Times wires
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Rangers 11, Angels 10
10 innings
ARLINGTON, Texas — Elvis Andrus hit a two-run single to cap Texas' four-run rally in the 10th after Los Angeles had scored three in the top half. The Rangers rallied from a 7-1 deficit to force extra innings.
Times wires
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Mariners 5, Blue Jays 3
SEATTLE — Former Ray John Jaso hit the go-ahead single in the sixth and Blake Beavan's 7 2/3 strong innings led Seattle to its seventh consecutive victory, the Mariners' longest winning streak since eight straight from June 23 to July 1, 2011. Beavan is 4-0 since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on July 17. Toronto starter Carlos Villanueva had a dropoff after he went 4-0 and allowed just five earned runs in July.
Times wires
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Cardinals 9, Rockies 6
DENVER — Matt Holliday homered twice and drove in five runs against his former team and St. Louis sent Colorado to a seventh straight home loss. The game was delayed by rain for 1 hour, 26 minutes after the seventh.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Tampa Bay's newest sports radio station, 98.7 The Fan, will debut at noon today, offering area fans a chance to rant, vent and debate about local teams on an FM station.
Owned and operated by CBS Radio, the station will have talk shows led by local personalities, from former Buccaneer lineman Booger McFarland and Lightning forward Chris Dingman, to long-time Tampa Bay Times columnist Gary Shelton.
"It's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be new. It's going to be challenging," Shelton said. "As important as anything, it's going to give me another way to interact with people who have laughed, cried or been ticked off at my column for years. Also, I hear there are groupies."
The station, also available online (www.987TheFan.com), will boast programming all day, with Dingman and Kirk McEwen starting each day off with a morning show from 6 a.m.-10 a.m; McEwen comes from The Fan Morning Show in Baltimore, where he has been hosting since 1984.
Shelton will be joined from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. by Justin "The Commish" Pawlowski. The afternoon drivetime, from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. will have McFarland and Todd Wright, former ESPN and Yahoo Sports host.
Rich Herrera, who was the Rays pre- and postgame host for seven seasons, goes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Nanci Donnellan, best known as the "Fabulous Sports Babe," featured from 1 a.m.-6 a.m.
"98.7 The Fan is excited to bring a representative mix of the Tampa Bay sports fan," Mike Pepper, the program director, said in a statement. "The Buccaneers, Rays, Lightning and Bulls are well represented in our lineup. The talent is looking forward to the opportunity to get the chance to engage the Tampa Bay fan."
Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
TAMPA — Tampa Bay's newest sports radio station, 98.7 The Fan, made its debut with a bang, and some bumps, Thursday afternoon.
Several of the hosts, including "Fabulous Sports Babe" Nanci Donnellan, shared celebratory chest-bumps with USF's mascot, Rocky the Bull, in an introductory launch party at the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center on campus.
Owned and operated by CBS Radio, the station announced a multiyear partnership to be the Bulls' flagship station, with program director Mike Pepper believing they'll distinguish themselves on the FM dial by being live and local "24-7."
"We call ourselves 'The Fan,' and we want to be a voice that the Tampa Bay listener can feel comfortable to talk about Tampa Bay sports," Pepper said.
There will be talk shows all day and night, led by former Bucs defensive tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland, former Lightning forward Chris Dingman and longtime Tampa Bay Times columnist Gary Shelton. Kirk McEwen, a longtime host in Baltimore, Tampa product Justin "Commish" Pawlowski and longtime sports radio host Todd Wright also join former Rays pre- and postgame host Rich Herrera, who calls the group a "dream team."
"It's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be new. It's going to be challenging," said Shelton, who currently calls during his show from London, where he is covering the Olympics. "As important as anything, it's going to give me another way to interact with people who have laughed, cried or been ticked off at my column for years. Also, I hear there are groupies."
The Fan hopes to permeate a market that already includes sports station WDAE-AM 620, which has a dominant presence in the area. But Mark Chernoff, vice president of sports programming with CBS Radio, said they believe it's a "ripe market," pointing out they've started similar stations in Boston, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Like in Pittsburgh, they began by aligning with the local college team, broadcasting coverage of Bulls football and men's basketball starting in the fall. USF athletic director Doug Woolard said because of the station's stronger signal, Bulls games can reach more of the state and "expand our brand" through CBS Radio.
"This is a big day for USF," Woolard said.
Shelton, who joins Pawlowski from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., is the latest Times writer to expand into radio, with Rick Stroud and Tom Jones co-hosting The Sports Page on WDAE weekdays from 6-9 a.m.
"Gary Shelton is a brilliant voice on the Tampa Bay sports scene and one of America's elite newspaper columnists, so we know he'll be an asset to CBS Radio's programming," Times editor Neil Brown said. "Gary's work on the air is another sign of our commitment to extending the reach of the Tampa Bay Times throughout the region and the state."
Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
TAMPA — The Bucs seem to have a fairly good handle on most of their defensive starters. But at nose tackle, especially in light of last week's trade of Brian Price to the Bears, the Bucs remain noncommittal.
Roy Miller, who came off the bench in 2011, is taking most of the first-team snaps, something that is very much subject to change.
Gary Gibson, an offseason signing from the Rams, also is in the mix. To a lesser extent, Amobi Okoye, a free agent from the Bears, is a factor, though he is more likely to play on passing downs.
