Times wires
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Astros 9, Cardinals 8
HOUSTON — Justin Maxwell hit a two-run homer, Jose Altuve tied a career high with four hits and Houston got to St. Louis starter Jaime Garcia early before holding on. The Astros scored four in the first inning, and Maxwell's homer in the second stretched their lead to 6-1.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
WASHINGTON — Rookie Bryce Harper hit a winning single with two outs in the 12th inning to give the Nationals a 7-6 victory over the Mets on Tuesday night.
Scott Hairston hit a solo homer in the top half to give New York a 6-5 lead before Washington rallied.
Michael Morse led off with his second double of the game, and Ian Desmond followed with another double for his third RBI.
Elvin Ramirez walked two batters to load the bases, and Xavier Nady's fielder's choice left the bases loaded with two outs for Harper, who lined an 0-and-2 pitch to leftfield. The ball fell just in front of a diving Vinny Rottino.
The Nationals are alone atop the National League East, a game ahead of Miami and 1½ in front of the Mets.
Both managers emptied their bullpens as the game wore on. Ross Detwiler came on in the 11th and was the Nationals' eighth pitcher. Ramirez, the Mets' sixth, was making his second major-league appearance.
In the 10th, both teams took advantage of miscues to score. Hairston led off with a single and later scored on a wild pitch by Henry Rodriguez, his ninth in 21 innings this season, to give the Mets a 5-4 lead.
The Nationals tied it in the bottom half thanks to two errors by shortstop Jordany Valdespin and a wild pitch by Bobby Parnell.
Ryan Zimmerman reached on one of Valdespin's errors, later took third on the wild pitch and scored on another error when Desmond's grounder bounced off Valdespin's glove. The Nationals loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but Rick Ankiel struck out swinging.
The Mets fell behind 3-0 after five innings and started their comeback with solo home runs by David Wright and Valdespin in the sixth. Andres Torres hit a two-run double in the eighth to give New York a 4-3 lead.
Desmond tied it at 4 with an RBI single in the eighth.
Lost in the back-and-forth was the strong effort from Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann, who has pitched at least six innings in each of his 11 starts this season. Zimmermann held the Mets scoreless through five before giving up the homers.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Angels 6, Mariners 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mark Trumbo homered twice, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs, and Garrett Richards pitched seven innings for his first major-league victory for Los Angeles. Richards, 24, shut down an offense that averaged 9.2 runs over its previous six games. He was filling in for ace Jered Weaver, who is on the disabled list with a lower back strain. Seattle's Blake Beavan pitched five innings and gave up six runs on 10 hits in five innings, including all three Angels homers.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
D'backs 10, Rockies 0
PHOENIX — Ian Kennedy matched his career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings and Jason Kubel had five RBIs for Arizona, which had a season-high 17 hits a night after getting shut out by Colorado. Kennedy joined Randy Johnson as the only Diamondbacks pitchers with 12 or more strikeouts in six innings or less.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Padres 6, Giants 5
SAN DIEGO — Rookie Logan Forsythe hit his first major-league home run leading off the ninth inning for San Diego.Huston Street pitched the ninth for the win, escaping a bases-loaded jam when Buster Posey hit into a force play. San Francisco's Tim Lincecum remained winless since April 28.
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
TAMPA — There was a game Nov. 6, 1994, when something seemingly came over Paul Gruber. Tempers flared. He lost control and found himself in a fierce fight with Bears defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman, and both were ejected.
It seemed so out of character for Gruber, the consummate Wisconsin nice guy.
"Maybe being nice all the time kind of leaves it bottled up for Sunday," Gruber said, laughing. "I just don't know what happened. Things kind of got out of hand."
The only reason the fight remains memorable is it was so unexpected. At just about every other moment, Gruber — announced Wednesday as the fourth member of the Buccaneers' Ring of Honor — was perfectly predictable.
When asked to block the likes of Minnesota's Chris Doleman, one of the day's elite pass rushers, Gruber did it reliably — usually without the aid of a tight end.
When asked by then-rookie coach Tony Dungy to help lead a wayward team in 1996, Gruber willingly accepted and taught his younger teammates to be pros.
It's what the Bucs wanted and needed from their left tackle, and he did it consistently for 12 seasons.
"He was certainly worthy of the fourth overall pick in the 1988 NFL draft," Bucs co-chairman Bryan Glazer said.
"He went on to become everything you'd want in a left tackle: dependable, dependable, dependable."
Gruber joins inaugural member Lee Roy Selmon, John McKay and Jimmie Giles in the Ring of Honor. Glazer emphasized that selections are not being made chronologically.
"We are intent on honoring all the early Bucs greats down the road," he said.
Gruber will be inducted during halftime of the Oct. 14 game against the Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium. That game will not, however, be the Bucs' throwback game. The induction will include a tribute to the 1997 team, the first to wear today's red and pewter uniforms and first to make the postseason since 1982. (The throwback game, during which the Bucs will wear orange uniforms, will be Oct. 21.)
