Former A's Pitcher Cory Lidle Dies As Plane Crashes Into 50-Story New York Building - ESPN

This is shocking, and serves to remind us all of how precious life really is. Our prayers go out to the Lildle family and friends.

Lidle dies as plane crashes into Manhattan high-rise
ESPN.com news services

NEW YORK -- A small plane with New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle aboard crashed into a 50-story condominium tower Wednesday on Manhattan's Upper East Side, killing at least two people -- including Lidle -- and raining flaming debris on sidewalks, authorities said.

Athletes Who Died In Plane Crashes
• Oct. 18, 1925 -- Marvin Goodwin, Cincinnati Reds pitcher, in Houston.
• March 31, 1931 -- Knute Rockne, Notre Dame football coach, in Kansas
• May 4, 1949 -- 22 members of Torino, the Italian soccer champions, in Turin, Italy.
• Oct. 27, 1949 -- Marcel Cerdan, former world middleweight champion, en route to fight Jake LaMotta in Spain.
• July 1, 1954 -- John McBride, Alabama halfback, killed in ROTC training flight in Texas.
• Oct. 30, 1954 -- Wilbur Shaw, President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Decatur, Ind.
• Sept. 20, 1956 -- Tom Gastall, Baltimore Orioles catcher, in Maryland.
• Nov. 27, 1956 -- Charlie Peete, St. Louis Cardinal outfielder, in Venezuela.
• Feb. 6, 1958 -- Eight members of the English soccer champion Manchester United, in Munich.
• Aug. 14, 1958 -- Six members of the Egyptian fencing team, in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Oct. 30, 1958 -- Philip Scrutton, British Walker Cup golfer.
• April 29, 1959 -- Joaquin Blume, Spain's European gymnastics champion, in Madrid.
• Oct. 10, 1960 -- 16 members of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo football team, in Toledo, Ohio.
• Feb. 16, 1961 -- 18 members of the U.S. figure skating team, in Belgium.
• April 3, 1961 -- Green Cross, a first-division Chilean soccer team, in the Las Lastimas Mountains.
• March 1, 1962 -- Johnny Dieckman, world fly-casting champion, in Chicago.
• April 12, 1962 -- Ron Flockhart, Scottish racing driver, in Melbourne.
• Feb. 15, 1964 -- Ken Hubbs, 22, Chicago Cub second baseman, in Utah.
• July 24, 1966 -- Tony Lema, 1964 British Open champion, in Munster, Ind.
• April 28, 1968 -- Six members of the Lamar Tech track team, in Beaumont, Texas.
• Sept. 26, 1969 -- 25 members of Bolivian soccer team "The Strongest", in the Andes.
• Oct. 2, 1970 -- 14 Wichita State football players, in Colorado.
• Nov. 14, 1970 -- 36 Marshall University football players, in Huntington, W.Va.
• Oct. 11, 1972 -- 30 members of a Uruguayan rugby club, in Chile.
• Dec. 31, 1972 -- Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder, from San Juan, Puerto Rico en route to Nicaragua to aid earthquake victims.
• June 24, 1975 -- Wendell Ladner, New York Nets forward, in New York.
• Dec. 13, 1977 -- 14 University of Evansville basketball players and coach Bobby Watson in Evansville, Ind.
• Aug. 2, 1979 -- Thurman Munson, New York Yankees catcher, in Canton, Ohio.
• Jan. 11, 1980 -- Bo Rein, LSU football coach, in the Atlantic Ocean.
• March 14, 1980 -- 14 members of the U.S. amateur boxing team in Warsaw, Poland.
• Dec. 12, 1983 -- Rex Dockery, Memphis State football coach, with offensive coordinator Chris Faros and defensive back Charles Greenhill, Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
• Nov. 25, 1985 -- Six members of the Iowa State women's cross country team in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Aug. 16, 1987 -- Nick Vanos, Phoenix Suns center, in Romulus, Mich.
• Dec. 8, 1987 -- 17 players of the Alianza Peruvian first-division soccer team in Lima, Peru.
• Sept. 30, 1988 -- Al Holbert, six-time IMSA champion, near Columbus Ohio.
• July 19, 1989 -- Jay Ramsdell, CBA Commissioner, in Sioux City, Iowa.
• April 1, 1993 -- Alan Kulwicki, NASCAR's 1992 champion, in Blountville, Tenn.
• April 28, 1993 -- 18 players and five team officials of Zambia's national soccer team in Libreville, Gabon.
• July 13, 1993 -- Davey Allison, NASCAR driver, the day after a helicopter he was piloting crashed on the infield at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala.
• April 18, 1996 -- Brook Berringer, Nebraska quarterback, two days before the NFL draft, when the small plane he was piloting crashed in Raymond, Neb.
• May 11, 1996 -- Rodney Culver, San Diego Chargers running back, in Florida Everglades.
• Oct. 25, 1999 -- Payne Stewart, winner of the 1989 PGA Championship and a two-time U.S. Open winner, two miles west of Mina, S.D.
• Jan. 27, 2001 -- Oklahoma State basketball players Dan Lawson and Nate Fleming, and six team staffers and broadcasters, in Byers, Colo.

-- Associated Press
Federal Aviation Administration records showed the single-engine plane was registered to Lidle. A law enforcement official in Washington, speaking on condition on anonymity, said two people were aboard, and Lidle's passport was found at the crash scene. The plane had issued a distress call before the crash, according to the official.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said both people aboard were killed.

On Sunday, the day after the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs, Lidle cleaned out his locker at Yankee Stadium and talked about his interest in flying.

He explained to reporters the process of getting a pilot's license and said he intended to fly back to California in several days and planned to make a few stops. Lidle discussed the plane crash of John F. Kennedy Jr. and how he had read the accident report on the National Transportation Safety Board Web site.

Lidle, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 30, told The New York Times last month that his four-seat Cirrus SR20 plane was safe.

"The whole plane has a parachute [that can be deployed in the event of emergency] on it," Lidle said. "Ninety-nine percent of pilots that go up never have engine failure, and the 1 percent that do usually land it. But if you're up in the air and something goes wrong, you pull that parachute, and the whole plane goes down slowly."

Lidle also talked about airplanes' safety in an interview with MLB.com in February.

"If you're 7,000 feet in the air and your engine stops, you can glide for 20 minutes," Lidle said at the time. "As long as you're careful, everything should be fine."

Lidle pitched 1 1/3 innings in the fourth and final game of the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers and gave up three earned runs but was not the losing pitcher. He had a 12-10 regular-season record with a 4.85 ERA.

He pitched with the Phillies before coming to the Yankees, who acquired him at the July trade deadline along with outfielder Bobby Abreu. He began his career in 1997 with the Mets. He also pitched for Tampa Bay, Oakland, Toronto and Cincinnati.

Lidle was an outcast among some teammates throughout his career because he became a replacement player in 1995, when major-leaguers were on strike.

For his career, he was 82-72 with two saves and a 4.57 ERA.

"I wish I had the words. I have no words. I just have strong emotions, it's sadder than sad," Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson, who was Lidle's pitching with the A's from 2001-02, told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. "I wish I had an answer [about how to prepare for a baseball game under these circumstances]. I don't have an answer. You try to deal with the emotions first. It's horrific, it's unbelievable, just a surreal moment. It just shows how insignificant some of the things we think are significant really are."

The twin-engine plane came through a hazy, cloudy sky and hit the 20th floor of The Belaire -- a red-brick tower overlooking the East River, about five miles from the World Trade Center -- with a loud bang, touching off a raging fire that cast a pillar of black smoke over the city and sent flames shooting from four windows on two adjoining floors.

Large crowds gathered in the street in the largely wealthy New York neighborhood, with many people in tears and some trying to reach loved ones by cell phone.

"I was worried the building would explode, so I got out of there fast," said Lori Claymont, who fled an adjoining building in sweatpants.

Young May Cha, a 23-year-old Cornell University medical student, said she was walking back from the grocery store down 72nd Street when she saw an object out of the corner of her eye.

"I just saw something come across the sky and crash into that building," she said. Cha said there appeared to be smoke coming from behind the aircraft, and "it looked like it was flying erraticaly for the short time that I saw it."

"The explosion was very small. I was not threatened for my life," she added.

Richard Drutman, a professional photographer who lives on the 11th floor, said he was talking on the telephone when he felt the building shake.

"There was a huge explosion. I looked out my window and saw what appeared to be pieces of wings, on fire, falling from the sky," Drutman said. He and his girlfriend quickly evacuated the building.

The plane left New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, just across the Hudson River from the city, at 2:30 p.m., about 15 minutes before the crash, according to officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport. But they said they did not where the aircraft was headed.

FAA spokeswoman Diane Spitaliere said the plane was apparently not in contact with air traffic controllers; pilots flying small planes by sight are not required to be in contact.

ABC News reported Wednesday that after Lidle's plane departed Teterboro, it took a normal flight pattern down the Hudson River and appears to have circled the Statue of Liberty, headed up the East River. It fell off the radar at about 59th Street. The apartment the plane crashed into was the entire 40th floor of the building, and it appears two other apartments on the 41st floor suffered from the impact.

The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to investigate.

Former NTSB director Jim Hall said in a telephone interview he doesn't understand how a plane could get so close to a New York City building after Sept. 11.

"We're under a high alert and you would assume that if something like this happened, people would have known about it before it occurred, not after," Hall said.

Mystery writer Carol Higgins Clark, daughter of author Mary Higgins Clark, lives on the 38th floor and was coming home in a cab when she saw the smoke.

"Thank goodness I wasn't at my apartment writing at the time," she said. She described the building's residents as a mix of actors, doctors, lawyers, writers and people with second homes.

