Notes: Change does Walker good
Cubs first baseman adapting to new position in field, lineup
By Jason Grey / Special to MLB.com
PHOENIX -- At a time when the Cubs are in an offensive slump, having scored just five runs in their last five games, Todd Walker is doing his best despite plenty of changes.
Walker has been asked to play a new position, first base -- in the absence of Derrek Lee -- and be more of a run producer hitting in a new spot in the lineup, third and even fourth on Thursday night.
Despite all that, Walker has continued to get it done early in the 2006 campaign. His .342 batting average ranks fifth in the National League entering Thursday, he's ripping righties at a .423 clip -- good for second in the league behind teammate Ronny Cedeno's .439 -- and his .438 mark with runners in scoring position shows he's making his hits count.
But Walker is careful not to read too much into it.
"Every time you're doing well, people want to come over and tell you how great you are," Walker said with a laugh. "But no matter how much you focus or how good you feel, you go through streaks and have good runs and bad runs. Hopefully, you just minimize the bad runs. I've already had one this year [an 0-for-11 stretch], and I survived."
Walker has gone through some torrid streaks with the bat before, but when you do it at the beginning of the season, it seems to always get a little more attention.
"No matter what you're doing, you can't let it affect the next week or even the next at-bat," Walker said, "For me, the key is that I've learned not to take anything for granted."
Despite the changes, Walker tries to put them out of his mind in the batter's box.
"I realize that if you're consistently putting the ball in play, you're going to get hits, and that's my main focus," Walker said. "Whatever happens defensively, you can't let it affect you at the plate. Just worry about it when you're out there."
Prior sighting: Mark Prior threw long toss for the second straight day as he recovers from a bout of what he believes was food poisoning that pushed his timetable back a little bit in his rehabilitation from a shoulder strain.
"I'm doing all right," Prior said. "The most important thing is I was able to get some throwing in after a few days off. We'll just take it day by day until I get my strength back up. The thing right now is just trying to get the work in. Once I get back on the mound, it shouldn't take much longer."
Prior still feels he can get back into the Cubs' rotation by the end of May.
"That was my expectation going into this past weekend," Prior said. "I was right there at the cusp of getting into some simulated games. Right now, it's backed up until the latter part of this month, but I think it's possible."
The good thing is there have been no issues with his arm.
"The shoulder's been feeling good," Prior said. "It's responded well. I haven't had any problems with it at all."
Case resolved: Prior also received a ruling in a lawsuit regarding a 2004 memorabilia signing.
The suit stemmed from a disagreement about what was expected of him during the appearance, and it alleged that he acted rudely toward fans and left without signing some additional items that he was contracted to. The judge ruled Prior must pay restitution of $30,000 for the items that weren't signed, but ruled in favor of Prior in the other portion of the case, and that he did not act inappropriately with fans.
"I'm glad it's over with and hopefully we can just move on," Prior said. "I think ultimately the decision is what was going to be expected. All along I said that I never behaved in a negative or rude way, and [the ruling] kind of cleared my character. To me, that was the most important thing."
Help on the way? Manager Dusty Baker was hopeful that some right-handed offensive help via trade might be on the way soon.
"There's some action," Baker said. "We hope so. I'm very optimistic."
Second time's the charm? Thursday night's starter, Rich Hill, became the third rookie to join the Cubs' rotation this season. He struggled in 10 appearances last season, posting an ERA above nine, but he says it will be different this time around.
"I have to challenge the hitters and not just try and nibble at the plate like I did last year," said the 26-year-old left-hander.
Scouts say Hill's curveball -- a huge 12-to-6 breaker -- is among the best in baseball, but he has had trouble commanding it at times and did indeed look tentative last year. The Cubs are hoping he can be the pitcher that led the Minors with 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
"It's just a matter of consistency in the strike zone with him, that's all," Baker said.
Hill thinks his command has been much improved this year.
"I've just been working on it and working on it and I think it eventually came around with repetition," Hill said. "I've been repeating the same delivery and throwing my curve consistently for strikes, and that's been the key difference for me so far this year."
Hill posted 1.44 ERA in four Triple-A starts before being called up, striking out 33 in 25 innings.
Friday, May 05, 2006
LA Angels of Anaheim Beat Detroit Tigers 7-2, Stop Losses - MLB.com
Angels bust out bats to halt skid
Rookie additions make immediate impact in win
By Paul Harris / Special to MLB.com
Vladimir Guerrero put the game away with a three-run shot in the eighth inning. (Paul Sancya/AP)
DETROIT -- The kids came to the Angels' rescue on Thursday.
Led by Mike Napoli and Tommy Murphy, who were both called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday night, the Angels beat Detroit, 7-2, to snap the team's six-game losing streak.
Napoli homered in his first Major League at-bat to give the Angels a 1-0 lead in the third, and Murphy was 2-for-4, drove in a run and made a nice sliding catch in center field in the eighth inning.
"It gave us a big lift," said manager Mike Scioscia. "The kids came up and just played terrific ball."
Vladimir Guerrero and Casey Kotchman also homered and Howie Kendrick, who was only called up from Salt Lake on April 24, added a RBI single.
Napoli is the 92nd player and third in Angels' history to homer in his first big league at-bat. The two previous Angels were Don Rose in 1972 and Dave Machemer in 1978.
"I couldn't ask for anything more," said Napoli. "Down 1-2 [count], happened to hit a curve ball."
He added he was looking for a curve because Detroit starter Justin Verlander (3-3) had set up Kendrick with fastballs and then struck him out with a curve. But Verlander's curve to Napoli wasn't nearly good enough.
"I gave him his 'Welcome to the Majors' moment with a breaking ball that was nice and pretty on the tee," Verlander said.
Angels' starter Kevin Gregg (2-0) got the win. He allowed a run and three hits in seven innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.
"I just wanted to come out and challenge them really," said Gregg. "And not fall behind in the count."
Verlander gave up four runs, three earned, and nine hits in six innings.
Magglio Ordonez's sacrifice fly tied it 1-1 in the fourth for the Tigers. But the Angels took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on Kotchman's first home run of the season, leading off the inning, and Murphy's first Major League hit -- which produced a run.
Murphy flew all night from Salt Lake City, and arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport at about 10:40 on Thursday. He came straight to Comerica Park.
Kendrick made it 4-1 with his RBI single in the sixth. Guerrero added a three-run homer in the seventh.
Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly for the Tigers in the eighth.
"It's good to see the kids come up and perform like they did today," said Scioscia. "It indicates that our player development is working."
Paul Harris is a contributor to MLB.com
Rookie additions make immediate impact in win
By Paul Harris / Special to MLB.com
Vladimir Guerrero put the game away with a three-run shot in the eighth inning. (Paul Sancya/AP)
DETROIT -- The kids came to the Angels' rescue on Thursday.
Led by Mike Napoli and Tommy Murphy, who were both called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday night, the Angels beat Detroit, 7-2, to snap the team's six-game losing streak.
Napoli homered in his first Major League at-bat to give the Angels a 1-0 lead in the third, and Murphy was 2-for-4, drove in a run and made a nice sliding catch in center field in the eighth inning.
"It gave us a big lift," said manager Mike Scioscia. "The kids came up and just played terrific ball."
Vladimir Guerrero and Casey Kotchman also homered and Howie Kendrick, who was only called up from Salt Lake on April 24, added a RBI single.
Napoli is the 92nd player and third in Angels' history to homer in his first big league at-bat. The two previous Angels were Don Rose in 1972 and Dave Machemer in 1978.
"I couldn't ask for anything more," said Napoli. "Down 1-2 [count], happened to hit a curve ball."
He added he was looking for a curve because Detroit starter Justin Verlander (3-3) had set up Kendrick with fastballs and then struck him out with a curve. But Verlander's curve to Napoli wasn't nearly good enough.
"I gave him his 'Welcome to the Majors' moment with a breaking ball that was nice and pretty on the tee," Verlander said.
Angels' starter Kevin Gregg (2-0) got the win. He allowed a run and three hits in seven innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.
"I just wanted to come out and challenge them really," said Gregg. "And not fall behind in the count."
Verlander gave up four runs, three earned, and nine hits in six innings.
