By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — The explanations for James Shields' rough 2010 season span from bad pitching to bad luck with some poor mechanics and pitch selection along the way. With a career-high 15 losses, 5.18 ERA and an AL-most and team-record 34 home runs allowed, there is a lot to talk about.

Shields' version is it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked, more a matter of a couple of pitches in a couple of innings over a couple of games that inflated the numbers.

"If you take away three or four of my games," the right-hander said, "I've got a sub-4 ERA and no one's really talking about it."

There's something to that, although his math might be a bit off — given the six-homer debacle in Toronto, a 10-runs-in-31/3-innings mess in Miami and a couple of 6-7 spots along the way.

And there are stats to support the "unfortunate" angle — "terribly unlucky" concludes SI.com's sabermetric analysis — given Shields still had impressive strikeout numbers (a career-high 187 in 2031/3 innings and a 3.67 strikeouts-to-walk ratio that was fourth best in the AL).

He also didn't allow more line drives or fly balls than usual, which could have been the cause of the bloated runs and homer totals. And he had the lowest run support and most unearned runs on the staff. (Of the 10 games the Rays were shut out, he was the loser five times.)

Pitching coach Jim Hickey takes a broader view, acknowledging the blips and some mechanical flaws while pointing out the positives such as the strikeout totals and Shields' 5-1, 3.08 record through his first nine starts.

But, he concludes, "There may have been some misfortune, but there were probably more bad pitches than there was bad luck."

The Rays have reasons to believe Shields, 29, can bounce back, enough to keep him the No. 2 starter in their rotation and for Hickey to say "any reasonable person should believe that he's going to perform considerably better than last year."

Some are simple. Shields is healthy. He went through extensive winter workouts to strengthen his core and improve his balance. He has corrected the flaws in his mechanics that flattened out his pitches and made his fastball too hittable (a .348 average against, highest in the AL).

For manager Joe Maddon, it's just a matter of Shields pitching better.

"First of all, his stuff is still really good," Maddon said. "It's not like he had bad stuff or he'd been hurt or he lost something last year. He didn't do any of that. I just think (he needs) a better mix of his pitches, better utilization of his curveball within the mix of everything else that he's doing, overall better location of his fastball, which he's very capable of.

On Wednesday, Shields pitched seven shutout innings against the Phillies, allowing four hits and one walk.

"His delivery was better," Maddon said. "It permitted him to throw the ball where he wanted to and not miss. It's very small adjustments, and a lot of it has to do purely with delivery and not to change it in a sense of trying new things, but maybe trying to do less."

For teammate David Price, it's a matter of pride.

"Everyone who knows Shields knows that he has a ton of pride," Price said. "What happened to him last year, I'm sure he was embarrassed.

"His pride was shot a little bit. That's not like him. Everybody around here knows that. I feel like he will come back this year and continue on the same path he was before 2010."

For Shields, it's a matter of knowing how he feels, based on how he has pitched this spring (1-0, 1.88 ERA, two homers in 141/3 innings).

"The biggest reason is that I know myself better than anybody, and I know what I'm capable of doing," he said. "I worked my butt off this offseason, and this spring I really honed in on my mechanics as much as I could. I feel really strong right now. I feel really good.

"If I can focus all year on keeping the ball down and executing my pitches when it counts, I think it's going to be fine. There shouldn't be any problems."

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

Farnsworth adds to knee trouble

For the second time this week, the Rays reliever hurts his left knee while fielding a ball. However, he says all his fine. 4C

SPRING TRAINING TODAY

Rays vs. Pirates

1:05, Port Charlotte

Other area teams

• Phillies vs. Braves, 1:05, Clearwater, ESPN

• Yankees vs. Astros, 7:05, Tampa

• Blue Jays at Red Sox, 7:05, Fort Myers

By Greg Auman and Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writers
Thursday, March 24, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — From the ceremonial opening lap to a tribute decal on two-time winner Helio Castroneves' No. 3 car, the three St. Petersburg police officers shot and killed in the line of duty this year will have a strong presence in Sunday's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

That first lap will feature three St. Petersburg police vehicles, representing canine Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz and Sgt. Thomas Baitinger, who died in January, and Officer David Crawford, who died last month. Family members, including Lorraine Yaslowitz and her three children and Crawford's wife, Donna, and some friends from the Police Department have accepted invitations to meet with Castroneves before the race. Baitinger's wife, Paige, is out of town visiting his family in Wisconsin.

"We are excited about this event," Lorraine Yaslowitz said via e-mail Wednesday. "It's another grand event to honor Jeff, which is so much a part of our healing as a family. I know this is something our children will remember always and is a part of their journey here on earth without their daddy. So we are honored to take part in things like this!"

Yaslowitz's children — Caleb, 12, Haylie, 8, and Calen, 5 — will join a group of about 40 middle and high school students from St. Petersburg who will meet Castroneves before the race as part of the Shell Fuel for Success program, which has hosted similar events at NASCAR races. As a tribute, Castroneves' car will carry a black-and-white decal bearing the names of all three officers and three St. Petersburg police badges.

"It's a nice thing to do. It's the right thing to do," Castroneves said by phone Wednesday. "Certainly for the people who protect us every day, to the police who lost their lives protecting us, to put their names on my car, it's an honor. Hopefully we can shine those names on Victory Circle."

The decal on the rear of Castroneves' car will be a blur for fans taking in the downtown race, but for the families and colleagues of the three officers killed, the small gesture will mean something special.

"It's a great opportunity to recognize our fallen heroes, what they brought to our department and all they've done for the community," said Sgt. Carl Watts, who helped select the children for the program. "This is something we're very proud of and honored to have the opportunity."

The children are each given a T-shirt and cap as well as admission to the race as part of the Fuel for Success program, which is working with the IndyCar series for the first time this weekend. Getting the families of the fallen officers involved was the idea of Todd Smith, an officer with the Colton, Calif., Police Department who will be in town this week to lead the program.

Smith heard about the shootings and saw an opportunity to reach out to the families. He got permission from St. Petersburg police to include the tribute decal, which reads "CASTRONEVES' CREW" with three badges and the officers' names, on the vehicle.

"We normally do whatever we can for another department," Smith said. "We were excited to be able to do something for them, and they were ecstatic about it. As small as the decal is, if they see their father's name on there, for the kids, it's going to be exciting. I think the crowd will be behind that car, and if he could actually win the race, that would be something special."

Castroneves has won the St. Petersburg race twice before, and he said the tribute and chance to speak with the children give him extra motivation for a strong showing.