Gruber, who was born in Madison, Wis., and played at the University of Wisconsin, started 183 consecutive games. At one time, he played 4,850 consecutive snaps. But Gruber didn't spend much time dwelling on his individual accomplishments.
He instead focused on moments such as that 1997 postseason, when the Bucs beat the Lions in a wild-card game, the last contest at Tampa Stadium. The revelry that followed is still fresh in Gruber's mind.
"The thing I remember most was the atmosphere after we won," said Gruber, now living in Edwards, Colo. "It was just crazy. There were fireworks. There were players running around the field with Bucs flags. It really was just the start of something, I think."
Gruber, more than most of his teammates, could appreciate the Bucs' success. For his first nine seasons, he toiled on teams that averaged 5.3 wins.
In 1993, after Gruber's first contract expired, he'd had enough.
"I felt I couldn't reach my full potential here," he said Wednesday.
But after a trade to the Raiders fell apart, Gruber and the Bucs patched things up, and he signed a contract extension. He never regretted the decision.
"I'm happy," he said. "Things have a way of working out."
Had he left, Gruber wouldn't have forged his many valuable relationships.
Wednesday's news conference was attended by several of the people whom he grew to love during his time in Tampa, including Dungy, former linebacker Derrick Brooks, former fullback Mike Alstott and Giles, last year's inductee.
Dungy recalled fondly the example Gruber set for others.
"For a coach to be able to say, 'Just look over at his locker and do what he does and you're going to be fine,' " Dungy said, "is huge."
Dungy said Gruber was so important, the January 2000 loss to the Rams in the NFC title game might have ended differently if Gruber hadn't sustained a career-ending broken right leg during the final regular-season game.
But despite praise such as that, Gruber was blindsided by his selection to the Ring of Honor. Contrasting the honor with his humble beginnings made it tougher to digest.
"It's a bit overwhelming to think about the small Wisconsin town my athletic career began in," he said. "And now to be standing here … it's surreal."
PRICE UPDATE: Defensive tackle Brian Price isn't dealing with a new injury, as coach Greg Schiano seemed to suggest Tuesday. Instead, Price is not at offseason workouts because he's working with a trainer in his native California to rehab his pelvic and hamstring issues and get into better physical condition. Price missed most of his rookie season in 2010 after pelvis surgery and continued to experience pain last season. He also was slowed by weight gain brought about by inactivity after the surgery.
Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
By Tyson Wallerstein, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
What's hot: Strong onshore winds all week have made it difficult to do much beach fishing outside of the pass. But tarpon are possible on the west winds, especially as we get away from a full moon. You just have to find those deep-water, back-bay haunts that might hold a few laid up in the early morning.
Tips: Potential tarpon spots are: deep residential canals, canals with creeks dumping into them, dredged out marinas and harbors, deep cuts between spoil islands and big basins that attract threadfins or shad. Most are fishable when the wind is up. One thing they have in common is deeper water than surrounding areas. So a detailed chart of inshore waters allows you to narrow the search.
Tactics: Usually, laid-up tarpon roll most frequently in the early morning, when the light is low, staging well outside of where you think the fish might be holding. Scan the area for activity to pinpoint the largest concentration of fish. Silently move the boat into position with the trolling motor on low speed, and make long casts with slow, sinking twitch baits. Or anchor up and put out a spread of fresh bottom baits such as shad, mullet or ladyfish.
Tyson Wallerstein runs Inshore Fishing Charters in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and can be reached at (727) 692-5868 and via email capt.tyson@hotmail.com.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
. fast facts
This week on pro golf tours
PGA: St. Jude Classic, TPC Southwind, Memphis. TV: Today-Friday, 3 p.m., Golf; Saturday-Sunday, 3 p.m., Ch. 10
LPGA: LPGA Championship, Locust Hill Country Club, Pittsford, N.Y. TV: Today-Friday, noon, Golf; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m., Golf
Champions: Regions Tradition, Shoal Creek, Birmingham, Ala. TV: Thursday-Friday, 6:30 p.m., Golf; Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m., Golf
PGA Europe: Nordea Masters, Bro Hof Slot Golf Club, Stockholm, Sweden. TV: Today-Friday, 9 a.m., Golf; Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m., Golf
By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
1. Derrick Brooks
How can this guy not already be in? You could make an argument that the linebacker is the best player in team history. At the very least, he's the second best behind Selmon.
Imagine the Bears having a Ring of Honor and three players going in before Walter Payton. How far down the list would the 49ers go before inducting Joe Montana?
Here's the thing. Gruber most certainly deserves to be in a Bucs Ring of Honor. Selmon, McKay and Giles deserve it, too. This isn't to suggest Gruber or any of the others were bad selections or undeserving in any way. But put it this way: Right now, the Bucs have, in effect, a Mount Rushmore and Brooks isn't on it.
Really?
2. Doug Williams
Through the first three selections to the Ring of Honor, it looked as if the Bucs were going chronologically; although they say that isn't the case and all deserving candidates will someday get in, regardless of when they played.
