Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Angels 5, Red Sox 3
BOSTON — Mark Trumbo hit his career-high 30th homer, Ervin Santana pitched 61/3 solid innings and Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak. Mike Trout had two hits, giving him 139 in the first 100 games of his rookie season, the most since 1964 when Tony Oliva had 144 for the Twins. Boston lost for the fifth time in seven games.
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings have a better idea about how to finish preparing Adrian Peterson and his surgically repaired left knee for the season.
The plan, simply, is more practice.
Coach Leslie Frazier originally said he wanted Peterson to experience the full contact of such a setting before the real season begins, but he has backed off.
Peterson agreed this time.
"My goals are still the game," he said. "I look forward to being back the first week" of the regular season.
That Peterson was satisfied with the decision was as sure a sign as any the Vikings are making a wise move.
"There are no setbacks. That's not the reason we're doing it," Frazier said. "We just feel like more time with him in practice with some of the things that we're doing and the progression of getting him ready for the season, it's the right thing to do."
The opener is Sept. 9 against Jacksonville, and Frazier again declined to guarantee that Peterson will be cleared to play that afternoon.
JAGUARS STAR UNHAPPY: Maurice Jones-Drew's holdout appears far from over. His agent, Adisa Bakari, told AP that the Jaguars running back is upset with owner Shad Khan's recent public comments about his client's 27-day holdout. "Maurice wants to play for an organization that wants him and for an owner who respects him and values what he brings to a team — on the field, in the locker room and in the community," Bakari said. ESPN reported that Jones-Drew is open to being traded.
BRONCOS: Safety Jim Leonhard practiced for the first time since his right knee operation in December.
BROWNS: Quartarback Colt McCoy said he hasn't requested a trade after losing his starting job to rookie Brandon Weeden. "I love my teammates, I love this organization, I love this city," McCoy said after practice with the second-team offense.
EAGLES: Three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick had an MRI exam and CT scan which revealed he has no broken bones or fractured cartilage in his ribs. Vick, who missed three games because of rib injuries in each of the past two seasons, left Monday's 27-17 victory over the Patriots after taking a shot to the ribs.
GIANTS: Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who has a blood clot in his left leg, got a second opinion, and the team has "a ray of hope" that Rogers will play sometime this season, coach Tom Coughlin said.
JETS: The league will not suspend nose tackle Kenrick Ellis after a review of his legal situation. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from a 2010 incident. Ellis was sentenced to 45 days in a Virginia prison in May; by entering an Alford plea he didn't admit guilt but acknowledged that prosecutors could prove the case.
PATRIOTS: The team released defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene, who spent the past seven seasons with the Bengals.
SEAHAWKS: Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson will start Friday at Kansas City and Matt Flynn, who started the first two preseason games, will back him up.
STEELERS: The team and a related charitable foundation dropped a trademark lawsuit after a man stopped selling "Terrible Towel" knock-offs in different languages. Nick Rossi said last week he began making the towels to raise money for Italian earthquake victims a few years ago before expanding production to other languages including Spanish and Hebrew. The "Terrible Towels" benefit mentally disabled children and adults at the Allegheny Valley School, a favorite charity of the team's late radio announcer, Myron Cope, who created the towels in the 1970s.
PORTIS RETIRES: Clinton Portis announced his retirement, nearly two years after his last game. The former University of Miami star is No. 27 on the all-time rushing list, just 77 yards shy of 10,000.
By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
If the Rays can do for the next six weeks what they've managed to do for the past four months, they'll make the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Do you realize just how special that is? Do you realize what we are witnessing? Do you understand that this five-year run by the Rays could turn out to be the most improbable five-year run in baseball history? No kidding. Consider this:
Five-year runs don't come along that often
Making the playoffs four times in a five-year span is reserved for the very best and the considerably blessed. Only 15 organizations have pulled off such a feat since Major League Baseball went to division play in 1969.
The fortunate 15 includes some teams that went on longer runs, such as the Braves (14 consecutive playoff appearances from 1991 to 2005) and Yankees (a 13-year streak from 1995 to 2007). It also includes teams that have done it more than once, such as the A's, who have had three such streaks.
