If the White Sox want to trade catcher A.J. Pierzynski before he can veto a deal, they reportedly have an interested suitor — the Rangers.
Texas has inquired about Pierzynski as it looks to shore up its catching situation, the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales reports. Gonzales adds that the White Sox are listening.
Pierzynski, 33, will gain no-trade rights next month when he reaches 10 years of major league service time. He has spent the past five-plus seasons with the Sox.
Gonzales says the Rangers’ ownership situation complicates a possible trade; the team is still in the process of being sold, so it’s unclear how much of Pierzynski’s remaining salary Texas is willing to take. Pierzynski is due to make at least $6.25 million this season. He also can become a free agent in the offseason.
Chicago has an internal replacement for Pierzynski in Triple-A catcher Tyler Flowers.
Sporting News staff reports
If the White Sox want to trade catcher A.J. Pierzynski before he can veto a deal, they reportedly have an interested suitor — the Rangers.
Texas has inquired about Pierzynski as it looks to shore up its catching situation, the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales reports. Gonzales adds that the White Sox are listening.
Pierzynski, 33, will gain no-trade rights next month when he reaches 10 years of major league service time. He has spent the past five-plus seasons with the Sox.
Gonzales says the Rangers’ ownership situation complicates a possible trade; the team is still in the process of being sold, so it’s unclear how much of Pierzynski’s remaining salary Texas is willing to take. Pierzynski is due to make at least $6.25 million this season. He also can become a free agent in the offseason.
Chicago has an internal replacement for Pierzynski in Triple-A catcher Tyler Flowers.
Chipper Jones tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he’s willing to trade spots in the Braves’ batting order with rookie phenom Jason Heyward.
Jones says he’d move from his customary third spot to second, with Heyward moving down a notch to the 3-hole.
"Ultimately I always describe that a No. 3 hitter is a guy who can do it all," Jones tells the newspaper’s Carroll Rogers. "A guy who can hit for average and power, draw walks, run, score runs, drive in runs. At least right now Jason is really the only guy that can do all of those things. With the way I’m swinging the bat, right now I’m more of a table-setter."
Jones has told Braves manager Bobby Cox he’s willing to make the switch, but he says he’ll hit wherever he’s slotted.
"Anything Bobby wants to do with the lineup, I’ve always made it known I’ll do whatever’s best for the team, and he knows that," Jones said. "I have no qualms hitting second, I have no qualms hitting fourth, fifth, sixth, whatever."
Cox says that, for now, he’ll keep his current top three intact: second baseman Martin Prado, Heyward and Jones.
"I just like it the way it is," Cox says. "Chipper – he just missed hitting a homer (Friday) night. What’s the difference, second or third, anyway, to be honest with you."
Cox notes that Heyward has had RBI opportunities from the 2-spot, and Jones’ high OBP leads to opportunities for hitters below him.
"Chipper’s got a high on-base percentage always. That’s pretty good for (Brian) McCann and (Troy) Glaus and (Eric) Hinske right now, too," Cox says.
Sporting News staff reports
Chipper Jones tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he’s willing to trade spots in the Braves’ batting order with rookie phenom Jason Heyward.
Jones says he’d move from his customary third spot to second, with Heyward moving down a notch to the 3-hole.
"Ultimately I always describe that a No. 3 hitter is a guy who can do it all," Jones tells the newspaper’s Carroll Rogers. "A guy who can hit for average and power, draw walks, run, score runs, drive in runs. At least right now Jason is really the only guy that can do all of those things. With the way I’m swinging the bat, right now I’m more of a table-setter."
Jones has told Braves manager Bobby Cox he’s willing to make the switch, but he says he’ll hit wherever he’s slotted.
"Anything Bobby wants to do with the lineup, I’ve always made it known I’ll do whatever’s best for the team, and he knows that," Jones said. "I have no qualms hitting second, I have no qualms hitting fourth, fifth, sixth, whatever."
Cox says that, for now, he’ll keep his current top three intact: second baseman Martin Prado, Heyward and Jones.
"I just like it the way it is," Cox says. "Chipper – he just missed hitting a homer (Friday) night. What’s the difference, second or third, anyway, to be honest with you."
Cox notes that Heyward has had RBI opportunities from the 2-spot, and Jones’ high OBP leads to opportunities for hitters below him.
