Times wires
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Indians 8, Orioles 3
CLEVELAND — Josh Tomlin continued the Indians' run of good starting pitching and Orlando Cabrera drove in four runs as Cleveland won its sixth straight at home. In the past 12 games, Indians starters are 8-1 with a 1.91 ERA to help Cleveland improve to 10-4, its best start in nine years. The Orioles, who opened the season 4-0, have lost six in a row and have scored 15 runs during the skid.
Times wires
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Yankees 5, Rangers 2
NEW YORK — Freddy Garcia allowed two hits in six innings in his Yankees debut, and Mark Teixeira drove in three runs as New York held on. With temperatures in the mid 40s, Garcia worked through steady rain showers and winds gusting to 30 mph to shut down the Rangers offense. "He pitched really good," said Robinson Cano, who added a two-run homer in the eighth for New York. "He waited a long time for this."
Times wires
Saturday, April 16, 2011
BOSTON — Josh Beckett's fine start has been overshadowed by Boston's miserable one.
Beckett had his second straight strong outing, and Jed Lowrie provided a spark at the top of the lineup with a two-run homer to lift the Red Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday.
The 30-year-old right-hander, coming off an injury-plagued 2010 when he posted a 5.78 ERA, overpowered the Yankees six days earlier and followed with an outing nearly as impressive.
Pitching with wind chills in the mid 30s and a stiff breeze blowing in from rightfield, Beckett allowed two baserunners in an inning once. It came when Toronto scored its only run.
"I definitely pushed myself a little bit more. I definitely felt good," he said. "That was one of the things where on a day game like (Saturday), where maybe the energy is down a little bit. That's a way of picking myself up."
Beckett, a big part of Boston's run to the 2007 World Series, missed more than two months last season because of a strained back.
By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — As FC Tampa Bay players and coaches celebrated the team's lone goal in last week's season-opening win over Montreal, Jeremy Christie watched from his seat in the red field box section behind the third-base dugout, an anonymous spectator among the few thousand supporters.
Christie, 27, a New Zealander who was the first player Tampa Bay signed in January 2010 when the club was just starting, exhibited no perceived connection to the team, save for the Tampa Bay logo on his shirt.
That feeling of being an outcast, real or not, has been the most difficult part of Christie's rehab after surgery in February on a labral tear in his left hip — more than the pain of three-times-a-week therapy sessions designed to strengthen his injured hip or the hurt from the surgery itself.
"It's hard when I know they're out there warming up, and I'm sort of sitting in the stands watching," Christie said. " … At the end of last season, obviously with the way the year finished for me, my injuries, I was excited about having an offseason where I could get myself fully fixed and then come back preseason and be buzzing for this year. But obviously it didn't quite turn out that way."
Christie played 11 games a year ago for Tampa Bay, including the first five, before he left to play for New Zealand in the World Cup, where he was a second-half substitute for two group stage games. When he returned from South Africa, Christie was nagged by a groin injury that never really healed, and he played sparingly the rest of the regular season.
"I was never really 100 percent again," Christie said. " … It was frustrating because I was on such a high obviously from the World Cup and the fitness and the form I was in, I just wanted to come back here and really kick on."
During the offseason, he traveled home to New Zealand, where doctors from the national team discovered the labral tear in his hip that was causing the pain in his groin.
"It's actually a good thing that I got it seen when I did because another year or so and it could have done me in," Christie said. "If I rehab it properly, then it'll give me another six or seven years in the game. … I've probably had this (injury) since I was 16 or 17, and once I get it done and get rehabbed, I'm going to feel like I'm 21 again. So (I'm) kind of looking forward to that."
But it's a slow process.
Tampa Bay doesn't expect Christie to start fully practicing until mid summer. The hope is to get the talented center midfielder back for a playoff run should the club qualify.
For now, with his teammates practicing a new style under first-year coach Ricky Hill, Christie trains off to the side. As Tampa Bay perfects one-touch, give-and-go passing, the 5-foot-11, 163-pound Christie balances on one foot with one arm tethered to a large rubber band while Tampa Bay trainer James Faylo tugs at the other end of the band from varying angles.
"I'm putting in the hours," Christie said. "Hopefully once I do come back, it's going to pay off."
He also has provided an extra set of well-trained eyes for Hill and can offer suggestions and give input to the veteran coach during practices.
"He's an experienced player," Hill said. "I respect his knowledge of the game, and I'd be stupid to ignore his knowledge whenever he decides to lend it or give it to me."
When the team hosts Puerto Rico tonight, Christie won't play and won't warm up with the team, and you won't find him on the bench during the game.
He might be Tampa Bay's forgotten man.
Just don't forget about Jeremy Christie.
By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Outside the Lines: 9 a.m. on ESPN. Featured is a report on the high-stakes poker games on NBA teams' charter flights that often involve thousands of dollars. One game led to an altercation between Memphis teammates this season.
