XM and Jeter
It was announced today that Derek Jeter, New York Yankees star, has signed up with XM. Not to play ball, of course, but to promote XM's MLB programming. You may have spotted Jeter's name listed with other celeb's in the XM Holiday Marketing article from last week.
"To help extend the lead of a winning team like XM is a terrific opportunity, especially since I am a huge XM Satellite Radio fan [I wonder if they have to say that :)]. I am excited to share my enthusiasm for XM's unmatched Major League Baseball programming and unprecedented choice in news, talk, entertainment and, of course, commercial-free music," said Derek Jeter.
Hugh Panero, president and CEO, XM Satellite Radio had this to say, "Derek Jeter is a phenomenal athlete whose contributions both on and off the field have made him an outstanding ambassador for Major League Baseball and an ideal choice to help promote XM's unparalleled, year-round MLB coverage to fans across the country."
Jeter will be featured throughout XM's broad MLB marketing activities, including television, print and online media, as well as retail promotions.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Is Chicago Cubs Dusty Baker Unhappy With Pay? - Sun Times
Baker denies being 'annoyed' over contract
May 11, 2006
BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter Chicago Sun Times
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins, who wrote last year that manager Dusty Baker would walk away from the Cubs when his four-year contract expired this year, wrote in Wednesday's editions that Baker was "mildly annoyed'' that he hadn't been offered a contract extension by the organization.
"I didn't tell him that,'' Baker said. "That's his opinion. I can't control what somebody writes.
"At this point, when you're losing, you can't be annoyed about nothing but losing. How do you expect to be offered a contract when the team just lost eight in a row? Honestly. I'm being as honest as I can be.''
Let the record show that Baker was laughing heartily when he said this. He is staying true to himself and not allowing himself to get mad or get caught up in controversial, media-generated issues.
General manager Jim Hendry received a two-year extension last month, and it's still anticipated that Baker will be offered an extension this year. That issue isn't a priority for anybody, however, with last place in the division not far away.
May 11, 2006
BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter Chicago Sun Times
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins, who wrote last year that manager Dusty Baker would walk away from the Cubs when his four-year contract expired this year, wrote in Wednesday's editions that Baker was "mildly annoyed'' that he hadn't been offered a contract extension by the organization.
"I didn't tell him that,'' Baker said. "That's his opinion. I can't control what somebody writes.
"At this point, when you're losing, you can't be annoyed about nothing but losing. How do you expect to be offered a contract when the team just lost eight in a row? Honestly. I'm being as honest as I can be.''
Let the record show that Baker was laughing heartily when he said this. He is staying true to himself and not allowing himself to get mad or get caught up in controversial, media-generated issues.
General manager Jim Hendry received a two-year extension last month, and it's still anticipated that Baker will be offered an extension this year. That issue isn't a priority for anybody, however, with last place in the division not far away.
Cubs Prevent Barry Bonds From Tieing Babe Ruth - But Bonds Plays Today
Cubs stop Bonds, losing streak
By Bruce Miles
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, May 11, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO — The smell of success was extra sweet for manager Dusty Baker and the Cubs after Wednesday night’s 8-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
Yes, the Cubs held Giants slugger Barry Bonds without a home run for the second straight night, keeping him at 713 for his career and 1 behind Babe Ruth for second place all time.
More important, the Cubs snapped an eight-game losing streak, during which they had scored 9 runs.
“It’s good to get that skunk off the boat because, I tell you, it was getting ridiculous,” said Baker, whose club is 15-18. “I should be happy, but I guess I’m more relieved than happy. We needed that one badly, real bad.”
The Cubs scored more than 3 runs in a game for the first time since April 28, when they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2.
Keeping Bonds and the Giants at bay by the Bay was starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who recorded his first victory of the season after 2 losses and 4 no-decisions.
Zambrano walked Bonds in the first inning. He got him on a routine flyout to center in the third. In the fifth, Zambrano got Bonds looking at a nasty hard sinker, and in the eighth Bonds popped out.
“I was throwing hard today, and I was relaxed against him,” said Zambrano, whose fastball was clocked in the mid-90s (mph) for most of the night. “That was the key — being relaxed on the mound.”
Baker revamped his lineup. He moved shortstop Ronny Cedeno into the leadoff spot and dropped Juan Pierre from No. 1 to No. 2. It seemed to work. Cedeno was 1-for-5 with a run scored, and Pierre was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
“Temporarily,” Baker said. “We’ll see. We’ll take it. We’ll take anything right now.”
The big hitter was right fielder Jacque Jones, who hit a 2-run homer in the second, a single in the fifth and a 2-run double in the sixth, when the Cubs batted around and scored 5 runs.
