Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
Blue Jays 7, Angels 5
TORONTO — Adam Lind hit two homers to lead the Blue Jays. Promoted from Triple A on Monday after spending more than a month there, Lind hit a three-run homer in the third and a solo homer in the seventh. The homers were his first since May 9. The Angels lost for just the second time in their past 16 road games.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
Orioles 9, Indians 8
BALTIMORE — Ryan Flaherty singled in the tiebreaking run for the Orioles. Baltimore had scored 16 runs while losing seven of nine. It went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position after going 3-for-52 over its previous 10 games. And it was the first time in 11 games it scored more than three runs.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
White Sox 14, Yankees 7
NEW YORK — A.J. Pierzynski homered twice and Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez once for the White Sox. Yankees outfielder Dewayne Wise made his pitching debut. Throwing a 79 mph fastball, he retired Konerko and Alex Rios in order to close the ninth.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
SPARTA, Ky. — Pole-sitter Austin Dillon dominated 42 others in Friday night's Feed the Children 300 Nationwide series race at Kentucky Speedway. His biggest problem came later.
Dillon led 192 of 200 laps, most ever by a Nationwide winner at the 1½-mile track, for his first victory in NASCAR's second-tier series. He beat runnerup and Sprint Cup regular Kurt Busch by 9.828 seconds.
Roughly an hour after the race, Dillon's No. 3 Chevy failed inspection for being too low in the rear. NASCAR will issue a ruling early next week. A similar situation took place this season at Iowa. In that case the crew chief was fined $10,000 and six points were subtracted from the team.
Dillon's crew chief, Danny Stockman, said after meeting with officials, "We've had an issue before. We addressed it in a meeting. It should have been addressed. That's the only comment I've got."
Dillon took the series lead from Elliott Sadler by two points.
Kevin Harvick was third followed by Michael Annett, who had his first top-five finish in 120 series starts.
NHRA: John Force, a 15-time Funny Car series champ, earned the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 4.050 seconds at 310.77 mph after two rounds of qualifying at the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also held first place.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
Nationals 5, Braves 4
ATLANTA — Michael Morse had four hits for the Nationals, including the go-ahead homer in the eighth after Washington had blown a four-run lead. Andrelton Simmons' two-run homer off Ross Detwiler capped Atlanta's four-run seventh. Morse hit right-hander Chad Durbin's first pitch over the wall in right.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
OMAHA, Neb. — With another attention-grabbing head-to-head duel, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps set themselves up for yet one more at the U.S. swimming trials Friday night.
Lochte beat Phelps in their 200-meter individual medley semifinal by 1.15 seconds, but they had the top two qualifying times to advance to tonight's final.
Lochte's time, 1 minute, 55.51 seconds, is the fastest in the world this year. Phelps finished about a body length behind in 1:56.66.
"I knew (Lochte) kind of took off, so I was like I probably should save something for (today)," Phelps said. "I kind of shut it down once the race was kind of over."
Phelps stayed on track to compete in eight events, including relays, at London this summer and a chance to equal his record gold medal haul of 2008.
Earlier in the night, Lochte, a former Gator, also had the fastest time in the 200 backstroke semifinals. He heads into tonight's events with chances to get his third and fourth individual Games berths.
Clearwater native Robert Margalis had the 13th-fastest time in the 200 IM and did not advance. In the 200 back semis, Alex Katz of Tarpon Springs and Joshua Friedel of Florida State missed spots in the final.
Natalie Coughlin hung on in her quest to make it back to a third Olympics and take a shot at tying Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres as the most decorated female Olympians in U.S. history.
Coughlin won six medals in Beijing, and she has 11 overall, one shy of Thompson and Torres.
Having already missed out in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, Coughlin is down to her final realistic chance in the 100 freestyle. She barely got out of the semifinals, finishing sixth in her heat but seventh overall to qualify for tonight's final. Amanda Weir was the fastest qualifier in 54.14 seconds, followed by Missy Franklin (54.19) and Allison Schmitt (54.23).
St. Petersburg's Megan Romano had the 10th-fastest qualifying time, 54.72, and did not advance. Unless two of the finalists pull out, Romano's trials are over without an Olympic spot gained.
Not advancing out of the heats were Florida's Jamie Bohunicky, FSU's Tiffany Oliver, Gator and Seminole high graduate Kaitlin Frehling, and Tampa native and Tampa Prep grad Chelsea Nauta.