Magglio Ordonez's sacrifice fly tied it 1-1 in the fourth for the Tigers. But the Angels took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on Kotchman's first home run of the season, leading off the inning, and Murphy's first Major League hit -- which produced a run.
Murphy flew all night from Salt Lake City, and arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport at about 10:40 on Thursday. He came straight to Comerica Park.
Kendrick made it 4-1 with his RBI single in the sixth. Guerrero added a three-run homer in the seventh.
Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly for the Tigers in the eighth.
"It's good to see the kids come up and perform like they did today," said Scioscia. "It indicates that our player development is working."
Paul Harris is a contributor to MLB.com
Colorado Rockies Tickets / Rockies Tickets Exchange
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Houston Off to 19-9 Start - Sweep St. Louis Cardinals
From MLB.com
Astros sweep away Cardinals
Pettitte outpitches Cy Young winner Carpenter
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Not that Andy Pettitte feels inferior to any of his teammates, but now that the Houston Astros are in their second month of the season, the left-hander was starting to wonder when it was going to be his turn to win a game.
The Astros, 19-9 after beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3, on Thursday night, have had few difficulties in what is now their best start after 28 games. Pettitte, keenly aware he hadn't won since April 9, thought he might be headed down the same path this time, after laboring through two innings that forced him to throw 48 pitches.
He yielded a bases-loaded double to So Taguchi that gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the second, and as Brad Ausmus made his way to the mound, Pettitte was already scolding himself for a bad beginning to this start.
"Here we go," Pettitte chuckled. "We'll lose another one -- the team's got 10 losses, and I've got five of them."
That's not what Ausmus relayed to him. Pettitte said Ausmus "chewed me out a little bit," and although he didn't recall the exact dialogue, Ausmus' point was well-taken.
"I don't remember exactly what he said, but he usually doesn't come out there and gripe too much," Pettitte said. "He was griping at me a little bit tonight. It was good, it gave me a little kick in the rear end to get me going."
Ausmus was diplomatic as well.
"I wasn't happy when Taguchi got the hit," Ausmus said. "We were trying to bury that pitch in the dirt. We missed a couple spots early, so I wasn't happy about it. He did a nice job making an adjustment."
By the end of the third, Pettitte had thrown 66 pitches, and it looked like his night may be cut short. But he got through the next three frames on 37 pitches, and although he walked Scott Rolen in the sixth, the inning was soon over when Jim Edmonds grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
"I thought he got better when he got a little fatigued," manager Phil Garner said. "He was a little more efficient. He'd get a strike, maybe a ball and get an out, instead of going five or six pitches deep into the [count]. He looked like his control was just a little bit better."
Pettitte agreed.
"I felt like I might have settled in a little bit," he said. "Sometimes, when i am a little strong, I overthrow. That's probably what was happening early, and it got me out of sync."
Once Pettitte got into a rhythm, the Astros bats perked up. Lance Berkman tied the game in the fourth with a two-run shot off reigning Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter, his 11th of the season.
Pettitte said Berkman is "swinging the bat as good as I've seen anybody swing the bat that I've played with." That's a high compliment, seeing he won four World Series championship rings and played with some of the most celebrated players of the dominating Yankees era of the late 1990s.
"I'm seeing the ball good right now," a modest Berkman said. "It's just a hot spell for me. You try to keep it going as long as you can. It's about consistency. Anybody can be a great player for a month or a week, but you've got to do it over the long haul. That's what separates guys that are considered great players."
Carpenter had never lost at Minute Maid Park until this start. His ERA was a miniscule 0.84 over four games in Houston.
Astros sweep away Cardinals
Pettitte outpitches Cy Young winner Carpenter
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Not that Andy Pettitte feels inferior to any of his teammates, but now that the Houston Astros are in their second month of the season, the left-hander was starting to wonder when it was going to be his turn to win a game.
The Astros, 19-9 after beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3, on Thursday night, have had few difficulties in what is now their best start after 28 games. Pettitte, keenly aware he hadn't won since April 9, thought he might be headed down the same path this time, after laboring through two innings that forced him to throw 48 pitches.
He yielded a bases-loaded double to So Taguchi that gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the second, and as Brad Ausmus made his way to the mound, Pettitte was already scolding himself for a bad beginning to this start.
"Here we go," Pettitte chuckled. "We'll lose another one -- the team's got 10 losses, and I've got five of them."
That's not what Ausmus relayed to him. Pettitte said Ausmus "chewed me out a little bit," and although he didn't recall the exact dialogue, Ausmus' point was well-taken.
"I don't remember exactly what he said, but he usually doesn't come out there and gripe too much," Pettitte said. "He was griping at me a little bit tonight. It was good, it gave me a little kick in the rear end to get me going."
Ausmus was diplomatic as well.
"I wasn't happy when Taguchi got the hit," Ausmus said. "We were trying to bury that pitch in the dirt. We missed a couple spots early, so I wasn't happy about it. He did a nice job making an adjustment."
By the end of the third, Pettitte had thrown 66 pitches, and it looked like his night may be cut short. But he got through the next three frames on 37 pitches, and although he walked Scott Rolen in the sixth, the inning was soon over when Jim Edmonds grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
"I thought he got better when he got a little fatigued," manager Phil Garner said. "He was a little more efficient. He'd get a strike, maybe a ball and get an out, instead of going five or six pitches deep into the [count]. He looked like his control was just a little bit better."
Pettitte agreed.
"I felt like I might have settled in a little bit," he said. "Sometimes, when i am a little strong, I overthrow. That's probably what was happening early, and it got me out of sync."
Once Pettitte got into a rhythm, the Astros bats perked up. Lance Berkman tied the game in the fourth with a two-run shot off reigning Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter, his 11th of the season.
Pettitte said Berkman is "swinging the bat as good as I've seen anybody swing the bat that I've played with." That's a high compliment, seeing he won four World Series championship rings and played with some of the most celebrated players of the dominating Yankees era of the late 1990s.
"I'm seeing the ball good right now," a modest Berkman said. "It's just a hot spell for me. You try to keep it going as long as you can. It's about consistency. Anybody can be a great player for a month or a week, but you've got to do it over the long haul. That's what separates guys that are considered great players."
Carpenter had never lost at Minute Maid Park until this start. His ERA was a miniscule 0.84 over four games in Houston.
Jason Kendall Gets Four Game Suspension For Charging Mound
Kendall receives four-game suspension
A's catcher will appeal decision for charging mound vs. Angels
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
| OAKLAND -- A's catcher Jason Kendall, who charged the mound in Anaheim on Tuesday after exchanging heated words with Angels right-hander John Lackey, was slapped with a four-game suspension Friday afternoon.
Kendall, who was suspended four games in 2004 after charging current teammate Joe Kennedy, also was fined an undisclosed amount for this week's incident. Lackey escaped suspension, but he was fined as well.
Kendall, who was not immediately available for comment, has said he will appeal the decision. The A's open a three-game series against the visiting Devil Rays at McAfee Coliseum on Friday night and travel to New York, where his appeal likely would be heard, next Friday.
A's catcher will appeal decision for charging mound vs. Angels
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
| OAKLAND -- A's catcher Jason Kendall, who charged the mound in Anaheim on Tuesday after exchanging heated words with Angels right-hander John Lackey, was slapped with a four-game suspension Friday afternoon.
Kendall, who was suspended four games in 2004 after charging current teammate Joe Kennedy, also was fined an undisclosed amount for this week's incident. Lackey escaped suspension, but he was fined as well.
Kendall, who was not immediately available for comment, has said he will appeal the decision. The A's open a three-game series against the visiting Devil Rays at McAfee Coliseum on Friday night and travel to New York, where his appeal likely would be heard, next Friday.
NY Yankees Randy Johnson Wins Despite Poor Performance - Baseball HQ
Baseball HQ sent (via email) this report on the Yankees Randy Johnson:
Johnson wins despite mediocre start... Facing the Devil Rays on May 4, Randy Johnson (LHP, NYY) gave up five earned runs but still managed to get a win. Back in April, HQ analyst Andy Andres speculated that Johnson is experiencing some age-related decline, based on the DOM/DIS splits in his pitching logs. Let’s see if the BPI’s also tell the same story.