Still, the Ring of Honor started with Selmon, the first pick in team history and the first (and only, so far) Hall of Famer. Next up was McKay, the first coach in team history. Then it was Giles, a four-time Pro Bowl tight end who played for the Bucs from 1978-86.
So you might think the next selection should not have been Gruber, but quarterback Doug Williams. He played only five seasons with Tampa Bay but led it to its first three playoff appearances. The Bucs were lousy before Williams showed up, generally good while he was here and lousy after he left.
But the relationship between the Bucs and Williams always has been shaky at best. Are the Bucs worried Williams would say something negative at his induction or, perhaps, not even show up? Or do they honestly believe Williams is not worthy of induction, at least at this time?
It looks as if the selection of Gruber bridges the gap between the old Bucs and more modern Bucs. If that's the case, it would appear the Bucs, for now anyway, have skipped over Williams, James Wilder and Richard "Batman'' Wood.
3. Tony Dungy
Gruber's selection bridges the gap between generations of Bucs. Gruber dates to the old creamsicle days and into the pewter days. That means the Bucs can now name Dungy, the coach who broke the streak of 14 losing seasons and made the Bucs respectable. In fact, it would seem natural to induct Dungy before addressing many of the great players Dungy coached: Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Mike Alstott and, eventually, Ronde Barber.
4. Malcolm Glazer
This probably wouldn't go over too well with the fans, especially seeing as how the Glazer family ultimately chooses who goes into the Ring of Honor. Putting owners or front office types into hallowed places such as halls of fame and rings of honor is never thrilling, not like inducting actual players. Some might even say it's flat-out wrong. After all, no fan wears a jersey with an owner's name on the back.
But let's not dismiss the impact the Glazer ownership has had on the Bucs. Buying the franchise following the death of previous owner Hugh Culverhouse, the Glazers resurrected a franchise that was wandering aimlessly through the wilderness and even in danger of moving. They spent money, let the football people make the football decisions and, lickety-split, the team became a perennial winner and Super Bowl champ.
5. Warren Sapp
Come to think of it, there's really no reason why the Bucs have to do this one person at a time.
Wouldn't it be neat to induct Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, Ronde Barber and John Lynch — the leaders of the Tampa 2 defense — at the same time? Or think of how much fun it would be if the Bucs added to the whole Tony Dungy-Jon Gruden debate by having them go on the ring simultaneously. Maybe former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin could join them.
There are still old-schoolers left to induct, such as Richard "Batman" Wood, James Wilder, Ricky Bell and Hardy Nickerson. Mike Alstott deserves a spot. But Sapp is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. Only Selmon and Brooks were better Bucs.
tom jones' two cents
The Bucs announced Wednesday that offensive tackle Paul Gruber will become the fourth person inducted into their Ring of Honor, joining former players Lee Roy Selmon and Jimmie Giles and former coach John McKay. Here's a look at the next five who should go into the Ring of Honor.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
PARIS — It was about time Rafael Nadal faced some sort of test at the French Open.
Not that this one lasted all that long or was all that taxing.
Still, after dropping a total of 19 games through his first four matches — the fewest at Roland Garros in 30 years — Nadal finally found himself in an even-as-can-be set at the outset of his quarterfinal against 12th-seeded Nicolas Almagro.
While Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have been forced to come back from two-set deficits in Paris, this qualified as a tight spot for Nadal. They went to a tiebreaker, and when Almagro's backhand return of a 121 mph serve landed out to cede the set, Nadal leaned forward and yelled, "Come on!"
Maybe it signaled excitement. This much was clear: Nadal can summon his best play when he needs it. Moving closer to a record seventh French Open championship, Nadal reached the semifinals by beating Almagro 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3 to improve to 50-1 at the claycourt Grand Slam tournament.
"I played well. I applied my strategy. I tried to do my best," Almagro said. "But he was at such a high level."
As he always is at Roland Garros. This year, though, Nadal's level has been even higher than usual.
Not only has he won all 15 sets he has played, he has won 60 of his 61 service games, 54 in a row since getting broken in the second set of his first-round victory. He has saved 16 of 17 break points, including going 4-for-4 against Almagro.
"If I'd not lost any set and not lost my serve, it would have been a miracle," the second-seeded Nadal said. "It's just impossible to achieve that."
The next player who will try to stop him is No. 6 David Ferrer. He reached his third major semifinal but first at the French by eliminating No. 4 Andy Murray 6-4, 6-7 (7-3), 6-3, 6-2 in a match interrupted by a half-hour rain delay early in the third set.
"Winning a match against Rafa is almost impossible," Ferrer said of his fellow Spaniard. "He is in such good shape."
Ferrer and Federer are both 30 — the last two of the record 37 thirtysomethings who were in the draw — and it's the first time two French Open semifinalists were at least that old since Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall in 1969.
Against Murray, Ferrer was the picture of perpetual motion, chasing down shots to extend points time after time.
Maria Sharapova moved another step closer to filling in the last piece of the career Grand Slam, defeating Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-3 to reach the semifinals.
