By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, September 18, 2011

BOSTON — The dozen-plus Rays crammed into the Fenway Park bullpen didn't know what it meant when they saw starter David Price staggered by a line drive to the chest that would eventually force him to leave Sunday's game after just four innings.

But they knew this much.

"Well," reliever Joel Peralta said, "nothing good."

Their four-run lead had just been halved, and with Price on his way to a nearby hospital (he was okay), the already short-handed bullpen was suddenly handed the unseemly task of getting 15 outs in what, for the second consecutive day of great drama, was the Rays' most important game of their season.

Somehow, some way, with rookie Jake McGee the unlikely leader, they came through again, the Rays hanging on for an 8-5 victory over the Red Sox and taking three of four here after sweeping the Sox last weekend at home.

"We answered the call," centerfielder B.J. Upton said.

"It's a beautiful thing," rightfielder Matt Joyce said. "It's really an unbelievable job that we've done. It's hard to describe."

The best part, they're hoping, is yet to come. And they are getting increasingly confident about it.

The possibility of making the playoffs that appeared so unlikely when the Rays were nine games out 16 days earlier, and seemed to make for no more than a cute little story over the past couple of weeks, is now a legitimate possibility as they moved to within two games of the AL wild-card spot.

"I feel pretty good about it, I really do," manager Joe Maddon said. "To be able to do this, against this team here, now, God, if that can't bolster your confidence, nothing really can."

The challenge for the Rays (85-67) is still significant, as seven of their 10 remaining games are against the AL-best Yankees (including four in three days at Yankee Stadium starting Tuesday), while the Red Sox have seven against the last-place Orioles (starting with a day-night doubleheader today).

As hot as the Rays have been — 26-13 since Aug. 7, 11-4 since being nine out Sept. 2 — the Sox have helped by playing poorly, losing nine of their past 11.

"We got a two-game lead with 10 to go. We're ready to go. That's basically it, man," Dustin Pedroia said. "We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves for playing like crap. Nobody's going to give us anything."

The Rays led 4-2 when Price left and quickly made it 6-2 with help from the sloppy Sox. That's where McGee stepped in and stepped up, the 25-year-old lefty getting eight straight outs before allowing a single to his last batter.

"Jake McGee, oh my god," Maddon said. "He was not afraid of the moment. … He was outstanding. He definitely was our star of the game."

Said McGee: "It's pretty exciting."

The lead was 8-2, thanks to Joyce's third hit of the day, when McGee left with a man on in the seventh, but Cesar Ramos gave up a three-run homer to Mike Aviles that made it 8-5. But Brandon Gomes, another rookie, and from nearby Fall River, Mass., got a huge strikeout of Pedroia and a to-the-wall flyout from David Ortiz. After J.P. Howell allowed a double to former Ray Carl Crawford, Maddon summoned Peralta, for the second straight day, to finish it, this time needing four outs.

"The guy's got all the guts in the world," Maddon said.

Peralta got the last out of the eighth and the first two of the ninth, then allowed a double to Jacoby Ellsbury. The urgency to get out Aviles was magnified with Adrian Gonzalez and Ortiz looming on deck, and Peralta got it, on a fly to right. "Every out is hard to get," Peralta said. "I told Joe I'm not pitching (today), so he cannot use me, no way."

The Rays will enjoy the day off in New York, then regroup Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, either one, two or three games out.

"We're definitely increasing our chances," Joyce said, "with each game we play."

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

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Lexi Thompson was poised to become the youngest player to win an LPGA Tour event at a fresh-faced 16, sitting five strokes ahead of the field and one round from history.

So what was the dinner table topic the night before?

"Boys. Boys definitely came up," she said.

Hey, she's an LPGA winner. But she's still 16.

The Coral Springs resident closed with 2-under 70 Sunday to win the Navistar LPGA Classic, beating Tiffany Joh by five strokes to finish at 17-under 271.

Thompson shattered the age record for winning a multiple-round tournament held by Paula Creamer, who won in 2005 at 18. Marlene Hagge was 18 years, 14 days when she won the single-round Sarasota Open in 1952.

