Category: MLB

Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez reportedly lost his temper with his common-law wife’s father, Carlos Pena, when Pena told him to "stop acting like a baby" and "man up and play better," according to the New York Daily News.

The newspaper reported Rodriguez was vocally upset after Wednesday’s loss when Pena shared that advice with him. Upon hearing Pena’s comments, Rodriguez’s mother told Pena to keep his mouth shut. Pena and Mrs. Rodriguez then began to argue, resulting in Rodriguez losing his temper and reportedly punching Pena — repeatedly.

All of this happened in the family area at Citi Field, and stadium security had to pull Rodriguez away from Pena. Rodriguez then left the stadium but returned after a Mets employee called his cell phone.

Rodriguez was then arrested and spent the night in police custody. On Thursday, he was charged with assault and harassment and isn’t allowed to return home to visit his wife or children. He was suspended without pay by the Mets for two games, making him eligible to return to action Saturday.

Hyped for a heck of a homestretch? You should be.

Baseball’s pennant races are hot. With less than a third of the season remaining, no more than 2 1/2 games separate the top two teams in every division except the AL West.

Three factors certain to help separate the heroes from the hapless:

Ryan Howard is one of several big names who have been shelved with injuries.

Health
Nothing can sidetrack a team like injuries. Just ask the Red Sox. Nothing is more certain to happen than injuries, either.

Check some of the names on the disabled list: Justin Morneau (concussion), Chase Utley (thumb), Ryan Howard (ankle), Martin Prado (pinky), Rafael Furcal (back), Kevin Youkilis (thumb) and Dustin Pedroia (foot). Prado and Pedroia are expected back as soon as next week. The others, who knows?

Compared to the Phillies, the NL East-leading Braves had avoided costly injuries until Thursday when they learned Chipper Jones has a torn ACL in his left knee and faces season-ending surgery. The injury comes when the 38-year-old third baseman was hitting better than he has all season. "Worst-case scenario," admitted Jones’ long-time agent, BB Abbott.

Until recently, the Rays had gotten by with five starters all season, riding them to the majors’ second-best record. But they recently lost youngsters Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis to shoulder issues, just as the Red Sox are creeping closer.

Home
Nothing can boost a team like playing at home. Check the standings. Every first- and second-place team is at least seven games over .500 at home. Only the Yankees, Rays and Padres have played that well on the road.

The Padres are perhaps in the best position to take advantage of the remaining schedule. They begin a 10-game trip with a three-game showdown this weekend against the Giants, a team they have beaten in seven of eight meetings. After this journey, the Padres will leave San Diego only three more times, with two of those trips just three games long. The Giants still must make a trip to the East Coast, a 10-game trip on the West Coast, plus another that will send them to Chicago and Colorado.

The Padres hope to celebrate many more home wins down the stretch drive.

The Cardinals, who have the fewest road wins of any contender, have 25 home games left and 24 on the road. The Reds, meanwhile, play 25 of their final 47 on the road. The Twins get 28 of their final 48 games at Target Field—three more home games than the White Sox have left. The Yankees and Rays both have 24 home games remaining, while the Braves have 27 and the Phillies have 24.

Heat
Nothing is more challenging than playing in scorching heat. Ask the Rangers. August and September have taken them down more than once. They were three games out and 15 games over .500 going into August last year but went 29-32 and finished 10 behind the first-place Angels. Since their last trip to the postseason in 1999, the Rangers have had a winning record from August on only once. Even workhorse lefty Cliff Lee was affected by the 95-degree temperatures Wednesday when he failed to last seven innings for only the second time all season.

With four days left in steamy Kansas City this week and another trip left to Texas, Yankees manager Joe Girardi says guiding his veteran club through the dog days might be his biggest challenge.

"We are a club with some age," Girardi says. "We have a closer who’s 40, a catcher who’s 39, a left side of the infield that’s 36. Physically, how do I get these guys through the last 50 or so games? You can’t get too caught up in one or two games even though that’s what it could come down to in our division."

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

ATLANTA — Chipper Jones may have played his last game in the major leagues after tearing up his left knee while fielding a ground ball.

The Atlanta Braves said Thursday that the 38-year-old third baseman tore his anterior cruciate ligament and will need surgery. The estimated recovery time is six months, short enough to be ready for the next opening day – if Jones decides to return in 2011.

He had already said he would consider retirement after a season that’s now ended sooner than expected.