"Chipper’s got a high on-base percentage always. That’s pretty good for (Brian) McCann and (Troy) Glaus and (Eric) Hinske right now, too," Cox says.
Despite the Angels’ slow start – their worst in 20 years – general manager Tony Reagins told the Los Angeles Times that he doesn’t believe the roster needs an overhaul.
"It’s concerning when you’re not playing well, but we believe the players we have assembled have the capability to play at a much higher level," Reagins said. "We have to get guys into their games, and that hasn’t happened yet."
Reagins admitted he has had a couple of trade discussions but isn’t looking to make wholesale changes.
Sporting News staff reports
Despite the Angels’ slow start – their worst in 20 years – general manager Tony Reagins told the Los Angeles Times that he doesn’t believe the roster needs an overhaul.
"It’s concerning when you’re not playing well, but we believe the players we have assembled have the capability to play at a much higher level," Reagins said. "We have to get guys into their games, and that hasn’t happened yet."
Reagins admitted he has had a couple of trade discussions but isn’t looking to make wholesale changes.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post that he hasn’t set a date for rookie right-hander Stephen Strasburg’s major league debut.
"There’s a window there that I’ve decided, but there’s so many variables still," Rizzo said. "I can’t even pinpoint to the point where I can tell people who really need to know."
Rizzo also hinted that right-hander Drew Storen, a reliever who also was drafted in the first round last June, could debut before Strasburg. There has been speculation that Strasburg will be called up to start in Washington on June 4.
Sporting News staff reports
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post that he hasn’t set a date for rookie right-hander Stephen Strasburg’s major league debut.
"There’s a window there that I’ve decided, but there’s so many variables still," Rizzo said. "I can’t even pinpoint to the point where I can tell people who really need to know."
Rizzo also hinted that right-hander Drew Storen, a reliever who also was drafted in the first round last June, could debut before Strasburg. There has been speculation that Strasburg will be called up to start in Washington on June 4.
With so much baseball in his blood — his brother Aaron, father Bob and grandfather Ray all played in the majors — it’s easy to understand why Bret Boone couldn’t stay away from the game for long after retiring in 2008. The 41-year-old Boone, a three-time All-Star with 252 career homers, was hired to manage the Golden Baseball League’s Victoria Seals earlier this year. He discussed the career move with Sporting News’ Ken Bradley.
Sporting News: How did you land this job with Victoria? Bret Boone: I got a phone call from a buddy of mine who was in this league last year, Paul Abbott, who pitched — and I played with him in Seattle in ’01 and ’02. He asked if I was interested. You know, I never really considered doing something like this and I thought this might be interesting and a good experience — kind of get my foot back in the door and find out if this is something I want to do.
The opportunity was for 3 1/2 months versus the usual five- or six-month minor league season, so that worked family-wise better for me. And I think it’s just an opportunity to get some experience and find out if this is something I want to do, and hopefully along the way help a few kids.
SN: For someone who hasn’t been out of the game as a player long and whose family is so much about baseball, was it difficult to step away? BB: It was very hard. I’ve had a lot of friends who retired and did very well and were happy. For me it was a little different. It was tough. When I walked away from the game I thought it was going to be easy for me, and it was kind of like, Wow, all this stress and stuff I’d been going through for 15, 20 years — finally, I can just relax and step off the stage. But you find you miss it. It’s your way of life for so many years and basically all you’ve done. All of a sudden it’s not there.
It’s definitely been an adjustment for me, especially early. In the last year or so, it’s gotten a lot better and I’ve come to grips with it. I have a lot of great memories and it was a lot of fun. But I’ve been able to turn the page now and move on to the second portion of my life, and maybe that’s going to be in the managing side.
SN: You’ve been able to see your oldest son’s baseball games, among other things, though. That has been a nice change, hasn’t it? BB: You get to do that part where I’ve never been able to do that. I’ve always been traveling, on road trips and all of a sudden—you can ask my wife, I’m probably driving her nuts being home 24-7. So this is a little break from that. Kind of back in my old life, which was going on the road and traveling and staying busy. … Waking up in the morning and having something to do other than to go get Starbucks and take the kids to school. I mean, that’s great and I’ve been lucky to spend that time with them, but at my age, you need something to get up in the morning and do and hopefully have a passion for.
