the Juan Guzmans and through the Greg Vaughns.

It was 10 years ago next month that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Larry Roths­child finally parted ways. If you were a Tampa Bay fan back then, you might have said it was regrettable. If you were a Larry Rothschild fan, you surely believed it was merciful.

The point today is not to rehash those losses or to harp once again on the mistakes. Instead, it is to consider the windfall of all that heartache and frustration.

The Rays would wander through baseball's badlands for another half-dozen seasons, which finally led to their rescue by Stuart Sternberg, and that led to his new management group quickly turning this forsaken franchise into a player in the American League East.

As for Rothschild?

Over the next decade, he solidified his reputation as one of the finest pitching coaches of this generation and in the offseason returned to the AL East with a three-year contract as the man entrusted with the Neiman Marcus of pitching staffs in New York.

He left the employ of the Rays, but Rothschild has never really left Tampa Bay. He moved here with his wife and three children in the late 1990s and decided to make it their home even though he went to work for his hometown Chicago Cubs.

And that makes it difficult for him to recall his days at Tropicana Field as anything but necessary for all that followed.

"I wouldn't change any of it. Things have worked out because I ended up having nine years in Chicago after that, which was great," Rothschild said before Thursday's game against the Phillies. "Plus, we moved here. We've met a lot of great people here. Our kids love it here. They love the high school they're in. They've made a lot of great friends.

"I learned a lot with that job. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, although going through it wasn't the easiest thing. You saw me on a daily basis, so you know.

"But I don't regret it at all."

He turns 57 on Saturday and jokes that he isn't moving quite the way he used to during bullpen or batting practice sessions. Other than that, little seems to have changed.

The demeanor is still low-key, and the smile still has a boyish quality. The intensity simmers more than it burns, and the work days still begin early and end late.

That is one of the qualities that always set Rothschild apart. He was an overachiever as a pitcher, and he brought the same obsessive work habits to his coaching career. He watches more video, pores over more stats and studies more theories than most.

It has served him well in a hands-on position as a coach, where he can do much of the preparatory work then distill the lessons into manageable portions for his pitchers.

As a manager, it didn't translate quite so easily. Everyone was looking to Rothschild to set the tone, and a lot of people struggled to match his devotion.

"Looking back, I think I pushed the envelope too hard. At times, I should have backed off and let guys do their jobs," Rothschild said. "But I worked my (butt) off there. I put in a lot of hours, and I don't regret that. If that's the criticism, I'll take it."

The truth is no amount of tweaking or adjusting would have mattered. Those Devil Ray teams were horribly flawed, and a dysfunctional ownership situation only made matters worse. As it turns out, Rothschild presided over three of the best seasons in the franchise's first 10 years.

Not that it matters today. His work with pitching staffs will be his enduring legacy. Roths­child is entering his 17th season as a big-league coach, has won World Series rings with two teams (Cincinnati and Florida) and has just substantially increased his odds for another by putting on a Yankees uniform.

While Rothschild had remained in Chicago through several managerial changes, he had an oral agreement with general manager Jim Hendry that he could consider any job that might keep him closer to home for spring training.

He had just exercised a contract option for 2011 in Chicago when the opportunity in New York presented itself.

The move might put him under more scrutiny than any pitching coach in the majors, but the chance to be home for his daughters' soccer and lacrosse games and his son's Little League season was too good to pass up.

"There's pressure to win, but you have the tools to do it here. You're given the opportunity to win, so there should be pressure that goes with it," he said. "So far, it's been great; the people, the history, everything about the organization.

"And being able to go home every night has been huge."

The years have been kind to Rothschild and the Rays, both. Together they might not have met their goals, but a decade later, they have managed to rise to the top.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — Lately, C Robinson Chirinos feels like "everything is going my way."

"And I'm enjoying every second," he said, smiling.

Chirinos continued his late-game heroics Thursday, delivering a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to lift Tampa Bay to an 8-6 win over the Red Sox in front of a sold-out crowd of 7,322 at Charlotte Sports Park. For the Rays (5-7-1), it was their third consecutive walkoff win and fourth straight victory overall.

And Chirinos, a prospect acquired from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade, has been a big reason why. He doubled and scored the winning run in Wednesday's 11-inning victory over the Blue Jays, and on Tuesday, he tied the score in the ninth with a two-out, RBI triple.

"Those are the kind of (situations) everybody wants," Chirinos said.