The victory brought a piece of history and $195,000.

"This has been my dream like my whole life," Thompson said. "It's the best feeling ever."

Thompson, who turned 16 in February, led by five strokes entering the final round and built that to seven through 10 at the Robert Trent Jones Trail's Capitol Hill complex.

"Paula Creamer came up to me and said, 'If anybody was going to change the record, it should have been you,' " Thompson said after her win. "That meant a lot."

Cool under pressure most of the day, Thompson and her father, also her caddie, couldn't contain broad smiles as they approached the 18th green with the win, and a spot in history, in hand. "It's just awesome watching your kid do something like this, but it is very nerve-racking, though," Scott Thompson said. "This is a very special day.

Now, the question is will she be granted tour membership? Thompson will have to petition for an exemption of the 18-year-old age requirement.

The LPGA already granted her petition for qualifying school, and she won the first stage by 10 strokes in July with two more to go.

LPGA commissioner Mike Whan didn't seem inclined to give her the equivalent of a qualifying school GED: "Should Lexi qualify for LPGA membership via her Q-School performance, she will be an LPGA member for the 2012 season," he said in a statement.

Seminole's Brittany Lincicome finished 5-under 213. Tampa resident Kristy McPherson finished 1 over.

PGA: Justin Rose chipped in for birdie on the 17th hole and hung on to win the BMW Championship in Lemont, Ill. Rose closed with par 71 and a two-shot victory to finish 13-under 271 and head to the Tour Championship with a shot at the $10 million FedEx Cup prize.

CHAMPIONS: Jay Don Blake beat fellow American John Cook on the fifth playoff hole at the Songdo IBD Championship in Incheon, South Korea, for his first tour victory. The pair both shot 68 in the final round to finish tied at 13-under 203 with Mark O'Meara and Peter Senior.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, September 18, 2011

BRANDON — G Dwayne Roloson does not ease into a training camp routine, especially when it comes to scrimmages.

"You're trying to be at your best and work on the things you worked on in practice to make sure that when the real games are on everything is fundamentally sound," he said.

Roloson was just that Sunday, stopping 15 shots in 32 minutes for the White team in a 1-0 victory over the Blue.

In 62 minutes in two scrimmages, Roloson, the league's oldest player who turns 42 on Oct. 12, has stopped 26 of 27 shots.

Blair Jones scored a minute into a five-minute, four-on-four overtime on a dazzling rush in which he skated around a defenseman in front of the net before beating Pat Nagle. But Roloson was the story.

He stopped Tom Pyatt twice from in close, Steve Downie's sharp deflection and Ondrej Palat's shot from the slot.

"He knows at the beginning of the year there's more holes in everyone's armor, therefore goalies get more shots," coach Guy Boucher said.

"He knows he's going to have to be real sharp at the start of the season."

Until then, "Always room for improvement," Roloson said.

WORRISOME: Dustin Tokarski, the organization's No. 3 goalie, did not scrimmage for the second straight day because of what has become a bit of a mystery injury.

Hurt last season during AHL Norfolk's playoffs, it was believed Tokarski had an abdominal problem, perhaps a sports hernia. But GM Steve Yzerman said tests could not confirm. Now the current thinking is Tokarski has pelvic tendinitis, the same condition that kept D Mike Lundin out of 13 games last season.

Tokarski will continue to rehab, Yzerman said. But if he is not better by early October, the Lightning might search for an option beyond prospects Jarolsav Janus and Nagle.

"It's a concern for sure," Yzerman said. "Depending on injuries, that No. 3 goaltender is a really important player for you."

MORE MEDICAL MATTERS: D Charles Landry, who on Saturday was helped off the ice after taking an elbow to the head from RW Richard Panik, does not have concussion symptoms, Boucher said. … Jones left the ice during practice so trainers could glue a cut on his forehead from an inadvertent high stick from D Mattias Ohlund.

EPIC: LW Cory Conacher lived a dream by playing on a line with idol Marty St. Louis.

"That's going to be going down in history for me," Conacher said. "It's something I will always remember and cherish."

