Ben Maller’s Sports Rumors & Notes

Rumors Archive for May 24, 2007

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NBA Rumors & Notes

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Miami Heat guard Gary Payton, appeared as a guest on FSN's Best Damn Sports Show Period," saying he's retiring: "I'm thinking about just shutting it down....I've gotta go on and do everything else. I'm just really happy that I had the opportunity to play in the NBA for these many years without that many injuries and I really appreciate that."

Several teams already have inquired about trading for the No. 1 pick, GM Kevin Pritchard said, but he remained steadfast that Portland will hold on to the pick. "I don't think anything is iron-clad, but I think these guys are really special. This is a real-deal draft."

Expect the Raptors to make a perfunctory call to the SuperSonics to see whether Rashard Lewis, the sweet-shooting small forward, might be available for some kind of sign-and-trade deal, if Seattle does indeed draft Durant. He won't be, at least for what the Raptors can offer.)

Pau Gasol requested a trade in January but seemed to back off that stance when the season ended. While acknowledging that he could still be traded, Gasol said he wants to remain a Grizzly. "I do," Gasol said. "But the draft (lottery) didn't go our way, and now other things are going to have to happen to be a better team. I'm talking about the (next) coach and general manager. I don't know how much this affects my situation. We'll see. Let's see how the franchise reacts."

The NBA is looking into a comment Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made Tuesday about Spurs guard Michael Finley as a possible tampering offense. Cuban said he was rooting for Finley, 34, to win the NBA championship and added, “I would hope that after his contract is over in San Antone, he would consider the Mavs as an option. I don’t know that he would, but our entire organization has that much respect for him.” Team officials are prohibited from commenting on other teams’ players who are under contract. “It was just meant to be a compliment to Mike and to surprise people that I was rooting for the Spurs,” Cuban said Wednesday. “We can’t sign him for a while due to the amnesty provision, which to me meant tampering couldn’t be an issue.”

If Portland chooses 7-foot center Greg Oden with the No. 1 pick in next month's NBA draft, it could mean 7-1 former Gopher Joel Przybilla will be traded. The Timberwolves would seem a logical suitor for the shot blocker-rebounder from Monticello. Przybilla, 27, has the largest guaranteed sports contract of any Minnesota native in history at $32 million for five years. He lives in Door County, Wis., during the offseason with wife Noelle and their 1-year-old son, Anthony.

New Rockets coach Rick Adelman would like to see Bonzi Wells, who played one season for Adelman in Sacramento but has been expected to opt out of his Rockets contract, return. He would like to add more versatile attacking players. And he said he will spend the next few days building a coaching staff, specifically citing Elston Turner, an assistant under Adelman in Sacramento who is now a candidate to become the Kings' coach.

San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo, a former head coach, is a person of interest for the Grizzlies. The team likely will seek permission to speak with Carlesimo when the Spurs' playoff run ends. Also, expect the Grizzlies' list of executive candidates to expand from former Denver boss Kiki Vandeweghe and Boston's Chris Wallace in the coming weeks. The Grizzlies have made contact with former NBA point guard Mark Jackson (now an ESPN/ABC analyst) and the parties have agreed to talk. The Grizzlies also are interested in former Chicago Bulls guard B.J. Armstrong. Armstrong worked under former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause and then as an NBA scout.

Greg Oden's welcome-to-Portland moment came at 10,000 feet Wednesday, when the man sitting next to him on an airplane opened his window shade. "He opened it up and I saw a mountain with snow on it," Oden said at Portland International Airport, referring to a view of Mount Hood. "I've never seen that, until now." Oden, one of the most sought-after college players to enter the NBA draft, stands a good chance at seeing more of Mount Hood if the Blazers do what many expect: Select the 7-footer with the first overall pick in the June 28 draft. It had been less than 24 hours since the Blazers, and Oden, learned that Portland won the draft lottery for the right to pick first; but already, Oden found himself in Portland on Wednesday. Long before the draft lottery results were announced Tuesday, Oden had agreed to fly to Portland to spend two days meeting with Nike representatives about a possible shoe contract. Jim Gatto of Adidas said his company also plans to meet with Oden at a later date. Oden, wearing long denim shorts, a striped shirt and a Nike knapsack, said the coincidence of his Portland visit the day after the Blazers won the lottery hadn't struck him yet, even as people at the airport snapped photos of him with their cell phones. One man went as far as to shout "Greg, you are in the right place!"

The Sonics have three options with Rashard Lewis: signing the small forward to a megadeal and teaming him with Kevin Durant if Portland takes Greg Oden, allowing him to leave via free agency and getting nothing in return, or the intriguing scenario of a sign-and-trade deal. If the Sonics think Durant should start right away and Lewis is expendable, they could trade Lewis to get something in return. When reached by cell phone, Lewis' agent, Tony Dutt said his client was excited about his team winning the second pick. "We've had conversations and he was just excited for everybody," Dutt said. "That was kind of the consensus. He didn't read into it either way, it doesn't change anything in my mind (regarding free agency)." Of course, there is a scenario in which the Sonics could deal the No. 2 pick, re-sign Lewis and acquire a frontline point guard for a playoff run next season. Given Oden's and Durant's prowess and potential effect on a franchise, it seems unlikely for the Sonics to relinquish that pick.