Inside the Rays: 5 p.m. on Sun Sports. The latest chapter features new outfielder Johnny Damon, who talks about his connection to his hometown near Orlando.
MLB's Greatest Games: 7 p.m. on MLB Network. The countdown of the top 20 major-league games of the past 50 years reaches No. 5.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Rays might seek another bat to replace the "retired" Manny Ramirez, but likely not for a couple of months.
In part, that's because there really aren't any quality players available this early. Trade talk doesn't typically start until mid to late May and doesn't warm up until after the June draft. Players who were released, weren't in camps or are in the independent leagues probably aren't going to be of enough help, and some, such as Jermaine Dye, have announced their retirement.
But the Rays need time to evaluate what they have. Until they get third baseman Evan Longoria, who was injured in the second game, back at the end of the month, they can't make a true read on how bad, or good, their Manny-less offense might be and how much is realistic to expect from Sam Fuld, B.J. Upton, Ben Zobrist and Matt Joyce.
Also, they need time to evaluate the players they called up. Infielder Felipe Lopez seems like a temporary replacement, but first baseman Casey Kotchman could — if he showed enough offensively — be a longer-term answer, maybe for the next few seasons.
There is also the issue of money. Though the Rays, in theory, saved most of the $2 million they were to pay Ramirez, the replacements are costing them almost as much: Lopez gets a $1 million salary (with up to $1 million in incentives starting at 350 plate appearances) and Kotchman $750,000 (with $400,000 in incentives). And since neither can be sent back down without going through waivers, the Rays could lose them and still end up paying the bulk of their salaries.
Top outfield prospect Desmond Jennings, off to a hot start at Triple-A Durham (.345 with two homers, five RBIs in nine games), would be another option, especially if Fuld cools off or gets hurt.
"We are big on depth and focused on it a lot this offseason; we didn't expect it to get tested this early," executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "So it's a balancing act for us that we want to get a truer sampling to get a sense of what areas we need to be aggressive in trying to target from the outside."
By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The poll
Which of these testimonials is most likely to be true about Rays leftfielder Sam Fuld? Total: 414 votes
29 percent: Fuld gets Chick-fil-A on Sunday
22 percent: Fuld is bored by the "Most Interesting Man in the World"
15 percent: Tim Tebow wears Sam Fuld pajamas
15 percent: If Fuld was Jack Bauer, 24 would have been only a half-hour
10 percent: Charlie Sheen new catchphrase: "FULDING"
9 percent: USF changing its name to University of Sam Fuld
Another poll
Biggest reason for Rays' slow start? Total: 370 votes
38 percent: Not enough balls put in play
32 percent: Lack of production in middle of order
14 percent: Table-setters not getting on base
13 percent: Too many lineup changes
3 percent: Spotty defensive play
This week's question
What is your favorite Lightning playoff memory?
Vote at lightning. tampabay.com.
By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Enrico Ciccone
This is the coolest name of anyone who has played for a Tampa Bay sports team. Next, he's got looks. Ciccone — with his chiseled body, dark skin, dark eyes and long, flowing dark hair — looked like one of those hunks on the cover of a romance novel. He was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. He also did something that many hockey fans — especially those in a nontraditional market — love: He would drop the gloves and start throwing punches if anyone even looked in his direction. Ciccone played 135 games for the Lightning from 1993-99 and amassed 604 penalty minutes, fourth on the franchise's all-time list. That's an average of 4.47 penalty minutes a game. He once even got into a stick-swinging altercation with a teammate, Brian Bradley, in practice! Yet, off the ice he was one of the most pleasant, humble and upbeat guys you would want to meet — and he had a cool French accent, to boot. No wonder everyone — men, women and children — loved him.
Mike Alstott
What is it about fullbacks? They seem to be the fan favorite in every city. Maybe it's because they have a blue-collar work ethic and do the dirty jobs with little attention or praise. While they are sticking their nose into the moving Mack trucks otherwise known as NFL linebackers, some other back is taking advantage of those blocking lanes and becoming a star. But Alstott — who had a nickname, A-Train, that fit perfectly for a fullback and a cult hero — was not a prototypical fullback. He could run, too. When he retired in 2008, he was the Bucs' second all-time rusher (5,088 yards) and their all-time leader in touchdowns (71). Then again, some of his most famous runs were 1 or 2 yards. When Alstott was playing, Sundays at the Bucs' stadium looked like there must have been an Alstott jersey giveaway because so many No. 40s were in the stands.
Quinton McCracken
Part of what makes a cult hero is the name. In this case, it's a letter: Q. He was the first batter in Rays history, and really the team's first star. He was the original Mr. Devil Ray. Okay, he was no Ernie Banks, but cult heroes aren't supposed to be. Back in that inaugural 1998 season, McCracken batted .292 with seven homers and 59 RBIs, and he was named the franchise's first most valuable player.
