Times wires
Monday, July 30, 2012

CHICAGO — The Cubs reportedly made two trades late Monday, sending LHP Paul Maholm and OF Reed Johnson to the Braves and C Geovany Soto to the Rangers.

Soto and Johnson were pulled in the middle of Monday night's game and hugged teammates. The Cubs offered no confirmation, and the Braves and Texas said they had no trades to report.

Maholm is 9-6 with a 3.74 ERA, 5-0, 1.00 since June 29. Johnson likely will replace the injured Matt Diaz as an occasional starter against left-handers.

ESPN reported that Chicago received RHPs Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman from Atlanta. Vizcaino, 21, considered one of the Braves' top prospects, had reconstructive elbow surgery this spring. Chapman, 25, a reliever, has a 3.52 ERA in 532/3 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett.

CBS Sports reported that the Cubs acquired RHP Jacob Brigham from Texas. Brigham, 24, is 5-5 with a 4.28 ERA at Double-A Frisco.

ZAMBRANO YANKED: The Marlins moved struggling RHP Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen. Manager Ozzie Guillen said LHP Wade LeBlanc will take Zambrano's spot in the rotation Wednesday night.

ORTIZ'S RETURN DELAYED: Red Sox DH David Ortiz felt some soreness in his right Achilles tendon and is unlikely to come off the disabled list when eligible Wednesday. Ortiz has been on the DL since July 17.

EX-PITCHER CHARGED: Former RHP Jose Rijo, the 1990 World Series MVP for the Reds, was charged with laundering money for a suspected drug trafficker in the Dominican Republic.

ANGELS: RHP Dan Haren is expected to miss his scheduled start Wednesday because of back stiffness, the same issue that landed him on the disabled list this month.

BLUE JAYS: 1B Adam Lind, who had sat out three games with lower back tightness, went on the 15-day disabled list.

BREWERS: Bullpen coach Stan Kyles was fired a day after the latest late-inning meltdown. … RHP Shaun Marcum, out since June 15 with right elbow soreness, was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list after a setback.

ORIOLES: DH Jim Thome headed back to Baltimore to have tests on his sore neck.

PADRES: Rookie C Yasmani Grandal, a former Miami Hurricanes standout, left in the second inning after straining a muscle in his right side on a big swing.

RANGERS: 1B Mitch Moreland, out since June 19 with a strained left hamstring, was activated from the disabled list.

REDS: C Devin Mesoraco was ejected in the third inning for arguing a pitch call by umpire Chad Fairchild then poked at his chest protector and bumped him before leaving.

RED SOX: RF Ryan Sweeney was pulled after punching a door in frustration and will have X-rays on his left hand today.

WHITE SOX: LHP Chris Sale, in his first season in the starting rotation, said he's going through a dead arm period and will get a few extra days of rest.

YANKEES: 1B Mark Teixeira aggravated a left wrist injury and has an MRI exam scheduled today.

Times wires
Monday, July 30, 2012

ARLINGTON, Texas — Kendrys Morales broke out of a slump in a big way.

He homered from both sides of the plate during a nine-run sixth inning, capping the burst with a grand slam that sent the Angels romping past the Rangers 15-8 Monday night.

"I'm very excited since it's not an easy thing to do," said Morales, a Cuban native who spoke through an interpreter. "They were good pitches, perhaps mistakes they made. I felt comfortable, and I was able to connect."

Morales became the third switch-hitter to homer as a lefty and righty in the same inning. Carlos Baerga did it for Cleveland in 1993, and the Cubs' Mark Bellhorn duplicated the feat in 2002.

The Angels won the opener of the four-game series and closed within four games of AL West-leading Texas.

Morales hit a two-run shot in the sixth as a lefty off Texas starter Roy Oswalt that put the Angels ahead 5-3. Morales hit a grand slam off Robbie Ross from the right side.

Morales became the 25th AL player to hit two homers in the same inning.

"We need Kendrys and his last 100 at-bats he hasn't been driving the ball or swinging like he can, so it's good to see," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Mike Trout homered, drove in four runs and scored three for the Angels. Maicer Izturis homered and Albert Pujols doubled twice and singled.

Josh Hamilton homered, doubled and singled for Texas.

Times wires
Monday, July 30, 2012

LONDON — Missy Franklin stared out on the horde of reporters and sounded like a high school senior-to-be. "I don't like being up here alone," she said nervously.

Then she turned on a big smile and worked the room like a pro.

Franklin put America's swim hopes back on track Monday, coming back less than 14 minutes after swimming a semifinal to win her first gold medal.

"Indescribable," Franklin, 17, said after rallying to win the 100-meter backstroke over Australia's Emily Seebohm. "I still can't believe that happened. I don't even know what to think. I saw my parents' reaction on the screen, and I just started bawling. I can't even think right now."