Former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said Wednesday he has decided to bypass an offer to coach the Indiana Pacers. Van Gundy met twice with the Pacers and told management he would make a decision by midweek. "I really like Larry," Van Gundy said of his two meetings with Pacers President Larry Bird, which included an interview in Coral Springs. "It was a good fit from the standpoint in what they wanted in a coach. I was really comfortable with that." But after spending more than a decade in South Florida and having to otherwise uproot his family in what he called a "total lifestyle change," Van Gundy decided to consider other options. Van Gundy said the interview process, which has also included meetings with the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats, made him realize he wanted to get back into coaching. "I do want to coach again," he said. "That's what this has done."

How About That? The Blazers said they generated $1 million in ticket revenue Tuesday night alone, and in the 23 hours that followed the lottery, they netted $2.5 million -- the largest revenue-producing day in franchise history. The NBA said only two teams sold 3,000 new season tickets during all of last year. But league sources said Wednesday afternoon that the Blazers had sold nearly 2,000 since the lottery. One Blazers spokesperson said the franchise already had sold 25 percent more season tickets than all of last year.

Chicago Bulls assistant coach Jim Boylan became the fifth known candidate to interview for the Indiana Pacers' coaching job Wednesday. With former Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy out of the running, the race to replace the fired Rick Carlisle appears to be wide open.

Heat coach Pat Riley on Wednesday joined the call for changes to the lottery system, which gives teams with the worst records the best chances to land higher picks. Riley, also the Heat's president, believes there were teams that benefited from shutting down star players near the end of the season, which led to losses on the court and gains in Ping-Pong balls. Grizzlies president Jerry West, Celtics coach Doc Rivers and 76ers president Billy King are among those who have voiced their displeasure with the lottery system. ''Obviously, [the lottery system] needs to be tweaked, because you got teams trying to get the most Ping-Pong balls,'' Riley said. ``I do believe the No. 1 pick in the draft should probably go to the worst team, so they can get better. For me, over the past four, five or six years, it gets to be a joke at the end of the year with guys making $20 million a year sitting on the bench. That's how Tim Duncan ended up with the Spurs, basically. And if I were the Boston Celtics, which were legitimately bad and hurt, I would be upset with that.''

Pistons star Rasheed Wallace was asked what he thought of the league moving Game 2 to Thursday to avoid a television conflict with "American Idol." "It's all about money," he said. "You all know what it is -- this is the WWF out here. I ain't got to say any more about it."

Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter is being mentioned as a candidate for the Sacramento Kings' coaching vacancy. He said Wednesday he has not talked to the Kings, and wouldn't do so formally until after the playoffs. "I still have some work to do here," he said. "We're trying to get a ring."

Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard said he expects to come to a decision on the No. 1 pick well before the June 28 draft. "If it goes right up to (draft) night, then we haven't done our work," he said.

Sam Vincent, 44, will succeed Bernie Bickerstaff, who coached the Bobcats' for their first three seasons. Vincent has never been a head coach on the NBA level and isn't the lead assistant with the Mavericks. But he does fit what managing partner Michael Jordan envisioned when he spoke in March of finding the "next Avery Johnson" -- a former NBA player who could be a rising star in the coaching profession. Johnson, the Mavericks head coach, took over one of the NBA's premier franchises with no previous head coach experience. Vincent, a former point guard, played seven NBA seasons, including nearly two as a teammate of Jordan's with the Chicago Bulls. He also played for Bickerstaff, with the Seattle Supersonics, and Bickerstaff and Johnson are close from their days together in Denver. What attracted the Bobcats to Vincent? "Anyone we talked to said his people skills are very, very good,'' Bickerstaff said. "That's important, particularly on the pro level.''

Finally free to talk for the first time about his decision to fire Jeff Van Gundy, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander would not talk about it Wednesday. He would not acknowledge that it was his call, saying that every decision in the nearly 14 years he has owned the team has come via unanimous agreement within the organization. "When we trade a player, we never talk about the ex-player. We just talk about the new player," Alexander said. "We have a new coach. We're going to talk about the new coach the same exact way." Van Gundy has said Alexander wanted a coach with a more up-tempo style.

Players who could be available from the eighth through 11th picks include Chinese forward Yi Jianlian, Washington center Spencer Hawes and Kansas forward Julian Wright. Two players who appear likely to move up in the draft are Ohio State point guard Mike Conley Jr. and Florida forward Corey Brewer, the outstanding player of the Final Four. The Sixers might have to swap more than the 12 and 30th picks to move up in an attempt to draft either of them.

With the security of a new multiyear contract behind him, coach Randy Wittman sounded a bit more optimistic Wednesday than he did when he called for a shakeup of the Timberwolves after the regular-season finale a month ago. "It's not a situation that calls for a total rebuilding project to get back into the playoffs," said Wittman after his signing was officially announced by the team, which did not disclose contract terms. That opinion falls in line with what management has said for years. And every year since 2004, when they reached the Western Conference finals, the Wolves have taken a step backward.

