Times wires
Tuesday, October 9, 2012

CINCINNATI — Joaquin Arias hit a grounder toward third base and took off toward first, covering those 90 feet in a blink as a full-to-capacity ballpark went silent with angst.

Which would get there first, the baserunner or the ball?

"That's the fastest I've ever run to first," Arias said.

Fast enough to extend the Giants' season one more day.

Reds third baseman Scott Rolen bobbled the short hop, giving Arias enough time to beat the throw as the go-ahead run scored for a 2-1 victory Tuesday night that avoided an NL Division Series sweep.

"It hit my glove," Rolen said. "I just couldn't get it to stick."

Hardly able to get a hit the past two games, the Giants turned a passed ball and a misplayed grounder into a win that cut their series deficit to 2-1 and extended Cincinnati's 17 years of home postseason futility.

"These are the type of games we've played all season long," said Sergio Romo, who pitched the last two innings. "We are a gritty and grinding team."

And, with their season on the line, a little lucky, too.

"We got a break there at the end," manager Bruce Bochy said.

The Giants managed three hits and struck out 16 times against Homer Bailey and the Reds bullpen but got two hits in the 10th, along with a passed ball by Ryan Hanigan, to pull it out.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Today

NLDS: Cardinals at Nationals, 1:07, MLBN; series tied 1-1

NLDS: Giants at Reds, 4:07, TBS; Reds lead series 2-1

ALDS: Orioles at Yankees, 7:37, TBS; series tied 1-1

ALDS: Tigers at Athletics, 9:37, TNT; Tigers lead series 2-1

Radio: 620-AM

Baseball talk

Chat live with Times baseball writer Marc Topkin today, from noon to 1 p.m., at tampabay.com/blogs/rays.

ALDS: Athletics 2, Tigers 0

A home run by Seth Smith, below, and a series of dazzling defensive plays back a brilliant six innings by Brett Anderson as Oakland avoids a sweep by Detroit in front of a sellout crowd at the Coliseum.

NLDS: Giants 2, Reds 1, 10 innings

Third baseman Scott Rolen botches a grounder in the 10th inning to let in the go-ahead run, and Cincinnati wastes seven one-hit innings by Homer Bailey to help San Francisco stay alive in the series.

More coverage, 4C

Times wires
Tuesday, October 9, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — These Athletics never count themselves out. Down and doubted is their dogma.

Brett Anderson outdueled fellow postseason first-timer Anibal Sanchez and the upstart A's were stellar on defense all over the diamond, avoiding another playoff sweep by Detroit by beating the Tigers 2-0 Tuesday night in their AL Division Series.

The A's cut their deficit in the best-of-five matchup to 2-1.

Coco Crisp saved a likely home run by Prince Fielder with a leaping catch at the top of the centerfield wall in the second, and the A's will play another day in this improbable season full of remarkable rallies.

Yoenis Cespedes hit an RBI single in the first inning and Seth Smith homered later. That was plenty on a night when Miguel Cabrera, Fielder and the Tigers' high-priced offense were shut down by the low-budget A's.

Fielder was the biggest victim of Oakland's spot-on defense, robbed three times. The first was by Crisp, Oakland's most experienced player whose Game 2 blunder on Cabrera's fly allowed two runs to score in a 5-4 loss Sunday in Detroit.

Crisp let out a big "Whoo!" after raising his arm to signal he'd made the grab. A's shortstop Stephen Drew made a tough play running to his left to stop Fielder's grounder in the fourth then threw to first while still off balance and in motion.

In the seventh, Cespedes cut over to make a diving catch on Fielder's liner to leftfield, delighting the yellow towel-waving sellout crowd of 37,090.

After Cabrera singled with one out in the ninth, Fielder grounded into a game-ending double play.

The A's own the lowest payroll in baseball at $59.5 million. Fielder is getting big money in Motown: $214 million over nine years.

Anderson, back on the mound for the first time since straining a muscle in his right side Sept. 19 at Detroit, worked quickly and showed no signs of a layoff or jitters in his first postseason start. That helped Oakland snap the longest postseason skid in franchise history at six games.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Somebody has to be Kansas. Someone has to bring up the rear. Someone has to finish last.

Someone has to be the team broken down by the side of the road.

Someone like USF.

It is a dark time in the program. There are angry voices calling for the head of the football coach. There are frustrated fans wondering where all the progress went. There are restless students demanding to know where their program has gone.

A few weeks ago, a lot of people wondered if this would be the season the Bulls finally won the Big East.

Lately, the question is whether they will win in the Big East.

Somebody has to be Duke. Someone has to live in the smallest house in the neighborhood. Somebody has to play rightfield.

These days, USF has become one of those caboose programs. Every football conference has them. Iowa State. Washington State. Kentucky. Vandy. Ole Miss. Oh, they win a big game every now and then, and some years, they slip near the middle of the pack. Mostly, however, they lose. When they do, it doesn't surprise anyone.

Is this what USF has become? Are the Bulls the Little Train That Couldn't?

For the USF fan, this may be the worst realization of them all. Perhaps last place is the home of the Bulls, and perhaps this is the season the Bulls deserve. Perhaps they really are something less than Temple, something that aspires to be Ball State. Perhaps they are just a little program with big-program aspirations.

After all, somebody has to be Indiana. Somebody has to be the weakest link. Somebody has to be the runt of the litter.

Lately, that has been the Bulls.

Sitting in his office on a Tuesday afternoon, coach Skip Holtz weighs the question. He shakes his head at the suggestion that the basement is perhaps the Bulls' lot in life.

"No," he says flatly. "We're better than that. I honestly believe we can win here."

Outside, there are doubters. There hasn't been a USF season that felt this disappointing, when so much was expected out of a team that has accomplished so little.