Second-seeded Sharapova rolled through her 23rd-seeded opponent in 74 minutes, a much different scene than the three-set win over Klara Zakopalova in the fourth round that took more than three hours.
"I'm happy with the way I improved in this match," Sharapova said.
Her next opponent is fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion who ended 142nd-ranked qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova's upset-filled run with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Kvitova reached the semifinals for the third time over the past four Grand Slams.
Sharapova made the semifinals at the French for the third time. She lost at that stage last year and in 2007.
"I love coming back here, love challenging myself to get further every year, and I hope this is this year," she said.
In today's other semifinal, Tampa resident and No. 6 Sam Stosur faces No. 21 Sara Errani, who is winless against Stosur, the U.S. Open champion, in five tries.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
JACKSONVILLE — Sitting between his coach and general manager, Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon stared at the ground for much of the 18-minute news conference Wednesday.
He looked like a kid in trouble.
Blackmon apologized for "poor judgment," vowed to learn and grow from his latest alcohol-related arrest and insisted he doesn't have a drinking problem. Nonetheless, he swore off alcohol for now.
"People are going to think what they are going to think," Blackmon said. "Words are words. It's my actions that are going to have to show."
The first-round pick from Oklahoma State was arrested during a traffic stop in Stillwater, Okla., early Sunday after a breath test reportedly showed his blood alcohol content to be three times the legal limit. It was his second DUI arrest in less than two years.
COUGHLIN EXTENDED: Giants coach Tom Coughlin signed a two-year extension through the 2014 season. Coughlin, 65, led the team to its second Super Bowl under him in February.
PARTNERSHIP: Jets quarterback Tim Tebow is partnering with Braves third baseman Chipper Jones to open a D1 Sports Training facility in Orlando. It will house an indoor turf field and a state-of-the-art weight room to go with a sports medicine and therapy clinic. Tebow and Jones also co-own D1 Tampa.
SUGGS INJURY: Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he doesn't care how linebacker Terell Suggs injured his Achilles tendon. Suggs has denied reports he was hurt playing basketball in Arizona, insisting it happened during a conditioning session.
WEBSTER SENTENCED: Former Bucs and Bengals linebacker Nate Webster, 34, was sentenced in Ohio to 12 years in prison for having sex with the underage teen daughter of a former Cincinnati assistant coach. Webster was a Buc from 2000-2003.
CONCUSSION SUIT: Lawyers for former players plan to file a single lawsuit today consolidating scores of complaints accusing the NFL of concealing information linking football-related head injuries to permanent neurological problems.
BRONCOS: Defensive lineman Ty Warren agreed to a restructured deal in time to join the team on the field. Warren sat out the past two seasons with injuries.
COWBOYS: Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware said he still gets occasional stingers since a scary head-first collision nearly three years ago. Ware said he sometimes feels tingling and numbness after contact.
VIKINGS: Fullback Jerome Felton apologized after being arrested and charged with DUI Saturday in Eden Prairie.
By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
In the breathless world of Greg Schiano, you can feel the minute hand move.
He is a coach in a hurry, and daylight is wasting. There are drills to teach and films to watch and players to evaluate and thermostat controls to adjust and drill cones that aren't the proper shade of orange and trust to develop and relationships to build and a team to motivate and a staff to mesh and plan to build and a franchise to repair.
Time is the enemy, he will tell you, and darned it doesn't seem as if he is trying to conquer it by sheer exhaustion. In 132 days, more than half of the offseason, Tampa Bay has learned that about Schiano. The rest of it, we will learn as we go along.
For now, Schiano is finally still. On Wednesday, he sat in the media library on the second floor of One Buc Place, a large soft drink at his right hand and a large, weary wristwatch on his left arm. For a half-hour, he talked about expectations and visions, about trust and beliefs, and him and his team.
And so you throw this question at him:
"Greg, are you good enough for this job?"
That's the question that counts, isn't it? It's the question you want to ask of your surgeon, of your pilot, of your presidential candidate. It's the question you ask of your child's teacher, of the guy who is working on your roof, of the policeman who protects your neighborhood. When you get down to it, what is more important to know about a person?
Schiano smiles at the question, and perhaps at the bluntness of the guy who asked it. He hesitates, forming the answer in his mind. Then he leans forward and says this:
"If I didn't think I was the right man for this job, I wouldn't have taken this job."
How else would you have a coach answer? Given the team he must turn around, given the mess he must clean up, isn't a bit of confidence a good thing? There has never been a successful coach, maybe not a successful anything, who did not believe in himself.
In Tampa Bay, there remains much to know about Schiano. While the general buzz has been positive, there remains some mystery to the guy. Back when Sam Wyche was hired by the Bucs, he shook so many hands you wondered if he was running for mayor. Tony Dungy was the nicest guy in town from his first day here. Jon Gruden was so popular his first job was simply to pick the confetti out of his hair. Raheem Morris was willing to take you home with him.