Phil Esposito
He is one of the greatest hockey players of all time. In Canada and Boston, the former Bruin is a legend. Canadians and New Englanders look at Espo the way many sports fans look at Mickey Mantle, Magic Johnson and Joe Montana. So including Espo in the cult-hero category doesn't seem totally appropriate. But his popularity around here is immense and surprising, considering he never played a game in Tampa Bay. Sure, he is the man most responsible for bringing the NHL to Tampa Bay, but he was fired as general manager in 1998 — 13 years ago. Yet, Espo remains as popular as ever, partly because of his radio analyst gig for Lightning home games and mostly because of his regular-guy personality. He was recently given a token front-office position with the Lightning because new owner Jeff Vinik realizes just how much Esposito means to the people of Tampa Bay.
Rays spark plug Sam Fuld is a legend already in Tampa Bay. There is his almost-but-better-than-a-cycle hitting in Boston, the impressive catch in Chicago, the cloud of dust whirling around the infield every time he gets on base. Heck, the guy has been with the Rays like 12 minutes and already a Sam Fuld superhero cape giveaway night is planned at Tropicana Field. The 29-year-old has officially reached cult hero status in Tampa Bay. Here's a look at some of the other cult heroes in Tampa Bay sports. They aren't necessarily Hall of Famers, but there is just something about them that made them fan favorites.
Other cult heroes in Tampa Bay sports
Micheal Spurlock (Bucs, 2007-present): He will never have to buy a drink in town after in 2007 becoming the first player in Bucs history to return a kickoff for a touchdown.
Bubba Trammell (Rays, 1998-2000): The name alone puts him on the list, as well as the rabid following he had in the outfield stands.
Tim Tebow (Gators, 2006-09): The Babe Ruth of cult heroes. Now with the Broncos, he's a big deal everywhere, but especially across Florida.
Donald Igwebuike (Bucs, 1985-89): The Nigerian kicker known as Iggy is fourth on the Bucs' all-time points list.
Bobby Taylor (Lightning): The only television analyst in the history of the Lightning, "The Chief'' has become a Tampa Bay sports institution.
Rudy Poeschek (Lightning, 1993-97): Tampa Bay loves its fighters, and few have thrown punches as hard as this enforcer. And his face looked like it had taken a few punches, too. That just made him more likable.
Chris Thomas (broadcaster): Thomas, who died from cancer at age 55 in 2004, is considered by many to be the best local sports talk-show host in bay area history. Once a TV sports anchor at Ch. 8, Thomas gained cult-hero status that remains strong among those who listened to his offbeat, comical and always interesting show on WDAE-AM 620, which renamed its studio, "The Chris Thomas Studio."
Rocco Baldelli
Isn't it interesting that Fuld is wearing the number Baldelli had with the Rays, 5? It feels funny to call him by his last name — Baldelli — because no one ever called Baldelli by his last name. We usually are on a first-name basis with our cult heroes. So, from here on out, we must refer to him as Rocco, the pride of Woonsocket, R.I. That No. 5 drew comparisons to Yankees great Joe DiMaggio. Well, that, as well as his long, lean frame, smooth batting stroke and outstanding defense. Comparing anyone to DiMaggio is silly, but Rocco started his career in Hall of Fame fashion. He had 40 hits in his first month, a rookie record. He finished his rookie year in 2003 with numbers that suggested he could be a superstar: .289 average, 11 homers, 78 RBIs, 89 runs, 27 steals and the most outfield assists in the American League. He figured to be Tampa Bay's starting centerfielder for a decade and a half. What followed, however, was a career of heartbreak and frustration. Injuries and illnesses forced him to retire after last season. But he handled the setbacks with grace and class, which only added to his title of "Most Popular Ray Ever.''
By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Firsts: On Friday we hooked our first sailfish of the year in 33 feet of water. This is not common, but it does occur during the spring as bait schools migrate to shore, luring in rogue species such as this billfish. We also caught our first blackfin tuna of the season last week. It was near a wreck in 70 feet. Numerous flying fish were in the vicinity, which is often a sign of tuna.
Deeper water: Offshore in 100 feet and deeper we noticed a migration of large mangrove snapper. A lot of gag grouper have also been released at these locations. These occurrences are signs of spring migrations. We are still waiting for better red grouper fishing. It has been uneventful in depths of 80 to 90 feet.
Kings: Many believe kingfish migration has been lackluster. The hope is that a more pronounced migration is headed our way soon. Average catches have been coming in from 80 feet and shallower. We have been getting most of our kings in the spots where we catch our baitfish, between 30 and 60 feet.
Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach and can be reached at jawstoo@msn.com, jawstoo.com or (727) 439-2628.