In a breaststroke upset, Scott Weltz won the 200, leaving favorites Brendan Hansen and Eric Shanteau with only one individual event at the Games, the 100 breaststroke. Florida's Matt Elliott was fifth.
Nathan Adrian won the men's 100 freestyle and Cullen Jones claimed the second spot for London in a final that had six previous Olympians, including Adrian and Jones, who won relays gold in 2008.
In the night's other final, Cammile Adams won the 200 butterfly. Former Gator Teresa Crippen, sister of the late Fran Crippen, was fourth and missed an Olympic spot. She had hoped to make the Olympics to help carry on the dream of her brother, who died in an open-water race in 2010.
Ex-Seminole Dix hurt, out of track trials
EUGENE, Ore. — Walter Dix, the 2008 bronze medalist in the 200 meters, withdrew from the track and field trials before the preliminary heats, citing a hamstring injury that has bothered him for a while. The injury flared up in the 100 semis Sunday and kept the former Florida State standout from finishing in the top three spots in the final to get a spot for London. He also won the 2008 bronze in that event.
"Unfortunately I had to withdraw from the Olympic trials," Dix wrote on his Facebook page. "My hamstring has been an issue this summer, and time to regroup and heal is what I have to do."
Wallace Spearmon had the fastest 200 time in the prelims. Also advancing to the semis were FSU's Maurice Mitchell and Horatio Williams, and UF's Dedric Dukes.
In the women's 200, two-time silver medalist Allyson Felix won her heat to advance to the semis, as did training partner Jeneba Tarmoh. The two had the same time, 22.30 seconds, six days after finishing in a dead heat for third in the 100 final for the final London spot. They will decide how to break that tie after today's 200 final.
UCF's Aurieyall Scott advanced to the 200 final. UCF's Octavious Freeman of Lake Wales was disqualified in her semi.
Reigning Olympic champion Angelo Taylor had the top time in the semis of the 400 hurdles and Florida's Kerron Clement the third-fastest.
Florida All-American Eddie Lovett advanced to the semis of the 110 hurdles. In the women's 400 hurdles, Miami's Thandi Stewart did not advance.
U.S. record-holder Jillian Camerena-Williams became a repeat Olympian by winning the women's shot put.
gymnastics: Bridget Sloan, the 2009 world all-around champion, withdrew from the U.S. trials before Day 1 of competition began after spraining her left elbow during warmups. Athletes aren't allowed to petition directly onto the Olympic team, so the injury ends her chances.
"Well, not my ideal way of ending my elite career," Sloan, who will be a freshman at Florida in the fall, wrote on Twitter. "But I am so blessed and so grateful I was able to make it so far."
Sloan, also a member of the team that won the silver medal in 2008 , was working on uneven bars when she hurt the elbow. She was examined by Larry Nassar, physician for the U.S. women's team, and then tried to warm up on the balance beam. But she soon left the competition floor.
basketball: The Heat's Chris Bosh became the latest injured player to withdraw from consideration for the U.S. team. Bosh said through his agent he wants to continue recovering from the strained abdominal muscle that sidelined him for a portion of his team's run to the NBA championship. Among those previously bowing out because of injuries were Miami's Dwyane Wade, the Bulls' Derrick Rose and the Magic's Dwight Howard. Sixteen players are left for 12 spots on the team. The team convenes in Las Vegas next week to start training camp.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers signed Cuban CF Yasiel Puig to a seven-year, $42 million deal on Friday. It's the majors' biggest deal ever given to a Cuban defector and includes a $12 million signing bonus.
Puig, 21, who is waiting for a visa in Mexico City, will get half of his signing bonus within 30 days after he reports to the Dodgers' camp in Glendale, Ariz., and his contract is approved by Major League Baseball. (There is no timetable for either.) The other half is payable Jan. 15.
CF Yoenis Cespedes' four-year, $36 million deal with Oakland signed in February was the previous record for a Cuban defector. OF Jorge Soler got a nine-year, $30 million deal from the Cubs this month.
The Dodgers outbid the Cubs and White Sox, the Associated Press reported.
Puig has rarely played outside Cuba. He excelled with Cienfuegos of the Cuban league during the 2010-11 season, batting .330 with 17 homers, 47 RBIs and a .430 on-base percentage in 327 at-bats.
The 6-foot-3 slugger sat out last season for disciplinary reasons. Cuban officials did not disclose details, but Puig has made several attempts to defect and recently established residency in Mexico.