The Bucs do know they're going to ride Gerald McCoy at under tackle. Figuring out who plays beside him, however, will come later.
"Gerald, he's got the ability to be an elite guy with the (quickness) and the motor he plays with," coach Greg Schiano said. "Then we have to figure out how we're going to deal with the other position and how we're going to create depth (behind McCoy).
"As we work through it, Gary, Roy, Amobi and then whoever else we throw into that mix, it's just going to be competition. Whoever performs the best will get the bigger chunk."
Gibson has missed some practice time with an injury. Okoye missed Thursday and could be out another day or so. The decision probably will wait until after the team grades the players in preseason games, which start Aug. 10 against Miami.
INJURY REPORT: A full week into training camp, the team is dealing with a handful of apparently minor injuries.
SS Mark Barron, the draft's seventh overall pick, was among those not fully participating in practice because of a toe injury, said Schiano, who believes Barron will be okay.
Okoye did not participate, Schiano said, because he's resting his knee after offseason surgery. The situation with DE Michael Bennett is less clear. Bennett, who left practice early Wednesday, was on the sideline but did not participate for reasons that are unclear.
"I think Mike's going to be okay," Schiano said. "I'm not really sure what to call it. He just didn't feel well, and we're just going to be safe there. We'll get him back in a couple of days."
The team did not allow Bennett to speak with reporters.
FS Ronde Barber took most of Thursday off to rest.
"Do you know how old I am?" the 37-year-old said jokingly.
SLIMMER BLOUNT? Schiano said RB LeGarrette Blount might be listed at the same weight he was last season, but that figure likely wasn't accurate until now.
"I think he definitely took some weight off," Schiano said. "If he was 247 in the program, I think he was a little more than that in reality last year. I think what he has done is gotten himself in better shape. I think he's a better player in the condition he's in right now."
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — The improvement LHP Matt Moore has made from his first 10 starts of the season to his next 10 was dramatic, from a 1-5 record with a 4.76 ERA to 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA.
And after he dazzled in his last outing in Anaheim, the Rays are hoping that over his remaining starts he gets even better.
Moore, who opens the home-stand tonight against Baltimore, said there are two parts to his turnaround:
One, he is learning more about what he has to do to be successful against big-league hitters, everything from what pitch to throw in specific situations to when to slow the pace of the game. "It's all coming to me one day at a time," Moore said. "It seems like each time out I'm figuring something out or learning something new."
Two, he is feeling better about what he's doing: "Mentally, I think I may be in a little bit better of a place just because that's the way the game goes. When you're up, you're confidence is going good."
The rookie had a pattern in the minors of getting off to slow starts and improving as the season went on.
Manager Joe Maddon said he has noticed Moore getting more aggressive with his fastball in the strike zone of late. Also, he has handled the expectations better.
"I think the combination of his track record and that he's more comfortable, you're going to see better," Maddon said.
A RHYMES RETURN: INF Will Rhymes is expected to be called up before tonight's game, essentially replacing INF Brooks Conrad, who was sent down Tuesday to Triple-A Durham so a fresh arm could be added to the bullpen for two games. Rhymes has done well since going back to Durham, hitting .368 in his past 10 games.
LONGORia UPDATE: Evan Longoria returned to the Durham lineup for the fifth game of his DH-only rehab assignment. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. He said after that he felt good physically and just needed to get more comfortable at the plate. He was off Tuesday due to what the Rays said was "general soreness," not specific to his left hamstring, which was partially torn April 30.
Testing: RHP Jeff Niemann, out since breaking his right leg in mid May, is scheduled to throw a simulated game today. It could be his last hurdle before heading to a rehab assignment and targeting a late-August return.
MINOR MATTER: Hard-throwing prospect RHP Alex Colome will make his first start for Durham tonight, promoted after going 8-3 with a 3.48 ERA at Double-A Montgomery, including 5-0, 1.27 in his last five starts.
MISCELLANY: 3B Ryan Roberts is looking forward to his first game at the Trop since a 2006 appearance when he was with Toronto: "I'll figure it all out." … Saturday's USF night will feature a first pitch by former football star Anthony Henry. … A neon hat giveaway has been added Sept. 7, which also now includes a postgame performance by DJ/songwriter Calvin Harris.
By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, August 2, 2012
LONDON — She was no longer leaping. She was flying.
Gabby Douglas was so high, impossibly high. She kept racing across the mat, and she would launch herself toward the top of the building, and she would spin and twist and flip. She was parachutist high, Flying Wallenda high, touch-the-sky high.
In the end, that was the question. Of all the gymnasts who had competed before her, did any of them reach the heights Douglas did Thursday? Has any American gymnast ever had the potential to seed the dreams of more young gymnasts?
She was no longer smiling. She had become a human spotlight.
She beamed so wide and so high, and you could see every tooth in her head and every bit of joy in her soul. At that moment, you could imagine how many marketing experts were prepared to put their products — shoes, cereals, apparel — into her hands. It was, famed gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi later agreed, the greatest smile in the history of gymnastics.
There is so much sparkle inside Douglas. Some athletes are that way. You don't just watch them, you share their joy. You smile along with them. You share their moments. Douglas is that way. She has so much pizzazz, so much personalty, she hits you like a human energy drink.