The Bulls have lost four of six games this year, including games to Ball State and Temple. They have lost 11 of their past 14. They have lost 10 of their past 11 Big East games. They have lost momentum, and respect, and reputation.

Since Holtz's arrival in 2010, they are last in the Big East in conference wins. Worst of all, no one seems to know when they are going to win again. What's that they say? If you don't see a pushover on the schedule, it's because it's you?

Over the past 2 1/2 seasons, the Bulls have won four conference games. You know who else has won four? Duke. And Kentucky. And Vandy. And Minnesota. That's hardly the company a team wants to keep.

This is life at the bottom of the pile. The Bulls are in their eighth season in the Big East, and only one program — Syracuse — has been a member that long and won fewer games than USF's 21. The bad news? Soon, Syracuse won't even be in the Big East.

Remember those seasons that USF finished just out of the top 25? Those were the good old days. Scan the ratings of the computer sites that help make up the BCS poll. The Colley Matrix considers USF as the 97th-ranked team in the country, just behind Indiana (which has won 10 conference games in the Big Ten since USF entered the Big East). The Jeff Sagarin rankings have USF ranked the highest … at 71st in the country.

"The sky isn't falling," Holtz said. "When I say that, I'm not trying to minimize this. It is frustrating, and it is disappointing. I don't want to come across like it's not a big deal, because it is a big deal. We work hard to win. We don't work hard to compete or to be close.

"I still think we have a chance to be good."

Holtz looks haggard. There is stubble on his face, and his eyes sag from what he has seen. He does not sleep much or eat often. If you think this season has been ugly, you should see it from his eyes.

Still, there is a blunt question that has to be asked.

So, Skip, just how good are you as a coach?

Holtz pauses, choosing his words carefully.

"If you judge by wins and losses, then I'm not very damn good," he said. "I'm not going to sit and try to argue these numbers. I'm not going to try to sell them and make them look pretty. You can dress up a pig but it's still a pig.

"If you judge by the health of the program, the academics, the character of the kids … give me time and I think I can give you a lot better answer. The guys we brought in are freshmen and redshirt freshmen. I'd at least like to be here long enough to see them shave."

So, Skip, are you the guy to make this program essential?

"I believe I am," he said. "We've won everywhere we've been, and we've built it the right way."

That's the question, isn't it? Holtz has been at USF for 2 ½ years, and already, some want his head. His athletic director issued a "we'll see" statement on Tuesday.

Let's face it. USF has never had a season that justifies its expectations. Since 2005, when the Bulls entered the Big East, only Syracuse has won fewer games. USF has never finished a season in the top 10.

Still, underachievement is always disappointing. Even Holtz doesn't think the expectations on this season were wrong.

What we are left with, then, is massive disappointment.

Someone has to feel it. Someone has to be unhappy. Worst of all, someone has to be irrelevant.

Listen to Gary Shelton weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 98.7-FM The Fan.

Times wires
Tuesday, October 9, 2012

HOUSTON — The NCAA banned the Texas Southern football and men's basketball teams from the postseason Tuesday, saying it came close to levying the so-called "death penalty" against the school for repeated rules violations and for lying about imposing sanctions on its own.

The Division I Infractions Committee said it found a lack of institutional control and outlined problems spanning 13 sports over a seven-year period, including booster-related recruiting violations, academic improprieties, the use of ineligible athletes and exceeding scholarship limits.

The basketball team, coached by former Indiana coach Mike Davis, was banned from the 2012-13 postseason and the football team in both 2013 and 2014.

Other penalties include five years of probation and scholarship limitations in football and basketball. All team records will be vacated from 2006-10 in all sports, plus 2010-11 records for football and women's soccer. In 2010, Texas Southern won its first Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship since 1968.

The school released a statement saying it agreed with the sanctions: "It has taken the NCAA process to learn the things that we were doing wrong," athletics director Charles McClelland said. "If we had not gone through this process, we possibly could have made the same mistakes again."

The NCAA committee deemed TSU a "double repeat violator," because the program has either been on probation or had violations occurring on campus, or both, for 16 of the past 20 years. The school had said in the past that it was self-imposing sanctions, but the committee found it had not.

TCU QB IN REHAB: Suspended TCU quarterback Casey Pachall is leaving school for the semester and entering an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Coach Gary Patterson made the announcement five days after the junior starter was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in his second brush with the law in the past eight months. If Pachall completes the treatment, which usually lasts 30-60 days, the door is open for him to come back to school and the team.

AUBURN: Redshirt freshman wide receiver Sammie Coates criticized the leadership of some older players on the struggling Tigers. "We've got some of the best athletes that you can ask for," he said. "It's just, is it in their heart that they want to win or do they just want to keep going down? … Some of these older guys, they want it but they don't want it bad enough. We don't have enough leadership on this team." Coach Gene Chizik and linebacker Jake Holland disputed Coates' take on the Tigers, who are 1-4, 0-3 in the SEC.

NEBRASKA: The school introduced incoming AD Shawn Eichorst, who will replace Tom Osborne. Eichorst left the Miami job after 18 months.

STANFORD: The No. 17 Cardinal likely will miss top wide receiver Ty Montgomery (lower body injury) for Saturday's game at No. 7 Notre Dame, coach David Shaw said.

TENNESSEE: Derek Dooley is recovering from surgery on his fractured right hip and will coach from the press box Saturday at No. 19 Mississippi State.

WAC EXPANSION: The Western Athletic Conference is adding Cal State-Bakersfield and Utah Valley next year as it punts on football after half a century. The WAC is the first Division I conference to give up on football since the Southwest Conference dissolved in 1995, but the new additions assured at least for now that it won't also go the way of the SWC, and cease to exist altogether.

TOP TICKET: Tickets for the Battle on the Midway basketball game, Nov. 9 on the flight deck of the decommissioned USS Midway between Syracuse and San Diego State, go on sale Wednesday. Tickets start at $150 with a limited number available for $500. Capacity will be about 5,000. The USS Midway is now a museum.