By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Elijah McClendon is an all-county linebacker, but this spring he is spending all his time hoping to prove that's not all he is.
The Boca Ciega rising senior has been showing up at camps and combines as a safety, a transition he hopes leads to his first scholarship offer.
"Well, I'm like an undersized linebacker, but I can cover like a safety," said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound McClendon. "We (he and new Pirates coach Antez Brinson) talked about it and thought it out, and decided it's best for me since this is what I'll probably play in college."
Now the task is getting colleges to agree.
For McClendon, the on-field transition should be an easy one.
He was always fast for a linebacker and good in coverage, so the move is natural.
And he likes to hit.
"I'm already like a hard-hitting safety; I like to punish people when they come across the middle. You got to have that mentality to play that position."
McClendon, who has a 2.8 grade-point average and hopes to become fully qualified before the end of football season, said he has been working hard on coverage, more of the off-man stuff than man-to-man, which he believes he has a good handle on.
At last week's Elite Scouting Services camp at Armwood, he was solid in the one-on-one drills, covering Berkeley Prep standout Nelson Agholor and Plant City receiver LaMarlin Wiggins.
At the camp, McClendon said recruitniks from Scout, Rivals, 247sports and ESPN talked to him.
He has had lots of contact with the staff at USF and said Middle Tennessee State has also shown some interest while a number of other schools have sent him mail.
"I'm working on getting my name out there," he said.
Timed in 4.7-4.8-second range in the 40-yard dash, and one of the strongest competitors at the ESS camp with 21 reps of 185 pounds on the bench press, McClendon hopes he can continue burnishing his credentials as a safety.
He was supposed to make the move to safety last season, but the Pirates needed him at linebacker, so those plans were scrapped.
That has left him without any video of him at the position he anticipates playing at the next level. So he has put special emphasis on his efforts this spring.
"I feel like I've been coming along, but there's a lot of work to do," McClendon said. "I think going against LaMarlin and guys like Nelson Agholor is good. I think I did good against them.
"There's pressure because I got to be perfect. Those guys are already there, they're already getting offers. I have no room for error."
McClendon, who had 85 tackles, two interceptions and nine sacks last season, is attending the Nike training camp today in Tallahassee with teammate Denzel Conyers.
Then he hopes to show prospective colleges what he can do with pads on when spring football starts May 2.
"My offseason has been really intense," he said. "I've been working out five days a week. I'm in the weight room; I'm running track.
"I feel like something good is going to happen pretty soon, I just got to be patient. Then come springtime, I have to show the colleges that I can play the position."
Times wires
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Braves 4, Mets 2
GAME 1
ATLANTA — Alex Gonzalez hit two of the Braves' four homers and Atlanta finally scored for Derek Lowe in the doubleheader opener. Lowe has a 1.82 ERA this season but lost his previous two starts as the Braves were shut out by the Brewers and Phillies.
By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
BROOKSVILLE
Springstead softball coach Craig Swartout had a pretty good feeling before the season started that his defense would be special. But even Swartout wasn't prepared for the staggering efficiency the Eagles have shown in keeping opponents off the scoreboard. In 21 regular-season contests, Springstead (19-2) has given up 34 runs, an average of fewer than two a game. The Eagles have recorded eight shutouts this season. They've held five teams to a single run. Which begs the question: Is it Springstead's defense or the pitching of ace Alexis Adams that has led to the Eagles' stinginess? Call it a 50/50 split.
"Alexis has really thrown the ball extremely well this year," Swartout said. "Her won-loss (19-2) total and ERA reflect that. You have to attribute the other half to the way the infield has played. We've got some infielders that are just incredible. They're great. They make every play. That makes it a lot easier."
In the pitcher's circle stands Adams, the hard-throwing junior who has pitched in every game for Springstead since transferring from Nature Coast between her freshman and sophomore year.
Adams can throw five pitches and keeps the ball away from the middle of the plate.
"She's elevated her game from last year," Swartout said. "She's added a couple of pitches. It makes things a lot easier when she's throwing strikes. As a coach, you don't have to be as fine. If we get down in the count and we have an unfavorable count, three balls and a strike or whatever, we don't have any problem throwing the ball in the strike zone. If they hit it, that's fine because the defense can back her up."
That defense has been anchored by the middle infield, with a pair of juniors in second baseman Lizzy Markidis and shortstop Brittany Martinez.
"They've been playing softball with me since I was 9 years old and have been playing those same positions, too," Adams said.
At third base, Hailey Drawe occupies the position her older sister, Amanda, held last year for Springstead. Hailey has a strong arm and good lateral movement.
First baseman Shannon Cataldo, the lone senior in the infield, has good range and a strong arm. Behind the plate, sophomore Kelsey Straquidine has started every game.
The outfield, dominated by underclassmen, struggled early. The Eagles gave up 18 of their 34 runs in the first four games, but since then they have settled and added to the team's defensive strength.