This was the night Douglas arrived. This was when the Flying Squirrel, as she is called, stopped being merely a gymnast and became an icon, when she stopped being a dreamer and became the poster on the walls of a million young gymnasts across her nation. Black kids, white kids, all kids.
Say hello to Gabby Douglas.
She is going to be a very, very big deal.
Douglas twisted and contorted her way into America's heart Thursday. She not only won the gold medal in the Olympic women's all-around competition, she also became the first black gymnast to win the all-around. For a lot of kids, that's going to open the doors to a sport that hasn't had enough faces of color over the years.
"Oh, yeah," Douglas said. "I had forgotten about that. That's amazing. I feel so honored."
Douglas talks like that, all fast and bubbly. The words gush out of her, this cliche and that one about believing in yourself and going for it and, wow, everything is possible. She is 16, after all, and she is so darned happy that she bounces in place. She giggles. She says "wow" a lot. She is a bouncing ball of good mood.
It wasn't that long ago that Douglas was the talented but inconsistent performer on the American team. She was 14 when she left her home in Virginia Beach, Va., to move to Iowa to train. Everyone could see her talent, but it is only recently that she has managed to harness it. Over her career, there rarely had been a good performance that wasn't chased by a bad one.
Now she is a champion, the first American woman to win the all-around and the team gold in the same Olympics. She made herself millions with that performance.
"I guarantee she's going to be a star now, a huge star," Karolyi said. "There's going to be a crazy boom, especially among African-American kids. A huge exposition in the participation. That's beautiful."
In a lot of places, gymnastics is still a predominantly white sport. Yeah, Douglas has noticed. She jokes about how different it can feel.
"It's definitely strange," Douglas said. "I'd be listening to rap music, and I'm like 'Oh, you don't know this song?' And they would say 'Do you like country?' And I'd go 'Oh, this is awkward.' "
She laughed again, and then she turned on the smile again, and you realized how universal her appeal is. Kids of every color are going to want to be like Douglas. First, of course, they must get the "wows" down.
"Tonight she was in the category of Nadia (Comaneci) and Mary Lou (Retton)," Karolyi said, referring to two gymnasts he coached who won the all-around, in 1976 and 1984, respectively. "She wasn't before this, but she is now."
Oh, it was a little shaky at the end. There was a long moment that felt like a week when the entire arena stared at the scoreboard. Douglas had performed well in the floor exercise, her final event, but she was awarded a score that seemed a bit low, to tell the truth. It was as if the judges were trying to give Russian Victoria Komova a chance to win with a great performance. And, yes, Komova was very good.
So everyone looked up, Douglas and Komova and volunteers and ushers and competitors who had no chance of medaling. It was an agonizing wait, a performance that had been turned over to mathematicians.
"It was nerve-wracking," Douglas said. "Man, my heart was racing. 'Do I have it? Do I not have it? Am I first? Am I second? Do I? Do I really?' "
Then the scores flashed, and she had won, Komova was second, and the tears flowed, and Douglas was smiling, and the anthem was playing, and the flashbulbs were firing, and people were cheering, and her mother was waving, and the moment that was better than her dreams was embracing her.
Soon, her country will be doing the same. After all, America loves nothing more than a new star.
As Douglas might say: Wow.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — Carlos Peña gets the new math.
An educated and deep-thinking man, Peña has learned to accept, embrace, even welcome the advanced analysis — espoused by Rays manager Joe Maddon, among others — that discounts the value of basic statistics and determines success via different metrics.
But that won't make it any easier when Peña walks to the plate tonight at Tropicana Field and looks up at the scoreboard to see his batting average: .198.
"Ooof, it's hard, my brother," Peña said. "It is so hard. It attacks your pride. It attacks your ego. So it's an incredible life lesson to grab that and put it aside and think about a greater picture and think that I play for the Tampa Bay Rays and I do not play for Carlos Peña.
"You've got to set that ego aside and set that pride aside and say, 'I only have one job to do, and that's to do everything in my power to help this ballclub win.' That's a great life lesson. And that's the attitude we all must maintain, that's the attitude we all must embrace. Because the moment you start looking at your numbers and feeling down about the fact it doesn't look sexy or pretty up on the board then, oh my goodness, you're not being fair to your teammates."
So rather than dwell on the .198 average, which, even with an 8-for-27 warming over his past eight games, is the lowest of any major-leaguer with 400 plate appearances, Maddon wants his first baseman to focus elsewhere: "I don't want him to be concerned about his batting average." (Similarly, with his 136 strikeouts that are second most in the majors.)
Statistically, for example, on his .321 on-base percentage, a product of his 61 walks, fourth most in the American League. "His on-base percentage based on his batting average is outstanding," Maddon said. "Any time a hitter exceeds his batting average by more than 100 points, that's pretty good work." (Also, his team-leading 15 homers and 46 RBIs.)
And technically, on continuing to make hard contact when he does hit the ball, knowing the increased deployment of defensive shifts — a movement which Maddon helped make more popular — routinely robs Peña, a left-handed pull hitter, of hits on grounders and line drives since there is usually an infielder plopped into short rightfield.