But even with the addition of the wild card in 1995, making the postseason four times in five years takes a whole lot of luck to go along with a whole lot of skill. You have to stay healthy. You can't have too many players with off seasons. It helps to be in a mediocre division. You have to hope some other team in your playoff pack isn't having one those everything-goes-right seasons.
Only then can you keep such a run alive.
The Rays come from the wrong side of the tracks
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Rays' run is that they are doing it in a division with the two wealthiest teams in baseball — the Yankees and Red Sox — while being one of the most frugal teams in the sport.
Are they the only small-market team with success? No. The 2002-06 Twins won four division titles in five years and the Moneyball A's — a small-market, low-payroll, statistic-crunching team — made four consecutive postseasons from 2000 to '03. But both took advantage of divisions that didn't have big spenders like the Yankees and Red Sox. And neither ever made a World Series, something the Rays did.
The other teams have familiar faces
Most of the teams that have put together these five-year runs have done it with teams that look pretty much the same from one season to the next.
When you think of the Yankees of the late 1990s, you think Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada. The more current Yankees have had Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira year after year.
Look at the Phillies, the team that beat the Rays in the 2008 World Series. Each team during the Phillies' five-year dash to the postseason from 2007 to '11 had Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz and Cole Hamels.
The old-school teams of the 1970s before free agency — such as Cincinnati's Big Red Machine, the mustachioed A's, Earl Weaver's Orioles — barely changed.
Sure, teams make trades, sign free agents, add key pieces. But, for the most part, the heart of the order, the pitching staff and the closer stay the same. In other words, the nucleus remains. But …
The Rays are constantly changing
What makes the Rays so different than most of the teams on the list is also what makes this particular Rays run so improbable — the amount of turnover the Rays have had over the five seasons.
Look at how much the Rays have changed over this five-year span. Who is left from that 2008 World Series team who also has been here for all five seasons? Among the everyday regulars, there's Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton. That's it.
Ben Zobrist appeared in only 62 games and bounced back and forth from the minors during that World Series season. Carlos Peña has come and gone and come again. Only James Shields is left from a 2008 starting rotation that featured Matt Garza, Scott Kazmir, Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine.
Each year, it seems, the Rays introduce a whole new set of pieces to their puzzle.
The bullpen is overhauled annually with five different closers leading the team in saves over these five seasons. That's a remarkable statistic for any team, let alone a winning team. So is this: over the five seasons, four different pitchers will lead or tie for the team lead in victories.
Carl Crawford, probably the most productive player in the team history, has been gone for two seasons now. Jason Bartlett, the team's 2008 MVP, has been gone that long, too.
Think of all these random guys who have drifted in and out of Tampa Bay to play key roles for a season or a two at a time, guys like Johnny Damon, Eric Hinske, Jonny Gomes, Cliff Floyd, Casey Kotchman, Akinori Iwamura, Gabe Gross, Willy Aybar, Pat Burrell.
The DHs change. The catchers change. The shortstops change. The winning stays the same.
So how has this happened?
The only thing that hasn't changed is the ownership, the president, the general manager, the manager and the coaching staff. And, no, Stu Sternberg has never struck out a batter. Matt Silverman has never fielded a grounder. Andrew Friedman has never hit a homer. And Joe Maddon has never stolen a base. Yet if the Rays make the postseason, they'll have more playoff appearances in the past five years than the Marlins, Rockies and Expos/Nationals have had in their history.
So don't underestimate what this management group has done. And don't underestimate what this team is on the verge of accomplishing.
And while you're at it, take a moment and appreciate it. What we're seeing doesn't happppen often and might never happen again, at least in these parts.
tom jones' two cents
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
horses
derby runnerup bodemeister injured, retired
VERSAILLES, Ky. — Bodemeister, the second-place finisher in this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, has been retired to stud after an injury to his left shoulder was found.
WinStar Farm announced the decision Tuesday and said the colt is expected to fully recover, though not in time for this fall's Breeders' Cup.