"Yasiel is a fantastic kid with an infectious personality, and we think he has the tools to be a front-line player in the major leagues," said Logan White, the Dodgers' assistant GM in charge of scouting. "He is very physical and athletic with raw power. He can hit it a long way. On top of that, he has a good arm and is an above-average runner."
D'back cycles again: Arizona 2B Aaron Hill doubled, singled, homered and tripled in his first four at-bats to become the first player to hit for the cycle twice in one season since Babe Herman of the Brooklyn Robins (now Dodgers) in 1931. Hill also did it on June 18.
Milestones: Yankees SS Derek Jeter doubled in the first for his 3,185th hit, breaking a tie for 14th with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken. Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie is 13th with 3,242 hits, 57 more than Jeter, 38. … Cardinals RF Carlos Beltran singled in the third for his 2,000th hit. Earlier this season, Beltran, 35, became the first switch-hitter with 300 homers and 300 stolen bases.
A's: RHP Tyson Ross was sent to Triple A a day after he lost his fifth straight decision.
Astros: 2B Jose Altuve missed his fifth straight game because of a sore right hamstring.
Cardinals: RHP Chris Carpenter has resumed a throwing program after recovering from a compressed nerve in his shoulder. But GM John Mozeliak said it's too early to tell if the 2005 Cy Young winner, 37, will pitch this season.
Cubs: RHP Ryan Dempster, on the DL with a lat injury, played catch and hopes to throw off the mound this weekend. His return remains undetermined. … RHP Randy Wells, designated for assignment this week, cleared waivers and was sent to Triple A.
Giants: RHP Brad Penny was called up to replace Shane Loux, who went on the DL after straining his neck during a workout. Penny, 34, 119-99 over 12 seasons, started the year in Japan but was released after one start. He signed a minor-league deal May 18.
Mariners: CF Franklin Gutierrez went on the seven-day concussion DL a day after a pickoff throw hit him in the face. He stayed overnight at a Seattle hospital then went home Friday.
Rangers: RH reliever Mark Lowe went on the DL with a strained muscle on his right side. … OF Jake Skole, the 15th overall pick in 2010, was suspended 50 games for testing positive for an undisclosed performance-enhancing substance. Skole, 20, is playing at Class A.
Twins: C/DH Ryan Doumit agreed to a two-year extension worth $7 million. Doumit, 32, is hitting .271 with seven homers and 32 RBIs in his eighth season (first with the Twins).
White Sox: RH reliever Brian Bruney went on the DL with inflammation in his left hip. He had appeared in only one game since being called up Sunday.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, June 29, 2012
Rays vs. Tigers
When/where: 7:15 tonight; Tropicana Field
TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Promotions: Postgame concert by Earth Wind & Fire
Probable pitchers
Rays:
RH Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.45)
TIGERS:
RH Rick Porcello (5-5, 4.71)
On Hellickson: He is coming off the disabled list after missing two starts because of shoulder fatigue. He is winless in his previous five starts, including allowing eight runs over 32/3 innings against the Mets in his last one.
On Porcello: He has won two of his past three starts, including giving up one run over six innings last time out, against the Rangers. He is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Porcello
Carlos Peña 2-for-8, HR
Hideki Matsui4-for-16
Sean Rodriguez 1-for-6
Tigers VS. Hellickson
Delmon Young 2-for-9
Austin Jackson 3-for-9, HR
Miguel Cabrera 1-for-6
On deck
Sunday: vs. Tigers, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (3-4, 4.73); Tigers — Drew Smyly (2-2, 3.96)
Monday: vs Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (4-5, 4.19); Yankees — Freddy Garcia (2-2, 6.39)
Tuesday: vs Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (7-5, 4.04); Yankees — Ivan Nova (9-2, 4.03).
Joe Smith, Times staff writer
Taking roll
Manager Joe Maddon has a cheat sheet with photos to remember the names of the Japanese media following DH/OF Hideki Matsui and jokingly took roll before Friday's pregame media session. One added member was Rays third-base coach Tom (Fo-Lee) Foley. "The latest addition to the Japanese media," Maddon said, joking. "Doubles as a third-base coach."
Demand of the day
Due to the incredible demand for Friday's "Zim Bear" giveaway, the Rays ordered 10,000 more figurines of senior adviser Don Zimmer and will schedule another giveaway for later this season.