"I've never had a chance to do anything related with kids before, and now, 'Wow,' " he said. "Castroneves' Crew is really nice, and I'm excited to be a part of this. Especially being a dad now, I know how much they cherish that. I'm happy they get a unique and special event like IndyCars. I'm fortunate to be able to do that, and honored."

The opening lap will be taken by Yaslowitz's Chevy Tahoe, Baitinger's Chevy Impala and a Ford Crown Victoria representing Crawford, who did not have a take-home vehicle. The vehicles have been emblazoned with the officers' names and have been making appearances at events and fundraisers all over the area. The families will ride in the police vehicles as officers drive them around the course as part of the ceremonial lap.

Then a professional driver will climb into one of the St. Petersburg police vehicles, which will be used as a pace car.

A mix of middle and high-school age kids from St. Petersburg will be participating. Some are at-risk, some are disadvantaged and some are being rewarded for their good citizenship and good grades, Watts said. The trip is a boost to some and a reward for others.

Watts played Arena football before joining the force 18 years ago. In both careers, he said, he always has reached out to the young people in the community.

That has become even more important in light of the Feb. 21 death of Crawford, according to police, at the hands of an armed 16-year-old.

"I think it's important that we give back to our youth," he said. "They're the future. We have to get involved. We have to shape them, mold them and be a part of their lives."

The kids will have their photo taken with Castroneves and get autographs. They'll be able to tour the staging area and stay to watch the race.

"After that, the kids will get to walk around and see what it's like on race day," Watts said. "They'll get to watch the race and have a good time."

By Jodie Tillman, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Thursday, March 24, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — A $35 million makeover of USF's Sun Dome got the go-ahead Thursday from the Board of Governors.

The approval, however, comes with strings: The university's foundation must set aside $20 million — a quarter of its investment pool — as a backup guarantee for the $26 million loan that is financing most of the project.

If USF comes up with a report showing it doesn't need to set aside that much money for the loan, the board can opt to reduce the guarantee amount.

Board members came up with that proposal after expressing concerns that USF's proposal to use a combination of revenue streams — including concessions, ticket sales, parking and naming rights — would not be enough to cover the debt payments.

In addition, though USF hired an outside firm to assist with revenue projections, it did not hire a third-party financial adviser to review the project, something the board's rules require.

"You have to understand, you're asking us to do something we've never done before," board member Charles Edwards told USF officials.

USF officials say the Sun Dome does not comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and couldn't stay open and functioning in its current state.

"It is our largest venue," USF president Judy Genshaft said. "It is important we move on this. And we're ready to move very quickly on this."

The plan is to finish construction to be ready for the December graduation ceremony.

The Sun Dome has had net operating losses for the past three years, including $418,500 in 2008-09 and $91,500 last year.

USF had expected the foundation would need to step up for the first few years given the revenue projections. But officials had not anticipated setting aside $20 million.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

TAMPA — Lightning coach Guy Boucher told Steven Stamkos to skip practice Thursday; stay away from the St. Pete Times Forum as well.

Boucher said he did not want to see his star center or hear from him until today's skate before the game with Carolina.

"Get a rest, get out of my face, go see a movie," Boucher said he told Stamkos. "Relax, do whatever. … Just go with it and feel like all the pressure is off."

If only that was the case. If anything, the pressure on the NHL's leading goal scorer is mounting.

Stamkos has three goals in his past 19 games — three in almost a quarter of a season, and at a time his team needs him most.

Tampa Bay is in a 2-5-4 skid, has scored more than two goals only four times in its past 16 games and desperately needs some equilibrium before the playoffs.

Stamkos also is minus-14 during his drought. In other words, he is not scoring and is on the ice a lot when the opposition does.

"It's frustrating," he said Wednesday. "You want to be a guy who can be counted on to be a game-changer. You want those pucks in those situations, and when you don't (score), it's tough because of how competitive I am and how much I want to help this team win."

How hot was Stamkos? His 43 goals still lead the league, though by one over the Ducks' Corey Perry. He still was second with 17 power-play goals entering Thursday, is third with 86 points and leads the Lightning with seven winning goals.

But during Stamkos' downturn, Sean Bergenheim and Dominic Moore have five goals each. Nate Thompson has two in his past four games. Good for them, but they should not be outplaying one of the faces of the league.

It should be mentioned wing Marty St. Louis is minus-15 in his past 19 games and Boucher gave him the same pass for Thursday's practice. But St. Louis has six goals and 21 points in that stretch and has been through tough times before. Stamkos, 21, is facing adversity for the first time since establishing himself as a star.

"The way you fight that adversity is the way you become a better player," Stamkos said. "You've got to stick with the plan."

That means not cheating in the defensive zone or extending shifts because maybe a lucky bounce is coming.

"You might score a lucky goal," Stamkos said, "but you're not getting back to the player you were when you were playing well."

Has Stamkos simply hit a wall?

He is averaging 20:23 of ice time, 10 seconds fewer than last season. But opponents have made it a lot tougher for him to find open ice, meaning Stamkos has had to work a lot harder.

Boucher said he will try to give Stamkos more practice days off the rest of the regular season. He also wants Stamkos to keep perspective.

"If he's looking here and around him in the last whatever games, it's overwhelming because he doesn't see a way out," Boucher said. "But if I would have told him before the year he would have 43 goals with nine games left in the season, 'Would you take it? Well, that's what you've got.

" 'Now take the pressure off because it's not you that has to make the team win. It's the team that has to make the team win. You're a part of the team. You're not the part of the team.' "

Stamkos watches video of when he was at his best to "get that confidence back and know you can make plays and score goals." He said he visualizes and thinks positively, and he does not bemoan all the posts he has hit.

"He's not coming in here grumpy, not at all," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "He's frustrated, but he's not showing it. He's acting like he's determined and wants to get out of it."

"It's not for lack of effort. It's not me not working hard enough," Stamkos said. "It's just something I'm dealing with right now. I want to step up and help this team out."

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

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Anchored up off a dock on a warm winter's morning, I knew there were fish hanging around the pilings.

The night had been cool, the water even colder, so the sheepshead had to be hovering on the east side of the structure, soaking up the sun.

Knowing where the fish are and catching them, however, are two different things.

February is a good month to target this species. March is even better. And if you are looking for a nonscientific but fool-proof method to pick your fishing days, just think March Madness. When college basketball fans start talking about the Sweet 16, grab your sheepshead stick. The bite is on.

Tampa Bay has its share of great sheepshead spots. You'll find these toothy critters in the residential canals, along rocky channel edges and, of course, under docks.