Ken Bradley, Sporting News
With so much baseball in his blood — his brother Aaron, father Bob and grandfather Ray all played in the majors — it’s easy to understand why Bret Boone couldn’t stay away from the game for long after retiring in 2008. The 41-year-old Boone, a three-time All-Star with 252 career homers, was hired to manage the Golden Baseball League’s Victoria Seals earlier this year. He discussed the career move with Sporting News’ Ken Bradley.
Sporting News: How did you land this job with Victoria? Bret Boone: I got a phone call from a buddy of mine who was in this league last year, Paul Abbott, who pitched — and I played with him in Seattle in ’01 and ’02. He asked if I was interested. You know, I never really considered doing something like this and I thought this might be interesting and a good experience — kind of get my foot back in the door and find out if this is something I want to do.
The opportunity was for 3 1/2 months versus the usual five- or six-month minor league season, so that worked family-wise better for me. And I think it’s just an opportunity to get some experience and find out if this is something I want to do, and hopefully along the way help a few kids.
SN: For someone who hasn’t been out of the game as a player long and whose family is so much about baseball, was it difficult to step away? BB: It was very hard. I’ve had a lot of friends who retired and did very well and were happy. For me it was a little different. It was tough. When I walked away from the game I thought it was going to be easy for me, and it was kind of like, Wow, all this stress and stuff I’d been going through for 15, 20 years — finally, I can just relax and step off the stage. But you find you miss it. It’s your way of life for so many years and basically all you’ve done. All of a sudden it’s not there.
It’s definitely been an adjustment for me, especially early. In the last year or so, it’s gotten a lot better and I’ve come to grips with it. I have a lot of great memories and it was a lot of fun. But I’ve been able to turn the page now and move on to the second portion of my life, and maybe that’s going to be in the managing side.
SN: You’ve been able to see your oldest son’s baseball games, among other things, though. That has been a nice change, hasn’t it? BB: You get to do that part where I’ve never been able to do that. I’ve always been traveling, on road trips and all of a sudden—you can ask my wife, I’m probably driving her nuts being home 24-7. So this is a little break from that. Kind of back in my old life, which was going on the road and traveling and staying busy. … Waking up in the morning and having something to do other than to go get Starbucks and take the kids to school. I mean, that’s great and I’ve been lucky to spend that time with them, but at my age, you need something to get up in the morning and do and hopefully have a passion for.
What I’ll be wondering as the division races heat up:
Don’t these guys age?: Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.
AL East: Why Yankees greats Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada don’t age. … Whether Red Sox reserve Mike Lowell, one of the game’s genuine good guys, will find an everyday job (either in Boston or elsewhere). … How Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, at 24, already has it all. He is the whole package on and off the field, has the respect of his peers and the fear of opposing pitchers, and is the cover boy for a pretty cool video game. … Whether Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will continue to make his critics pay for saying those awful things about him and his contract. You have to be careful what you say about players who still have uniforms on their backs.
AL Central: Whether the Twins can prove me wrong and win home games outside. … Whether Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will bring home the MVP award he is capable of winning. … Why the Indians and White Sox can’t get going. … Whether talented White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham can shake his early-season sophomore slump. … Whether I can enjoy anything in the division more than watching Twins catcher Joe Mauer hit.
AL West: How well Mariners co-ace Cliff Lee can pitch for his free-agent life. … Whether Mariners DH Ken Griffey Jr. hung around too long (let’s hope not). … Whether Angels lefthander Scott Kazmir will pitch to his ability. … Whether Mike Scioscia can erase his team’s slow start and earn another manager of the year award. … Whether Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton can stay healthy.
NL East: Whether the slow-starting Braves can send manager Bobby Cox out on top — and whether he will stay if they do. … Exactly what kind of numbers Braves rookie right fielder Jason Heyward is capable of. … What Marlins ownership will do at the trading deadline if they’re in contention. … Just how dominant Phillies ace Roy Halladay will be. … What the Mets can do if they stay healthy. … Whether Matt Capps can save 80 percent of the Nationals’ wins.
NL Central: Whether Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome is more Hideki Matsui than Tsuyoshi Shinjo. … How many bags Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen can steal. … Whether Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder will share his definition of vegetarian. … Whether any team in the division other than the Cardinals can entertain me enough to keep me awake.