It is not difficult to see why Conacher is drawn to St. Louis. Both are listed at 5 feet 8 and use speed, strength and intensity to compensate.

Even so, Conacher admitted playing on the line with St. Louis and C Steven Stamkos was intimidating. He also knows given he will begin the season with Norfolk, it might not happen again. It was a good thing, then, his uncle had a camera.

"Hopefully, " Conacher said, "I get another chance."

ODDS AND ENDS: Conacher split time on Stamkos' line with Brett Connolly, 2010's No. 6 overall draft pick. … Boucher praised C Vladislav Namestnikov, this year's first-round pick, as a player trying to "pick it up and figure it out."

Times staff
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Next five games

By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Sunday, September 18, 2011

What's hot: With gag grouper season open, look for good numbers from inside Tampa Bay to 120 feet of water. If you don't know where to fish inside the bay, try trolling the edge of the shipping channel. Grouper hang out in the topside of the channel.

Tips: Troll large plugs behind a No. 3 planner, use large jigs on a downrigger or pull big-lipped lures that dive to 30 feet. The top of the channel is 26 feet deep. Using a zigzag pattern, work in 25-35 feet. Some of the best areas are inside the Sunshine Skyway bridge to the Port Manatee channel. The best tides are the end of the tidal flow, the slack and the start of the next tide. When the tide moves fast, grouper hold in rock ledges. When the tide starts to slow, they will move out and start feeding.

Tactics: When you catch a grouper, mark the spot with a recorder. The grouper was 30-40 feet behind the boat when you marked the strike. Return to the mark and use a bottom machine to look behind the mark. If you find a pile of rock or a stack of bait, mark the spot again and bottom fish the area with live pinfish. Use heavy tackle to keep grouper from cutting you off on the rocks.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Tennis

Nadal Carries Spain, But Djokovic's back Fails Serbia in Davis Cup Semis

Novak Djokovic's ailing back didn't hold up, meaning Rafael Nadal won't have to face his main rival in the Davis Cup final.

Djokovic tried to help host Serbia stage a comeback in its semifinal against Argentina, but he had to retire when trailing 7-6 (7-5), 3-0 against Juan Martin del Potro. That sent Argentina, a 3-2 winner, into the Davis Cup final against Spain, which advanced 4-1 after Nadal routed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 on clay in Cordoba.

"I feel disappointed to end this tie this way," said Djokovic, who lunged to hit a forehand then let go of his racket, dropped to his knees and screamed in pain. "My condition was 60 percent of what I had expected."

Nadal improved to 14-0 on clay in Davis Cup and 18-1 overall. "You might think it gets easier to win, but it doesn't," said Nadal, whose Spanish team will host the final, possibly in Valencia or Madrid.

Basketball

Spain thwarts France to repeat as European champ

Spain won its second straight European title, beating France 98-85 behind Juan Carlos Navarro's 27 points in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Pau Gasol added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Spain, which became the first repeat champion since Yugoslavia in 1997.

Tony Parker scored 26 and former Gator Joakim Noah had 11 with eight rebounds for France, but they could not bring the country its first continental title.

Et cetera

Horses: Turallure came on from the outside to win the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile over Courageous Cat at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 5.

Soccer: Manchester United, owned by the Bucs' Glazer family, beat title rival Chelsea 3-1 for its fifth straight victory to open the season in the English Premier League.

WNBA: Host Atlanta rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Connecticut 69-64 and advance to the Eastern Conference final for the second consecutive season. Atlanta, which swept the best-of-three series, awaits the winner of tonight's Indiana-New York semifinal. … Host San Antonio beat Minnesota 84-75 to even their first-round best-of-three Western Conference series. The deciding game is Tuesday in Minneapolis.

Times wires

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, September 18, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — Some comebacks save the day. When a day needs saving, that usually feels like enough.

This one was better.

This one might have salvaged a season.

It is impossible to overstate just how important Sunday's roar-from-behind 24-20 victory over Minnesota was for Tampa Bay. Yes, coming back from 17 points down provided the Bucs with their first victory of the season, which was a grand enough achievement.