Trainer Bob Baffert says in a statement that Bodemeister likely was hurt recently during training at Del Mar Racetrack. Baffert says the horse stumbled significantly and threw his exercise rider.
basketball
Clippers' Paul out after hand surgery
Clippers point guard Chris Paul had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury that occurred last month before he played for the United States in the London Olympics.
The team said Paul is expected to be sidelined eight weeks and wouldn't resume basketball activities until mid October. The Clippers open the season Oct. 31 against Memphis.
WNBA: Kara Lawson made a wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner with 11.8 seconds left in overtime to give host Connecticut an 82-80 win over Tulsa. … Cappie Pondexter scored 25 and Plenette Pierson added 21 as visiting New York beat Chicago 77-67. … Becky Hammon scored 22 to lead host San Antonio to its 12th straight victory, 75-72 against Washington.
little league
California moves on; Uganda wins
Hance Smith's three-run homer in the third broke open a tight game, and Petaluma, Calif., earned a 5-0 win over Fairfield, Conn., in the World Series.
California moves on to the U.S. semifinals Thursday. Connecticut was eliminated.
Uganda, the first team from Africa to qualify for youth baseball's biggest tournament, earned a win in its tournament finale as it defeated Oregon 3-2 in a consolation game. Mexico is still in contention after its 6-2 victory over Curacao.
et cetera
Tennis: Top-seeded and second-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska bowed out of her opening match at the New Haven (Conn.) Open, retiring in the second set against qualifier Olga Govortsova with a sore shoulder. … Two-time Grand Slam runnerup Vera Zvonareva has withdrawn from next week's U.S. Open because of a viral illness.
Autos: Texas Motor Speedway will host an IndyCar race for the 17th straight year in June, ending speculation about the future of the open-wheel series at the Fort Worth track. The speedway's 2013 schedule includes the usual IndyCar race plus two NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends for the ninth consecutive season.
Times wires
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
WASHINGTON — Because the Nationals have an innings limit for star right-hander Stephen Strasburg, there aren't many starts left in his remarkable season.
Tuesday night, Strasburg ignored that talk and weathered his first major-league rain delay, striking out 10 in six innings for his 15th win as Washington beat the Braves 4-1.
For weeks, Strasburg's impending shutdown has been the talk of baseball. Though the Nationals haven't said exactly what their limit is, it's thought to be between 160 and 180 innings. This start brought him to 1451/3.
"It's funny. Nobody talks to me personally about it. Obviously, I can either scour the Internet or watch all the stuff being said on TV or I can just keep pitching and watch the Golf Channel, I guess," Strasburg said.
The win gave the Nationals a seven-game lead over second-place Atlanta, their largest of the season. "Eight would be better," manager Davey Johnson said.
The Braves have lost four straight.
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Reds 5, Phillies 4
PHILADELPHIA — Zack Cozart hit a tiebreaking homer on Jonathan Papelbon's first pitch in the ninth, and Cincinnati snapped a seven-game skid against Philadelphia. The Phillies' Kevin Frandsen hit a tying triple in the eighth.
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
White Sox 7, Yankees 3
CHICAGO — Kevin Youkilis hit a grand slam, Paul Konerko homered and Dewayne Wise, who was designated for assignment by New York in July, had four hits as Chicago rallied for the second straight game against the Yankees. The White Sox, who fell behind 3-0 Monday night before winning 9-6, trailed 2-0 after one inning Tuesday in the matchup of division leaders.
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The author of a new biography of Joe Paterno says the late Penn State coach and his family never tried to limit his access to them after the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
Joe Posnanski told the Associated Press on Tuesday the Paternos wanted their story to be told and trusted him to do it fairly.
"The one thing they were so good about, they never, from Joe all the way down, they never tried to influence the book," Posnanski said. "They never said, 'Hey, leave this out or don't put this in.' Or this might be misconstrued or whatever. They were, every one of them, (saying) tell the truth the best you see it."
Paterno was released Tuesday.
"(Paterno's children) believed that if the truth came out that people would see their father for what he was," said Posnanski, who has worked for the Kansas City Star and Sports Illustrated. "So I reached for that."