By Eve Edelheit, Times Photojournalist
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

For Larry Brooks, the Middleton-Blake game Oct. 5 proved to be a special Friday night.

The 1971 Middleton High School alumnus sat with his wife, daughter and two granddaughters with a proud smile on his face and a Middleton baseball cap on his head. It wasn't just the first signs of fall, a temperature change or relaxing after a week of work that excited Brooks.

It was about history. And family. And tradition.

"Just to see the tradition carry on through the years means so much to me," Brooks said of the Blake vs. Middleton game. "It's just like it was when I was 12 years old. It's great to come back to see how the team has grown and to see the band."

Brooks was a part of the last graduating class at the original Middleton High School. The original Blake and Middleton high schools, Tampa's two historic African-American schools, closed in 1971 due to desegregation.

The rivalry came to a halt.

Fast-forward. Blake reopened in 1997 with a performing arts magnet school. Middleton reopened in 2002 with an engineering and science magnet program. Both schools emerged with new campuses and the football rivalry that had once died was reborn, replete with high-stepping marching bands and rejuvenated alumni.

"It doesn't matter what happening during the season," Brooks said. "When these two schools meet, it's a whole new ball game."

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

PLANT CITY — The first time Strawberry Crest faced football powerhouse Armwood, the Hawks reminded the then-three-year program just how far it had to go.

The final score? Armwood 80, Strawberry Crest 0. So as the Chargers prepare for the second meeting tonight at Strawberry Crest, it would make sense to erase any memory of last year's drubbing.

Not so, said Chargers' coach John Kelly.

"I don't want them to forget (the score)," he said. "I don't want it out of their heads."

Strawberry Crest certainly doesn't possess the resume of its closest geographical neighbor, but that doesn't mean the Chargers aren't planning on getting there one day.

"No coach worth his salt goes into a game thinking they can't win," Kelly said. "We will be trying to win the game."

Kelly, who coached at Armwood and was on the Hawks sideline during last season's rout, took over a program that won just two games last year, albeit one of those was by forfeit to Armwood. But in 2012 the Chargers (2-3) beat Plant City to open the season and have lost two tight games (28-27 to Bloomingdale and 32-24 to Hillsborough).

"We have pretty much the same team as last year with the exception of a couple guys, so we just had to get them to believe in themselves," Kelly said. "The talent was already there. I wouldn't have taken this job if I didn't think it was."

One of the major new additions is quarterback Tristan Hyde. The sophomore signal caller is averaging 268 yards per game, completing 57 per cent of his passes to go along with 12 TDs. Hyde took over for Trey VanDeGrift, who transferred to Durant before the season.

"We threw Tristan into the fire," Kelly said. "And he has responded."

Hyde also has a bevy of talented receivers to work with. Older brother Josh leads the Chargers with 28 catches and Karel Hamilton (27 catches) has a team-high six TDs. They are the two main targets, but Strawberry Crest also has a pair of receivers — Colby Williams and Alex Carswell — who have 15 receptions each.

"At the high school level you really have to adapt to the strengths of your team and we have some very good wide receivers," Kelly said.

Although an upset of Armwood seems unlikely at this time, so does a 80-0 final.

"We have nothing to lose because no one else expects us to win," Kelly said. "This is a great opportunity for this team."

Armwood (5-1) at Strawberry Crest (2-3)

Last week: Armwood defeated Sickles 20-16; King defeated Strawberry Crest 28-16 Sept. 28.

Why you should go: Chargers' linebacker Andrew Zuluaga is averaging an amazing 14.8 tackles per game and will likely have to put up another big night against a talented Armwood offense.

Chamberlain (2-3) at Durant (5-0)

Last week: Chamberlain defeated Freedom 31-16; Durant defeated Plant City 22-7.

Why you should go: Nobody ever gives the kicker any love, but we will right here. Durant's Danny Bowers, who goes 5-foot-10, 200 pounds and looks like he could fill in at linebacker, kicked three field goals in sloppy conditions last week against Plant City. Bowers also has 15 touchbacks on 17 kickoffs this year.

Lakewood (5-0) at Lennard (0-6)

Last week: Lakewood defeated Gibbs 16-0; Jesuit defeated Lennard 47-0.

Why you should go: Junior linebacker Terrence Bell leads the Longhorns in tackles, averaging just over 10 per game.

Plant City (3-2) at Alonso (3-2)

Last week: Durant defeated Plant City 22-7; Alonso defeated Bloomingdale 20-0.

Why you should go: Plant City's Landon Galloway has proven to be a steady possession receiver for quarterback Nick Rodriguez, hauling in a team-high 20 balls for 192 yards on the season.

Spoto (1-4) at Blake (2-4)

Last week: Dunedin defeated Spoto 20-13; Blake defeated Middleton 40-34.

Why you should go: Spoto defensive back James Bethea leads the team in both tackles (49) and passes knocked down (five). The Spartans may pick up their second win tonight.

Bloomingdale (3-3) at Leto (0-6)

Last week: Alonso defeated Bloomingdale 20-0; King defeated Leto 48-3.

Why you should go: The Bulls have been a little up and down this season but a victory tonight matches their win total from 2011. Considering Bloomingdale's opponent, it's likely to happen.

Brandon (0-5) at Plant (4-1)

Last week: Newsome defeated Brandon 35-13; Plant defeated Wharton 27-7.

Why you should go: The Eagles are halfway to a winless season and the upcoming schedule, including tonight's game at Plant, is tough.

East Bay (2-3) at Gaither (4-1)

Last week: East Bay defeated Riverview 33-14; Gaither defeated Steinbrenner 22-6.

Why you should go: Tailback Chris Greene leads the Indians with an eye-popping 12.77 yards per carry and racked up 169 on just nine rushes last week against Riverview.

