Sporting News staff reports
Lou Piniella says he has every intention of being the Cubs’ manager through the end of this season, his last in Chicago.
"I’m not a quitter. No, I’m not a quitter," Piniella told reporters Tuesday before the club’s game in Arizona (per the Chicago Tribune). "In this business, you better be prepared to take the good with the bad. I mean, nobody wants the bad, but at the same time, it happens."
The Cubs are 37-47 after a 6-4 victory Tuesday night, 10 games behind the first-place Reds in the NL Central.
The Tribune notes that Cubs general manager Jim Hendry insists he won’t fire Piniella, who is expected to retire from managing after this year. ("I know that this will be my last managing job," he said. "I do know that for a fact.")
Piniella, 66, says he has no regrets about coming to Chicago.
"If I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing," he said. "It has been a unique experience. It really has. This is going to be a good way for me to end my career because I’ll look at it with a lot of pleasant memories — and a little hurt, too."
Sweet Lou also had a few words of wisdom for Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who earlier this season was rumored to be interested in succeeding Piniella.
"He can come here. He’ll find out that it’s a little harder than what he thinks it is," Piniella said. "But that’s OK. When I leave here they can hire the best manager they can, and I wish him well."
Sporting News staff reports
Lou Piniella says he has every intention of being the Cubs’ manager through the end of this season, his last in Chicago.
"I’m not a quitter. No, I’m not a quitter," Piniella told reporters Tuesday before the club’s game in Arizona (per the Chicago Tribune). "In this business, you better be prepared to take the good with the bad. I mean, nobody wants the bad, but at the same time, it happens."
The Cubs are 37-47 after a 6-4 victory Tuesday night, 10 games behind the first-place Reds in the NL Central.
The Tribune notes that Cubs general manager Jim Hendry insists he won’t fire Piniella, who is expected to retire from managing after this year. ("I know that this will be my last managing job," he said. "I do know that for a fact.")
Piniella, 66, says he has no regrets about coming to Chicago.
"If I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing," he said. "It has been a unique experience. It really has. This is going to be a good way for me to end my career because I’ll look at it with a lot of pleasant memories — and a little hurt, too."
Sweet Lou also had a few words of wisdom for Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who earlier this season was rumored to be interested in succeeding Piniella.
"He can come here. He’ll find out that it’s a little harder than what he thinks it is," Piniella said. "But that’s OK. When I leave here they can hire the best manager they can, and I wish him well."
Sporting News staff reports
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Tuesday he remains opposed to expanding the use of replay in the sport. He also has no plans to change the format of the All-Star Game in which the winning league gains home-field advantage in the World Series.
"I talked to a lot of players, talked to a lot of fans, quite frankly there is little appetite for more instant replay," Selig told reporters (per AOL FanHouse) during a conference call to promote next week’s All-Star Game. "At this point in time I agree with that. I said I’d continue to review it and I will. … I think where we are now is a very good balance."
Selig again invoked tradition as one reason why he’s hesitant to introduce more technology. "We have it to a point where if you go any further, you are really changing the sport. I’m very concerned about that," he said. Baseball uses replay to settle disputes about home runs and whether batted balls are fair or foul.
As for the All-Star Game, Selig claims no MLB officials have heard complaints about the changes he made after the 2002 game ended in a tie.
"What [home-field advantage] has done is added excitement to this thing. It has marketed the sport. It has done everything we thought it would. It’s been even better. … Anything that takes our All-Star Game and increases the intensity, why would you change that? Of course we wouldn’t."
Sporting News staff reports
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Tuesday he remains opposed to expanding the use of replay in the sport. He also has no plans to change the format of the All-Star Game in which the winning league gains home-field advantage in the World Series.
"I talked to a lot of players, talked to a lot of fans, quite frankly there is little appetite for more instant replay," Selig told reporters (per AOL FanHouse) during a conference call to promote next week’s All-Star Game. "At this point in time I agree with that. I said I’d continue to review it and I will. … I think where we are now is a very good balance."
Selig again invoked tradition as one reason why he’s hesitant to introduce more technology. "We have it to a point where if you go any further, you are really changing the sport. I’m very concerned about that," he said. Baseball uses replay to settle disputes about home runs and whether batted balls are fair or foul.
As for the All-Star Game, Selig claims no MLB officials have heard complaints about the changes he made after the 2002 game ended in a tie.
"What [home-field advantage] has done is added excitement to this thing. It has marketed the sport. It has done everything we thought it would. It’s been even better. … Anything that takes our All-Star Game and increases the intensity, why would you change that? Of course we wouldn’t."
Lee Rasizer, Sporting News correspondent
This is the 25th in a series of team breakdowns to be published before the start of training camp.
Josh McDaniels knows how to make an entrance. A personality clash ushered franchise QB Jay Cutler out of town just weeks into McDaniels’ head-coaching tenure. Once training camp began last summer, a petulant Brandon Marshall tested the organization’s patience and, again, McDaniels put his foot down in the form of a suspension.
The Broncos will expect more from Knowshon Moreno after an up-and-down rookie year.
But the flashiest entrance was Denver beginning ’09 as one of the league’s hottest teams.
Then everything crashed. Denver became the third team ever to open 6-0 and fail to make the playoffs and the first not to finish with a winning record. At the same time, an adequate defensive line fizzled; Orton went back to being solid instead of spectacular; and running back Knowshon Moreno hit the rookie wall.