"When you're hitting balls hard into the shift and you're out, what does that do to you psychologically?" Maddon said. "That wears you down a little bit. When you were 16 or 17, that was a hit and now it's an out. That's different, man. It's not easy to just turn the field around at a certain juncture in life. It's defensive sophistication that has caught up to him a little bit."
Quantifying the impact of the shift is tricky, but here's a simple example: Of the 49 ground balls Peña has hit to the right side, only seven have been hits.
Maddon goes as far as suggesting the new forms of statistical measurement need to be taught to kids, and put on the back of baseball cards, so they grow up with a corrected view.
But Peña, the Rays' highest-paid position player with a $7.25 million, one-year salary, is more concerned with the present.
"Trust me, I'm not happy," he said. "I grew up watching guys and understand what a good batting average was. So where I'm at, to my knowledge, that is not a good batting average.
"And it hurts me inside. Dealing with that pain is something I think is a challenge. Not only for me, for anyone. But when you step back and you look at things objectively and you say, 'Okay, Carlos, you hit three absolute missiles into the shift the other day, two missiles the day before that,' then you're like, 'Okay, so if my hitting ability was measured on hard-hit balls, then I would be at the top of the list.'
"So objectively looking at it, I pat myself on the back and say you've done what you needed to do, which is crush the baseball. Now everything else is left up to chance."
For a 34-year-old veteran player in such a results-oriented game, that's definitely a different way of thinking.
"Objectively, I can understand that," Peña said. "Intellectually I can understand that. Get a walk, drive in a run, make a play, okay, I'm helping my team out. Objectively I can see that. Intellectually I can see that. Emotionally, it's a challenge."
By Jim Huddleston, Times Correspondent
Thursday, August 2, 2012
What's hot: During new and full moons, the incoming tide moves swiftly, causing redfish, snook and trout to push onto shallow grass flats to feed on crabs and pinfish.
Tactics: Often in the early morning both reds and snook hunt so shallow that parts of their bodies are visible above the surface as "skinny" water is used to trap baits. Weedless jerkbaits and shrimp work best in this scenario as the less splashy presentation does not spook these wary fish. Along the shoreline, big redfish use mangroves for cover. Cut bait and free-lined pinfish will capture reds in the shaded regions. The most important part of fishing the mangroves is placing the bait well into the cover where fish are holding.
Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at (727) 439-9017 and at jim@captainhud.com.
By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors/Fitness Editor
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Making news
Open Dates for upcoming hunt seasons are out
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently announced the 2012-2013 hunting seasons. Most of Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, Hernando and Sumter counties fall within Zone B. The immediate areas surrounding Zone B, to the east, north and south are considered Zone C. The dates for the major seasons (Zone B listed first): Archery — Oct. 13-Nov. 11 and Sept. 15-Oct. 14; muzzleloading gun — Nov. 17-30 and Oct. 20-Nov. 2; general gun — Dec. 1-Feb. 17 and Nov. 3-Jan. 20; fall turkey — Dec. 1-Jan. 27 and Nov. 3-Dec. 30; quail — Nov. 10-March 3 (zones B and C); youth spring turkey hunt — March 9-10 (zones B, C and D); spring turkey — March 16-April 21 (zones B and C). For more information, go to MyFWC.com.
Paddlers navigate Molokai crossing
St. Petersburg's Patrick Klemawesch finished the 32-mile Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championship race in 5 hours, 42 minutes (48th overall). The crossing of the Molokai Channel in Hawaii features regular swells of more than 12 feet in height.
This year, a Tampa Bay contingent led by Klemawesch and instructor Christian Cook joined hundreds of the world's top paddleboarders.
"Everything lined up right with the team, equipment, conditions and dreams of an incredible Molokai crossing for 2012," Cook wrote in an email. "But seasickness took a hold of me a few miles and it just got more intense from there."
Cook couldn't keep any fluids down, and he and relay teammates Kacie Wallace and Marc Shen had to pull out halfway across. Another local relay — Dana Hart, Chad White and Shane White — "rocked a solid paddle," Cook wrote, finishing in about 6 1/2 hours for 76th overall. St. Petersburg's Eric Shamas was 71st on a prone paddleboard.
Things to do
A woman-friendly outdoors workshop
Women looking to hone their outdoors skills can take the FWC's Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop, a three-day, hands-on adventure scheduled for Oct. 19-21 at the Everglades Youth Camp near West Palm Beach. Topics covered include canoeing and kayaking, camping, backpacking and photography. The cost is $200. Half-price slots are available for low-income participants, single parents and college students attending for the first time. There's a $50 discount for those who register by Sept. 19. The event is limited to the first 100 to register. To register, visit MyFWC.com/BOW or call Lynne Hawk at (561) 625-5122.
Solunar chart
AM PM
Minor Major Minor Major
8/3 7:00 12:45 7:25 1:15
8/4 7:50 1:40 8:20 2:05
8/5 8:45 2:35 9:10 2:55
8/6 9:30 3:20 10:00 3:45
8/7 10:20 4:10 10:50 4:35
8/9 11:10 5:00 11:35 5:20
8/9 0 5:50 12:00 6:10
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The solution to the Lightning's glut of AHL goaltending prospects is to allow Jaroslav Janus to play in Europe.