One problem the Hawks won't have is getting the attention of the top prospects. In the past, agents would steer players to workouts for select teams, arguing that their client wouldn't be available later in the draft. That shouldn't be the case for the Hawks, not with the top pick for the rest of the draft seemingly up for grabs. "We didn't get the No. 1 or No. 2 picks but we feel like we've got the No. 1 pick in the East," Billy Knight said and then laughed. "And we feel like we will have some leverage there because we're setting the pace for the rest of the draft." Knight wouldn't even let on which positions he would consider first for the draft picks, saying that not only is it against league rules to comment but that he "wouldn't even if he could."

Tyson Chandler played 73 games with the Hornets, sitting out the final two weeks with a toe injury. He said his health is fine heading into the summer. As for his competition in the low post, the USA team already has Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard, who were first-team and second-team All-NBA selections this season. Boozer, who is in the playoffs with Utah, was an All-Star. And Oden, who led Ohio State to the national championship game, is considered to be the best prospect at center in a decade.

As far as additions to the Wolves staff, one possible assistant candidate could be former Wolves assistant Jerry Sichting, now with Marquette University, who has worked alongside Randy Wittman in the past.

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MLB Rumors & Notes

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Multiple scouts said Wednesday the Yankees are interested in Rockies first baseman Todd Helton and closer Brian Fuentes, though nothing is brewing. If the Rockies don't rebound, many teams will be calling to see if they want to unload salaries. Helton has rebounded nicely this season. He ranks second in the big leagues in on-base percentage and first with 21 multihit games. Fuentes has already established a club record with eight saves this month.

I think there is a strong possibility the Rangers would consider dealing Mark Teixeira. I outlined the clubs I think would be the best fit (in order: Boston, LA Angels, Baltimore) from the Rangers perspective. I'm not sure Boston feels like it needs to acquire a first baseman right now with Kevin Youkilis hitting .340. For me, the best fit would be the Angels (I'd want either Joe Saunders or Nick Adenhart, Brandon Wood and either Reggie Willits or Kendry Morales), and I'd probably be willing to include a reliever (Joaquin Benoit, perhaps?) to get that deal done. I don't care that Angels are in the Rangers division. I think that package makes Rangers better this year and the future, and if I'm GM that's my sole goal.

Rockies president Keli McGregor addressed the team's disappointing start Wednesday, expressing confidence in both general manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle but making it clear that the team's results must change. The Rockies began the season expecting to contend for the playoffs and have been stuck in last place in the National League West since April 20.

If Ervin Santana can't win on the road, today or sometime soon, the Angels could find themselves in double trouble. His confidence could erode, and so could the interest of teams interested in trading for him. The Angels have discussed him in trade talks over the last year, as a young starter who could bring a big bat in return, but the return could be limited if clubs aren't sure whether he can win consistently outside Anaheim. "You've got to realize they haven't traded him yet," Angels catcher Jose Molina said. "I think he's got one of the best arms in the game. He's throwing 94-95 [mph], with a good slider and a good change-up, and he won 16 games last year. "Right now, you're just being a little tough on him. If he doesn't panic, he'll be OK. He'll win 14 or 15 games. At the end of the year, we won't have this talk again." Santana's numbers this season: 3-1 with a 2.33 earned-run average at home, 0-4 with a 7.86 ERA on the road. His career numbers: 22-6 and 3.00 at home, 9-15 and 6.69 on the road.

The Devil Rays sat troubled Elijah Dukes on the bench Wednesday, but said they plan to stand behind their rookie outfielder and he likely will be back on the field today. Rays president Matt Silverman said the organization was "disappointed" and "troubled" and took "very seriously" the allegations by Dukes' estranged wife that he threatened to kill her and their children, but for now would take no disciplinary action against him. Instead they were hoping to help him. "Right now we're just monitoring the situation," Silverman said, "and our focus is on helping Elijah through what is a difficult time in his life. We hope that he can fulfill his potential as a ballplayer and as a person, and we are committed to helping him get back on track." Unless Dukes were to be charged with a crime, it doesn't sound like the Rays will do much else. Their actions are limited because of an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players union, which has successfully overturned past disciplinary actions. The agreement also limits how the Rays can investigate Dukes.

Reports out of the Bay Area, indicating the Red Sox are pursuing Oakland A’s starter Rich Harden, are erroneous. “He’s going to be a tough guy to deal,” said one industry source, “because Oakland will want too much for him (because of his ability) and no one will be willing to give up much (because of durability issues) in return.”

GM Kevin Towers said he still believes the Padres need to add a productive hitter, but he is skeptical whether the trade market will produce one. “The problem is, where do you get one?” he said yesterday. The Padres' pitching depth will spark ovetures from clubs seeking bullpen help, but Towers said he would be disinclined to deal from his major league staff. “If it means moving someone from our Triple-A bullpen, we might be able to do something,” he said. Among the Triple-A relievers is Andrew Brown, whose 95-mph clockings could entice some clubs. Brown has a 1.99 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings. The Cubs and Phillies are among the teams looking for relievers.

During last year's playoffs, Torii Hunter told the Star Tribune, "I love the Twins, but if I was a free agent, the first place I would try to sign would be with Ron Washington's team." Washington was soon hired as manager of the Rangers, who play 45 minutes from Hunter's new home in Prosper, Texas. "I've thought about playing here because of my family," Hunter said Wednesday. "But my main goal, no matter what I say -- not being politically correct -- I want to be with the Twins. I want to end my career here. "But if that's not possible, this is one place I will look."