Manager Joe Maddon said Chirinos has confirmed what the Rays had heard about him, and he could provide depth this year.

Said Maddon: "We're seeing him at his best right now."

SONNY DAY: RHP Andy Sonnanstine appeared to right himself with an impressive start, allowing two hits over four scoreless innings.

"It takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders," he said.

Sonnanstine, who had given up a combined 10 runs (five homers) in his first two spring outings, said the key was not thinking about mechanics but instead competing and attacking hitters

"Much quicker arm, better location, snappier pitches, all of the above," Maddon said. "He looked like he did a couple years ago right there."

MEDICAL MATTERS: SS Reid Brignac showed little rust in the field after missing a week with a groin injury, making two plays to rob Red Sox DH Mike Cameron of hits. In the first inning, Brignac dived to his right to snag a grounder before throwing out Cameron at first. Later, he made another diving stop to force out Carl Crawford at second.

LEADING OFF: Manny Ramirez was scheduled to start in leftfield, but Maddon scratched him from the lineup because of the weather/field conditions he expected. Plus, Ramirez will be leading off today against the Pirates (as well as playing Sunday in Dunedin). Maddon said he thought it'd be "fun" to put Ramirez in the top spot today, giving him a chance to get his at-bats quicker before being off the rest of today and Saturday.

NO WORRIES: LHP Alex Torres allowed three runs and four hits in the sixth before tossing a scoreless seventh. "That is a classic example of a young pitcher and a young catcher choosing the wrong pitches," Maddon said. "It's not that he threw poorly or that he can't get those hitters out. He just has to utilize what he's got better."

CRAZY Ending: The Rays were up 5-4 with two outs in the ninth when RHP Brandon Gomes, a bullpen candidate acquired from the Padres, gave up back-to-back solo homers, the first runs he has allowed in five outings. Then the Rays' Casey Kotchman knocked in Desmond Jennings with an RBI double before Chirinos' blast.

FOR STARTERS: RHP Jeremy Hellickson is scheduled to make his spring debut today, with the strained left hamstring that sidelined him "close to 100 percent." He and Maddon are confident he will be able to start the season.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

Compliment of the day

Red Sox manager Terry Francona raved about Rays LF Johnny Damon (right), who played for Boston from 2002 to 2005, calling him "one of my all-time favorites" and "very dear to me." "He's one of the best guys you could ever have play," Francona said. "As a manager, you can't appreciate him too much. There were days he just got beat (up) and he'd call in the morning and go 'Don't not play me. Let me have a chance to show up."

Quote of the day

"Carl's got some style. He can pull off many colors."

Andy Sonnanstine, Rays RHP, on seeing Carl Crawford in Red Sox colors

Quote of the day 2

"I hope he's not mad at me. I'm sure he's taken away many hits in his day."

Reid Brignac, Rays shortstop, joking about robbing Mike Cameron, left, of two hits Thursday by making diving snags of ground balls

Rays vs. Pirates

When/where: 1:05 today; Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte

Internet radio: raysbaseball.com

Tickets: Reserved seats $19-$27, berm/boardwalk $10. raysbaseball.com, Ticket­master, Tropicana Field and Charlotte box offices, Tampa team store.

Gates open: 11 a.m.

Directions: Driving time from bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Exit 179 (Toledo Blade Road), west 6½ miles (crossing U.S. 41) to El Jobean Road (SR 776), right 2 miles, complex on the left.

Parking: $10; lots open at 10.

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson, Kyle Farnsworth, Joel Peralta, Adam Russell, Alex Cobb; Pirates — James McDonald

Heads-up

RHP Jeremy Hellickson, the expected fifth starter in the rotation, is scheduled to make his spring debut after having been sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Who is this Ray?

He's a former shortstop prospect who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Padres in 2004. After being signed by the Rays in January 2010, he spent two months at the Winning Inning Baseball Academy in Clearwater, living in the same room former Ray Josh Hamilton had stayed in.

On deck

Saturday: at Phillies (ss), 1:05. Rays — David Price; Phillies — Kyle Kendrick

Sunday: at Blue Jays, 1:05. Rays — Chris Bootcheck; Jays — Brandon Morrow

Schedule

14: Off

15: Marlins

16: at Marlins

17: at Yankees, 7:05

18: Red Sox (ss), 7:05

19: at Twins

20: Orioles

21: Yankees, 7:05

22: at Red Sox, 7:05

23: Phillies

24: at Astros

25: Pirates

26: Orioles

27: at Pirates

28: at Yankees, 7:05

29: at Red Sox

30: vs. Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, 4:10

Who is this Ray answer: RHP Matt Bush

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Times wires
Thursday, March 10, 2011

Horses

Jockey, steward cited for incident at Breeders' cup

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jockey John Velazquez and steward John Veitch violated state racing guidelines by allowing Life At Ten to race in November's Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ruled Thursday.