After finishing the semis of the 200 freestyle, she hopped out of the pool and headed to the diving well for a quick warmdown. She didn't have time to make it to the practice pool before the final.

Matt Grevers kept the gold medals coming for the United States, following Franklin with a win in the 100 backstroke. Nick Thoman made it a 1-2 finish for the Americans. Rebecca Soni nearly pulled out a third U.S. gold, rallying furiously on the return leg of the 100 breaststroke. But she couldn't quite catch blazing Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte, a gold medalist at 15.

Franklin raced for her gold after Ryan Lochte turned in a second straight disappointing performance after opening the Games with a dominant win in the 400 individual medley. He finished fourth in the 200 freestyle, which France's Yannick Agnel won by a body length against a field with gold medalists galore.

Sunday, Lochte anchored the United States in the 400 free relay, taking over with a seemingly comfortable lead. But Agnel chased him down and got the win.

"I did my best," the former Gator said of Monday's race. "I guess sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I gave it 110 percent. There's probably some things I messed up on, but you live and learn. (Agnel is) a great racer. … He did good."

Grevers won in an Olympic-record 52.16 seconds, giving the United States a fifth straight win in the event. "I must be selfish because it took me a good 10 seconds to realize (Thoman) got second," he quipped. "But when I noticed, that moment became much more special."

French President Francois Hollande, at the venue, congratulated Agnel. "Remarkable, two gold medals two nights in a row," Hollande said. "It's a big reward for French swimming."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 30, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — What started as a roar of rumors about numerous Rays players was down to barely a whisper by Monday night. And unless something unexpected happens in the final hours — which it can with one phone call — it looks like the Rays will get to today's 4 p.m. deadline for nonwaiver trades without making a deal.

"Extremely quiet," manager Joe Maddon said after exchanging text messages with executive vice president Andrew Friedman before Monday's game. "There's nothing to think about for me right now. It's just play today and not worry about anything because it's probably going to look like this right after trade deadline also."

As a further sign, Maddon said he had "not even thought about" a contingency plan if the Rays did deal James Shields, who is scheduled to start tonight.

Most of the speculation has involved Shields who, with Zack Greinke traded to the Angels and Cole Hamels signed to an extension with the Phillies, was considered one of the top available starters.

Shields, while acknowledging the situation could change, said he doesn't expect anything to happen, either. "It's looking like more and more I'm going to stay here," he said. "I plan on pitching (tonight)."

Outfielder B.J. Upton, whose name has also been mentioned in some reports, said he and Shields have had a bit of a running joke over the past few weeks: "We see each other and it's kind of like, 'You're still here? I'm still here.' "

Shields and Upton both said they take it as a sign of confidence the front office has in the current squad, which began play Monday two games out of the second wild-card spot.

"I don't see them breaking any of this up," Upton said. "We're playing well and we're playing well against teams we need to play well against."

The other possibility would be to supplement what they have. But the prime areas for improvement are shortstop and catcher, where significant (and affordable, which can be a different issue) upgrades are hard to find and seem unlikely.

Times wires
Monday, July 30, 2012

Padres 11, Reds 5

CINCINNATI — Will Venable had four RBIs as San Diego ended Cincinnati's 10-game winning streak. Two ex-Reds starred: Edinson Volquez won it and Yonder Alonso tied a Padres record with three doubles.

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Monday, July 30, 2012

Plant City has had some dominant All-Star teams in the past couple of years, and this season is no exception.

In the Little League Majors Baseball state tournament in DeBary, Plant City (10-1) edged Windermere 5-3 Monday to advance to this weekend's Southeast Region tournament in Warner-Robbins, Ga.

Plant City Minor (10-11) Baseball also advanced, reaching today's semifinal in the Little League Southeast Region Tournament in Luray, Va. With Monday's 9-1 victory over Virginia, Plant City (10-1) clinched a semifinal rematch. The winner of that plays in Wednesday's final against Tennessee or Georgia.

Also Monday, Largo (10-1) won the Senior Baseball state title 6-0 over Dade City (8-4). Michael Del Monte tossed the shutout, Largo's second in three games. Tanner Fields threw a 10-0 shutout over Vero Beach Saturday. Largo moves on to Viera Suntree for the Southeast Region tournament this weekend.

In Braden River, East Bay (10-2) lost the Junior Baseball state final, 6-4 to Rockledge.

SOFTBALL: Palma Ceia/Tampa Bay (11-0) reached the semifinals of the Junior Southeast Regional with its 6-0 win Monday over host Cape Coral.

Palma Ceia, which made the Junior World Series last season, would repeat that with two more victories. The club, which faces Tennessee tonight, has been powered by pitchers Dani Tringali and Lindsay Lopez.

Land O'Lakes Minors (9-10) beat West Virginia 9-8 in a Southeast Region semifinal. The club (9-1) faces host Luray, Va. today.

