June 2010
Published on: 28th June, 2010
A-Rod finally meets with Torre |
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Sporting News staff reports
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Dodgers manager Joe Torre called a truce in their cold war Sunday night.
The two had what Rodriguez called a "nice exchange" behind the batting cage prior to the new York-L.A. series finale at Dodger Stadium. They spoke briefly as cameras rolled and reporters watched intently.
"You don’t want to let things linger," Rodriguez told the media afterward. "You don’t know when’s the next time Joe and I are going to see each other. And at the end of the day, I just wanted to be a gentleman and do the right thing."
Rodriguez seemed to shun Torre the first two days of the weekend series, apparently still upset over Torre’s portrayal of him in the former Bombers skipper’s book "The Yankee Years."
As for why he waited until Sunday, A-Rod replied: "It was a big zoo on Friday," referring to the parade of other Yankees who greeted Torre prior to the series opener. "I didn’t want to be caught up in that. It took me a couple of days to get my thoughts and I did that today."
So, what did the two talk about? "I won’t share what we said," Rodriguez answered.
Published on: 28th June, 2010
Source: Zambrano was trying to encourage, not berate, Cubs |
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Carlos Zambrano was trying to encourage his Cubs teammates, not berate them, during the dugout tirade that led to his indefinite suspension, a source close to Zambrano tells the Chicago Sun-Times’ Gordon Wittenmeyer.
Zambrano’s teammates, in particular left fielder Alfonso Soriano, aren’t buying that explanation. "That’s not the way we see it." Soriano tells Wittenmeyer.
Adds another, unnamed Cub, "Anybody who believes [Zambrano's version] must be smoking something."
The source close to Zambrano tells Wittenmeyer that all the pitcher wanted to do "was pump the team up. It was completely misunderstood," According to the source, Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee made the situation worse by taking things personally and telling Zambrano to "shut the (expletive) up."
Soriano planned to call Zambrano on Saturday to discuss the matter. "If he explains, maybe we can see it the way his friend sees it. But what he said wasn’t right," Soriano tells Wittenmeyer.
Lee appeared to be a target of Zambrano’s ire after Lee failed to stop a leadoff double by the White Sox’s Juan Pierre in the first inning Friday. Zambrano eventually allowed four runs in the inning.
Cubs sources tell Wittenmeyer that Zambrano yelled, among other things, "This team is horse(expletive)" during the bilingual (Spanish and English) outburst. That’s when Lee intervened.
Published on: 28th June, 2010
Showalter addresses Orioles rumors, confirms he's a candidate for manager's job |
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Sporting News staff reports
Buck Showalter grudgingly confirmed Sunday he is interested in becoming the Orioles’ full-time manager.
He told ESPN’s Karl Ravech during "Baseball Tonight" that he has spoken with the club about the job, twice answering "Yes" to specific questions about having contact with the O’s his interest in the position. Showalter is an analyst for the show.
Asked by Ravech whether he wanted to get back into managing, Showalter replied:
"Karl, you know, from that standpoint, right situation’s presented … Out of respect for the people that currently have a job, (interim manager) Juan Samuel has worked very hard to get an opportunity, and I don’t it’s ethical to be talking about this and that. … It’s an honor to have your name in that mix. Where life takes you, we’ll see."
Showalter, who managed the Yankees in the early 1990s, later was asked if he thought the O’s could compete in the AL East. "Sure they can," he replied. "They may have to do it a little differently than somebody else, but sooner or later you’re going to have to figure out a way to be better than the Yankees and Red Sox anyway, so a lot of people that maybe in the running for that job would say, ‘Bring it on.’"
The Orioles are seeking a permanent replacement for Dave Trembley, who was fired June 4. Samuel has guided the O’s to an 8-13 record, including a three-game weekend sweep of the Nationals.
Published on: 27th June, 2010
Bobby Valentine reportedly no longer a candidate for Marlins' managerial job |
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Sporting News staff reports
SI.com’s Jon Heyman and FoxSports’ Ken Rosenthal report that Bobby Valentine is no longer in the running for the Marlins’ vacant managerial position.
Rosenthal reports talks broke down because of philosophical differences between Valentine and the Marlins. Valentine and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria are longtime friends, so Rosenthal speculates that the two could still get together and hammer out an agreement.
Earlier Sunday, Valentine told ESPN’s Karl Ravech on "Baseball Tonight" (where Valentine is a studio analyst) that he was still in the mix. "This managerial hiring is a process," he said. "People need to be interviewed, decisions need to be made. I think they’re right in the middle of this process.