Though McDaniels was more calm this offseason, the rest of the front office was busy replacing a defensive coordinator and revamping a conditioning program in hopes of avoiding another late-season slide. The Broncos also traded Marshall to Miami and tight end Tony Scheffler to Detroit. Then Tim Tebow was drafted in the first round, putting McDaniels in the crosshairs of media and fans.
What’s new
Offense: McDaniels and coordinator Mike McCoy want a more power-based rushing attack, and they have tweaked the personnel up front to accommodate that style. With Marshall gone, the passing game will feature a spread-it-around approach. But it remains unclear whether McDaniels can capture the magic with Orton that he once did with New England quarterbacks. If not, he won’t hesitate to turn to newcomer Brady Quinn or Tebow.
After the departure of Marshall, the Broncos used their other first-round pick on Georgia Tech’s Demaryius Thomas, who has a similar skill set. There will be some adjustments for Thomas in route-running, but his 25.1 average yards per catch last year demonstrates game-breaking ability.
The offensive line is a big question mark because of injuries. Left tackle Ryan Clady sustained a patellar tendon injury in the offseason, which required surgery. The team is hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the season; if he isn’t, Tyler Polumbus will fill in. If veteran Russ Hochstein (knee) isn’t healthy, third-round pick J.D. Walton could start at center. Several players, including second-round pick Zane Beadles, will compete at left guard.
Defense: It’s no secret the Broncos needed to beef up their front line, and they did in the offseason with the additions of Justin Bannan, Jarvis Green and Jamal Williams. But Denver also is going on its fifth coordinator in five years with Don Martindale’s promotion from linebackers coach. He’s expected to bring an aggressive mindset in the team’s 3-4 system.
Breakout player
Robert Ayers will have a chance to excel with additional playing time this year.
Robert Ayers, OLB. A ’09 first-round pick, Ayers had a sporadic role last season. He was used mainly in nickel pass-rush situations but failed to record a sack. Mario Haggan’s move to inside linebacker should give Ayers the opportunity to be an every-down player—if he beats out Jarvis Moss. Ayers (6-3, 274) has the quickness and size to excel off the edge in the 3-4.
"I’m definitely not comfortable with where I am right now. I still want to get better. Come time for the season to start, opening game, I still won’t feel comfortable. I’ll still be thinking there’s more to improve on. You’ve got guys like Jamal (Williams) still trying to find ways to get better. That’s the attitude I’m trying to take." — Ayers
OPPONENT’S VIEW
(An anonymous opponent breaks down the Broncos)
"They started really fast and died down the stretch last year. It looked like they played really solid defense, then just collapsed. With a new head coach, and then all of sudden with a new defensive coordinator and now another new defensive coordinator, I would have to use the word unsettled. …
"To me, all the things that happened last year showed McDaniels’ inexperience. He looked a little impetuous in trying to make a stand and portray an image as a tough guy. You don’t really need to portray an image. You just have to be smart in what you do. I don’t know all the insides and outs of what happened, but while he looked like a ‘boy genius’ early on, it certainly wasn’t built on anything substantial because it collapsed. …
"But with all the stability that team had through the years with (former coach Mike) Shanahan, once they ran him out of there for whatever reason, from afar, it looks like it’s gone from something very stable in Denver to something unstable."
Bottom line
The Broncos are trying to morph into McDaniels’ vision. The young coach made his point that it’s his way or the highway, and the locker room is receptive to his team-oriented message. But talent wins out in the NFL. This team needs more playmakers and a continued infusion of youth to be a Super Bowl-caliber franchise.
Depth chart
Offense
QB: Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn
RB: Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter
WR: Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd
WR: Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker
WR: Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley
TE Daniel Graham, Richard Quinn
LT: Ryan Clady, Tyler Polumbus
LG: Russ Hochstein, Eric Olsen
C: J.D. Walton, Dustin Fry
RG: Chris Kuper, Seth Olsen
RT: Ryan Harris, Zane Beadles
Defense
DE: Justin Bannan, Marcus Thomas
NT: Jamal Williams, Ronald Fields
DE: Jarvis Green, Ryan McBean
OLB: Robert Ayers, Kevin Alexander
ILB: D.J. Williams, Wesley Woodyard
ILB: Mario Haggan, Akin Ayodele
OLB: Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss
CB: Champ Bailey, Alphonso Smith
CB: Andre Goodman, Perrish Cox
SS: Brian Dawkins, Darcel McBath
FS: Renaldo Hill, Nate Jones
Specialists
K: Matt Prater
P: Britton Colquitt
KR: Perrish Cox
PR: Eddie Royal
LS: Lonie Paxton
Lee Rasizer, Sporting News correspondent
This is the 25th in a series of team breakdowns to be published before the start of training camp.
Josh McDaniels knows how to make an entrance. A personality clash ushered franchise QB Jay Cutler out of town just weeks into McDaniels’ head-coaching tenure. Once training camp began last summer, a petulant Brandon Marshall tested the organization’s patience and, again, McDaniels put his foot down in the form of a suspension.
The Broncos will expect more from Knowshon Moreno after an up-and-down rookie year.
But the flashiest entrance was Denver beginning ’09 as one of the league’s hottest teams.
Then everything crashed. Denver became the third team ever to open 6-0 and fail to make the playoffs and the first not to finish with a winning record. At the same time, an adequate defensive line fizzled; Orton went back to being solid instead of spectacular; and running back Knowshon Moreno hit the rookie wall.
Though McDaniels was more calm this offseason, the rest of the front office was busy replacing a defensive coordinator and revamping a conditioning program in hopes of avoiding another late-season slide. The Broncos also traded Marshall to Miami and tight end Tony Scheffler to Detroit. Then Tim Tebow was drafted in the first round, putting McDaniels in the crosshairs of media and fans.