Riverview (2-3) at Steinbrenner (1-4)

Last week: East Bay defeated Riverview 33-14; Gaither defeated Steinbrenner 22-6.

Why you should go: To see if first-year coach Mike Thornton can right the ship. The Sharks opened the season 2-0 but have since lost three straight. They get a weak Steinbrenner team tonight and an even weaker Brandon squad next Friday.

Seffner Christian (3-2) at Shorecrest

Last week: Landmark Christian defeated Seffner Christian 45-7; Shorecrest defeated St. Stephen's Episcopal 29-14.

Why you should go: The Crusaders will need to control the ball on the ground as they travel over the bridge hoping to break a two-game losing streak. Marcus Richardson, a shifty runner with breakaway capability, is second on the team with 292 rushing yards.

By Darek Sharp, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

PLANT CITY — It would be asking a lot of the Plant City girls golf team to repeat as district champs, even with the home-course advantage.

Good thing for the Raiders and the other 10 teams not named Steinbrenner they can shoot for a secondary goal.

Steinbrenner is the overwhelming choice to lay claim to the Class 2A, District 10 crown Monday. In fact the Warriors' victory might contain the least amount of drama. Who finishes second and third — thus extending their seasons — will draw greater interest.

The top three squads all advance to the Region 2A-4 tourney a week later, with a spot in the month-ending State 2A event still in play. The prevailing opinions of coaches lean toward Plant City and Durant having a good shot at landing in the coveted top three.

"Steinbrenner is a shoe-in," Durant head coach Dick Sheffield said. "After that I think you have three teams playing for two spots."

Sheffield says his Cougars, along with Plant City and Freedom, are the top contenders to advance.

"I would definitely agree with that. You're going to see who is strong both physically and mentally," says Meg Jordan, whose Raider squad will serve as hosts come Monday morning.

Groups start at 8 a.m. at the Walden Lake Golf and Country Club.

District tournaments require everyone play 18 holes as compared to the nine-hole format of the regular season.

Plant City leader Kellyanne Hurst won't have an issue having played in several top junior events, and her ninth-grade teammates Kendall Johnson and Kaylee McIntosh also have experience at going the full distance around a course.

And for a little preview, Plant City finished its regular season Tuesday by playing Freedom — and edging the Patriots by six strokes. Lindsey Box, the normal No. 4 player, made the difference as she shot a 47 which was second best for her squad Tuesday. The Raiders ended with an 8-3 record.

Only a stroke or two may end up separating the Raiders and Cougars. While Plant City did win both of its meetings with Durant this season, the Cougars have steadily improved their team average.

Durant's Krista Reinhardt and Tori Higgins are averaging 44 over nine holes and Samantha Rentz is a couple shots off that pace. The wild card to the whole thing could be Shannon Bell, a softball player by trait who has been learning on the go.

"Her work ethic is something else," Sheffield said of Bell. "She wants to be a good golfer, she's a great athlete."

Bell has improved her average to 54 and often a team's fourth golfer, especially when the action turns to 18-hole events, ends up being just as important as the best score.

The top groups begin early Monday so Jordan urged any would-be spectators to show up at Walden Lake with that in mind. For example, the 8 a.m. threesome will feature Hurst, a junior, along with the top players from Steinbrenner and Freedom.

"Those first 4 to 5 groups will be like match play. It's gonna be some great golf," said Jordan. "I would encourage people to come out and watch, especially (Walden Lake) members. It's nice for the girls and it's a big event for us to be hosting."

The 2A-10 boys were originally slated to also play at Walden Lake but it has been moved to Summerfield, which is Riverview High's home course. Though neither Plant City nor Durant is expected to have a top-three team finish, both have promising individuals.

Players who card the top three scores from nonadvancing teams also advance to the regionals. Durant's Chase Levesque may fit that bill, along with Plant City's top scorer, William George, who has averaged about 1-over-par per round the last six weeks.

Durant's second and fourth players are both freshmen (Nick Little, Colton Rustenberhe) and the Raiders also have a promising future with George, No. 2 Jordan Genevie and freshman Jered Driskell all to return.

Newsome's boys are the class of the group. Strawberry Crest is in the field as well. The boys tourney starts at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Darek Sharp can be reached at hillsnews@tampabay.com.

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Cheerleader spotlight

Brittney Boyd, Riverview High

Class: Senior

Age: 17

Cheer history: "On and off" since age 7 and for three years at Riverview.

Favorite movie: Cat in the Hat

Favorite music: Country

Favorite artist: George Strait

No. 1 right now on her iPod: Best of Me by Brantley Gilbert

Future: Boyd hopes to attend USF and get into the radiology field.

Favorite food: "Anything fried," she said. "Is that bad?"

When she's not cheering: Boyd helps out by organizing files for her mom's photography business.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

TAMPA — The Bucs still don't know which Chiefs quarterback they'll face Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday that QB Matt Cassel (concussion) is having tests and hasn't been cleared to play yet. They're preparing (for now) as if backup Brady Quinn will step in.

But Bucs coach Greg Schiano and his players say that uncertainty hasn't dramatically impacted their game planning.

"We're preparing for the Chiefs offense," LB Quincy Black said. "They're a run-first football team, and that's how we're going to prepare."

Regardless of the quarterback, the Chiefs rely heavily on workhorse RB Jamaal Charles, the NFL's leading rusher (551 yards). Kansas City is third in the league in rushing attempts (174).

Schiano believes the Chiefs will stay with their strong philosophy no matter who starts and says they have enough video on Quinn, the former first-round pick from Notre Dame who would be making his first start since 2009.

"He hasn't started a game in a while, but he's played in the league, he understands what it takes to run an offense and run a team," Crennel said in a conference call.