Year IP Ctl Dom Cmd hr/9 H% S% ERA xERA
==== === === ==== === ==== === === ==== ====
2003 114 2.1 9.9 4.6 1.3 36% 72% 4.26 2.84
2004 245 1.6 10.6 6.6 0.7 28% 74% 2.61 2.39
2005 225 1.9 8.4 4.5 1.3 29% 72% 3.80 3.05
2006 43 1.9 6.1 3.2 1.0 28% 58% 5.02 3.62
This is a mixed bag of good news and bad news. On the good side, Johnson’s 5.02 ERA can be justified as the result of a pitiful 58% strand rate. His 3.62 xERA gives a better picture of his true performance to date, and a mark by which to set future expectation. On the bad side, Johnson’s dominance (K/9)is in a state of steep 3-year decline, which is in turn sinking his command (K/BB). The current levels of 6.1 Dom and 3.2 Cmd are still within the range for desirable pitchers, so Johnson should still enjoy a successful season. However, it is not right to expect a sub-3.00 ERA at this stage, based on his xERA. Even so, the misleading 5.02 ERA makes Johnson an excellent buy-low candidate.
Johnson wins despite mediocre start... Facing the Devil Rays on May 4, Randy Johnson (LHP, NYY) gave up five earned runs but still managed to get a win. Back in April, HQ analyst Andy Andres speculated that Johnson is experiencing some age-related decline, based on the DOM/DIS splits in his pitching logs. Let’s see if the BPI’s also tell the same story.
Year IP Ctl Dom Cmd hr/9 H% S% ERA xERA
==== === === ==== === ==== === === ==== ====
2003 114 2.1 9.9 4.6 1.3 36% 72% 4.26 2.84
2004 245 1.6 10.6 6.6 0.7 28% 74% 2.61 2.39
2005 225 1.9 8.4 4.5 1.3 29% 72% 3.80 3.05
2006 43 1.9 6.1 3.2 1.0 28% 58% 5.02 3.62
This is a mixed bag of good news and bad news. On the good side, Johnson’s 5.02 ERA can be justified as the result of a pitiful 58% strand rate. His 3.62 xERA gives a better picture of his true performance to date, and a mark by which to set future expectation. On the bad side, Johnson’s dominance (K/9)is in a state of steep 3-year decline, which is in turn sinking his command (K/BB). The current levels of 6.1 Dom and 3.2 Cmd are still within the range for desirable pitchers, so Johnson should still enjoy a successful season. However, it is not right to expect a sub-3.00 ERA at this stage, based on his xERA. Even so, the misleading 5.02 ERA makes Johnson an excellent buy-low candidate.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Commissioner Selig Annouces Washington Nationals Ownership Team - MLB.com
Press Release - MLB
05/03/2006 5:00 PM ET
Selig to recommend Lerner group as Nationals' owner
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today that he has selected a group led by real estate developer Theodore N. Lerner as the new owner of the Washington Nationals and will forward his selection to Major League Baseball's owners for their vote.
Major League Baseball is expected to vote on Commissioner Selig's recommendation at its next owners' meeting, which will take place in New York on May 17th and 18th. The purchase price for the franchise was set at $450 million.
"We had eight very capable and qualified groups bidding for the Nationals," said Commissioner Selig, "and choosing one was extremely difficult. I thank those that were not chosen for their interest and for the great amount of time, energy and patience they devoted to the process.
"I am very excited about the Lerner family and what they will bring to the Washington Nationals, the community and Major League Baseball. From the very beginning of the process they have been committed to the goals of stable yet innovative ownership, diversity within the ownership group, and solid baseball management. Throughout the long application period, they have not varied from those goals and have scrupulously followed our procedures.
"In the end, I determined that family ownership and major investment by a central person has served baseball well in the past and will continue to serve the game well in the future. Accountability is critical in a situation where teams must compete on the field but be partners off the field and in the community. I am confident the Lerners will be accountable to their fans and to baseball.
"Family ownership has long been a model for baseball. The O'Malleys with the Dodgers, the Fetzers with the Tigers and the Galbraiths with the Pirates are several historical examples that had great success in the game. And, among the successful family-operated teams today are the Wilpons with the Mets, the Pohlads in Minnesota, and the Moores family in San Diego. I believe the Lerner family will be another excellent example and I look forward to working with them."
As part of the process, Major League Baseball has emphasized the need for strong local and diverse ownership, a requirement that was met by the Lerner Group. Ted, his son Mark, were born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, while his sons-in-law, Edward L. Cohen and Robert K. Tanenbaum, are long-time residents. Nearly all of the Lerner Family business as well as their personal and philanthropic interests are local. For more than 50 years, they have developed, operated and managed real estate projects that Washingtonians use - from shopping centers to offices to homes.
This is not Ted Lerner's first foray into baseball. In the mid-1970s, several years after the Senators departed Washington, D.C. for Texas, he contacted then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn about returning a team to the D.C. area. He also had tried to purchase the Baltimore Orioles.
Former Atlanta Braves President Stan Kasten is part of the Nationals' ownership as are a diverse group of local business leaders that includes:
• Paxton K. Baker, Vice President and General Manager of BET Digital Networks;
• Sports broadcaster James T. Brown;
• Faye F. Fields, founder of Integrated Resource Technologies, Inc.;
• Alphonso Maldon, Jr., Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Management Officer for Government Banking Services in the Corporate Banking Department at the PNC Financial Services Group;
• B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr., President and CEO of Industrial Bank, NA;
• George Munoz, Principal of Munoz Investment Banking Group, LLC;
• Raul R. Romano, President and CEO of Alliance Consulting Group, LLC;
• Rodney E. Slater, Partner, Patton Boggs LLP, and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation; and
• Jarvis C. Stewart, Chairman and Managing Partner of Stewart Partners LLC.
The Lerners cannot take full control of the Nationals until their acquisition is approved by the Major League clubs and the sales process closes. Until that time, the Lerner group may consult with current club President Tony Tavares and his front office to ensure a smooth transition of ownership. The Lerners, however, are expected to be immediately involved in the detailed stadium planning process to move that forward as rapidly as possible.
"I also want to thank Tony Tavares, Jim Bowden, Frank Robinson and the entire Nationals' staff for their continuing hard work on our behalf," said Commissioner Selig. "Everyone in the industry is grateful for their efforts."
05/03/2006 5:00 PM ET
Selig to recommend Lerner group as Nationals' owner
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today that he has selected a group led by real estate developer Theodore N. Lerner as the new owner of the Washington Nationals and will forward his selection to Major League Baseball's owners for their vote.
Major League Baseball is expected to vote on Commissioner Selig's recommendation at its next owners' meeting, which will take place in New York on May 17th and 18th. The purchase price for the franchise was set at $450 million.
"We had eight very capable and qualified groups bidding for the Nationals," said Commissioner Selig, "and choosing one was extremely difficult. I thank those that were not chosen for their interest and for the great amount of time, energy and patience they devoted to the process.
"I am very excited about the Lerner family and what they will bring to the Washington Nationals, the community and Major League Baseball. From the very beginning of the process they have been committed to the goals of stable yet innovative ownership, diversity within the ownership group, and solid baseball management. Throughout the long application period, they have not varied from those goals and have scrupulously followed our procedures.
"In the end, I determined that family ownership and major investment by a central person has served baseball well in the past and will continue to serve the game well in the future. Accountability is critical in a situation where teams must compete on the field but be partners off the field and in the community. I am confident the Lerners will be accountable to their fans and to baseball.
"Family ownership has long been a model for baseball. The O'Malleys with the Dodgers, the Fetzers with the Tigers and the Galbraiths with the Pirates are several historical examples that had great success in the game. And, among the successful family-operated teams today are the Wilpons with the Mets, the Pohlads in Minnesota, and the Moores family in San Diego. I believe the Lerner family will be another excellent example and I look forward to working with them."
As part of the process, Major League Baseball has emphasized the need for strong local and diverse ownership, a requirement that was met by the Lerner Group. Ted, his son Mark, were born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, while his sons-in-law, Edward L. Cohen and Robert K. Tanenbaum, are long-time residents. Nearly all of the Lerner Family business as well as their personal and philanthropic interests are local. For more than 50 years, they have developed, operated and managed real estate projects that Washingtonians use - from shopping centers to offices to homes.
This is not Ted Lerner's first foray into baseball. In the mid-1970s, several years after the Senators departed Washington, D.C. for Texas, he contacted then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn about returning a team to the D.C. area. He also had tried to purchase the Baltimore Orioles.