Assistant general manager Julien BriseBois said Thursday that the team and Janus "mutually agreed the best thing … is for him to play as many games as possible next year. We told the agent we would help any way we could to help achieve that. I think they're looking in Europe."
Janus, a sixth-round pick in 2009, has yet to sign a European contract, BriseBois said. Janus' agent could not be reached.
Janus, 22, was 23-8-2 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 34 games last season for AHL Norfolk. But with Dustin Tokarksi, 22, and Riku Helenius, 24, also expected next season to vie for playing time with the organization's new affiliate in Syracuse, N.Y., there won't be enough games to go around.
As a restricted free agent, Tampa Bay retains Janus' rights.
"We get to follow him for a year and re-evaluate where everyone stands a year from now," said BriseBois, who added the team is not writing Janus off.
"Considering how he played last year and considering his age and athletic ability, he's someone who might play in the NHL and someone we're still interested in working with."
Defenseman signs: Defenseman Dmitry Korobov signed a two-year, two-way contract, the team said. Korobov, 23, had a goal and 11 points, averaged 18:52 of ice time and was plus-12 in 39 games last season for Dynamo Minsk of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder is expected to start the season with Syracuse.
By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors/Fitness Editor
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Pound for pound, you won't find a better fighting fish in the Gulf of Mexico than the greater amberjack. These offshore brutes can be found from Key West to Pensacola and have long been the mainstay of charter boat captains and recreational anglers during the notoriously slow summer months.
But for the second year now, anglers have had to sit out June and July to give this highly prized sport fish a chance to recover from years of overfishing. Amberjack are managed by a quota system. Recreational anglers take about three quarters of the amberjack caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Commercial fishermen take the rest.
After a series of regulatory maneuvers that began several years ago, federal officials implemented the current two-month closure after it was determined recreational anglers took more fish than they had been allotted. Fishery managers adopted this measure, with input from recreational fishermen and charter boat captains, so there would be no emergency shutdowns at the end of each calendar year.
The thinking was that anglers would rather stop fishing for amberjack during June and July when they can target species such as red snapper and grouper, and minimize the economic impact on tackle shops and marinas.
Now that snapper season is over, anglers can again target these tackle busters through the end of the year.
Rod benders
There are more than 140 members of the carangidae family. About a dozen of these species — jacks, pompanos, permits and scads — are well known to Florida fishermen.
While amberjack may technically be considered a "reef fish," they are more often found around deep-water structures such as wrecks, as well as open-ocean springs or sinkholes.
The challenge for the angler is not hooking the fish, but rather pulling it from the structure without getting the line ripped to shreds. Once a jack is dragged to open water, the battle has just begun. The fight can last for 15 or 20 minutes but sometimes longer. Which brings up another problem. Recreational anglers are not the only apex predators. Bull sharks and even goliath grouper like to feed on amberjack, especially those that are hooked.
That's why fishermen usually catch two or three jacks on an offshore trip before switching to a more docile species such as grouper.
Other jacks
The Gulf of Mexico is also home to the crevalle, a well-known bait-stealer found inshore, sometimes even up rivers and creeks. The typical crevalle jack weighs 3 to 5 pounds, but some have reached more than 50 pounds.
Another member of the jack family, the blue runner, is also a favorite of offshore fishermen. They use it to catch king mackerel, barracuda and a variety of sharks. Blue runners can reach 22 inches in length, but most are usually about half that size.
Blue runners travel in small schools and are usually found higher in the water column than their tackle-busting brethren, the greater amberjack. Local anglers sometimes refer to this popular baitfish as a "hardtail."
Reef rules
When fishing for amberjack and other reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico, federal law requires that you have certain types of gear aboard to help ensure the survival of fish released.
A circle hooks are more likely to hook a fish in the mouth instead of the throat or stomach. Nonstainless steel hooks are preferred because they rust out in a matter of days if they have to be left in a fish. Cut the line as close to the hook as possible.
Dehooking devices are also required. These are defined as any tool designed to remove a hook embedded in a fish. Acceptable "tools" include blunt-nosed pliers, alligator pliers and dehooking forceps. Don't use knives, screwdrivers or sharp-nosed wire cutters.
A venting tool is a must for every tackle box. When reef fish are brought from the depths, the gas in the swim bladder can expand and cause serious injury to the fish. In general, fish caught in 50 feet of water or deeper may need to be "vented," but some species are more susceptible to gas overexpansion than others. A vent ing tool can be any sharpened, hollow instrument, such as a hypodermic syringe with the plunger removed or a 16-gauge needle attached to a hollow, wooden dowel. Large needles or tools, such as knives or ice picks, cannot be used.
. If you go
Greater amberjack
Size limit: 30 inches, fork length
Bag limit: one fish per day (zero bag limit for captain/crew of for-hire vessels)
Closed season: June 1 through July 31
By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
TAMPA — Carl Nicks is no Saint.
"If I could maul somebody on every play, that's what I'd do," Nicks said after practice recently.
Everywhere big No. 77 walks in training camp, the whispers begin: Who Dat?
Nicks is arguably one of the best free agent signings in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 6-foot-5, 343-pound guard is in his prime at 27, having been named All-Pro the past two seasons with the Saints.
While Nicks did not participate in New Orleans' pay-for-performance scheme, the Bucs paid a bounty for him — five years, $47.5 million.