"And I think he's been preparing his whole time in the league and many times, as he always says, he's always been one play away. And so if it's determined that he gets the next play as he did on Sunday … I think he's going to operate the offense efficiently."

Cassel had been struggling as the Chiefs fell to 1-4, with nine interceptions, five fumbles and a 66.2 quarterback rating. When Cassel went down Sunday, some of the Chiefs home fans cheered, drawing the ire of T Eric Winston, who called the fans reaction "sickening" and "embarrassing" in a postgame rant.

"No one wants to see anyone get hurt," Crennel said. "I think historically, you look back, you'll see the Kansas City Chiefs fans are very supportive and are great fans. And Eric reacted to a situation that occurred where a minority of fans did something, and he was speaking to the minority and not to the majority. I think the majority of the Chiefs fans are very supportive of the Chiefs."

BLOUNT FORCE: Only time will tell whether RB LeGarrette Blount assumes a larger role in the Bucs offense in the weeks to come, as coaches have suggested.

But Blount is helping his case by performing better in practice.

"I think LeGarrette has practiced better the last couple weeks," Schiano said. "I think when you prepare better you play better."

Schiano places great emphasis on practice performance when determining the roles of players on game day. Blount has 13 carries in four games after giving way to first-round pick Doug Martin (71 carries) in the starting lineup. Neither has had great success — Martin is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, Blount 3.4 — but the Bucs hope the backs' difference in style creates problems for defenses.

"I'm going to come in there and try to make the best of all my opportunities," Blount said. "Try to make them play me more."

REAL MCCOY: As well as DT Gerald McCoy has played this season, with three sacks and eight tackles for loss, Schiano has been impressed with his week-to-week improvement.

"What he's doing is whetting his own appetite and ours for what can be in the future," Schiano said. "The thing that's nice about Gerald, he has the ability to be a superstar in this league, and he takes coaching really well and wants to be better. And that's a good combination to have."

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Must-win?

No, not quite. But pretty darn close. Let's call it a can't-really-afford-to-lose game.

The Bucs will play their fifth game of the season Sunday at Raymond James Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.

It's true that no season was ever salvaged or lost in the fifth game of the season. And if the Bucs lose Sunday, they're not going to turn off the lights, chain the doors and shut down the franchise.

But look at it this way: What would it say if the Bucs lost Sunday? Do we even want to think about the answer to that question?

The Bucs are 1-3 and now have lost 13 of their past 14 games, so there aren't a whole lot of games you can say the Bucs should win. But Sunday is one of them.

They should win, and more important, they need to win.

Here are some reasons why a victory Sunday is crucial for the Bucs:

It will reaffirm the hiring of Schiano

We don't know for sure how the Bucs players truly feel about coach Greg Schiano. So far, they're saying all the right things, and they do appear to be buying into Schiano's hard-nosed ways.

Schiano's plan is to change the culture, and that's somewhat easier to do when players have success, when they see that their hard work is paying off. But if all the harping and yelling and extra sweat don't produce results, how long before the players tune out the boss?

"The most important thing with a change in culture is that you have some kind of success in the first year so players actually believe that this can turn around," radio analyst and former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht said.

Riding a three-game losing streak after an opening day victory, the Bucs might need another dose of success to believe in Schiano and continue running through whatever walls he tells them to run through.

The Bucs are playing a bad team

This is the part where we're supposed to say, "No offense to the Chiefs, but …" In this case, we're just going to go ahead and offend the Chiefs. They're a bad football team.

Kansas City is 1-4 this season and has lost 10 of its past 14 games. The Chiefs have been outscored 145-94, including games in which they've given up 40, 37 and 35 points. The offense is so bad that fans cheered when their quarterback got knocked out.

The Bucs, I know, aren't exactly a dynasty. They are rebuilding after losing 10 games in a row to end last season and are still trying to find their footing this season. So it's not like there are a slew of teams out there the Bucs absolutely, positively should beat.

But you would like to think the Chiefs are one of them.

Brady Quinn is probably starting

Kansas City starting quarterback Matt Cassel suffered a concussion Sunday and has yet to practice this week. It's starting to look as if backup Brady Quinn will start for the Chiefs. The last time anyone was scared to face Quinn, they were playing for Army and Quinn was playing at Notre Dame.

Quinn was a first-round pick in 2007 and is already on his third team. He hasn't started a game in three years and has won only three more NFL games than I have. He's 3-9 as an NFL starter.

The Bucs are coming off a bye

This is the healthiest the Bucs are going to be for the rest of the season, both physically and mentally.

They will have had 13 days off when they line up Sunday. That's 13 days to mend the bumps. That's 13 days to patch the bruises. That's 13 days to re-charge the batteries.

It's also 13 days Schiano and his staff had to dissect everything that has gone wrong so far and come up with a solution or two to fix it.

In other words, the bye week is a good thing. Since 1990, NFL teams are 370-329-1 in the week after the bye.

Final thought

There are a few other reasons the Bucs really need to win Sunday. If you're an eternal optimist and dream of the playoffs, the Bucs can't afford to fall any farther behind the undefeated Falcons in the NFC South or behind the ever-growing pack of NFC wild-card hopefuls. A win might get enough local fans excited to sell out a home game or two. And, well, 2-3 looks a heck of a lot better than 1-4.

But most of all the Bucs need to win Sunday because they can win Sunday. Coming off the bye week, playing at home against a bad team with a backup quarterback is the perfect storm for a victory.

If you can't win a game like that, you start to wonder which, if any, you can.

Tom Jones can be reached at tjones@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8544 and can be heard from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WDAE-620.

By Tim Whitfield, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Invasion: The freckled fish have invaded the middle part of Tampa Bay. Recently, we have caught 22- to 26-inch fish.