What’s new
Offense: McDaniels and coordinator Mike McCoy want a more power-based rushing attack, and they have tweaked the personnel up front to accommodate that style. With Marshall gone, the passing game will feature a spread-it-around approach. But it remains unclear whether McDaniels can capture the magic with Orton that he once did with New England quarterbacks. If not, he won’t hesitate to turn to newcomer Brady Quinn or Tebow.
After the departure of Marshall, the Broncos used their other first-round pick on Georgia Tech’s Demaryius Thomas, who has a similar skill set. There will be some adjustments for Thomas in route-running, but his 25.1 average yards per catch last year demonstrates game-breaking ability.
The offensive line is a big question mark because of injuries. Left tackle Ryan Clady sustained a patellar tendon injury in the offseason, which required surgery. The team is hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the season; if he isn’t, Tyler Polumbus will fill in. If veteran Russ Hochstein (knee) isn’t healthy, third-round pick J.D. Walton could start at center. Several players, including second-round pick Zane Beadles, will compete at left guard.
Defense: It’s no secret the Broncos needed to beef up their front line, and they did in the offseason with the additions of Justin Bannan, Jarvis Green and Jamal Williams. But Denver also is going on its fifth coordinator in five years with Don Martindale’s promotion from linebackers coach. He’s expected to bring an aggressive mindset in the team’s 3-4 system.
Breakout player
Robert Ayers will have a chance to excel with additional playing time this year.
Robert Ayers, OLB. A ’09 first-round pick, Ayers had a sporadic role last season. He was used mainly in nickel pass-rush situations but failed to record a sack. Mario Haggan’s move to inside linebacker should give Ayers the opportunity to be an every-down player—if he beats out Jarvis Moss. Ayers (6-3, 274) has the quickness and size to excel off the edge in the 3-4.
"I’m definitely not comfortable with where I am right now. I still want to get better. Come time for the season to start, opening game, I still won’t feel comfortable. I’ll still be thinking there’s more to improve on. You’ve got guys like Jamal (Williams) still trying to find ways to get better. That’s the attitude I’m trying to take." — Ayers
OPPONENT’S VIEW
(An anonymous opponent breaks down the Broncos)
"They started really fast and died down the stretch last year. It looked like they played really solid defense, then just collapsed. With a new head coach, and then all of sudden with a new defensive coordinator and now another new defensive coordinator, I would have to use the word unsettled. …
"To me, all the things that happened last year showed McDaniels’ inexperience. He looked a little impetuous in trying to make a stand and portray an image as a tough guy. You don’t really need to portray an image. You just have to be smart in what you do. I don’t know all the insides and outs of what happened, but while he looked like a ‘boy genius’ early on, it certainly wasn’t built on anything substantial because it collapsed. …
"But with all the stability that team had through the years with (former coach Mike) Shanahan, once they ran him out of there for whatever reason, from afar, it looks like it’s gone from something very stable in Denver to something unstable."
Bottom line
The Broncos are trying to morph into McDaniels’ vision. The young coach made his point that it’s his way or the highway, and the locker room is receptive to his team-oriented message. But talent wins out in the NFL. This team needs more playmakers and a continued infusion of youth to be a Super Bowl-caliber franchise.
Depth chart
Offense
QB: Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn
RB: Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter
WR: Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd
WR: Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker
WR: Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley
TE Daniel Graham, Richard Quinn
LT: Ryan Clady, Tyler Polumbus
LG: Russ Hochstein, Eric Olsen
C: J.D. Walton, Dustin Fry
RG: Chris Kuper, Seth Olsen
RT: Ryan Harris, Zane Beadles
Defense
DE: Justin Bannan, Marcus Thomas
NT: Jamal Williams, Ronald Fields
DE: Jarvis Green, Ryan McBean
OLB: Robert Ayers, Kevin Alexander
ILB: D.J. Williams, Wesley Woodyard
ILB: Mario Haggan, Akin Ayodele
OLB: Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss
CB: Champ Bailey, Alphonso Smith
CB: Andre Goodman, Perrish Cox
SS: Brian Dawkins, Darcel McBath
FS: Renaldo Hill, Nate Jones
Specialists
K: Matt Prater
P: Britton Colquitt
KR: Perrish Cox
PR: Eddie Royal
LS: Lonie Paxton
Sporting News staff reports
Dallas Braden is angry the A’s are trying to profit off his "Get off my mound" scold of Alex Rodriguez.
The A’s left-hander told reporters Monday the team is selling T-shirts that contain the phrase against the wishes of himself, his teammates and the players union. The unlicensed shirts, which have been on sale for a month, do not include Braden’s name and uniform number but do feature the phrase and a slihouette of his pitching motion.
"It’s just not cool," Braden said before the A’s and Yankees met for the first time since the April dustup. "It’s just a serious, gross lack of tact. At the end of the day, I hope I do not become associated with that kind of approach."
Braden said he understands the club’s desire to make a buck (the A’s are charging $25 a pop) but is upset with management’s unwillingness to listen.
"They’re trying to generate revenue, trying to get butts in the seat, I can see that," Braden said. "It’s almost like, at what cost do you do that? They didn’t have permission. They were told on multiple occasions, that, no, it’s not a good idea. It’s not going to be approved. They just kind of put the horse-blinders on and ran with it."
Braden said he doesn’t have or want a shirt and added that he considers it an affront to A-Rod and the game. "We’re all fraternity brothers. This is baseball. You don’t ever put two guys against each other, no matter how fun-lvoing or severe the incident might be," Braden said..