Schiano, by contrast, immersed himself in the million or so tasks of the offseason. There was a staff to hire and free agents to sign and a culture to change. There were players to draft and a locker room to restore and a tone to set. In other words, his day planner never had enough lines.
"It's been a dead sprint since Jan. 26," said Schiano, who turned 46 on Friday. "That first year, everything takes longer. What should take an hour takes four hours."
That isn't what you want to know, though, is it? You want to know how much better the Bucs might be. You want to know if the Bucs can win next year, or if this is the start of a multiyear building plan.
"I think it's both, really," Schiano said. "I think the NFL has such a small margin between the best and the last. I don't think it's ever that you don't have a chance to win on Sunday. That's what I love about this league.''
So the Bucs will have a chance to win 16 times?
"If I didn't think that, they ought to find a new coach. My point is this: Have a plan, make sure you're prepared on that plan, and go out and play the best and smartest you can.
"Do I think as far as changing a culture it will be better off next year? Of course it will. But it doesn't mean you have to wait a year before you can win games."
Ah, but can the Bucs have a winning season? A playoff season?
"I don't get into answering those kinds of questions," Schiano said. "The two guys I learned the most from are Coach Joe Paterno and Coach (John) Wooden. I worked for Paterno for six years, and the word 'win' was mentioned … you could count it on both hands. The focus wasn't 'winning.' The focus was doing the best we can.
"People say, 'Now you're getting into coaches' speak. You're trying to avoid the question.' But Coach Wooden was the same. Winning wasn't talked about. It was all the things that added up to winning. It was the process, the process, the process."
He is a detail guy, Schiano. Throughout the offseason, there have been articles about his controlling nature, from making sure rooms were a certain temperature to designing his own drills.
Schiano describes himself as passionate, as competitive. He stops short of "driven."
"I don't like that word," he said. "Driven, to me, has a ruthlessness to it. Passionate is a guy who cares."
For now, Schiano admits that his team doesn't know him. Not really.
"Not yet," he said. "It'll take time. It'll take experiences together. I think this team is still figuring me out, but as the players are figuring me out, they're willing to try. I didn't know that would be the case. They're not sure yet. I wouldn't be sure yet, either. How are you going to be sure? But each day, when you're preparing them and you're helping them be the best they can be, you just keep putting money in the bank. The trust meter continues to grow."
What do you know about Schiano so far? He was studying to be a lawyer when he got the coaching bug. He takes pride in honesty, even if it means saying something a player doesn't want to hear. He loves the feel of the sideline on game day.
Also, he knows that Tampa Bay expects him to win.
Good thing, isn't it, that Schiano expects it, too.
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Autos
Stewart OKAY with Busch's Latest tirade
Driver Kurt Busch, suspended by NASCAR for one race for making threatening comments to a reporter after a Nationwide race last weekend, certainly has his critics, but he has at least one supporter: three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart.
Busch told Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass that his probation for a May incident kept him from "not beating the (expletive) out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions."
"I'll be honest, I liked (Busch's) answer," Stewart said on Sirius radio. "… There's a couple of reporters that strictly want to be tabloid journalists. Unfortunately, he's one of them."
Phoenix Racing owner James Finch said he is still undecided whether to continue a relationship with Busch.
Hockey
Heralded Soviet player dies
Vladimir Krutov, one of the Soviet Union's all-time greats and part of the national team's formidable KLM Line, died. He was 52.
The ITAR-Tass news agency said he had been in a hospital for stomach bleeding.
Mr. Krutov and Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov led the Soviets to gold in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He was part of the team that lost to the United States at the 1980 Olympics.
NHL: Panthers GM Dale Tallon and Oilers GM Steve Tambellini agreed to contract extensions with their respective teams. Terms were not disclosed.
ARENA Football
USF's Grothe heads to Orlando
Former USF quarterback Matt Grothe, cut loose by the Storm after playing sparingly, signed with rival Orlando.
Grothe, who never hid his distaste for Orlando's UCF while in college, was signed because of an injury to Predators backup Justin Roper, who threw four touchdown passes for Oregon in a rout of USF in 2007.
et cetera
Gymnastics: Martha Karolyi, who had said she would join her husband, Bela, in stepping down as national team coach after the London Games, now says she would like to continue as women's coordinator.
Greyhounds: Flying Lone Wolf and Mrl No Access won qualifying races in the $8,000 T.L. Weaver Memorial Challenge at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Others in Saturday night's finale: Donkey Kong, Gabby's Jentowin, Hag Clyde, Jim Mercedes, Jw Titleist and Sovereign Beauty.
Greg Auman, Times staff writer; Times wires
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
PHOENIX — Struggling Diamondbacks RF Justin Upton was held out of the lineup for the second straight night and the third time in five games.
Manager Kirk Gibson said Tuesday that he hoped time off would help his star snap out of his funk, and he again had him on the bench against the Rockies on Wednesday night.
"Nothing's changed," Gibson said. "Hopefully he'll have a productive day and be ready to win the game for us if that should be the case. He's a very important part of our team, we all know that, and we're going to try to get him back on track."