Quote of the day
"This is no time to wave the white flag."
3B Evan Longoria, on the Rays' recent struggles
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
Diamondbacks 9, Brewers 3
MILWAUKEE — Aaron Hill hit for the cycle and Paul Goldschmidt almost did for Arizona. Hill did so on his first four at-bats. Goldschmidt doubled, homered, singled and walked, then hit a shot down the line in the ninth. He likely would have gotten a triple, but fan interference limited him to a double.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
Pirates 14, Cardinals 5
ST. LOUIS — Clint Barmes, pinch-hitter Alex Presley and Garrett Jones homered during a four-run sixth for the Pirates. Pittsburgh has 38 homers this month, one off the franchise record set in 1975. And the 14 runs were its most since 14 against the Cubs on Aug. 31, 2010.
Times wires
Friday, June 29, 2012
Rockies 10, Padres 2
DENVER — Michael Cuddyer and Wilin Rosario hit two-run homers in the eighth to help seal the Rockies' victory. Jeff Francis became the first Colorado starter to earn a win since June 4. It has won four of the five games started by Francis, who has allowed three runs in 16 innings over his past three starts.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Rangers 4, Athletics 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Craig Gentry's bases-loaded triple with two outs in the eighth capped the Rangers' rally. Gentry sent a shot to deep left off Ryan Cook. Yoenis Cespedes misjudged the ball as he took a few steps in before it flew over his head. Cook came on to face Gentry after Grant Balfour walked Nelson Cruz with the bases loaded. Matt Harrison threw a season-high 121 pitches to tie the Rays' David Price with an AL-high 11 wins.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Royals 4, Twins 3
MINNEAPOLIS — Luis Mendoza went a career-high eight innings for the Royals. Kansas City is 32-25 over its past 57 games to move four games below .500 for the first time since April 16. Mendoza retired his final 13 batters and 18 of his final 20 while allowing only one runner to reach second. He got his first win since May 13 and first as a starter since April 26. Salvador Perez hit his second homer since coming off the DL last week for the Royals.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Red Sox 5, Mariners 0
SEATTLE — Cody Ross, Daniel Nava and Will Middlebrooks hit solo homers in the fifth to back Aaron Cook. In his third start of the season, Cook needed just 81 pitches for his third career shutout and 12th complete game. Cook's only hit allowed through seven innings came on a slow tapper by Ichiro Suzuki in the fourth. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia charged, but his throw was barely late. John Jaso added a clean single to right in the eighth.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Reds 5, Giants 1
SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Leake pitched his first career complete game and homered for the Reds. The Giants had pitched a franchise-record four straight shutouts. But Zack Cozart hit the game's first pitch from Matt Cain over the wall in left-center. Jay Bruce added a two-run double in the first. And Leake's homer with two outs in the sixth was his second of the year. Cain, pitching at home for the first time since his perfect game there June 13, saw his eight-game win streak end.
Times wires
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Mets 9, Dodgers 0
LOS ANGELES — R.A. Dickey rebounded from a poor start with another dominant one for the Mets. The knuckleball-throwing righty pitched consecutive one-hit shutouts (striking out a combined 25) before giving up five runs over six innings to the Yankees. Daniel Murphy's five RBIs included a two-run double in the fifth and three-run homer in the eighth.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012
The steady string of injuries resulting in 14 players going on the disabled list has kept the Rays roster in constant transition.
They've already used 41 players (including eight third basemen and 10 cleanup hitters), have taken the usual action of five in-season acquisitions (Brandon Allen, Hideki Matsui, Rich Thompson, Drew Sutton and Brooks Conrad) and have made 32 transactions between Triple-A Durham and the majors.
And now comes the hard part.
Baseball's nonwaiver trade deadline is 30 days away, and the chatter among teams has already started, though with uncertainty of how having a second wild card will impact teams' decision-making.
The Rays are in a tough spot, not knowing exactly what their biggest needs are without knowing when, or if, they'll get their key injured players back.
"So much of what we do or how aggressive we are or what we focus on will be dictated by our health," executive vice president Andrew Friedman.
If they knew for sure outfielder Matt Joyce and third baseman Evan Longoria would be back soon, they could focus on obvious, though hard to fill, needs, upgrading at catcher and/or shortstop. (In the interim, shortstop Reid Brignac may get called up from Durham for another shot.)