By the end, however, by the time the Vikings trudged off the field wondering what happened, it felt bigger than a single game.

As comebacks go, this one felt like Lazarus coming back from the dead and catching a pass for a first down. It felt as if someone had found an unplugged cord and reinserted it into the socket to make the power come back on. It felt as if, dare we say it, a team had rekindled its energy, recaptured its identity and restored its fans' hope.

Most of all, it felt as if the Bucs are going to be interesting after all.

There for a while, it didn't look like it.

For the first half of the game, the Bucs were so dreadful that fans could be forgiven if they wished to take back anything good they had ever said about this team. The Bucs could not block or tackle or catch. They were a casting call for The Walking Dead only without so much walking and more standing in place.

Zero points. Three first downs. Twenty-three yards rushing. Consider this: In the first half, the Bucs ran exactly one play from scrimmage in Minnesota territory. It was a punt.

At halftime, the Bucs were staring into the darkness. It is one thing for a team to be 0-2. It is another to be 0-2 without a spark of energy. If you had to swear to it, you might have believed the goal here was not to catch New Orleans and Atlanta in the NFC South; it was to catch Carolina.

Then came the second half, and everything changed. A brief intermission, a little yelling by Raheem Morris, and the Bucs remembered who they were. After that, they were bold. They were daring. They were dangerous. After a one-sided first half, this was so other-sided that it left Vikings fans pulling on those little Swiss Miss pigtails that many of them seem to wear. The women, too.

Once the Bucs got going, it didn't matter that Josh Freeman threw an interception at the goal line. It didn't matter that a touchdown pass to Mike Williams was called back because of a penalty. Nothing mattered.

"That was the first time we've played Buc ball all year," said tackle Donald Penn.

"That was us," said Freeman.

For the Bucs, that was almost as important as the victory. They returned from the land of the lost. They remembered who they were and how they have to play to be successful.

That had been the conversation Saturday night at the team meeting. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson kept saying, "We have to rediscover our identity."

A week ago against Detroit, they had lost some of that. The Bucs didn't have enough faith in their base offense, and they went to the two-minute version too soon. It made the fourth quarter a little more interesting, but the truth of it is that the Bucs won't reach the playoffs in the no-huddle.

If they are going to be successful, they have to have LeGarrette Blount wading through defenses the way he did in the second half when he rambled for 67 yards. When Blount is rolling through a secondary, there is an energy that spreads throughout his team.

If they are going to be successful, they have to contain opposing offenses. They are young, and they are inexperienced, but they are what the Bucs have, and they have to learn on the run. Consider this: During Sunday's first half, Adrian Peterson averaged 5.5 yards per rush. During the second, he averaged 3.7.

If they are going to be successful — and yes, you have heard this before — Freeman has to continue to hold the deed to the fourth quarter. This time, Freeman was 8-of-11 in the fourth quarter for 99 yards.

He has done it before. In Freeman's first start, he came back from an 11-point deficit to beat Green Bay for the Bucs' first win of the season. Later that year, he helped the Bucs come back from 17 down to beat an excellent New Orleans team. Last year, he led his team from 14 down to beat St. Louis.

This beat them all, however. The Bucs scored two touchdowns in the final 81/2 minutes. The Bucs ran 17 plays on those drives, and 11 of them gained 5 yards or more. By the end, you had the feeling the Bucs could have driven to Canada if they had needed to.

This time, they came back from a deficit, and from disappointment, and from disarray. This time, they came back from their flaws and your frustration.

Now, they have to come back and do it again.

A few more agains, too.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Talk of the town

Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio.

Legends are made in the fourth quarter: One more comeback, and one more reason Josh Freeman is on his way to being the greatest offensive player in franchise history. The funny thing about that? He's still just 23.

And they're still under warranty: Preston Parker and Dezmon Briscoe combine for 10 receptions for 140 yards, leading Martha Stewart to schedule Bucs GM Mark Dominik for an afternoon special on coupon shopping.

Bueller? Bueller?: At this rate, Gerald McCoy is going to get his wish. No one will compare him to Ndamukong Suh.