Braden yelled "Get off my mound" at A-Rod during a game April 22. Rodriguez angered Braden by stepping inside Braden’s "office" after a foul ball.
The two haven’t spoken directly to each other since, though they did trade barbs through the media. Braden pitched a perfect game three weeks after the incident, but has since landed on the disabled list with an elbow injury.
Even though the two are together again, Braden isn’t interested in a confab. "I’m not a big hype guy," he said. "It is what it is. Done deal."
Sporting News staff reports
Dallas Braden is angry the A’s are trying to profit off his "Get off my mound" scold of Alex Rodriguez.
The A’s left-hander told reporters Monday the team is selling T-shirts that contain the phrase against the wishes of himself, his teammates and the players union. The unlicensed shirts, which have been on sale for a month, do not include Braden’s name and uniform number but do feature the phrase and a slihouette of his pitching motion.
"It’s just not cool," Braden said before the A’s and Yankees met for the first time since the April dustup. "It’s just a serious, gross lack of tact. At the end of the day, I hope I do not become associated with that kind of approach."
Braden said he understands the club’s desire to make a buck (the A’s are charging $25 a pop) but is upset with management’s unwillingness to listen.
"They’re trying to generate revenue, trying to get butts in the seat, I can see that," Braden said. "It’s almost like, at what cost do you do that? They didn’t have permission. They were told on multiple occasions, that, no, it’s not a good idea. It’s not going to be approved. They just kind of put the horse-blinders on and ran with it."
Braden said he doesn’t have or want a shirt and added that he considers it an affront to A-Rod and the game. "We’re all fraternity brothers. This is baseball. You don’t ever put two guys against each other, no matter how fun-lvoing or severe the incident might be," Braden said..
Braden yelled "Get off my mound" at A-Rod during a game April 22. Rodriguez angered Braden by stepping inside Braden’s "office" after a foul ball.
The two haven’t spoken directly to each other since, though they did trade barbs through the media. Braden pitched a perfect game three weeks after the incident, but has since landed on the disabled list with an elbow injury.
Even though the two are together again, Braden isn’t interested in a confab. "I’m not a big hype guy," he said. "It is what it is. Done deal."
Sporting News staff reports
The Orioles and Buck Showalter have met a second time about the club’s managerial position, The Baltimore Sun reports, but no job offer has been made.
Showalter is considered a front-runner for the full-time position, with former Indians manager Eric Wedge also a candidate. Juan Samuel is serving as interim manager after the team fired Dave Trembley on June 4.
"I have not been offered anything, that’s for sure," Showalter told The Sun on Monday night. He declined to comment further, the newspaper reported.
Orioles officials did return calls seeking comment from The Sun.
The Sun speculates the Orioles could have a new manager in place immediately after the All-Star break next week.
Sporting News staff reports
The Orioles and Buck Showalter have met a second time about the club’s managerial position, The Baltimore Sun reports, but no job offer has been made.
Showalter is considered a front-runner for the full-time position, with former Indians manager Eric Wedge also a candidate. Juan Samuel is serving as interim manager after the team fired Dave Trembley on June 4.
"I have not been offered anything, that’s for sure," Showalter told The Sun on Monday night. He declined to comment further, the newspaper reported.
Orioles officials did return calls seeking comment from The Sun.
The Sun speculates the Orioles could have a new manager in place immediately after the All-Star break next week.
Sporting News staff reports
The Reds and Mariners have discussed a trade involving Seattle left-hander Cliff Lee, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports, and the Twins reportedly are making a big push as well.
Officials from Cincinnati and Seattle spoke last month when the teams met for an interleague series out West.
Reds general manager Walt Jocketty on Monday didn’t deny that talks have taken place.
"I will say this: We’re looking at any way we can to improve the club," Jocketty told reporters. "To improve the club, it would have to be a pretty significant player to do that. We have a lot of good things going. We don’t want to disrupt that."
Lee would qualify as a significant addition. The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner is 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA for the last-place Mariners, despite missing the first month of the season with an injury. He can become a free agent after the season, and Seattle is expected to deal him before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline.
The Enquirer speculated that first base prospect Yonder Alonso, a 2008 Reds first-round draft pick, would have to be included in a package of prospects to get Lee. Alonso is blocked in Cincinnati by Joey Votto.
A Detroit radio station reported Monday night that the Twins had finalized a deal for Lee, but the Twins quickly denied the story. SI.com’s Jon Heyman, however, reported things are getting "interesting" between the teams and that the discussions "have possibilities."
Both Heyman and AOL FanHouse’s Jeff Fletcher report Seattle wants Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos as part of the deal. Ramos is blocked by Joe Mauer. Fletcher also reported that Minnesota may also have offered outfielder Aaron Hicks, Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2008.
Sporting News staff reports
The Reds and Mariners have discussed a trade involving Seattle left-hander Cliff Lee, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports, and the Twins reportedly are making a big push as well.
Officials from Cincinnati and Seattle spoke last month when the teams met for an interleague series out West.
Reds general manager Walt Jocketty on Monday didn’t deny that talks have taken place.
"I will say this: We’re looking at any way we can to improve the club," Jocketty told reporters. "To improve the club, it would have to be a pretty significant player to do that. We have a lot of good things going. We don’t want to disrupt that."
Lee would qualify as a significant addition. The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner is 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA for the last-place Mariners, despite missing the first month of the season with an injury. He can become a free agent after the season, and Seattle is expected to deal him before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline.