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was asked Wednesday about talk that several of his players were still upset with what catcher A.J. Pierzynski had said on the radio Friday. Guillen said that not only had no one brought it to his attention, but if they do, they might not like what they'll hear. ''If anybody is still pissed at A.J., they're wrong,'' Guillen told the Sun-Times. ''If I find out that any player is still pissed at A.J. or talking like that, they're going to hear it from me. This kid said what he had to say. We've moved on. ''But guess what? If you don't like A.J., well, beat it because he's going to be with us. You don't like him? That's the wrong guy not to like because whatever he does, he tries to win games and plays hard for everyone. I don't want any of this [bleep] going on. If something is bothering you, my door is open, and we'll get it clear right away.''

Despite Internet rumors that Carlos Zambrano is hurting, the Cubs insist the right-hander's problems are all in his head, not his shoulder. Catcher Henry Blanco and manager Lou Piniella both said Zambrano suffers from lapses in focus, especially early in games. "I think it is [lack of concentration]," Blanco said. "You see a guy have a good game and you think he's going to take it from there. Obviously, he has not. He has a good game, then a bad game. There's no consistency. A lot of it has to do with concentration. If he comes out and does what he's supposed to do, things will be OK." Piniella said Zambrano never has seen the trainer about any shoulder issues. "Everybody has reasons for everything," Piniella said. "I've talked to [pitching coach Larry Rothschild] long and hard about this. [Zambrano] seems to lose his concentration out there. That's Larry's explanation for it."

Cubs 1987 MVP Andre "Hawk" Dawson, appearing as a guest on Fox Sports Radio, asked his thoughts on Barry Bonds closing in on Hank Aaron's home run record: "Because of the nature of what steroids has done to the game, as much as I want to see Barry break the record, I want to see Hank keep the record, for everything he had to go through."

The Phillies will eventually take a look at righthanded relief pitcher Troy Percival, who has not pitched since 2005 because of arm problems. Percival, 37, has plans to throw for scouts in Southern California, but when is unclear. The Phillies are unsure what to expect from Percival, but they figure there's no harm in giving him a look.

Derek Jeter already has one impressive title - Yankees captain - and eventually wouldn't mind trading that for another. How does Boss Jeter sound? The Yankees shortstop says he'd like to own a major league baseball franchise after his playing days are finished. Jeter first broached the subject in an interview with ESPN-1050 earlier this week. And he's got a role model in mind. "Definitely I'd be hands on, I'd be like The Boss," Jeter said yesterday, referring to George Steinbrenner. Jeter, who turns 33 next month, hasn't considered the specifics, but Jorge Posada said he's already on board with Jeter, if and when a potential ownership opportunity arises, several years from now. "That would be the thing I'd like to do, too," Posada said. "Me and Derek together and a couple of guys, we'll see. You're going to need some guys to help you out obviously, but it would be a lot of fun."

Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo said Wednesday that Miguel Tejada needs to be more productive, particularly with his power numbers. After a blistering start, Tejada has hit .266 in May. He has one home run in his last 177 at-bats, and his .373 slugging percentage is tied for ninth among American League shortstops. "We certainly expect more power out of Miggy," Perlozzo said. "I think we're going to get that. We certainly need more production out of Miggy."

Juan Rivera, whose 23 home runs last season ranked second to Vladimir Guerrero, has yet to resume baseball activities as he recovers from a broken leg suffered in winter ball. The Angels hope the outfielder-designated hitter can return in six to eight weeks.

The source of the Yankee players ire was the fact that the test result - which is supposed to be confidential according to the agreement between Major League Baseball and the players union - was leaked to begin with. "It's very upsetting because I guess anybody on the street can make the claim that (Giambi) tested positive," Johnny Damon said. "It's supposed to be anonymous, and I think Major League Baseball is failing at this drug test. That's pretty much it." Giambi is the second player to have his anonymous test revealed, joining Barry Bonds. Damon was annoyed that the two players, who were both prominent figures in the BALCO controversy, were subjected to scrutiny over something that was supposed to remain sealed. Said Damon: "It doesn't seem like the guidelines of the drug testing is being done correctly when anybody can go around and leak something that we don't know if it's true or not and we're not supposed to know until they get in trouble a second time."

Giants OF Randy Winn believes one of today's or tomorrow's hitters could break Joe DiMaggio's 56-game mark. "Sure," he said. "Nobody thought Lou Gehrig's consecutive-games streak would be broken. A lot of people didn't think Babe Ruth's home-run marks would be broken and a lot of people didn't think Hank Aaron's mark would be broken. There are probably people who never thought Pete Rose would break the hits record, or that anyone would ever get 4,000 hits again. It seems that eventually all of those have fallen, so why not DiMaggio's?"

Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood's rehab program began on Monday. Because he took almost two months off, it probably will take at least a month to six weeks to rebuild his arm strength enough to begin a minor-league rehab stint. But because Wood is returning as a reliever instead of a starter, he probably won't need as many outings in the minors to get himself ready to rejoin the team. The best-case scenario has Wood returning sometime after the All-Star break

Joe Crede is hoping the latest setback with his back is just a bump in the road. But the White Sox third baseman hasn't ruled out revisiting the idea of having surgery on his two herniated discs in the offseason. ''We'll see how things play out,'' Crede said Wednesday. ''We have all the information we need, and at the end of the year, we'll weigh all our options and then move from there.'' Surgery was almost an option for Crede last fall, but after seeing doctors and talking with specialists, he and his camp decided to continue an offseason strengthening program.

It appeared Braves CF Andruw Jones' feet weren't spread as severely as they have been much of the season, but he insisted the work he did didn't have much to do with any such mechanical adjustments. Rather, he said it involved simply watching countless pitches in his batting cage from the machine, which can be programmed to throw virtually any pitch at any speed. "If you're not seeing the ball, you can't hit the ball whether you have good balance or not," said Jones, who has seen and heard a lot of criticism of his falling-down swings this season. Pendleton said Jones began bringing his feet closer together weeks ago, but until Tuesday was still lunging and trying to pull every pitch.

The Yankees all but closed a maddening chapter of their recent history yesterday by admitting that Carl Pavano has probably thrown his last pitch for the team. Doctors have determined that Pavano has a damaged elbow ligament, and Pavano has decided to undergo reconstructive surgery.

The Pirates have no apparent plan to remove either of their two struggling starters, Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, from the rotation. Nor are they considering a demotion to the minor leagues. Rather, the plan, as general manager Dave Littlefield made clear yesterday, is to help each of the young left-handers work through whatever is amiss. And that will include each taking his regular turn in the next series at Cincinnati. "I'm very much behind them and very confident they're going to be successful major-league pitchers," Littlefield said. "They have had success at this level, and they're motivated and we're motivated for them to be successful again." He stressed that each is in his second full season.

Outfielder Josh Hamilton was examined by a gastroenterologist Wednesday afternoon. The Reds did not have results as of game time. Hamilton went on the disabled list Tuesday because of gastroenteritis.

Who Knew? The eighth inning has been the inning that has ruined the Reds' season so far. The Reds have allowed 41 runs in the eighth inning through Wednesday's loss. By comparison, they have allowed 21 in the sixth and 25 in the seventh.

Joe Mauer still doesn't want to name a target date for his return to the Twins lineup, because he says he honestly doesn't know when the tightness in his left leg will be gone. But there are hints that he might be close. And one hinter is Hunter. "Hopefully he comes back on Friday," Hunter said. Then he winked as he added, "but you guys might know more than I do." No, Mauer said, he can't say that, because he doesn't know how his strained quad will feel Friday. "I'd like to get back in there Friday, but we don't have a target date, as much as I'd like to," he said. "I don't want to say a date and not come back on that date. It's getting a little better each day."

The idea of having to face the Cubs again in four weeks doesn't sit well with Guillen, even if it's at U.S. Cellular Field this time. ''No, if we're going to play the Cubs, I hope we play in Mexico or somewhere ... Japan,'' Guillen said. ''So I don't have to deal with this. Swear to God. Next year, we're going to play the opening series, Cubs-White Sox, in Japan. Yes, [commissioner Bud] Selig's got a lot of money to fly all you guys back there. ''Make it better -- Australia.''

The Marlins aren't sure when rookie center fielder Alejandro De Aza will return after an MRI showed a hairline fracture on his right ankle. "We've got to keep him off his feet,'' said manager Fredi Gonzalez, who revealed Wednesday that a recent MRI exam showed "a little bit of a fracture" on De Aza's ankle. The Marlins' opening-day center fielder suffered the injury during the season-opening series at Washington and played through it for more than a week. He went on the disabled list April 18 with what was diagnosed at the time as a strained ankle. The team revised that diagnosis to a sprained ankle.

Phil Hughes threw 35 pitches from the top of a bullpen mound yesterday in Tampa, Fla., the first time he has done that since straining his left hamstring on May 1. With Hughes still recovering and Matt DeSalvo now in long relief, the Yankees will keep Tyler Clippard in the rotation and start him tomorrow against the Los Angeles Angels. If Roger Clemens joins the Yankees the next time through the rotation, Manager Joe Torre said, he would probably pitch May 29 in Toronto.

Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek echoed similar sentiments Wednesday afternoon when asked what has clicked for the Royals over the last 10 days. “I think the biggest thing is the bullpen stepping up with Greinke coming out and throwing the way he has the last five or six outings,” Grudzielanek said. “He shuts the door on games we normally couldn’t do it. He’s a big addition out there.” Greinke said he’s throwing the same four pitches he used as a starter, just a little bit harder.

Rodeo cowboys use a certain balm to treat blisters from rope burns. Apparently, it's good for baseball pitchers who get blisters as well. Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets, who left his start Tuesday night in the seventh inning after popping a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, was being treated with that balm Wednesday. His next start, scheduled for Monday against Atlanta, remained in jeopardy, however. "In four days, we'll probably stop and look at it and see where we are, and then make an adjustment if we have to," said Yost. "With our pitching the way it is, I've got a lot of different options."