But with no assurances, they have to look broader for ways to bolster their offense (Alfonso Soriano is already being rumored) then make decisions closer to the deadline. There's also the theory, tossed out by ESPN's Buster Olney, that they become sellers and seek to dump potential free agents-to-be Carlos Peña, James Shields and B.J. Upton, though that seems unlikely as much as they've committed to winning this year.
"We've compiled a target list of guys and we're going about our scouting coverage as if we don't get healthy, just so that we're prepared," Friedman said. "In our strategy meetings, it's all been about being prepared. So that's what we're doing to be sure that we can be in position to go whichever way the situation dictates."
By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012
The playoff is not going to stay at four teams
My biggest argument over the years for the BCS and against a playoff system is the fear a playoff would hurt the importance of college football's regular season. There is no better, no more meaningful regular season in all of sports than college football.
Every game matters. One loss could ruin your season. To win a national title, you have to be good each and every week as opposed to getting hot at the right time of the season.
The current system is why you might stay up past midnight on a Saturday in October to watch what you thought was going to be a nothing game turn into an undefeated powerhouse such as USC on the ropes against a big underdog. You know if USC loses, you can pretty much cross it off the list of national contenders.
Put it this way: Those of us who never really wanted a playoff always said college football does have a playoff: It starts with the first game of the regular season.
Well, for those of us worried a playoff will ruin the regular season or, at the very least, make it less significant, a four-team playoff is a compromise we're willing to make.
A four-team playoff doesn't change the importance of the regular season. Every regular-season game remains crucial. One loss, and you certainly risk missing out on a berth.
But here is the concern. Most fans aren't going to be satisfied with a four-team playoff. Soon, they are going to start begging for eight teams, then 12, then 16.
The four-team system is supposed to stay in place for a dozen years.
But you know if enough people complain and, more important, there's more money to be made, officials will find a way to expand the postseason.
This could be the first step of a slippery slope.
The more teams you invite, the more teams want in
I would argue that most seasons under the BCS, the two most deserving teams did end up meeting for the national championship. Occasionally, one or two other teams would make a decent argument that they should have had a crack at the title game.
But if you have a four-team playoff, you could end up having six, seven, eight or more teams that have an argument. In other words, there are more teams that can make a case for being among the four best teams in the country than there are teams that can make a case for being among the two best in the nation.
You just watch. The first time there are three or four teams tied for the fourth-best record in the country, people will start clamoring for an eight-team playoff. Then the regular season will be diminished just so we can add a couple of two-loss teams to the playoff mix.
Take last season. Know who would have been No. 8 in an eight-team playoff? Most likely a Kansas State team that was 10-2.
Do you really think the Wildcats were anywhere near the same level as Alabama or LSU? Were they an elite team? Did they deserve to compete for a national championship with Alabama and LSU?
The answers: no, no and no.
It won't help the small schools
Some cries about the lack of a playoff in recent years came from schools from nonmajor conferences. The little guys — such as Boise State, TCU and Utah — complained they weren't given a fair shot to compete with the big boys from the SEC, Big 12 and so forth.
Many who wanted a playoff system would point to the NCAA basketball tournament and how Cinderellas such as Gonzaga, Butler and George Mason had just as much of a chance as the Dukes, Kentuckys and North Carolinas. All they needed was a chance to play.
But a four-team system really does nothing to improve the lot of the little guy. Major conferences still will get most of the consideration. And if strength of schedule is going to be considered, why would a team from a major conference ever play an upset-minded program similar to Boise State or Utah?
If you're Florida and have to potentially go through a murderer's row of teams such as LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina, why would you schedule another pain-in-the-neck team outside the conference such as Boise State? And without beating top teams such as Florida, a team such as Boise State doesn't stand a chance of getting playoff consideration.
Who's picking these teams?
The four teams are going to be selected by a panel of … well, we don't know exactly.
It could be a panel of active school presidents and/or administrators. It could be former coaches and athletic directors. It could be sports writers and broadcasters. Maybe it will be a combination of all of the above.
The problem would be whoever is picked to be on the committee will have biases and conflicts. After all, they're only human.
University executives such as presidents and athletic directors have rivals and conference ties that could influence their thinking. Will former coaches, say guys such as Florida State's Bobby Bowden, pay close enough attention to make intelligent, educated decisions?
Some on the committee might give more weight to SEC schools than Big Ten schools. Perhaps Pac-12 teams won't be seen enough to be considered. Some might believe one conference shouldn't have two teams in the playoffs no matter what.