The Enquirer speculated that first base prospect Yonder Alonso, a 2008 Reds first-round draft pick, would have to be included in a package of prospects to get Lee. Alonso is blocked in Cincinnati by Joey Votto.
A Detroit radio station reported Monday night that the Twins had finalized a deal for Lee, but the Twins quickly denied the story. SI.com’s Jon Heyman, however, reported things are getting "interesting" between the teams and that the discussions "have possibilities."
Both Heyman and AOL FanHouse’s Jeff Fletcher report Seattle wants Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos as part of the deal. Ramos is blocked by Joe Mauer. Fletcher also reported that Minnesota may also have offered outfielder Aaron Hicks, Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2008.
Sporting News staff reports
The Yankees, Dodgers and Cardinals were among the clubs with a scout in attendance at Cliff Lee’s start in Detroit on Sunday afternoon, according to FOXSports.com. It marked the second straight start by Lee that the Yankees scouted.
Rival clubs believe the Yankees are pursuing Lee ahead of the July 31 non-waiver deadline, although it’s possible the Yankees are scouting Lee in preparation for his upcoming free agency, according to the report. The Mariners are widely expected to trade Lee this month.
New York also has been linked to Kansas City infielder/outfielder Willie Bloomquist, according to The Kansas City Star. Boston and Philadelphia also reportedly are in the mix.
That interest doesn’t sit well with his current manager. "I’m not advocating Willie going anywhere," K.C. skipper Ned Yost said. "I can’t tell you how valuable he is. He’s at the top of his position. I can’t think of another super-utility player who is as good as Willie outside of maybe Jamey Carroll (of the Dodgers)."
Sporting News staff reports
The Yankees, Dodgers and Cardinals were among the clubs with a scout in attendance at Cliff Lee’s start in Detroit on Sunday afternoon, according to FOXSports.com. It marked the second straight start by Lee that the Yankees scouted.
Rival clubs believe the Yankees are pursuing Lee ahead of the July 31 non-waiver deadline, although it’s possible the Yankees are scouting Lee in preparation for his upcoming free agency, according to the report. The Mariners are widely expected to trade Lee this month.
New York also has been linked to Kansas City infielder/outfielder Willie Bloomquist, according to The Kansas City Star. Boston and Philadelphia also reportedly are in the mix.
That interest doesn’t sit well with his current manager. "I’m not advocating Willie going anywhere," K.C. skipper Ned Yost said. "I can’t tell you how valuable he is. He’s at the top of his position. I can’t think of another super-utility player who is as good as Willie outside of maybe Jamey Carroll (of the Dodgers)."
Sporting New staff reports
Cubs righthander Carlos Zambrano will apologize to his Cubs teammates when he returns from the restricted list, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Cubs bullpen catcher Edgar Tovar, who has been in contact with Zambrano since his infamous blowup in the dugout on June 25, told the newspaper that the righthander is sorry. "He feels bad about everything," Tovar said. "He loves Chicago and he loves playing for the Cubs and wants to stay here."
Manager Lou Piniella expects Zambrano’s teammates to welcome him back, assuming he apologizes. "Time will heal wounds," Piniella said. "It was a very good idea to wait until after the All-Star break before he came in and addressed the team, and two weeks from now things will quiet down a heck of a lot."
Zambrano is expected to go on a minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the Cubs as a reliever.
Sporting New staff reports
Cubs righthander Carlos Zambrano will apologize to his Cubs teammates when he returns from the restricted list, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Cubs bullpen catcher Edgar Tovar, who has been in contact with Zambrano since his infamous blowup in the dugout on June 25, told the newspaper that the righthander is sorry. "He feels bad about everything," Tovar said. "He loves Chicago and he loves playing for the Cubs and wants to stay here."
Manager Lou Piniella expects Zambrano’s teammates to welcome him back, assuming he apologizes. "Time will heal wounds," Piniella said. "It was a very good idea to wait until after the All-Star break before he came in and addressed the team, and two weeks from now things will quiet down a heck of a lot."
Zambrano is expected to go on a minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the Cubs as a reliever.
Roy Cummings, Sporting News correspondent
This is the 24th in a series of team breakdowns to be published before the start of training camp.
Reporting date: July 30
The Buccaneers are coming off a 3-13 season and are still in the middle phase of a major rebuilding project. Their goals are pretty modest this season. Sure, they’d like to get into the playoff hunt in 2010, but that’s more of a dream than a reality—and they know it.
The Bucs’ objective is to improve on last year’s disturbing finish, and there’s reason to believe they can do it. Unlike last fall, when then-rookie coach Raheem Morris wasn’t sure what kind of offense or defense his team was going to run, the Bucs enter this season with an identity established on both sides of the ball.
Still, the Bucs are going with a younger lineup than they fielded in 2009. So expect some growing pains. If all goes as planned, however, they’ll make a little progress, too.
The Buccaneers hope the ground game will open up the long ball for Josh Freeman.
What’s new
Offense: Second-year quarterback Josh Freeman is the centerpiece of the offense, but the Bucs won’t make him the focal point of their attack. The hope is that by serving up a steady diet of Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham, the Bucs can lure an eighth defender into the box and create opportunities for Freeman downfield.
The new wizard behind the curtain is Greg Olson, who really isn’t new at all. He spent all of 2009 running the offense after Jeff Jagodzinski was fired 10 days before the start of the season. Because he got such a late start, though, Olson never got to implement his own scheme. Now that he has his own game plan in place, look for the Bucs to lean on a power rushing attack as well as Freeman’s ability to strike deep.