Former Atlanta Braves President Stan Kasten is part of the Nationals' ownership as are a diverse group of local business leaders that includes:
• Paxton K. Baker, Vice President and General Manager of BET Digital Networks;
• Sports broadcaster James T. Brown;
• Faye F. Fields, founder of Integrated Resource Technologies, Inc.;
• Alphonso Maldon, Jr., Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Management Officer for Government Banking Services in the Corporate Banking Department at the PNC Financial Services Group;
• B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr., President and CEO of Industrial Bank, NA;
• George Munoz, Principal of Munoz Investment Banking Group, LLC;
• Raul R. Romano, President and CEO of Alliance Consulting Group, LLC;
• Rodney E. Slater, Partner, Patton Boggs LLP, and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation; and
• Jarvis C. Stewart, Chairman and Managing Partner of Stewart Partners LLC.
The Lerners cannot take full control of the Nationals until their acquisition is approved by the Major League clubs and the sales process closes. Until that time, the Lerner group may consult with current club President Tony Tavares and his front office to ensure a smooth transition of ownership. The Lerners, however, are expected to be immediately involved in the detailed stadium planning process to move that forward as rapidly as possible.
"I also want to thank Tony Tavares, Jim Bowden, Frank Robinson and the entire Nationals' staff for their continuing hard work on our behalf," said Commissioner Selig. "Everyone in the industry is grateful for their efforts."
Commissioner Selig, Honor Barry Bonds - An Open Letter
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
Dear Commissioner Selig,
Over the years I've come to appreciate what you've done for Major League Baseball, and foremost you've managed to stewart the steady increase in the values of each of the franchises of Major League Baseball. For example, the San Francisco Giants rose from $188 million in 1998 to about $350 million in 2005. And over the last 40 years, this bankable rise in value has outpaced the S&P 500.
A remarkable achievement.
One clear fuel of this growth has been the rise in the number of home runs hit after 1994 -- the strike year. All of us knew Major League Baseball needed a shot in the arm, and it literally got one via the blasts from players like Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. In fact, some point to their friendly record-setting home run chase as the single event that did save baseball. Moreover, it and the exploits of players like Barry Bonds have made Major League Baseball franchises desirable to own since the strike.
I write to express a great displeasure with your actions against Barry Bonds. A person is innocent until proven guilty and to date no one has demonstrated that Bonds did indeed take steroids. Moreover, there are a great many people very uninformed regarding the use of legal versus illegal performance - enhancing drugs.
Rather than be the steady hand that keeps the wolves at bay, you seem intent on exciting them. By making public annoucements that you're not going to celebrate Barry Bonds achievements to come, you give legitimacy to charges leveled against him from people who should be sued for libel and slander. In fact, you should take up this mattter, yourself.
Rather than admit that Barry Bonds has helped each franchise owner with his home run chase and the resultant growth in merchandise revenue, TV ratings, and internet traffic it has caused, you seek to bury Bonds apparently to "save baseball" and yourself.
I guarantee you will not find anything to slam-dunk get Barry Bonds out of baseball. Sorry.
Look, this is a matter of those who dislike Barry and can't see beyong their own hate.
Don't joint them. Their trip to the gutter is not one youn want to take.
Celebrate Barry.
Best
Zennie Abraham, Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Sports Business Simulations
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
Dear Commissioner Selig,
Over the years I've come to appreciate what you've done for Major League Baseball, and foremost you've managed to stewart the steady increase in the values of each of the franchises of Major League Baseball. For example, the San Francisco Giants rose from $188 million in 1998 to about $350 million in 2005. And over the last 40 years, this bankable rise in value has outpaced the S&P 500.
A remarkable achievement.
One clear fuel of this growth has been the rise in the number of home runs hit after 1994 -- the strike year. All of us knew Major League Baseball needed a shot in the arm, and it literally got one via the blasts from players like Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. In fact, some point to their friendly record-setting home run chase as the single event that did save baseball. Moreover, it and the exploits of players like Barry Bonds have made Major League Baseball franchises desirable to own since the strike.
I write to express a great displeasure with your actions against Barry Bonds. A person is innocent until proven guilty and to date no one has demonstrated that Bonds did indeed take steroids. Moreover, there are a great many people very uninformed regarding the use of legal versus illegal performance - enhancing drugs.
Rather than be the steady hand that keeps the wolves at bay, you seem intent on exciting them. By making public annoucements that you're not going to celebrate Barry Bonds achievements to come, you give legitimacy to charges leveled against him from people who should be sued for libel and slander. In fact, you should take up this mattter, yourself.
Rather than admit that Barry Bonds has helped each franchise owner with his home run chase and the resultant growth in merchandise revenue, TV ratings, and internet traffic it has caused, you seek to bury Bonds apparently to "save baseball" and yourself.
I guarantee you will not find anything to slam-dunk get Barry Bonds out of baseball. Sorry.
Look, this is a matter of those who dislike Barry and can't see beyong their own hate.
Don't joint them. Their trip to the gutter is not one youn want to take.
Celebrate Barry.
Best
Zennie Abraham, Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Sports Business Simulations
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
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Tuesday, April 25, 2006
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Nomar Garciaparra Hits Grand Slam Against Houston - MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Nomar Garciaparra didn't want Takashi Saito to feel bad. So Nomar made the Houston Astros feel really bad.
Garciaparra, in only his second game off the disabled list, hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to give the LA Dodgers a come-from-behind win, 6-2, over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
Saito looked like he might be the losing pitcher after he gave up a solo home run to Lance Berkman in the eighth inning. The rookie reliever from Miyagi, Japan speaks through an interpreter, but he knows enough English to understand what Garciaparra was saying to him after the half-inning.
"When I came into the dugout, Nomar and Bill Mueller both came up to me and said, 'Hey, don't worry. It happens,'" Saito said. "After he hit the ball, I knew he had said it like he knew we always had a chance to come back to win the game. I was happy beyond belief."
So was Garciaparra, although he was considerably more subdued.
"It was nice," Garciaparra said. "But the most pleasing thing about it was the way our pitchers threw the ball. Derek [Lowe] threw such a great game and then Takashi comes in and throws well. But that was a devastating blow. Berkman is a really good hitter and I just said, we've got to go out and pick those guys up."
Garciaparra, who missed 17 games with a strained right intercostal, came back to play against Arizona on Saturday and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. He then sat out Sunday's game as manager Grady Little said he didn't want to rush him back too fast.
On Monday, he was 0-for-2 with a walk when he came up against Astros star closer Brad Lidge in the ninth. He hit the pitch to deep left-center. It was Garciaparra's sixth career grand slam and the fact that it came against the Astros All-Star reliever was not lost on the Dodgers.
"He knows how to pitch," Garciaparra said of Lidge. "He's a guy whose slider looks like he can throw it four times in the dirt and walk you, or he'll throw it three times and hit the outside corner and strike you out."
"What was big was Kenny Lofton getting that triple to start it off," Garciaparra added. "To a pitcher, that's big because he knows the tying run is 90 feet away. Then J.D. [Drew] and Jeff Kent walked and that set it up. I just threw the barrel at it and got lucky."
Kent said Garciaparra deserved much of the credit.
"We know Lidge," Kent said. "He's been around a long time and he's a great closer. With any great closer, you've got to have patience. Nomar showed a lot of patience."
Following the game, Lidge had no excuses.
"My location, in general, has been fine so far," said Lidge, who blew a save for the first time in eight opportunities this season. "I think tonight, unfortunately, the situation was such that I didn't have great location and I had to try to make pitches that I was going to get out of the strike zone to get guys to swing and miss."
Added Lidge: "With Kenny Lofton at third base, I have to try to get a strikeout or an infield ground ball. I made some pitches that were too low and out of the strike zone.
Catcher Dioner Navarro's RBI drove in Jose Cruz Jr., who had doubled, for the Dodgers' final run in the five-run inning. Before the outburst, they could do very little with Andy Pettitte and the Astros didn't fare much better against Lowe.
Pettitte went seven innings and allowed one run on only one hit, while striking out five.
"Pettitte did a great job, the kind I've come to expect of him while facing him so many times in the American League," Garciaparra said. "But so did Derek."