Note of caution: The Bucs have allowed scoring drives of 80, 84 and 90 yards in two games. Last year, they gave up five scoring drives of 80 yards or more the entire season.

Fools R Us: What was Vikings coach Leslie Frazier thinking when he let the Bucs run the clock down on their final drive? Once it was obvious Tampa Bay was in field-goal range, Frazier needed to use his timeouts so the Vikings would have time on their final drive. Instead, the clock went from 2:33 to :31 by the time the Bucs scored, and the Vikings were doomed.

A list of five

Five halftime adjustments by the Bucs.

5. Started going after Donovan McNabb's cane.

4. Those neat iPad playbooks? Yeah, just block the porn on them.

3. Owners promised to spend wildly on practice squad players.

2. Lightened the mood by watching Sabby Piscitelli highlights.

1. LeGarrette Blount introduced himself to Raheem Morris.

Five differences from week one

Offensive formations: The Bucs ran out of the shotgun about 75 percent of the time against Detroit. Even though they were trailing until the final minute, they used the shotgun only about 50 percent of the time on Sunday.

Blitzes: The defense gambled more on Sunday. All three linebackers, safety Sean Jones and cornerback Ronde Barber blitzed at various times. The only two sacks came on blitzes.

Airline food: Bizarre as it seems, the Bucs are 9-8 on the road and 5-12 at home in the Morris era.

Defensive formations: Maybe it was because Minnesota is more of a running team, maybe it was because Quincy Black was hurt, but the Bucs stayed in their base defense far more. Which meant Mason Foster stayed on the field more. And that's a good thing. He's already making more plays than Black.

A dumber opponent: With a 17-0 lead and a third-and-3, the Vikings committed three penalties in four plays. The Bucs ended up with the ball on the Minnesota 44 and scored their first touchdown two plays later.

Five super picks

Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

1. Patriots: Suddenly he's Air Belichick?

2. Packers: Even if Cam Newton chewed 'em up.

3. Saints: Nah, the Bucs didn't need Darren Sproles.

4. Jets: Rex Ryan needs his own network.

12. Bucs: Back to wondering if they can beat a good team.

Final five words

I hear tickets are available.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, September 18, 2011

tom jones' two cents

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Best compliment

The Rays got some airtime on ESPN's Sports Reporters on Sunday morning.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell said, "If I'm the Yankees, I want no part of the Tampa Bay Rays (in the playoffs)."

New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica chimed in: "Nobody does. … The best pitching staff this side of the Phillies."

Best scoop

Fox NFL Sunday's Jay Glazer, left, reported that before Peyton Manning's recent neck surgery, the Colts QB traveled to Europe for stem-cell therapy not approved in the United States, all in an effort to get back on the field as soon as possible. Who knows how Glazer digs up these things, but he usually has something once a week that no one else has.

Most missing guest

ESPN's Outside the Lines produced a compelling piece on how former Gators QB Tim Tebow has become one of the most polarizing athletes in this country. Give the show credit for showing one of its own — Merril Hoge — ripping into Tebow during the piece. But the panel discussion after the piece featured two newspaper columnists and ESPN yapping dog Skip Bayless. Why not have Hoge on the panel, seeing how critical he has been of Tebow?

Best prediction

On the NFL Network's GameDay Morning pregame show, analyst Kurt Warner predicted the Chiefs would give up 40 points to the Lions, a team that had scored 40 only once in its previous 57 games. Final score: Lions, 48-3.

Three things that popped into my head

1. No matter how it ends, the Rays will be playing meaningful games in late September. Really, what more can you ask for?

2. Florida State might not be ready to compete for a national title, but the Seminoles showed Saturday night that they are a heck of a lot closer than they were two years ago.

3. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera tied Trevor Hoffman's MLB record with his 601st save over the weekend — which makes you realize just how good and underappreciated Hoffman was in his 18-year career.

Best self-deprecation

During Saturday's Rays-Red Sox game on Fox, Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria was ahead 1-and-0 in the first inning when analyst Tim McCarver, above, said he would be surprised if Longoria got anything to hit. Boston's Jon Lester then followed with two consecutive strikes.