Velazquez told a TV reporter moments before the race that Life At Ten didn't warm up properly. The horse was not scratched but jogged behind the field for the 11/8-mile race. A postrace exam found no major issues. Life At Ten is owned by Candy DeBartolo, wife of former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, and is trained by Todd Pletcher.

The 161-page report determined there was "no evidence of intentional wrongdoing or nefarious or fraudulent activity" but there was a "systematic breakdown in communications" and a "failure of common sense to prevail."

It says Velazquez should've alerted vets about his concerns or given her a normal ride. For doing neither, he is cited for engaging "in conduct that is against the best interest of horse racing." Velazquez could not be reached for comment. Veitch, a Hall of Fame trainer, was cited for failing to carefully monitor the situation.

The case moves to a hearing officer, who will determine if the violations occurred and could recommend discipline. There is no timetable for that.

Zenyatta pregnant: Zenyatta, the 2010 horse of the year, is pregnant and due in February, according to her manager. About two weeks ago, she was mated with 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini. Zenyatta was retired in November after 19 of 20 races.

Boxing

Mayweather court hearing delayed

A Las Vegas judge postponed an evidence hearing for Floyd Mayweather in a felony domestic violence case until April 28. The boxer is accused of hitting and threatening his ex-girlfriend, stealing her cell phone and threatening two of their children during an argument at the woman's home in September. He faces 34 years in prison. The case, for which a trial date hasn't been set, is separate from a misdemeanor battery charge alleging Mayweather poked a home­owners association security guard in the face during a November argument outside his home. That case is due for trial April 25.

Et cetera

Iditarod: Trent Herbst led after being the first to reach the checkpoint in the ghost town of Iditarod, about 534 miles into the 1,150-mile race in Alaska. But he had not completed a mandatory 24-hour rest.

Tennis: David Nalbandian is expected to miss two months after surgery for a torn muscle in his lower leg. He sustained the injury during a Davis Cup match March 4 and hopes to return by the French Open, which starts May 17.

Times wires

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 10, 2011

Patti McDonald, Times Correspondent
Thursday, March 10, 2011

TAMPA — With the regular season and playoffs behind them, it was time for the 20 Hillsborough County seniors to showcase their talent in the county's annual all-star game, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Basketball Coaches Association.

Each team did just that in a game full of impressive layups and crowd-pleasing dunks. Durant's Andre Nation capped off an impressive season, leading the East with 26 points as he helped his team to a 113-104 win Thursday over the West at Tampa Prep.

The East had five players in double figures. Joining Nation were King's Reshard Brown (19), Plant City's Chris Smith (18), Newsome's Trent Mackey (17) and Lennard's Fred Porter (16).

The East had a 12-point lead in the second half, as Nation poured in 16. He was named MVP.

The West went on a 10-point run and took a 79-78 lead midway through the second half.

"We got really lazy defensively," Nation said. "But we made some substitutions and Coach motivated us back into the game, and we came out with the win in the end."

Despite being an all-star game, Strawberry Coast coach Andre Lewis, who coached the East, had a strategy. With most seniors still not committed to a college, Lewis wanted his players to take the game seriously.

"I told the guys not to look at it as an all-star game, but as an opportunity," he said.

Blake's Quintin Brewer led the West with 21 points.

Mackey sank seven shots from long range to win the 3-point contest. Nation won the dunk contest, winning over the judges with a combination of twists and turns that led to a backward dunk.

Times wires
Thursday, March 10, 2011

JUPITER — The latest allegations of belligerent behavior by Miguel Cabrera won't change his status with the Tigers, general manager Dave Dombrowski said Thursday.

Documents released by the State Attorney's Office accuse Cabrera of threatening a manager at a restaurant shortly before the slugger's arrest Feb. 16 in Fort Pierce on suspicion of drunken driving.

"There are new things that have come out," Dombrowski said, "but it's the same thing we've been dealing with (since) he came to camp, really. It's no different from the club's perspective."