Brett Tomko lost his starting berth because he gave up 13 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings over his last two starts. He is 1-5 with a 6.28 earned-run average and opponents are batting .306 against him. Hong-Chih Kuo will slide into the rotation if his next start at triple-A Las Vegas goes well. Kuo pitched four scoreless innings Wednesday against Tacoma. He is scheduled to pitch again Monday for Las Vegas, then make his first Dodgers start June 2 at Pittsburgh.

Did You Know? The Rockies are 2-20 when scoring three runs or fewer. Only the Phillies (0-15) and the Marlins (1-16) are worse.

Brewers SS J.J. Hardy, appearing as a guest on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," on having the best record in the NL, but not garnering much attention: "We'll stay under the radar as long as possible."

The Red Sox’ No. 2 starter, Josh Beckett, remained on track to return from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday by throwing five simulated innings in the visitors bullpen at the Stadium. Beckett, who suffered a cut on his right middle finger delivering a pitch on Mother’s Day, made approximately 120-130 throws, including warm-up tosses (without a bandage) and five 15-pitch frames (with a bandage) with pitching coach John Farrell standing in the batter’s box. The right-hander will throw again on Saturday off the bullpen mound before the Sox play the Rangers.

Who Knew? Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling had made 69 consecutive starts without an unearned run being scored against him. In the second inning, a throwing error by shortstop Julio Lugo on an attempted force play allowed the Yankees' Robinson Cano to advance to third base, from where he scored on an infield hit by Derek Jeter. That went into the books as an unearned run. The last time an opponent had scored an unearned run against Schilling was June 16, 2004, in Colorado, where an error by shortstop Nomar Garciaparra led to two unearned runs. Schilling gave up seven in a 7-6 loss.

Did You Know? Including this series against the Pirates, the Cardinals will have five consecutive series against sub-.500 teams. Stretch their schedule out into late June, past six games with Kansas City, and 23 of their next 26 games are against opponents with losing records entering play Wednesday.

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo summoned Daniel Cabrera into his office yesterday and inquired whether the right-hander intentionally hit Troy Glaus in the fifth inning of Monday night's game. Cabrera denied it, and Perlozzo was satisfied with the response. "I've got no reason to believe he would," Perlozzo said. "It certainly wasn't a situation to do that. He was having a hard enough time finding the plate. "I asked him point-blank whether he hit [Glaus] on purpose and he said, 'No.' I've got to believe that."

Jimmy Rollins, who once led the National League with nine home runs, is 7-for-47 in his last 12 games, including a single in his final at-bat last night. The Phillies shortstop hadn't homered since April 27. He is hitting .265 after sitting at .301 before the slide. The slump coincides with the exit of MVP slugger Ryan Howard, who landed on the 15-day disabled list with left leg injuries.

Make no mistake: The Phillies despise Marlins lefty Scott Olsen, whose antics Tuesday - throwing a ball over Chase Utley's head in the third and taunting Utley as Utley walked to first base in the sixth - made them dislike him even more. One Phillie said he screamed himself hoarse from the dugout, riding Olsen. *

Sidney Ponson, released by the Twins with a $1 million contract after seven starts and a 6.93 earned-run average, performed better than current starter Ramon Ortiz, who has a 6.88 ERA after his past seven starts but has a $3.1 million guaranteed deal this season, stickandballguy.com points out.

Who Knew? Dodgers PH Wilson Betemit is tied for second in the Majors with five pinch-hits, including three homers, a double and seven RBI. The only other pinch-hitter with more than one homer off the bench is Arizona's Tony Clark (2).

Brewers SS J.J. Hardy, appearing as a guest on Fox Sports Radio, asked his favorite sausage (in the Miller Park race)? "To eat, I would take the bratwurst, but if I was to bet on the race, I would take the hot dog, because he wins every time."

Arte Moreno celebrated his fourth anniversary as Angels owner Tuesday knowing his vision remains on target. Moreno took control of the team May 22, 2003, while the team was on a road trip in New York. At his introductory news conference shortly after his $180 million acquisition, Moreno promised to run the Angels like a big-market team. His biggest blunder in four years, then, might be the team's underestimation of the free-agent market this past offseason. The team was nowhere close to the money Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano received from the Cubs. Moreno promised a big bat, then never delivered.

Overheard in the Dodgers stadium press box: "Nomar's wife has had more kids this year, than he's had home runs." -- Baseball writer on Nomar Garciaparra of the Dodgers who has 1 home run this season, while wife Mia Hamm had twin daughters.

J.D. Drew was given a “mental health day” by manager Terry Francona and replaced by Wily Mo Pena for last night’s series finale against the New York Yankees. The right fielder was hitless in 10 at-bats leading up to the game and batting only .161 (14-for-87) in his previous 25 games, dropping his average from .375 to .237. He is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow night, when the Sox play the first of three games against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas. “Every once in a while, taking a deep breath might do him some good,” Francona said. Francona said that he has no intention of moving Drew out of the fifth spot in the lineup.

The A's have used the DL 12 times, and 10 players currently are on the DL -- and the list will grow before Friday's game in Baltimore. X-rays showed reliever Connor Robertson has a broken right thumb, resulting from a line drive hit at him Monday. Robertson will become the 11th active player on the DL.