Sgt. Claudette Hutchinson, a spokeswoman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colo., said fighter jets "are airborne over numerous U.S. cities and while every indication is that this is an accident, we see this as a prudent measure at this time."

However, all three New York City-area airports continued to operate normally, FAA spokesman Jim Peters said. In Washington, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said neither President Bush nor Vice President Dick Cheney was moved to secure locations.

"All indications are that is an unfortunate accident," said Yolanda Clark, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration. She said there was "no specific or credible intelligence suggesting an imminent threat to the homeland, at this time."

The crash struck fear in a city devastated by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Sirens echoed across the neighborhood as about 170 firefighters rushed in along with emergency workers and ambulances. Broken glass and debris were strewn around the neighborhood.

"There's a sense of helplessness," said Sandy Teller, watching from his apartment a block away. "Cots and gurneys, waiting. It's a mess."

The tower was built in the late 1980s and is situated near Sotheby's auction house. It has 183 apartments, many of which sell for more than $1 million.

Several lower floors are occupied by doctors and administrative offices, as well as guest facilities for family members of patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery, hospital spokeswoman Phyllis Fisher said.

No patients were in the high-rise building and operations at the hospital a block away were not affected, Fisher said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Oakland A's Video Tribute and A's Playoff Tickets

A tribute via video to the 2006 Oakland A's:

SF Giants Fire Manager Felipe Alou - Sabean Next?

In my business view, I'm surprised General Manager Brian Sabean's not fired. I like Brian a lot, but the Giants personel decisions have been widely slammed by Giants fans.

Giants make 'painful' decision, won't renew Felipe Alou's contract
Henry Schulman, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, October 2, 2006

(10-02) 12:46 PDT -- Felipe Alou's tenure as manager of the Giants ended after four seasons Monday with the club announcing that his contract will not be renewed.

The Giants issued a statement saying it has asked the 71-year-old franchise icon to remain in the organization in "an advisory role to the general manager and the baseball operations department." Alou said Sunday he would consider such an offer.

"Tough decisions are always painful, and this one is especially painful," general manager Brian Sabean said in a statement. "Felipe is a man of unquestioned integrity who has put his heart and soul into the Giants. He endured some injuries to key players over his tenure here and always kept the club in contention despite some difficult circumstances."

Alou could not be reached immediately for comment, but he issued a two-paragraph statement in which he said, "Even though I will not be the Giants' manager next year, I will always be a Giant. I feel blessed that I was able to manage again, especially here in San Francisco."

Alou had seen the writing on the wall for weeks, and before he managed his final game Sunday he said, "There are no hard feelings. Everything is cool."

The Giants are expected to conduct a thorough search for a manager, unlike 2002, when Alou was the only candidate interviewed.

Candidates are expected to include longtime major-league manager Lou Piniella, former Giants catcher and Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, Angels pitching coach and former Giants pitcher Bud Black, longtime Giants bench coach Ron Wotus and perhaps former manager Dusty Baker, if some burned bridges can be reconstructed.

Piniella, Brenly, Black and Wotus all have told confidants they would be interested in talking to the Giants if Alou departs.

Alou said he is not sure what he wants to do but insisted he is not going to retire.

"I know I will get offers," he said. "I don't know if they will be managerial offers, but I believe there will be offers."

Asked if he would consider working for the Giants in a front-office or scouting job, Alou said, "I would say yes. If I'm not managing the team, I would say the Giants have the first shot, but I think it should be well-understood that I don't want to be a visitor making money. I want to be productive. I want to help the organization."

The Giants went 342-304 in Alou's four seasons as manager, the wins ranking sixth in San Francisco history. Replacing Baker after the Giants lost the 2002 World Series to the Angels, Alou guided the team to 100 wins and a National League West title in 2003, the last time they reached the postseason. They lost their Division Series to Florida.

In 2004, the Giants were knocked out of contention on the last day of the regular season. In 2005 and 2006, they posted consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1995 and 1996.

Sabean is expected to address the decision today, but it was not unexpected, given the team's record after 2004 and the perceived need for a change in the manager's office to go with an overhaul that will occur on the field. Players, who were not told anything official before they dispersed Sunday afternoon, expressed regret that their performance might have played a role.

"I don't think he's the reason the team failed," shortstop Omar Vizquel said. "Obviously, it's going to be a business decision. When a team doesn't get a winning record under a particular manager, they're probably going to look in a different direction."

Said outfielder Randy Winn: "Every time you step out on the field, your job is on the line -- yours, the GM's, the staff's. Unfortunately, when it does happen, it's really because of how we played. When you don't play as well as you're capable of, as an individual or as a group, it sucks that the manager has to pay."

Despite Alou's gilded history with the franchise and his 100-win managerial debut, fans and players did not warm to him as they did to Baker. Even during his division-winning debut season, Alou was criticized for his handling of the pitching staff. In 2005, some fans turned against him when he referred to KNBR talk-show host Larry Krueger as "satan" after Krueger's rant about "brain-dead Caribbean hitters" who play for the Giants.

"My only regret over the last four years is the thing that happened with the talk-show host," Alou said Sunday.

Whereas Baker was considered a "player's manager," many of Alou's players respected his knowledge of the game but considered him aloof, letting his many older players do their own thing, sometimes to the detriment of the team.

When one seasoned player was asked if Alou had "lost the room," he replied, "I don't think he ever had the room. That's not his style."

Alou had his frustrations, including a belief that his opinions were not always valued. As one example, clubhouse sources said Alou wanted the Giants to release Armando Benitez after the closer publicly ripped teammates and disrespected Alou while Benitez himself was blowing save after save, and Alou was frustrated that management did not comply.

Also, although he didn't say so directly, Alou was not always happy with the collection of players he was given, particularly those past their prime, with a mandate to reach the playoffs.

He alluded to that Sunday. Referring to players such as Marquis Grissom, Kirk Rueter, Edgardo Alfonzo and several relievers, he said, "I don't believe one manager enjoys having players die in their hands. I had here the last two years a number of careers finish here. ... Some of them were big players who reached the end of the line here. If you're talking about next year, we've got to make sure we have some guys we don't have to release in the middle of the season."

Dodgers v. Padres Monday Game A Treasure Of History - MLB.com

This was an epic battle I didn't see and want to get a video highlight of.

Dodgers, Padres battle it out
NL West, Wild Card sure to go down to the wire - MLB.com

LOS ANGELES -- If there's any question about the nature of the two pending races in the National League, Monday's night's slugfest at Dodger Stadium put any doubt to rest.
The West title and Wild Card berth undoubtedly will be decided the final weekend of the season when the Padres play four games against the Diamondbacks at Phoenix; the Dodgers finish up with three against the arch-rival Giants in San Francisco, and the Phillies play their final trio against the Marlins in Miami.

"Well, that's the way we thought it would be back in Spring Training," said Bruce Bochy before the Dodgers came from behind with five homers in the ninth and 10th innings to win, 11-10, thus flipping back over the Padres by a half game again into first place in the West. "So there's no reason to feel any differently now."

Trailing by four runs, the Dodgers hit four homers in a row in the ninth on seven pitches, tying a Major League record accomplished now for the fourth time. Two of them came off the first two pitches from Trevor Hoffman. After the Padres took a one-run lead again in the top of the 10th, Nomar Garciaparra roped the two-run winner to end it.

It was sizzling pennant-race baseball at its finest and sent a sellout crowd dancing into Chavez Ravine, horns honking deep into the night. The problem ahead is that the Dodgers still have 12 games to play and the Padres 13. The Dodgers must face the Pirates at home on Tuesday night and the Padres go home to take on Arizona. Monday's game may have resulted in a joyous epiphany, but it certainly allowed for no closure.

That won't come until after the games of Oct. 1, even if by then.

There are enough tie-breaking playoff scenarios in the West and Wild Card races to make anyone's head spin if two or three teams are locked with the same record when the regular season ends. The almost certain NL Central-winning Cardinals (79-69), the Dodgers (79-70) and the Padres (78-71) are so close at this point, the second best record in the league behind the Mets and home field advantage in an NL Division Series are still very much up for grabs.

There's Sunday's rainout in St. Louis and a day-after-the-season logistical nightmare. The Giants, who are sinking quickly now in both races, would have to play a makeup game against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, certainly if a playoff spot is still be determined, and possibly even if home field advantage is in play.

It's no wonder that even the most hail and hardy are having a hard time right now trying to digest the combinations. All we know is where the teams sit today: The Dodgers leading the West for the 39th time in the last 40 days. The Padres have a 1 1/2-game advantage in the Wild Card race over the Phillies, who were smashed at home, 11-6, by the Cubs. The Giants, sinking nearly to oblivion, were pounded, 20-8, at Colorado, dropping them 4 1/2 games out in the West and four games back in the Wild Card.

It's just about time to play taps in San Francisco with less than two weeks to go, while the Padres and Dodgers battle it down to the wire.

"The days are growing shorter," said Dodger manager Grady Little. "We've finally reached the point where there's some sense of urgency about each and every game. I like our team. When we left Spring Training we ultimately wanted to be in the position we're in right now -- with a chance to win."

Little was tempered by the Yankees-Red Sox wars when he managed in Boston. Because the Yanks have won the American League East nine times in a row, the Red Sox always have been satisfied with second best as long as they made the postseason.

Ditto it seems for his Dodgers.

"We just want to get into the playoffs," he said. "It doesn't matter to me how we get there as long as we're playing past Oct. 1."

The Padres?