Citrus Park (8-1) made the Minors (10-11) Southeast Region final with a 7-0 victory over West Virginia and faces Bridgewater, Va., today.

DIXIE LEAGUE: The Spring Hill Dixie Ponytails continued to stay alive in the Dixie Ponytails X-Play World Series in Hartsville, S.C.

Spring Hill (9-1) won via mercy rule for the second consecutive time in an elimination game, knocking off host Hartsville 10-0 with a walk-off RBI bunt single by Megan Nelski to score Abby Oliver.

Heather Shagoury (three innings, one walk, one hit, two strikeouts) and Madyson Lamp (one inning) combined for the shutout. Miranda Arroyo hit a bases-loaded three-run triple in the second inning to bust the game open for the Hernando County team, and Paige Pfent had a two-run homer in the third.

Spring Hill faces South Carolina in the next round.

Times wires
Monday, July 30, 2012

Cubs 14, Pirates 4

CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo and Darwin Barney hit three-run homers, and Chicago set a season high for runs. Starlin Castro added a two-run shot and reached base four times as the Cubs won for the 11th time in their past 13 games at Wrigley Field.

Times wires
Monday, July 30, 2012

Twins 7, White Sox 6

MINNEAPOLIS — Jamey Carroll's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning scored Alexi Casilla, and Minnesota won its fourth straight game. Former Tampa Catholic standout Denard Span had two hits and two spectacular catches in centerfield for the Twins. A.J. Pierzynski homered for Chicago in his first game after missing the past five with a strained oblique.

Times wires
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Brewers 8, Astros 7

MILWAUKEE — Cody Ransom's homer capped a four-run burst in the eighth inning, and Milwaukee held on despite more shaky bullpen work. After Houston tied it at 4 in the eighth against Livan Hernandez, Ransom's three-run shot gave the Brewers an 8-4 lead in the bottom half.

Times staff
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Baseball

Marlins at Braves, 7 p.m., FSN

Angels at Rangers, 8 p.m., MLB

Rays at A's, 10 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Olympics

4 a.m. – 7 p.m., NBC BASKETBALL

• Men's Basketball Qualifying Round – Australia vs. Spain (LIVE), Great Britain vs. Brazil (LIVE), France vs. Argentina (LIVE), Tunisia vs. U.S. (LIVE)

4 a.m. – 8 p.m., NBCSN

• Women's Soccer – U.S. vs. North Korea (LIVE)

• Men's Basketball – U.S. vs. Tunisia (LIVE), France vs. Argentina (LIVE)

• Equestrian – Eventing, Team Jumping Gold Medal Final (LIVE), Individual Jumping Final (LIVE)

• Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)

• Men's Water Polo – Qualifying Round (LIVE)

• Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

• Men's Shooting – Skeet Gold Medal Final

7 a.m. – 3 p.m., BRAVO

• Tennis – (LIVE), Singles Early Rounds, Doubles Quarterfinals

9 a.m. – 6 p.m., MSNBC

• Women's Field Hockey – U.S. vs. Argentina (LIVE)

• Men's Basketball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)

• Women's Soccer – Qualifying Round (LIVE)

• Weightlifting – Gold Medal Finals

• Women's Table Tennis – Semifinal

• Men's Handball – Qualifying Round

• Badminton – Qualifying Round

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.TELEMUNDO

• Swimming – Qualifying Heats

• Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round

• Men's Volleyball – Qualifying Round

• Men's Basketball – Qualifying Round

• Boxing – Elimination Bouts

• Tennis – Qualifying Rounds

9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., NBC SOCCER

• Women's Soccer – Qualifying Round: Canada vs. Sweden (LIVE), U.S. vs. North Korea (LIVE), Great Britain vs. Brazil (LIVE), Japan vs. South Africa, France vs. Columbia, New Zealand vs. Cameroon

10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Ch. 8

• Swimming – Qualifying Heats

• Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)

• Men's Volleyball – U.S. vs. Germany (LIVE)

• Men's Water Polo – U.S. vs. Romania (LIVE)

• Men's Canoeing – Whitewater, C-1 Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

• Rowing – Semifinals

5 – 8 p.m., CNBC

• Boxing – Elimination Bouts

8– Midnight, Ch. 8

• Women's Gymnastics – Team Gold Medal Final

• Swimming – Gold Medal Finals: Men's 200M Butterfly, Men's 4 x 200M Freestyle Relay, Women's 200M Freestyle, Women's 200M Individual Medley

• Women's Diving – Platform Synchronized Gold Medal Final

Midnight – 2:30 a.m., TELEMUNDO

• Women's Gymnastics – Team Gold Medal Final

• Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

• Women's Diving – Platform Synchronized Gold Medal Final

12:35 a.m. – 1:35 a.m., Ch. 8

• Swimming – Semifinals

• Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round

Soccer

Exhibition: New York vs. Tottenham, 7 p.m., ESPN2, ESPND

CONCACAF Champions League: Real Salt Lake at Herediano, 10 p.m., FSC

TV: FSC: Fox Soccer Network; FSN: Fox Sports Network.