"Ha," McCarver said, "that's crack analysis."

It actually was refreshing to hear McCarver poke fun at himself. Lots of folks seem to have it in for McCarver, but I'm not one of them. Sure, he can be a little hokey at times, and he might, occasionally, beat a point to death. But overall, he's more solid than most.

Worst first 10 minutes

Sometime during the offseason, CBS and Fox must have gotten together and decided to trade NFL pregame show philosophies. CBS analysts used to spend most of the hour laughing hysterically over things that weren't funny. Now it's the Fox NFL Sunday show that has turned into a bad Dean Martin roast. The first 10 minutes of Sunday's show were unwatchable because of all the horsing around.

And, oh, opening with the Simon Cowell voice-over talking about NFL players having the "X Factor" was the type of shameless self-promotion that would get ESPN killed — and for good reason.

Best criticism

Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco, left, tweeted last week that he was in awe of the offense, even though he caught one pass for 14 yards. For some reason, ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi, a former Pats linebacker, didn't like what Ochocinco wrote and ripped him. For starters, Bruschi needs to remember that he works for ESPN, not the Patriots. His odd and bitter reaction brings into question his credibility when he speaks about the Patriots.

Meanwhile, on the NFL Network's GameDay Morning show, analyst Michael Irvin said, "There's nothing wrong with (Ochocinco) saying that. I got a problem with Bruschi saying all of that. And if it was still 'The Patriot Way,' Chad wouldn't be there. The Patriot Way is dead."

Better yet, Sports Reporters host Jeremy Schaap, filling in for John Saunders, criticized Bruschi's comments, which was refreshing because Sports Reporters is an ESPN show.

Good stuff on TV over the weekend

• Chip Carter's Tailgate Sunday Bucs pregame show on Ch. 13 is surprisingly detailed and entertaining for a locally produced show, and analyst Jorge Diaz, a former Bucs tackle from the late 1990s, is really good.

• It's so cool that 1010-AM radio host J.P. Peterson brought on 620-AM's Steve Duemig for his Sunday morning TV show, Tampa Bay Sports Central With JP, when you consider the two go head to head during the week on the radio. But it's a smart move because their conversations are always enjoyable.

• The Rays games are getting more important, and announcers Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson are getting better and better. Both had a great weekend, and this week's series in New York should be must-see TV.

Best return

It was nice to see Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson return to the airwaves Saturday with the Florida-Tennessee game on CBS. In my book, Danielson ranks second among college football game analysts, behind ABC's Kirk Herbstreit and just a notch ahead of ESPN's Todd Blackledge. • Danielson's best line Saturday: "Florida couldn't snap the ball to its quarterback last year. It was a mess. They know what they're doing now."

Three things I liked about Sunday's Bucs-Vikings broadcast on Fox

1. Former Bucs safety John Lynch is well on his way to being a top-notch NFL analyst. He's prepared, concise and intelligent. And he's learning to become more critical.

2. Hiring rules expert Mike Pereira full time before last season continues to be a brilliant move by Fox. He can jump into any game when necessary, and he was smartly brought in Sunday to explain why the Bucs were penalized for an illegal shift that wiped out a Josh Freeman touchdown pass to Mike Williams.

3. The Bucs fell behind 17-0 in the first half, prompting Fox's Howie Long to blurt out: "Where's the running game? Where's LeGarrette Blount?" Long was right. Blount had five carries for 4 yards in the first half. He had eight carries for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.

Best comeback

The best exchange during Saturday's pay-per-view boxing match between Floyd Mayweather, left, and Victor Ortiz might not have been between Mayweather and Ortiz but between Mayweather and HBO's analyst Larry Merchant. After Mayweather's controversial fourth-round knockout of Ortiz, Mayweather refused to be interviewed by Merchant. "You don't never give me a fair shake," he said. "So I'm going to let you talk to Victor Ortiz, all right? I'm through. Put somebody else up here to give me an interview. HBO needs to fire you because you don't know (expletive) about boxing. You ain't (expletive)." The 80-year-old Merchant responded by saying, "I wish I was 50 years younger and I would kick your (expletive)." Merchant later admitted that he probably couldn't have beaten Mayweather 50 years ago, but he would've tried. Isn't that great? Only in boxing.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, September 18, 2011

BRANDON — It would not have been surprising if general manager Steve Yzerman tried to put a happy face on the Lightning's poor showing at last week's prospects tournament.