"We're kind of paying attention to what other teams are doing in the Wild Card, but I think you'd be shorting yourself if you weren't thinking division first," Hoffman said. "I imagine that's what both us and the Dodgers are counting on and we'll see what happens in the end."

If either team has to settle for the Wild Card and a first-round date against the Mets in New York, they certainly will take it. But if Monday night's game of surges and comebacks served notice of anything, it's that this passion play probably will have a run of at least another two weeks.

Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Brandon Buckley Fan Club - Video On Fan Club

The Oakland A's bullpen catcher Brandon Buckley has his own fan club. See this video to learn more about him and the club.

Mets Take NL East - First Deck Mets Fans At Shea Stadium As They Clinch

This video shows Mets fans along the first base line as the Mets take the final out and celebrate wining the NL East.

Mets Take NL East - Mets Fans At Shea Stadium As They Clinch

This is a long shot from the third deck, but still worth a look at more than once as it happens. The New York Mets clinch the NL East.

Mets Take NL East - Mets Fans Waiting For The Number 7 Train After Game

These Mets fans let everyone know how they felt after the Mets clinched the NL East.

Julie Donaldson - Blonde Reporter Gets Doused By Mets

Julie Donaldson Says Boyfriend Beat Her - Click Here

In this video, a Julie Donaldson, blonde reporter with SNY New York gets some beer poured on her by members of the jubilant Mets organization.

Here's the video:



Well, ok. If you see a new video, let us know!

MLB LOSES TO CSC IN COURT- FANTASY GAMES FREED FROM GRIP OF MLBAM

After a long legal fight, which even encompassed the product activities of Sports Business Simulations, Major League Baseball lost the right to bully fantasy simulation companies who use player names and statistics as a basis for their games and websites.

Baseball appealing fantasy legal victory

By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — Major League Baseball says it will appeal a federal court ruling allowing an online fantasy baseball business to use names and statistics without paying for a licensing agreement.

MLB and its players' union also said Wednesday they expect to win back the right to demand money from fantasy sites like St. Louis-based CBC Distribution and Marketing Inc., which prevailed in its lawsuit in a federal court's summary judgment issued Tuesday.


CBC, which runs CDM Fantasy Sports, sued MLB Advanced Media last year, claiming the statistics and names used in fantasy baseball should be free.

"We are disappointed by the Court's decision yesterday. ... We expect to appeal the decision, and remain confident that we will prevail in that effort. We continue to believe that the use of the players, without their consent, to create this type of commercial venture is improper," MLB Advanced Media and the MLBPA said Wednesday in a statement.

The ruling has been called a defining moment for millions of fantasy sports players and the more than 300 online leagues that run them. But it is unknown who will ultimately win or how it will impact the growing fantasy sports industry, which players spend about $1 billion on annually.

Big time fantasy sports league providers such as Yahoo, ESPN and CBS Sportsline are trying to sort out what Tuesday's federal court ruling could mean for their current MLB licensing agreements reported to be worth roughly $2 million a year to use names, statistics, team logos and images on fantasy sites.

None of the three companies were willing to comment on the lawsuit.

Yahoo Inc. is a leader in the fantasy sports market, with more than 6.7 million registered players. The company said the ruling changes nothing from a consumer standpoint.

"We've been a leader in fantasy sports and will continue to be," said Yahoo spokesman Dan Berger.

Charlie Wiegert, a former newspaper advertising salesman who helped start his cdmsports.com fantasy sports empire in a basement in 1992, said they have a 90 percent chance of winning the appeal and closing the case.

"I would hope that Major League Baseball will look at this decision and say 'OK, we lost that one and let's move on.' They don't need to be antagonizing their fantasy fans anymore," Wiegert said.

Jon Karelitz, who has been playing fantasy football and baseball since 2003, says he can understand arguments on both sides.

"It is illegal to use someone's name for financial gain," said the 26-year-old Chicago lawyer, who wins or loses games with his friends based on the statistical success of the actual players on the field. "However, when the name is simply being used to identify statistics, the line is much grayer."

MLB Advanced Media spokesman Jim Gallagher said the league has distinguished that gray area from the beginning.

"We've agreed that the stats and names are in the public domain," Gallagher said. "But when you start to use teams logos and other images as CBC did, you need a license, it's that simple."

Like many other fantasy baseball leagues, CBC had a licensing agreement with the MLBPA from 1995 through the 2004 season and paid royalties to the association.

"I could have bought a really nice house with all the money we gave them," Wiegert said, adding that the 9 percent royalties they paid MLB over 10 years reached seven figures.

MLB Advanced Media scaled back the number of license agreements with fantasy leagues from 19 to seven in 2005 after working out a $50 million licensing deal with the MLBPA. CBC and other smaller fantasy businesses did not get license agreements renewed with the league. That's when CBC sued.

This summer, the MLBPA sent cease and desist orders to about 20 or 30 smaller online fantasy baseball league operators that were operating without agreements.

CBC has continued to operate without an agreement along with others as fantasy sports has grown at a rate of up to 10 percent each year, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association.

___

SF Giants Bring Mike Stanton from Nationals to shore up bullpen

This should help take the pressure off Benitez and quiet fans and KNBR's Ralph Barberi in the process. Good move.

PITTSBURGH -- The San Francisco Giants boosted their bullpen for the stretch run, acquiring veteran left-handed reliever Mike Stanton on Friday from the Washington Nationals for a minor league pitcher.

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L BB K ERA
56 3 5 21 30 4.47

The Nationals will receive 19-year-old right-hander Shairon Martis, who was pitching at Class A Augusta. Martis threw a no-hitter for the Netherlands against Panama during the World Baseball Classic in March.

Stanton was 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA for the Nationals. He could be valuable in the Giants' push for the playoffs, having pitched in the postseason in 12 of his 18 major league seasons, including six playoff appearances with the Yankees (1997-2002).

Entering Friday, the Giants were third in the NL West, three games behind division-leading San Diego and a half-game behind Arizona.

The trade was announced while Stanton was in Los Angeles with the Nationals to play the Dodgers. He'll join the Giants in Pittsburgh on Saturday, but the team still has to make another move to clear space for him on the roster.

Stanton has appeared in 56 games this year, second-most in the National League. He has 1,083 career regular season appearances, third-most in the majors.

The trade was the second addition in a week to the San Francisco bullpen. Right-hander Vinnie Chulk joined the Giants on July 21 as part of the deal that also brought first baseman Shea Hillenbrand from Toronto in exchange for reliever Jeremy Accardo.

Harold Reynolds - Petition Drive To Get Job Back Picking Up Steam

There's a new website called "Freeharoldreynolds.com" which features an online petition to convince ESPN to give the fired baaseball analyst his job back.

I hope it gets tons of signatures. As of this writing it has 126.

It seems that the mainstream media was too quick to bury Reynolds without knowing the whole story. There's also a much needed social discussion about the events leading up to his dismisal; a discussion being buried in the press.

It's said that there are "different rules" for black men, and this is accepted in some corners by African American men. But the very existence of "different rules" -- where Reynolds probably should not have had lunch with, let alone hug a white intern, whereas it's OK for a white man to do this (and yes, I'm guessing she was, but knowing ESPN and the sports industry in the USA it's doubtful she was anything else) -- implies that subtle racism is alive and well.

I don't care what anyone says, until proven otherwise, I'm resting with the point of view I originally expressed. I'm extremely confident I'm correct, especiallly given sport's tendency to go and search for young white female interns -- and generally they're blond. The sports execs in these organizations go after them like sharks chasing chum in the water.

I've seen this first hand. I took a good friend of mine who's white, female, and blond and who has no problem hugging me to a Christmas party hosted by a sports network I will not name, and before we could leave she'd already scheduled a time to be interviewed for -- you guessed it -- an internship.

Yep.

Once the alcohol flowed and the food was consumed some of the white males in charge were asking all kinds of questions, and one guy who just didn't know any better started into a conversation with me about African Americans and some attittude he had I didn't recall for posterity. I was there to achieve an objective, so I didn't care. Aside from my putting in face-time, she wanted a sports internship, so I took her to the party knowing exactly what was going to happen, and I was right.

It was all too easy.

As of this writing, she's had internships with two major sport teams.

The ball's in the court of others to prove me wrong.

Our social reconstruction's far from over, let the process continue.

SF Giants - Armando Benitez Not The Only Giant at Fault For Losses - Ray Durham

KNBR's Ralph Barberi got on the radiowaves Thursday and let lose on Armando Benitez, even referring to him as a jerk. It was a shameful display on his part -- and I know and like Ralph -- he should appologize on the air. He came close to slander in my view. Plus, Ray Durham's come to defend Armando Benitez.

Durham takes the blame for Benitez's blown save
Henry Schulman, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, July 27, 2006

(07-27) 14:55 PDT Washington -- Armando Benitez is taking a beating back home over his blown saves Sunday and Wednesday night. At least one Giant believes Benitez should not be blamed for the second one.

"It wasn't his fault," Ray Durham said. "I take full responsibility for it. It was his job to get a groundball, and he got it. I'm supposed to make the play and I didn't."

Durham was referring to Felipe Lopez's one-out grounder with a man aboard and the Giants leading 3-2. Durham said he was rushing to glove the ball because he thought the he could start a double play, and it bounced off his glove for what was ruled a hit. The Nationals went on to score twice and win 4-3.

From draft to majors?: Tim Lincecum, the Giants' first-round draft pick, had an electric professional debut Wednesday night. He started for rookie-league Salem-Keizer against Vancouver, pitched one inning and struck out three. He also got a flyball out after one of his strikeout victims reached on a wild pitch.

Could Lincecum get a September call-up to work in late relief? It sounds far-fetched, but manager Felipe Alou did not discount the idea when it was broached.