"The outfield had some growing pains early on, but they've progressed to a point now where we're a tough team to score on," Swartout said.
Springstead earned the top seed for the district tournament by going 6-0 in 5A-7 play. The Eagles won a school record 15 straight games at one point.
There are still bumps in the road though.
In Springstead's next-to-last regular-season game against county rival Hernando, the Eagles committed four errors. The result: four runs allowed for the first time since the fourth game of the season (Feb. 17).
"We didn't get started," Swartout said. "We made a couple of errors, which is uncharacteristic for us. It's been a long season. You're going to run into spurts like that. We got it out of the way, and we're ready to move on."
Which the Eagles hope involves a move deep into the postseason.
District schedules
5A-7 At West Port
Tuesday: Ocala Forest (3) at West Port (2), 7 p.m.; Central (4) at Springstead (1), 7; Thursday: Final, 7 (at West Port)
4A-8 at Tom Varn Park, Brooksville
Monday: Land O'Lakes (9) vs. Zephyrhills (8), 3 p.m.; Nature Coast (7) vs. River Ridge (2), 5; Sunlake (1) vs. Land O'Lakes/Zephyrhills winner, 7; Tuesday: Lecanto (5) vs. Wiregrass Ranch (4), 5; Citrus (6) vs. Hernando (3), 7; Wednesday: Nature Coast/River Ridge winner vs. Citrus/Hernando winner, 5; Land O'Lakes/Zephyrhills/Sunlake winner vs. Lecanto/Wiregrass Ranch winner, 7; Thursday: Final, 7
4A-7 at Anclote
Monday: Wesley Chapel (8) vs. Pasco (1), 5 p.m.; Anclote (7) vs. Mitchell (2), 7; Tuesday: Fivay (6) vs. Gulf (3), 5; Ridgewood (5) vs. Hudson (4), 7; Wednesday: Fivay/Gulf winner vs. Anclote/Mitchell winner, 5; Wesley Chapel/Pasco winner vs. Ridgewood/Hudson winner, 7; Friday: Final, 7
2A-10 at Indian Rocks Christian
Tuesday: Brooks-DeBartolo (3) vs. Indian Rocks Christian (2), 2 p.m.; Tampa Prep (4) vs. Bishop McLaughlin (1), 4:30; Thursday: Final, 4:30
A-9 at Canterbury
Monday: Lakeside Christian (5) vs. Carrollwood Day (4), 5 p.m.; Tuesday: Academy at the Lakes (3) vs. Cambridge (2), 4:30; Canterbury (1) vs. Lakeside/Carrollwood Day winner, 6:30; Thursday: Final, 6:30
A-8 at Bradenton Christian
Tuesday: Bayshore Christian (4) vs. Hernando Christian (1), 1 p.m.; Seffner Christian (3) vs. Bradenton Christian (2), 4; Thursday: Final, 4:30
By Steve Slowinski, Times Correspondent
Saturday, April 16, 2011
In only 12 games, Sam Fuld has catapulted himself into the realm of legends.
There is no doubt that Fuld has been the Rays' early season offensive MVP. He is tops on the Rays in batting average (.341), on-base percentage (.375) and slugging percentage (.568), and his OPS (on-base plus slugging, a measure of a batter's total offensive contributions) was 18th best in the majors through Friday.
This is an odd start for Fuld, who has never produced numbers like this at any level of the majors or minors. Fuld spent the majority of the past two seasons bouncing between Triple A and the majors, and his numbers in Triple A over this time were a mediocre .277/.370/.404 — an underwhelming performance from a 28-year-old player repeating Triple A multiple times.
Considering his fast start, is Fuld talented enough to be given a full-time starting role with the Rays?
His recent performance would suggest so, but hot streaks are notoriously fickle — here one day, gone the next — and going into the season, most people pegged Fuld as a career backup outfielder.
So let's evaluate Fuld's four main weapons: his contact skills, batting eye, speed and defense.
Although Fuld has an Albert Pujols-like slugging percentage, over his career he has always been a slap hitter with a good batting eye. His batting average in Triple A was in the .270-.280 range, and he kept it there by refusing to swing at pitches outside the zone and making contact on 90 percent of the pitches he swung at.
Fuld also walked in 10-15 percent of his plate appearances, allowing him to reach base 38 percent of the time — well above the league average. The most valuable thing a hitter can do is avoid making outs at the plate, and Fuld has been above average at this skill during his career. His power numbers will always be low, but in the majors this season, we can expect him to hit around .270 while walking at a high rate.
Once on base, Fuld is one of the Rays' most dangerous baserunners. He has already stolen seven bases this season in nine attempts, and various advanced metrics rank Fuld as one of the top baserunners in the majors so far. Fuld is aggressive and will take an extra base at any opportunity, even if it means hustling himself out of hitting for the cycle.