Hiring another bodyguard for quarterback Josh Freeman was the motivation behind the signing. And if you talk to defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who faced him twice each season and now battles Nicks every day in practice, it was addition by subtraction.
"I love it. It's a blessing for me because it makes me better in the long run," McCoy said.
Speaking of long runs, it's the way Nicks hopes the Bucs attack on offense under new coach Greg Schiano. While Saints quarterback Drew Brees averaged 623 passes over the past five seasons, Nicks would prefer to run block 30 times a game.
"The first thing is, it gets the defensive line tired," Nicks said. "We wear them down and that helps your pass protection. Another thing is knocking a guy down and watching him get up, seeing the tiredness and the hurt in his eyes, and you just thrive on that.
"There's going to be times when you're going to be tired and I'm going to be fresh after just mauling you."
Nicks and Jahri Evans were considered the league's best guard tandem when they played for the Saints. That distinction could easily be transferred this season to Nicks and Bucs guard Davin Joseph, who has been to two Pro Bowls.
The signing of Nicks also allowed Jeremy Zuttah to move from left guard to center, a more natural position.
How has Nicks fit in with the Bucs' veteran line, which also includes tackles Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood?
"O-linemen are all cut from the same cloth," Trueblood said. "We're interchangeable as far as personalities go. He came in and fit right in immediately. … He's a great player. Freak of nature."
This is a new role for Nicks. In New Orleans, he was surrounded by strong leaders such as Brees, Jonathan Vilma and Marques Colston. With the Bucs, players are being asked to follow more than his blocks.
"I'm kind of like looked to as the veteran, and this is barely my (sixth) year," said Nicks, a fifth-round pick from Nebraska. "It's kind of a different role for me. We're young team, and we've got a lot of talent, but it's got to come together, and our attention to details has to be second to none, and our offense has to be one of the best.
"It all starts up front. We're going to be the leaders of this team, I believe, and we're going to win or lose games off our backs.''
Nicks spent the past five seasons keeping Brees upright. But when the quarterback failed to reach a long-term agreement before the start of free agency and received the franchise tender, Nicks was unprotected. The Saints didn't have enough salary cap room to keep him from free agency.
"Carl can be as explosive as he wants to be," Schiano said. "I'm very impressed. He's serious about what he's doing."
An asthma sufferer, Nicks wants to make kids aware that they can live full lives and participate in sports despite the breathing malady. Another cause close to his heart is helping parents and families cope with children with autism. His sister Michelle has the disorder.
"It's tough," Nicks said. "There are a lot of different forms, and it was explained to me that Michelle would have the brain of a 13- or 14-year-old, which wouldn't get any better. She's doing great, and I'm very close to her. But I've seen how hard it is for parents to cope with that, and siblings as well."
So maybe Nicks still is a saint. He'd rather be known as a mauler. And if the Bucs follow his blocks, one day they might return to the postseason.
"It's not a rebuilding year," Nicks said. "We're trying to win. We're trying to shock some teams like how Detroit kind of did after a year of not doing so well and San Francisco shocked the world. We're trying to do something like that."
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
. UP NEXT
vs. Orioles
Tonight-Sunday
What's new: The Orioles' success does not seem sustainable, much less logical, breaking down what they have. But the sum of the parts under Buck Showalter has been impressive. They rank last in the AL in defense, 10th in starters' ERA and 10th in runs, 11th in average and 12th in on-base percentage. But their bullpen has been tremendous (3.22 ERA), and they have been opportunistic, winning 13 games without getting a hit with a runner in scoring position, and 10 more with just one. RHP Jim Johnson shares the AL saves lead with the Rays' Fernando Rodney at 31, though with a much higher ERA, 3.63 to 0.73. All-Star CF Adam Jones leads the offense. And the revolving rotation has kept them in games.
Key stat: The Orioles have won their last nine one-run games and are 20-6 overall.
Connections: Injured Rays DH Luke Scott spent the previous four seasons in Baltimore; injured O's RHP Jason Hammel is an ex-Ray.
Series history: Rays lead 5-4 this season (taking two of three July 24-26), 125-124 overall, 66-57 at the Trop.
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Home sweet dome
One reason for the Rays' struggles is their subpar performance at Tropicana Field this season:
Historically
2008-11 at Trop: 205-119 (.633)
2012 at Trop: 28-25 (.528)
Offensively
Avg. R/G HR/G OPS
2012 road .239 4.346 .923 .694
2012 home .224 3.886 .943 .675
Meet the swinger and the singer
Ben and Julianna Zobrist are hosting a meet-and-greet session from noon-2 Saturday at the Tropicana Field team store; $5 gets you one item autographed by Ben and a copy of Julianna's new CD, Say It Now.
Quote of the day
"Why? I don't know."
Joe Maddon, Rays manager, on the lack of offense
Rays vs. Orioles
When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Tickets: $12-$255, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within 5 hours of game time.
Promotion: Luke Scott T-shirt for first 10,000 fans
Probable pitchers
Rays: LH Matt Moore (7-7, 4.01)
Orioles: RH Tommy Hunter (4-6, 5.72)
On Moore: The rookie is 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA in his past 10 starts after going 1-5, 4.76 in his first 10. He is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in three games (two starts) vs. the Orioles.