Times wires
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Mariners 4, Blue Jays 1

SEATTLE — Hisashi Iwakuma struck out a career-high 13 and Michael Saunders and Kyle Seager had two hits each to help Seattle win its fifth straight game. Iwakuma struck out Rajai Davis three straight times after allowing Davis' first career leadoff home run. He broke the Mariners rookie record of 12 strikeouts shared by Mark Langston, Randy Johnson and Freddy Garcia.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — The amazing A's have drawn comparisons with the 2008 Rays for their inspired play and unexpected success, and Rays manager Joe Maddon said before Monday's game a telling sign are the "magical" things that seem to happen frequently during such a season.

The Rays saw it for themselves by the end of the long night, as the A's raucously celebrated their major-league leading 12th walkoff win after a 4-3 15-inning victory.

The end came just after 3:15 a.m. Tampa Bay time when Jemile Weeks hit a sacrifice fly to right-center off Kyle Farnsworth, the eighth Rays pitcher, to score Brandon Inge. The rally started when Inge opened the 15th with a single and went to second on a bunt, and Farnsworth walked two — one intentionally, one not — to load the bases. The Rays went to a five-man infield but Weeks' fly ball ended the marathon after 5 hours and 9 minutes.

Farnsworth said it was obviously frustrating: "It is. It totally is. It (stinks).''

"It's tough,'' said Rays starter David Price. "When you play for as long as we did, and we played great defense and we pitched very well, and to not be able to win that that game, that kind of stings a little bit.''

The Rays didn't exactly challenge, going from the seventh to the 14th without a hit. And when they got two to open the 14th, singles by Ben Zobrist and Jeff Keppinger, they didn't do anything with them. Brooks Conrad, pinch-hitting for Matt Joyce against lefty Jerry Blevins, struck out looking, as manager Joe Maddon eschewed the bunt. Ryan Roberts flied to right, with Zobrist moving up to third, and Carlos Pena flied to right for the final out.

They got two on again in the 15th, but B.J. Upton – 0-for-7 on the night – popped out and Zobrist grounded out.

The A's, who have seven walkoff wins in their last 12 home games. had numerous chances. They had the bases loaded in the ninth, but Wade Davis struck out Weeks. They loaded the bases in the 10th, but Jake McGee struck out Kurt Suzuki. (McGee had a particularly tough inning as he took a grounder off his left foot and then - somehow – airmailed what was supposed to be ball four of an intentional walk to the backstop.) They had two on in 11th, but J.P. Howell struck out Josh Reddick.

"They have all the chances and did not score,'' Maddon said. "So you think at some point you're going to find a way to get it done. And it just did not want to work.''

Tampa Bay pitchers struck out a team-record 21 and walked 10, throwing 279 pitches. It was the longest road game in team history; the overall record is 16.

"The bullpen was fabulous once again,'' Maddon said. "We were just unable to get any offense together. ... We just have to hit the ball better. We did not make a lot of hard contact tonight.''

The Rays didn't want to use Farnsworth, Maddon said, but he offered and they decided to give him one inning. Keppinger was warming up and would have pitched the next two, Maddon said, with Roberts after that.

The loss kept the Rays (53-50) from what would have been their first three-game winning streak since June 7-10, when they won four straight. It gave them a 4-3 record thus far on their nine-game cross-country challenge against other wild-card contenders and left them needing to win the next two to take all three series, having won two of three at Baltimore and Anaheim.

The game, played before a gathering of 12,564, was tied at 3 after seven innings.

After setting the A's down in order in the first, Price gave up two runs in the second, ending the Rays' scoreless streak at a team record-tying 24 innings going back to the third on Friday night in Anaheim.

Price didn't allow anything else until the seventh, but it was costly: a two-out homer to No. 9 hitter Brandon Hicks on a 1-and-1 pitch.

"Just very unfortunate,'' Maddon said.

"That's part of it,'' Price said. "I wish I could have that pitch back and throw something different, but that's it.''

Price left after seven with a decent line — three runs allowed on five hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts —- but without a shot at what would have been his major-league leading 15th victory. "They got me the lead like they have all year and I wasn't able to hold on to it,'' Price said.

The Rays were held hitless through the first three innings by A's rookie right-hander A.J. Griffin then rallied for two to tie in the fourth, Zobrist getting them started with a single up the middle and Peña delivering the big hit. Zobrist was replaced by Keppinger on first after a fielder's choice grounder, Joyce walked then Peña laced a drive to right-center for a two-run double.