Fourth in the NL MVP voting last year, Upton, 24, younger brother of Rays CF B.J. Upton, has struggled this season. Since a nine-game hitting streak in May, Upton has gone 4-for-28 in seven games.
TOP PICK NEAR DEAL: Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said the team has agreed to some elements of a contract with top overall pick Carlos Correa but said "it is by no means a done deal." Correa, 17, a shortstop from Puerto Rico, is likely to sign for about $2 million less than the assigned slot value of $7.2 million. That could leave Houston with more money to sign Jesuit RHP Lance McCullers, the 41st overall pick who has a commitment to Florida.
Clemens trial: The estranged wife of Roger Clemens' chief accuser testified that her husband did not initially confide in her about injecting players with performance-enhancing drugs, contradicting his account of how and why he kept needles and other medical waste from injections he allegedly gave the star pitcher. Former strength coach Brian McNamee is considered a key prosecution witness in Clemens' perjury trial. Eileen McNamee told jurors she did not initially know what was in the box she discovered in their home in 2001. Her husband said "he was saving things for his protection and it was none of my concern," she testified.
O'S SIGN MOYER: The Orioles signed 49-year-old LHP Jamie Moyer to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Triple A.
BRAVES: 3B Chipper Jones, out since May 24 with a bruised lower left leg, is taking batting practice and might begin a rehabilitation assignment this weekend. … 1B Freddie Freeman left in the fourth inning with a bruised left index finger.
METS: LF Jason Bay, out six weeks with a broken rib, was activated from the disabled list.
PHILLIES: 1B Jim Thome (back strain) was activated from the DL after being out since late April.
REDS: CF Drew Stubbs will be out for at least a few days with strained muscles in his left side.
RED SOX: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka is set to start Saturday, one day short of a year after he had elbow reconstructive surgery.
WHITE SOX: 1B Paul Konerko was sidelined for a second straight game after having a procedure to flush a bone chip out of a joint in his left wrist.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
NEW YORK — 3B Evan Longoria said he could start a rehab assignment by the end of the team's road trip and expects to rejoin the Rays around the middle of the month.
Manager Joe Maddon said Longoria, out since May 1 with a partially torn left hamstring, would likely need a seven- to 10-day assignment before returning.
"It's feeling good," Longoria said. "It's at the point where I'm ready to push it. I'm ready to see where we can get on a daily basis. I think we're past all the bad stuff. It's taken a lot of steps forward in the last week and a half."
Longoria is traveling with the team and said the big tests will be in the next couple of days, with acceleration drills and baserunning, before he can start his assignment. He said he hasn't missed much hitting and has taken ground balls the past week and a half. But he hasn't run past 80-90 percent.
"A lot of it is being able to get past the mental block of, 'Am I going to feel that again?' " Longoria said. "And that's probably not the case. It's just something, that mental hurdle, that you have to get over when you have stuff like this happen."
Longoria, who has dealt with hamstring issues before, understands it's a challenge knowing how to avoid the same type of injury again.
"It's my cross to bear, I only know how to play one way, and that's 100 percent every day," Longoria said. "It's always a learning experience when you have something like this. I think hopefully I can teach myself when in fact you do need to go 110 percent and those times when you can maybe help not being in a situation like this again and minimize the effort in a situation that may not need it."
Longoria says it has been tough to be away, but he is impressed how his teammates have stepped up and stayed around the top of the American League East.
"It's incredible," he said. "I think our position speaks for itself, but it's pretty crazy to me that we really have not played good baseball at all. I don't feel like we've even played to a percentage of potential that we're able to play. I feel like we've really skated along, we've gotten some lucky victories. They're all good wins, but we've been lucky at times, and pitching has really kept us in a lot."
UP AND DOWN: The Rays activated OF/1B Brandon Allen from the disabled list then designated him for assignment. Allen must clear waivers before accepting an assignment to Durham. The Rays also have 10 days to trade him.
Allen, who has been on the DL since May 10 with a right quad strain, batted .154 in seven games with the Rays, picking up a couple of big hits, including a walkoff homer against the Angels April 26. "This guy helped us win about three games in the limited time he was with us," Maddon said. "We'd love to keep him."
PRICE CHECK: There are a lot of reasons for LHP David Price's recent roll of six consecutive starts of seven innings or more, such as his strike-throwing ability and success with runners in scoring position.
But Maddon said the key has been Price's excellent fastball command, with his average velocity (95.1 mph) second highest in the majors.
"I've never really thrown this hard in my life for a duration of the game," Price said. "That's pretty neat, I enjoy it. My body feels good right now, so does my arm."
DRAFT BREEZE: The Rays stocked up on college pitchers and catchers on the third and final day of the draft. "We came away from this really excited after (Tuesday), and we added some more guys (Wednesday)," scouting director R.J. Harrison said.