On Hunter: He is scheduled to start despite working an inning of relief (14 pitches) Wednesday. He is 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts vs. the Rays, plus 0-1, 4.50 in a 2010 Division Series game.
Rays vs. Hunter
Carlos Peña 5-for-12, 2 HR
B.J. Upton 3-for-12
Ben Zobrist 3-for-11
Orioles vs. Moore
Adam Jones 2-for-6
Matt Wieters 3-for-4, 2 HR
On deck
Saturday: vs. Orioles, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 3.23); Orioles — Wei-Yin Chen (9-6, 3.65)
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
GAINESVILLE — Nearly two weeks after he made headlines at SEC Media Days for expressing his desire to put up lofty numbers this season, Florida running back Mike Gillislee wanted to clarify something.
Sitting alone at a table during Florida's team media gathering Thursday, Gillislee didn't back down from his comments about wanting to rush for 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns. But he believes they might have come across the wrong way.
"I wasn't making any predictions," said Gillislee, who last season had 328 yards on 56 carries (both third on the team) for 5.9 yards per carry (first among those with at least 10 carries).
"That's not me. Those were all goals; my own goals. I'm pretty sure nobody would expect me to set my goals real low. So those are my goals. That's all."
Gillislee doesn't apologize for thinking big, and the senior said his teammates won't either. Most, he said, have unspoken individual goals in addition to the team's goal to reach the SEC title game.
But while expectations are high for the former DeLand High star, UF has depth at running back. Mack Brown, Trey Burton, Oamrius Hines, Matt Jones (Armwood High) and Hunter Joyer (Wesley Chapel) are battling for carries.
All the better, Gillislee said.
"Everybody on this team is hungry," he said. "I'm going to get pushed every day. There's lots of competition."
With inexperienced quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett vying to start, how well Gillislee and the other backs perform could go a long way in determining how the Gators fare, especially early in the season.
Florida has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Ciatrick Faison's 1,267 in 2004.
"In the running back room, we can see all the 1,000-yard backs (pictured on the wall)," Gillislee said. "I can picture myself being up there."
Will Muschamp said Gillislee will have that opportunity. The second-year coach said after reviewing film of last season, he "regrets" not giving Gillislee more carries. He insists the Gators will rely heavily on the running game. And while he isn't predicting specific numbers, he believes Gillislee can be a 1,000-yard rusher.
"You have got to create balance in this league," Muschamp said. "You become one-dimensional in this league, it's very difficult to have success, regardless of where you are at other positions."
The hiring of former Boise State offensive coordinator Brent Pease also has Gillislee optimistic. He has watched hours of tape of Boise State's offense.
"This is more my style, down-hill, getting tough yards; just a physical back," Gillislee said.
"Coach Pease is a guy that likes to run the ball. Now is the time for me to step up. I feel like this is the best opportunity for me. This is my last year. I want to be remembered. I want to be remembered as a leader, a hard worker and a team player."
By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2012
GAINESVILLE — Florida RT Matt Patchan is normally one of the most talkative players on the team.
But when the subject of the rubber blue bracelet adorning his right wrist came up, the redshirt junior and Armwood High graduate was brought to tears and had to pause several times to compose himself.
It reads: "R.I.P Beau Schenecker. 9-29-97."
It is in memory of the Tampa teen who with his sister was shot to death in 2011. Their mother awaits trial. Beau Schenecker lived next door to Patchan's family and was best friends with Patchan's younger brother.
"We were really close to Beau. He was like a brother. He was over to our house every day," Patchan said. "If you knew him, you understood what type of kid he was. He was a straight-A student. He was special.
"We took him shopping for Christmas one year, and his dad gave him $40 to buy presents. And when we went to eat, he tried to pay for it. It's just tragic."
Patchan said although he has endured numerous serious injuries that have sidelined him during his Gator career, Schenecker's death is one of the many events in his life that have made him realize he's truly blessed.
The bracelet is a constant reminder of that.
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: Coach Will Muschamp said he realizes he won't know for sure if the Gators are ready to take on the challenge of the season until they actually hit the field, but based on the work and attitude changes he has seen so far, he's feeling confident.
"I think as much as anything, some guys have bought into what we are trying to do. So a half buy-in, so to speak, or their way didn't work," he said.
"I think that they understand where we are headed with this program. I am pleased with our senior class. I am pleased with our junior class, which is the majority of our playmakers on our football team. So I think that the attitude of our team is much improved over a year ago from where we were."
The bright side: DL Ronald Powell continues to rehab a torn left ACL sustained during the spring game. The junior said in an odd sort of way, the injury has been beneficial.
"I've already come to the conclusion that this is the best thing that ever happened to me," said Powell, who has not been ruled out for the season.
"What I took from it was bigger than football. I got something I can take to my kids one day. That is when one door closes, move on. It's time to go to the next door. When the situation comes to you, it's time to take it on. You can't look back and wonder why it's happened to you. You can't wonder why. You just take it on."
INJURY UPDATE: DL Nick Alajajian (back) is expected to miss the first 10 days of camp. DB Marcus Maye (torn meniscus) is expected to be cleared midway through camp.