Baits: Live white bait has been the top producer. Match the hatch if the baits on the flat are tiny, and use them if the big females are gorging on them. For the artificial guys, topwaters that chug have been doing well at first light. For the fly guys, chugging poppers are deadly as the sun breaches the eastern horizon.

Where: Deeper flats with shallow bars and schools of bait raining across the top are a good start. Fish where you catch bait for some early morning action as the sun rises then move into the flats in the 4-foot range.

What else: Redfish have been foraging on the high tides all over the bay. Find the mullet, find the fish. Top baits have been dead pinfish and dead white baits soaking on the bottom. For the artificial guys, an early morning high tide has been producing great action with the walk-the-dog type of plugs.

Tim Whitfield can be reached at (813) 714-0889 or tim@swiftfishcharters.com.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

TAMPA — At least tackle Jeremy Trueblood knows what good guard play looks like. He had the best vantage point for the past six years, lining up alongside a certain dreadlocked Pro Bowl player.

But a season-ending knee injury to guard Davin Joseph has created a gaping hole in the Bucs offensive line that even the 6-foot-8, 320-pound Trueblood may have trouble filling.

Having lost his starting right tackle job to Demar Dotson last month, Trueblood took the first repetitions at Joseph's old spot at right guard in practice Wednesday.

While coach Greg Schiano has been noncommittal about his plans for that position Sunday against Kansas City, Trueblood believes he can make the transition rather seamlessly.

"I've played a lot of years next to one of the best guards in the NFL, so I've picked up on a lot of things he's done over the years and just tried to do them," Trueblood said. "I mean, obviously I can't do it just like he does it, but just some of the little things I'm trying to do. So it's been pretty easy because of that. I mean, it's not easy. In my head it is, I've just got to translate it to my body and stuff like that. It's just a work in progress."

Will Trueblood, who hasn't played guard since he was in high school in Indiana, replace Ted Larsen, who started the past four games at right guard? Or will the plan unravel like so much tape on Trueblood's arms and fingers?

"Jeremy is a very intelligent football player who is very experienced," Schiano said. "So, I think he has a much better chance of grasping things in a short amount of time. His best buddy, Davin, has played guard next to him for a long time. Different scheme, yes, but they worked together on so many different things, I think he's got a good understanding. They all do. It's just going to be a matter of who we think the best choice is for this week."

What's the reason for the Bucs contemplating a change at right guard? They've had trouble this season running the football. Tampa Bay is ranked 23rd in rushing offense at 91 yards per game. Doug Martin, the 31st overall pick from Boise State, has a 3.5 yard per rush average.

Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan was quick to deflect the blame from Larsen for the struggling running game.

"I think there are a number of reasons when you look at why runs are not effective, and you can start with me calling the wrong run at the wrong time," Sullivan said. "It can be a breakdown in a number of areas. So to kind of put the spotlight on right guard would be unfair.

"(Davin) is awfully difficult to replace … but at the same time, we've got to move forward. There are some guys who are fighting their tails off and moving forward and we'll know more as we get into the week about who's going to be that person at right guard for us."

Trueblood will have to make adjustments in his game. At tackle, his size and ability to spread out helps in staying in front of an edge rusher and helping to form a pocket around the quarterback. At guard, there is even more coordination and communication with the center and adjustments to blocking schemes have to be made rapidly.

Furthermore, Trueblood's height may limit his ability to keep a low pad level, which is key while working in tight spaces.

"I don't think you would really think it's that different of a technique, but sometimes it just happens a little faster, I guess," Trueblood said. "Every one is a little closer. But it's just football."

The early returns on Trueblood's ability to play guard were good Wednesday.

"He looks good," nose tackle Roy Miller said. "We were surprised watching him in pass rush and pass blocking … and on the run. He's always had the aggressive type of mentality, so being a guard I think he'll be able to use his force more and be able to mash guys and drive into him like I think he'd like to at tackle."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com and can be heard from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WDAE-620. View his blog at tampabay.com/blogs/bucs. Follow him on Twitter at @NFLStroud.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

TONIGHT

Steelers (2-2) at Titans (1-4)

When/where: 8:20; LP Field, Nashville

TV/radio: NFL Network; 98.7-FM, 1010-AM

Line/OU: Steelers by 51/2; 43

There's still plenty of time for the Steelers to pull things together and win their requisite 10 or 12 games, though their schedule has a fair number of pitfalls remaining. Will tonight's game be one of those? It's a short week and they're on the road. But the truth is the Titans offense just doesn't have the firepower to make enough plays against a Steelers defense that's still plenty good. Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck, starting a second straight game for Jake Locker (dislocated left shoulder), is less mobile and will be more vulnerable to the pass rush, though LB LaMarr Woodley is slowed by a strained right hamstring. The Steelers got a lift when RB Rashard Mendenhall returned from injury Sunday and had 101 yards from scrimmage.

Stephen F. Holder's pick: Steelers 29, Titans 16

Times wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

CINCINNATI — The Reds dropped injured RHP Johnny Cueto from their NL Division Series roster Wednesday, replacing him with RHP Mike Leake a few hours before Game 4.

Major League Baseball granted permission for the move at 11:30 a.m., less than five hours before the first pitch.

Cueto pulled muscles in his side during the first inning of the series opener Saturday night. The injury continued to bother him four days later.

Cincinnati was reluctant to make the move because it also leaves Cueto ineligible to pitch in the NL Championship Series, should the Reds advance.

"It's tough taking your potential Cy Young guy out of your rotation," general manager Walt Jocketty said.

NO TAKING THE BAIT: Pete Rose might be focused on Derek Jeter's hit total, but Jeter isn't. At least, that was the message the Yankees shortstop trumpeted Wednesday.

"I'm not talking about Pete Rose, man," Jeter said. "We're trying to win a game here."

Rose told the Sports on Earth website this week that his hits record of 4,256 remains safe from Jeter, who has 3,304 hits. The former Reds star believes that at age 38, Jeter's window will close before he has a chance to make a serious run at the record.