NL West: Whether Manny is done being Manny. … Whether Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw will morph into this Sandy Koufax replica many claim he will be. … Whether Giants ace Tim Lincecum will win 25 games. … Whether Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton or Giants closer Brian Wilson throws harder. … Whether a Padres pitcher will throw the franchise’s first-ever no-hitter. … How good Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will be — after he is dealt to a big-market East Coast team.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
What I’ll be wondering as the division races heat up:
Don’t these guys age?: Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.
AL East: Why Yankees greats Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada don’t age. … Whether Red Sox reserve Mike Lowell, one of the game’s genuine good guys, will find an everyday job (either in Boston or elsewhere). … How Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, at 24, already has it all. He is the whole package on and off the field, has the respect of his peers and the fear of opposing pitchers, and is the cover boy for a pretty cool video game. … Whether Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will continue to make his critics pay for saying those awful things about him and his contract. You have to be careful what you say about players who still have uniforms on their backs.
AL Central: Whether the Twins can prove me wrong and win home games outside. … Whether Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will bring home the MVP award he is capable of winning. … Why the Indians and White Sox can’t get going. … Whether talented White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham can shake his early-season sophomore slump. … Whether I can enjoy anything in the division more than watching Twins catcher Joe Mauer hit.
AL West: How well Mariners co-ace Cliff Lee can pitch for his free-agent life. … Whether Mariners DH Ken Griffey Jr. hung around too long (let’s hope not). … Whether Angels lefthander Scott Kazmir will pitch to his ability. … Whether Mike Scioscia can erase his team’s slow start and earn another manager of the year award. … Whether Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton can stay healthy.
NL East: Whether the slow-starting Braves can send manager Bobby Cox out on top — and whether he will stay if they do. … Exactly what kind of numbers Braves rookie right fielder Jason Heyward is capable of. … What Marlins ownership will do at the trading deadline if they’re in contention. … Just how dominant Phillies ace Roy Halladay will be. … What the Mets can do if they stay healthy. … Whether Matt Capps can save 80 percent of the Nationals’ wins.
NL Central: Whether Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome is more Hideki Matsui than Tsuyoshi Shinjo. … How many bags Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen can steal. … Whether Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder will share his definition of vegetarian. … Whether any team in the division other than the Cardinals can entertain me enough to keep me awake.
NL West: Whether Manny is done being Manny. … Whether Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw will morph into this Sandy Koufax replica many claim he will be. … Whether Giants ace Tim Lincecum will win 25 games. … Whether Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton or Giants closer Brian Wilson throws harder. … Whether a Padres pitcher will throw the franchise’s first-ever no-hitter. … How good Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will be — after he is dealt to a big-market East Coast team.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
Stephen Strasburg isn’t expected to arrive in the majors until next month, but plenty of rookies already are getting their chances. Many of them already are making an impact, too.
The top three rookies from each league through the first five-plus weeks:
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Even with his strong start, David Freese is looking over his shoulder at a teammate.
Jason Heyward, RF, Braves: If you read Sporting News magazine, you knew the 20-year-old phenom had a chance to make an impact when he was named our breakout player for 2010. No one, however, figured he would be his team’s best player. Heyward leads the Braves in homers and RBIs and even moved into the 3 hole this week.
David Freese, 3B, Cardinals. Injuries cost him a chance to take over third base in 2009, but he is healthy and hitting this season. "I’m just going day to day trying to keep things simple," Freese says. Freese, 27, leads N.L. rookies in average (.310) and trails only Heyward in RBIs, but he might not be rookie of the year on his own team. Lefthanded starter Jaime Garcia also is off to a strong start with a 1.18 ERA after six starts.
Mike Leake, SP, Reds. While Reds phenom Aroldis Chapman refines his command in the minors, Leake is making a name as the first pitcher to skip the minors since 1995 (Cuban Ariel Prieto). Leake escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in his first start without allowing a run and has continued to show the ability to pitch out of trouble. He is 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA. "He gets the whole gig," teammate Bronson Arroyo says. "You don’t have to tell him twice about anything, whether it’s getting beer for the bus or being on the bench for nine innings. And the things he’s doing on the field are phenomenal."
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Austin Jackson leads the majors in hits. His next assignment is bat control.
Austin Jackson, CF, Tigers: Though he never had played in a major league game, Detroit made him its center fielder and leadoff hitter when it traded Curtis Granderson. Jackson hasn’t disappointed. He leads not only rookies in hits (51) but also the entire majors. He is far from a finished product, though. He also ranks among the major league leaders in strikeouts.