Cabrera, scheduled to play today in Jupiter vs. the Cardinals, has struggled with drinking-related problems in the past. After reporting to spring training last month following his arrest, he said he would undergo treatment set up by doctors and administered by management and the union.

According to documents released Wednesday, restaurant manager Fletcher D. Nail told police a man entered after the business closed, was told to leave, then said, "I will kill you" to Nail. Nail says he told the man to leave, and the man said: "I know all you, and I will kill all of you and blow this place up."

A police report by Officer Michael Otto Muller said Cabrera was belligerent. The report said Cabrera walked out into the highway, shouting "(Expletive) shoot me. Kill me."

Cabrera, 27, is being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors.

Braves: Minor-league manager Luis Salazar was scheduled for more facial surgery a day after being hit by a foul liner. He had surgery Wednesday after being airlifted to a hospital. GM Frank Wren said Salazar, 54, may have a concussion and damage near his left eye.

Brewers: Left-hander Chris Narveson will start the home opener April 4, manager Ron Roenicke said. Roenicke named the other three members of the rotation, which he tweaked because right-hander Zack Greinke has a hairline fracture of a rib on his left side. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will make his second straight opening day start, followed by right-hander Shaun Marcum and left-hander Randy Wolf.

Dodgers: Closer Jonathan Broxton was roughed up against the Padres. He faced five batters but didn't retire one, allowing three hits, one walk and hit a batter. He gave up a homer to Jarrett Hoffpauir.

Mets: Left-hander Oliver Perez, 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA, five walks and a .345 opponents batting average in seven spring innings, embraced the team's decision to send him to the bullpen.

White Sox: Rightfielder Dayan Viciedo is expected to miss 2-4 weeks after being hit by a pitch that broke his right thumb.

Ex-Rays go independent: Former Rays catcher Toby Hall signed with the Camden (N.J.) Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League, where he will be joined by another former Ray, pitcher Jason Johnson.

Times wires
Thursday, March 10, 2011

DORAL — A storm packing 50 mph gusts toppled two TV towers, uprooted 17 young palm trees and sent the monster scoreboard at the 18th hole crashing to the ground Thursday at Doral.

When the Cadillac Championship resumed, Hunter Mahan and most of the world's best players tore up the course.

The raging wind was replaced by an eerie calm that lasted just long enough for the field to take aim at the Blue Monster. Mahan birdied his opening four holes and kept right on rolling until the opening round of the World Golf Championships event was suspended by darkness.

He didn't miss a green, didn't come close to a bogey in his 11 holes and was atop the leaderboard at 7 under par.

"I guess with that storm, it brought some tranquility to the golf course," Mahan said. "Because there was just no wind. There was nothing out there."

No one was injured by the wind-created havoc, and the course was fine.

In the group that generated most of the buzz and attracted the largest crowd, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson scrapped their way around while last year's U.S. Open champion, Graeme McDowell, kept up with his great short game.

Mickelson made a birdie late in his round and was at 2 under through 15 holes, one shot ahead of Woods and McDowell.

"We had a fun day," Mickelson said. "We didn't play our best, but we didn't play terrible to where we … shot ourselves in the foot. We are in good position (today) to come back out, finish the round strong and play our second round."

The other featured group — the top three players in the world ranking — lived up to their billing.

Martin Kaymer, in his second week as No. 1, opened with three straight birdies and was 5 under through 10. Match Play winner Luke Donald (No. 3) birdied the 10th hole to join him at 5 under. Lee Westwood (No. 2) was at 4 under.

"I had a fantastic start," Kaymer said. "But to be honest, it was not that difficult (Thursday). You can see the scores. A bunch of people are under par, so it doesn't seem that difficult."

Tim Clark, Bubba Watson and Ben Crane withdrew before the event started, putting the field at 66. Clark has not played since his runnerup finish in the Sony Open at the start of the year because of an elbow injury. Watson cited an illness. Crane is coping with a bad back.

PGA: James Driscoll shot 9-under 63 in the first round of the Puerto Rico Open at Rio Grande, missing a chance to break 60 when he played the final four holes in 2 over. Driscoll had 10 birdies in a 12-hole stretch from Nos. 12 to 3 and ended with a two-stroke lead over Will MacKenzie. Driscoll matched the course record set by Derek Lamely in the third round of his victory last year. Mike Weir (wrist) and Boo Weekley (hand) withdrew during the round. Weir was coming off a career-worst 85 in the second round of the Honda Classic.