The Rays, after hitting a couple balls to the wall off Griffin, took the lead in the sixth when Joyce hit one out to right, his first homer since June 10 and 12th overall.

They had a chance for more in the seventh but doomed themselves in a perplexing sequence after Peña led off with a single. It seemed like an obvious bunt situation for Jose Molina, but the Rays let him swing, and he made that work out with a single. But Peña tried what Maddon said was a "a good job" that turned out to be a bad decision trying to get to third and was thrown out by rightfielder Josh Reddick. Worse, two pitches later Molina took off for second and, well after Sean Rodriguez swung and missed on what was supposed to be a hit and run, was easily thrown out. Rodriguez then flied out.

As frustrating as the loss was, Maddon said it can be forgotten on Tuesday: "You have James Shields go out and pitch well - that would be our best medicine.''

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

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Tampa Bay Rays have not made any deals as the Major League Baseball trade deadline passes.

However, remember that trades can still be made after today's deadline but those players need to clear waivers first. The Rays have actually been busier in that window during the Andrew Friedman regime, acquiring RHP Chad Bradford in 2008 and Gregg Zaun in 2009 and making the Scott Kazmir trade in 2009.

With a surplus of pitching and their lack of production of shortstop and catcher most glaring, the Rays were expected to spend the final few hours as they spent most of the last week, in a large number of discussions but unlikely to make a deal.

One catcher was traded last night, with the Rangers getting Geovany Soto from the Cubs, for Double-A pitcher Jake Brigham and a player to be named later or cash. To make room, the Rangers designated for assignment Yorvit Torrealba (so maybe he could be a low-end pick up for the Rays).

Among middle infielders that were being talked about by other teams, Arizona's Stephen Drew was an interesting name, though he has a history of injuries.

For the Rays, the question seemed to be whether the potential upgrades woudl be significant enough to give up the required assests now, or bank on the return of injured hitters Evan Longoria and Luke Scott and hang on to their pitching and prospects for future use.

ESPN/SiriusXM's Jim Bowden reported the Rangers, seeking pitching help, made what sounds like a cursory check back with the Rays — "circling back to kick the tires — on James Shields. But the Rangers reportedly acquired Ryan Dempster from the Cubs instead.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

TAMPA — In training camp last year, Jeremy Zuttah was on the move, getting snaps at all five offensive line positions.

Zuttah's versatility has been a huge asset for the Bucs his first four seasons. But he is more than happy to be staying put now, entrenched as the starting center.

"It's just cool to be in one place," Zuttah said. "I'm ready to go."

The Bucs believe Zuttah is a natural fit at center, blending strength, speed and smarts, which is partly why they signed him to a four-year, $16.3 million extension in March and felt comfortable releasing Jeff Faine, their starter for four seasons.

Zuttah, 26, is familiar with the position, making nine of his 44 NFL starts there. He'll have help, and said the best part is having Pro Bowl guards Davin Joseph and Carl Nicks alongside him. Nicks, a 6-foot-5, 343-pound star, signed a five-year free agent deal in the offseason.

"You can go all around the league and you're not going to find two guards like that," Zuttah said. "So I'm going to try to do my part and try to get on the same page with them."

Bucs coach Greg Schiano, who coached Zuttah at Rutgers, said while the Edison, N.J., native isn't the biggest guy at 6-4, 308, he's got the "perfect temperament" to play center, mixing intelligence with toughness.

"He's a strong guy, but there's a lot of strong guys," Schiano said. "He's very intelligent, he can learn things very quickly and grasp concepts. A lot of times, with all the different blitz looks you get in this day and age of football, you really need someone who understands concepts because you're going to get new looks. But if your center can identify and communicate that, it kind of calms everybody else down and that's what we're counting on from Jeremy."

Zuttah, a third-round pick in 2008, impressed teammates by adapting and playing all over the line, much like he did in college. He has 30 starts at left guard, five at right guard and nine at center, filling in for Faine.

"He likes center better than guard, but it's a business and he had to play where he could play," left tackle Donald Penn said. "He did a great job but he feels comfortable at center and I think that'll help us a lot because when you have a guy playing the position he's comfortable with, it's a lot easier."

Said Joseph: "I think it's the right spot for him. He knows the offense really well, and is a real smart guy. He knows all the positions, which makes him even better. I know he'll do well."

Zuttah said having played all the spots will help him anticipate protection schemes, with one of his biggest adjustments trying to get a consistent snap with quarterback Josh Freeman.

"Everyday, coming out here, there's something to work on," Zuttah said. "But it's nice to try to specialize a little bit."

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

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

NEWPORT, R.I. — The early date and Thursday night spotlight already made it a game to circle on USF's football schedule, but the Big East's preseason football media poll — with the Bulls picked second and Rutgers third — adds another level of prominence to the Sept. 13 home game against the Scarlet Knights.