Neftali Feliz, RP, Rangers: He burst on the scene last season with a fastball clocked in the high-90-mph range and went to spring training with a chance to make the rotation. Feliz, 22, since has found his calling in the ninth inning, at least temporarily. Since taking over as closer, Felix has saved nine of 11 chances and recently enjoyed a 10-day stretch when he allowed only one hit and no runs while converting six consecutive save opportunities.
Mitch Talbot, SP, Indians: If the Rays hadn’t traded him to Cleveland, he still would be in the minors. Instead, Talbot is the majors’ winningest rookie (4-2), and his 3.43 ERA is second to Tampa Bay’s Wade Davis among AL rookies.
Stephen Strasburg isn’t expected to arrive in the majors until next month, but plenty of rookies already are getting their chances. Many of them already are making an impact, too.
The top three rookies from each league through the first five-plus weeks:
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Even with his strong start, David Freese is looking over his shoulder at a teammate.
Jason Heyward, RF, Braves: If you read Sporting News magazine, you knew the 20-year-old phenom had a chance to make an impact when he was named our breakout player for 2010. No one, however, figured he would be his team’s best player. Heyward leads the Braves in homers and RBIs and even moved into the 3 hole this week.
David Freese, 3B, Cardinals. Injuries cost him a chance to take over third base in 2009, but he is healthy and hitting this season. "I’m just going day to day trying to keep things simple," Freese says. Freese, 27, leads N.L. rookies in average (.310) and trails only Heyward in RBIs, but he might not be rookie of the year on his own team. Lefthanded starter Jaime Garcia also is off to a strong start with a 1.18 ERA after six starts.
Mike Leake, SP, Reds. While Reds phenom Aroldis Chapman refines his command in the minors, Leake is making a name as the first pitcher to skip the minors since 1995 (Cuban Ariel Prieto). Leake escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in his first start without allowing a run and has continued to show the ability to pitch out of trouble. He is 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA. "He gets the whole gig," teammate Bronson Arroyo says. "You don’t have to tell him twice about anything, whether it’s getting beer for the bus or being on the bench for nine innings. And the things he’s doing on the field are phenomenal."
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Austin Jackson leads the majors in hits. His next assignment is bat control.
Austin Jackson, CF, Tigers: Though he never had played in a major league game, Detroit made him its center fielder and leadoff hitter when it traded Curtis Granderson. Jackson hasn’t disappointed. He leads not only rookies in hits (51) but also the entire majors. He is far from a finished product, though. He also ranks among the major league leaders in strikeouts.
Neftali Feliz, RP, Rangers: He burst on the scene last season with a fastball clocked in the high-90-mph range and went to spring training with a chance to make the rotation. Feliz, 22, since has found his calling in the ninth inning, at least temporarily. Since taking over as closer, Felix has saved nine of 11 chances and recently enjoyed a 10-day stretch when he allowed only one hit and no runs while converting six consecutive save opportunities.
Mitch Talbot, SP, Indians: If the Rays hadn’t traded him to Cleveland, he still would be in the minors. Instead, Talbot is the majors’ winningest rookie (4-2), and his 3.43 ERA is second to Tampa Bay’s Wade Davis among AL rookies.
An MRI exam on Phillies closer Brad Lidge’s surgically repaired elbow revealed no structural damage, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Instead, Lidge is listed as day-to-day with inflammation in the lining of his elbow joint. He had experienced elbow stiffness earlier this week and was sent back to Philadelphia to have it examined.
Lidge, who began the season on the disabled list, has one save and a 2.70 ERA in four appearances with the Phillies this season.
With Lidge and Ryan Madson (toe surgery) both unavailable this week, Jose Contreras has been handling the save chances for Philadelphia.
Sporting News staff reports
An MRI exam on Phillies closer Brad Lidge’s surgically repaired elbow revealed no structural damage, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Instead, Lidge is listed as day-to-day with inflammation in the lining of his elbow joint. He had experienced elbow stiffness earlier this week and was sent back to Philadelphia to have it examined.
Lidge, who began the season on the disabled list, has one save and a 2.70 ERA in four appearances with the Phillies this season.
With Lidge and Ryan Madson (toe surgery) both unavailable this week, Jose Contreras has been handling the save chances for Philadelphia.