Shortstop Emmanuel Burris, the Giants' sandwich-round pick, has 20 steals in 25 attempts for the Volcanoes.

Radio men: XM satellite radio periodically invites athletes to its Washington studio to host an hourlong show on anything they want. It can be music, politics, sports, whatever. Mark Sweeney and Todd Greene accepted the invitation and hosted a sports talk show, of all things, that will air Saturday at 8 p.m. PDT and Sunday at 7 a.m. on channel 175.

They discussed the NL West race and issues such as injuries in youth sports, and interviewed ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe and two division rivals, San Diego's Dave Roberts and Colorado's Matt Holliday.

"It's kind of unique. They're friends of ours," said Sweeney, who wants to get into the media when he retires. He has been a fill-in host of a morning sports-talk program in San Diego.

Jason Giambi and Shawn Chacon Help Yankees Over Rangers 8 to 7

My friend in New York says the Yankees are in the tank, but they just blasted the Texas Rangers, so....Yes, they had a bad series against Toronto, but the Yankees are still just a game-and-a-half behind the Boston Red Sox, who lost to the Oakland A's last night.

ARLINGTON -- MLB.com , By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com -- Since being demoted from the starting rotation more than three weeks ago, Shawn Chacon has done a lot of sitting around.

The right-hander had pitched just twice since July 4, making two appearances in last weekend's series against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

When the Yankees took a two-run lead into the eighth inning on Wednesday night, it looked like it would be another night for Chacon to sit in the bullpen, watching his teammates contribute to another win.

But when things took a turn for the worse and the Yankees gave up the lead, manager Joe Torre called on Chacon to come in with the bases loaded and no outs, hoping that he would be able to limit the damage.

"You come in with the bases loaded and no outs, you're just trying to get outs," Chacon said. "Getting out of there with no runs is the best thing, but realistically, it rarely ever happens."

A strikeout of Mark DeRosa and an athletic double play by Chacon himself allowed the Yankees to escape the inning with their deficit at one run. The unlikely had happened, giving the offense one last crack at the Rangers in the ninth.

"After Chacon got the double play, I had a good feeling," said Alex Rodriguez. "We were deflated, but we got some momentum back. When they didn't score, we felt this was our game."

Jason Giambi took care of the rest, drilling a two-run homer off closer Akinori Otsuka, as the Yankees left Texas with an 8-7 win over the Rangers, completing the three-game sweep.

"[Chacon] came in and was totally lights-out," Torre said. "He kept us in a position to do what we did. He's the player of the game for me."

"After getting out of that jam, someone made a comment that we were going to win this game," Chacon (5-3) said. "It just felt like we were. They could have blown it open and they didn't, and it wasn't a game that was ever out of either team's reach."

The win vaulted the Yankees into the Wild Card lead, a half-game ahead of the White Sox and Twins. New York also closed the gap in the AL East, where Boston's lead for first place now stands at just 1 1/2 games.

"It's crazy, but we're not really concerned," said Torre of the playoff standings. "I'm sure other people think it's a great accomplishment, but you don't accomplish it until the season is over."

"It's still too early to sit around and worry about who is in the playoffs now," Derek Jeter said. "You don't set your sights on the Wild Card. That's something that you fall back on, so we still have some work to be done. We're trying to catch Boston."

The final two innings of the game featured a total of nine runs, as the Yankees took a 6-4 lead with four runs in the eighth only to watch the Rangers counter with three in the bottom of the frame.

Giambi, who entered his final at-bat with just four hits in 25 at-bats on the road trip, landed the final blow with his homer, allowing closer Mariano Rivera to close out the win for his 25th save.

"That game was a roller coaster," Torre said. "It was a great game and it was exciting, but I'm glad we came out on top. If Jason was going to save up for a hit, that was the one to get."

"Derek and I were goofing around in the on-deck circle; I told him to get on and give me an opportunity," Giambi said. "I know I didn't swing the bat well in the first couple of games here in Texas, but I got one big one. That's all that really matters."

Andy Phillips (3-for-5) snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a two-run single in the first, but Texas countered with a pair of runs in both the second and fourth innings, taking a 4-2 lead.

Starter Jaret Wright, who hasn't pitched more than six innings in a game this season, was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk, striking out three, over 5 1/3 innings.

A-Rod cut the Rangers' lead to one with a solo homer to center, his 22nd, in the eighth against reliever Francisco Cordero. Rodriguez went 4-for-12 with two walks, a hit-by-pitch, two RBIs and five runs scored in the three-game series against his former team.

Cordero walked Bernie Williams and Phillips singled, putting the go-ahead run on base. Melky Cabrera tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but fouled off his attempt. Torre took the bunt sign off, but Cabrera missed the sign, bunting it foul for a second time.

That turned out to be good news for the Yankees, as Cabrera drilled a 2-2 pitch for a double to left-center field, scoring both runners to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

"We're still working on signs," joked Torre. "That at-bat was huge; it was certainly one of the real big keys for us."

Catcher Sal Fasano, acquired in a trade with the Phillies earlier in the day, bunted Cabrera to third. Cabrera scored on a Cordero wild pitch, boosting the lead to two runs.

With a two-run lead, the Yankees had Kyle Farnsworth warming up in the bullpen, but Farnsworth sat down after his back tightened up on him. T.J. Beam came in instead, giving up a walk and a double to put the tying runs in scoring position.

That brought reliever Scott Proctor into the game -- the third consecutive game in which he has pitched -- and he gave up four straight singles, giving Texas a 7-6 lead. Before the game, Torre said he would avoid using Proctor "at all costs" on Wednesday, but he had little choice in that situation.

"Proctor deserves a merit of honor here," Torre said. "He told [pitching coach Ron Guidry] he could get a couple of outs; he had one ball hit hard off him. He gave us a valiant try there."

Chacon came in and worked his magic act, making a quick grab on Brad Wilkerson's liner back to the mound. Chacon spun toward third to see if he could double Mark Teixeira off the base, then turned toward second, where Hank Blalock was returning to that base. Chacon looked at first and threw to Phillips, beating Jerry Hairston to the base to complete his unlikely double play.

"I stuck my glove out and it was there," Chacon said. "My feet did the rest."

Otsuka came in for the save opportunity, but Jeter singled, setting up Giambi's two-run blast to right field, his 29th of the season. The Yankees headed into their off-day on the highest of highs, turning a potentially disastrous road trip into a very positive one.

"We've been pretty good at putting that stuff behind us," Jeter said of the 1-3 series in Toronto. "We basically forgot about Toronto when we got here. It says a lot about our team to forget about how poorly we played, turn it around and sweep this team."

"I feel like we robbed a bank today," A-Rod said as he headed out of the clubhouse. "Twice."

Harold Reynolds Fired From ESPN Baseball Analyst Job For Hugging A White Girl

You read that correctly. Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN for, as Fox News reported "a hug." (I don't know if it's Amber from Clearbuck.com in this picture, but I doubt it unless she started working for ESPN.)

A hug.

Now, I don't have to know any more details from here, but they will come out. First, Harold Reynolds is black and a former baseball player. I'll bet the woman he hugged was white, or at least not black. But I'll go with white and for the simple reason of racial boundaries that are maintained primarily by European American women in today's culture and at times this practice takes on absurd proportions.

Why? Well in my view, and from observation and experience with a friend who I was able to sit down with and have a long talk -- we're still great friends -- I know this is the case.

See, some -- not all -- young white women grow up with a confusing message that on the one hand says "date and marry someone white" but on the other hand says "have all people of different colors as friends." And there's where that funny boundary is -- if you have a man as a friend, it's certain to have a chance to become romantic.

That's just a fact.

So for a white woman who feels like she's got to bind herself to an old "white's only" rule, life's hard, but what makes it even harder is when they take out their racial boundary frustration on men -- black men. It becomes even harder for that white woman to maintain her "white guy only" stance in a social sea of more and more white women with black men, and black women with white men. (Which, by the way, will continue as long as the pool of good available straight and employed black men is smaller than it should be. Personally, I think everyone should be forced to date everyone without the race boundary issues -- it makes you a smarter person because of the experience you gain.)

In my case, my friend and I ended up sharing a hotel room and one bed at the Super Bowl a few years ago and it was during that episode that I learned about her and racism and really how much of it was in her. She admittted to a boat load of problems and I was taken aback. But we talked it through and worked things out.

Harold Reynolds apparently didn't have that chance.

Harold Reynolds undoubtedly knew this woman and she had lunch with him. Did she have to be attracted to him? Heck, have fun. Who cares. But a white woman who has racist thoughts and ideas does care -- take a look at this article, or take a look at these exchanges on this message board. I'll bet if the guy at ESPN were white and someone she was attracted to and named Harold Reynolds, you wouldn't be reading this today.

Am I saying that the woman would put up with a sexy hug under those conditions -- well, I'll go a step beyond that and say that she'd initiate it. Think about it. How many office romances do we hear about? How many do you know about? They come about between two people who are attracted to each other in the workplace.

So what happens in the gray area, where the two people are of different colors and the man being the agressor makes an advance that's both kind of wanted, but really not totally wanted by the woman, and for a reason she can't admit -- race.

Think of the number of personal ads where supposedly non-racist women ask for a man of a specific color, rather than just picking "any?" Think about it. What does that woman do -- let's say she's white -- when they have a hard time meeting a straight white guy? Well she'll get angry and frustrated.

Ha. That's a conversation I had with a San Francisco white female friend who took off to Seattle -- which is only about six percent black -- to meet some guy. "See, I'm part of the Angry White Girls. I'm over 30 and I can't find a (white straight) guy here (in San Francisco)." It was another revealing look at how racism clashes with social morals to produce a negative attitude.