These bottom dwellers typically feed on barnacles (take one look at their choppers and you'll understand), but they also hit everything from pass crabs to cut shrimp.

Sheepshead fishing can be a frustrating experience if you are cursed like me and do not have the touch.

"Lost my bait again," I yelled as a wily predator cleaned my hook again. "I've about had it."

Bait thieves

Sheepshead are sometimes called "convict fish" because the pattern of black stripes on their bodies resembles the uniforms once worn by prisoners on a chain gang.

Others argue that this name comes from their uncanny ability to steal bait. There is an old adage among sheepshead anglers that if you want to catch these fish, you have to set the hook before you feel the bite.

A typical sheepshead is silver, with five or six distinct vertical black bands on its sides, though interestingly enough, they are not always the same on both sides. This fish is sometimes confused with juvenile black drum.

Another thing you'll notice about the sheepshead is the mouth. These prolific feeders have a full set of teeth — incisors, molars and rounded grinders — which they use to crush barnacles and other crustaceans.

Popular porgie

A member of the porgie family, the sheepshead is a relative of a well-known species anglers often use for bait, the pinfish. And just like its cousin, a sheepshead's spines can inflict a painful injury.

Most sheepshead found inshore will weigh about 1 to 2 pounds, but specimens caught in deeper water can easily tip the scales at more than 10 pounds. In the Tampa Bay area, a 5-pound sheepshead is all you need to bring home a trophy in most fishing tournaments.

Sheepshead are one of the most popular sport fish in Florida, and they are targeted by anglers from Nova Scotia to Brazil, so if you are looking to land in the record books, you have your work cut out for you.

The largest specimen caught in state waters weighed 15 pounds, 2 ounces. The world record is 21 pounds, 4 ounces and was caught near New Orleans in 1992.

Redemption

Batting about one out of 10, the captain finally felt sorry for me and explained that sheepshead are nibblers, not inhalers like snook or trout.

Keeping the tension on the line, I gave it a little tug at the first hint of a bite and, voila, fish on. There are other things anglers can do to ensure success when pursuing sheepshead.

First, fish with a small hook, which is more likely to get sucked into the sheepshead's tiny mouth. Start with a No. 1, then downsize if necessary, even going as far as a No. 2 or even a No. 4.

Many diehard sheepshead fishermen insist on using braided line, which does not stretch, making it easier to feel the bite. A good light-tipped graphite rod will also help you "feel" the fish.

When it comes to weight, don't go overboard. Use just enough to send your bait to where the fish are. Weigh it down too heavy and you will never feel the bite.

Next month in our Fishing 101 series: hard-bodies artificial lures.

Bob Putnam, St. Petersburg Times
Thursday, March 24, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Nick Andries was 5 when he first settled into the seat of a go cart and took several spins around Sunshine Speedway. He could barely reach the pedals, but he sure knew how to hit the gas.

Soon after his father, Quilly, entered him in races, Andries was zooming past the competition in a heart-thumping dash all the way to the checkered flag.

Now, with years behind him as a carting champion, Andries has more full-throttled ambitions.

"I want to be a professional driver," Andries said. "I want to be in IndyCar."

Andries, a Pinellas Park High School graduate, is on that path. He is in his second season in the open-wheel developmental Star Mazda series, and will race Saturday and Sunday in St. Petersburg.

Other locals will be competing this weekend — Tarpon Springs' Walt Bowlin is in the Star Mazda series, and new St. Petersburg resident Shannon McIntosh will be racing for St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports in the USF2000 series.

"This is the race that has always been on my calendar," Andries said. "It's the start of the season and can give you a lot of momentum. But it's just as important for me because it's my home race and one of the few times my whole family can watch me race."

Racing is in Andries' blood. His grandfather raced short tracks on Long Island. His father was a motocross champion in the Midwest.

Andries had imagined a route that would bring him closer to the path his father followed. But after Quilly broke his back in a motorcycle accident, he encouraged his son to race on four wheels instead of two.

Many racing drivers begin young in carts, then progress through the various levels of open-wheel racing up to IndyCar, where race speeds can reach 225 mph, or Formula One.

By age 12, Andries had a handful of trophies and the backing of several local sponsors, enabling him to compete on a more serious scale. He was the Yamaha Junior Sportsman World Karting Association state champion in 2001, and has won at virtually every level in his ascent through the minor-league ranks.

While he seemed to come out of nowhere two years ago, when he was the Skip Barber Karting Shootout winner and summer series champion, he has been one of the best-prepared drivers on the developmental circuit.

"It's hard to equate to other sports, but racing on this level is a lot like minor-league baseball," Andries said. "The Star Mazda is the equivalent to Double A."

Andries, 19, has balanced his racing aspirations with schoolwork. At Pinellas Park, he held a 3.4 GPA in the criminal justice magnet program and was a two-time state qualifier in wrestling.

Now a student at St. Petersburg College, Andries is a president's list scholar and plans to major in mechanical engineering.

"I've never tried to go the home-school route because of racing," Andries said. "My teachers in high school were always great about letting me make up work if I was at a race. I've always found a way to handle school and racing. It's important to me."

This week, Andries has been in Palmetto working on his car to prepare for this weekend's races.

Last year, in his Star Mazda debut, Andries ran into trouble early and finished 21st.

"That was my first time in the car without much practice," Andries said. "I'll definitely be more prepared this time."

Bob Putnam, St. Petersburg Times
Thursday, March 24, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Nick Andries was 5 when he first settled into the seat of a go cart and took several spins around Sunshine Speedway. He could barely reach the pedals, but he sure knew how to hit the gas.

Soon after his father, Quilly, entered him in races, Andries was zooming past the competition in a heart-thumping dash all the way to the checkered flag.

Now, with years behind him as a carting champion, Andries has more full-throttled ambitions.

"I want to be a professional driver," Andries said. "I want to be in IndyCar."

Andries, a Pinellas Park High School graduate, is on that path. He is in his second season in the open-wheel developmental Star Mazda series, and will race Saturday and Sunday in St. Petersburg.

Other locals will be competing this weekend — Tarpon Springs' Walt Bowlin is in the Star Mazda series, and new St. Petersburg resident Shannon McIntosh will be racing for St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports in the USF2000 series.

"This is the race that has always been on my calendar," Andries said. "It's the start of the season and can give you a lot of momentum. But it's just as important for me because it's my home race and one of the few times my whole family can watch me race."

Racing is in Andries' blood. His grandfather raced short tracks on Long Island. His father was a motocross champion in the Midwest.