"It’s a terrific situation where they have a new stadium coming up in a couple of years and an owner (Loria) who really wants to win and a front office who never makes mistakes."
Valentine demurred when asked by Ravech to put a percentage on his chances of managing the Marlins sometime this season. "I can’t even mention that chance, that percentage … because I’m in the middle of the process," he said.
Valentine was thought to be the prohibitive favorite to succeed the fired Fredi Gonzalez, and there were reports several days ago the sides had reached a tentative agreement. But a Friday meeting with Loria was later postponed, with Valentine telling the Miami Herald that the "process needs a little more time."
Edwin Rodriguez is the Marlins’ interim manager. He interviewed with team executives on Saturday. Loria told MLB.com Rodriguez will be the manager for the club’s series with the Mets this week in Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico.
Published on: 27th June, 2010
Longoria, Upton nearly come to blows in Rays dugout |
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Sporting News staff reports
Teammates Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton engaged in a heated exchange in the Tampa Bay dugout on Sunday, after Upton appeared to give a less-than-best effort to field a Rusty Ryal hit to centerfield in the fifth inning of the Diamondbacks-Rays game.
Ryal recorded a triple on the play and scored when Gerard Parra homered during the next at-bat.
H/T The Big Lead
Published on: 27th June, 2010
Eagles RB Mike Bell: 'Coaches want new things and new attitudes' |
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PHILADELPHIA — After winning a Super Bowl with the Saints last season, Mike Bell signed with the Eagles in March as a restricted free agent. Bell gained 654 yards and five touchdowns with the Saints in 2009, sharing time in the backfield with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Bell envisions a larger role with the Eagles in 2010 as the primary backup to LeSean McCoy.
Sporting News’ Clifton Brown recently spoke with Bell to discuss his quest to win back-to-back Super Bowls with two different teams.
SN: Did you anticipate leaving the Saints so quickly after winning a Super Bowl with them?
Mike Bell: Not in a million years. It’s been a blessing in disguise. [Philadephia's] an ideal offense for me, the kind I’ve always wanted to play in. My whole career, everybody has had an idea of what I can do. I’ve been stereotyped as being a guy who can only run the ball in short yardage. That’s not what type of back I was in college or even in my first year at Denver. Being here gives me an opportunity to catch some balls and open up my game. In New Orleans, having guys like Reggie and Pierre, they definitely didn’t need me running any routes.
SN: Are you surprised Eagles coach Andy Reid showed interest in you?
MB: I didn’t think the Eagles would be looking at a guy like me. I thought they wanted a guy more like Reggie Bush, a real shifty type guy. I take it as a compliment that they thought I can have a role.
SN: Some people expect the Eagles to take a step back this season. Do you still view them as Super Bowl contenders?
MB: It’s definitely achievable. Winning a Super Bowl makes you realize that it’s not about you. I always went into training camp worried about getting the starting job, and that kind of thinking makes you selfish. But in New Orleans, coach (Sean) Payton used everybody. It almost made me lose self or at least stopped me from thinking about myself. Just do what’s best for the team. Being here, I can see they’re already on that page.
SN: Age always is a concern with running backs and you turned 27 in April. How much do your legs have left?
MB: I’m fresh. I’ve had no major injuries, no surgeries. I’m back to my college weight, a little under 220 pounds. I’m ready to go.
SN: How similar is the Eagles’ offense to the Saints’ system?
MB: I have been with five different teams (including college), so I’ve had to learn five different offenses. But this offense is fun. It’s similar to New Orleans in the fact they like to throw the ball vertically. But it’s also a little different. The coaches here do a great job of explaining it.
SN: The Eagles made a major offseason change, trading Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, and elevating Kevin Kolb to starting quarterback. What did you see from Kolb during spring practices?
MB: He’s got a big arm and a great release. I don’t know much about quarterback (mechanics), but that release is up there with the best of them.
SN: Are you concerned about the personnel changes, with the Eagles losing long-time fixtures like McNabb and Brian Westbrook?
MB: In the NFL, you have to look at change as a positive. We lost a lot of good players, but you have to move on, continue to try and get a better. That’s not to take away from any of those players. But this is a business. Coaches want new things and new attitudes, and you have to respect the decisions they make, especially when they’re in the playoffs year after year.
SN: The Eagles’ roster is considerably younger than last season. Is that a good thing?
MB: It reminds me of when I was in high school. A really young team with a lot of excitement. A lot of guys talking, running their mouths.