Or more to the point, let's say the woman's a young ESPN professional, star struck -- surrounded by all the greats like Chris Berman and Trey Wingo. But they won't ask her to lunch. So she goes to lunch with Harold Reynolds because he's an analyst and he's almost up there with them -- even though he's black. If she's got that kind of closet racist attitude, it's going to be activated and it will come out.

And spill all over Harold Reynolds.

Would it happen to any white male analyst at ESPN? Not as likely by -- a Barry Bonds home run shot.

You may not agree with this, and you'll come up with the usual attempts to explain away what happened, and all of them will avoid the matter of race.

And you would be wrong.

Roger Clements Tops Greg Maddux - Cubs Dropped By Astros 4-2

From MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Although a starting pitcher typically thinks more about the opponent's lineup than the quality of the pitcher his team will face, it's likely both Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens knew they had to bring their "A" games to Wrigley Field on Wednesday night.

It's likely the sellout crowd of 40,344 hoped for and expected a pitchers' duel, and the two future Hall of Famers delivered. Clemens, buoyed by adequate run support, prevailed as the Houston Astros topped the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, to even the series at one game apiece.

Clemens was very much Rocket-like during his 85-pitch outing, throwing six shutout frames while walking one and striking out five. He scattered three hits, never allowing more than one in a single inning.

Craig Biggio's leadoff homer stood as the only scoring by either club for five innings. That changed in the sixth, when the Astros plated two runs off Maddux, whose losing streak extended to six.

Earlier, the inning had the makings of a small disaster.

Mike Lamb knocked an infield hit toward second to begin the frame, and he caught a break after he ran on Maddux's pitch-out. The ball reached shortstop Ronny Cedeno in plenty of time, but instead of moving toward Lamb on the play, Cedeno moved his glove in the opposite direction after receiving a decent throw from Michael Barrett.

Lamb was called safe, but the lucky breaks ended on the next play when Chris Burke bunted toward Maddux, who made a perfect throw to third baseman Aramis Ramirez to erase the lead runner.

Lance Berkman popped to Derrek Lee a few feet in front of the plate for the second out, but Aubrey Huff singled to center, moving Burke to third. Up came Preston Wilson, who commemorated his 32nd birthday with a double to the gap in right-center, scoring both runners and putting the Astros ahead, 3-0.

The Cubs narrowed the gap in the eighth when Todd Walker knocked a two-run homer off Trever Miller. The Astros countered with a run in the ninth on a squeeze play -- with Wilson on third, Adam Everett sent a perfect bunt toward third. Wilson scored easily.

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The federal investigation of Barry Bonds approaches a key juncture Thursday, with the grand jury probing the baseball star for perjury and tax evasion set to expire and a possible indictment of Bonds looming.
"I don't think Barry has violated any laws. Under our system, if the government is going to point a finger at him, the government better be well prepared to," said Bonds' attorney, Michael Rains. "I will do everything in my power to make sure that Barry gets a tenacious and effective defense."

Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, also was awaiting a key ruling from a federal appeals court that could release him from prison, where he was sent earlier this month after refusing to testify against his childhood friend.

Anderson likely holds the key to whether perjury charges could stick against Bonds, who testified in 2003 that he thought substances given to him by the trainer were arthritis balm and flaxseed oil.

Authorities suspected Bonds was lying and that those items were "the clear" and "the cream" _ two performance-enhancing drugs tied to the BALCO, the lab exposed as a steroids supplier to top athletes in baseball, track and other sports.

"Obviously, they think they need Greg to prove perjury," Mark Geragos, Anderson's lawyer, said Wednesday.

Allegations of steroid use long have plagued Bonds, who passed Babe Ruth in May for second only to Hank Aaron on the career home run list. They intensified in late 2003, when he testified before the original Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative grand jury, which took testimony from about two dozen athletes.

Anderson's status is one of many legal uncertainties surrounding the Giants slugger.

Without the trainer's help, prosecutors still could indict Bonds on charges alleging he failed to pay taxes on money made through sales of autographs and other memorabilia. They also could seek to extend the grand jury's term to put more pressure on Anderson to cooperate, or convene a new panel and put Anderson back in jail. There's also the chance Bonds might be indicted on perjury charges without Anderson's testimony.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment Wednesday.

Anderson was one of five men convicted in the steroids scandal surrounding BALCO. He was sentenced to three months behind bars and three months of home confinement in October after pleading guilty to money laundering and steroid distribution.

He was found in contempt of court and jailed again July 5 for refusing to testify in the Bonds probe.

Federal prosecutors say they need Anderson, in part, to interpret calendars that seem to spell out Bonds' schedule for using performance-enhancing drugs. The calendars were seized by investigators from Anderson's house in 2003.

Geragos says Anderson must be released when the grand jury's term expires Thursday, even if prosecutors succeed in extending the panel's investigation.

But former federal prosecutors said authorities likely will try to keep him locked up.

"That's simply because he hasn't served that much time in jail," said Jonathan Howden, who left the U.S. Attorney's office earlier this year after 25 years as a prosecutor. "Under normal circumstances, the judge would find that he is still lawfully subject to the contempt order."

Separately, Geragos has launched an effort to get his client freed based on a tape-recorded conversation that Geragos says was made illegally in the spring of 2003 by government investigators. On the tape, Anderson allegedly discusses Bonds' illegal drug use with an unidentified athlete.

"Mr. Anderson allegedly makes numerous remarks regarding baseball's steroids testing, Barry Bonds' use of an undetectable performance-enhancing drug to beat drug tests, and Mr. Anderson's own alleged steroid use," Geragos said in a court filing.

Geragos is demanding that the government disclose the contents of that tape. He suspects they won't and says it's illegal for Anderson to remain in prison because he won't testify about information the government allegedly obtained without a warrant.

"They have to turn over the tape or let Greg out," Geragos said.

A decision on that argument is expected soon from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Former federal prosecutors said Anderson faces long odds with that argument because grand jury witnesses aren't entitled to see the government's evidence before they testify, except on rare occasions.

Geragos argued this is such an occasion, because he says the tape Anderson's acquaintance made is an illegal wiretap. If the appeals court agrees, then Anderson would not have to testify, according to Geragos.

That scenario could jeopardize the government's perjury investigation, he added.

Video - Trip To SF Giants Game v. Phillies - Barry Hits #721

This videos is a kind of small trip one person took to AT&T Park to see the SF Giants take on the Phillies. What they didn't know was that Barry Bonds would hit home run #721

Jose Canseco Says Baseball Leaked Positive Steroids Test Information On Rafael Palmeiro

And more. That's just the start. I'm glad he's sticking up for himself and at a time when people seem to be against him for no good reason. I'm willing to bet he comes out as in the right. He says steroids have slowed the aging process for him -- I just want to know what kind?

CHICO, Calif. ESPN -- Jose Canseco wrote the book that helped persuade baseball to toughen its steroids policy, and he insists there's much more damaging information to come.

Canseco Drops More Bombs

Canseco

Jose Canseco packed quite a wallop (of the verbal kind, at least) as he prepared to play for the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the independent Golden Baseball League. His final line Monday: 3 K's, one HBP in the Dawgs' 4-3 victory over the Chico Outlaws. But before the game, his first since 2001 ...

• Canseco accused baseball of cutting Rafael Palmeiro a deal to testify against him in March 2005, saying MLB then went ahead and leaked Palmeiro's positive test out of fear that Congress would find out anyway. "I know what I know" is all Canseco would say.

• Canseco said he will meet in the coming weeks with former Sen. George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader appointed in March by Selig to head the sport's investigation into steroids.

• He said that Alex Rodriguez told him about six years ago that Canseco was being "blackballed" by baseball.

• He noted that years of steroids use has helped slow the aging process for him.

• Canseco is working on a movie and two more books, saying he intends to "rectify" his tarnished image.

• "I feel one person can make a difference. I feel one person can change the world. I want Major League Baseball to know I'm not going away that easy."


"I think what we're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg," Canseco said Monday, about five hours before he was set to take the field for the first time with the San Diego Surf Dawgs in the independent Golden Baseball League. "I know for a fact that's what we're seeing."

Canseco received a smattering of boos and cheers before the game when he was announced as the designated hitter against the Chico Outlaws, then again when he stepped into the batter's box leading off the second inning.

Canseco, who said it had been at least four years since he last swung a wooden bat, struck out three times and was hit by a pitch in the Surf Dawgs' 4-3 victory. The game drew 4,501 fans for the largest crowd ever to watch a game in Nettleton Stadium.

"I don't know right now how to attack a breaking ball," he said while fireworks went off behind him. "The pitchers have the upper hand. It will take a week or so. I've struck out three times in the big leagues when hitting hot as ever and come back the next day and hit a home run."

He struck out swinging on four pitches leading off the second and again in the third on five pitches, getting razzed in the process.

"Juiced!" one fan hollered, a reference to his book. "That's not a big league pitcher, Jose," another man yelled.

Earlier, Canseco called Major League Baseball "the mafia" for the way it has handled the game's steroids scandal and suggested that the sport will discipline only certain players and might even hide the truth when it comes to big-name stars and positive tests.

He plans to fight baseball to bring out the truth.

"They're mafia, point blank, they're mafia," Canseco said. "I don't think Major League Baseball is enthused about finding out the truth. There needs to be a major cleanup in Major League Baseball. I think they are treading on very thin ice, and [commissioner] Bud Selig has to be very careful what he's doing because his job is on the line."