"Those conference games early, they're hard because if you lose them, there are such high repercussions for the year, but I think the two of us playing in the third game is going to create a lot of excitement," coach Skip Holtz said.

Louisville, with 24 of 28 first-place votes, is the consensus pick to win the Big East. USF earned the other four first-place votes, and a home win against Rutgers would cement the Bulls' status as the top challenger to the Cardinals. It won't be easy, with USF having a five-day turnaround from a Saturday game at Nevada.

"It's a challenge, definitely a challenge …" quarterback B.J. Daniels said Tuesday. "But that will be a test of the maturity of our team, if we can be mentally ready and prepared for the turnaround to do what we're supposed to do."

A year ago, USF was 4-0 when it opened the Big East schedule with a lopsided loss at Pittsburgh, sparking a slump that saw the Bulls drop seven of their last eight. USF's seniors are excited to play a conference game early and set the tone for a different conference season.

"Hopefully that's one thing we can have success with," linebacker Sam Barrington said. "Thursday night under the lights, you have to appreciate it. We've got them at Raymond James. We love playing in that atmosphere."

It's the earliest in the season USF has ever played a Big East game; it played conference games in the fourth week of 2005 and 2007. The schools' past two meetings have been thrillers, with USF winning 28-27 on a fourth-quarter touchdown in 2010 then Rutgers rallying from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 20-17 in overtime last season.

The game has an added significance to Rutgers players because they'll be at the home stadium of former coach Greg Schiano, now the Bucs' coach.

"It has all the makings to be a great game," Rutgers defensive back Duron Harmon said. "I'm excited to play them that early and see where we stack up against one of the better marquee opponents in the Big East. And that's (Schiano's) stadium. I hope if he's not too busy that he gets to come out and watch. We still have a lot of love for Coach Schiano because he's done great things for all of us as Rutgers men. We're forever indebted."

By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

What's hot: Grouper action remains steady in 60 feet and deeper. Numerous stops have been needed to find fish. Some days, we need 10 stops to find keepers. If a rod doesn't double over in a few minutes, we move. This aggressive method of grouper digging sometimes requires extra work, but the results have been well worth it. We have brought home more than 12 keepers every day this week.

Tips: A mixture of gag and red grouper can be taken using this intense searching method. More gag groupers seem to be coming in from 70 feet and closer, while red grouper are more predominant below 80 feet.

Technique: We drag the anchor from each stop, a type of fishing for experienced boaters only. One mistake and the anchor could get wrapped in the propeller. Years of practice have perfected this search for grouper, reducing the time of manually pulling the anchor after each stop. As the anchor trails behind the boat you can also monitor the sonar more intensely since speeds are often less than 10 mph. We found three new spots this week while dragging the anchor. Each of them produced at least six keepers within minutes.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or visit jawstoo.com.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

LONDON

There has never been a team like it. Not in this sport, and not from this country.

It was fiercer than the Mary Lou Retton team.

It was more athletic than Kerri Strug and the rest of the Magnificent Seven.

It was stronger than Shawn Johnson and her teammates.

And as of Tuesday night, it is the best thing that has ever happened to gymnastics in the United States.

The Americans were tough, and they were dazzling, and if you want to know the truth of it, they ran the score up on their way to winning the women's gold medal at the Olympics. They were deep, and they were energetic, and they made their runnerup rivals from Russia fall away at the sight of them.

Call them the Fab Five.

As long as there are dismounts and stuck landings, their sport will not forget them.

Pixies? Hah. These competitors were powerhouses. They started strong, and they finished strong, and in the middle, they were strong. From their opening vault, they never wobbled, and they never slipped. It was as dominating a performance as you can imagine.

For the United States, it was only the second team gold in Olympic history, and the first on foreign soil.

"They're the best team in the history of the United States," said John Geddert, a coach with the team. "No doubt about it. The (gold medal-winning) '96 team was great, but gymnastics has come so far since '96. This team is more athletic, mentally tougher, and it's deeper.

"They won by five points in a sport of tenths of a point. That's a backyard butt-whuppin'."

True, there have been more memorable individual performances. No one was perfect like Nadia Comaneci, and no one overshadowed her teammates like Olga Korbut, and no one stuck a clutch landing at the end like Strug. The team from Russia, and the one from bronze-winning one from Romania, had to be amazed at how little difference there was from the first American to the last one.

"In '96, that was a bouquet of flowers," said coaching legend Bela Karolyi, describing the winners in Atlanta. "This one is a team."

Want to know how dominant the United States was? Out of 12 events, it cracked 15 points nine times; that's like mid 9s in the old perfect 10 scoring system. The athletes averaged 15.25 per performance.

Individuals? If you are keeping score, Gabby Douglas' performance is a good place to start. She scored 15 points or better in each of her four events, and on the night, she contributed 61.465 points to the U.S. total of 183.596.