To take advantage of Freeman’s big arm, the team could need rookie wideouts Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams to contribute quickly. Though they need some work, Benn and Williams are good enough to push the likes of Michael Clayton, Sammie Stroughter, Maurice Stovall and Reggie Brown.
Defense: When Morris took the defense back from the deposed Jim Bates after 10 games last year, it was the best move he made. Though it was viewed by many as another indication that Morris was in over his head, the decision to abandon Bates’ two-gap, man-coverage scheme and return to a one-gap, zone-coverage system put the defense back on the road to respectability.
The personnel is best suited to play in a one-gap scheme up front and in zone coverage in the back, but don’t be confused: Morris is not running the Tampa 2. He has developed a hybrid system designed to confuse and pressure the quarterback, and he’ll do it by dialing up more blitzes than are usually seen in a cover 2 scheme.
The line was a weakness last year, but the prospects for 2010 are improved because of the addition of first-round pick Gerald McCoy and second-rounder Brian Price. But this unit needs much more than just two potentially dominant tackles. Though McCoy, Price and second-year pro Roy Miller should allow the ends to max out on their skill set, the line still seems a little thin on the outside.
Breakout player
Kyle Moore, DE: He spent the first half of his rookie year recovering from a knee injury, but he bounced back and got regular snaps down the stretch. He proved he is worthy of starting this season. A strong one-gap player with the quickness and speed necessary to get into the backfield—especially after losing 20 pounds in the offseason—Moore will also work inside on occasion. He should finish his first full season with at least five sacks.
"He’s a guy who can really give guards some trouble on third down and give us some pass rush from the left end, because he’s got his explosion back. And what we’re seeing from him there is something we haven’t seen here in a while." —defensive line coach Todd Wash
Opponent’s view
(An anonymous opponent breaks down the Buccaneers)
"Offensively, they’re nothing like they were under (former coach Jon) Gruden. He did the absolute most he could with what he had to work with. Preparing to face his offenses was always a challenge. That doesn’t mean they won’t improve this year, though. I think their young QB (Freeman) has a lot of promise, and he showed a lot of moxie bringing his team back from deficits last year. …
"Defensively, I expect them to improve substantially. They’re obviously making a concerted effort to defend the run better, taking interior linemen early in the draft. Every linebacker loves when his team drafts big talent in front of him. That should free (Barrett) Ruud up to make even more plays, and hopefully he starts getting the credit he deserves. This guy needs to get paid at some point, for God’s sake."
Bottom line
The Buccaneers are entering the second year of a massive rebuilding effort. Some of the foundation’s keystones—Freeman, McCoy and Price—are in place, but there’s still work to be done on both sides of the ball. If the Bucs learn some new schemes, they should improve on the field and in the standings. This team is still a year or two away from being a playoff contender, but doubling last season’s win total is within reach.
Depth chart
Offense
QB Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson
RB Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward
FB Earnest Graham, Chris Pressley
WR Mike Williams, Sammie Stroughter
WR Michael Clayton, Arrelious Benn
TE Kellen Winslow, Jerramy Stevens
LT Donald Penn, Demar Dotson
LG Jeremy Zuttah, Xavier Fulton
C Jeff Faine, Jonathan Compas
RG Davin Joseph, Shawn Murphy
RT Jeremy Trueblood, Demar Dotson
Defense
LE Kyle Moore, Tim Crowder
DT Brian Price, Roy Miller
NT Gerald McCoy, Dre Moore
RE Stylez G. White, Tim Crowder
SLB Quincy Black, Adam Hayward
MLB Barrett Ruud, Rod Wilson
WLB Geno Hayes, Dekoda Watson
LCB Aqib Talib, E.J. Biggers
SS Sabby Piscitelli, Sean Jones
FS Tanard Jackson, Sabby Piscitelli
RCB Ronde Barber, Myron Lewis
Specialists
K Connor Barth
P Brent Bowden
KR Clifton Smith
PR Clifton Smith
LS Andrew Economos
Roy Cummings, Sporting News correspondent
This is the 24th in a series of team breakdowns to be published before the start of training camp.
Reporting date: July 30
The Buccaneers are coming off a 3-13 season and are still in the middle phase of a major rebuilding project. Their goals are pretty modest this season. Sure, they’d like to get into the playoff hunt in 2010, but that’s more of a dream than a reality—and they know it.
The Bucs’ objective is to improve on last year’s disturbing finish, and there’s reason to believe they can do it. Unlike last fall, when then-rookie coach Raheem Morris wasn’t sure what kind of offense or defense his team was going to run, the Bucs enter this season with an identity established on both sides of the ball.
Still, the Bucs are going with a younger lineup than they fielded in 2009. So expect some growing pains. If all goes as planned, however, they’ll make a little progress, too.
The Buccaneers hope the ground game will open up the long ball for Josh Freeman.
What’s new
Offense: Second-year quarterback Josh Freeman is the centerpiece of the offense, but the Bucs won’t make him the focal point of their attack. The hope is that by serving up a steady diet of Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham, the Bucs can lure an eighth defender into the box and create opportunities for Freeman downfield.
The new wizard behind the curtain is Greg Olson, who really isn’t new at all. He spent all of 2009 running the offense after Jeff Jagodzinski was fired 10 days before the start of the season. Because he got such a late start, though, Olson never got to implement his own scheme. Now that he has his own game plan in place, look for the Bucs to lean on a power rushing attack as well as Freeman’s ability to strike deep.
To take advantage of Freeman’s big arm, the team could need rookie wideouts Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams to contribute quickly. Though they need some work, Benn and Williams are good enough to push the likes of Michael Clayton, Sammie Stroughter, Maurice Stovall and Reggie Brown.