MISCELLANY: RHP James Shields left for California to tend to a family matter. The Rays expect him to join the team in Miami. … Maddon said there's no update on INF Jeff Keppinger (broken right toe). … DH Luke Scott got the day off.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
BOSTON — LeBron James saw his share of disappointment in Boston when he was with the Cavaliers. Then he joined the Heat, and things got worse.
Miami is 1-7 on the parquet floor since James arrived to form a trio modeled after the Big Three that hung the Celtics' unprecedented 17th NBA championship banner. James has had a 45-point effort there in a loss, a 42-point effort there in a loss, a 27-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist effort there in a loss.
"I know how much pain this team has given me over the years," James said Wednesday. "I think I guess it's only right that we will be going up there in an elimination game. In order for us to keep our season going, we have to win in their building."
The Heat, down three games to two, need a victory tonight in Boston in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final to avoid a fourth straight loss to the Celtics, a fifth straight loss in Boston and a second straight year of failed promise from James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
"We plan to win the ball game," Wade said. "Can't listen to the noise. I'm not. I'm sure our team is not."
It was in Boston that James said goodbye to Cleveland, ripping off his jersey as he left the court after Game 6 of the 2010 East semifinals.
But Miami has had even bigger struggles in Boston, winning just once on the parquet since Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen joined forces. The Celtics knocked the Heat out of the playoffs in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, one series before eliminating James' Cavaliers. (The Heat eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs last year, but it needed just one win in Boston.) In all, Miami has lost 15 of its last 16 regular-season games in Boston.
"Why would you think about that? What does it do for you?" Wade said. "You can't say, 'Oh, well, we're down one point and we've lost 15 out of 16 here. We're not going to win.' It doesn't work that way."
Miami gave the homecourt edge to Boston by losing Game 5 on Tuesday 94-90.
So with a win tonight, the Celtics can advance to the NBA Finals for the third time in five years.
"We have one home game left, and that's it in this series," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We have to understand that, and we have to come with that sense of urgency. Our guys understand that, and I think so does Miami."
Report: Magic, Jackson not talking about front-office job
Try as he might, former Magic guard Sam Vincent isn't having any luck trying to broker a deal to get himself and coaching great Phil Jackson into the Magic's front office, the Orlando Sentinel and other media outlets reported Wednesday.
Vincent, who initially approached the Magic last week, reportedly talked to team brass about Jackson working one week out of every month in Orlando, SI.com reported. In the initial pitch, Vincent would also join the front office and former All-Star Scottie Pippen would be the coach, but the latest proposal had Brian Shaw as coach and Pippen as an assistant.
However, multiple media outlets reported that the Magic, which let go general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy, has not had any contact with Jackson, and the team prefers someone with high-level front-office experience.
The 66-year-old Jackson, who coached the Bulls and the Lakers to a combined 11 NBA titles, has not led a front office. Jackson's interest in the job has been difficult to gauge. Vincent said that after initially expressing interest, Jackson backed off.
Jackson's longtime agents Todd and Brian Musburger told NBA.com that the sides have not been in direct contact.
"One, Phil never voiced any interest in Orlando," Todd Musburger said. "Never had us check it out, never checked it out himself. Two, Orlando never called."
Vincent, who played in Orlando from 1989 to 1992, declined to comment.
East final
Celtics 3, Heat 2
Game 1: Heat 93, Celtics 79
Game 2: Heat 115, Celtics 111 OT
Game 3: Celtics 101, Heat 91
Game 4: Celtics 93, Heat 91 OT
Game 5: Celtics 94, Heat 90
Tonight: at Boston, 8:30, ESPN
Saturday: at Miami, 8:30, ESPN *
* If necessary
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
NEW YORK — In the moments before the Kentucky Derby, trainer Michael Matz thought it would be his horse attempting to win the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
Instead, after a troubled trip left Union Rags seventh on the first Saturday in May, Matz's colt will try to play spoiler when Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another takes a shot at becoming the first Triple Crown champion in 34 years.
Union Rags and Derby third-place finisher Dullahan are given the best chances of knocking off 4-5 morning-line favorite I'll Have Another. Dullahan is 5-1, Union Rags 6-1 in the 12-horse field.
All Matz is looking for is a clean trip for his imposing bay colt. After winning the Fountain of Youth to become an early Derby favorite, Union Rags got tangled in traffic in the Florida Derby and finished third. Then he got bumped by Dullahan at the start of the Kentucky Derby, was trapped on the inside and never had a chance.
"I really thought this horse could win the Triple Crown, and then everything went the wrong way," Matz said Wednesday after Union Rags arrived from Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., and settled into Belmont Park's detention barn created for the horses.
"It's just one of those things that happens, and you have to let it go. It was very disappointing."
The son of Dixie Union comes into the race fresh, too, having skipped the Preakness to prepare for the 1½-mile Belmont, the longest and most grueling of the three races over five weeks at different distances and racetracks. And John Velazquez will be aboard for the first time, replacing Julien Leparoux.
"He's one of the top riders in New York," Matz said of Velazquez. "We hope he'll give him a chance.
