His manager wished Brandon Phillips hadn’t called the Cardinals names, but the Reds second baseman wasn’t backing down Tuesday from his critical comments of the team a day earlier.
And the Cardinals weren’t shy about responding to Phillips’ rant. The resulting exchange touched off a first-inning brawl in Game 2 of the NL Central rivals’ series.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina made his feelings known when Phillips came to bat in the bottom of the first inning. Phillips tapped Molina’s shin guard with his bat, a ritual Phillips performs before every at-bat. Molina took offense.
"The comment he made yesterday that he’s got no friends over here — then why you touch me?" Molina told reporters after the Cardinals’ 8-4 victory. "You are not my friend, so don’t touch me. I mean, if we’re no good for you, you are not my friend."
Molina’s reaction sparked a heated exchange between the two at home plate. The benches and bullpens quickly emptied.
Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa got into a shouting match during the scrum. Both were ejected.
As Baker and La Russa were having their exchange, Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter yelled at Baker, who responded in kind. Judging from video footage, Reds third baseman Scott Rolen, a former Cardinal, came to Baker’s defense and tried to push Carpenter away. The ensuing pileup stopped at the backstop behind home plate.
"It was two teams defending their own people, and standing up for their own players and managers and coaches, so … that got ugly and obviously it was heated when it started," Rolen said.
Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto soon was pinned against the netting. He tried to kick way out, injuring Carpenter and Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue in the process.
"I was in the net, with somebody kicking me from behind. Where I was held down. I couldn’t do anything," Carpenter told reporters after the game, per the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Bernie Miklasz. "I wasn’t throwing any punches. And we’ve got some guy kicking me and kicking my backup catcher in the face. He could have done some real damage. … Totally unprofessional. Unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that."
Baker had a slightly different take on Cueto’s situation: "They had him pinned up like a rat in a corner. It wasn’t pretty," Baker told reporters.
"I don’t know where Cueto learned how to fight," Carpenter said.
The Post-Dispatch reported LaRue might have a concussion and could be placed on the disabled list. LaRue did not discuss his condition with reporters after the game.
Phillips, who made the final out Tuesday, had little to say about the fight.
"We lost today, man. Regardless of what happened, we lost and that’s the only thing that really (stunk) today. … We’re just mad that we lost the game," he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Phillips stood by his comments of a day earlier.
"People (other than the Cardinals and their fans) respect me for what I said," Phillips told reporters before the second game of the teams’ series in Cincinnati. "Those were my comments, and a lot of people feel that way all throughout the league — many people feel that way. Regardless of what I say, we’ve got to go out there and take care of business."
Phillips told the Dayton Daily News’ Hal McCoy that he "hated" the Cardinals and that they were constant complainers.
La Russa expressed his anger over the comments following Monday night’s Cardinals victory, and Baker said he expressed his displeasure to Phillips on Tuesday.
"Brandon knows what he’s saying," Baker told reporters. "It doesn’t make it right, but he knows what he’s saying and that’s his opinion.
"I talked to him about it and put a little pressure on him to play better personally. The Cardinals have given him a pretty rough time historically." Phillips was 0-for-5 Monday night.
Baker’s scolding and La Russa’s reaction didn’t deter Phillips.
"To tell you the truth, I really don’t care what (La Russa) said. I play for the Cincinnati Reds; I don’t play for the Cardinals," Phillips told reporters. "I respect him for what he said, but we have to go out there and beat the Cardinals regardless (of what) he said or what I said."
Phillips scoffed at La Russa’s claim that Phillips unwittingly ripped some of his teammates who once played for the Cardinals.
"I said what I said. That’s all I can say. They can say what they want. I don’t give a (expletive) what they say," Phillips said.
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Sporting News staff reports
His manager wished Brandon Phillips hadn’t called the Cardinals names, but the Reds second baseman wasn’t backing down Tuesday from his critical comments of the team a day earlier.
And the Cardinals weren’t shy about responding to Phillips’ rant. The resulting exchange touched off a first-inning brawl in Game 2 of the NL Central rivals’ series.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina made his feelings known when Phillips came to bat in the bottom of the first inning. Phillips tapped Molina’s shin guard with his bat, a ritual Phillips performs before every at-bat. Molina took offense.
"The comment he made yesterday that he’s got no friends over here — then why you touch me?" Molina told reporters after the Cardinals’ 8-4 victory. "You are not my friend, so don’t touch me. I mean, if we’re no good for you, you are not my friend."
Molina’s reaction sparked a heated exchange between the two at home plate. The benches and bullpens quickly emptied.
Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa got into a shouting match during the scrum. Both were ejected.
As Baker and La Russa were having their exchange, Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter yelled at Baker, who responded in kind. Judging from video footage, Reds third baseman Scott Rolen, a former Cardinal, came to Baker’s defense and tried to push Carpenter away. The ensuing pileup stopped at the backstop behind home plate.
"It was two teams defending their own people, and standing up for their own players and managers and coaches, so … that got ugly and obviously it was heated when it started," Rolen said.
Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto soon was pinned against the netting. He tried to kick way out, injuring Carpenter and Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue in the process.
"I was in the net, with somebody kicking me from behind. Where I was held down. I couldn’t do anything," Carpenter told reporters after the game, per the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Bernie Miklasz. "I wasn’t throwing any punches. And we’ve got some guy kicking me and kicking my backup catcher in the face. He could have done some real damage. … Totally unprofessional. Unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that."
Baker had a slightly different take on Cueto’s situation: "They had him pinned up like a rat in a corner. It wasn’t pretty," Baker told reporters.
"I don’t know where Cueto learned how to fight," Carpenter said.
The Post-Dispatch reported LaRue might have a concussion and could be placed on the disabled list. LaRue did not discuss his condition with reporters after the game.
Phillips, who made the final out Tuesday, had little to say about the fight.
"We lost today, man. Regardless of what happened, we lost and that’s the only thing that really (stunk) today. … We’re just mad that we lost the game," he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Phillips stood by his comments of a day earlier.
"People (other than the Cardinals and their fans) respect me for what I said," Phillips told reporters before the second game of the teams’ series in Cincinnati. "Those were my comments, and a lot of people feel that way all throughout the league — many people feel that way. Regardless of what I say, we’ve got to go out there and take care of business."
Phillips told the Dayton Daily News’ Hal McCoy that he "hated" the Cardinals and that they were constant complainers.
La Russa expressed his anger over the comments following Monday night’s Cardinals victory, and Baker said he expressed his displeasure to Phillips on Tuesday.
"Brandon knows what he’s saying," Baker told reporters. "It doesn’t make it right, but he knows what he’s saying and that’s his opinion.
"I talked to him about it and put a little pressure on him to play better personally. The Cardinals have given him a pretty rough time historically." Phillips was 0-for-5 Monday night.
Baker’s scolding and La Russa’s reaction didn’t deter Phillips.
"To tell you the truth, I really don’t care what (La Russa) said. I play for the Cincinnati Reds; I don’t play for the Cardinals," Phillips told reporters. "I respect him for what he said, but we have to go out there and beat the Cardinals regardless (of what) he said or what I said."
Phillips scoffed at La Russa’s claim that Phillips unwittingly ripped some of his teammates who once played for the Cardinals.
"I said what I said. That’s all I can say. They can say what they want. I don’t give a (expletive) what they say," Phillips said.
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Observations and opinions from Titans training camp in Nashville:
A more talented receiving corps could give Vince Young a boost this season.
What’s new
When you think of the Titans’ offense, you think of 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson first. But now they’re developing some talent at the wide receiver position.
In addition to veterans Justin Gage, Kenny Britt and Nate Washington, Lavelle Hawkins looks like he has made a big jump heading into his third season, and seventh-round rookie Marc Mariani has been impressive. Damian Williams, a third-round pick, currently is on the physically unable to perform list.