“That was the most runs we scored, it seemed, in a month,” Baker said.
Zambrano, who threw 110 pitches over 8 innings, struggled to find his command early. He threw 20 pitches in the first inning, when the Giants tied the game at 1-1. Zambrano gave up a leadoff walk to Kevin Frandsen in the second before Mike Matheny doubled. But Zambrano worked out of trouble and cruised from there.
“I think I was too rushed in that first inning; I was trying to do too much,” Zambrano said. “I relaxed. My pitches were in command today, and my sinker was good today. In the third inning and fourth inning, I started using it.”
By Bruce Miles
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, May 11, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO — The smell of success was extra sweet for manager Dusty Baker and the Cubs after Wednesday night’s 8-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
Yes, the Cubs held Giants slugger Barry Bonds without a home run for the second straight night, keeping him at 713 for his career and 1 behind Babe Ruth for second place all time.
More important, the Cubs snapped an eight-game losing streak, during which they had scored 9 runs.
“It’s good to get that skunk off the boat because, I tell you, it was getting ridiculous,” said Baker, whose club is 15-18. “I should be happy, but I guess I’m more relieved than happy. We needed that one badly, real bad.”
The Cubs scored more than 3 runs in a game for the first time since April 28, when they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2.
Keeping Bonds and the Giants at bay by the Bay was starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who recorded his first victory of the season after 2 losses and 4 no-decisions.
Zambrano walked Bonds in the first inning. He got him on a routine flyout to center in the third. In the fifth, Zambrano got Bonds looking at a nasty hard sinker, and in the eighth Bonds popped out.
“I was throwing hard today, and I was relaxed against him,” said Zambrano, whose fastball was clocked in the mid-90s (mph) for most of the night. “That was the key — being relaxed on the mound.”
Baker revamped his lineup. He moved shortstop Ronny Cedeno into the leadoff spot and dropped Juan Pierre from No. 1 to No. 2. It seemed to work. Cedeno was 1-for-5 with a run scored, and Pierre was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
“Temporarily,” Baker said. “We’ll see. We’ll take it. We’ll take anything right now.”
The big hitter was right fielder Jacque Jones, who hit a 2-run homer in the second, a single in the fifth and a 2-run double in the sixth, when the Cubs batted around and scored 5 runs.
“That was the most runs we scored, it seemed, in a month,” Baker said.
Zambrano, who threw 110 pitches over 8 innings, struggled to find his command early. He threw 20 pitches in the first inning, when the Giants tied the game at 1-1. Zambrano gave up a leadoff walk to Kevin Frandsen in the second before Mike Matheny doubled. But Zambrano worked out of trouble and cruised from there.
“I think I was too rushed in that first inning; I was trying to do too much,” Zambrano said. “I relaxed. My pitches were in command today, and my sinker was good today. In the third inning and fourth inning, I started using it.”
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
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DC Nationals New Stadium To Have Lots Of Glass - Wash Post
Lots of Glass, Capital Views
Design of New Stadium for Washington Nationals Reflects Elements of Convention Center and Monuments In Departure From Red-Brick Retro Ballparks
By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Page A01
District officials unveiled a design yesterday for a modern, 41,000-seat baseball stadium featuring massive glass panels, steel and concrete that they hope will echo the style of the city's monuments and spark economic development in a long-neglected industrial strip near the Anacostia River.
The ballpark, scheduled to open in March 2008, will offer views of the river on one side and of the U.S. Capitol dome on the other. It will include luxury boxes and several thousand club seats, revenue-generating amenities coveted by the Washington Nationals.
Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) and other officials did the unveiling before a festive crowd of cheering baseball supporters at the Washington Convention Center, which is also distinguished by giant panels of glass and was built largely during Williams's tenure. Many of the same managers who oversaw that project are in charge of the ballpark near the Navy Yard and South Capitol Street in Southeast.
Architects from Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum Sport of Kansas City, Mo., and Devrouax & Purnell of the District broke sharply from the red-brick throwback design popularized by Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Instead, the Nationals' future home will be defined by a straight, knife-edge building along South Capitol Street, intersected by the sweeping curve of the stadium bowl.
Glass panels will make up the walls of the stadium concourse, giving the ballpark a translucent quality and opening it to the surrounding neighborhoods, architects said. Heavy use of concrete, which will be painted to look like limestone, is intended to repeat design aspects found in the convention center, federal monuments and the Verizon Center to the north.
Cantilevered ramps -- one beyond left field and one along the first-base line -- will allow fans to take in views of the Capitol dome and the river, respectively, and many of the upper deck seats will provide similar views, architects said.