Lowe virtually matched Pettitte pitch for pitch, going seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four.
"I'm really pleased with the outing Derek gave us," manager Grady Little said. "Pettitte was really good. He had outstanding command all day long. I've seen him that way many times and tonight was no different. But Derek pitched just as well."
Pitching against Pettitte had something to do with Lowe's performance.
"It was like pitching against [Chicago's] Carlos Zambrano last week," Lowe said. "You look forward to matchups like that. Then you look up and Pettitte has a no-hitter and you know you have to pitch your best to keep up. It was a great game for us to win."
Drew broke up the no-hitter up with one out in the seventh, hitting his fourth home run of the season to tie it at 1. Drew, who is off to a .339 start, has reached base in all 17 games he has played this season.
Jim Carley is a contributor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Garciaparra, in only his second game off the disabled list, hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to give the LA Dodgers a come-from-behind win, 6-2, over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
Saito looked like he might be the losing pitcher after he gave up a solo home run to Lance Berkman in the eighth inning. The rookie reliever from Miyagi, Japan speaks through an interpreter, but he knows enough English to understand what Garciaparra was saying to him after the half-inning.
"When I came into the dugout, Nomar and Bill Mueller both came up to me and said, 'Hey, don't worry. It happens,'" Saito said. "After he hit the ball, I knew he had said it like he knew we always had a chance to come back to win the game. I was happy beyond belief."
So was Garciaparra, although he was considerably more subdued.
"It was nice," Garciaparra said. "But the most pleasing thing about it was the way our pitchers threw the ball. Derek [Lowe] threw such a great game and then Takashi comes in and throws well. But that was a devastating blow. Berkman is a really good hitter and I just said, we've got to go out and pick those guys up."
Garciaparra, who missed 17 games with a strained right intercostal, came back to play against Arizona on Saturday and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. He then sat out Sunday's game as manager Grady Little said he didn't want to rush him back too fast.
On Monday, he was 0-for-2 with a walk when he came up against Astros star closer Brad Lidge in the ninth. He hit the pitch to deep left-center. It was Garciaparra's sixth career grand slam and the fact that it came against the Astros All-Star reliever was not lost on the Dodgers.
"He knows how to pitch," Garciaparra said of Lidge. "He's a guy whose slider looks like he can throw it four times in the dirt and walk you, or he'll throw it three times and hit the outside corner and strike you out."
"What was big was Kenny Lofton getting that triple to start it off," Garciaparra added. "To a pitcher, that's big because he knows the tying run is 90 feet away. Then J.D. [Drew] and Jeff Kent walked and that set it up. I just threw the barrel at it and got lucky."
Kent said Garciaparra deserved much of the credit.
"We know Lidge," Kent said. "He's been around a long time and he's a great closer. With any great closer, you've got to have patience. Nomar showed a lot of patience."
Following the game, Lidge had no excuses.
"My location, in general, has been fine so far," said Lidge, who blew a save for the first time in eight opportunities this season. "I think tonight, unfortunately, the situation was such that I didn't have great location and I had to try to make pitches that I was going to get out of the strike zone to get guys to swing and miss."
Added Lidge: "With Kenny Lofton at third base, I have to try to get a strikeout or an infield ground ball. I made some pitches that were too low and out of the strike zone.
Catcher Dioner Navarro's RBI drove in Jose Cruz Jr., who had doubled, for the Dodgers' final run in the five-run inning. Before the outburst, they could do very little with Andy Pettitte and the Astros didn't fare much better against Lowe.
Pettitte went seven innings and allowed one run on only one hit, while striking out five.
"Pettitte did a great job, the kind I've come to expect of him while facing him so many times in the American League," Garciaparra said. "But so did Derek."
Lowe virtually matched Pettitte pitch for pitch, going seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four.
"I'm really pleased with the outing Derek gave us," manager Grady Little said. "Pettitte was really good. He had outstanding command all day long. I've seen him that way many times and tonight was no different. But Derek pitched just as well."
Pitching against Pettitte had something to do with Lowe's performance.
"It was like pitching against [Chicago's] Carlos Zambrano last week," Lowe said. "You look forward to matchups like that. Then you look up and Pettitte has a no-hitter and you know you have to pitch your best to keep up. It was a great game for us to win."
Drew broke up the no-hitter up with one out in the seventh, hitting his fourth home run of the season to tie it at 1. Drew, who is off to a .339 start, has reached base in all 17 games he has played this season.
Jim Carley is a contributor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Monday, April 24, 2006
Greg Maddux Is 4-0 This Year; Cubs Beat Cards 7-3
Last year it seemed Greg Maddux was not his former self. That's changed this year. He's helping the Cubs make up for the loss of Mark Prior.
Splendid Maddux improves to 4-0
Lowers ERA to NL-leading 0.99; Jones, Ramirez go deep
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- So far, 40 is pretty special for Greg Maddux.
The veteran right-hander improved to 4-0, winning his 322nd career game, and lowered his ERA to a National League-leading 0.99 as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-3, on Sunday to avoid a sweep.
"Anytime you can come to St. Louis and get a win, it's a good day," Maddux said.
Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer, Jacque Jones added a solo shot and Todd Walker drove in three runs to back Maddux (4-0), who gave most of the bullpen a much-needed day off and stopped a two-game losing streak.
"He's been awesome all year, and today we really needed a stopper," Walker said.
"He gave us the innings, he gave us the quality, he gave us a hit to start a rally, gave us baserunning -- he gave us anything you could get from a position player and a pitcher," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We needed it badly."
This is the first time in his career that Maddux has won each of his first four starts. Not bad for a pitcher who turned 40 on April 14. He opened the 2000 season 4-0 with Atlanta, but achieved that record after six starts. He downplayed the feat.
"We've been scoring a lot of runs, too, so that helps," Maddux said. "Guys swung the bats well. Ramy got the big hit and put us ahead. Defense and runs goes a long way."
On Sunday, the Cubs right-hander struck out four and gave up one walk and five hits -- including three by Scott Rolen -- over seven scoreless innings. The four-time Cy Young winner appears to be turning back the clock. His lowest ERA in a single season was 1.56 in 1994 with Atlanta. Is he a better pitcher now?
"I wish I could explain it," Maddux said of tapping into the fountain of youth. "Personally, I"m just getting ready to pitch like I always have and catching a lot of breaks."
Like having one of Rolen's doubles hit the top of the center-field fence and not go over.
"Sometimes you catch a lot of breaks in this game, and right now I think I am," Maddux said.
"It was vintage Maddux," catcher Michael Barrett said. "He's been able to locate the ball really well early in the count. He's getting the ball down and away. Late in the count, he's keeping guys off balance by mixing his pitches. You can't say much more than vintage Maddux. He did today what he's been doing the last couple starts -- not trying to do too much."
Cardinals starter Jason Marquis (3-1) has seen Maddux's magic act before. The two were teammates in Atlanta, and this is the fourth time they've gone head-to-head.
"The guy is a special player," Marquis said. "He knows what he's doing out there. He's been baffling hitters for a long time, so it's not surprising to see what he's doing."
The good news is the Cubs now know they can win without Derrek Lee.
"We need all the help we can get since we lost our big guy," Walker said. "It was nice to get a win without Derrek. You start believing you can do it."
They still miss Lee, who will see his teammates Monday at Wrigley Field for the first time since he was hurt last week.
"It's tough losing D-Lee because he's such a good person, let alone a good player," Maddux said. "When you play with 24 other guys, some guys are really easy to root for and some you could care less. I think D-Lee is one of those guys who is really easy to root for."
Juan Pierre doubled to open the Cubs' third against Marquis, advanced on Ronny Cedeno's sacrifice and scored on Walker's infield single.
Jones, who entered the game batting .194, made it 2-0 with a leadoff homer in the fourth, his second of the year. In the Chicago fifth, Pierre reached on a fielding error by second baseman David Eckstein and two outs later, Ramirez belted his third homer to go ahead, 4-0. Ramirez also had been scuffling and came into the game batting .189.
"Aramis has been flirting with that fence for awhile," Baker said. "I'm just glad he caught one."
Maddux helped himself in the seventh when he singled, advanced on a wild pitch and on a sacrifice by Pierre before scoring on Cedeno's double. Marquis was pulled, and Walker greeted Brad Thompson with a two-run single. The three RBIs raised Walker's career total to 500.