But these offensive skills still make Fuld a fringe player in the majors. He is 29, in his physical prime but unlikely to see dramatic improvement in his performance in the coming years. Fuld's lack of power makes him an odd fit in left or rightfield, two positions normally reserved for sluggers.
But anyone who has watched Fuld play can attest that his strongest skill, by far, is his defense. Fuld is a walking highlight film, and his diving, Superman-esque catch in Chicago last weekend is an early nominee for the best catch of the season.
Preventing runs on defense is just as valuable as contributing runs on offense; the question is, just how good is Fuld defensively? If he is another Carl Crawford, his defense would more than compensate for his weak bat. But if Fuld is merely slightly above average, he would be better suited for a bench role than a regular lineup spot.
Advanced defensive metrics have made impressive strides in recent years, but they are unreliable for players without at least one full season in the majors.
Instead, we have to turn to scouting to determine Fuld's defensive talent level. As Jason Collette from Baseball Prospectus pointed out recently, Fuld covered at least 100 feet to make his diving catch in Chicago, and he did it in only 4.6 seconds — an impressive feat. Fuld appears to take direct routes to balls and have an above-average arm.
Whether or not Sam Fuld deserves an everyday spot depends entirely on how highly the Rays rate his defense. As Bradley Woodrum, an analyst at the website FanGraphs.com, says:
"Can the Rays still contend will Fuld in left? Certainly. He may not be a long-term solution (and with Desmond Jennings incubating in Triple A, the Rays don't need him for the long term), but he can certainly tow his end."
And right now, any reason to keep The Legend in the lineup sounds good to me.
Steve Slowinski is the editor-in-chief of DRaysBay.com, a blog on the Tampa Bay Rays that specializes in analysis and statistics.
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Here's a little secret.
Lightning coach Guy Boucher doesn't necessarily want star center Steven Stamkos to worry about scoring. All he really wants him to do is compete.
If that happens, Boucher said, the goals — and an end to a slump that has produced just five goals in 30 games — will come.
That is why throughout Friday's 5-1 victory over the Penguins in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal, Stamkos was rotated onto different lines.
He played with grinders Nate Thompson and Sean Bergenheim. He played with scorers Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. He got time with third-line center Dominic Moore and top-six forwards Simon Gagne and Steve Downie.
Boucher called it a "learning process," forcing Stamkos to raise his battle level with the grinders before being rewarded with time on the top lines.
"I saw his first two shifts were going hard, so I gave him a little bit," Boucher said. "But then I would take him out just to be sure. I watched how he was after that. 'Oh, he did it again.' "
Of playing on the top lines, Boucher said, "I want him to feel that it's not something he has. It's something he has to get.
"It's a learning process. It's his first NHL playoff. I would have been surprised if he picked it up right away."
This is about more than the playoffs, of course. It is about teaching a 21-year-old how to fight through adversity and create circumstances for success.
It's about teaching a player with 96 goals the past two seasons how to really play the game.
"If you're looking to score, what do you do?" Boucher said. "You stand on the outside, try to get ready for a shot, and that's that.
"I want him to think about competing and fighting, because that's what the playoffs are all about. They're not about skill. They're about everything else but skill. You've got to fight, get to the places and compete, and the results will come."
That is why Boucher loved when Stamkos flattened Pittsburgh's Pascal Dupuis in a chase for the puck. He loved even more when Stamkos had a terrific scoring chance at the right goalpost.
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made the save.
"But he was at the net," Boucher said. "He was already screening there."
"I guess it's a learning process," Stamkos said. "There's a lot I can learn and I can apply to the rest of the series and help the team win."
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Home-ice advantage?
The Lightning's and Penguins' playoff records at home and on the road:
Team overall home road
Lightning 27-2613-13 14-13
Penguins 148-124 81-56 67-68
Times wires
Saturday, April 16, 2011
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Some compare it to trying to land a date for the prom. Really, it's two parties haggling over a potentially lucrative business deal.
With negotiations taking place at nearly 200 mph.
Drivers who usually only talk to crew chiefs, spotters and perhaps a teammate will chat with rivals in today's restrictor-plate race at Talladega Superspeedway. They'll seek a partner for an arrangement where one car leads, one pushes, then they switch.
"There will be a lot of pleading, a lot of begging," Clint Bowyer said.
At Talladega and Daytona, the two NASCAR tracks where horsepower is limited by the plates, teams have learned that two cars paired together can go much faster than drafting in a larger pack, which used to be the norm on the big ovals.
One car runs out front with another on his bumper, shoving him. After a few laps, they switch positions to keep the pusher from overheating his engine.
Those tactics will be crucial in the Aaron's 499. But more intriguing subplots can only be heard, not seen, as drivers flip from one channel to another on their radios, looking for partners.