Andries had imagined a route that would bring him closer to the path his father followed. But after Quilly broke his back in a motorcycle accident, he encouraged his son to race on four wheels instead of two.

Many racing drivers begin young in carts, then progress through the various levels of open-wheel racing up to IndyCar, where race speeds can reach 225 mph, or Formula One.

By age 12, Andries had a handful of trophies and the backing of several local sponsors, enabling him to compete on a more serious scale. He was the Yamaha Junior Sportsman World Karting Association state champion in 2001, and has won at virtually every level in his ascent through the minor-league ranks.

While he seemed to come out of nowhere two years ago, when he was the Skip Barber Karting Shootout winner and summer series champion, he has been one of the best-prepared drivers on the developmental circuit.

"It's hard to equate to other sports, but racing on this level is a lot like minor-league baseball," Andries said. "The Star Mazda is the equivalent to Double A."

Andries, 19, has balanced his racing aspirations with schoolwork. At Pinellas Park, he held a 3.4 GPA in the criminal justice magnet program and was a two-time state qualifier in wrestling.

Now a student at St. Petersburg College, Andries is a president's list scholar and plans to major in mechanical engineering.

"I've never tried to go the home-school route because of racing," Andries said. "My teachers in high school were always great about letting me make up work if I was at a race. I've always found a way to handle school and racing. It's important to me."

This week, Andries has been in Palmetto working on his car to prepare for this weekend's races.

Last year, in his Star Mazda debut, Andries ran into trouble early and finished 21st.

"That was my first time in the car without much practice," Andries said. "I'll definitely be more prepared this time."

By Jim Tomlin, Bob Putnam and Joey Knight, Times Staff Writers
Thursday, March 24, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Justin Wilson lacks only a victory in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to hit every step on the podium here.

He has finished in the top three (podium spots) twice here, coming in third in 2009 and second last year. In '09 he led a race-high 52 laps and lost the lead to winner Ryan Briscoe with 14 laps to go.

Most of the success in Wilson's career has come on road and street circuits, but he wasn't giving away a lot of secrets on Thursday as to why he has run so well in St. Petersburg.

"I've no idea what it is but we always go well and I'm looking for this year to be just as good if not better," Wilson said. "There are things that I want to work on (with) the car and get even better than last year."

"But it's a track that suits me. I have fun; I enjoy driving the track. I enjoy attacking it."

After four years in Champ Car, Wilson came to IndyCar along with the Newman/Haas/Lanigan team in 2008, in the midst of the merger between the two series.

"Actually in 2008 I led early on (for 18 laps) and we got the wrong strategy and finished ninth," Wilson said.

In 2009 Wilson followed his strong run here with a victory at Watkins Glen for Dale Coyne Racing, that team's first win in 25 seasons of major open-wheel racing. Now in his second year with the Dreyer & Reinbold team, Wilson seems to relish starting the season here.

"I enjoy this track, it's a lot of fun to drive," he said. "I like being on the airport where it's wide open. And then you come into the streets where it's tight and twisty and it's all about the rhythm."

Deja Danica? Among the newcomers to watch in the USF2000 Series is 21-year-old Shannon McIntosh, who bears more than a passing resemblance — in terms of appearance and aspirations — to Danica Patrick.

An Ohio native, McIntosh moved in December to St. Petersburg, where her team — Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing — is based. A 16-year veteran of oval-course racing, mostly in midget cars, she never previously has raced on a street course.

"The guys I'm racing against have been doing road racing since they started, I've been doing ovals since I started," said McIntosh, who competed in her first race at age 5 in a quarter-midget event in Dayton, Ohio.

"The dynamics of the racing and techniques and all that are so different, so I've got definitely a huge learning curve, but it's okay. I'm doing well and I'm real excited about this week."

McIntosh is sponsored by Glass Hammer Racing, created last summer to promote the participation of girls and young women in motorsports. Its web address: www.beatbyagirl.org.

Absorbing the spotlight: Pinellas Park High School graduate Nick Andries is learning to deal with the media blitz.

Andries, 19, a driver in the Star Mazda Championship series, visited All Children's Hospital on Wednesday to sign autographs.

On Thursday, he did an interview with a local television station before attending a media luncheon at the Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club.

"This is my first time being invited to the luncheon," Andries said. "It's exciting. I'm sitting next to Dario Franchitti. It's good that the younger drivers get to do something like this and get a feel for what the media attention could be like in the future."

Did you know? Nick Veach, a 16-year-old driver in the USF2000 series, released his first book, 99 Things Teens Wish They Knew Before Turning 16, earlier this month.

By Rick Frazier, Times Correspondent
Thursday, March 24, 2011

What's for dinner: Head to the south end of Tampa Bay, and try fishing around the Skyway Bridge. Recently, Daniel Hodge, Bob McCue, Floss McCue, and her son, Mike, caught plenty of sheepshead and Spanish mackerel for a family feast.

Sheepshead gather around bridge pilings, fenders and rock piles. Hodge hooked a keeper early on but the fish never made it into the boat. Hodge and Floss McCue eventually put monster sheepshead in the box.

The Spanish mackerel were eating cut bait presented on the bottom for the sheepshead. It happened too many times to call it a fluke. In fact, after the first mackerel was brought aboard, none of the deployed floating baits were hit. All the mackerel were caught on the bottom.

Rigging up: All four anglers used the same rig, which consisted of a ¼-ounce jig head with a 2-foot 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. The rig is simple and effective. First, the jig head rig is more sensitive than a typical bottom rig. Second, with the clean water in the bay right now, the fluorocarbon leader is harder for fish to see.

Baiting up: Shrimp, cut into small pieces, and fiddler crabs were producing. The mackerel loved the shrimp as did the sheepshead. But what brought the bigger sheepshead to the box was the fiddler crabs. These small crabs are hard to get this time of year, so the trick is to get them during the summer when they're abundant and freeze them.

Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 510-4376.

By Jim Tomlin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Simona de Silvestro has accomplished a lot at a young age. In her 2010 IndyCar rookie campaign, she was Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, led four laps in her series debut, and had two top-10 finishes for a new, one-car team.

Not bad at 21.

Even better for an auto racer hailing from a country that doesn't allow auto racing.

De Silvestro, now 22, is from Switzerland, where auto racing has been banned for more than 50 years. After a tragic accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955 in which 80 spectators were killed, several European countries banned the sport, but relented shortly thereafter when safety improvements were made.

Switzerland, with the exception of one go-cart track, is still waiting — or as de Silvestro said Thursday, "Just Switzerland is still sleeping.