Jeter left Wednesday's win over the Orioles with a sore left ankle, replaced by Jayson Nix after he limped out of the batters' box to end the eighth. Jeter had an X-ray and said he will play tonight.

SAUNDERS NEXT: Orioles manager Buck Showalter said LHP Joe Saunders will start Game 4 tonight against the Yankees.

Saunders, 31, was 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA in seven starts after he was acquired from the Diamondbacks on Aug. 26. Showalter had been debating between him and RHP Chris Tillman.

"We don't truly have maybe a one, two, three, four, five kind of rotation," Saunders said. "We have maybe a couple twos, maybe a couple threes, maybe a four, whatever. Like Buck says, whoever is pitching that day is the ace.

MISSED IT: First-base umpire Jim Joyce blew a call in the Nationals-Cardinals game when he ruled Washington batter Danny Espinosa out after he bunted with a runner on and no outs in the second inning. Replays showed that Espinosa beat the throw by a half-step. Joyce, widely regarded as one of baseball's best umpires, famously blew a call at first to ruin Tigers RHP Armando Galarraga's bid for a perfect game in 2010.

AROUND THE MAJORS: Montreal will name a street and a park after Expos Hall of Fame C Gary Carter, who died in February of cancer at age 57. … The Red Sox have Dodgers third-base coach Tim Wallach on their list of managerial candidates, the Boston Herald reported.

Times wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

WASHINGTON — Chris Carpenter wasn't dominant, but he was an ace.

Taking the mound for the fourth time in 2012, missing a rib after surgery to cure numbness on his right side, the right-hander pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning, rookie Pete Kozma delivered a three-run homer and the defending World Series champion Cardinals beat the Nationals 8-0 Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead in their NL Division Series.

"If the baseball world doesn't know what an amazing competitor he is by now, they haven't been paying any attention," Carpenter's teammate Matt Holliday said. "Every guy on this team has watched him work his way back, watches him in between starts. He's a stud. Just a guy that you want out there."

All in all, it was quite a damper on the day for a Nationals Park-record 45,017 red-wearing, towel-twirling fans witnessing the first postseason game in the nation's capital in 79 years.

Three relievers finished the shutout for the Cardinals, who can end the best-of-five series today at Washington.

"We're not out of this, by a long shot," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "Shoot, I've had my back to worse walls than this."

St. Louis snuck into the postseason as the league's second wild card under this year's new format. But the Cardinals seem to become a different bunch in the playoffs, no matter that slugger Albert Pujols and manager Tony La Russa are no longer around.

Carpenter, 37, still is, though he didn't expect to pitch this year when he had problems during spring training and needed an operation in July to correct a nerve problem. The top rib on his right side was removed, along with connecting muscles.

He returned Sept. 21, going 0-2 with a solid 3.71 ERA in three starts.

It wasn't clear how he'd fare Wednesday. Except to Carpenter, who improved to 10-2 in his postseason career.

"I'm not going to go out there and compete," he said, "if I'm not good enough to compete."

The Nationals' hitters are struggling mightily. They've scored seven runs in the playoffs and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base in Game 3.

Times wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

BEREA, Ohio — Angered by Roger Goodell's handling of the Saints' bounty scandal, Scott Fujita accused the commissioner of misusing his power, questioned his record on player safety, and the Browns linebacker vowed to keep fighting to clear his name.

"The commissioner says he is disappointed in me," Fujita said Wednesday. "The truth is, I'm disappointed in him."

One day after Goodell reduced Fujita's three-game suspension to one for alleged involvement in the pay-for-hits program, Fujita took on the commissioner in a strongly worded statement.

On Tuesday, Goodell sent Fujita a letter in which he chastised the 10-year veteran and member of the players association's executive committee. Goodell wrote that "… If you had spoken up, perhaps other players would have refused to participate and the consequences with which we are now dealing could have been avoided."

Fujita was angered by the "condescending tone." He said he will appeal his one-game suspension and intends to play Sunday.

"For him to speak to me as if I'm cavalier about player health and safety, that's when I said enough is enough," Fujita said.

"It's just a power-run-amok situation," he added. "Obviously, the scope of the conduct-detrimental powers that have been afforded him are broad, but there has been clear abuse of power that has been afforded to him."

Goodell upheld the suspensions of Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith, and reduced penalties for Fujita and Anthony Hargrove.

Ruud joins Texans: In the wake of Brian Cushing's season-ending knee injury, Houston signed former Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Ruud, who started 68 games for the Bucs from 2005-10, was cut Monday by New Orleans.

RG3 returns: Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III practiced and showed no effects from a mild concussion. Barring setbacks he will start against the Vikings.

Jets QB saga: Coach Rex Ryan said Mark Sanchez is the starting quarterback "this week" and no switch to Tim Tebow is coming. When pressed about his qualifier, Ryan got testy: "What do you want me to say? … He's our starter this week." The comments came hours after owner Woody Johnson said Tebow, the former Florida star and Broncos starter, will "be with us for three years."

Packers: Running back Cedric Benson was put on injured reserve (sprained left foot) but is designated to return. He must sit out eight games before returning.

Panthers: Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil will have season-ending surgery after suffering a tear to a ligament that supports the middle of his foot and continuing to play on it last week.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Saturday marks the first time since the Texas A&M game on Sept. 8 that Florida faces a dual-threat QB, Vanderbilt's Jordan Rodgers.

"Not only do they have a mobile QB, they also have a quarterback running game package where there are some direct quarterback runs," Gators defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said Wednesday. "You have to do a really good job of setting the edges because sometimes when you face a guy who has the speed to get outside, he'll break contain and then try to create a play that way.

"Fortunately, our QBs can run. So when we get a chance to go against them, we know what it feels like."