SN: How difficult was it to leave New Orleans so soon after winning the Super Bowl?
MB: It was tough. I didn’t even get to enjoy my time with my teammates fully, to experience all of the things they did after winning the Super Bowl this offseason. But the fact I’m still in the NFL is a blessing, especially with a contending team. Having an opportunity to get another ring makes me excited.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Published on: 27th June, 2010
Mariners acquire Russell Branyan from Indians |
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Sporting News staff reports
Russell Branyan is returning to Seattle.
The Mariners acquired the slugging first baseman from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday for minor leaguers Ezequiel Carrera and Juan Diaz.
MLB.com reports Cleveland will also pick up the remainder of Branyan’s $2 million salary or send Seattle a player to be named.
Branyan, 34, hit 31 home runs for Seattle last season but was not re-signed in the offseason. He hooked on with Cleveland during spring training but missed the start of the season with a back injury. He batted .263 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs for the Indians this season.
MLB.com reports the trade allows the Indians to recall Matt LaPorta from the minors and make him the club’s everyday first baseman. LaPorta was playing the outfield prior to his demotion.
Published on: 26th June, 2010
Five new QB-WR connections to keep an eye on |
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Great quarterback–receiver combinations just sound good together, like Manning to Harrison, or Montana to Rice.
A busy NFL offseason has created some new QB–WR combos that could put up prolific numbers. Here are five to watch:
Anquan Boldin should take the heat off Derrick Mason in Baltimore’s offense.
Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin
Why they will click: Boldin is a physical receiver willing to run routes in traffic. Flacco has the arm to throw into tight spaces. The Ravens should throw more, and with more success.
"This is the one that really jumps out at me," NFL analyst and former quarterback Joe Theismann said. "Boldin gives them a presence. I’ve felt the wide receiver position was holding them back, because they’ve never had a complement to Derrick Mason. Now they do."
After making the playoffs as a wild card the past two seasons, the Ravens think Boldin can help them win the AFC North and go farther in the postseason.
"I think Flacco is a due for a breakout year," NFL analyst Mike Mayock said. "To me, the Baltimore Ravens are a team that can win the Super Bowl next year, as long as they can hold up on the corners defensively. The thing I love about Boldin is that he fits the Ravens both on and off the field. He’s so tough, he’s so physical, he brings that veteran presence. You can’t roll everybody at Mason now."
Chad Henne to Brandon Marshall
Why they will click: With a new contract and a new home, Marshall should be poised for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. And Marshall is just 26 years old, while Henne turns 25 in July. They could have some seasons together.
"Davonne Bess is a good wide receiver, Greg Camarillo is a good wide receiver, Brian Hartline is a good wide receiver," Mayock said. "But they had nobody who could make a play. That’s why they had so many snaps out of the Wildcat, because they were trying to manufacture plays. Now that you have a Brandon Marshall, that changes their whole team, that guy on the edge who can make plays."
Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts believes Marshall will be a huge asset for Henne in the red zone.
"I’ve always liked tall receivers," said Fouts, an analyst for CBS. "You get near that goal line, and you can just throw it up into the corner, or at the crossbar near the back of the end zone, and he can go get it. Marshall is a gifted player, and Henne has a strong arm. Can’t see how they won’t work well together."
Donovan McNabb to Chris Cooley
Why they will click: McNabb loves throwing to tight ends. He made L.J. Smith look better than he was, and Brent Celek enjoyed a breakout year with the Eagles catching passes from McNabb. Cooley had rapport with Jason Campbell, but McNabb is better. Fred Davis gives McNabb another viable tight end target, but Cooley should be a go-to guy.
Tony Romo to Dez Bryant
Why they will click: Joining a loaded offensive team will make it easier for Bryant to have instant impact as a rookie. Plus, Bryant was considered the draft’s best receiver, and only fell to the Cowboys at No. 24 due to concerns about some off-field issues.
"I think Dez is in a perfect situation," Mayock said. "He’s on a veteran team, surrounded by good players. Teams can’t roll coverage to him. I really believe the next two years, he’s going to have highly productive years.
"I look at Aaron Rodgers a few years back. People thought he was a top-five pick, went late first round, ends up playing behind Brett Favre, ends up on a really good football team where he doesn’t have to produce early. I look at DeSean Jackson a couple of years ago with the Eagles. He slipped for similar reasons that Dez did, off-the-field concerns. What kind of work ethic does he have? Is he going to be manageable, show up on time? He slid into the second round and became the most productive rookie receiver in the NFL. A lot of times when kids fall, it ends up working out for the better."