"I’m sure as the next couple of days go by, those are things we’ll discuss and he’ll discuss with his family," his agent, BB Abbott, told The Associated Press. "It’s not something he’ll decide immediately. He’s going to need to hear everything about the injury and rehabilitative process. He’ll probably make his decision from there. I can assure you it’s not something that’s going to be a knee-jerk decision."

Jones was hurt in Tuesday night’s game at Houston. He fielded a routine grounder by Hunter Pence, jumped in the air while making the throw to first, then collapsed to the ground for several minutes.

After an MRI exam, Jones met Thursday with the team doctor, Marvin Royster, who delivered the grim diagnosis – and a major setback for the NL East leaders.

"Obviously, he’s very, very disappointed. I would almost describe it as numb," Abbott said. "He knows this will be a big blow to the team. Obviously, he has been going very well recently and felt like he was really contributing to the team’s success. This is real disappointing for him."

Jones feared something was seriously wrong after he walked off the field gingerly under his own power.

"It’s hurt," he said in Houston. "I heard a distinct pop."

The Braves were actually hopeful when the knee didn’t swell as much as one would expect after an ACL injury, especially when Jones was able to handle some routine flexibility drills. But the MRI showed a partial tear, plus some stretching of the ligament, making it impossible for him to come back without surgery.

"We were cautiously optimistic," general manager Frank Wren said. "When we got the news this morning, I was actually pretty shocked."

Jones had bounced back from a slow start and was hitting .265 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs for a team that had a 2 1/2-game lead in the NL East on two-time defending league champion Philadelphia. The Braves will have to carry on with Omar Infante and Brooks Conrad sharing third base, though neither has Jones’ power.

Coming off a poor 2009 season, Jones got off to a miserable start this year and said in June that he was considering retirement. A few days later, he backed off and said he would wait until after the season to make a decision. He had been playing much better since then, raising his average some 30 points and showing more power.

"There’s no denying the presence he had in the middle of our lineup," Wren said. "When you think of the Atlanta Braves, the first guy you think of is Chipper Jones. His presence in our lineup has been increasing based on his performance the last couple of months. He was a force. So, yeah, we’re losing a lot."

Wren will look into making a trade to bolster the lineup, but his options are limited since the deadline for non-waiver moves has passed. Besides, he’s not sure the Braves could find a player more effective than Infante, who made the All-Star team as a utility player and is hitting a team-leading .330. Another All-Star, second baseman Martin Prado, is expected to take batting practice Friday and could return from the disabled list soon after breaking a knuckle.

Another option isn’t likely: Wren dismissed the idea of calling up slugging first baseman Freddy Freeman from Triple-A and moving Troy Glaus back to third base, his original position. He said Glaus just doesn’t have the range he did earlier in his career.

"This really doesn’t change our first base situation at all," Wren said.

As for Jones, he has to consider whether he wants to keep playing after the second major knee injury of his career. He missed all of 1994, expected to be his rookie season, with the same injury to the same knee. Jones returned to become one of the greatest players in Atlanta history, a six-time All-Star who won the NL MVP award in 1999 and the NL batting title in 2008.

Recovering from a major injury late in his career would be much tougher, perhaps the biggest factor of all when Jones considers whether he should retire. He would also have to work out a settlement with the Braves, who owe him about $28 million in guaranteed money for the next two seasons.

Jones certainly won’t be around to help the Braves try to hold off Philadelphia in the final year for longtime manager Bobby Cox, who has already announced he’ll retire at the end of the season. Jones, as much as anyone, wanted to send out Cox with his the team’s first playoff appearance since 2005.

"There’s certainly a part of him that feels like he’s let Bobby down, and let his teammates down," Abbott said. "He’s really distraught about it."

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez was arrested and charged with third-degree assault after injuring his father-in-law in a postgame fight inside Citi Field, New York City police said Wednesday night.

Police spokesman Lt. Mike Wysokowski told Newsday that Rodriguez "was arrested at 10:15 after a domestic dispute in the family area with what appeared to be his father-in-law. The victim suffered facial abrasions and was taken to Flushing Hospital." Police did not release the father-in-law’s name.

SportsNet New York, which broadcasts Mets’ games, reported Rodriguez will be arraigned Thursday in Queens Criminal Court. The New York Post reported Rodriguez was held overnight at the Citi Field detention area.

Third-degree assault is a misdemeanor in New York.

The Daily News reported the incident took place outside the Mets’ clubhouse after the Mets’ 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Rodriguez did not pitch in the game, in which the Mets blew a one-run lead in the eighth inning. He was visibly upset while speaking with reporters prior to the incident.