"A few days ago, I got triple digits in homers," Walker said. "You look back in your career, it's stuff you'll remember."
Pinch-hitter Hector Luna hit an RBI double in the Cardinals' eighth off Roberto Novoa, and Gary Bennett hit a two-run double off Ryan Dempster in the ninth.
Maddux is the only Cubs starter who has pitched into the seventh inning this season.
"It says a lot for experience," Baker said. "He's not doing any more than what his Hall of Fame career has indicated."
This is the last year of the pitcher's contract with the Cubs. Would he like to talk about an extension?
"Let's just play," Maddux said. "It's not the time for that right now. The Cubs have a lot more problems than worrying about me right now. Let's take care of what we need to do to get better quicker and cross that bridge when we get to it."
Splendid Maddux improves to 4-0
Lowers ERA to NL-leading 0.99; Jones, Ramirez go deep
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- So far, 40 is pretty special for Greg Maddux.
The veteran right-hander improved to 4-0, winning his 322nd career game, and lowered his ERA to a National League-leading 0.99 as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-3, on Sunday to avoid a sweep.
"Anytime you can come to St. Louis and get a win, it's a good day," Maddux said.
Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer, Jacque Jones added a solo shot and Todd Walker drove in three runs to back Maddux (4-0), who gave most of the bullpen a much-needed day off and stopped a two-game losing streak.
"He's been awesome all year, and today we really needed a stopper," Walker said.
"He gave us the innings, he gave us the quality, he gave us a hit to start a rally, gave us baserunning -- he gave us anything you could get from a position player and a pitcher," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We needed it badly."
This is the first time in his career that Maddux has won each of his first four starts. Not bad for a pitcher who turned 40 on April 14. He opened the 2000 season 4-0 with Atlanta, but achieved that record after six starts. He downplayed the feat.
"We've been scoring a lot of runs, too, so that helps," Maddux said. "Guys swung the bats well. Ramy got the big hit and put us ahead. Defense and runs goes a long way."
On Sunday, the Cubs right-hander struck out four and gave up one walk and five hits -- including three by Scott Rolen -- over seven scoreless innings. The four-time Cy Young winner appears to be turning back the clock. His lowest ERA in a single season was 1.56 in 1994 with Atlanta. Is he a better pitcher now?
"I wish I could explain it," Maddux said of tapping into the fountain of youth. "Personally, I"m just getting ready to pitch like I always have and catching a lot of breaks."
Like having one of Rolen's doubles hit the top of the center-field fence and not go over.
"Sometimes you catch a lot of breaks in this game, and right now I think I am," Maddux said.
"It was vintage Maddux," catcher Michael Barrett said. "He's been able to locate the ball really well early in the count. He's getting the ball down and away. Late in the count, he's keeping guys off balance by mixing his pitches. You can't say much more than vintage Maddux. He did today what he's been doing the last couple starts -- not trying to do too much."
Cardinals starter Jason Marquis (3-1) has seen Maddux's magic act before. The two were teammates in Atlanta, and this is the fourth time they've gone head-to-head.
"The guy is a special player," Marquis said. "He knows what he's doing out there. He's been baffling hitters for a long time, so it's not surprising to see what he's doing."
The good news is the Cubs now know they can win without Derrek Lee.
"We need all the help we can get since we lost our big guy," Walker said. "It was nice to get a win without Derrek. You start believing you can do it."
They still miss Lee, who will see his teammates Monday at Wrigley Field for the first time since he was hurt last week.
"It's tough losing D-Lee because he's such a good person, let alone a good player," Maddux said. "When you play with 24 other guys, some guys are really easy to root for and some you could care less. I think D-Lee is one of those guys who is really easy to root for."
Juan Pierre doubled to open the Cubs' third against Marquis, advanced on Ronny Cedeno's sacrifice and scored on Walker's infield single.
Jones, who entered the game batting .194, made it 2-0 with a leadoff homer in the fourth, his second of the year. In the Chicago fifth, Pierre reached on a fielding error by second baseman David Eckstein and two outs later, Ramirez belted his third homer to go ahead, 4-0. Ramirez also had been scuffling and came into the game batting .189.
"Aramis has been flirting with that fence for awhile," Baker said. "I'm just glad he caught one."
Maddux helped himself in the seventh when he singled, advanced on a wild pitch and on a sacrifice by Pierre before scoring on Cedeno's double. Marquis was pulled, and Walker greeted Brad Thompson with a two-run single. The three RBIs raised Walker's career total to 500.
"A few days ago, I got triple digits in homers," Walker said. "You look back in your career, it's stuff you'll remember."
Pinch-hitter Hector Luna hit an RBI double in the Cardinals' eighth off Roberto Novoa, and Gary Bennett hit a two-run double off Ryan Dempster in the ninth.
Maddux is the only Cubs starter who has pitched into the seventh inning this season.
"It says a lot for experience," Baker said. "He's not doing any more than what his Hall of Fame career has indicated."
This is the last year of the pitcher's contract with the Cubs. Would he like to talk about an extension?
"Let's just play," Maddux said. "It's not the time for that right now. The Cubs have a lot more problems than worrying about me right now. Let's take care of what we need to do to get better quicker and cross that bridge when we get to it."
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Barry Bond's 709th Home Run Ends 2006 Drought - SF Chronicle
Finally! It's about time and a good sign of things to come. The investigations will reveal nothing and the witch hunt will fail. Bonds will prevail.
Bonds' 709th Ends drought
Slugger's 1st of 2006, strong bullpen help silence Rockies
Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Denver -- The rite usually is reserved for a rookie who hits his first home run in the Show, not a 41-year-old man close to catching Babe Ruth. When Barry Bonds finally hit his first homer of 2006 Saturday night, the 709th of his career, his teammates gave him the silent treatment. When he returned to the dugout, they just sat on the bench, stone-faced.
"That took me back quite a few years," Bonds said. "It was fun."
It was more than fun, Mark Sweeney said, after Armando Benitez struck out Clint Barmes with two outs in the ninth inning to save the Giants' 6-4 victory over Colorado.
"It was beautiful," Sweeney said. "We all wanted him to do it, hit the home run and break the ice. We all know he has the ability. It's pretty funny to hear people say he doesn't have it anymore."
Bonds' opposite-field drive in the first inning came three batters after Omar Vizquel opened the game with his first of the season. When Bonds was asked if he will be happy to see the rusty tote board in San Francisco changed from 708 to 709, he said, "It just felt good not to be behind Omar. That's about it."
Bonds' troubles did not disappear with the baseball, which landed in a tunnel adjacent to the left-field foul pole at Coors Field. Outside the feel-good Giants' clubhouse and the Bay Area, the resumption of Bonds' chase for the all-time home-run record will be viewed by many as a minus, not a plus, and the federal grand jury investigating him for alleged perjury is not going to stop its work.
However, at least one Bonds story -- the Drought -- can be written in past tense.
He homered in his 14th game of 2006, the most games it ever took him to hit his first. Also, it was his first homer in 35 at-bats, dating to Sept. 27, his driest stretch since he went 44 at-bats from July 24 through July 8, 2001. Ironically, that was the year he hit 73 to break the single-season record.
Aaron Cook joined Bonds' "life list" of pitchers to surrender his home runs. He is No. 417. It was Bonds' 25th at Coors Field.
Bonds took Cook's first pitch for a ball, then skied the next one out. He walked a few steps as he watched it clear the fence and for the first time in 207 days broke into a home-run trot in a regular-season game. Asked what he was thinking as he rounded the bases, he said, " 'Just hurry up,' because my leg was hurting."
Asked if his physical condition makes it harder for him to hit, Bonds said, "It's tough, but the later innings get harder than the beginning. I've never really been a first-at-bat home run hitter. I've got to try to put everything I can in that first at-bat, that first opportunity. It just worked out that way."
And the game worked out for the Giants, who assured they will do no worse than split their 10-game trip when it concludes today.
Brad Hennessey earned the victory with seven solid innings. He allowed four runs, three on a fifth-inning homer by Matt Holliday, but he never let the Rockies catch up from a 5-1 deficit. Nor did Scott Munter, who pitched the eighth, and nor did Benitez, who blew a ridiculously tough save try in his season debut Friday, still looked rusty Saturday but made a great strikeout pitch, a sinker, to strand the tying runs for the save.