For the most part, the Reds are a first-class, traditional organization that does things the right way. For the most part. Sadly, the oldest professional baseball club in history has made a colossal mistake when it comes to mascots. Emphasis on the plural there. They've got three, yes, three of them. There's the traditional "Mr. Red," who looks like "Mr. Met" in a different color. He would be enough, but instead this team also has "Mr. Redlegs," who is basically another version of "Mr. Red" circa, oh, 1876. White, striped, paintbox cap. Giant handlebar moustache. You get the idea. But that wasn't enough. In 2002, Cincinnati introduced "Gapper" to the world. Who or what is "Gapper"? Well, he's a giant, red, furry ... uh, thing. As best as this reporter can tell, he serves only one purpose: being extraneous.

Austin Kearns has played in all 47 of the Nationals' games, starting 46 of them. Manager Manny Acta said, however, that he is not yet seriously considering giving Kearns a day off to clear his head, though he replaced him in the seventh inning Wednesday. "I prefer to keep him out there because he's one of those guys that I really enjoy watching because he gives you 110 percent every day running the bases and everything," Acta said, "and he doesn't act like he needs a day off." Kearns, who said he feels comfortable at the plate, said he'd rather stay in the lineup.

The "Say Hey Kid" and "Hammerin' Hank" are invited to the unveiling of the Ernie Banks statue outside Wrigley Field next spring. "I am planning it now. I am calling Hank [Aaron] and Willie [Mays]. We are the Three Blind Mice," Banks joked after learning a statue of his likeness will be erected near Wrigley Field by Opening Day 2008. "We all came into the National League around the same time and we established great friendships with each other. Our kids knew each other. We have held onto that friendship through the years. I want them all to be there with me. "We all have to stick around and live long enough to see the statue. Willie has a statue in San Francisco. Hank has a statue in Atlanta [and Milwaukee]. I am going to ask them about their experiences with having a statue."

Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez will go in for his third MRI exam in five weeks Thursday. For those keeping score, that will give the reliever one more MRI this season than he has saves (two) or wins (2-0). The first two MRIs revealed no structural damage to the left-hander's elbow. He was still concerned over his reduced fastball velocity and arm spasms after a May 15 game at Washington.

How About That? In three starts against the Braves this season, Mets starter Oliver Pérez is 3-0, having allowed three earned runs, two walks and 20 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings, and he entered Wednesday’s start 3-1 with a 2.89 earned run average against Atlanta over the past two years. During the same time, Pérez is 5-15 with a 5.96 E.R.A. against the rest of the National League.

Despite all the talk about the great pitching in the Twins organization, all five of their starters at the beginning of the season came from other organizations. Johan Santana came from Houston, Carlos Silva from Philadelphia, Boof Bonser from the Giants, Ramon Ortiz from Washington and Sidney Ponson most recently had been with the Yankees. Then in the bullpen there is Matt Guerrier (Pittsburgh), Dennys Reyes (San Diego) and Joe Nathan (Giants). And don't forget about Francisco Liriano, who also came from the Giants. That means on the Twins' Opening Day pitching staff, the only pitchers who came up through the minor league system were Pat Neshek, Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain

The Cubs haven't yet authorized the release of the renderings for the Ernie Banks statue, but local sculpter Lou Cella, a member of the Fine Arts Studio of Rotblatt-Armany since 1995, offered a general description. "I don't think it will come as any great shock that it will be Ernie standing with the bat in his hands, and with his wiggling fingers and cocked wrists, as Jack Brickhouse would say," said Cella, who was the co-sculptor of the Harry Caray statue at Sheffield and Addison. "It's funny. I was telling my father what the [Banks] pose was going to be, and he dropped right into it. I didn't realize how signature his stance was. My dad copied it perfectly and started wiggling his fingers."It might be a good idea to have [the statue] set up like a baseball card, where you have all the stats on the back. I will bring that up because it would make a lot of sense. I am really looking forward to this, it is obviously something very, very special."

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NFL Rumors & Notes

Thursday, May 24, 2007

The Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger's agent have had early talks about a contract extension for the young quarterback. While it appears nothing will be done this season, the machinery is gearing up for what should be the largest contract in the organization's history. "We've had some discussions with them," agent Ryan Tollner said. "I'm not sure what they're planning, other than certainly they're considering they want to do a deal. If they would want to start [serious negotiations] before the season, we'd have to start soon. It'll be a complicated contract. If not before this season, we're open to discussion, but I definitely expect it to happen following this season."

Kris Jenkins' future with the Carolina Panthers was put in doubt again Wednesday. NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus, whose client Damione Lewis could benefit from Jenkins' departure, told the Observer that he believes the team still hopes to trade Jenkins. "I don't have any insight on it, but what I've heard is he's definitely still on the market and for the right price, they would trade him," Rosenhaus said before speaking at a Charlotte Touchdown Club luncheon. "So it'll be interesting to see what happens." Sources said the Panthers made Jenkins, a three-time Pro Bowler, available to other teams for a first-round pick before and during the NFL draft last month, but didn't receive a satisfactory offer. Team officials have since said Jenkins would remain with the team. General manager Marty Hurney reiterated that position Wednesday, but stopped short of fully denying Rosenhaus' comments.