When contacted about Canseco's comments, baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said, "We wouldn't comment on anything he said."

One day after his 42nd birthday, Canseco showed up at the ballpark tanned and toned with his short, black hair slicked back. He sported tight jeans and a black button-down shirt, with several of those buttons open, exposing his muscular chest. And he noted that years of steroids use has helped slow the aging process for him. He weighs 230 pounds -- down significantly from his playing weight of between 255 and 260.

The league said Canseco has agreed to be subjected to its drug-testing policy "that immediately expels any players found using steroids or illegal drugs." The league said nine players, out of more than 200 tested, were tossed for illegal drug use last year.

"Jose will be treated consistent with all of our players regarding drug testing," league commissioner Kevin Outchalt said.

Canseco's return comes some 16 months after he attracted Congress' attention with an autobiography, "Juiced," that accused several top players of steroid use -- including fellow Cuban Rafael Palmeiro, who was suspended on Aug. 1 last season for violating baseball's new steroids policy and claimed he didn't know how the drug got in his body.

In a 2005 interview on the CBS television show "60 Minutes," Canseco also said he injected Rafael Palmeiro with steroids. Palmeiro is now out of baseball.

"The reason why I wrote this book is to fight Major League Baseball," Canseco said. "I feel one person can make a difference. I feel one person can change the world. I want Major League Baseball to know I'm not going away that easy."

Canseco accused baseball of cutting Palmeiro a deal to testify against him, saying MLB then went ahead and leaked Palmeiro's positive test out of fear that Congress would find out anyway.

How does he have that information?

"I know what I know," he said. "The majority of the reason why I wrote the book is to show Major League Baseball that they cannot try to destroy an athlete's career. I've seen them blackball many players and I can't believe none of these players has taken a stand and said anything about it."

In March 2005, Canseco testified before the House Government Reform committee that he used performance-enhancing drugs as a player.

He also said Monday that New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez told him after Dan Marino's Pro-Am golf tournament about six years ago that Canseco was being "blackballed" by baseball.

"I challenge him in a polygraph test to say no," Canseco said.

Canseco carried a fancy, red duffel bag when he made his entrance into the modest, 4,100-seat ballpark, home of the Chico Outlaws on the campus of rural Chico State University, some 170 miles north of the San Francisco Bay area. A sellout crowd was expected for Canseco's return.

The former slugger -- he has 462 career home runs -- is back in professional baseball for the first time since finishing his 17-year major league career with the Chicago White Sox in 2001. Canseco signed with the Surf Dawgs last week for the remaining two months of the season, set to earn the league's maximum salary of $2,500 a month. He even plans to pitch, featuring a knuckleball, and threw a bullpen session before Monday's game.

It is unclear when Canseco might take the mound for the first time.

"Will it be with a one-run lead in the ninth? No," Surf Dawgs manager Terry Kennedy said.

Before the game, the Outlaws gathered in the shade and watched Canseco hit about six homers during batting practice. Even concession stand workers left their posts to take a peek.

He was initially slated to bat cleanup, but Kennedy later moved him down to sixth. Canseco pulled on a navy blue Surf Dawgs cap and held up his No. 33 uniform in a 20-minute outdoor news conference held in front of about 50 people, including a couple of fans wearing Oakland Athletics gear -- his first club.

Canseco is working on a movie and two more books, saying he intends to "rectify" his tarnished image.

"The movie is going to be devastating, no ifs and buts about it," he said.

Canseco said he will meet in the coming weeks with former Sen. George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader appointed in March by Selig to head the sport's investigation into steroids.

Baseball has toughened its drug policy several times in recent years, but Canseco isn't satisfied.

"They now realize it started with me and ends with me," he said. "The policy sounds great, but that's not the problem. There are major problems not with the policies but the individuals who are instituting this policy."

Barry Bonds Home Run Number 719 - Video

SF Giants slugger Barry Bonds continues his march toward Hank Aaron with this home run, the 719th of his career, and hit against the Oakland A's last weekend.

Here's the video.

If A's Move To Fremont, They May Be Called "San Jose A's In Fremont" - Mark Purdy on KNBR Today.

I just heard San Jose Mercury News Columnist Mark Purdy say that Lew Wolff, A's owner, told him that if the A's are moved to Fremont they may be called "The San Jose A's of Fremont." In other words, Oakland A's would no longer exist.

"Choose or Lose The A's" Meeting - June 20th 2006

"Choose or Lose The A's" Meeting - June 20th 2006

Watch the video

While many -- probably you -- were watching the epic Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals game, a giant handful of Oaklanders were holding the third meeting of a group called "Choose or Lose The A's".

Hey, I didn't make up the title. That honor belongs That honor belongs to Robert Limon, who organized this effort which has picked up steam and will be marked by it's first event, a July 7th tailgate party at the Oakland Coliseum in the "B" parking lot.

The group's idea is to drum up enough fan passion to encourage elected officials to pay attention to and take real action leading to the retention of the Oakland A's in Oakland. This vlog shows one of the planning meetings of the group, of which I'm a member. But we encourage you to get involved in any way large or small -- even if it's just sending an email link to this vlog to someone you know anywhere in the World who's an A's fan. Drop me an email at zenabraham@aol.com

This video was originally shared on blip.tv by zennie2005 with a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Oakland A's Sweep LA Dodgers and NY Yankees Is Successive Weeks

Lookout. The Oakland A's are putting on a show. They've swept both the Yankees and Dodgers in successive weekends.

Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillen: "I Don't Care About The Cubs" - Video

On ESPN Radio's "The Mike and Mike Show" the hosts ask both the New York Mets Jose Torre and the Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen about MLB Interleague Play. While Torre says he doesn't like Interleague play, Guillen goes a step further, expressing his dislike for the Cubs, or more to the point, the fact that he "doesn't care about them." Makes for a great rivalry, not to mention a fight or two.

Here's the video:

Video Of Chicago Cubs Ryan Dempster Defeating the Reds 7-3 Memorial Day - Cute Kid

This is not just a video of Ryan Dempster making the final out as the Cubs snap a 6-game losing streak by defeating the Reds 7-3, it's a clip of what life's all about: enjoying an event with a little one. Especiallly great when your team wins.

Astros Think They Can Sign Roger Clemens - And Video Of Him Warming Up

I saw this from the Houston Chronicle today. It was part of a webpage, a few paragraphs on Roger Clements. After you read it, see him warm up for his start in the World Baseball contest.

"Astros owner Drayton McLane remains "optimistic" of re-signing Roger Clemens if the future Hall of Famer gives his agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, the go-ahead to work out a deal.
"We had conversations with Randy and Alan Hendricks last week, and they're supposed to get back to us at midweek," McLane said from his home in Temple.

The Astros, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers have shown interest in Clemens, who is in his second week of an intense three-week workout program.

"I think with Houston he has reached so much success last year and the year before, and I think there's work to be done," McLane said."

New York Yankees v. New York Mets Game May 19th Video Highlights

The Yankees and Mets played a great battle on May 19th, the highlights of which are captured on this video. One of them is a dispute of a base tag by A-Rod (Alex Rodriquez). At the time of this clip, the Yankees were ahead 2 nothing.

Barry Bonds Hits Home Run # 715 - Video Of The Event

This video, which someone (not me) set to music, shows the walk of San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds to the plate and the eventual launch of what would become his 715th home run, hit last Sunday (a lovely day in the Bay Area). Bonds now has just 40 home runs to go to catch Hank Aaron.

2006.5.27. Japanese Baseball - Video "Dragon Justice Stunt Connetion" - Whatever, It's a Great Play

Regardless of the language, this is a great fielding play. It's good to see what the rest of the World is up to. I don't know what the annoucers are saying; can someone translate?

Lastings Milledge Called Up By New York Mets; Xavier Nady On DL

Mets recall top prospect Milledge, put Nady on DL
Associated Press, ESPN


NEW YORK -- Top prospect Lastings Milledge was called up by the New York Mets on Tuesday after starting right fielder Xavier Nady was placed on the disabled list following an appendectomy earlier in the day.

The arrival of the 21-year-old Milledge from Triple-A Norfolk has been greatly anticipated by fans in New York since the highly regarded outfielder was chosen with the No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2003 draft.

Milledge, drafted out of high school in Bradenton, Fla., batted .291 (53-182) with four home runs, 19 RBIs and four stolen bases in 50 games this season with Norfolk. He also had 16 doubles and 32 runs scored.

During spring training, Milledge had a .327 average in 23 games.

Any time trade rumors have cropped up with the Mets in the past year, Milledge has been widely sought after by other teams.

But New York has been reluctant to trade another top prospect after sending away young left-hander Scott Kazmir, who was dealt two years ago to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Victor Zambrano.

Kazmir, a 22-year-old left-hander, is second in the AL with seven wins this season and fifth in the league with a 2.86 ERA. Zambrano is out for the year following surgery earlier this month to replace a torn ligament in his pitching elbow.

At last year's trade deadline when rumors swirled that the Mets were close to acquiring Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez, Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said he spoke with New York and came up with a three-way deal involving Tampa Bay, Boston and New York.

LaMar said a proposal was "about as close as it got," adding that the Mets made Milledge "untouchable throughout this trade deadline."

Nady, acquired from San Diego in the offseason in the deal that sent Mike Cameron to the Padres, had surgery at early Tuesday at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

He went 0-for-2 with a run scored Monday night in New York's 8-7 victory over Arizona that ended shortly before midnight. Nady was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning and left the game.

While being examined, he complained of abdominal pain, and the appendicitis diagnosis followed. Nady was then taken to the hospital.