Muschamp said TE Colin Thompson, an incoming freshman, had surgery in the spring for a foot injury sustained in high school and will probably miss 7-10 days. He currently can participate in some drills.
WR Stephen Alli (stress fracture) should be cleared by the middle of camp. DB Jeremy Brown (fractured wrist) is expected to be ready for the season opener on Sept. 1.
Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Athletics will call up RHP Dan Straily, who has more strikeouts than any other pitcher in professional baseball, to start today against the Blue Jays.
Straily has 175 strikeouts in 138⅓ innings while splitting time between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento this season. The 23-year-old also has a 2.60 ERA in 22 minor-league games.
"I sat there stunned," Straily said of the pending promotion. "I honestly don't think I said a word. It's just been kind of a whirlwind the last 20 hours."
A fourth-round draft pick by Oakland in 2009, Straily has 21 more strikeouts than the major-league leader, Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals. Strasburg, the top player selected in the 2009 draft, has 154.
"I think we're all excited to watch him pitch," A's manager Bob Melvin said Thursday. "Guys like that you find a way to get into the rotation. I've seen the video, I've seen the numbers and everybody is real excited, (Today) will be a very good day because of it; a lot of hype, and rightfully so."
Pirates eye Reds series: It's only the first week of August, but the stakes are high as the Reds and Pirates start a three-game series today. Pittsburgh trails NL Central-leading Cincinnati by 3½ games. "It's still early, but it counts, especially when it's the team right behind you," Reds INF Todd Frazier said. "It's exciting."
Diamondbacks: Scott Podsednik declined an assignment to Triple-A Reno and was released. The 36-year-old outfielder and RHP Matt Albers were acquired from Boston at the trade deadline for LHP Craig Breslow.
Indians: The team designated RHP Derek Lowe for assignment in the wake of his shelling by the Royals on Wednesday. The Indians have 10 days to trade or release him.
Nationals: Jayson Werth, sidelined nearly three months by a broken left wrist, was activated from the 15-day disabled list and went 1-for-3 with an RBI, hitting sixth and playing center against the Phillies. … RHP Henry Rodriguez went on the DL because of a sore back.
Rangers: Top hitting prospect Mike Olt was brought up from Double-A Frisco, where he was batting .288 with 28 homers and 82 RBIs.
Red Sox: RHP Josh Beckett, who was removed from Tuesday's start after he suffered back spasms throwing on a wet mound, did not throw a bullpen session as scheduled, and will likely miss his next start, ESPN.com reported.
Twins: RHP Alex Wimmers, the 2010 first-round pick who has been plagued by control and arm problems in the minors, had elbow ligament-replacement surgery.
RipkEn abduction: Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. is scheduled to discuss last week's abduction of his mother today. His 74-year-old mother, Vi, told police last week that she was abducted from her Aberdeen, Md., home, blindfolded and driven around by her kidnapper. She was found safe in her car the next morning. No arrest has been made.
Times wires
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Because of NCAA sanctions levied against the school for the sexual abuse scandal, football players can transfer from Penn State and be eligible to play this season. That has prompted coaches to recruit, in essence, free agents.
But Nittany Lions coach Bill O'Brien said he would not recruit players if the roles were reversed.
"Hell no!" he said Thursday. "That's not the right thing to do.
"I'm not fighting for my career. I'm fighting for Penn State; for what's right about this football program. At the end of the day, these coaches are playing by the rules. That's what they're doing."
The comments came on the day Penn State lost its seventh player and second starter since the sanctions were levied, punter/kicker Anthony Fera to Texas.
As a sophomore last season, Fera made 14 of 17 field goals and averaged 42 yards on punts. Fera, from Houston, said his mother's recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis factored into his decision.
Silas Redd, Penn State's leading rusher last season, left for USC.
Georgia: Projected starting offensive tackle Kolton Houston is ineligible for a second straight season because he continues to test positive for a steroid he took to aid his recovery from shoulder surgery in 2009. Doctors don't know why it's still in his system. The NCAA denied a waiver request. Also, Chase Vasser, competing to start at linebacker, was suspended two games (Buffalo and at Missouri). He was arrested in May on charges of driving under the influence. Starting corner Sanders Commings, is suspended two games for a domestic violence arrest. And three starters, corner Branden Smith, safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree, face suspensions for undisclosed violations.
Wisconsin: Running back Montee Ball denied a TMZ.com report that he and some teammates were in a fight a week before he was attacked. Ball was attacked by still-unidentified people early Wednesday morning in Madison, resulting in a concussion. Coach Bret Bielema said Thursday that Ball won't be ready when practice starts Monday.
Ex-Gator out: UConn linebacker Graham Stewart, who left Florida after last season to be closer to home, will miss the season after tearing a pectoral muscle.
Arkansas trooper fired: The Arkansas State Police fired trooper J.R. Howard after he illegally confiscated a gun and dumped marijuana found during a traffic stop involving an Arkansas State running back. Michael Dyer, the MVP of Auburn's victory in the January 2011 BCS title game who transferred in January, was stopped March 10 in Little Rock, Ark., for going 96 mph. Coach Gus Malzahn dismissed him from the team last week. Video recorded by a camera in the police cruiser revealed Denney told Dyer, "What if I talk to Gus Malzahn, or however you say his name?"