ILLINOIS: Linebacker Henry Dickinson is out for the season with fractures in his leg and ankle.
MARYLAND: Defensive end Andre Monroe needs knee surgery and is out for the season.
NORTH CAROLINA: NFL star Julius Peppers donated $250,000 to a scholarship fund that supports African-American students at his alma mater. The donation came almost a week after the posting of his transcript on a UNC website showed that Peppers, who played at North Carolina from 1999 through 2001, was barely academically eligible throughout his time there.
NOTRE DAME: Cornerback Lo Wood is out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury
STANFORD: Junior Josh Nunes was named starting quarterback, beating out sophomore Brett Nottingham.
JURISPRUDENCE: Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Corwin Brown received a suspended four-year sentence for striking his wife and holding her hostage during a police standoff.
BASKETBALL: Xavier expelled forward Dez Wells for a "serious violation" of the school's code of student conduct. Wells started 32 games as a freshman last season and averaged 9.8 points a game. … Tennessee freshman guard Derek Reese will miss about six months after surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Cardinals 7, Astros 0
ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright matched a career high with 12 strikeouts in a five-hitter, and St. Louis punished rookie Lucas Harrell with six runs in the first three innings, getting over a 19-inning loss two days earlier. The Cardinals got six hits in their first seven at-bats in a four-run first then capitalized on two walks to open a two-run third. Wainwright pitched his second shutout this season.
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Brewers 5, Cubs 2
MILWAUKEE — Marco Estrada pitched six solid innings to win for the first time in almost a year for Milwaukee. Estrada had made 15 starts this season and 14 relief appearances this season and last since his 11-4 win at Pittsburgh on Aug. 23, 2011. The right-hander retired 18 of his last 21 batters before turning over a 1-0 lead to Kameron Loe.
Times wires
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Orioles 5, Rangers 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Nate McLouth's two-run home run keyed Baltimore's four-run fifth inning, and the Orioles held off Texas. Chris Tillman pitched 62/3 solid innings before giving way to the Orioles' bullpen, which now has a 1.57 ERA in the past 18 games. Rookie infielder Manny Machado had an RBI triple, and J.J. Hardy had an RBI double in the fifth inning against Scott Feldman.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Mariners 5, Indians 1
SEATTLE — Felix Hernandez wasn't perfect. He was still dominant. Hernandez allowed one run in 72/3 innings in the first start following his perfect game against the Rays, leading the Mariners to their seventh straight victory. Jesus Montero hit a three-run homer in Seattle's four-run seventh inning. Greeted by a crowd of more than 39,000, most in yellow shirts with the words "King of Perfection" honoring Wednesday's perfect game, Hernandez gave up a leadoff single to Jason Kipnis.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Athletics 4, Twins 1
OAKLAND, Calif. — Lefty Brett Anderson pitched seven innings in his first start since undergoing elbow surgery nearly 15 months ago and the Athletics turned a triple play behind him. The A's remained half a game behind Baltimore in the race for the AL's second wild-card spot. In the fifth, Minnesota's Trevor Plouffe hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Josh Donaldson, who started a 5-4-3 triple play, the third in the majors this season.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Giants 4, Dodgers 1
LOS ANGELES — Tim Lincecum bounced back from consecutive home losses with his third straight road win as the Giants increased their NL West lead to 1½ games over division rival Los Angeles. The two-time Cy Young winner allowed one run in 52/3 after failing to pitch past the fourth in his previous start, a loss to Washington last week.
Times wires
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Marlins 6, Diamondbacks 5
10 INNINGS
PHOENIX — Giancarlo Stanton's two-out single off of Sam Demel to leftfield in the 10th won it for the Marlins, who erased a 5-0 deficit.
By Andy Warrener, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
TAMPA — Growing up on the tiny island of La Gonave, just off the coast of mainland Haiti, King High junior defensive end Jean-Eddy Mersier looked bewildered the first time he saw a football.
"I remember my older brother (Elysee) brought home a football, we were like, 'What is that?' " Mersier said. "We didn't know what to do with it."