No use running down youngsters who he said "competed hard" and whose futures, and probably best days, are ahead.

But after going 0-3 in Coral Springs while being outscored 15-6, Yzerman figured honesty was the best policy.

"Yeah," he said Sunday at the Ice Sports Forum, "I'd say we were disappointed."

The result is a symptom of a larger problem for the Lightning: lack of organizational depth.

Since drafting Vinny Lecavalier and Brad Richards in 1998, the team has struggled evaluating young talent, notwithstanding the no-brainer picks of center Steven Stamkos, No. 1 overall in 2008, and defenseman Victor Hedman, No. 2 in 2009.

In fact, from 1999-2007, Tampa Bay did not draft an impact player despite 14 first- or second-round selections.

Drafting improved in 2008 and '09 under then-GM Brian Lawton, but the cupboard was so bare, the team still is restocking.

Yzerman, who took over in May 2010, even acknowledged a conversation with coach Guy Boucher in which Boucher said Yzerman told him, "The first thing is we have to rebuild the whole depth."

"It's been deficient," Boucher added. "We don't have the guys who were drafted three, four, five years ago. Where are they besides Stamkos and Hedman? That's what hurts; all the guys picked first round who didn't pan out, especially the defensemen.

"That's huge. That changes your team. Now we have to build it up again, and it takes time."

It is an important issue. Minor-leaguers are hedges against injuries to NHL players. With players developing in juniors, they are an organization's lifeblood.

"Teams with a long history of playoff appearances get that depth from building from within, letting guys mature and learn," goaltender Dwayne Roloson said. "Eventually, they keep improving and you bring them up."

Boucher called it "a wheel."

"We don't have the wheel turning yet," he said, "but we will."

It takes about five years to evaluate drafts, Yzerman said. But with players such as defenseman Mark Barberio, goalie Dustin Tokarski and forwards such as Brett Connolly, Carter Ashton, James Wright, Richard Panik, Alex Hutchings, Vladimir Namestnikov and Ondrej Palat, all drafted since 2008, things seem to be improving.

Yzerman also is being creative.

He signed free agents such as forwards Michel Ouellet and Alex Picard and defenseman Richard Petiot to two-way deals. Each could be with AHL Norfolk, but their NHL experience will be invaluable if injuries mount.

He also signed undrafted free agents such as left wing Cory Conacher and center Tyler Johnson, both of whom have impressed in camp.

There is even talk Conacher, 21, a speedy puck hound with good skills who signed a minor-league deal, might get an NHL contract before camp ends.

"We've got to be diligent," Yzerman added. "Our scouts, pro and amateur, are out there. We're going to sign college free agents and juniors. Not all will turn out to be NHLers, but it's the only way we're going to get ahead."

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

Times staff
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

MOTEGI, Japan — The IndyCar points race is going down to the wire, again.

Scott Dixon won the Japan 300 from the pole Sunday and Will Power finished second to take the points lead from Dario Franchitti, whose slipup helped set up a reprisal of last year's title race going into the final two events.

Team Penske's Power moved into first place in the standings with 542 points, 11 ahead of Franchitti, who finished eighth after being penalized for hitting Ryan Briscoe's car on the 26th lap.

"I just need to keep finishing in front of (Franchitti) the rest of the way and we'll be fine," said Power, who finished 3.4375 seconds behind Dixon.

Dixon's second IndyCar win of the season kept him in contention for the title, 59 points behind Power in third going into Kentucky and Las Vegas.

Last year, Franchitti overtook Power in points in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win his second straight title.

NHRA: Matt Hagan beat Funny Car points leader Mike Neff at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C., for his first win of the season. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their respective divisions at the first of six races in the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, the series' version of the playoffs.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

SUNRISE — Thanks to the Panthers and Predators, doubleheaders aren't just for baseball anymore.