Stadium security led Rodriguez back into the team’s clubhouse after the altercation, the News reports. Rodriguez later cursed at a reporter who asked him what had happened.

The Mets released a statement confirming that Rodriguez was involved in an altercation. They referred further questions to the NYPD.

Rodriguez has had previous confrontations with a team official, a coach and an opponent in his 1½ seasons with the Mets, though none of them reached this level.

The excitable, 28-year-old pitcher signed a three-year, $37 million contract with the Mets after posting a record 62 saves with the Angels in 2008. He is 4-2 with 25 saves and a 2.24 ERA this season.

Rodriguez did not pitch in the Mets’ latest loss, which dropped them below .500. Reliever Manny Acosta gave up a two-out grand slam to Melvin Mora in the eighth inning.

In May, Rodriguez and bullpen coach Randy Niemann got into a heated exchange while the pitcher was preparing to enter a game. Mets manager Jerry Manuel later said the matter was resolved, without divulging what caused the dispute.

In July 2009, Rodriguez and former Mets official Tony Bernazard argued aboard the team bus. Bernazard was later fired by the Mets amid several allegations.

That June, Rodriguez and New York Yankees reliever Brian Bruney needed to be separated before a game. They had jawed at each other in the media a day earlier.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Arizona Diamondbacks hitters put Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Dave Bush in the record book Wednesday by hitting home runs in four consecutive at-bats against him.

Adam LaRoche, Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds and Stephen Drew connected against Bush in the top of the fourth inning at Miller Park.

Arizona went on the win the game, 8-2.

"It’s pretty special," Drew told reporters afterward. "You don’t see that too often. It’s one of those things that was meant to be and it was a special time."

Bush became the third pitcher to give up four in a row, joining the Angels’ Paul Foytack (July 31, 1963, vs. the Indians) and the Yankees’ Chase Wright (April 22, 2007, vs. the Red Sox). Wright is now pitching for the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate.

"I’m going to assume I lost a little location," Bush said. "There wasn’t anything that changed other than that little bit of a rut there. It was frustrating for sure."

Arizona is the seventh team in major league history to hit four straight homers.

"I don’t know what to tell you about that," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "It was a freak thing. I was happy to be part of it."

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The Braves are cautiously optimistic that third baseman Chipper Jones avoided a serious knee injury Tuesday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Jones will have an MRI exam on his injured left knee Thursday, but the team announced he hasn’t experienced much swelling since the incident.

He suffered the injury while making an impressive defensive play in Tuesday’s game and had to be helped off the field.

Following the game, Chipper downplayed the severity of the injury, but manager Bobby Cox told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Chipper’s going to be out a while probably."

Jones, who has hinted that this season could be his last, is hitting .265 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs. In his 17-season major league career, the six-time All-Star and 1999 NL MVP is a .306 hitter with 436 homers and 1,491 RBIs.

The Giants have Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Barry Zito. The A’s have a bunch of young starters who rarely are mentioned on SportsCenter unless they pitch a perfect game.

The Giants’ starters have won three Cy Young Awards and made seven All-Star teams. The A’s have zero and one. The Giants’ rotation will pull in $33.25 million as a group this season. A’s starters will be paid $2.385 million. Total, including bonuses.

Trevor Cahill is a Cy Young candidate this season.

But the A’s rotation has been just as successful as the Giants’ in 2010. The numbers for the starters that each team will use down the stretch are practically a wash. The A’s are a combined 37-26 with a 3.32 ERA; the Giants 40-32 with a 3.33 ERA.

Maybe it is time to learn why Trevor Cahill has been the most difficult pitcher to hit in the American League this season. And how Gio Gonzalez has earned more wins than any Giant except Lincecum. And just who are Brett Anderson and Vin Mazzaro. And what has happened to Dallas Braden since his perfect game.

First, a group study: Oakland’s starters are younger than you might think: 22, 22, 23, 24 and 26. Three were drafted by the A’s and all pretty much came through the minors together. They hail from all across America: New Jersey, Oklahoma, Miami, San Diego and Stockton, Calif. Stuff-wise, they probably aren’t on the Giants’ level. San Francisco’s rotation has a trio with 95-plus mph fastballs. The A’s have one, maybe.