The two brothers eventually figured out to spin the ball when you throw it and worked up to playing catch with it. After arriving in the United States in 2007, Mersier played football in his physical education class at Jennings Middle School.
This would be Mersier's only exposure to football until Lions coach Alvin Davis made a simple inquiry near the end of his freshman season.
"We were playing basketball and we had just finished as the football team was coming in from the practice fields," Mersier said. "Coach Davis came up to me and asked me if I would like to come out and try out for the football team.
"If he hadn't found me there, who knows where I would be right now."
As he enters tonight's preseason game vs. Middleton (7:30 at King), Mersier still strives to get acclimated to the sport. His coaches, however, have been impressed by the progress he has made after just one year on the varsity level.
"He's developed immensely," defensive line coach David Malone said.
Mersier grew up in the same Haitian town that current New York Giants star Jason Pierre-Paul grew up in. Pierre-Paul also came to the game late before blossoming at the University of South Florida. It's a path Mersier may follow.
To be clear, however, Mersier's football pursuits don't rival his educational pursuits.
Mersier's father, Enouhode (Edward) works for World Vision, a Christian, humanitarian organization. For years, he saved money in the hopes of sending his children to the United States.
"My father wanted the best education possible for us," Mersier said. In Haiti you have to pay to go to school. If you don't have money — you don't go to school."
Finally, in 2000, he was able to send the family's oldest child, Scherline, to the United States. She moved to Tampa in 2002 and attended Bloomingdale High before graduating from Freedom High.
After Scherline established herself, Jean, older brother Elysee (23) and younger sister Esperancia (15) moved out to join her. By then, Scherline had met her husband, Hector, also Haitian, and they started a family.
Mersier currently lives with his sister, his sister's husband, his older brother, younger sister and four nieces and nephews.
Ever since his second semester of middle school, he hasn't received any grade lower than a "B" and has a 3.4 unweighted grade point average. The transition must have been pretty difficult as he spoke Creole at home, learned French in the limited schooling he had in Haiti, and then had to learn English while taking classes in English in the States.
"Ever since my freshman year, my grades just keep going up," Mersier said. "The teachers here (in the States) have a way of explaining the work that I understand better than when I was in school in Haiti.
"It's funny to me, I hear a kid in class ask the teacher why he or she gave them a 'C' and I'm thinking to myself, 'you earned the 'C,' " Mersier said.
Just as Jean started quick with schoolwork, he started quick with football. He was a reserve defensive lineman on last year's team, only making 18 total tackles, but his arc of improvement was getting steep. He even got a few starts late in 2011.
"Last year was the first time I even tried out for a football team," said Mersier. "Now I know how it feels and I am that much more prepared for this year."
The King coaching staff is committed to playing the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Mersier at defensive tackle and defensive end this year, mainly because of his ocean of inexperience. Once he learns more about the game, the coaches would like to move him to outside linebacker.
"Jean has the potential to be a Division 2 defensive end because of his size, but if he can transition into an outside linebacker, he could be a Division 1 prospect," Malone said. "He has the physical side of it, it's the mental side that needs to develop."
Defensive coordinator Bass Dillard concurred, noting that defensive line suits Mersier because he doesn't have to worry about the various assignments a linebacker must handle.
"He's still just a baby," Davis said. "When he first tried out we thought he would be a good defensive player but we were surprised what a good athlete he is."
Mersier made himself known this spring in a game against Freedom. In that game, which only lasted a quarter, he had two sacks, one for a safety, and a tackle for a loss.
"I feel like I've been bitten by the football bug now," he said.
By Mike Gore, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Hot times. Here we are again with the summer heat and humidity. The water on the flats is pushing 90 degrees by midmorning and the inshore bite starts to slow. You may be wondering what to do when your bait becomes unhappy and you need to get them in some moving water. The simple answer is you go mackerel, snapper and trout fishing. The deeper water these fish are in will help produce bites.
Snap up snapper. Mangrove snapper will still be a favorite of mine to target this month. With a size limit of only 10 inches, you can catch your limit pretty easily. You should be able to find a good snapper bite around most structure. The bite seems to be better on the slack tide or at the beginning of the incoming. The key is to get a chum slick going before you even start fishing. Use small white bait or cut pieces of threadfins.