"It's going to be interesting at the end of this thing," Bowyer said. "It will be quite humorous."
He wasn't laughing at the Daytona 500 after teammate Jeff Burton blew his engine, leaving Bowyer scrambling. He worked out a deal with Kyle Busch but couldn't find him on the radio.
"You just go through (the channels) and say, 'Is this Kyle?' and they say, 'No, get off my radio!' And you say, 'Hello, is this Kyle?' and you just keep switching 'til you find him," Bowyer said.
He never did, forcing them to pass messages to each other through spotters. That was no match for drivers talking directly on the radio, allowing them to make split-second decisions.
Some drivers resist the urge to load up their radio with the frequencies of their competitors. Matt Kenseth, for instance, has given his signal to several teams if they want to call him, but his radio will be programmed only to his spotter, crew chief and Roush Fenway Racing teammates.
Kenseth, coming off a win at Texas, doesn't want to get distracted from driving because he's fiddling with his radio.
Hey, there are laws against texting and driving.
"There's a potential for a lot to go wrong," he said. "I'm not the smartest guy in the world, and I worry about getting confused. Next thing you know, you don't get a full tank of gas on a green-flag pit stop and your crew chief can't get you because you're talking to someone else."
Still, drivers say talking is necessary with this new style of racing. The driver of the car that's pushing can't see anything except the machine on his front bumper. So the lead car's spotter will often be the eyes for both cars, an unusual situation.
"I'm not totally comfortable with it," Jeff Gordon said, "but I think it makes sense because you're basically blind when you're the car behind."
Busch chuckled when someone asked if trying to line up a racing partner is sort of like landing a date to the prom.
"I never had to do that, because I never went," said Busch, who was already in the NASCAR truck series at age 16. "I'd imagine that's probably what it's like. It's probably the best analogy anybody can come up with."
Gordon leads team's 1-2-3-4 in qualifying
Jeff Gordon earned his 70th Sprint Cup pole and led a Hendrick Motorsports sweep of the top four spots for today's race at Talladega. Gordon turned a two-lap average of 178.248 mph for the Aaron's 499. He broke a tie with Cale Yarborough for third on the career list and trails only Richard Petty (123) and David Pearson (113). Hendrick joined Pete DePaolo (Charlotte, 1956) and Jack Roush (California, 2005) as the only car owners with the four fastest cars to start a top-division race. Jimmie Johnson (177.844 mph) was second followed by Mark Martin (177.807) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (177.765).
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
PITTSBURGH — On one hand, Lightning coach Guy Boucher said, the advantage playoff teams gain on home ice is overstated.
Look, he said, how little home ice meant to the Penguins in Friday's 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal at a rockin' Consol Energy Center.
But that didn't stop Boucher from calling on Lightning fans to show up in full voice for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday at the St. Pete Times Forum.
"I can't wait for our fans to welcome us," Boucher said. "I'm hoping they have all the energy and enthusiasm in the world, because it does give you energy. It does give you hope."
Tampa Bay has plenty of that after splitting two games in Pittsburgh. It also has home-ice advantage in what is now a best-of-five series, with three games at the Times Forum, where it tied the team mark of 25 home wins.
The Lightning had a league-best 137 goals at home, and its 55 home points, with a 25-11-5 record, were second in the East and tied for fourth in the league.
If that weren't enough, the first 10,000 fans Monday will get a rally drum, which sounds as if it will be louder than the ThunderStix planned for Game 4.
"Your fans keep you in the game," Lightning defenseman Brett Clark said. "You can get extra energy from them."
"There is nothing," wing Marty St. Louis said, "like being at home."
Even so, facing the Penguins, who this season tied the team record for road wins (24), brings an interesting consequence. As defenseman Paul Martin noted, "Pittsburgh fans travel well."
It is not as bad as when the Red Wings are in town, but Penguins fans flock to the Times Forum to see their team, so it will be interesting to see how the stands are split. "But once the puck drops, it's a game between two teams," Martin said, "so it shouldn't be that big of an issue."
The Lightning, as home team, gets the last line change, giving it a better chance of getting the matchups it wants.
More important will be continuing to clog the neutral zone to slow Pittsburgh's speedier players and transition, continuing to get bodies to the net and better calming the overwhelming surges the Penguins mounted in the first two games.
A few more shots wouldn't hurt, either. Pittsburgh had a 76-53 advantage in the first two games, though goalie Dwayne Roloson was up to the challenge with a 1.33 goals-against average and .947 save percentage.
The challenge for the Penguins: "We have to gather ourselves and go in there and understand how important it is to play our very best game and get a win in Tampa Bay," coach Dan Bylsma said. "Change of venue and those emotions are important to manage. They have to do the same."
"Every time you get a body check and you hear the crowd, your body check gets stronger," Boucher said. "It uplifts you. At the same time, we don't want to get caught up too much with emotions and all of a sudden you're out of whack. We want a full barn of people screaming, and we want to give them the best show possible."