"We wanted to create a design so when you walk in the stadium, no matter at what point, you felt a sense of place that was unique to Washington, D.C.," said Williams, a two-term mayor who has fostered massive economic development and expects the ballpark to be part of his legacy. "We've broken the mold of architecture in the same way as we did with the convention center."
Still, not everyone was immediately charmed by the massive complex, whose only use of bricks might be for a "donors plaza" leading into the ballpark.
"I tend to like the more traditional look," Nationals President Tony Tavares said. "If I was in charge, I would not have designed this. That doesn't mean it's bad. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We are mostly concerned with the inside and how the stadium will function."
Inside the glass walls, the stadium will have 78 luxury suites, 4,000 high-priced club seats, a distinctive circular restaurant beyond center field and 40-foot-wide corridors that will give fans space to pause as they look out at the surrounding neighborhood or continue to follow the game as they visit concession and souvenir stands.
"This has got everything for everyone: something for architecture critics to admire and stuff for the baseball purists to love," said HOK Sport's principal designer, Joseph Spear, who also developed Camden Yards. "We wanted to create a place that was unique and is not a one-liner. We want people to still be discovering new things -- new views and areas -- in the third season."
Design of New Stadium for Washington Nationals Reflects Elements of Convention Center and Monuments In Departure From Red-Brick Retro Ballparks
By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Page A01
District officials unveiled a design yesterday for a modern, 41,000-seat baseball stadium featuring massive glass panels, steel and concrete that they hope will echo the style of the city's monuments and spark economic development in a long-neglected industrial strip near the Anacostia River.
The ballpark, scheduled to open in March 2008, will offer views of the river on one side and of the U.S. Capitol dome on the other. It will include luxury boxes and several thousand club seats, revenue-generating amenities coveted by the Washington Nationals.
Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) and other officials did the unveiling before a festive crowd of cheering baseball supporters at the Washington Convention Center, which is also distinguished by giant panels of glass and was built largely during Williams's tenure. Many of the same managers who oversaw that project are in charge of the ballpark near the Navy Yard and South Capitol Street in Southeast.
Architects from Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum Sport of Kansas City, Mo., and Devrouax & Purnell of the District broke sharply from the red-brick throwback design popularized by Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Instead, the Nationals' future home will be defined by a straight, knife-edge building along South Capitol Street, intersected by the sweeping curve of the stadium bowl.
Glass panels will make up the walls of the stadium concourse, giving the ballpark a translucent quality and opening it to the surrounding neighborhoods, architects said. Heavy use of concrete, which will be painted to look like limestone, is intended to repeat design aspects found in the convention center, federal monuments and the Verizon Center to the north.
Cantilevered ramps -- one beyond left field and one along the first-base line -- will allow fans to take in views of the Capitol dome and the river, respectively, and many of the upper deck seats will provide similar views, architects said.
"We wanted to create a design so when you walk in the stadium, no matter at what point, you felt a sense of place that was unique to Washington, D.C.," said Williams, a two-term mayor who has fostered massive economic development and expects the ballpark to be part of his legacy. "We've broken the mold of architecture in the same way as we did with the convention center."
Still, not everyone was immediately charmed by the massive complex, whose only use of bricks might be for a "donors plaza" leading into the ballpark.
"I tend to like the more traditional look," Nationals President Tony Tavares said. "If I was in charge, I would not have designed this. That doesn't mean it's bad. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We are mostly concerned with the inside and how the stadium will function."
Inside the glass walls, the stadium will have 78 luxury suites, 4,000 high-priced club seats, a distinctive circular restaurant beyond center field and 40-foot-wide corridors that will give fans space to pause as they look out at the surrounding neighborhood or continue to follow the game as they visit concession and souvenir stands.
"This has got everything for everyone: something for architecture critics to admire and stuff for the baseball purists to love," said HOK Sport's principal designer, Joseph Spear, who also developed Camden Yards. "We wanted to create a place that was unique and is not a one-liner. We want people to still be discovering new things -- new views and areas -- in the third season."
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
Cubs; Todd Walker Likes His New Position - MLB.com
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.
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.
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
You can buy or sell your Colorado Rockies tickets with just a click here...or on the title of this post
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
Reds Tickets / Cinncinati Reds Are Red Hot / Reds Tickets
As of this date the Cinncinati Reds are red hot and posting an 18 win, 8 loss record. Get tickets to see the Big Red Machine with a click here
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Washington DC Nationals Tickets / DC Nationals Tickets Exchange
DC Nationals tickets can be bought or sold with a click here.
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."