Reds ahead. Surprisingly there have been some nice schools of redfish around. They have been hanging in about 3 to 4 feet of water. With the water being as warm as it is, they won't always chase a swimming bait. Try putting out a piece of cut white bait or pinfish to get their attention.
Hook the snook. There is still a good snook bite going on. Fish for them in deeper water that has good tidal flow. Try fishing docks and structure. Tampa Bay is full of big white bait and the snook cannot resist them.
Mike Gore charters out of Tampa Bay. Call him at (813) 390-6600 or visit tampacharters.com.
By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
BRANDON
Some high school assistants are destined to become head coaches one day.
They ply their trade for a few years as coordinators until the opportunity to take over the reins of a team materializes.
Dean Eychner never fit that mold. In fact, Eychner had settled into his defensive coordinator role at Hillsborough and seemed perfectly content.
"I just was never one of those coaches who envisioned himself as a head coach," said Eychner, who leads the Brandon Eagles into tonight's preseason game at Blake. "It wasn't that I didn't think I could do it. It just wasn't an ultimate goal of mine."
That's not to say Eychner hasn't had opportunity on his doorstep in the nearly three decades he has been on the sidelines. Eychner said he had "kicked the tires" on a few jobs and even was in consideration for the head coaching position at Brandon in the 1990s.
"It was always just the wrong place or wrong time," he said. "There are so many timing things that go into decisions like this, and it was never right for me."
But after 17 years at Hillsborough High, Eychner finally decided his time had come.
"At this time in my career, it was time to see if I could get this done," Eychner said.
Brandon athletic director Tibor Kovacs said there was no resignation on the school's part that Eychner, chosen from more than 30 applicants, had never been a head coach at any level.
"No, we felt he shone through during the interview process," Kovacs said. "We chose coach Eychner because we felt he was the best candidate."
Eychner was drawn to coaching as a youngster, despite not excelling at any one sport.
"I would not describe myself as stellar athletically," he said. "But I loved the idea of competition and being able to use your mind to influence the outcome."
A die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, Eychner predictably looked up to quarterback Roger Staubach and coach Tom Landry.
"The way coach Landry could measure his emotions was amazing," he said. "And Staubach was just so consistent. As I got older I stated looking up to people like (the late Apple CEO) Steve Jobs. I was drawn to people who knew what it took to be successful."
While not as wealthy as Jobs, veteran Hillsborough coach Earl Garcia is another man Eychner credits with his success.
"Coach G gave me access to everything," Eychner said. "If he hadn't prepared me in every way, I don't think the transition would have been nearly as smooth."
Eychner also credited Robinson's Mike DePue and former Chamberlain coach Billy Turner for getting him ready for a job he calls "the big chair."
"Those guys are more like family than friends to me," Eychner said.
Although he has been pleased with the way things have come together with the regular season kicking off Aug. 31 at Armwood, Eychner said the most difficult part of his new job has been off-field issues.
"The football part is just that," Eychner said. "But I don't think a lot of people understand what it takes to build a successful program. You have to have the commitment that every little thing is done right."
Brandon Wright can be reached at hillsnews@tampbay.com.
By Darek Sharp, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
DOVER — It's not officially the start of the high school sports season, but it will feel like it to most everyone involved.
Preseason football takes over Tampa Bay tonight and for the three Plant City teams it signals the most tangible moments yet to truly judge where they stand.
While the results don't count, the lights will be on, the competition will be real.
Strawberry Crest plays host to Freedom High.
And it provides a prime example of what purpose a preseason football game can serve. For a team like the Chargers, with a brand-new coach, a test run is highly desirable.
"It's my first year as a head coach here," said an eager-sounding John Kelly. "The biggest thing is it gives us another opportunity to evaluate our kids. And to hopefully continue to see the improvement and gains we made over the summer."
Those gains have been both mental and physical.
Kelly says the Chargers worked hard on strength and conditioning, and have grown more mature.
Then there's the understanding of Kelly's schemes. Kelly has implemented a 3-4 front on defense.