The Giants built their lead on the solo homers by Vizquel, Bonds and Ray Durham, plus two unearned runs in the fifth and an insurance run in the ninth that scored after Bonds opened the inning with a walk. The Giants have scored 24 of their 84 runs this season following Bonds walks.
In the eighth, Jose Mesa renewed an old feud with Vizquel by drilling him in the back. Vizquel said Mesa has hit him all three times they have met since Mesa publicly said he wanted to "kill" Vizquel because his former Indians teammate wrote in an autobiography that Mesa choked while trying to save the deciding game of the 1997 World Series against Florida.
Manager Felipe Alou ran to home-plate umpire Jeff Nelson after Vizquel was hit to remind him about Mesa's comments, which were rehashed in a Denver newspaper Friday. Vizquel calmly jogged to first but admitted he is getting tired of Mesa's plunkings.
"It's stupid because he can still remember and still holds me that grudge," Vizquel said.
The Giants could not retaliate in a one-run game after Nelson warned the benches. However, today is another day and another game, in which Bonds will rest. But as he sits, the talk of baseball will be his 709th home run.
"It's good for the (ESPN) show," Bonds said. "They finally get to show a highlight of a home run."
Bonds' 709th Ends drought
Slugger's 1st of 2006, strong bullpen help silence Rockies
Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Denver -- The rite usually is reserved for a rookie who hits his first home run in the Show, not a 41-year-old man close to catching Babe Ruth. When Barry Bonds finally hit his first homer of 2006 Saturday night, the 709th of his career, his teammates gave him the silent treatment. When he returned to the dugout, they just sat on the bench, stone-faced.
"That took me back quite a few years," Bonds said. "It was fun."
It was more than fun, Mark Sweeney said, after Armando Benitez struck out Clint Barmes with two outs in the ninth inning to save the Giants' 6-4 victory over Colorado.
"It was beautiful," Sweeney said. "We all wanted him to do it, hit the home run and break the ice. We all know he has the ability. It's pretty funny to hear people say he doesn't have it anymore."
Bonds' opposite-field drive in the first inning came three batters after Omar Vizquel opened the game with his first of the season. When Bonds was asked if he will be happy to see the rusty tote board in San Francisco changed from 708 to 709, he said, "It just felt good not to be behind Omar. That's about it."
Bonds' troubles did not disappear with the baseball, which landed in a tunnel adjacent to the left-field foul pole at Coors Field. Outside the feel-good Giants' clubhouse and the Bay Area, the resumption of Bonds' chase for the all-time home-run record will be viewed by many as a minus, not a plus, and the federal grand jury investigating him for alleged perjury is not going to stop its work.
However, at least one Bonds story -- the Drought -- can be written in past tense.
He homered in his 14th game of 2006, the most games it ever took him to hit his first. Also, it was his first homer in 35 at-bats, dating to Sept. 27, his driest stretch since he went 44 at-bats from July 24 through July 8, 2001. Ironically, that was the year he hit 73 to break the single-season record.
Aaron Cook joined Bonds' "life list" of pitchers to surrender his home runs. He is No. 417. It was Bonds' 25th at Coors Field.
Bonds took Cook's first pitch for a ball, then skied the next one out. He walked a few steps as he watched it clear the fence and for the first time in 207 days broke into a home-run trot in a regular-season game. Asked what he was thinking as he rounded the bases, he said, " 'Just hurry up,' because my leg was hurting."
Asked if his physical condition makes it harder for him to hit, Bonds said, "It's tough, but the later innings get harder than the beginning. I've never really been a first-at-bat home run hitter. I've got to try to put everything I can in that first at-bat, that first opportunity. It just worked out that way."
And the game worked out for the Giants, who assured they will do no worse than split their 10-game trip when it concludes today.
Brad Hennessey earned the victory with seven solid innings. He allowed four runs, three on a fifth-inning homer by Matt Holliday, but he never let the Rockies catch up from a 5-1 deficit. Nor did Scott Munter, who pitched the eighth, and nor did Benitez, who blew a ridiculously tough save try in his season debut Friday, still looked rusty Saturday but made a great strikeout pitch, a sinker, to strand the tying runs for the save.
The Giants built their lead on the solo homers by Vizquel, Bonds and Ray Durham, plus two unearned runs in the fifth and an insurance run in the ninth that scored after Bonds opened the inning with a walk. The Giants have scored 24 of their 84 runs this season following Bonds walks.
In the eighth, Jose Mesa renewed an old feud with Vizquel by drilling him in the back. Vizquel said Mesa has hit him all three times they have met since Mesa publicly said he wanted to "kill" Vizquel because his former Indians teammate wrote in an autobiography that Mesa choked while trying to save the deciding game of the 1997 World Series against Florida.
Manager Felipe Alou ran to home-plate umpire Jeff Nelson after Vizquel was hit to remind him about Mesa's comments, which were rehashed in a Denver newspaper Friday. Vizquel calmly jogged to first but admitted he is getting tired of Mesa's plunkings.
"It's stupid because he can still remember and still holds me that grudge," Vizquel said.
The Giants could not retaliate in a one-run game after Nelson warned the benches. However, today is another day and another game, in which Bonds will rest. But as he sits, the talk of baseball will be his 709th home run.
"It's good for the (ESPN) show," Bonds said. "They finally get to show a highlight of a home run."
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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Barry Bonds - A Video Of Him On Fan Appreciation Day
For all of the media types who say that SF Giants Slugger Barry Bonds has an attitude problem or is surly to fans, here's an example where he's not that way.
It's Fan Appreciaton Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco. It shows a happy, smiling Barry on a picture perfect day. And no one's giving him a hard time and he seem to be enjoying himself with the kids.
Take a look.
It's Fan Appreciaton Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco. It shows a happy, smiling Barry on a picture perfect day. And no one's giving him a hard time and he seem to be enjoying himself with the kids.
Take a look.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Oakland A's At .500 - Top Detroit Tigers 4-3
Swisher blasts Tigers
Switch-hitter has 2 homers, 6 for season
Susan Slusser, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Nick Swisher homered in his first at-bat against hard-throwing Tigers rookie Justin Verlander on Tuesday, a two-run drive to right. His second time up, he struck out -- but he took mental notes, learned a little something.
The next time he stepped in against Verlander, Swisher looked for a changeup and, with a 2-1 count, he got it. He sent another home run over the fence in right center, the decisive blow in the A's 4-3 victory over Detroit at the Coliseum.
"The at-bat before, I spun myself into the ground twice on changeups," Swisher said with a smile. "He threw me a fastball up (to make it 2-1) and I thought, 'OK, here comes the changeup,' and you just have to believe that's what's coming. I'm just a lucky guy because if he throws a 99 mph fastball, I'm not catching up to it. With (Verlander), you blink and it's in the mitt."
Swisher has a nine-game hitting streak, a career high and the team's longest this season. His homer total is six, tying him with Eric Chavez for the most on the team. Last year, Swisher didn't hit his sixth homer until June 25. In just this past week, he has two two-homer games.
"He's the most talented one out of everyone here," Chavez said. "Nick's ceiling is so high, it's pretty scary."
The key for Swisher is consistent at-bats, keeping his swing the same every time, something that can be difficult for a switch hitter. He's also going the opposite way more, fighting his tendency to try to pull everything. The result: Swisher is batting .340.
Esteban Loaiza hasn't found that kind of consistency yet, but he took a stride toward respectability. He didn't get a decision in his 300th career start, but for the first time as a member of the A's, he gave his team a chance to win.
In his previous two outings, he'd allowed 17 hits and 11 runs in 82/3 innings, and manager Ken Macha had voiced concern about how hard Loaiza was throwing. Stadium radar readings were off in Minnesota, where Loaiza was actually around 89-91 mph, and the A's had the scoreboard radar gun at the Coliseum adjusted to match their own official readings last week. Loaiza hit 91 mph again Tuesday but he was mostly around 87-88. Both he and Macha thought his velocity was up a little and Loaiza believes it will only improve.
At the start, it appeared as if Loaiza might be knocked around again, as Curtis Granderson led off the game with a triple and scored on Placido Polanco's base hit to center. Loaiza didn't give up another hit until the fifth inning, however, and Detroit didn't score again until the sixth. Loaiza got two double-play balls, and he struck out three -- two more than he had in first two starts combined.