"This is the best group of receivers (fifth-year quarterback) Vince Young has had around him since coming here," coach Jeff Fisher said.
Camp competition
Jason McCourty and Ryan Mouton, a pair of ’09 draft picks, aren’t the only two competing for the starting cornerback spot opposite Cortland Finnegan. Rookie Alterraun Verner also is in the mix. And veteran Tye Hill (strained hamstring) will join the competition once he returns to team drills.
"They are all just getting better right now," Fisher said. "It would be a tough call today if we were starting the regular season."
Rehab report
Starting outside linebacker David Thornton still is recovering from a shoulder injury that ended his ’09 season after 11 games. Thornton has been running and lifting weights but hasn’t practiced. The coaches hope he can play during the preseason at some point.
Rookie on the spot
The Titans drafted former Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan in the first round, hoping he could replace Kyle Vanden Bosch (now in Detroit). But nagging injuries, including a strained calf on the second day of camp, have limited Morgan. He is missing a lot of important reps.
"That’s costly," Fisher said, "but if there’s an underlying provision it’s that he plays well. He plays the run well, he rushes the passer, he plays with a good pad level. He’s a smart kid. He knows what to do and how to do it."
2010 outlook
There are a lot of reasons for optimism in Tennessee. Johnson is the fastest running back in the NFL—if not the best. Young appears to be on the verge of full blossom. And Fisher, currently the longest-tenured coach with one team, always gets his players to play hard. But this is a young team, especially on defense, and it might be a year away from being a contender.
Observations and opinions from Titans training camp in Nashville:
A more talented receiving corps could give Vince Young a boost this season.
What’s new
When you think of the Titans’ offense, you think of 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson first. But now they’re developing some talent at the wide receiver position.
In addition to veterans Justin Gage, Kenny Britt and Nate Washington, Lavelle Hawkins looks like he has made a big jump heading into his third season, and seventh-round rookie Marc Mariani has been impressive. Damian Williams, a third-round pick, currently is on the physically unable to perform list.
"This is the best group of receivers (fifth-year quarterback) Vince Young has had around him since coming here," coach Jeff Fisher said.
Camp competition
Jason McCourty and Ryan Mouton, a pair of ’09 draft picks, aren’t the only two competing for the starting cornerback spot opposite Cortland Finnegan. Rookie Alterraun Verner also is in the mix. And veteran Tye Hill (strained hamstring) will join the competition once he returns to team drills.
"They are all just getting better right now," Fisher said. "It would be a tough call today if we were starting the regular season."
Rehab report
Starting outside linebacker David Thornton still is recovering from a shoulder injury that ended his ’09 season after 11 games. Thornton has been running and lifting weights but hasn’t practiced. The coaches hope he can play during the preseason at some point.
Rookie on the spot
The Titans drafted former Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan in the first round, hoping he could replace Kyle Vanden Bosch (now in Detroit). But nagging injuries, including a strained calf on the second day of camp, have limited Morgan. He is missing a lot of important reps.
"That’s costly," Fisher said, "but if there’s an underlying provision it’s that he plays well. He plays the run well, he rushes the passer, he plays with a good pad level. He’s a smart kid. He knows what to do and how to do it."
2010 outlook
There are a lot of reasons for optimism in Tennessee. Johnson is the fastest running back in the NFL—if not the best. Young appears to be on the verge of full blossom. And Fisher, currently the longest-tenured coach with one team, always gets his players to play hard. But this is a young team, especially on defense, and it might be a year away from being a contender.
Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Ryan Fagan discusses this week’s key series between the Rangers and Yankees, and Reds and Cardinals.
Sporting News
Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Ryan Fagan discusses this week’s key series between the Rangers and Yankees, and Reds and Cardinals.
Offensive tackles always are a hot commodity on draft day, but the 2011 class features more high-end centers and guards than in the past. As in, there should be as many interior linemen selected in the first two rounds as offensive tackles next April.
College football fans will be surprised by our rankings heading into the 2010 season because they won’t see Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi or USC’s Kristofer O’Dowd, two guys whose hype is far greater than their performance on film.
DeMarcus Love, if he stays healthy, will most likely be a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
After breaking down game film all summer, here is our scouts’ rankings for the top offensive linemen entering the college season:
1. DeMarcus Love, OT, Arkansas, 6-5/316
He is big and athletic and just jumps off the game film. He shows the rare athleticism to make NFL line coaches drool, capable of protecting the blind side against even the best speed rushers. He also is strong enough to neutralize bull rushers inside, too. He is not a finished product, but he is so gifted and has improved so much in college that he projects as an elite NFL left tackle. In ’09, he performed better than Trent Williams and Russell Okung, the fourth- and sixth-overall picks last April. Projection: First-round pick.
2. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College, 6-7/298
He is tall with a long, lean build and good athleticism. A three-year starter, he has experience at right and left tackle. He shows the quickness and athleticism to protect the corner from speed rushers and continues to work hard to keep his man from disrupting the play. He does need to bulk up to better hold his ground against bull rushers and more consistently block with knees bent to maintain good leverage. Projection: First-round pick.
3. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado, 6-8/303
He is a raw prospect who came to Colorado as a tight end. The transition to tackle has gone well because of his great athleticism and fluid hip movements. He shows decent knee bend but must improve his blocking technique to create better leverage against bull rushers and on in-line run blocks. He must learn to better use his hands in pass protection, but he is at his best setting the edge and creating a nice pocket for his QB. When sealing the corner, he will get his shoulders turned too early and get beaten by quick moves back to the inside. Solder could fly up draft boards this fall. Projection: Second-round pick.
4. Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State, 6-3/296
He is slightly undersized with limited growth potential but is an outstanding athlete. He shows excellent quickness, flexibility, body control and balance after the snap. He shows good lateral range with a natural ability to sustain blocks on the move. He is more of a tough/position run blocker than a mauler. He must get stronger to become more of a drive blocker in the running game. He is adept at sustaining "reach" blocks and reaching backside linebackers on the second level. He shows quick, strong hands with a vice grip to sustain blocks well past the whistle. In pass protection, he sustains blocks thanks to a quick hand punch and quick footwork to mirror and slide. He is smart and handles blitzes and stunts with ease. He should start as a rookie. Projection: Second-round pick.
5. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State, 6-5/306
He is big, thick and strong, capable of dominating defenders in the running game when using good technique. He has the strength to move the pile at the point of attack. In pass protection, he will eliminate his man once he locks up on him. He must prove he has the quickness and athleticism to protect the corner against explosive NFL speed rushers. Projection: Second- or third-round pick.
6. Rodney Hudson, C/G, Florida State, 6-2/280
He is tough, competitive and strong with surprising athleticism. He also played guard and tackle in college, but he is an ideal NFL center. He has the quickness to get out of his stance and set in a blink, enabling him to play strong against bigger defensive tackles. He can pull and trap effectively and is surprisingly nimble adjusting to moving targets in the open field. His game film should merit a first-round pick, but general managers don’t draft 280-pound offensive linemen that high. Projection: Second- or third-round pick.
7. James Brewer, OT, Indiana, 6-6/333
He is a tall and well built prospect who finally got on the field in ’09 after being limited the previous two seasons by injuries. He is a powerful tackle who can dominate once locked up on defenders. He is surprisingly nimble and agile, able to handle quick pass rushers. Brewer is flying under the radar right now, but big and athletic tackles always rocket up draft boards with good senior seasons. Projection: Third-round pick.
8. Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU (junior), 6-4/329
He is only a junior, eligibility wise, but did serve on a two-year Mormon mission before he began playing at BYU and is expected to enter the ’11 draft with a solid season. He already is married and turns 23 this year. He is thickly built and shows the quick footwork to slide outside to cutoff explosive edge rushers. He shows the flexibility to pass block with good leverage, maintaining good balance to sustain blocks with ease. He is not a physical run blocker and does not move the pile at the point of attack. Projection: Third-round pick.
9. Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida, 6-6/317
If he improves as much as a senior as he did in ’09, he could move up draft boards big time. He is thick with ideal size for an NFL right tackle, but he must be more consistent. He has long arms and good strength to eliminate his man once he locks up on him. He has not shown the quickness to consistently protect the corner vs. explosive edge rushers, which could force him to move inside to guard. Projection: Third- or fourth-round pick.
10. Ben Ijalana, G, Villanova, 6-4/320
He is the best small-school lineman who could move into the second round if able to play well at the Senior Bowl against elite competition. He is a well built and athletic prospect who plays tackle in college but projects as an NFL guard. Still, some NFL coaches might give him a shot first at tackle because of his rare athleticism. He shows the strength to physically control his man and move the pile at the point of attack. Projection: Third- or fourth-round pick.
Offensive tackles always are a hot commodity on draft day, but the 2011 class features more high-end centers and guards than in the past. As in, there should be as many interior linemen selected in the first two rounds as offensive tackles next April.
College football fans will be surprised by our rankings heading into the 2010 season because they won’t see Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi or USC’s Kristofer O’Dowd, two guys whose hype is far greater than their performance on film.
DeMarcus Love, if he stays healthy, will most likely be a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
After breaking down game film all summer, here is our scouts’ rankings for the top offensive linemen entering the college season:
1. DeMarcus Love, OT, Arkansas, 6-5/316
He is big and athletic and just jumps off the game film. He shows the rare athleticism to make NFL line coaches drool, capable of protecting the blind side against even the best speed rushers. He also is strong enough to neutralize bull rushers inside, too. He is not a finished product, but he is so gifted and has improved so much in college that he projects as an elite NFL left tackle. In ’09, he performed better than Trent Williams and Russell Okung, the fourth- and sixth-overall picks last April. Projection: First-round pick.
2. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College, 6-7/298
He is tall with a long, lean build and good athleticism. A three-year starter, he has experience at right and left tackle. He shows the quickness and athleticism to protect the corner from speed rushers and continues to work hard to keep his man from disrupting the play. He does need to bulk up to better hold his ground against bull rushers and more consistently block with knees bent to maintain good leverage. Projection: First-round pick.
3. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado, 6-8/303
He is a raw prospect who came to Colorado as a tight end. The transition to tackle has gone well because of his great athleticism and fluid hip movements. He shows decent knee bend but must improve his blocking technique to create better leverage against bull rushers and on in-line run blocks. He must learn to better use his hands in pass protection, but he is at his best setting the edge and creating a nice pocket for his QB. When sealing the corner, he will get his shoulders turned too early and get beaten by quick moves back to the inside. Solder could fly up draft boards this fall. Projection: Second-round pick.
4. Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State, 6-3/296
He is slightly undersized with limited growth potential but is an outstanding athlete. He shows excellent quickness, flexibility, body control and balance after the snap. He shows good lateral range with a natural ability to sustain blocks on the move. He is more of a tough/position run blocker than a mauler. He must get stronger to become more of a drive blocker in the running game. He is adept at sustaining "reach" blocks and reaching backside linebackers on the second level. He shows quick, strong hands with a vice grip to sustain blocks well past the whistle. In pass protection, he sustains blocks thanks to a quick hand punch and quick footwork to mirror and slide. He is smart and handles blitzes and stunts with ease. He should start as a rookie. Projection: Second-round pick.
5. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State, 6-5/306
He is big, thick and strong, capable of dominating defenders in the running game when using good technique. He has the strength to move the pile at the point of attack. In pass protection, he will eliminate his man once he locks up on him. He must prove he has the quickness and athleticism to protect the corner against explosive NFL speed rushers. Projection: Second- or third-round pick.
6. Rodney Hudson, C/G, Florida State, 6-2/280
He is tough, competitive and strong with surprising athleticism. He also played guard and tackle in college, but he is an ideal NFL center. He has the quickness to get out of his stance and set in a blink, enabling him to play strong against bigger defensive tackles. He can pull and trap effectively and is surprisingly nimble adjusting to moving targets in the open field. His game film should merit a first-round pick, but general managers don’t draft 280-pound offensive linemen that high. Projection: Second- or third-round pick.
7. James Brewer, OT, Indiana, 6-6/333
He is a tall and well built prospect who finally got on the field in ’09 after being limited the previous two seasons by injuries. He is a powerful tackle who can dominate once locked up on defenders. He is surprisingly nimble and agile, able to handle quick pass rushers. Brewer is flying under the radar right now, but big and athletic tackles always rocket up draft boards with good senior seasons. Projection: Third-round pick.
8. Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU (junior), 6-4/329
He is only a junior, eligibility wise, but did serve on a two-year Mormon mission before he began playing at BYU and is expected to enter the ’11 draft with a solid season. He already is married and turns 23 this year. He is thickly built and shows the quick footwork to slide outside to cutoff explosive edge rushers. He shows the flexibility to pass block with good leverage, maintaining good balance to sustain blocks with ease. He is not a physical run blocker and does not move the pile at the point of attack. Projection: Third-round pick.
9. Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida, 6-6/317
If he improves as much as a senior as he did in ’09, he could move up draft boards big time. He is thick with ideal size for an NFL right tackle, but he must be more consistent. He has long arms and good strength to eliminate his man once he locks up on him. He has not shown the quickness to consistently protect the corner vs. explosive edge rushers, which could force him to move inside to guard. Projection: Third- or fourth-round pick.
10. Ben Ijalana, G, Villanova, 6-4/320
He is the best small-school lineman who could move into the second round if able to play well at the Senior Bowl against elite competition. He is a well built and athletic prospect who plays tackle in college but projects as an NFL guard. Still, some NFL coaches might give him a shot first at tackle because of his rare athleticism. He shows the strength to physically control his man and move the pile at the point of attack. Projection: Third- or fourth-round pick.
The sports documentary series Hard Knocks will kick off its sixth season Wednesday night on HBO (10 p.m. ET), with an all-access pass to training camp with the Jets. With Super Bowl buzz surrounding the Jets and plenty of larger than life personalities on the team, the potential is there for the Emmy-winning program’s best season.
Sporting News‘ Vinnie Iyer talked to two of the show’s executive producers, HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg and NFL Films president Steve Sabol, about what fans can expect from the show this August:
SN: How big of a presence is Jets coach Rex Ryan? Greenburg: He’s a dynamic personality and projects that daily. As he speaks his mind, he really sets the tone for the show.
SN: What are some of the story lines that have already intrigued you? Greenburg: You’ve got a Super Bowl star wide receiver, Santonio Holmes, trying to fit in with the regulars of a new team. Then there’s LaDainian Tomlinson, a Hall of Famer maybe taking on a role he isn’t used to.
LaDainian Tomlinson enters his first year as Jet after playing nine seasons in the NFL, all with San Diego.
Sabol: It starts with the Darrelle Revis holdout, but that could end at any moment. I like the battle at fullback, where you have a rookie, John Conner, and Tony Richardson, the Jets’ oldest player. Then there’s Jason Taylor right there with Tomlinson.
SN: To help you with that, do you sketch up any kind of storyboard in advance? Greenburg: Not at all. As Steve would say, we’re building a plane as we’re flying it.
SN: Can we get a hint of what we might see in an episode to come beyond the premiere? Sabol: The theme of the whole second show will be the Jets’ opener (Aug. 16) against the Giants in the New Meadowlands Stadium. With 17 cameras in position and 15 to 20 players miked up, it will be the most documented preseason game in NFL history.