That's right — two hockey teams, two games, one day.

Looking to generate some buzz as the preseason opens, the Panthers will host the Predators at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today in what's believed to be a first-of-its-kind event for the league.

There have been instances of teams playing two games on the same day at things such as rookie camps, but a true doubleheader at hockey's top level is believed to have never been done before.

Let's skate two, anyone?

"Not sure if it's a one-tie or two-tie day," Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said Sunday, "probably a two-shirt day."

Oilers: Defenseman Colten Teubert, among the team's top prospects, is out indefinitely with a broken nose and concussion sustained in a fight during a rookie league game against the Canucks.

Rangers: Defenseman Marc Staal will not take part in training camp scrimmages or play in any of the three North American preseason games due to lingering effects from a hit last season by his brother, Hurricanes forward Eric Staal. Staal, who averaged a team-high 25:44 of ice time last season, missed three games after the hit in February but played the remainder of the season without incident. During the summer, however, Staal started having problems. Coach John Tortorella said he hopes Staal will be ready to play in the four preseason games in Europe in preparation for the regular-season games against the Kings and Ducks in Sweden.

Winter Classic: The league plans to announce next week that the Rangers and Flyers will meet in the annual outdoor game on Jan. 1 at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, according to multiple media reports.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Rangers 3, Mariners 0

SEATTLE — Adrian Beltre got the best of friend and former teammate Felix Hernandez, hitting a two-strike pitch for a two-run homer in the fourth inning and propelling Texas. Beltre lined his 27th homer of the season into the bullpens in leftfield, then playfully jawed with Hernandez as he approached home plate. It was Beltre's second hit of the three-game series, both home runs. Matt Harrison won his third straight start and struck out a career-high nine.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Angels 11, Orioles 2

BALTIMORE — Erick Aybar went 4-for-4, homered twice and tied a franchise record by scoring five runs, helping Los Angeles close to within four games of the Red Sox in the AL wild-card hunt.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

D'backs 5, Padres 1

SAN DIEGO — Joe Saunders took a five-hitter into the ninth inning, Paul Goldschmidt drove in three runs and Arizona cut its magic number to five for its first NL West title since 2007. The Diamondbacks, who stopped a three-game losing streak, open a nine-game homestand tonight against the Pirates, then host the second-place Giants for three games.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

CINCINNATI — Prince Fielder and the Brewers haven't been too fond of Great American Ball Park. The way they played here this weekend might help change the way they feel.

Fielder and Carlos Gomez hit two-run homers in the first and Zack Greinke breezed through seven sharp innings, leading Milwaukee to an 8-1 win over the Reds on Sunday for a series sweep.

"It's hard to lose when you pitch and hit," Fielder said. "It feels better when you do it on the road. It's not easy to do it on the road. It gives you extra confidence."

Corey Hart added a solo shot in the sixth as Milwaukee polished off its first sweep of a three-game series at Great American, which opened in 2003. The Brewers outscored Cincinnati 24-5 while allowing two hits in each of the ast two games.

The NL Central leaders had a magic number of four for clinching the division pending on the Cardinals' late game vs. the Phillies.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Giants 12, Rockies 5

DENVER — Pablo Sandoval homered twice in an eight-run fourth, part of a six-homer barrage that led San Francisco to its eighth straight win, its longest streak since April 2007. The Giants are four back of NL wild-card-leading Atlanta.

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Blue Jays 3, Yankees 0

TORONTO — Mariano Rivera was denied a chance to go for the career saves record when Adam Lind homered twice to back Brandon Morrow and lead Toronto. New York went 4-6 on a trip that started with a makeup game at Baltimore and took the team to Anaheim and Seattle before wrapping up in Canada. "It's been a tough road trip," manager Joe Girardi said. "This has been a really, really tough stretch."

Times wires
Sunday, September 18, 2011

Mets 7, Braves 5

ATLANTA — Ruben Tejada had four RBIs, Lucas Duda homered off Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning and New York slowed Atlanta's NL wild-card bid. The Braves lost two of three to the Mets, who arrived with a six-game losing streak.