In the sixth, Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez., a lifetime .312 hitter against the A's, drove in a run with a two-out double on a 2-2 pitch, a 91 mph fastball. Rodriguez then scored the tying run on Magglio Ordoñez's bloop to right, a cutter Loaiza thought was pretty good.
Macha removed him after that inning, saying he thought Loaiza was tiring and leaving the ball up. Loaiza said he felt fine; he's used to going 100 pitches or more (he threw 86 on Tuesday). "But that's the manager's decision," he said.
The A's had the edge on the defensive side. Oakland's third run of the game was helped by two throwing errors by Detroit shortstop Carlos Guillen, and A's center fielder Mark Kotsay turned in the play of the game. In the seventh inning, with Craig Monroe at first base, Kotsay came charging in for a sinking base hit by Brandon Inge and he fired to third to nail Monroe. It was the final out of the inning and it gave Kotsay 100 assists since 1998, the most by a major-league outfielder in that span; Vladimir Guerrero is second at 96.
Switch-hitter has 2 homers, 6 for season
Susan Slusser, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Nick Swisher homered in his first at-bat against hard-throwing Tigers rookie Justin Verlander on Tuesday, a two-run drive to right. His second time up, he struck out -- but he took mental notes, learned a little something.
The next time he stepped in against Verlander, Swisher looked for a changeup and, with a 2-1 count, he got it. He sent another home run over the fence in right center, the decisive blow in the A's 4-3 victory over Detroit at the Coliseum.
"The at-bat before, I spun myself into the ground twice on changeups," Swisher said with a smile. "He threw me a fastball up (to make it 2-1) and I thought, 'OK, here comes the changeup,' and you just have to believe that's what's coming. I'm just a lucky guy because if he throws a 99 mph fastball, I'm not catching up to it. With (Verlander), you blink and it's in the mitt."
Swisher has a nine-game hitting streak, a career high and the team's longest this season. His homer total is six, tying him with Eric Chavez for the most on the team. Last year, Swisher didn't hit his sixth homer until June 25. In just this past week, he has two two-homer games.
"He's the most talented one out of everyone here," Chavez said. "Nick's ceiling is so high, it's pretty scary."
The key for Swisher is consistent at-bats, keeping his swing the same every time, something that can be difficult for a switch hitter. He's also going the opposite way more, fighting his tendency to try to pull everything. The result: Swisher is batting .340.
Esteban Loaiza hasn't found that kind of consistency yet, but he took a stride toward respectability. He didn't get a decision in his 300th career start, but for the first time as a member of the A's, he gave his team a chance to win.
In his previous two outings, he'd allowed 17 hits and 11 runs in 82/3 innings, and manager Ken Macha had voiced concern about how hard Loaiza was throwing. Stadium radar readings were off in Minnesota, where Loaiza was actually around 89-91 mph, and the A's had the scoreboard radar gun at the Coliseum adjusted to match their own official readings last week. Loaiza hit 91 mph again Tuesday but he was mostly around 87-88. Both he and Macha thought his velocity was up a little and Loaiza believes it will only improve.
At the start, it appeared as if Loaiza might be knocked around again, as Curtis Granderson led off the game with a triple and scored on Placido Polanco's base hit to center. Loaiza didn't give up another hit until the fifth inning, however, and Detroit didn't score again until the sixth. Loaiza got two double-play balls, and he struck out three -- two more than he had in first two starts combined.
In the sixth, Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez., a lifetime .312 hitter against the A's, drove in a run with a two-out double on a 2-2 pitch, a 91 mph fastball. Rodriguez then scored the tying run on Magglio Ordoñez's bloop to right, a cutter Loaiza thought was pretty good.
Macha removed him after that inning, saying he thought Loaiza was tiring and leaving the ball up. Loaiza said he felt fine; he's used to going 100 pitches or more (he threw 86 on Tuesday). "But that's the manager's decision," he said.
The A's had the edge on the defensive side. Oakland's third run of the game was helped by two throwing errors by Detroit shortstop Carlos Guillen, and A's center fielder Mark Kotsay turned in the play of the game. In the seventh inning, with Craig Monroe at first base, Kotsay came charging in for a sinking base hit by Brandon Inge and he fired to third to nail Monroe. It was the final out of the inning and it gave Kotsay 100 assists since 1998, the most by a major-league outfielder in that span; Vladimir Guerrero is second at 96.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Baseball Home Runs At A Considerable Pace - USA TODAY
Click on the title for baseball tickets
By Mel Antonen, USA TODAY
The season is only two weeks old, but home runs are leaving parks at the fastest pace ever.
And, it's not the usual culprits doing the damage.
Chris Shelton, first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, is tied for the major league lead with eight home runs while Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox's Manny Ramirez have yet to hit a home run.
Starting play Monday, teams have hit an average of 2.48 home runs a game this year.
Sunday, St. Louis' Albert Pujols hit three in the Cardinals' 8-7 win vs. the Cincinnati Reds, giving him eight. And the Cincinnati Reds' Bronson Arroyo has two homers. And he's a pitcher who spent the last three seasons in the designated-hitter American League.
Also Sunday, the New York Yankees hit four home runs against the Minnesota Twins.
Teams hit 2.06 home runs a game in 2005. The highest average was in 2000 (2.34).
Shelton, 23, hit a home run against Cliff Lee at Comerica Park on Sunday to give the Tigers a 1-0 win against the Cleveland Indians.
"I can't really tell you why it went out of the ballpark," Shelton said, "but it did. I wasn't trying to go up there and hit a home run. I was just trying to hit it hard."
Shelton is one of the building blocks in the Tigers' rebuilding process. He started last season at Class AAA Toledo (Ohio) and was promoted to the Tigers after the first two months of the season. He hit 18 home runs while averaging .299 in 107 games for the Tigers.
Bonds, who has bone chips in his elbow, is 4-for-23 with no home runs in nine games.
His longest home-run drought to start a season is 12 games in 1998. Bonds has 708 career home runs, six short of tying Babe Ruth for second on the all-time list.
Ramirez, who has at least 30 home runs in eight consecutive seasons, didn't hit a home run Sunday, so now he's dealing with an 11-game drought, longest of his career, says Elias.
Last season, Ramirez, who led the American League with 43 home runs in 2004, didn't hit his first home run until his 11th game.
By Mel Antonen, USA TODAY
The season is only two weeks old, but home runs are leaving parks at the fastest pace ever.
And, it's not the usual culprits doing the damage.
Chris Shelton, first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, is tied for the major league lead with eight home runs while Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox's Manny Ramirez have yet to hit a home run.
Starting play Monday, teams have hit an average of 2.48 home runs a game this year.
Sunday, St. Louis' Albert Pujols hit three in the Cardinals' 8-7 win vs. the Cincinnati Reds, giving him eight. And the Cincinnati Reds' Bronson Arroyo has two homers. And he's a pitcher who spent the last three seasons in the designated-hitter American League.
Also Sunday, the New York Yankees hit four home runs against the Minnesota Twins.
Teams hit 2.06 home runs a game in 2005. The highest average was in 2000 (2.34).
Shelton, 23, hit a home run against Cliff Lee at Comerica Park on Sunday to give the Tigers a 1-0 win against the Cleveland Indians.
"I can't really tell you why it went out of the ballpark," Shelton said, "but it did. I wasn't trying to go up there and hit a home run. I was just trying to hit it hard."
Shelton is one of the building blocks in the Tigers' rebuilding process. He started last season at Class AAA Toledo (Ohio) and was promoted to the Tigers after the first two months of the season. He hit 18 home runs while averaging .299 in 107 games for the Tigers.
Bonds, who has bone chips in his elbow, is 4-for-23 with no home runs in nine games.
His longest home-run drought to start a season is 12 games in 1998. Bonds has 708 career home runs, six short of tying Babe Ruth for second on the all-time list.
Ramirez, who has at least 30 home runs in eight consecutive seasons, didn't hit a home run Sunday, so now he's dealing with an 11-game drought, longest of his career, says Elias.
Last season, Ramirez, who led the American League with 43 home runs in 2004, didn't hit his first home run until his 11th game.