SN: Who so far is the breakout personality of the season? Greenburg: He is a an unknown guy to many, but it’s Mike Westhoff, who leads the Jets’ special teams. His charismatic style as a coach will bust wide open. Sabol: You’re going to know a whole lot about Mike Westhoff by the end of the show.
SN: Did you ever expect any season of Hard Knocks to be so hyped? Sabol: It’s crazy to think about all the billboard ads and publicity posters. It’s the most hyped thing I’ve been involved with. It will also be the most expensive, most scrutinized and most creatively challenging.
SN: With all that footage, how challenging is it just to produce one episode? Greenburg: With more than 200 hours shot for one week, there’s no bigger crunch in television. Sabol: It’s the most compounded production cycle you can have with a weakly deadline. We’ve got 25 producers working on it. Liev Schreiber, who’s working on a movie in Spain, does the narration for us over an ISDN line Wednesday afternoon so it’s ready to air that night.
SN: Is there anything that’s off limits for the show? Sabol: The show is all about access, and they trust us enough with everything. So far, whatever the Jets have promised, they’d delivered. Just with the personal things that come up, you just don’t want to embarrass anyone.
SN: What makes Hard Knocks so compelling to be a part of, especially this season with the Jets? Sabol: Growing up, I loved the "man on the mission" pictures, such as The Magnificent Seven and The Guns of Navarone, and that’s what you have here with a team that can make a run at the Super Bowl. You have the expected dominant personalities, but there’s always the unexpected. Any time you go into an NFL training camp, it’s a laboratory of emotions. While that comes with a lot of intensity, there’s this great humor and a lot of laughs that come from the ribald nature of the frat house mentality.
Also starring …
While Rex Ryan takes the lead role as head coach, the Jets have many players worthy of the spotlight. A look at five more standout personalities who will get plenty of screen time:
Mark Sanchez, QB. He’s got the looks and the arm to captivate the cameras. "He’s Broadway Joe, circa 2010," HBO president Ross Greenburg said.
Antonio Cromartie, CB. He has always been confident on the field, but his off-field story‹he has many children living in several states‹will also come to light.
Kris Jenkins, NT. The massive run-stuffer doesn’t shy away from making it known just how big a presence he is.
Bart Scott, LB. He came over from Baltimore along with Ryan, so it makes sense that he is the vocal extension of his coach.
Nick Mangold, C. When it’s time to get the doughnuts, he isn’t afraid to make a rookie do it.
The sports documentary series Hard Knocks will kick off its sixth season Wednesday night on HBO (10 p.m. ET), with an all-access pass to training camp with the Jets. With Super Bowl buzz surrounding the Jets and plenty of larger than life personalities on the team, the potential is there for the Emmy-winning program’s best season.
Sporting News‘ Vinnie Iyer talked to two of the show’s executive producers, HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg and NFL Films president Steve Sabol, about what fans can expect from the show this August:
SN: How big of a presence is Jets coach Rex Ryan? Greenburg: He’s a dynamic personality and projects that daily. As he speaks his mind, he really sets the tone for the show.
SN: What are some of the story lines that have already intrigued you? Greenburg: You’ve got a Super Bowl star wide receiver, Santonio Holmes, trying to fit in with the regulars of a new team. Then there’s LaDainian Tomlinson, a Hall of Famer maybe taking on a role he isn’t used to.
LaDainian Tomlinson enters his first year as Jet after playing nine seasons in the NFL, all with San Diego.
Sabol: It starts with the Darrelle Revis holdout, but that could end at any moment. I like the battle at fullback, where you have a rookie, John Conner, and Tony Richardson, the Jets’ oldest player. Then there’s Jason Taylor right there with Tomlinson.
SN: To help you with that, do you sketch up any kind of storyboard in advance? Greenburg: Not at all. As Steve would say, we’re building a plane as we’re flying it.
SN: Can we get a hint of what we might see in an episode to come beyond the premiere? Sabol: The theme of the whole second show will be the Jets’ opener (Aug. 16) against the Giants in the New Meadowlands Stadium. With 17 cameras in position and 15 to 20 players miked up, it will be the most documented preseason game in NFL history.
SN: Who so far is the breakout personality of the season? Greenburg: He is a an unknown guy to many, but it’s Mike Westhoff, who leads the Jets’ special teams. His charismatic style as a coach will bust wide open. Sabol: You’re going to know a whole lot about Mike Westhoff by the end of the show.
SN: Did you ever expect any season of Hard Knocks to be so hyped? Sabol: It’s crazy to think about all the billboard ads and publicity posters. It’s the most hyped thing I’ve been involved with. It will also be the most expensive, most scrutinized and most creatively challenging.
SN: With all that footage, how challenging is it just to produce one episode? Greenburg: With more than 200 hours shot for one week, there’s no bigger crunch in television. Sabol: It’s the most compounded production cycle you can have with a weakly deadline. We’ve got 25 producers working on it. Liev Schreiber, who’s working on a movie in Spain, does the narration for us over an ISDN line Wednesday afternoon so it’s ready to air that night.
SN: Is there anything that’s off limits for the show? Sabol: The show is all about access, and they trust us enough with everything. So far, whatever the Jets have promised, they’d delivered. Just with the personal things that come up, you just don’t want to embarrass anyone.
SN: What makes Hard Knocks so compelling to be a part of, especially this season with the Jets? Sabol: Growing up, I loved the "man on the mission" pictures, such as The Magnificent Seven and The Guns of Navarone, and that’s what you have here with a team that can make a run at the Super Bowl. You have the expected dominant personalities, but there’s always the unexpected. Any time you go into an NFL training camp, it’s a laboratory of emotions. While that comes with a lot of intensity, there’s this great humor and a lot of laughs that come from the ribald nature of the frat house mentality.
Also starring …
While Rex Ryan takes the lead role as head coach, the Jets have many players worthy of the spotlight. A look at five more standout personalities who will get plenty of screen time:
Mark Sanchez, QB. He’s got the looks and the arm to captivate the cameras. "He’s Broadway Joe, circa 2010," HBO president Ross Greenburg said.
Antonio Cromartie, CB. He has always been confident on the field, but his off-field story‹he has many children living in several states‹will also come to light.
Kris Jenkins, NT. The massive run-stuffer doesn’t shy away from making it known just how big a presence he is.
Bart Scott, LB. He came over from Baltimore along with Ryan, so it makes sense that he is the vocal extension of his coach.
Nick Mangold, C. When it’s time to get the doughnuts, he isn’t afraid to make a rookie do it.
The Cardinals-Reds series got a lot spicier Monday courtesy of Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips.
Phillips told the Dayton Daily News’ Hal McCoy that he "hates" the Cardinals because they complain too much, and added a few expletives for good measure.
"I’d play against these guys on one leg," said Phillips, who is nursing a sore shin. "We have to beat these guys. All they do is (complain) and moan about everything, all of them."
Phillips then called the Cardinals the technical term for female dogs, and he followed that up by saying:
"I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals."
McCoy speculated Phillips is upset over gamesmanship by Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan in previous series. The Cardinals said baseballs the used at Great American Ball Park were too slick because they weren’t rubbed up properly, and they also had umpires check pitcher Bronson Arroyo’s cap for illegal substances.
La Russa was still steaming over Phillips’ comments after St. Louis’ 7-3 victory at Great American Ball Park. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss: "We win the right way; we lose the right way. Over the years we’ve done both those things. If we get beat, we tip our caps. If we win, we don’t get arrogant and show anybody up."
La Russa also pointed out that several ex-Cardinals, including newly acquired center fielder Jim Edmonds, now play for Cincinnati.
"I don’t think that will go over well in his clubhouse," La Russa told the Post-Dispatch’s Bernie Miklasz. "Phillips is ripping his teammates. (Scott) Rolen, Edmonds, (Miguel) Cairo, (Russ) Springer, all of the ex-Cardinals over there. He isn’t talking about this year. He’s talking about the way we’ve always played. And those guys are old Cardinals. Tell him he’s ripping his own teammates, because they were all Cardinals."