The Mets said Nady, who missed two games last week because of a sore lower back, should be able to resume baseball activities within 10 days. He is hitting .267 with nine homers and 22 RBI in his first season with New York.

Barry Bons Passes Babe Ruth Today - Hits Home Run Number 715 Against The Colorado Rockies - ESPN

Barry Bonds has only 40 home runs to go to tie Hank Aaron. Just 40 HR's. That's it. The question is with his knew problem, can he get there?

Bonds hits No. 715 to pass Babe Ruth
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds stands alone at No. 715.

Barry Bonds hit homer No. 715 in the bottom of the fifth inning. To follow the rest of the action live, click here.
He hit the milestone home run with a two-run shot to center Sunday, moving past Babe Ruth into sole possession of second place on the career list behind Hank Aaron.

Bonds homered off Colorado's Byung-Hyun Kim and in front of his home fans -- where he wanted to do it all along -- and before the San Francisco Giants headed on a road trip.

The ball glanced off a fan's hands about 15 rows up and then dropped onto an elevated platform beyond the fence. The souvenir sat there for a few minutes before rolling off the roof to an unidentified man waiting for a hot dog, and he was quickly ushered away by security.

Bonds circled the bases as streamers fell from the upper deck.

Now, the list looks like this:

Aaron 755.

Bonds 715.

Ruth 714.

Bonds connected at 2:14 p.m. in the fourth inning, then immediately raised his arms and clapped his hands together before beginning his historic trot. Kim became the 421st different pitcher to surrender a home run to the 41-year-old slugger -- yet another meaningful drive Kim has given up, having allowed a pair of monstrous World Series homers in 2001.

Bonds embraced and kissed his 16-year-old son, bat boy Nikolai, as he crossed home plate, then was greeted by his teammates at the top of the dugout. He took one curtain call in which he tipped his hat and raised both arms and blew a kiss to the crowd.

Moments later, he came out again and waved.

The homer traveled about 445 feet, and the Giants quickly unfurled two banners from the light towers on either side of the main scoreboard in center field: One of Bonds on the left side and the other of Hammerin' Hank's 755.

Bonds, who had walked on five pitches in the first inning, went five games between 714 and 715. He hit 714 on May 20 at Oakland, a span of 17 at-bats and 24 plate appearances.

Bonds is still loved at home despite the steroids accusations that surrounds his home run pursuit.

This is the first time in nearly 85 years that Ruth hasn't been in the top two on the career home run list, according to David Vincent of the Society for American Baseball Research. He passed Sam Thompson to move into second on June 20, 1921, when he hit his 127th career home run.

Bonds has hit most of his other milestone home runs in San Francisco: 500, 600, 700 along with 660 and 661 to tie and pass godfather Willie Mays. In 2001, Bonds hit the final three of his 73 homers at home to break Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70.

Aaron passed Ruth in April 1974 -- and now Aaron is the only one left for Bonds to chase.

This was Bonds' last chance during the six-game homestand before the Giants left town for another week on the road.

Cubs Barrett Suspended For 10-Games; Video Of Home Plate Fight Show Hard Collision Caused It

I know Barrett should have received some punishment for his hit on A.J. Pierzynski, but if you look at the video below, it's obvious that Pierzynski was a little too violent in his collision with Barrett. Still, A.J. Pierzynski gets to play without punishment.



Scuffle costs Cubs' Barrett 10 games
Catcher appeals ruling; Pierzynski fined undisclosed amount
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett has appealed a 10-game suspension issued on Friday by Major League Baseball for his actions that sparked an on-field fight against the Chicago White Sox last weekend.
Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball, announced the penalties on Friday. In the statement issued by MLB, Barrett was suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for his violent actions, which led to the incident.

"I understand there are consequences to my actions," Barrett said in a statement before Friday's game. "I would've wished the punishment would be less stringent, but I am hopeful that upon appeal, it will be lessened. Ultimately, I want to move on from this and help the Chicago Cubs win baseball games."

White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount for his aggressive and violent actions during the incident. White Sox third-base coach Joey Cory was suspended for two games and fined for his aggressive actions.

Barrett and White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski collided at home plate in the second inning of last Saturday's 7-0 White Sox win over the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. Four players were ejected.

The White Sox had one out and the bases loaded against Rich Hill in a scoreless game. Anderson flied out to left, and Pierzynski ran home on the sacrifice fly. He barreled into Barrett at the plate, and both fell over. Pierzynski then slapped the plate with his hand. Pierzynski got up and was walking toward Barrett, who grabbed the White Sox catcher and delivered a right punch to his face. Both benches emptied.

"I was next to Joey and was pulling him out of there," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "I don't know what he did, but something must have come out on the film for him to be suspended."

Pierzynski was fined an undisclosed amount for his conduct during the incident.

Barrett was in the starting lineup on Friday for the Cubs' series opener against the Atlanta Braves. No date was set for a hearing on his appeal.

"I thought it was a little harsh," Baker said of Barrett's penalty. "We knew it was going to be something. We were hoping it wouldn't be that many days. It's going to be tough to imagine being without Michael for that many days."

Barrett would not go into details as to how he will handle his argument to try and reduce the suspension.

"I didn't know what to expect," Barrett said. "I've never been in a situation like this. I tried to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario and obviously hope for the best. At this point, I'll take whatever comes and hope for the best."

Barrett also would not comment on the penalty against Pierzynski, who was not suspended.

"At this point, all I'm worried about is getting back out there and helping my team win today and get the suspension lessened," Barrett said. "I'm not really worried about what has happened to anyone else."

However, Baker said he was surprised Pierzynski didn't get a suspension.

"Kind of, yeah. Whenever there's a cause, there's an effect," Baker said. "The effect was Michael."

Baker would not suggest what he would consider an appropriate penalty.

"I'm not the judge here. I can't answer that," Baker said.

After the incident, Barrett called it a clean play by Pierzynski. The White Sox catcher said he was walking toward Barrett because he was going after his helmet.

When Barrett serves his suspension, the Cubs will have to play a man short. Baker said that they will likely call up another catcher from the Minor Leagues to have a backup for Henry Blanco, which means that someone will have to be sent down. Ten games is a long time, especially considering how the Cubs have been scuffling. Barrett was batting .291 with six homers and 21 RBIs entering Friday's game.

"This is pretty severe, I think," Baker said of the penalty.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he will try to get Barrett's suspension reduced.

"In fairness to Michael, you get jolted like that and you get knocked a little silly," Hendry said. "And A.J. did take a few steps toward our side of the field, and I think it's just normal that you would react that there was going to be more action or some kind of second confrontation, and I hope Michael would be given some kind of leniency for that."

This is the longest suspension for a Cubs player issued by Major League Baseball. Sammy Sosa received an eight-game suspension for using a corked bat in 2003, and that was reduced to seven games.

"Whether it was five to seven to 10, it's not a good thing," Hendry said. "Michael's one of the best hitters at his position in the game -- as proven by his Silver Slugger Award last year -- and you know offensively we've been poor the last three or four weeks. The other guys have to start doing a better job, too, and you just can't sit there playing the game, waiting for Derrek [Lee] to come back -- that'd be unfair to him.

"Obviously, it would do some damage offensively, but under tough times, people have to rise to the occasion around him and do a better job of knocking in runs and pick it up a little bit," Hendry said.

Barrett, 29, has had his run-ins before. In 2004, he and Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt exchanged words at home plate, and this year, Barrett had a verbal exchange with San Diego's Dave Roberts.

But Barrett was not proud of the punch.

"I think I'll be OK," he said. "It was good to get some games in between the incident and coming back here. We're facing a tough pitcher today and I've got my work cut out for me, and I look forward to playing today's game.

"It's been a learning experience," Barrett said. "It's something I'm looking forward to putting behind me."

Barry Bonds Ties Babe Ruth At 714 Today Against The Oakland A's - ESPN and AP

Bonds hits home run No. 714, ties Babe Ruth
ESPN and Associated Press


OAKLAND, Calif. -- The agonizing wait is over for Barry Bonds. He and the Babe are even at 714.

Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the career home run list Saturday, ending a nine-game slump with a shot into the first deck of the elevated stands in right-center during San Francisco's 4-2, 10-inning victory over the Oakland Athletics.

The second-inning drive landed about eight rows up in the seats overlooking the high fence just to the left of the out-of-town scoreboard. Though the A's don't provide estimated distances on home runs, this one appeared to travel about 400 feet -- far from being one of Bonds' trademark behemoth drives.

Booed when he was introduced before the game, the Giants' star received a long standing ovation after his home run, and the game was delayed about 90 seconds.

Next up is Hank Aaron's record of 755.

Bonds, dogged by allegations of steroid use and repeated taunts on the road, was immediately greeted by his teammates after circling the bases. They surrounded him at the top of the dugout as Bonds tipped his cap and blew a kiss to his wife and two daughters sitting in the first row.

Bonds had gone 29 at-bats without a homer since hitting No. 713 with a 450-foot shot May 7 in Philadelphia. His teenage son, Nikolai, a Giants bat boy, was waiting for him at home plate and they embraced.

The Giants plan to commemorate No. 715 in their own ballpark. Major League Baseball has said it won't do anything special to celebrate Bonds moving into second place, and a commissioner's office spokesman said baseball had no comment Saturday.

The ball was caught on the fly by 19-year-old Tyler Snyder of nearby Pleasanton, who was cheered by fans around him and quickly left the Coliseum with his souvenir.

Left-hander Brad Halsey became the 420th pitcher to allow a homer to Bonds, who was San Francisco's designated hitter in an interleague series against the A's.