There is star power inside of Douglas, a 16-year-old Eveready battery. By comparison, her personality left the Russian women looking grim. Of course, her performance might have had the same effect.

"She's going to be one of the best gymnasts in history," said Geddert.

Still, this was not the Gabby Douglas Show. McKayla Maroney, 16, had a terrific vault to start the night — her 16.233 was the highest American score in any event — and Kyla Ross, 15, was solid on the bars and the beam. Aly Raisman, 18, finished it up on the floor.

Then there was 17-year-old Jordyn Wieber, who went in with a little something to prove. Wieber had been the fourth-best all-around gymnast during qualifying. She was third on her team, however, and only two from each team get to compete for the individual all-around title. The U.S. team bellowed about the ruling, but it's the same rule that has been in place for the previous two Olympics.

This, then, was Wieber's Olympics, and she did a nice job of making it count. Competing in three events, she scored 45.599.

"She's a fighter," said U.S. team coordinator Marta Karolyi.

"I think I did a good job of redeeming myself," Wieber said. "The rules sometimes stink, but I think I did my part."

They all did. And that's the impressive part of this team. That, and its toughness. Wieber may have a stress fracture in her shin. Maroney has a broken toe. Did you notice? Of course not. This team has the soul of linebackers. Say what you want about a sport where the competitors are so young and so small, but these five are a fistful of grit.

There was a time, just before the U.S. team took to the beam, its third event, when the medal was still in doubt. The Russians were within striking distance if the Americans allowed the heat to get to them.

"Then we went bam, bam, bam," Geddert said. "And suddenly, their team started to struggle."

In other words, the U.S. team didn't feel the pressure; it made the opponents feel the pressure.

From now on, these athletes are the standard for gymnastics in the United States. If you are a young gymnast, they are the faces you will admire, and theirs are the posters you will hang on the wall.

They are the best their country has seen. They were golden.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

NEWPORT, R.I. — Speaking at the Big East preseason football media gathering Tuesday, associate commissioner Nick Carparelli made the case that more has changed in the past year — for the Big East and the NCAA — than in any year in recent memory, possibly since Teddy Roosevelt brought about the formation of the NCAA in 1906.

In the past year, the Big East has seen 12 schools announce they are leaving or joining the league, creating a new 12-team football lineup that will take shape next fall, with West Virginia and TCU gone to the Big 12 and Pittsburgh and Syracuse in their final seasons in the conference.

There is more change ahead, with a commissioner expected to be named in the next month and a TV deal to be negotiated. And Carparelli said he is confident that when the details are finished on a new playoff system, the Big East will be in consideration for elite bowls and a playoff and also in the distribution of playoff TV revenues.

"I would ask that you wait until the process is complete, take a look at it and evaluate where we are. I know you're going to find that we are in great shape," Carparelli said. "Our absolute priorities as we approach this new format are to maximize the Big East's position in the new playoff system and assemble a lineup of bowl opportunities and destinations that will distinguish us from other conferences."

That confidence was echoed by league coaches. USF's Skip Holtz said he believes the Big East's problems are not with its product but its image.

"Right now, the image is not what we all want it to be, but the product is exactly what we want," Holtz said. "When the stability comes together, when a commissioner is put in place, when the television contract is negotiated, when the new teams are added in a year, when those things happen, I feel pretty strong that this is going to be an outstanding conference."

Carparelli said the league is considering both existing bowls and the creation of a game the league could own and operate to ensure a place in the postseason for its conference champion in the new playoff system.

THIS AND THAT: Holtz said USF should be filing a hardship waiver with the NCAA in the next week that would seek to allow Notre Dame transfer Aaron Lynch, a Freshman All-American DE, to play immediately. … The league did not announce its plans for divisional splits in 2013-14, a decision that could wait until a TV contract is signed this fall. … Carparelli took a shot at the SEC and Big 12's new Champions Bowl, calling it the "Non-Champions Bowl" and the "Runners-up Bowl" as the leagues' champs are often likely to instead be playing in a national playoff. … Holtz pointed out on Twitter that though QB B.J. Daniels is one of eight players on the cover of the Big East football guide, the photo shows him holding the ball out away from his body like the proverbial loaf of bread. "Proud of BJ Daniels for being on the Big East media guide cover but obviously we need to work on that ball security," he tweeted. … Walk-on WR Jordan Duval, arrested last month on a felony theft charge, is not listed on USF's 2012 roster. Holtz is not addressing roster changes until players report for preseason camp Sunday.

Times wires
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

ORLANDO — The NCAA hammered UCF with hefty sanctions Tuesday morning after its investigation of major recruiting infractions within the football and men's basketball programs.

UCF was cited for the dreaded "lack of institutional control," triggering a series of stringent sanctions.