Phillips was 0-for-5 against the Cardinals on Monday.
Sporting News staff reports
The Cardinals-Reds series got a lot spicier Monday courtesy of Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips.
Phillips told the Dayton Daily News’ Hal McCoy that he "hates" the Cardinals because they complain too much, and added a few expletives for good measure.
"I’d play against these guys on one leg," said Phillips, who is nursing a sore shin. "We have to beat these guys. All they do is (complain) and moan about everything, all of them."
Phillips then called the Cardinals the technical term for female dogs, and he followed that up by saying:
"I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals."
McCoy speculated Phillips is upset over gamesmanship by Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan in previous series. The Cardinals said baseballs the used at Great American Ball Park were too slick because they weren’t rubbed up properly, and they also had umpires check pitcher Bronson Arroyo’s cap for illegal substances.
La Russa was still steaming over Phillips’ comments after St. Louis’ 7-3 victory at Great American Ball Park. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss: "We win the right way; we lose the right way. Over the years we’ve done both those things. If we get beat, we tip our caps. If we win, we don’t get arrogant and show anybody up."
La Russa also pointed out that several ex-Cardinals, including newly acquired center fielder Jim Edmonds, now play for Cincinnati.
"I don’t think that will go over well in his clubhouse," La Russa told the Post-Dispatch’s Bernie Miklasz. "Phillips is ripping his teammates. (Scott) Rolen, Edmonds, (Miguel) Cairo, (Russ) Springer, all of the ex-Cardinals over there. He isn’t talking about this year. He’s talking about the way we’ve always played. And those guys are old Cardinals. Tell him he’s ripping his own teammates, because they were all Cardinals."
Phillips was 0-for-5 against the Cardinals on Monday.
Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter confronted shortstop Brendan Ryan in the dugout on Monday for not being ready for the start of the game.
Carpenter had to wait for Ryan to take his position, then get the correct glove, before beginning the bottom of the first inning.
After the inning, Carpenter asked Ryan to join him in the tunnel adjacent to the St. Louis dugout. Television cameras showed Carpenter speaking sternly to Ryan, with Ryan staring back at Carpenter, then nodding at the end of the discussion.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Ryan was working in the indoor batting cage inside the clubhouse. "All of a sudden, we made three quick outs in the first inning, then he scrambled out there, and he forgot where his glove was. So Carp said, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’
"I think that’s what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to let guys know, first inning, I don’t want to be out there waiting. He’s ready to pitch in the top of the first and the guy’s not there."
Carpenter told reporters there was a "miscommunication" or "misunderstanding" between he and Ryan. "We’re fine. Everything is good. We’re good," Carpenter said.
Carpenter appeared to again chide Ryan in the dugout after the seventh inning, presumably because Ryan failed to get to a ground ball that became a run-scoring single. Carpenter yelled in frustration on the mound after the hit, though not directly at Ryan.
He told reporters he was just upset about allowing runs on several soft hits.
"I didn’t want to give up any runs," Carpenter said. "I was throwing the ball well and my pitch count was low, and I just wanted to keep going. And unfortunately, I found a way to get my pitch count up and get myself out of the game."
MLB.com reported Ryan left the park without speaking to the media.
Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter confronted shortstop Brendan Ryan in the dugout on Monday for not being ready for the start of the game.
Carpenter had to wait for Ryan to take his position, then get the correct glove, before beginning the bottom of the first inning.
After the inning, Carpenter asked Ryan to join him in the tunnel adjacent to the St. Louis dugout. Television cameras showed Carpenter speaking sternly to Ryan, with Ryan staring back at Carpenter, then nodding at the end of the discussion.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Ryan was working in the indoor batting cage inside the clubhouse. "All of a sudden, we made three quick outs in the first inning, then he scrambled out there, and he forgot where his glove was. So Carp said, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’
"I think that’s what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to let guys know, first inning, I don’t want to be out there waiting. He’s ready to pitch in the top of the first and the guy’s not there."
Carpenter told reporters there was a "miscommunication" or "misunderstanding" between he and Ryan. "We’re fine. Everything is good. We’re good," Carpenter said.
Carpenter appeared to again chide Ryan in the dugout after the seventh inning, presumably because Ryan failed to get to a ground ball that became a run-scoring single. Carpenter yelled in frustration on the mound after the hit, though not directly at Ryan.
He told reporters he was just upset about allowing runs on several soft hits.
"I didn’t want to give up any runs," Carpenter said. "I was throwing the ball well and my pitch count was low, and I just wanted to keep going. And unfortunately, I found a way to get my pitch count up and get myself out of the game."
MLB.com reported Ryan left the park without speaking to the media.
The site, citing two unnamed sources, reported Blake once worked as a vice president for Wichard’s agency, Pro Tect Management. Wichard told the site he didn’t employ the former Oklahoma head coach. Yahoo!, however, obtained a promotional brochure for Wichard’s agency in which Blake is referred to as leading Pro Tect’s football operations.
"The brochure is [from] like 1997 or whatever," Wichard told the site. "He was on the brochure for whatever, dealing with football-related situations. But it has nothing to do with anything. He was not working as a coach at that time. The relevance to me is ridiculous."
Blake operated the "Chance to Advance" football camp from 1999 to 2002 after Oklahoma fired him.
"I don’t care what the brochure says. That brochure is so old," Wichard said. "He worked with some of my players. He got Dwight Freeney ready for the combine when he was coming out. That’s kind of what the situation was. Then he went back into coaching.
"[The brochure] doesn’t prove a thing. It’s absolutely meaningless. John coached my guys in between coaching jobs."
Yahoo!, though, reported that the brochure might have prompted NCAA investigators to visit Chapel Hill a second time.
"If that’s what [the NCAA] is investigating, I think it’s just absurd," Wichard told Yahoo! "I hope – I really, truly hope – that Marvin Austin’s whole case is based on me and John Blake. I hope that for Marvin Austin’s sake. At the end of the day, there’s nothing to investigate."
North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour told Yahoo! in a statement: "NCAA representatives were on campus this week as we work with them on the review. The University of North Carolina continues to fully cooperate with the NCAA and we are working hard to resolve this issue as quickly as possible."
Austin, though, may have more ties to Wichard than just Blake. Austin worked out in 2009 with Wichard client and former Tar Heel Kentwan Balmer at Proactive Sports Performance, a California training facility near Wichard’s agency. Yahoo! reported the facility’s website claims a dozen Wichard clients work out at Proactive.
Wichard said he spoke with Austin once and did nothing improper.
"I told him to go back to school when Kentwan Balmer put him on the phone in January," Wichard said. "I said go back to school and be [like] Ndamukong Suh and make some money. … I’m not even recruiting the kid. I’ve never said one word to him about the business other than football – go back to school. Now, if I wanted to represent him in January, I could have said ‘Come on out, guy. Let’s roll. Let’s make some money.’ That’s not who I am."
Wichard also told Yahoo! he assumed Balmer paid for Austin to travel to California and work out at Proactive.
The NCAA also is investigating trips Austin took to Florida. Austin has also been mentioned in NCAA investigations involving South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders and Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus.
Blake, Austin, Balmer and representatives of Proactive Sports did not respond to Yahoo!’s requests for comment.
The site, citing two unnamed sources, reported Blake once worked as a vice president for Wichard’s agency, Pro Tect Management. Wichard told the site he didn’t employ the former Oklahoma head coach. Yahoo!, however, obtained a promotional brochure for Wichard’s agency in which Blake is referred to as leading Pro Tect’s football operations.