"It's pretty weird because we have a couple of drivers that are pretty good," said de Silvestro, who came through the youth ranks with current Formula One driver Sebastien Buemi.

"Actually Switzerland is pretty small so you get out of it pretty quickly," she adds with a laugh. "I had a track two hours away from where I lived, in France, so on the weekends my dad would take me to go-cart there. Without them I wouldn't be here because they gave me the opportunity for 10 years in go-carts."

She has hope that things will change back home.

"(There are people) trying to build a racetrack," she said. "It's just that politically it's not really a priority right now. But I think if me or Sebastien show that we're pretty competitive then maybe it's going to help.

"I really hope we get a racetrack one time in Switzerland."

After spending time in the Formula Renault series in Italy, de Silvestro made her way to America, where there were differences in the circuits (hello, ovals) and in attitudes.

"What's nice here in the U.S. is that everybody kind of talks to each other (among) the drivers," said de Silvestro, who starts her second season with HVM Racing on Sunday in St. Petersburg. "In Europe everybody doesn't talk to anybody, even in the lower series. Even in go-carts. Go-carting in Europe is like Formula One. For most European drivers that's kind of a shock when you come to the U.S. because other drivers are talking to you. In IndyCar everybody has been pretty helpful. … (Last year) I could go to Dario (Franchitti) and Will (Power) and Scott (Dixon) and ask questions and they were really open."

Though ovals were new to her, she ran to the end at the Indy 500, finishing 14th. But her best results came on road courses. That's no surprise considering her background on similar courses.

She raced well in St. Petersburg last year, running in the top five for part of the race and still in the top 10 late, until a spin after contact with Graham Rahal relegated her to a 16th-place finish.

"I really enjoy street courses because as a driver you can really find within yourself those last couple of tenths (of a second)," she said. "The track layout here is great, it's a lot of fun. Pretty much every lap you're out here you're having a blast. I think it suits me. Last year we proved we were all right, and I hope this year we can repeat that and finish up front.

"The cool thing about St. Pete is that it's one of those street courses where you can pass."

And though she says, "F1 has always been my dream," she says she's happy to be in IndyCar, and in America.

"Not many drivers have this chance to do this," she said. "Right now I'm focused here."

Jim Tomlin can be reached at tomlin@sptimes.com.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

NEW ORLEANS — When Florida and BYU met in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, it took two overtimes to determine a winner.

Thursday night at the New Orleans Arena, the Gators and Cougars again needed a few extra minutes to determine the outcome.

This time it was the Gators who prevailed.

No. 2 seed Florida defeated No. 3 seed BYU 83-74 in overtime of the Southeast Region. Florida (29-7), which has won 13 of its past 15, advances to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2007. The Gators meet No. 8 seed Butler on Saturday.

"I was really proud of our guys," said Florida coach Billy Donovan, who is taking his fourth Gator team to the final eight. "I thought coming into the game these guys prepared really, really hard, and I thought they prepared well. Knowing there's a lot made of Jimmer Fredette, the key was going to be trying to stop the other four guys who are on the court with him because you can't dictate when he's going to shoot in the game. The key was we were able to hold all their guys under double-figure points other than Fredette."

Fredette went 0-for-2 from 3-point range and had two turnovers in overtime. He had a game-high 32 points, scoring nine of BYU's final 10 in regulation, but he missed two 3-point attempts in the final 1:42. BYU ends its season at 32-5.

"I had two 3s, two opportunities, and I thought both of them were actually pretty good looks," Fredette said. "I had space to shoot, and I had confidence to make the shot. It just didn't happen. I didn't shoot the ball well. Credit their defense."

Florida sophomore guard Kenny Boynton had a stellar defensive effort against Fredette, who was 11-of-29 and often tried off-balance, contested shots.

"Any player, if you let him shoot that many shots, he's going to get a lot of points," said Boynton, who had 17 points and five assists. "I think I did a pretty good job."

And while Boynton was all over Fredette, senior forward Alex Tyus was having the game of his career, with a career-high 17 rebounds and 19 points.

"It means a lot to be able to come out and play to my ability and help the team out in many different ways," Tyus said.

Unlike last year, Florida players said there was no panic when the game went into overtime.

"We just kept saying we've got to get some stops," senior center Vernon Macklin said. "We've got to find a way to stop them and win this game."

Florida is 4-1 in overtime games this season, and the Gators said that previous success gave them confidence.

"I think we know how to stay focused and stay in the moment," said Erving Walker, who had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, and grabbed an offensive rebound in the final 22 seconds of regulation to allow the Gators to attempt a final shot with the score tied at 68. "They made a run to come back in the second half, but we stayed together. And we're in good condition. We've got a lot of good energy in the overtime."

With Florida's final regulation play, senior forward Chandler Parsons drove into traffic, the play broke down, and his shot missed badly as time expired.

"I just wanted to make sure we got the last shot and to not give them a chance to get the ball back," said Parsons who had 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Making news

Yard Sale keeps Volunteer Group on water

The 25th annual Marine Yard Sale benefitting the Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team will be at the St. Petersburg school from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. There will be used boats, including a large selection of power and sailboats, as well as motors, accessories and electronics. The Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team is a trained group of volunteer students and alumni who provide maritime search and rescue in the bay area. The team records roughly 500 assists a year. For information, call (727) 864-8555.

Conservation

Clam Bayou gets filtration help

Tampa Bay Watch, in partnership with Southwest Florida Water Management District's Surface Water Improvement Management Program, coordinated a community salt marsh restoration project at Clam Bayou on March 12. About 140 volunteers planted 10,000 plugs of salt marsh along the shoreline of Clam Bayou, a 170-acre estuary in Pinellas County. Approximately 127 acres are publicly owned. The bayou is surrounded by the cities of Gulfport to the west, St. Petersburg to the north and east and Boca Ciega Bay to the south. The planting project is part of an effort to treat stormwater runoff among seven sites and 44 acres. The ecosystem restoration portion of the project will restore 24 acres of various estuarine and coastal habitats for Clam Bayou. The stormwater treatment components involve 20 acres of ponds designed to improve water quality of runoff from a 2,600-acre watershed, which flows from Clam Bayou into Boca Ciega Bay and ultimately Tampa Bay. The ponds will filter the pollutants and improve water quality before it reaches Clam Bayou.

Fishing

Last call for opinion on amberjack

Federal officials had extended the public comment period for a proposed rule to create a seasonal closure for amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico. If approved, the season would shut down during June and July. Recreational anglers have until 5 p.m. today to share their views with fishery managers of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Go to www.gulfcouncil.org.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

KISSIMMEE — Reliever Kyle Farnsworth's weird week continued Thursday with an injury-shortened outing against the Astros.