To help demonstrate that the A’s starters are making the most out of what they do throw, we consulted two sources who have seen plenty of them: Oakland closer Andrew Bailey and a veteran major league scout. Their reports, ranked in order of where each starter best fits into the rotation:

Brett Anderson, 22. The lefthander from Stillwater, Okla., was a second-round draft pick by the Diamondbacks in 2006 and came to the A’s in the 2007 Dan Haren trade. He made 30 starts as a rookie in 2009 and has had two stints on the disabled list this season.
This season: 2.88 ERA, 34 strikeouts to seven walks, zero homers allowed in 50 innings.
Scout says: "He has a power fastball, power slider. Clearly has the best stuff and is the one guy on this staff who could be a No. 1, but that depends on his health."
Bailey says: "The quiet killer. Big power arm, and he’s not afraid to pitch inside."

Trevor Cahill, 22. A second-round pick out in 2006, Cahill started the season on the disabled list but has emerged as a Cy Young candidate.
This season: 12-4, 2.56 ERA, an AL-best .192 batting average against.
Scout says: "He doesn’t have eye-popping stuff but has been one of the best starters in baseball because of his ability to keep the ball down. I’d compare him to Carl Pavano or a Derek Lowe, but with a little better stuff."
Bailey says: "Has a Brandon Webb-type sinker. The big difference for him this season has been throwing his curve for a strike. When we were first in the minors, he never talked to anybody, almost like he was scared because he’d never been out of his corner of the world in San Diego. But now he’s really come into his own, as a pitcher and a person."

Gio Gonzalez, 24. One of the rotation’s three lefthanders, he is the A’s only starter to not miss a turn this season. Gonzalez, out of Miami, was a first-round pick by the White Sox in 2004, was traded to the Phillies in 2005 and back to Chicago a year later before coming to Oakland in the 2008 Nick Swisher deal.
This season: 3.51 ERA, 10-7 record, a .183 batting average allowed against lefthanders. He also ranks among AL leaders in walks (62 in 141 innings).

Vin Mazzaro has allowed 12 homers in 88 2/3 innings.

Scout says: "Very good fastball and curve, good changeup. He has trouble pitching down in the zone. He struggles with command, which leads to high pitch counts."
Bailey says: "Power arm with a big, loopy curve. From Miami, he’s the always outgoing type."

Vin Mazzaro, 23. He was a third-round pick in 2005 out of New Jersey. Mazzaro wasn’t called up for good this season until late May but is coming on. Seven of his past eight starts have been strong.
This season: 6-4 record, 3.86 ERA, but 12 homers allowed in 88 2/3 innings.
Scout says: "A good sinking fastball but he also can have trouble with his command."
Bailey says: "A 94-mph fastball and strong slider. He’s like me. We’re both from New Jersey and can talk all day."

Dallas Braden, 26. He is the only member of the rotation not drafted in the first three rounds. Braden was a 24th-round pick in 2004 out of Stockton, the town he proudly calls home. Section 209 — the area code in his hometown — was packed for a promotion when Braden pitched his perfect game on Mother’s Day.
This season: 6-8 record, 3.75 ERA.
Scout says: "He has the least amount of stuff but probably the best idea of how to pitch. He commands well and really knows how to change speeds."
Bailey says: "He throws probably the most changeups per start in the league. He can throw one 74 (mph), he can throw one 64. He’s not eligible for arbitration yet, but he’s still our veteran leader."

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

After a tumultuous 2009 that included an admission of steroids use, a divorce and hip surgery, Alex Rodriguez decided to do what he could to change his life and become a better person and teammate. Initial interviews still came off as awkward and insincere, but he has come a long way.

Now, with a World Series ring in hand and more support from his team and the fans, the Yankees third baseman finally seems to be genuine about himself and the game. The weights on him seem to have been lifted. He may never fit in or ever truly "get it," but at least he’s trying.

The look says it all: Alex Rodriguez is in a happier place this year.

Rodriguez joined Michael Kay on ESPN Radio New York to discuss the wait for his 600th career home run, what the milestone means in relation to his admission to using PEDs, his life changes and the career home run record.

On taking so long to hit his 600th home run:

"I’m glad we did it in a winning fashion so we finally have it behind us and can focus on winning baseball. … It was getting difficult because I wanted to really move on with it and focus on the team. We are right in the middle of a pennant race and I knew we had Boston coming in for four. What I have focused on over the last few years is focusing on good, hard baseball and being one of the guys. One of the things that I have prided myself in the past two years was to let my playing do the talking and do a little talking in the clubhouse. It seems like the last four or five days, it’s been the exact opposite – talk a lot and not do much out there."