The Titans will consider bringing in former Houston Texan wide receiver Eric Moulds, though some personnel men around the league believe he has little left to offer. Houston released Moulds last winter, after a season in which he caught 57 passes for 557 yards. Tennessee also could reopen trade talks it had this spring with the New York regarding former Titans wide receiver Justin McCareins, whom the Jets have been open to trading. McCareins spent his first three NFL seasons in Tennessee, before New York traded for him in 2004. In his three seasons in New York, McCareins has had declining reception totals. Keenan McCardell also still is available, but he recently finished his 15th NFL season, and would seem an unlikely target for Vince Young and the Titans.

The Bucs worked out Antonio Bryant, 26, and walked away intrigued with the 6-foot-2, 188-pound receiver who surpassed 1,000 yards just two seasons ago. The sixth-year veteran was released by the 49ers after drawing a four-game suspension last season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He has two games left and would have to sit out with whatever team signs him.

Greg Ellis has every right to demand more money because whenever his production drops, the club will ask him to take a pay cut. That doesn't mean the Cowboys have to give it to him. And in these circumstances, I wouldn't because he's 31 and coming off a ruptured Achilles' tendon, which is a serious injury for player who relies on speed and explosion.

As explanations for Antoine Winfield's offseason absence from the Vikings grew Wednesday, his agent left open the possibility of a training camp holdout in a report posted on the NFL's website. Agent Richard Katz confirmed Winfield would report for the mandatory minicamp June 1-3, but said "I can't comment" on whether Winfield would attend training camp. Katz, who has not returned phone calls from the Star Tribune, also declined comment on whether Winfield wants a new contract to replace the six-year, $35 million deal that expires after the 2009 season.

Victoria Johnson showed up at police headquarters Wednesday afternoon to say she made up a story that Bengals player A.J. Nicholson smacked her last week. Her allegation got Nicholson charged with misdemeanor assault and might have cost him his job. The Bengals organization, criticized for its players' off-the-field behavior, waived the linebacker only hours after he pleaded not guilty to the charge on Monday. When reached by phone on Wednesday, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he waived Nicholson to get down to a certain number of players for training camp. "This gives (Nicholson) the opportunity to take care of things on and off the field," Lewis said, "and then we don't have to spend time with a player who was not going to make our football team anyway."

Frustrated as he may be, Trent Green said he’s still optimistic that he’ll be traded to the Miami Dolphins. Asked if he would join the Chiefs at training camp if the trade didn’t occur, Green said: “I think something will be done by that point. When we get to that point I guess I’ll have to make a decision. But right now I think it will be cleared up by that point.”

Besides the Packers, Keyshawn Johnson said teams expressing interest in him were the Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots. He said a few other teams were interested as well, but he did not name them. "They were very interested," Johnson said Wednesday, referring to the Packers. "We continued to talk to them. My agent continued to talk to them. "Reggie McKenzie did a terrific job in trying to persuade us at some point in time to take a look at the Green Bay Packers," Johnson said, referring to the pro personnel director for the Packers.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus asked if he is concerned about Panthers LB Dan Morgan playing again despite his history of concussions? "Of course, I'm concerned. I care about Dan, not as a client, but as a friend, as a brother. I'm concerned because of the severity of the situation, but I want to assure you we've been very thorough. We've been very careful. He's healthy, he's normal. He's got a normal baseline right now. What may happen in the future? We're hoping for the best. But one thing I can promise you is we are not going to, in any capacity, risk it. If anything should happen, he'll retire."

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said former Vikings receiver Travis Taylor was signed to increase competition. Kiffin was asked if the move sent a message to the idle Mike Williams. "I don't know, you have to ask Mike that," Kiffin said. "I would hope so." Williams and quarterback Josh McCown were acquired in a trade with the Lions last month. A highly touted playmaker from USC, Williams did little in Detroit. So far with the Raiders, Williams has scarcely played because of a leg pull. Taylor, who signed as an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, is a legitimate player who could win the starting flanker job.

At the NFL owners meeting in Nashville, Roger Goodell called the commitment "principally directed toward those who are in dire need or can't afford the proper kind of care." Mike Ditka appreciates Goodell acknowledging the problem, but he wasn't impressed. "I say this honestly, I don't know if 'a committee to explore' is going to cut it," Ditka said. Ditka, the former Bears Hall of Fame player and coach, and ex-Packers great Jerry Kramer helped form Gridiron Greats, a non-profit group that accepts private donations at www.jerrykramer.com on behalf of individual players. The group prides itself on minimizing red tape for affected families. "What the league came out with was a lot of rhetoric," Ditka said. "You hope the light has finally gone on to rectify the wrong. In the old days, if you hurt your head, you know how they figured out if you were OK? They'd hold up three fingers and ask you how many fingers you saw. If you said, 'Three,' you went back in the game. "Now a lot of guys are paying for that kind of treatment through no fault of their own, and the league needs to take more responsibility."

Before he officially became a national broadcaster Wednesday, Keyshawn Johnson was a savvy businessman. It was the businessman in him that caused Johnson to ask the Tennessee Titans for a two-year contract worth a whopping $12 million. And it was that number that forced the Titans to respectfully decline Johnson's asking price, helping lead the former No. 1 overall pick to retire from the game. Tennessee was offering Johnson a modest signing bonus, plenty of incentives and a chance for Johnson to earn a nice salary. But the salary didn't mea