On Monday, the right-hander hyperextended his left knee while fielding a bunt before finishing the inning. On Thursday, Farnsworth lasted just one pitch before another scare. In trying to field a comebacker, Farns­worth spun and his right spike hit the same spot on the back of the knee.

"It felt like it was on fire," he said.

Farnsworth, pulled from the game as a precaution, walked off the field and felt fine afterward, saying he could have stayed in. He likened it to hitting a "funny bone," aggravating a nerve.

But it wasn't funny to manager Joe Maddon, who wasn't going to take any chances with a veteran expected to pitch in late-inning situations. He said he was in the bathroom when Farns­worth got hurt, walking out to find assistant athletic trainer Paul Harker by his side.

"I see him lying out there. He's holding his leg," Maddon said. "I just didn't want to chance fate."

Farnsworth, 34, appeared confident he'll be ready to go today. He smiled and said, "I'll go two (innings) to make up for it."

WADING IN: RHP Wade Davis felt — and looked — a lot better during Thursday's 94-pitch outing in which he lasted into the seventh and allowed one earned run. Davis, charged with three runs and six hits, said his legs were back under him after having the flu last time, and he threw all his pitches for strikes.

Davis specifically pointed to his changeup, which he said was the best it had been in a long time.

"I liked how he developed a rhythm about himself," Maddon said. "The tempo got better as the game got deeper."

MEDICAL MATTERS: Maddon said C John Jaso, struck in the groin by a foul tip Saturday, is still sore, and it's uncertain when he'll return. It's possible Jaso won't play until next week, but Maddon said the team still expects him to be ready for opening day. If not, Maddon said Jose Lobaton is a "good candidate" to replace him temporarily.

Lobaton, 26, a rookie who is hitting .393 with a homer this spring, has impressed Maddon with his work defensively.

"His dealing or handling with the pitching staff has been impressive," Maddon said. "He has been making well-timed trips to the mound. I think he's showing imagination calling the game. And he's also swinging the bat well. But my bigger concern would be the defensive side of things, and I like what he's doing there right now."

Opponents: The Orioles, whom the Rays open with April 1-3, said RHP Jeremy Guthrie and LHP Brian Matusz will start their first two games. They have not decided among RHP Chris Tillman, RHP Brad Bergesen and rookie LHP Zach Britton for the third game.

GAME DETAILS: CF Sam Fuld hit his first homer of the spring for the Rays (13-12-1), a two-run shot, in an 11-3 win over the Astros. INF Elliot Johnson picked up two hits and three steals.

MINOR MATTERS: Three relievers pitched in a Triple-A game on the back fields. RHP Joel Peralta struck out one in 11/3 innings, and RHP Rob Delaney threw a scoreless inning. But RHP Adam Russell continued his spring struggles, giving up two runs on three hits with a walk in one inning (including two strikeouts).

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Dead deal of the day

A plan to start the 2011-12 NHL season in Russia with two games between the Caps and Rangers appears dead, Yahoo Sports says. The Russians are saying it's because the NHL's request of guaranteed revenue was "unreasonable.'' The plan could be revived, but don't count on it. Meantime, the Rangers likely will play in Sweden at the start of the season.

She said it

"As long as it doesn't involve me jumping over cars. I'd need a lot of cables and special effects to do that."

Golfer and Kia spokeswoman Michelle Wie, of wanting to do a Kia commercial with Clippers star Blake Griffin. Griffin won the NBA dunk contest on All-Star weekend by jumping over a Kia and dunking.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up his Two Cents on the world of sports.

The Sports Emmy nominations

The Sports Emmy nominations for 2010 were announced this week and included many names familiar to us couch potatoes who spend a lot of our time watching sports. The winners will be announced May 2 in New York. Here's a look at some of the categories, with a few comments and predictions.

Best play-by-play personality: Jim Nantz (CBS), Al Michaels (NBC), Joe Buck (Fox), Bob Costas (MLB Network), Mike Emrick (NBC), Verne Lundquist (CBS)

The breakdown: All the usual suspects are here — Nantz, Michaels, Buck, Costas — but that's because they are the top play-by-play guys around (though Nantz is a little too vanilla for my taste). It would be nice to someday see on this list Ian Eagle, who was in town last week calling NCAA basketball games, for his NFL work on CBS. He would be a better nominee than Lundquist, a good announcer who did not have his best year in 2010.

Who should/will win: Emrick, right, who calls NHL games on NBC, is the best in the business, but look for Michaels to take the honor again. It's hard to argue any time Michaels wins an award.

Best event analyst: Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Jon Gruden (ESPN), Orel Hershiser (ESPN), Phil Simms (CBS), Jeff Van Gundy (ABC)

The breakdown: This is the strongest category. Think of the deserving people left out: NBC golf analysts Johnny Miller and Dottie Pepper, ABC/ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke and tennis' John McEnroe. It is nice to see Gruden and Hershiser get nods but disappointing to see Simms ahead of more deserving, interesting personalities.

Who should/will win: Van Gundy, right, has become an elite announcer, but Collinsworth will win. No one should have an issue with that.

Best studio analyst: Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Charles Barkley (TNT), Tom Jackson (ESPN), Howie Long (Fox), Harold Reynolds (MLB Network)

The breakdown: Long is a surprise because he doesn't seem to do anything different from his Fox NFL partners, or, for that matter, the NFL analysts on CBS. NBC's Tony Dungy should be a nominee before Long. And where is Jay Bilas? The ESPN commentator is the Herbstreit of college basketball.

Who should/will win: Barkley is really good, but Herbstreit, right, is smooth and knowledgeable, and always comes through with strong, reasonable analysis. He should and will win.

Outstanding studio host: Chris Berman (ESPN), James Brown (CBS/Showtime), Bob Costas (NBC/MLB Network), Ernie Johnson (TNT), Dan Patrick (NBC/DirecTV), Scott Van Pelt (ESPN)

The breakdown: Berman? Really? The guy is a pro, but it seems like he has been doing the same shtick for years with all those dated Howard Cosell imitations. It is a pleasant surprise to see Van Pelt's name, but it was disappointing to see two other ESPN hosts left out: Chris Fowler, the football College GameDay host, and Rece Davis, the basketball College GameDay host. Fowler not only should have been nominated, he should have been the favorite.

Who should/will win: Johnson, right, who manages to reign in a rowdy TNT NBA crew, should win. Costas will win.