Defense: When Morris took the defense back from the deposed Jim Bates after 10 games last year, it was the best move he made. Though it was viewed by many as another indication that Morris was in over his head, the decision to abandon Bates’ two-gap, man-coverage scheme and return to a one-gap, zone-coverage system put the defense back on the road to respectability.
The personnel is best suited to play in a one-gap scheme up front and in zone coverage in the back, but don’t be confused: Morris is not running the Tampa 2. He has developed a hybrid system designed to confuse and pressure the quarterback, and he’ll do it by dialing up more blitzes than are usually seen in a cover 2 scheme.
The line was a weakness last year, but the prospects for 2010 are improved because of the addition of first-round pick Gerald McCoy and second-rounder Brian Price. But this unit needs much more than just two potentially dominant tackles. Though McCoy, Price and second-year pro Roy Miller should allow the ends to max out on their skill set, the line still seems a little thin on the outside.
Breakout player
Kyle Moore, DE: He spent the first half of his rookie year recovering from a knee injury, but he bounced back and got regular snaps down the stretch. He proved he is worthy of starting this season. A strong one-gap player with the quickness and speed necessary to get into the backfield—especially after losing 20 pounds in the offseason—Moore will also work inside on occasion. He should finish his first full season with at least five sacks.
"He’s a guy who can really give guards some trouble on third down and give us some pass rush from the left end, because he’s got his explosion back. And what we’re seeing from him there is something we haven’t seen here in a while." —defensive line coach Todd Wash
Opponent’s view
(An anonymous opponent breaks down the Buccaneers)
"Offensively, they’re nothing like they were under (former coach Jon) Gruden. He did the absolute most he could with what he had to work with. Preparing to face his offenses was always a challenge. That doesn’t mean they won’t improve this year, though. I think their young QB (Freeman) has a lot of promise, and he showed a lot of moxie bringing his team back from deficits last year. …
"Defensively, I expect them to improve substantially. They’re obviously making a concerted effort to defend the run better, taking interior linemen early in the draft. Every linebacker loves when his team drafts big talent in front of him. That should free (Barrett) Ruud up to make even more plays, and hopefully he starts getting the credit he deserves. This guy needs to get paid at some point, for God’s sake."
Bottom line
The Buccaneers are entering the second year of a massive rebuilding effort. Some of the foundation’s keystones—Freeman, McCoy and Price—are in place, but there’s still work to be done on both sides of the ball. If the Bucs learn some new schemes, they should improve on the field and in the standings. This team is still a year or two away from being a playoff contender, but doubling last season’s win total is within reach.
Depth chart
Offense
QB Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson
RB Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward
FB Earnest Graham, Chris Pressley
WR Mike Williams, Sammie Stroughter
WR Michael Clayton, Arrelious Benn
TE Kellen Winslow, Jerramy Stevens
LT Donald Penn, Demar Dotson
LG Jeremy Zuttah, Xavier Fulton
C Jeff Faine, Jonathan Compas
RG Davin Joseph, Shawn Murphy
RT Jeremy Trueblood, Demar Dotson
Defense
LE Kyle Moore, Tim Crowder
DT Brian Price, Roy Miller
NT Gerald McCoy, Dre Moore
RE Stylez G. White, Tim Crowder
SLB Quincy Black, Adam Hayward
MLB Barrett Ruud, Rod Wilson
WLB Geno Hayes, Dekoda Watson
LCB Aqib Talib, E.J. Biggers
SS Sabby Piscitelli, Sean Jones
FS Tanard Jackson, Sabby Piscitelli
RCB Ronde Barber, Myron Lewis
Specialists
K Connor Barth
P Brent Bowden
KR Clifton Smith
PR Clifton Smith
LS Andrew Economos
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Josh Byrnes on Thursday night in a shakeup at the top of a team cemented in last place in the NL West for the second year in a row.
Diamondbacks bench coach and ex-major league slugger Kirk Gibson will take over as interim manager for a ballclub that was 31-48, 15 1/2 games back of San Diego entering Thursday’s games.
Team president Derrick Hall called the dismissals "a first and major step in the re-evaluation of our team."
The 35-year-old Hinch was promoted May 7, 2009. Despite having no managerial experience at any level, he was moved from the front office to manager following the firing of Bob Melvin. Hinch has two years remaining on his contract after this season.
Hinch is the fourth manager to lose his job this season. Florida’s Fredi Gonzalez, Baltimore’s Dave Trembley and Kansas City’s Trey Hillman have also been fired.
Byrnes, once considered a rising star among young baseball executives, has a whopping 5 1/2 years left on a deal that runs through 2015.
Former major league pitcher Jerry DiPoto, vice president for player development, will take over the GM duties on an interim basis.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Arizona managing partner Ken Kendrick called the firings "a significant decision, but one that we find necessary in order to achieve a direction of winning consistently on the field again."
The team scheduled a Friday news conference to discuss the move.
Gibson’s name is as recognizable as Hinch’s was obscure, as much as anything for one of baseball’s most dramatic home runs.
He hit .268 with 255 home runs, 870 RBIs and 284 stolen bases in 17 seasons as a major league outfielder with Detroit, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
He was the Dodgers’ team leader and NL MVP in the 1988 regular season, but injuries to both legs kept him on the bench when the World Series against Oakland began.
In Game 1, barely able to walk, Gibson came to the plate as a pinch hitter in the ninth and hit Dennis Eckersly’s 0-2 pitch into the right field seats of Dodger Stadium to give Los Angeles a 5-4 victory. He limped around the bases, pumping his fist in triumph, as broadcaster Joe Buck Sr. uttered his famous "I don’t believe what I just saw!"