On how fans should view his home run total relative to his admitted use of PEDs:

"I don’t think anyone should ignore what happened last year. That was a big day in my life. It was probably one of the toughest days, if not the toughest day, of my life. At that press conference, I had an opportunity. I knew that I had an opportunity to do things right both on and off the field. I made some promises and said some very strong things. … For the most part, I think that I’ve stayed to that script. I’ve done the best that I can to be one of the guys, to do some of the things that I’ve done off the field as quietly as possible and just go out and play baseball. And the irony is that I’m enjoying the game more than I did pre-500 and all that stuff. I have nothing to say. I’m not the judge or the jury. When it is all said and done, when my contract is up in New York and I get to retire, I think people are going to look at my body of work and say yes, no, or indifferent. That’s up to them. I’m not here trying to change their mind or not. I’m trying to walk the walk."

On whether he is the same player he was when he hit No. 500:

"I think the further that I get away from this (hip) injury, the better I am getting. It’s trial and error still. For the most part, I can’t answer that question. My job is to go out and play. I’m a much better team player. The support from my teammates and the fans has really been overwhelming. I don’t know if I am any better. I am a better player for a winning team. … You talk about perspective. My world has turned upside down from 500 to 600. The support from the fans, my teammates. I have guys from the NBA, the NFL and other teams texting me and cheering me on. That’s totally different from 500. I think the support around baseball, around sports, even the writers. I did my best to be at my locker every day. I was there before and after the game. … I’m in a totally different place than I was at 500. I was stressed out with a lot of things. But right now, I’m at peace with myself. I’m happy."

On the difference between the pressure of 600 and the pressure of the postseason:

"The pressure is completely taken off when you are talking about the team. Most of my at-bats (in pursuit of 600) were (in) blowout games. It was 47 at-bats. I bet 30 of them were with nobody on base, the game was out of reach and the only thing on my mind was probably just hitting the home run to get past it and get back to the team. The ones that I had men on base, the ones where I had men on base with two outs, were the easiest to focus. Those were the ones that I did actually the very best in those 47 at-bats."

On whether he thinks about breaking the career home run record:

"I think you do every once in a while on the big picture. But again, it took me exactly three years to get from 500 to 600. It’s not even on my radar. You really just try to focus on the present and today and this season and try to accomplish number 28. That’s what we’re here for. If we’re talking in a few years, it would be much easier to answer the question."

Listen to Alex Rodriguez on ESPN Radio New York with Michael Kay.

Giants pitcher Jonathan Sanchez is predicting a San Francisco sweep of the NL West-leading Padres this weekend. Sanchez apparently didn’t impress his teammates with that statement.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the San Francisco Chronicle that some Giants were giving Sanchez a "hard time," and not in a good way.

Apparently, Sanchez’s teammates were upset about the timing of his comments. The left-hander lasted only four innings in a loss to Atlanta on Sunday.

What to expect in the major leagues today:

Hitless again?

On July 26, Rays right-hander Matt Garza fired the first no-hitter in franchise history by shutting down the Tigers at Tropicana Field. Tonight, he will face Detroit again, this time at Comerica Park.

Matt Garza will have a tougher time shutting down the Tigers’ offense tonight.

In that no-no, Garza walked only one while striking out six. On that night, the Tigers were without second baseman Carlos Guillen and third baseman Brandon Inge, both of whom have returned from the disabled list (outfielder Magglio Ordonez remains sidelined).

Sponsored link: Tigers tickets available

Now it is Tampa Bay that is battling injuries, with starters Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis on the disabled list. With so much rotation uncertainty, the Rays need another strong effort from Garza.

NLCS rematch

The Phillies and Dodgers have met in the NLCS the past two years, but a third consecutive meeting is unlikely. Thanks to its improved play recently, despite several of their key players being on the disabled list, Philadelphia has positioned itself for a possible playoff run. However, Los Angeles faces a sizeable deficit in both the NL West and wild-card races.

The teams will continue their three-game series at Citizens Bank Park tonight, and trading deadline acquisition Roy Oswalt will try again for his first win with the Phillies. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in his first two starts since being acquired from Houston.

Lack of support

Royals right-hander Zack Greinke recently made headlines when he questioned the franchise’s ability to win before his contract expires in 2012. His frustration is understandable, as the reigning AL Cy Young award winner has suffered from a lack of run support the past two seasons.

Greinke will aim for win No. 8 tonight against the Angels. Starting for Los Angeles is a pitcher with a legitimate gripe of his own. Jered Weaver has an MLB-best 171 strikeouts and a sub-.300 ERA but is just 11-7.

Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.