Mark Sanchez to Santonio Holmes
Why they will click: Holmes has been a Super Bowl MVP and is motivated to prove the Steelers made a mistake by trading him away. After serving a four-game suspension to start the season, Holmes will become Sanchez’s favorite target.
"Holmes has got a little bit of that diva personality, but there’s no question he’ll help that team," Mayock said. "For that team to take another step, they’ve got to get a little more balance. They run the ball and they play great defense. Mark Sanchez has to take another step, and they’ve got to get a little bit better throwing the football. Now you’ve got a guy who can stretch the field a little bit, and along with (Jerricho) Cotchery and (Braylon) Edwards, that’s a pretty good group of guys."
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Published on: 25th June, 2010
Seahawks RB Leon Washington eager to resume dynamic role |
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RENTON, Wash. — It was a simple zone running play. Jets running back Leon Washington took the handoff and got held up in traffic. Then Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly fell across the back of his right leg, and Washington’s world suddenly became complicated.
Leon Washington’s broken leg is nearly fully healed, but he’s being held out of team drills this week as a precaution.
He heard a pop and thought he had torn his ACL. But when he felt his leg dangling, he suspected he had broken his leg — a diagnosis doctors confirmed in the X-ray room at the Oakland Coliseum last Oct. 25.
"You think about a broken leg and you automatically think about Joe Theismann," Washington said, referring to the former Redskins quarterback whose NFL career ended during a 1985 Monday night game when a sack by Lawrence Taylor resulted in a grotesque compound leg fracture.
Washington suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula. He was rushed to a hospital, where a metal rod was inserted in his leg during surgery that ended about the same time the Jets-Raiders game did. Then he began the long rehab process.
Washington’s story took another twist on April 24, the final day of the NFL draft, when the Jets traded him to Seattle. So in addition to trying to come back from a career-threatening injury, Washington now finds himself three time zones from New York on a new team and in a new conference.
"The positive out of this is I had a chance to sit back and look at football from a different perspective," Washington said Wednesday after the Seahawks concluded a two-day minicamp that wrapped up their offseason. "How fortunate we are to play this game. It’s my fifth year, and I feel like I was just a rookie a few days ago. That’s how fast it goes.
"Also, I feel like I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been in, because I’ve been in a training mode since last October."
Washington’s rehab here has included lifting weights, pushing sleds and running up and down the 45-degree hill that borders the Seahawks’ practice field. Sometimes, he has placed cones on the hill and cut side to side.
Washington caught the attention of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll last season when Carroll watched Mark Sanchez, his former quarterback at USC, play for the Jets.
"I love the way he plays the game," Carroll said of Washington. "I got to see him and thought he was a dynamic player—running, catching, returns. If he’s able to add to our offense, I think that’s a big plus for us."
Although he is only 5-8, Washington is a multiple threat with the ball in his hands. He was selected to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner in 2008, his third year in the NFL, and led the league in combined yards (2,332) that season.
"Like all good running backs in this league, he can make the first guy miss," CBS analyst Solomon Wilcots said. "He’s been great on special teams and catching the ball out of the backfield, running screens and quick flare-outs. That’s kind of what you want. You don’t really want to use him as an inside runner."
The Seahawks likely will use Washington as a third-down back early this season, then gradually integrate him into the running game with Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Quinton Ganther. Washington believes he can be a big contributor if he’s utilized right.
"I don’t see myself carrying the ball 30 times a game," he said, "but give me 12 to 15 carries and eight or nine catches, and I can have the same production as a lead back."
With both Jones (renewing his wedding vows) and Forsett (on his honeymoon) missing from this week’s minicamp, it would have been an opportune time for Washington to get some work. But even though X-rays on Tuesday showed his leg has just about completely healed, he was held out of team work and participated only in individual drills.
The Seahawks likely will continue to take a cautious approach with Washington when training camp opens on July 31. "My time will come," Washington said. "And when I get the opportunity, I’ll take advantage of it."
Running game will stay in committee
The Seahawks don’t have a prototypical feature back on their current roster. Unless they trade for one — say, Marshawn Lynch —they’ll operate with a running backs by committee approach in 2010. "We played a lot of running backs the last nine years (at USC)," Seahawks first-year coach Pete Carroll said. "I have no problem with mixing guys and going with who’s hot."
These players could comprise the committee:
Julius Jones. The former Cowboy needs to step up his performance after two mostly disappointing seasons in Seattle.