True, the current system takes into account voters with biases, but the point is the human element still is involved. And it's easier for people to agree on who the top two teams are as opposed to agreeing on the top four teams.
Final analysis
I'm in the minority, but I never had a problem with the BCS for two reasons. One, it preserved the integrity of the regular season. And two, while you could argue there might have been a team left out that deserved to play in the national title game, you could not argue the two final teams were undeserving. Ultimately, the national champion was a valid one and won the title on the field. I'd rather have the BCS than a four-team playoff, but I'd rather have a four-team playoff than one with eight or more teams. If everyone can promise to be happy with a four-team playoff, I promise to be happy with it, too.
tom jones' two cents
Last week, the long national nightmare for most college football fans, otherwise known as the BCS, came to an end. Starting in the fall of 2014, Division I-A college football will have a four-team playoff. While many college football fans rejoice, here are four reasons why there still are matters to consider before calling this a victory and why this particular fan is already lamenting the end of the BCS.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012
New INF Brooks Conrad does several things that have caught the Rays' attention — the energy with which he plays, the versatility he provides, the quality of his at-bats. But it's something he doesn't do that has become his most talked-about trait: wear batting gloves. One of a, um, handful of big-leaguers in recent times to go bare-handed — or, as some call it, naked — Conrad has been doing it that way since he started using wood bats. "It's a personal preference thing," he said. "I just kind of like the feel of the bat in my hands." As a result, his hands are calloused and often discolored as he uses a mix of rosin, pine tar and dirt to keep them dry and give him a good grip on the bat. (A telling sign is how dirty his uniform gets as he's always wiping his hands on his pants.) On a particularly hot or wet day he might resort to gloves for batting practice (so as not to waste time swiping the dirt before each swing), but he really would rather not.
The 'Raw Dog' cometh
Conrad's approach in Atlanta earned him the honor of a nickname bestowed by future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones: Raw Dog. "That's become a slang term for no batting gloves, to go up there and Raw Dog it," Conrad explained. "He started throwing it out there, and it stuck."
Going 'naked'
Notable players who went without batting gloves all, or most, of the time were George Brett, Mark Grace, Vlad Guerrero, Moises Alou and Jorge Posada. Also, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez. "In 1985 I was in (Class A) Winston-Salem and I was raking and I was using gloves," Martinez said. "My glove ripped, I got some new ones and I went like 1-for-20-something, so I took them off, threw them down and said I wasn't wearing gloves anymore. I got three hits the next day and ever since then I never wore them."
Long way to Tampa Bay
A star at Arizona State and an eighth-round draft pick in 2001 by the Astros, Conrad spent 7½ seasons in the minors before getting to the big leagues (six games with the A's in 2008) and another 1½ before getting to stay, with the Braves in 2010-11. Nontendered by Atlanta after last season, he faced a tough decision — "It was really close" — between minor-league offers from the Brewers and Rays (who had Joe Maddon call to recruit him). He picked Milwaukee, struggled and spent time in Triple A, and was designated for assignment June 19 when the Brewers needed a roster spot. With more than 20 teams passing, he was finally a Ray, as they claimed him off waivers for $20,000 and assumed his $510,000 salary.
Triple-E performance
Conrad had a reputation for delivering in the clutch for Atlanta, including two pinch-hit grand slams. But what Conrad may be most known for is making a postseason record-tying three errors in a 2010 NL Division Series game against the Giants, which pretty much cost the Braves the series. But Conrad was also known for the standup way in which he handled himself in the glare of the national spotlight afterward. "You've got to own up to your mistakes," Conrad says now. "That's how I was raised. That's how you have to handle the situation. You can't put blame on anybody else. The only way to get through something like that is to get past it, own up to it and move on."
More on Conrad
He worked odd jobs during his minor-league offseasons — valet parking, helping his dad do maintenance at a junior college, driving a forklift and taking random assignments through a temp agency. … He is a natural right-handed hitter but started switch-hitting as a kid when his dad noticed he could swing it lefty also. … Though he never played football, he is a huge fan: "I'm a crazy Chargers nut, I watch every game."
All in a name
Though Conrad grew up near San Diego, his parents, Gail and Jerry, both huge baseball fans, had a special fondness for a certain Baltimore Hall of Fame third baseman. "He was one of their favorite players of the time, and they had a son, so they named me after Brooks Robinson," Conrad explained. … His middle name, Litchfield, is his mom's maiden name. … Manager Joe Maddon has another nickname for him, based on his resemblance in looks, and style of play, to a former Ray: Brooks Wigginton.