No looking ahead: The Gators enter on a high after defeating LSU. But after beating the Commodores by only five points last season, they aren't overlooking them with an eye toward the following game against South Carolina.

"They are much improved," Florida senior LB Jon Bostic said. "They've got some guys that really are pretty good. A lot of people always look over them, but this Vanderbilt team has been improving pretty much since my freshman year."

USF: Finding inspiration

TAMPA — If USF, mired in a four-game skid, needed a reminder a team can bounce back from a 2-4 start, it finds one next week when it travels to face Louisville.

The Cardinals started 2-4 last season, including losing to Florida International. Then they clicked, winning five of six to finish tied for first in the Big East.

"There's a lot we can still play for, a lot more we can still accomplish," Bulls QB B.J. Daniels said. "Our goals, fortunately, we're still able to attain them."

Senior G Danous Estenor said players have talked about Louisville's turnaround.

"There's a lot of optimism in the locker room," he said. "(Louisville) gives us a lot of hope: 'Okay, it's been done before. It's not something out of reach.' We're trying to take that to the next game, fix our mistakes and correct them all in the next game."

THIS AND THAT: The bye week lets younger players get reps with the first teams. Wednesday, that included LB Zack Bullock, walk-on S Trevon Griffin and LT Darrell Williams. … Freshman LB Tashon Whitehurst, who missed Saturday's game with a knee injury, returned to practice. … One current positional experiment: shifting redshirt freshman C.J. Garye from safety to weakside linebacker. … Coach Skip Holtz's father, Lou, watched practice from a golf cart. "He's pretty feisty," Daniels said. "He has a big voice. When he speaks, you listen to him."

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

FSU: Change on punts

TALLAHASSEE — After two straight opponents blocked Florida State punts, including Saturday's that helped N.C. State win, senior DT Everett Dawkins grew impatient. So he persuaded special teams coach Eddie Gran to make him a punt protector.

"Special teams is a big part of our game," said Dawkins, who has prior experience on special teams. "It was like, 'If I have to run down the field or whatever I have to do, I don't care. I just want you to put me back on it.' "

Tuesday at practice, Dawkins was among three positioned in front of P Cason Beatty.

"It's not as simple as people may think, especially when you have multiple people coming at you," Dawkins said about punt protection. "But at the end of the day, while the other team does all that (twisting, stunting and overloading on the line), the object is to stop them."

Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel

Times wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

CINCINNATI — Angel Pagan connects on the second pitch of the game. A Giants team that finished last in homers goes on to hit three. Tim Lincecum pitches like a two-time Cy Young Award winner — out of the bullpen.

So many unusual things moved San Francisco to the verge of an unprecedented comeback.

Pagan hit the first leadoff homer in Giants postseason history, and Gregor Blanco and Pablo Sandoval connected later for an 8-3 victory over the Reds on Wednesday that evened their NL Division Series at two.

No team has recovered from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series by winning three on the road, according to STATS LLC. This one can do it with a victory today at Great American Ball Park.

"Thanks to the win today, there will be a tomorrow," Pagan said. "And we are ready for that."

Facing elimination, the Giants' slumping hitters came out swinging and extended Cincinnati's playoff misery. The Reds haven't won a postseason game at home in 17 years.

One thing in the Reds' favor: They haven't dropped three straight at home all season.

"I'd like to think that we still have the advantage," Reds outfielder Jay Bruce said. "We're at home. I expect Mat (Latos, today's starter) to come up with a big game. I'm looking forward to it."

So are the Giants, who were down after losing the first two games at home while getting outscored 14-2. They were barely able to get a hit, let alone a win.

The pressure pulled them closer. Hunter Pence gathered them for inspirational speeches before the two games in Cincinnati, challenging them to play like champions.

"We feel good," batting champion Buster Posey said. "When you're down 0-2 you see what you're made of. We're not done."

It wasn't all about the offense. San Francisco's overlooked Cy Young winner played a starring role, too.

Lincecum was relegated to the bullpen for this series after losing 15 and throwing 17 wild pitches in the regular season. He entered in the fourth inning, pitched out of a threat that kept the Giants up 3-2 and kept going. The right-hander struck out six and allowed one run in 41/3 innings.

"I knew he would play a huge role in this," manager Bruce Bochy said. "And I know of other situations where starters have been in the pen and really done a great job to help their team win. We knew Timmy would play a critical role in the series like he did" Wednesday.

The Giants normally don't hit many homers: only 103 during the season, fewest in the majors. They're only the seventh team since 1900 to reach the playoffs after finishing last in the majors in homers.

Times wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — Seth Smith hit a tying two-run double off Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the ninth inning and Coco Crisp capped the Athletics' most dramatic comeback yet with an RBI single as Oakland staved off elimination for a second straight night with a 4-3 victory in Game 4 of the AL Division Series, which ended early this morning.

The A's rode 14 walkoff wins in the regular season to an improbable AL West title. No. 15 set up a win-or-go-home Game 5 against Justin Verlander and Detroit.

Josh Reddick started the rally with a single just under the glove of diving second baseman Omar Infante. Josh Donaldson followed with a double off the wall in left-center and both runners scored on Smith's double. Two outs later, Crisp lined a single to right and Smith scored easily when Avisail Garcia couldn't handle the ball.

"We're not giving up,'' Crisp said. "The guys are fantastic. We've been doing this all year.''

Playing before a sellout, yellow towel-waving Coliseum crowd, Yoenis Cespedes hit a first-inning single against Tigers 16-game winner Max Scherzer. Scherzer retired the next 12 batters, and eventually left in the sixth.

Right-hander A.J. Griffin became the third rookie A's pitcher to start a game this series after Jarrod Parker and Tommy Milone, the first time it has happened in major-league history in a single postseason.

Griffin is the fifth rookie in Oakland history to make a postseason start.