"The brochure is [from] like 1997 or whatever," Wichard told the site. "He was on the brochure for whatever, dealing with football-related situations. But it has nothing to do with anything. He was not working as a coach at that time. The relevance to me is ridiculous."
Blake operated the "Chance to Advance" football camp from 1999 to 2002 after Oklahoma fired him.
"I don’t care what the brochure says. That brochure is so old," Wichard said. "He worked with some of my players. He got Dwight Freeney ready for the combine when he was coming out. That’s kind of what the situation was. Then he went back into coaching.
"[The brochure] doesn’t prove a thing. It’s absolutely meaningless. John coached my guys in between coaching jobs."
Yahoo!, though, reported that the brochure might have prompted NCAA investigators to visit Chapel Hill a second time.
"If that’s what [the NCAA] is investigating, I think it’s just absurd," Wichard told Yahoo! "I hope – I really, truly hope – that Marvin Austin’s whole case is based on me and John Blake. I hope that for Marvin Austin’s sake. At the end of the day, there’s nothing to investigate."
North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour told Yahoo! in a statement: "NCAA representatives were on campus this week as we work with them on the review. The University of North Carolina continues to fully cooperate with the NCAA and we are working hard to resolve this issue as quickly as possible."
Austin, though, may have more ties to Wichard than just Blake. Austin worked out in 2009 with Wichard client and former Tar Heel Kentwan Balmer at Proactive Sports Performance, a California training facility near Wichard’s agency. Yahoo! reported the facility’s website claims a dozen Wichard clients work out at Proactive.
Wichard said he spoke with Austin once and did nothing improper.
"I told him to go back to school when Kentwan Balmer put him on the phone in January," Wichard said. "I said go back to school and be [like] Ndamukong Suh and make some money. … I’m not even recruiting the kid. I’ve never said one word to him about the business other than football – go back to school. Now, if I wanted to represent him in January, I could have said ‘Come on out, guy. Let’s roll. Let’s make some money.’ That’s not who I am."
Wichard also told Yahoo! he assumed Balmer paid for Austin to travel to California and work out at Proactive.
The NCAA also is investigating trips Austin took to Florida. Austin has also been mentioned in NCAA investigations involving South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders and Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus.
Blake, Austin, Balmer and representatives of Proactive Sports did not respond to Yahoo!’s requests for comment.
CORTLAND, N.Y.—You might feel like you’ve had a belly full of the Jets already, but you’ve only sampled the hors d’oeuvres. Get ready for the entrees.
The team that believes it is bound for Super Bowl 45—just ask anyone in green and white; he’ll tell you—will be served up on the sixth season of HBO’s Hard Knocks, which premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
Even if the Jets eventually fall short of their ultimate goal, there are compelling reasons to pay attention to them this season.
• The coach. Rex Ryan has become one of the NFL’s most colorful personalities. He isn’t bashful about being boastful. Other coaches think the same things; they just don’t have the audacity to say them out loud.
"I expected to win every game last year, and that’s the way we’ll go into every game (this year)," Ryan said.
The Jets need Darrelle Revis on the field if they want to live up to the hype.
• The missing piece. Last season, Ryan called cornerback Darrelle Revis the best defensive player in the league, and a lot of folks agreed with him. But Revis is holding out right now—he wants a new contract that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid corner—and it’s uncertain whether his situation will be resolved before the Sept. 13 opener vs. Baltimore.
"We’ll be very good without Darrelle, but he allows us to do things you can’t do without him," safety Jim Leonard said. "He’s huge in this defense. But we’d find our way without him, obviously."
• The new additions. The Jets added some high-profile playmakers in the offseason, including running back LaDainian Tomlinson, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, pass rusher Jason Taylor and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
• The quarterback. Mark Sanchez, the fifth-overall pick in the ’09 draft, created a lot of buzz as a rookie, but his regular-season numbers (53.8 completion percentage, 12 touchdowns, 20 interceptions) were mediocre. The Jets aren’t a Super Bowl team if Sanchez doesn’t take a big step forward.
"I saw a growth in (the offseason)," wide receiver Braylon Edwards said of Sanchez. "He was finding the spots, he was putting the ball where it needed to be, and he was taking charge."
• The division race. The Patriots always are in playoff contention—they did win the AFC East last year—and the Dolphins should be improved. The Jets must get past those teams first on their way to the Super Bowl.
CORTLAND, N.Y.—You might feel like you’ve had a belly full of the Jets already, but you’ve only sampled the hors d’oeuvres. Get ready for the entrees.
The team that believes it is bound for Super Bowl 45—just ask anyone in green and white; he’ll tell you—will be served up on the sixth season of HBO’s Hard Knocks, which premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
Even if the Jets eventually fall short of their ultimate goal, there are compelling reasons to pay attention to them this season.
• The coach. Rex Ryan has become one of the NFL’s most colorful personalities. He isn’t bashful about being boastful. Other coaches think the same things; they just don’t have the audacity to say them out loud.
"I expected to win every game last year, and that’s the way we’ll go into every game (this year)," Ryan said.
The Jets need Darrelle Revis on the field if they want to live up to the hype.
• The missing piece. Last season, Ryan called cornerback Darrelle Revis the best defensive player in the league, and a lot of folks agreed with him. But Revis is holding out right now—he wants a new contract that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid corner—and it’s uncertain whether his situation will be resolved before the Sept. 13 opener vs. Baltimore.
"We’ll be very good without Darrelle, but he allows us to do things you can’t do without him," safety Jim Leonard said. "He’s huge in this defense. But we’d find our way without him, obviously."
• The new additions. The Jets added some high-profile playmakers in the offseason, including running back LaDainian Tomlinson, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, pass rusher Jason Taylor and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
• The quarterback. Mark Sanchez, the fifth-overall pick in the ’09 draft, created a lot of buzz as a rookie, but his regular-season numbers (53.8 completion percentage, 12 touchdowns, 20 interceptions) were mediocre. The Jets aren’t a Super Bowl team if Sanchez doesn’t take a big step forward.
"I saw a growth in (the offseason)," wide receiver Braylon Edwards said of Sanchez. "He was finding the spots, he was putting the ball where it needed to be, and he was taking charge."
• The division race. The Patriots always are in playoff contention—they did win the AFC East last year—and the Dolphins should be improved. The Jets must get past those teams first on their way to the Super Bowl.
Their sub-.300 days didn’t intersect, but they weren’t far apart.
Hard to imagine that Joe Mauer, a career .327 hitter entering the season, and Albert Pujols, a career .334 hitter entering 2010, would find themselves hovering in the upper .200s at any point in July. And after watching their performances over the past week or so, it’s even harder to imagine. Mauer was sitting at .295 after a win in Baltimore on July 24. Since then, he’s had six multiple-hit games—including a five-hitter and one with four hits—and is batting .537 with 16 RBIs, 12 runs scored, a .604 on-base percentage and a 1.384 OPS.
Pujols was sitting at .295 after a win against Pittsburgh on July 30. Since then, he’s had multiple hits in six of his seven games and is batting .500 with five homers, 11 RBIs, 10 runs scored, a 1.031 slugging percentage, an otherworldly 1.531 OPS and only one strikeout.
No moral to the story or lesson to learn. Just two of the best getting back on track. Anyway, on to the poll.
Josh Hamilton is a leading MVP candidate.
1. Yankees (last week: 1). In the 46 at-bats between his 599th and 600th home run, Alex Rodriguez had only nine hits (a .196 average) but he still managed eight RBIs. It’s good to be part of that lineup, eh? For the year, he has 88 RBIs, which is second in the majors.
2. Rays (2). Yes, they’ve lost five games in a row entering the week, but there’s no reason to panic in Tampa Bay. The Rays are still only 2 1/2 behind the Yankees, and they’re still 4 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox and Twins in the wild-card race. The sore shoulders for Jeff Neimann and Wade Davis? Rays fans can worry about those.