Gibson was the Tigers’ bench coach from 555-5555 and joined Melvin’s staff in the same capacity in 2007.
Byrnes was in his fifth season as general manager after being lured from the Boston Red Sox, where he was assistant to GM Theo Epstein. After the young Diamondbacks finished with the NL’s best record and made it to the NLCS in 2007, Arizona gave him an eight-year extension.
Hinch, who has a degree from Stanford, was vice president for player personnel when he was moved to the manager’s role, even though he had never even been a coach before. At the time, Byrnes touted Hinch’s "organizational advocacy."
The team stumbled on to a last-place finish in the NL West (70-92), but Hinch confidently said "I like this team" coming out of spring training this year. Quickly, though, the Diamondbacks faded. At one time, they lost 10 in a row, including a franchise-worst 0-9 road trip. When the club returned from that awful journey, Hinch acknowledged, "This group hasn’t responded that well to me."
Hinch had an 89-123 record in not quite 14 months as Arizona’s fifth manager.
DiPoto had a 27-24 record with 49 saves and a 4.05 ERA in 390 major league appearances in eight seasons with Cleveland, the New York Mets and Colorado. He worked for the Red Sox scouting department for two years before becoming Colorado’s player personnel director in 2005. He joined the Diamondbacks when Byrnes became general manager in 2006 and was in his second season and vice president/player personnel.
The Diamondbacks open a 10-game home stand Friday night with the first of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team is on pace to shatter the major league record for strikeouts in the season and its bullpen statistically is one of the worst the game has known.
"We have a number of talented players, obviously see great room for improvement," Kendrick said. "This franchise has enjoyed tremendous success over the years and we want to get back to our winning ways. The loyal staff of this organization, as well as all of our fans, hopes for and deserves better results on the field."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Josh Byrnes on Thursday night in a shakeup at the top of a team cemented in last place in the NL West for the second year in a row.
Diamondbacks bench coach and ex-major league slugger Kirk Gibson will take over as interim manager for a ballclub that was 31-48, 15 1/2 games back of San Diego entering Thursday’s games.
Team president Derrick Hall called the dismissals "a first and major step in the re-evaluation of our team."
The 35-year-old Hinch was promoted May 7, 2009. Despite having no managerial experience at any level, he was moved from the front office to manager following the firing of Bob Melvin. Hinch has two years remaining on his contract after this season.
Hinch is the fourth manager to lose his job this season. Florida’s Fredi Gonzalez, Baltimore’s Dave Trembley and Kansas City’s Trey Hillman have also been fired.
Byrnes, once considered a rising star among young baseball executives, has a whopping 5 1/2 years left on a deal that runs through 2015.
Former major league pitcher Jerry DiPoto, vice president for player development, will take over the GM duties on an interim basis.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Arizona managing partner Ken Kendrick called the firings "a significant decision, but one that we find necessary in order to achieve a direction of winning consistently on the field again."
The team scheduled a Friday news conference to discuss the move.
Gibson’s name is as recognizable as Hinch’s was obscure, as much as anything for one of baseball’s most dramatic home runs.
He hit .268 with 255 home runs, 870 RBIs and 284 stolen bases in 17 seasons as a major league outfielder with Detroit, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
He was the Dodgers’ team leader and NL MVP in the 1988 regular season, but injuries to both legs kept him on the bench when the World Series against Oakland began.
In Game 1, barely able to walk, Gibson came to the plate as a pinch hitter in the ninth and hit Dennis Eckersly’s 0-2 pitch into the right field seats of Dodger Stadium to give Los Angeles a 5-4 victory. He limped around the bases, pumping his fist in triumph, as broadcaster Joe Buck Sr. uttered his famous "I don’t believe what I just saw!"
Gibson was the Tigers’ bench coach from 555-5555 and joined Melvin’s staff in the same capacity in 2007.
Byrnes was in his fifth season as general manager after being lured from the Boston Red Sox, where he was assistant to GM Theo Epstein. After the young Diamondbacks finished with the NL’s best record and made it to the NLCS in 2007, Arizona gave him an eight-year extension.
Hinch, who has a degree from Stanford, was vice president for player personnel when he was moved to the manager’s role, even though he had never even been a coach before. At the time, Byrnes touted Hinch’s "organizational advocacy."
The team stumbled on to a last-place finish in the NL West (70-92), but Hinch confidently said "I like this team" coming out of spring training this year. Quickly, though, the Diamondbacks faded. At one time, they lost 10 in a row, including a franchise-worst 0-9 road trip. When the club returned from that awful journey, Hinch acknowledged, "This group hasn’t responded that well to me."
Hinch had an 89-123 record in not quite 14 months as Arizona’s fifth manager.
DiPoto had a 27-24 record with 49 saves and a 4.05 ERA in 390 major league appearances in eight seasons with Cleveland, the New York Mets and Colorado. He worked for the Red Sox scouting department for two years before becoming Colorado’s player personnel director in 2005. He joined the Diamondbacks when Byrnes became general manager in 2006 and was in his second season and vice president/player personnel.
The Diamondbacks open a 10-game home stand Friday night with the first of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team is on pace to shatter the major league record for strikeouts in the season and its bullpen statistically is one of the worst the game has known.
"We have a number of talented players, obviously see great room for improvement," Kendrick said. "This franchise has enjoyed tremendous success over the years and we want to get back to our winning ways. The loyal staff of this organization, as well as all of our fans, hopes for and deserves better results on the field."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