Outstanding live series: ESPN college football, ESPN Monday Night Football, NASCAR on Fox and Speed, NBC Sunday Night Football, NFL on Fox

The breakdown: A notable snub is the NHL on NBC, which ranks alongside Fox's NASCAR coverage as tops on TV.

What should/will win: If I had a vote, I'd go with Fox's NASCAR coverage. I don't have a vote, which means NBC's Sunday Night Football will win.

Outstanding documentary: June 17th, 1994 (ESPN), Lombardi (HBO), Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (ESPN2), Robben Island: A Greater Goal (ESPN2), The Two Escobars (ESPN Deportes)

The breakdown: Last year might have been the best for sports documentaries because of ESPN's outstanding "30 for 30'' series. Just about all the "30 for 30" offerings would be at home on this list.

What should/will win: The Two Escobars was far and way the best sports film of 2010.

Outstanding weekly studio show: College GameDay (ESPN), Football Night in America (NBC), Inside the NBA (TNT), Studio 42 With Bob Costas (MLB Network), NFL GameDay Morning (NFL Network)

The breakdown: NFL GameDay Morning is a stunning nomination because it usually gets overlooked after all the other NFL pregame shows. College GameDay is must-see but seemed stagnant in 2010. I'm just glad the NFL yuckfests on Fox and CBS weren't recognized.

What should/will win: All are worthy, but Football Night in America is a near-perfect show because of the personalties: Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Cris Collinsworth.

Outstanding daily studio show: Inside the NBA (TNT), MLB Postseason (TBS), MLB Tonight (MLB Network), Pardon the Interruption (ESPN/Rydholm Projects), SportsCenter (ESPN)

The breakdown: Thank the heavens Around the Horn, the worst show on television, didn't make the list.

What should/will win: Watch — and I mean really watch — SportsCenter. Think of all the resources and energy that go into just a one-hour show. How can this not be the best sports show on television?

Announcer of the day

Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden has been announcing three years on ESPN's Monday Night Football and picked up his second Sports Emmy nomination this week. Not only is it surprising Gruden hasn't returned to coaching by now but that he is so comfortable in the broadcast booth. He's so comfortable that he sounds in no hurry to leave.

"I never would have thought I would have a second career like this. I really enjoy it,'' Gruden said.

When asked if he could see himself staying in the booth and never returning to coaching, Gruden said, "All I can say is that I really like what I'm doing right now. I still get to meet with young players, teach them what I know. I get to meet with coaches, I pour over tape and more tape, and I really enjoy working with the people I'm working with an ESPN. This has been very fulfilling, and I'm looking forward (to next season).''

Your two cents

I could not believe my eyes when I saw in the Sunday paper a large photo promoting the Yankees. We have two major-league teams — the Tampa Bay Rays and the Marlins — that need all of our support. How can we expect Florida transplants and others to be fans when our own governor is wearing a Yankees jacket? If we do not get more fans at the games, we will lose our Rays. Gov. Scott, support your own state's teams. New York has plenty of fans!

Carolyn McManus, Lecanto

Three things that popped into my head

1. You can't criticize the NFL for not protecting its players and then criticize it for instituting a rule with the sole purpose of protecting players. This is about moving kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line. If you gripe about this rule, you lose the right to say the NFL isn't interested in the safety of its players.

2. Know what the Lightning's recent swoon has done? Cost Guy Boucher, above, the NHL coach of the year award.

3. Hey, if Virginia Tech is going to whine about not getting into the NCAA Tournament, the least it could do is get past the second round of the NIT.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

When a collision with a Walt Disney World Speedway wall rendered him a quadriplegic 11 years ago, then-Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt knew he'd have to find a reason to wake up each morning.

It would have to be a darn tantalizing one. To this day, Schmidt requires roughly two hours — and assistance — to get into an accessible shower chair, shave, brush his teeth, groom his hair, then cap it off with 30-45 minutes of range-of-motion exercises.

"You have to find out what makes you tick internally so you have a reason to get up," he said.

Schmidt didn't have to search his psyche for long. The one thing that could inspire him to endure the pre-dawn grind of getting out of bed was the very endeavor that put him there.

Today, the wheelchair-bound owner of Sam Schmidt Motorsports remains as passionate as ever about the open-wheel vocation that once caused him to stop breathing for four minutes.

The prospect of death? A fact of life.

"If you think about it a lot, you need to be home on the couch watching," he said.

Whatever it is that makes Schmidt and his kind tick, it probably wasn't installed at the factory. Theirs is a modified breed for sure.

While the need for speed may be a universal mantra toasted with testosterone (at least in the case of males), most of us can get our fix on a carnival ride. But those IndyCar competitors who will shoehorn themselves into cockpits for Sunday's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg take it to a different stratosphere.

For them, every turn is wrought with peril, especially on an oval course. Compromise the inches that separate the tires of competing cars, and a driver can find himself spinning end over end at the mercy of centrifugal force.

The question is, what prompts them to get back in the car when the spinning has stopped? Why do the dudes and Danicas accelerate onward in spite of the risks? Why would Schmidt remain involved in something that nearly took his life?

"It's dangerous, but let me tell you, it is thrilling," said Ryan Briscoe, who sustained microfractures to eight vertebra after a tire-to-tire incident at Chicagoland Speedway sent him flipping over another car and into the wall in 2005.

"When you're out there and so close to each other, I mean, sometimes you're holding your breath, but, man, it's like nothing I've ever experienced."

Which isn't to say Briscoe, who owns six victories in the IndyCar Series, and his peers are oblivious to the danger. They've simply learned how to co-exist.

"I think sometimes the knowledge of danger involved, for me, makes me perform even better," Briscoe said.

Such a sentiment might be universal. To many, danger represents neither ally nor foe, an intangible to be neither embraced nor shunned.

Briscoe, back in a race car roughly six weeks after the Chicagoland accident, suggests it must be acknowledged behind the scenes, but not dwelt upon behind the wheel. You prepare meticulously, seize every safety precaution available, then, as Schmidt says, "You block it out the best you can."

"You can't drive thinking of the dangers involved or you're never going to be driving 100 percent," Briscoe said.

"I think it's something you have to accept," added Will Power, who won five races, including St. Petersburg, last year after breaking two vertebra in his lower back during an August 2009 practice.

"This is a dangerous sport and things can go wrong. That's all you can do. There's nothing more to it. If I sit down and think about it, I know someone gets injured every year in this series. It can scare you a little bit."

Dr. Jacques Dallaire concurs that the most successful drivers are the ones able to concentrate most.