3. Rangers (5). With every game Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers lose, Josh Hamilton’s MVP candidacy takes a step forward, right? He’s hitting .355 with 24 homers and 77 RBIs for the most surprisingly dominant team in baseball. (Not "most surprising" … "most surprisingly dominant")
4. Braves (9). The two primary lefties in the Braves’ bullpen—veteran closer Billy Wagner and rookie Jonny Venters—have thrown a combined for 106 innings with a 1.36 ERA and 130 strikeouts. The other lefty in the pen, rookie Mike Dunn has contributed six scoreless innings after he was called up to replace Eric O’Flaherty, who had a 2.30 ERA in 41 games before he hit the disabled list. So, yeah, left-handed relief is a strength in Atlanta.
5. Reds (10). We’ve pointed this out before but it bears repeating … the Reds are 16 games over .500 (34-18) against their Central division rivals and exactly .500 (30-30) against everyone else. After their huge three-game series with the Cardinals that opens today, the Reds play their next 12 games out of the division.
6. Padres (3). Sure, it’s early, but trade acquisitions Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tejada have hit a combined .200 (13-for-65) with five RBIs for the Padres. Maybe it’s the water.
7. Phillies (12). The Phillies sure looked like a team that was dead in the water a few weeks ago. Since losing to the Cardinals on July 21, though, the Phillies are 14-3 and have climbed back into contention for the NL East and the wild card. The primary offensive contributors: Raul Ibanez (.407, four homers, 16 RBIs), Jayson Werth (.406, three homers, eight RBIs) and Carlos Ruiz (.368, three homers, 11 RBIs).
Alexei Ramirez has been red hot in the second half.
8. White Sox (8). Second baseman Gordon Beckham has gotten most of the attention for his hot start to the second half (.372 since the All-Star break) but his double-play partner, Alexei Ramirez, hasn’t been too shabby with the stick, either. Ramirez is hitting .337 with an .849 OPS and 21 runs scored in the second half.
9. Twins (7). He’s not putting up Delmon Young or Joe Mauer numbers lately, but Jason Kubel has quietly and consistently rebounded from a slow start. In his past 54 games, Kubel is hitting .301 with nine homers and 37 RBIs.
10. Giants (4). Odd stat coincidence: Relievers Brian Wilson and Sergio Romo have both appeared in 46 games, and they both have a 2.23 ERA. Wilson has more strikeouts (67 to 46) but Santos has the better WHIP (1.015 to 1.283).
11. Red Sox (7). The nasty road trip that started with four games in Yankee Stadium continues this week with three in Toronto and three in Texas.
12. Cardinals (11). Here are the earned runs Adam Wainwright has allowed in each of his past eight games, starting with a June 29 contest against Arizona: 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 6, 1, 0.
13. Blue Jays (15). The Blue Jays are 11-1 against the AL East in the second half (6-0 vs. Baltimore, 3-0 vs. Tampa Bay and 2-1 vs. New York).
14. Rockies (13). OK, I’ll say it: Carlos Gonzalez belongs in the MVP conversation. CarGo has 25 homers, 77 RBIs and 18 stolen bases to go with his .327 average and .933 OPS. In his past 13 games, he has a .482 average, eight homers, 15 RBIs, and a 1.528 OPS.
15. Dodgers (14). Adjusting to life as a part-timer wasn’t easy for Garret Anderson. His average hadn’t been above .200 since April 17. He’d had 25 starts this year, and had multiple hits in just two of them. He was hitting .153 as a starter, .228 as a sub. For the year, he was hitting .181 with 12 RBIs in 155 at-bats before the Dodgers finally designated him for assignment.
16. A’s (19). With Ben Sheets out for the year, Dallas Braden is by far the oldest starter in the A’s rotation. He’ll be 27 on Friday.
17. Angels (18). With 60 RBIs, it looks like Bobby Abreu’s streak of seven consecutive 100-RBI seasons will end this year. That’s probably equal parts reflection on his age (36) and an Angels lineup that’s struggled this season (team .318 on-base percentage this year; was .350 in 2009).
18. Mets (17). Carlos Beltran is a borderline Hall of Fame guy (if he stays healthy) but he hasn’t exactly helped the Mets since his return to the lineup. He’s hitting .195 with seven RBIs, and the Mets are 7-16 since he came off the disabled list.
19. Marlins (16). With 25 homers and 67 RBIs through the Marlins’ first 110 games, Dan Uggla has a good shot at eclipsing his career highs of 32 homers and 92 RBIs. His current .882 also is a career-best.
20. Brewers (21). Somebody, please pay attention to Rickie Weeks. He’s hitting .272 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs—as the Brewers’ leadoff man. Those homer and RBI totals easily lead the majors among leadoff hitters, and his .364 on-base percentage is best for any player with more than 70 games as the leadoff man.
21. Tigers (20). It’s a cryin’ shame that Miguel Cabrera’s season—he’s at .343 with 26 homers, 93 RBIs and a 1.066 OPS—will be wasted for a team that just couldn’t stay healthy enough to contend.
22. Nationals (22). Livan Hernandez has a 3.03 ERA for the Nationals this year. His previous career best? The 3.20 he posted for the Expos (yep, the Expos) back in 2003.
23. Royals (24). With Jose Guillen out of the picture, Billy Butler is the team leader with 10 home runs. Alex Gordon, who has four homers in his past nine games, has a real shot to catch and pass Butler before the end of the season.
24. Indians (26). With Jhonny Peralta and Austin Kearns out of the picture, Shin-Soo Choo is the only Cleveland player with more than seven homers, 33 RBIs or a .267 average.
25. Astros (23). The Astros can’t hit for average (next-to-last in the NL at .247) or for power (74 homers, .669 OPS are both last in the N.L.) and they can’t draw a walk (300, last in the N.L.) but one thing they don’t do is strike out. Every team in the N.L. has struck out more than the Astros; they’re at 671 for the season (the D-backs lead at 1,029 strikeouts).
26. Diamondbacks (27). If the Diamondbacks win tonight against Milwaukee, it will mark the first time all season they’ve had a 10-game stretch that didn’t include back-to-back losses.
Paul Maholm has been one of baseball’s most inconsistent starters.
27. Cubs (25). The Cubs have won just one of their past 11 games. The one win in that stretch? A 15-3 beatdown of the Brewers, two nights after the Brewers beat them 18-1.
28. Orioles (30). That 5-1 mark under new manager Buck Showalter was enough to lift the Orioles out of last place in the poll.
29. Mariners (28). Seattle’s winning percentages the past four seasons, starting with 2007: .543, .377, .525, .375. The dichotomy between those last two numbers most likely cost manager Don Wakamatsu his job on Monday.
30. Pirates (29). Paul Maholm’s past three starts: 14 innings, 11.57 ERA. The three before that: 22 innings, 2.45 ERA. The three before that: 12 innings, 9.75 ERA. The three before that: 19 innings, 3.32 ERA. Consistency hasn’t been his calling card this year.
Their sub-.300 days didn’t intersect, but they weren’t far apart.
Hard to imagine that Joe Mauer, a career .327 hitter entering the season, and Albert Pujols, a career .334 hitter entering 2010, would find themselves hovering in the upper .200s at any point in July. And after watching their performances over the past week or so, it’s even harder to imagine. Mauer was sitting at .295 after a win in Baltimore on July 24. Since then, he’s had six multiple-hit games—including a five-hitter and one with four hits—and is batting .537 with 16 RBIs, 12 runs scored, a .604 on-base percentage and a 1.384 OPS.
Pujols was sitting at .295 after a win against Pittsburgh on July 30. Since then, he’s had multiple hits in six of his seven games and is batting .500 with five homers, 11 RBIs, 10 runs scored, a 1.031 slugging percentage, an otherworldly 1.531 OPS and only one strikeout.