Justin Forsett. He rushed for 619 yards and four TDs last season—impressive for a former seventh-round draft pick.
Quinton Ganther. Maybe reuniting with running backs coach Sherman Smith, who coached Ganther in Tennessee and Washington, will light a fire for Ganther.
Leon Washington. If he is fully recovered from a broken leg, Washington can be a multi-dimensional back.
Louis Rankin. He has good size (6-1, 205) but not much experience.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Published on: 25th June, 2010
Three strikes: Padres, All-Star starters and streaks |
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Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
STRIKE 1: Pushing all the right buttons
It was the kind of move that leads to manager of the year awards.
All season, the backbone of the Padres’ surprising rise to first place has been the back of their bullpen: Luke Gregerson in the seventh, Mike Adams in the eighth and Heath Bell in the ninth. "If we get through six with the lead, we feel like the game is over," starter Kevin Correia says.
The Padres’ relievers all give much of the credit for their success to manager Bud Black.
The three key members of the Padres’ "PENitentiary" (well, their pitching is better than their nicknaming) all are quick to credit manager Bud Black for the bullpen’s success, in part because he so clearly has defined their roles — and stuck to them. "We all feel like we’re closers but we’re not competing against each other. We’re happy in our roles," Bell says.
After Mat Latos shut out the Rays for seven innings Tuesday night, Black resisted the temptation to turn to Gregerson even though he has been the bullpen’s most consistent performer. Black stuck with routine and turned over a 2-0 eighth-inning lead to Adams.
Adams allowed a run but seemed in control after getting two outs and having just a runner on first. Because Bell had not been called on for more than a three-out save all season, it figured Adams would stay in the game. Not on this night.
Black went with a feeling this time and called on Bell to face the Rays’ best hitter, Evan Longoria. Bell made his manager look smart when he used an 82-mph changeup — a nice weapon when you have an upper-90-mph fastball — to strike out Longoria. An inning later, the 2-1 victory was secured.
Black later said he pulled Adams because he was "a little off, especially with his slider."
"Some of the swings they were taking led me to think that it wasn’t going to turn around," Black said. "I’m a big Mike Adams fan, but I felt for the Padres on this night, we had to do that."
"I didn’t see what Bud saw," Bell said later, "But he saw something and he acted upon it. For the most part all season, he’s been right on."
Indeed. The Padres, widely picked to finish last in the NL West because of their weak offense, own the NL’s best record and a 2 1/2-game lead in the N.L. West. That, of course, also might have something to do with Black emerging as a leading candidate for manager of the year.
STRIKE 2: Thinking All-Star starters
Unlike in the National League, where Ubaldo Jimenez is the obvious candidate to start the July 13 All-Star Game in Anaheim, no clear choice has emerged in the A.L.
Cliff Lee leads the league in ERA but spent time on the disabled list and pitches for a last-place team. Up-and-comers David Price, Clay Buchholz and Phil Hughes all have 10 wins and rank among the ERA leaders. Then there is Andy Pettitte, who certainly is deserving (9-2, 2.48 ERA) and has the advantage of playing for the manager (Joe Girardi) who will make the call.
Pettitte has 238 career wins and an impressive postseason resume but has only made two All-Star teams, the last one in 2001. An All-Star start would be a fitting tribute to a potential Hall of Famer who could be in his final season.
Last season, the Rays’ Joe Maddon chose Roy Halladay over Zack Greinke in large part as a lifetime achievement recognition. This season, Price could be passed over for the same reason. If so, Maddon would have no objections.
"David is worthy and deserving but however it shakes out, we’ll deal with it at that moment," Maddon says. "Whatever happens is fine."
STRIKE 3: Scorching in Texas and Chicago’s South Side What do the Rangers’ 11-game winning streak and the White Sox’s nine-gamer have in common?
First, they demonstrate just how little off-the-field turmoil can impact what happens on the field. The fact the Rangers’ sale hit another roadblock probably isn’t foremost on Vladimir Guerrero’s mind or, really, any of the players’. In Chicago, guys will continue going about their routines no matter what happened or happens in the Kenny Williams-Ozzie Guillen soap opera. The White Sox, in fact, have lost only once since the Williams and Guillen blowup.
A more likely explanation for the winning ways of both clubs: schedules. Both have feasted on some of the NL’s weakest: The Rangers have smacked around the Brewers, Marlins, Astros and Pirates while the White Sox have swept the Pirates, Nationals and Braves. Of those seven clubs, only the Braves have a winning record.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
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