The Knights were hit with a one-year postseason ban in football and men's basketball. UCF was fined $50,000 and placed on five years probation. Former UCF athletic director Keith Tribble and men's basketball coach Donnie Jones were given three-year "show cause" penalties, and former receivers coach David Kelly was hit with a one-year "show cause" penalty.

The "show cause" penalty means an NCAA school must prove Tribble, Jones and Kelly will comply with NCAA rules and accept any probation sanctions linked to them. The penalty makes it extremely difficult to land a job at a new school.

The postseason ban means the promising football and men's basketball programs are not be eligible to compete in the Conference USA men's basketball tournament or football championship game. Players likely will be free to transfer without having to sit out the upcoming season.

Greg Sankey, the executive associate commissioner of the SEC and an NCAA infractions committee member, said that the lack of control UCF had on outside entities was the most egregious finding.

"Part of what was troubling here is there was knowledge of the representatives or third parties being involved in the recruiting process and (UCF officials) facilitated that," he said.

In a news conference, UCF president John Hitt said while he "generally accepts" the penalties levied, the school will appeal the postseason ban in football.

"We just don't feel the violations outlined in the NCAA bylaws justify the sanctions," Hitt said.

PENN STATE DEFECTION: Star tailback Silas Redd has bolted Penn State for Southern Cal. The 1,200-yard rusher opted to leave a Nittany Lions program facing heavy NCAA sanctions handed down because of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

NOTRE DAME: Quarterback Tommy Rees and linebacker Carlo Calabrese were suspended for the Sept. 1 opener against Navy in Ireland. Both were arrested in May after an off-campus party in South Bend, Ind.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Reserve quarterback Tanner McEvoy was arrested in North Carolina and charged with speeding and driving after consuming while under age 21. McEvoy was suspended from the team.

OBITUARY: Harvard baseball coach Joe Walsh, who led the Crimson to five Ivy League titles in 17 seasons, died at his home in Chester, N.H. He was 58. Sandra Walsh said it is believed her husband of 26 years had a heart attack.

Times wires
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

CHICAGO — The Rangers won the Ryan Dempster sweepstakes. Now, they'll try to capture the ultimate prize.

The AL West leaders fortified their rotation for the stretch run, acquiring the Cubs ace before Tuesday's trade deadline for two Class A prospects, INF Christian Villanueva and RHP Kyle Hendricks.

Dempster, who had power to block deals, refused to approve a trade to Atlanta last week. The Dodgers and Yankees also tried to land the righty.

"It's a great opportunity over there," said Dempster, who has spent all of his nearly 15 seasons in the National League. "It's not going to be easy. There are a lot of teams out there that are really good. I think they have as good a chance as anybody."

Dempster was 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 16 games for the Cubs.

Phils deal two OFs

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies traded two-time All-Star RF Hunter Pence to the Giants for OF Nate Schierholtz, minor-league C Tommy Joseph and minor-league RHP Seth Rosin. Pence gives San Francisco much-needed right-handed power.

The cost-cutting Phillies also sent two-time All-Star CF Shane Victorino to the Dodgers for RH reliever Josh Lindblom and minor-league RHP Ethan Martin. Philadelphia also gets a player to be named or cash.

Other trades:

• The Pirates acquired former All-Star 1B Gaby Sanchez from the Marlins. Pittsburgh also got minor-league RHP Kyle Kaminska, and Miami got minor-league OF Gorkys Hernandez and Pittsburgh's extra draft pick in 2013 given to financially weaker teams.

• The Reds acquired RH reliever Jonathan Broxton from the Royals for minor-league LHPs Donnie Joseph and J.C. Sulbaran.

• The Yankees obtained 3B Casey McGehee from Pittsburgh for RH reliever Chad Qualls, a move that follows injuries to 3B Alex Rodriguez and 1B Mark Teixeira.

• The Cardinals acquired bullpen help, getting RHP Edward Mujica from Miami for minor-league 3B Zack Cox, a 2010 first-round pick.

• Boston sent OF Scott Podsednik and RH reliever Matt Albers to the Diamondbacks for LH reliever Craig Breslow.

• The Dodgers obtained former All-Star RH reliever Brandon League from the Mariners for minor-league OF Leon Landry and RHP Logan Bawcom.

• The Blue Jays made two trades for RH relievers, getting Brad Lincoln from Pittsburgh for OF Travis Snider and Steve Delabar from Seattle for OF Eric Thames.

ANGELS: RHP Dan Haren has muscle pain in the right side of his back and is expected to skip his scheduled start today.

BRAVES: RHP Tommy Hanson went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back.

ORIOLES: 1B/DH Jim Thome went on the 15-day disabled list with a herniated disc in his neck.

RANGERS: RHP Neftali Feliz will have reconstructive elbow surgery on his sprained UCL and is out for the season.

YANKEES: 1B Mark Teixeira had a cortisone injection in his left wrist. An MRI exam showed no structural damage.