Rays rumblings
Former Rays C Dioner Navarro, hitting .331 for the Reds' Triple-A team, made the International League All-Star team; he'll be joined by ex-Rays Dan Johnson and Russ Canzler. … Ben Zobrist tied for fifth as the most underrated position player in a Sports Illustrated poll of big-leaguers; Texas' Michael Young was first. … Joe Maddon told Sirius XM radio if he had "inside information" on an opponent, as the Nats did with Joel Peralta, he "would not have utilized it." … Teams may play 19 intradivision games next season, up from 18.
Got a minute? | Brooks Conrad
Something you're scared of? Snakes. Do not like snakes.
Favorite TV show? Definitely Friends.
Go-to karaoke song? If the boys made me do it, like on the bus, I'd probably go with Gin and Juice, by Snoop Dogg. I can nail that one.
Late-night snack? Cheez-Its.
Celebrity crush? Jessica Biel.
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2012
TAMPA
If you don't remember reading about many position battles during the Bucs' 2011 training camp, it's not because your memory is failing.
There's a simple explanation: There just weren't enough of them.
As a result, too few players had to earn the right to be starters, meaning they were probably at little risk of losing those starting jobs.
But as the complexion of the roster has changed during the offseason of massive overhauling, the team finally has serious competition in certain units.
Not every example of a competitive situation involves one where a starter is watching his back. Some involve competition among backups fighting for playing time. But either way, it's a good thing, and something the Bucs haven't had enough of in recent seasons.
Take the running back position. We're about to find out just how much veteran LeGarrette Blount and rookie Doug Martin want the football. Both figure to have extensive roles this season, but one will be the actual starter and probably get a bigger share of the carries based mostly on training camp and preseason performances.
This is good news, regardless of the winner.
The last time the team had true competition at running back — in 2010, between Blount and Cadillac Williams — it got the best out of both players. Williams, who was struggling before the emergence of Blount, averaged 6.4 yards per carry in his final eight games that season, after Blount had surpassed him on the depth chart.
You can find an instance of the increased competition in the secondary, too. Cody Grimm, entering his third season, has started 12 of the 14 games in which he has played (he has had two season-ending injuries). But if the season started today, he'd be coming off the bench behind SS Mark Barron and FS Ronde Barber.
Another defensive back who should be motivated is corner E.J. Biggers. If Barber, as expected, plays slot cornerback on passing downs, he will become the third cornerback, which was Biggers' role the past two seasons. It's going to take a serious effort for Biggers to earn his way onto the field.
Overall, the secondary is actually pretty crowded, which is the way coach Greg Schiano likes it.
"We're probably going to have to end up letting go a defensive back who can play in this league," Schiano said, previewing the difficult decisions that loom at final cuts. "That's always tough, but it's a good problem to have, I guess."
The receiver position is similarly competitive, with free agent pickup and No. 1 WR Vincent Jackson knocking everyone down a notch on the depth chart. There's a bit of a logjam after No. 2 Mike Williams between Dezmon Briscoe, Preston Parker, Arrelious Benn, Sammie Stroughter and even newcomer Tiquan Underwood, but that can't hurt.
Linebacker and defensive tackle are positions that have added depth this year, too.
So, while most of the league has spent the offseason talking about the Bucs' big splashes in free agency — the signings of Jackson and G Carl Nicks — Tampa Bay's substantially improved depth shouldn't be overlooked.
That, among other things, should at least make this training camp more memorable for you.
TIME TO WORRY? You might have noticed the Bucs easily signed each of their draft picks in the past two months, except for one, Barron, the seventh overall choice.
With nearly 90 percent of rookies having already signed, should you be concerned? Not yet.
None of the top eight picks from the draft have signed, mostly because of a dispute between agents and teams about the wording in their contracts. Because the top 16 picks receive fully guaranteed rookie deals according to last year's new collective bargaining agreement, teams are trying to mitigate that by paying a reduced amount if a player is eventually released but picked up by another team.
In the end, it could be a substantial amount of money in extreme cases but still far less than what was at stake under the old salary structure that saw Rams QB Sam Bradford get $50 million in guarantees.
In other words, it's probably not enough to result in training camp holdouts, which is all that matters.
Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @HolderStephen.