AHL playoffs: Dustin Tokarski had 27 saves and Norfolk beat Penguins affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2-0 on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in their East semifinal.
Times wires
Saturday, April 16, 2011
TALLADEGA, Ala. — In one sense it was typical Talladega: big wrecks, a car flipping and a wild finish.
But the racing done to get to the finish was anything but typical in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide series race. Two-car drafting tandems dominated the Aaron's 312, making the action more spread out than in old races at Talladega Superspeedway.
In the end, Kyle Busch, pushed by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano, took the lead and was declared the winner when a caution flag came out on the final lap of the second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish.
"Look at the thing," Busch said, pointing to his banged-up No. 18 Toyota in Victory Lane. "I got hit like three times on the left side. These guys did a great job putting this thing back together."
The win is Busch's fourth of the season in seven Nationwide races but his first at Talladega.
Mike Wallace, who was challenging for the lead, got turned on the final lap and was sent airborne. His car flipped upside down but landed on all four tires, and he drove to pit road.
"It was fun racing. I guess the push was just too great and I got sideways, and the next thing I know, I was flying," Wallace said.
Busch said: "I got hit a couple of times. My steering wheel got knocked out of my hands."
INDYCAR: Will Power earned the pole at the Grand Prix of Long Beach (Calif.), his third straight to open the season. His lap of 1 minute, 9.06 seconds on the 1.968-mile street circuit edged defending race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay.
FORMULA ONE: World champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull earned the pole for the third time in three races this season, beating McLaren's Jenson Button by 0.70 seconds at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. The race was held overnight.
NHRA: John Force got nearer to the one major record he doesn't hold, leading Funny Car qualifying for the 136th time at the Four-Wide Nationals in Concord, N.C. Force is two off Pro Stock star Warren Johnson's record of 138 times at No. 1. Del Worsham (Top Fuel) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) led their classes for today's eliminations.
By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Number of the day
68 The age and score for Tom Wargo on Saturday. Wargo, right, had seven birdies and four bogeys in his round. He was tied for seventh. It was his first time in the 60s in 21 Champions Tour rounds.
Hole of the day
The par-3 second was the most challenging hole of the day. In fact, only Jay Don Blake birdied the 191-yard hole. He drained a 40-footer. "That was the kicker for the round," said Blake, who shot 3-under 68 and was three off the lead.
Times wires
Saturday, April 16, 2011
BOSTON — Former Rays LF Carl Crawford, struggling in his first season with the Red Sox, sat out Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.
Crawford, who signed a seven-year, $142 million contract in the offseason, went 0-for-5 in Friday's 7-6 loss to Toronto, dropping his average to .137.
"He really wanted to play, which is good," manager Terry Francona said. "But I think it'll do him a lot better to get a day off. I think everybody knows this guy will be really good. He's a really consensus kid. He's trying too hard."
SS Jed Lowrie was inserted into the leadoff spot and hit a two-run homer in Boston's 4-1 victory (details, 5C).
Crawford has batted leadoff six times this season. Boston's first two wins came with him in the top spot, but he went 0-for-10 in those games.
After Crawford's last at-bat Friday, a three-pitch strikeout against closer Jon Rauch, he walked back to the dugout to loud boos.
"I guess I'm trying to do too much," Crawford said Saturday morning.
PROSPECT DIES: The death of Nationals prospect Yewri Guillen from bacterial meningitis prompted the team to take precautions to protect other players at its Dominican training academy. Guillen, a shortstop, died Thursday at age 18 after first showing symptoms of the disease Monday, said Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, the team medical director.
MAUER IMPROVING: Twins star C Joe Mauer is continuing to recover from a viral infection and could take part in a light workout today at Tropicana Field. The team believes the infection has increased Mauer's body soreness. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with leg weakness stemming from offseason arthroscopic left knee surgery.
SIZEMORE READY: Indians CF Grady Sizemore could be activated from the disabled list in the next two days after being sidelined for nearly a year after having microfracture surgery on his left knee. Manager Manny Acta would not say specifically when Sizemore will be back.
BREWERS: RF Corey Hart, out since early spring training with a strained left oblique, is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Nashville.
GIANTS: CF Andres Torres went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left Achilles' tendon.
MARINERS: Days after saying he was nearly over a stomach ailment that dated to last season, CF Franklin Gutierrez was scratched from a rehab appearance with Class A High Desert and was scheduled to be re-evaluated.
METS: RHP Chris Young went on the 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis in his right arm. … LF Jason Bay, out all season with a strained left intercostal muscle in his rib cage, could be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.
YANKEES: 3B Alex Rodriguez left after six innings with lower back and oblique stiffness. No tests are planned, and Rodriguez is day to day.