No moral to the story or lesson to learn. Just two of the best getting back on track. Anyway, on to the poll.
Josh Hamilton is a leading MVP candidate.
1. Yankees (last week: 1). In the 46 at-bats between his 599th and 600th home run, Alex Rodriguez had only nine hits (a .196 average) but he still managed eight RBIs. It’s good to be part of that lineup, eh? For the year, he has 88 RBIs, which is second in the majors.
2. Rays (2). Yes, they’ve lost five games in a row entering the week, but there’s no reason to panic in Tampa Bay. The Rays are still only 2 1/2 behind the Yankees, and they’re still 4 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox and Twins in the wild-card race. The sore shoulders for Jeff Neimann and Wade Davis? Rays fans can worry about those.
3. Rangers (5). With every game Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers lose, Josh Hamilton’s MVP candidacy takes a step forward, right? He’s hitting .355 with 24 homers and 77 RBIs for the most surprisingly dominant team in baseball. (Not "most surprising" … "most surprisingly dominant")
4. Braves (9). The two primary lefties in the Braves’ bullpen—veteran closer Billy Wagner and rookie Jonny Venters—have thrown a combined for 106 innings with a 1.36 ERA and 130 strikeouts. The other lefty in the pen, rookie Mike Dunn has contributed six scoreless innings after he was called up to replace Eric O’Flaherty, who had a 2.30 ERA in 41 games before he hit the disabled list. So, yeah, left-handed relief is a strength in Atlanta.
5. Reds (10). We’ve pointed this out before but it bears repeating … the Reds are 16 games over .500 (34-18) against their Central division rivals and exactly .500 (30-30) against everyone else. After their huge three-game series with the Cardinals that opens today, the Reds play their next 12 games out of the division.
6. Padres (3). Sure, it’s early, but trade acquisitions Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tejada have hit a combined .200 (13-for-65) with five RBIs for the Padres. Maybe it’s the water.
7. Phillies (12). The Phillies sure looked like a team that was dead in the water a few weeks ago. Since losing to the Cardinals on July 21, though, the Phillies are 14-3 and have climbed back into contention for the NL East and the wild card. The primary offensive contributors: Raul Ibanez (.407, four homers, 16 RBIs), Jayson Werth (.406, three homers, eight RBIs) and Carlos Ruiz (.368, three homers, 11 RBIs).
Alexei Ramirez has been red hot in the second half.
8. White Sox (8). Second baseman Gordon Beckham has gotten most of the attention for his hot start to the second half (.372 since the All-Star break) but his double-play partner, Alexei Ramirez, hasn’t been too shabby with the stick, either. Ramirez is hitting .337 with an .849 OPS and 21 runs scored in the second half.
9. Twins (7). He’s not putting up Delmon Young or Joe Mauer numbers lately, but Jason Kubel has quietly and consistently rebounded from a slow start. In his past 54 games, Kubel is hitting .301 with nine homers and 37 RBIs.
10. Giants (4). Odd stat coincidence: Relievers Brian Wilson and Sergio Romo have both appeared in 46 games, and they both have a 2.23 ERA. Wilson has more strikeouts (67 to 46) but Santos has the better WHIP (1.015 to 1.283).
11. Red Sox (7). The nasty road trip that started with four games in Yankee Stadium continues this week with three in Toronto and three in Texas.
12. Cardinals (11). Here are the earned runs Adam Wainwright has allowed in each of his past eight games, starting with a June 29 contest against Arizona: 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 6, 1, 0.
13. Blue Jays (15). The Blue Jays are 11-1 against the AL East in the second half (6-0 vs. Baltimore, 3-0 vs. Tampa Bay and 2-1 vs. New York).
14. Rockies (13). OK, I’ll say it: Carlos Gonzalez belongs in the MVP conversation. CarGo has 25 homers, 77 RBIs and 18 stolen bases to go with his .327 average and .933 OPS. In his past 13 games, he has a .482 average, eight homers, 15 RBIs, and a 1.528 OPS.
15. Dodgers (14). Adjusting to life as a part-timer wasn’t easy for Garret Anderson. His average hadn’t been above .200 since April 17. He’d had 25 starts this year, and had multiple hits in just two of them. He was hitting .153 as a starter, .228 as a sub. For the year, he was hitting .181 with 12 RBIs in 155 at-bats before the Dodgers finally designated him for assignment.
16. A’s (19). With Ben Sheets out for the year, Dallas Braden is by far the oldest starter in the A’s rotation. He’ll be 27 on Friday.
17. Angels (18). With 60 RBIs, it looks like Bobby Abreu’s streak of seven consecutive 100-RBI seasons will end this year. That’s probably equal parts reflection on his age (36) and an Angels lineup that’s struggled this season (team .318 on-base percentage this year; was .350 in 2009).
18. Mets (17). Carlos Beltran is a borderline Hall of Fame guy (if he stays healthy) but he hasn’t exactly helped the Mets since his return to the lineup. He’s hitting .195 with seven RBIs, and the Mets are 7-16 since he came off the disabled list.
19. Marlins (16). With 25 homers and 67 RBIs through the Marlins’ first 110 games, Dan Uggla has a good shot at eclipsing his career highs of 32 homers and 92 RBIs. His current .882 also is a career-best.
20. Brewers (21). Somebody, please pay attention to Rickie Weeks. He’s hitting .272 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs—as the Brewers’ leadoff man. Those homer and RBI totals easily lead the majors among leadoff hitters, and his .364 on-base percentage is best for any player with more than 70 games as the leadoff man.
21. Tigers (20). It’s a cryin’ shame that Miguel Cabrera’s season—he’s at .343 with 26 homers, 93 RBIs and a 1.066 OPS—will be wasted for a team that just couldn’t stay healthy enough to contend.
22. Nationals (22). Livan Hernandez has a 3.03 ERA for the Nationals this year. His previous career best? The 3.20 he posted for the Expos (yep, the Expos) back in 2003.
23. Royals (24). With Jose Guillen out of the picture, Billy Butler is the team leader with 10 home runs. Alex Gordon, who has four homers in his past nine games, has a real shot to catch and pass Butler before the end of the season.
24. Indians (26). With Jhonny Peralta and Austin Kearns out of the picture, Shin-Soo Choo is the only Cleveland player with more than seven homers, 33 RBIs or a .267 average.
25. Astros (23). The Astros can’t hit for average (next-to-last in the NL at .247) or for power (74 homers, .669 OPS are both last in the N.L.) and they can’t draw a walk (300, last in the N.L.) but one thing they don’t do is strike out. Every team in the N.L. has struck out more than the Astros; they’re at 671 for the season (the D-backs lead at 1,029 strikeouts).
26. Diamondbacks (27). If the Diamondbacks win tonight against Milwaukee, it will mark the first time all season they’ve had a 10-game stretch that didn’t include back-to-back losses.
Paul Maholm has been one of baseball’s most inconsistent starters.
27. Cubs (25). The Cubs have won just one of their past 11 games. The one win in that stretch? A 15-3 beatdown of the Brewers, two nights after the Brewers beat them 18-1.
28. Orioles (30). That 5-1 mark under new manager Buck Showalter was enough to lift the Orioles out of last place in the poll.
29. Mariners (28). Seattle’s winning percentages the past four seasons, starting with 2007: .543, .377, .525, .375. The dichotomy between those last two numbers most likely cost manager Don Wakamatsu his job on Monday.
30. Pirates (29). Paul Maholm’s past three starts: 14 innings, 11.57 ERA. The three before that: 22 innings, 2.45 ERA. The three before that: 12 innings, 9.75 ERA. The three before that: 19 innings, 3.32 ERA. Consistency hasn’t been his calling card this year.