"We will mix it up a little," Kelly said. "The big thing is mentality: we want to play smart, assignment football and aggressively run to the ball."
Two of the three starting linemen were unable to participate in the spring game due to injury, so Kelly looks forward to how expected big contributors Austin Vanvalkenburg and Zachary Weber show on Friday.
The outside linebackers will sometimes be called upon to act more like defensive ends. Jarrett Gretebeck should be a big playmaker for the Chargers.
On the other side of the ball, Tristan Hyde has won the starting quarterback job though backup Alex Carswell will see the field.
"They continue to push each other," Kelly said. "Alex, we'll have some option-type looks for him, Alex can make things happen with his feet. Tristan is more of a passer."
Kelly said the Chargers will combine elements of the spread offense with a normal I-formation. Whatever the alignment, Chris Perez will get the majority of the carries at running back. And Karel Hamilton will get as many touches as possible given he's one of the most talented wide receivers around.
Like the Chargers, the Patriots have a new head coach and a new system. But there's a little more to it: Freedom coach Todd Donohoe led the Chargers program its first two seasons before resigning in June of 2011.
Kelly was one of Donohoe's assistants at Strawberry Crest.
For Donohoe, Friday begins a straight run through the three Plant City area squads. Freedom opens its regular season Sept. 8 against Durant and then the Patriots travel to play Plant City .
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — More than the trade deadline passing, more than any of the other theories going around, more than anything, James Shields said, it was just time.
Time to stop being so predictable in his pitch selection. Time to make more use of his fastball. And time to start winning more.
And since taking the mound in Oakland six hours after the July 31 cutoff for nonwaiver deals, the right-hander has been doing exactly that, rolling off a fourth straight win Wednesday in leading the Rays to a 5-3 series-clinching victory over the Royals.
"The biggest thing was Shields," manager Joe Maddon said. "I thought he pitched really, really well."
The win — before a Tropicana Field crowd of 11,892, largest of the three-game series — was the Rays' 13th in 16 games, maintaining their lead in the American League wild-card race at 69-55 and moving them within three games of the East-leading Yankees, who lost to the White Sox.
Shields had the benefit of an early 2-1 lead thanks to another classic Rays "rally" in the third: two singles, an error, a hit batter, a sac fly by Ben Zobrist and a run-scoring single by Jeff Keppinger.
They added on from there: a run-scoring double by Ryan Roberts in the sixth; a mad dash and a headfirst slide into home by Sam Fuld after Zobrist's double in the seventh; a home run in the eighth over the centerfield fence and off the base of the restaurant by catcher Jose Lobaton, who, as with his first career homer July 25, was greeted by Luke Scott in the dugout with a serving of ice cream. Fernando Rodney finished for his MLB-leading 39th save.
Lobaton said he didn't care for the flavor, dulce de leche, but definitely appreciated the gesture. "I enjoyed it in that moment," Lobaton said. "I prefer the chocolate, but that was pretty good. I'll take it."
Shields (12-7, 4.01) maintained that the steady stream of trade rumors weren't an issue as he went 1-3, 6.15 over seven starts from late June to late July, that it was just around then that he, Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey decided to implement adjustments they had been discussing in his pitch selection while tightening up his delivery.
"I just wanted to change my game plan up a little bit," Shields said. "I was getting deep into counts, behind in counts, and I just wanted to be able to utilize (my fastball) more just to get ahead so I can use my offspeed pitches. There's no rhyme or reason really why I did it."
The change isn't that dramatic — Shields estimated it's only five-six more fastballs a game, the stat charts say it is more like 20 or so — but either way the results have been: In the five starts since, he is 4-0, 2.15, with 34 strikeouts and only three walks in 37⅔ innings, and the Rays have won all the games.
With about seven regular-season starts left, at this point what matters most to the Rays is that he keeps it up.
"I think he's gonna be like this the rest of the way," Maddon said. "He's really trending strongly right now."
"I just want to do my part in this equation," Shields said. "Hopefully, this next month-and-a-half I'm going to get my job done and do my job down the road, get us to the playoffs."
Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com.