Giants catcher Bengie Molina is angry at ESPN for making fun of his lack of speed.
Molina blogged for MLB.com that it was "hard to take" the network’s "sarcastic depiction" of his unsuccessful sprint from third base to home plate against the Marlins last week. The clip included slow-motion video and music from the movie "Chariots of Fire."
"Look, you can say I’m the slowest guy in baseball or in all of sports or in the entire world. I don’t take issue with that because I AM the slowest guy," Molina wrote. "I have always been the slowest guy. I can’t challenge that criticism. But ESPN’s intention was not to criticize but to humiliate."
In the blog, Molina trumpeted his career accomplishments and his dedication to the Giants while taking more swipes at the network, which employs a handful of former major league players, managers and executives as analysts. The diss occurred during "SportsCenter," by non-athlete anchors.
"Until recently, I had thought of ESPN as a network run by professionals who know sports. I thought the people at ESPN, because they focus only on sports, actually understood the game and what pro athletes do to reach the highest level of their sport."
"I know I’m a public figure and I just have to take my lumps. But I would like those people at ESPN who, from a safe distance, make fun of players for a cheap laugh, to remember that players are actual people. With wives and mothers and fathers and children and brothers and sisters.
Molina also acknowledges Henry Schulman, the longtime Giants beat reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, who defended Molina against ESPN.
Sporting News staff reports
Giants catcher Bengie Molina is angry at ESPN for making fun of his lack of speed.
Molina blogged for MLB.com that it was "hard to take" the network’s "sarcastic depiction" of his unsuccessful sprint from third base to home plate against the Marlins last week. The clip included slow-motion video and music from the movie "Chariots of Fire."
"Look, you can say I’m the slowest guy in baseball or in all of sports or in the entire world. I don’t take issue with that because I AM the slowest guy," Molina wrote. "I have always been the slowest guy. I can’t challenge that criticism. But ESPN’s intention was not to criticize but to humiliate."
In the blog, Molina trumpeted his career accomplishments and his dedication to the Giants while taking more swipes at the network, which employs a handful of former major league players, managers and executives as analysts. The diss occurred during "SportsCenter," by non-athlete anchors.
"Until recently, I had thought of ESPN as a network run by professionals who know sports. I thought the people at ESPN, because they focus only on sports, actually understood the game and what pro athletes do to reach the highest level of their sport."
"I know I’m a public figure and I just have to take my lumps. But I would like those people at ESPN who, from a safe distance, make fun of players for a cheap laugh, to remember that players are actual people. With wives and mothers and fathers and children and brothers and sisters.
Molina also acknowledges Henry Schulman, the longtime Giants beat reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, who defended Molina against ESPN.
The blowback started after a players-only meeting Tuesday. LaRue wrote that he was given the silent treatment when he entered the locker room and would not disclose his sources; ESPN.com reported that left-hander Cliff Lee asked LaRue to leave his postgame interview session. LaRue complied.
Griffey and Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu have disputed LaRue’s account, saying Griffey was awake and available. Fellow DH Mike Sweeney told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that the 40-year-old Griffey had his teammates’ full support.
"We will support and fight and take a bullet for Ken Griffey Jr., if we have to. He’s our teammate," Sweeney was quoted as saying. "Nothing is going to divide this clubhouse, especially a makeshift article made up of lies. We don’t think there are two players who said that (about Griffey) and I challenged anybody in that room if they said it to stand up and fight me. No one stood up."
Sporting News staff reports
Mariners players are boycotting a newspaper beat reporter who wrote that DH Ken Griffey was asleep during a game and unavailable to pinch hit.
The blowback started after a players-only meeting Tuesday. LaRue wrote that he was given the silent treatment when he entered the locker room and would not disclose his sources; ESPN.com reported that left-hander Cliff Lee asked LaRue to leave his postgame interview session. LaRue complied.
Griffey and Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu have disputed LaRue’s account, saying Griffey was awake and available. Fellow DH Mike Sweeney told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that the 40-year-old Griffey had his teammates’ full support.
"We will support and fight and take a bullet for Ken Griffey Jr., if we have to. He’s our teammate," Sweeney was quoted as saying. "Nothing is going to divide this clubhouse, especially a makeshift article made up of lies. We don’t think there are two players who said that (about Griffey) and I challenged anybody in that room if they said it to stand up and fight me. No one stood up."