Matz's biggest worry Wednesday was getting Union Rags settled in his new surroundings. Union Rags went for a morning gallop at Fair Hill, cooled down and was fed, and then was loaded into a horse van for the trip to Belmont Park. Arrival time was about 11 a.m., and Matz was just relieved to get the travel day behind him. He passed up the post-position draw, with Union Rags owner Phyllis Wyeth subbing for her trainer.
"Obviously we've been a little disappointed," said Wyeth, the wife of American realist painter Jamie Wyeth. "We feel that Union Rags hasn't been able to really run his race. We think he can do the mile and a half. He's training really, really well."
Velazquez, who won the 2007 Belmont with the filly Rags to Riches, was aboard Union Rags for a workout last week and called him "impressive."
Labor deal: Belmont racetrack workers have struck a labor deal with the New York Racing Association to head off a possible strike on the eve of a Triple Crown bid, the union and state officials said. Vincent McElroen, financial secretary for Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said he didn't have specifics of the pact but that 80 maintenance workers and starters will be working Saturday.
Belmont
When/where: 6:40 p.m. Saturday; Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y.
TV: Ch. 8
PP Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
1. Street Life Chad Brown Jose Lezcano 12-1
2. Unstoppable U Ken McPeek Junior Alvarado 30-1
3. Union Rags Michael Matz John Velazquez 6-1
4. Atigun Ken McPeek Julien Leparoux 30-1
5. Dullahan Dale Romans Javier Castellano 5-1
6. Ravelo's Boy Manny Azpurua Alex Solis 50-1
7. Five Sixteen Dominick Schettino Rosie Napravnik 50-1
8. Guyana Star Dweej Doodnauth Shivmangal Kent Desormeaux 50-1
9. Paynter Bob Baffert Mike Smith 8-1
10. Optimizer D. Wayne Lukas Corey Nakatani 20-1
11. I'll Have Another Doug O'Neill Mario Gutierrez 4-5
12. My Adonis Kelly Breen Ramon Dominguez 20-1
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Giants 6, Padres 5
SAN DIEGO — Gregor Blanco homered and Madison Bumgarner prevailed in a battle of lefties, leading San Francisco. The Giants have won eight of 10 overall and 14 of 19 against San Diego, which has the majors' worst record. The Padres' Clayton Richard allowed 10 hits, matching his season worst.
Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
D.Gordon ss 4 1 2 1 0 1 .229
E.Herrera cf 4 1 1 1 1 2 .308
Ethier rf 4 1 0 0 1 0 .314
J.Rivera 1b 5 0 1 1 0 2 .244
Abreu lf 4 0 2 1 0 2 .320
Castellanos pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333
A.Ellis c 3 0 0 0 0 2 .308
Hairston Jr. 2b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .360
A.Kennedy 3b 3 1 2 0 0 0 .229
De Jesus ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .304
Kershaw p 0 0 0 0 1 0 .190
Loney ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .247
Totals 34 4 9 4 3 12
Philadelphia AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Rollins ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 .242
Polanco 3b 4 1 2 2 0 0 .294
Pence rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .264
Ruiz c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .368
Victorino cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .247
Wigginton 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 .252
Fontenot ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .391
Mayberry lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .237
Galvis 2b 4 1 2 1 0 0 .232
Savery p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Luna 1b 2 0 0 0 0 2 .310
Totals 35 3 8 3 0 7
Los Angeles 210 000 001— 4 9 1
Philadelphia 003 000 000— 3 8 1
E—A.Kennedy (3), Polanco (1). LOB—L.A. 10, Phi. 6. 2B—A.Kennedy (4), Mayberry (8). 3B—D.Gordon (1), Rollins (2). HR—Polanco (2), off Kershaw. RBIs—D.Gordon (11), E.Herrera (7), J.Rivera (14), Abreu (9), Polanco 2 (11), Galvis (24). SB—E.Herrera (2), Ethier (1). CS—D.Gordon (6). S—Kershaw 2, Worley. RISP—L.A. 4 for 13; Phi. 3 for 7.
Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Kershaw 7 8 3 3 0 5 104 2.55
Belisario W, 1-0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 1.26
Jansen S, 7-10 1 0 0 0 0 2 11 2.03
Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Worley 4 5 3 3 3 4 80 3.38
Savery 2L1 0 0 0 3 33 3.52
Bastardo 1M1 0 0 0 3 26 2.60
Papelbon L, 0-2 1 2 1 1 0 2 17 2.31
HBP—by Bastardo (A.Ellis), by Savery (D.Gordon). WP—Bastardo. PB—Ruiz. T—3:11. A—45,572 (43,651).
Times wires
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Braves 2, Marlins 1
MIAMI — Randall Delgado struck out a career-high seven in 61/3 innings and had his first RBI of the season, and three relievers completed a two-hitter for Atlanta. Brian McCann had three of the Braves' six hits and scored a run. Delgado won for the second time in his past nine starts with help from his relievers, who retired all eight batters they faced. In the first two games of this series, the Braves have allowed one run and seven hits.