Dallaire, who owns a doctorate in exercise physiology but has spent 30 years developing performance-enhancement and mental-skills programs, has created what he calls "The Seven Key Rules of the Mental Road."

Rule No. 2: The mind can only process one thought at a time.

"If a driver is thinking of a corner he just blew, as he's driving into the next corner, what's likely to occur?" asks Dallaire, who has worked with nearly 700 drivers in all types of racing and lists Helio Castroneves among his clients.

"People who deal with high-risk, high-danger environments, or are coming back from an injury in those kinds of environments, their most effective way of dealing with it is controlling their focus so they can focus on what's most important at that moment.

"There's no room in their central processor for any past memories or thoughts."

A simple premise? Sure. An easy one to execute? Not always. Fortunately for those who will navigate the streets of St. Petersburg this weekend, a mutual sense of trust further insulates them from the fear of a worst-case scenario coming to debris-flying fruition.

"That's one thing about IndyCar racing, especially on the ovals, generally the drivers have a lot of respect for each other, because we know what can happen," Power said.

"We understand the risk. We try to give each other as much room as possible, which is instead of a half-inch, an inch."

But in this, one of the most daring games of inches, sportsmanship isn't collision-proof. From 1996-2006, six drivers died in CART/Champ Car, or IRL-sanctioned events.

Briscoe still required oxygen a week after touching tires with Michael Andretti at Chicagoland. At last year's Indianapolis 500, Mike Conway got entangled with Ryan Hunter-Reay on the second-to-last lap, sending Conway's car flipping end over end before crashing into a wall.

Conway suffered a compression fracture of one of his thoracic vertebrae, as well as multiple fractures to a left leg that still bothers him.

Like Briscoe and Power, he'll race Sunday. Can't wait, in fact.

"It's what we know, it's what we know how to do," Conway said. "Not to be in the car is unnatural for us. It's not being able to get back in which is the annoying part."

Times wires
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sprint Cup

What: Auto Club 400

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 3 p.m.), qualifying (Speed, 7 p.m.); Saturday, practice (Speed, 2:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 13, 3 p.m.); Fontana, Calif.

Fast facts: Because of attendance woes, the track has only one race this year after staging two a year the past seven seasons. … Jimmie Johnson has a series-high five wins at the track, winning three of the past five.

Standings: 1. Kurt Busch, 150; 2. Carl Edwards, 149; 3. Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, 138; 5. Paul Menard, 136; 6. Kyle Busch, 133; 7. Johnson, 130; 8. Juan Montoya, 126; 9. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 124; 10. Martin Truex and Mark Martin, 123

Nationwide

What: Royal Purple 300

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 4:30 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 1 p.m.), race (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.); Fontana, Calif.

Fast facts: Kyle Busch has won four of the past five at the track. … Josh Wise takes over the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet from Danica Patrick. She returns to the series June 4 at Chicagoland.

Standings: 1. Jason Leffler, 142; 2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 140; 3. Justin Allgaier, 124; 4. Reed Sorenson, 121; 5. Aric Almirola, 119

Formula One

What: Australian Grand Prix

When/where: Saturday, practice, qualifying (Speed, 2 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed, 2 a.m.); Melbourne

Fast facts: The opening race of the season in the series. Jenson Button won the race last year for McLaren.

Trucks

Next: Kroger 250, April 2, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway

Standings: 1. Matt Crafton, 111; 2. Cole Whitt, 105; 3. Timothy Peters, 104; 4. Clay Rogers, 103; 5. Johnny Sauter, 102

NHRA

Next: SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, April 1-3, the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 186; 2. Tony Schumacher, 162. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 201; 2. Matt Hagan, 175. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 230; 2. Greg Anderson, 182. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, 124; 2. Hector Arana, 104

Times staff
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Dr. Remote | Check it out today

The Fab Five: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. If your team is out of the NCAA Tournament, you might want to watch a replay of this outstanding documentary about the University of Michigan basketball team of the early 1990s.

30 Clubs in 30 Days: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. Another installment in the series previewing the 2011 season. This episode looks at the New York Mets.

Friday Night Fights: 10 p.m. on ESPN2. The main event is a light middleweight bout between Erislandy Lara (15-0, 10 KOs) and Carlos Molina (17-4, 5 KOs).

Dr. Remote | Check it out today

The Fab Five: 7:30 on ESPN. If your team is out of the NCAA Tournament, you might want to watch a replay of this outstanding documentary about the University of Michigan basketball team of the early 1990s.

30 Clubs in 30 Days: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. Another installment in the series previewing the 2011 season. This episode looks at the New York Mets.

Friday Night Fights: 10 p.m. on ESPN2. Main event is a light middleweight bout between Erislandy Lara (15-0, 10 KOs) and Carlos Molina (17-4, 5 KOs).

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2011

Quote of the day

"Add that to the inauspicious awards. Let's see if I can make some records during the regular season. Those seem to hold a little bit more weight and improve your payday a little more than the spring training ones do."

INF Elliot Johnson, joking about setting a Rays spring record with 11 stolen bases, two more than Carl Crawford in 2003

Quote of the day 2

"A bunt and a bomb. You don't see that too often."

CF Sam Fuld, who had a sacrifice bunt and a two-run homer Thursday

Walk this way

LF Johnny Damon walked four times in four plate appearances Thursday, seeing two strikes among 19 pitches. "I'll take them," said Damon, right, smiling. "I'd rather get hits, though." Manager Joe Maddon said Damon's approach set a good example for the young hitters on the road trip, many of whom said they never had that many walks in a game. Quipped Maddon: "The candidates to walk four times in a game were not here."

Rays vs. Pirates

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

Radio: Raysbaseball.com

Tickets: Reserved seats $19-$27, berm/boardwalk $10. Through raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices, and 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

Pitchers: Rays — Jeff Niemann, Juan Cruz, Kyle Farnsworth, Joel Peralta; Pirates — Charlie Morton, Joel Hanrahan, Jose Veras, Daniel McCutchen

On deck

Saturday: vs Orioles, 1:05. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson; Orioles — Ryan Drese

Sunday: at Pirates, 1:05. Rays — David Price; Pirates — TBA

Heads-up

Jeff Niemann will make his final long start before the regular season today, likely throwing 90-100 pitches.

Who is this Ray?

This left-handed reliever missed last season due to shoulder surgery. From 2008-09, he led all relievers in wins (13). His wife, Heather, published a children's book, Dangles, last winter.

Upcoming schedule 28: at Yankees, 7:05

29: at Red Sox

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

Who is this Ray answer: LHP J.P. Howell