"It's a pretty unbelievable thing," Astros reliever Brad Lidge said in Houston, where the Giants swept a three-game series earlier in the week. "No matter what kind of controversy surrounds him and no matter what side of the fence you are on as far as what he did or didn't do with performance-enhancing drugs, you've got to admit that it's a pretty impressive number."

The seven-time NL MVP was booed when his name was announced before the game and again the moment he began walking to the batter's box. He connected on a 1-1 pitch from Halsey, making history with his sixth home run this season.

Bonds came to the plate in the third to chants of "Barry! Barry!" and struck out looking. He flied out to left leading off the sixth and was intentionally walked in the eighth and again in the 10th with none out and runners on second and third.

"I'm not anti-Barry Bonds. I'm not pro-Barry Bonds," said Astros reliever Russ Springer, suspended four games Friday for hitting Bonds with a pitch Tuesday night. "He's a good player. I enjoy watching him play. He's one of the better hitters. I'm just glad he didn't hit it here and he can hit all he wants somewhere else."

Bonds had hoped to reach his latest milestone home run at home in San Francisco, where he hit Nos. 500, 600 and 700 along with 660 and 661 to tie and pass his godfather, Willie Mays. In 2001, Bonds hit the final three of his 73 homers at home to break Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70.

Still, the slugger had to be happy to hit No. 714 back in the Bay Area in front of his family and friends. Only six days earlier, Bonds suggested he was being haunted by "two ghosts" -- a reference to Ruth and Aaron.

Ruth passed Sam Thompson to move into second place on June 20, 1921, when he hit his 127th home run. Aaron passed Ruth in April 1974 -- and now Hammerin' Hank's mark is the only one left for Bonds to chase.

Yet Bonds has said that could be a long shot considering he turns 42 on July 24, is playing on a surgically repaired right knee and with bone chips floating around in his left elbow.

In his 21st major league season, Bonds has hit nine career home runs as a designated hitter -- and realizes his future could be in the American League as a DH if he returns in 2007.

Bonds had 40 plate appearances between Nos. 713 and 714. He had been 4-for-29 (.138) with 10 walks, three intentional, six runs scored, two RBI and four strikeouts since his last homer.

"He finally hit it? It's about time," said Ken Griffey Jr., who entered the night with 539 career homers, in the Cincinnati Reds' clubhouse in Detroit. "Now I don't have to keep watching TV to see him do it."

He was destined for greatness at an early age. The son of three-time All-Star Bobby Bonds and the godson of one of the game's greatest players in Mays, Bonds spent his childhood years roaming the clubhouse at Candlestick Park, getting tips from Mays and other Giants.

In a matter of years, Bonds went from a wiry leadoff hitter when he broke into the big leagues with Pittsburgh in 1986 to the most feared slugger of his generation and possibly ever.

It was a transformation many -- including federal prosecutors in the BALCO case -- believe was fueled by the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds has long denied ever knowingly taking steroids, though the new book "Game of Shadows" reveals his alleged longtime doping regimen the authors say began after the 1998 season when Bonds saw the attention McGwire and Sammy Sosa generated in their race for the single-season home run record.

Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, pleaded guilty to his role in a steroid distribution ring, and a federal grand jury is looking into whether Bonds perjured himself when he testified to the separate grand jury that indicted Anderson and three others in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal.

One fan in the front row behind home plate Saturday sported a No. 25 Bonds jersey with BALCO on the back where Bonds' name should be.

Partly because of his prickly relationship with fans and the media, Bonds was never a beloved superstar even before the steroid allegations. He was not voted by fans onto baseball's All-Century team, losing out to Griffey, among others.

But the latest accusations have hurt his reputation even more, and the anticipation as he neared Ruth's mark was tempered for that reason. Just as when Aaron passed the Babe in 1974, there is resentment among those who believe Ruth is the greatest player ever, although this time it's more because of steroids than racism.

The allegations of cheating have put a cloud over Bonds' rapid rise up the home run chart. He hit his 500th homer on April 17, 2001, on the way to a record 73 that season, and reached 700 on Sept. 17, 2004, a stretch unmatched by any player at the end of his career.

Before the bottom of the 11th inning in the Yankees' 5-4, 11-inning win over the Mets at Shea Stadium, a message on the scoreboard announced Bonds' 714th homer, and the crowd booed.

"I still remember Barry Bonds as a great player, regardless of steroids or what," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "How many home runs would he have hit without whatever people are saying is going on? I don't know. I know one thing: That player-wise, he's pretty good."

Bonds has said his many milestones won't mean as much later if he doesn't win a World Series ring, the only thing missing from a decorated resume featuring the record seven NL MVP awards, 13 All-Star selections and eight Gold Gloves in left field.

The Giants fell six outs short of winning it all in 2002 when they blew their lead in Game 6 and lost in the deciding seventh game to the Angels. While Bonds was at his best that postseason, with eight homers and 27 walks, it was his struggles in his first five trips to the playoffs with Pittsburgh and San Francisco that characterized his career before he became a record-setting home run hitter.

No matter the controversy, his home fans still adore him, chanting his name when he comes to bat and waving yellow rubber chickens whenever an opposing manager makes the most unpopular choice to intentionally walk him.

It is Bonds, after all, who is the biggest reason 3 million fans a year pack the seats at the Giants' sparkling waterfront ballpark, which opened in 2000.

Ray Durham hit a go-ahead RBI single to score Omar Vizquel in the 10th, Steve Finley added a sacrifice fly in the inning and Mike Matheny homered in the seventh as the Giants ended a four-game losing streak in the Bay Bridge Series.

Jason Schmidt pitched into the ninth before missing his chance to win a fourth straight decision. Armando Benitez (3-0) blew his second save but recovered for the win, while Kiko Calero (0-1) loaded the bases in the 10th on the way to the loss.

Barry Bonds Still Stuck At 713 Versus Oakland A's - Tribune

Pitchin' like Giant busters
A's Haren, Street go after Bonds, spin shutout

By Josh Suchon, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE

Oakland Athletics fans taunt San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds after he flyed out to center field in the second inning Friday, May 19, 2006 in Oakland, Calif. (Staff Photo by D. Ross Cameron

OAKLAND — No rubber chickens were at the Coliseum.

The A's pitchers went after Barry Bonds on Friday night, even with a 3-0 count, even with the game on the line, and lived to tell about it.

In fact, Dan Haren and Huston Street will no doubt be telling their grandchildren about Friday night's game.

Haren allowed two hits in eight innings, and Street struck out Bonds for a dramatic conclusion to a 1-0 A's victory over the Giants before a sellout crowd of 35,077 (which included 1,000 with standing-room only tickets) at the Coliseum.

The A's and Giants played their 51st regular season game since the inception of interleague in 1997, and it was the first that ended 1-0.

Only fitting it was the duel between good friends and former Pepperdine teammates Haren and Noah Lowry, who always seem to face off.

After the Giants scored 34 runs the previous three games in Houston, Haren held them scoreless for eight innings, allowing just two hits andtwo walks.

Haren threw 13 of his 14 pitches away to Bonds, the only exception a 1-0 breaking ball in the seventh inning that was inside and bounced at the plate.

Street threw a 1-1 fastball directly down the middle — the stadium radar gun was turned off — that Bonds nicked for a foul ball, then a rare Street changeup had Bonds flailing helplessly to send the A's crowd into a frenzy.

Bonds flew to center in the second, walked in the fourth and lined out to left on a 3-0 pitch in the seventh. Bonds is now 0-for-6 lifetime against Haren. Bonds has never faced Brad Halsey, the A's starter today.

Since Bonds' last homer on May7, he's 4-for-28 (.143) with nine walks and a hit by pitch in nine starts.

From 2000-2005, Bonds averaged a home run ever 8.23 at-bats. This year, he's hit five in 92 at-bats, or once every 18.4 at-bats.

The only intentional walk Friday night was issued by the Giants. With a runner at third and two outs in the seventh, Felipe Alou put Eric Chavez on first to face Frank Thomas. The strategy worked as Thomas flied out weakly to right.

Haren retired 10 of the first 11 batters to begin the game, the only runner getting wiped out on an interesting double play.

On a hit-and-run, A's second baseman Mark Ellis was covering second as Mike Matheny hit a grounder directly at him. Ellis stepped on the bag, leaped to avoid the slide of Mark Sweeney, was about to throw off-balance, then realized he had lots of time, so waited and then calmly threw to first.

Sweeney was robbed of a hit in the fifth by shortstop Bobby Crosby, who deftly cradled the ball after he dove and it got away from him briefly. Crosby made another good play, deep in the hole, to retire Omar Vizquel in the sixth inning.

Pedro Feliz, who has six home runs in 83 at-bats against the A's, just missed two more, flying out to the warning track in right in the second inning, and putting Jay Payton's back to the wall in left in the seventh.

Haren, who threw 100 pitches in a complete-game victory Sunday at Yankee Stadium, was at 89 pitches entering the eighth.

A one-out double by Sweeney prompted closer Huston Street to get up, although it took a few extra moments to find his glove.

Matheny was hit by a pitch, then Todd Greene was called out on strikes for the second out. With most of the crowd on its feet, Randy Winn hit a soft liner to left, Payton made a running catch, and pumped fists were all around.

Crosby just missed a two-run homer in the second inning, hitting a double high off the left-field wall that would likely have scored anybody except Thomas.

But because it was Thomas on first, he hobbled over to third, and the two runners were stranded when Nick Swisher and Bobby Kielty popped up on the infield to end the inning.

Lowry kept pitching out of trouble. The A's loaded the bases with one out in the third on a single, double and walk, but the only run scored on Eric Chavez's infield groundout — the only run of the game, as it turned out.