Dismissing speculation that manager Trey Hillman is on the hot seat because of the last-place Royals’ poor start, general manager Dayton Moore told the Kansas City Star that Hill is "exactly what our organization needs at this point in time."
"Trey is a tremendous leader," Moore told the newspaper, "somebody who is very consistent with who he is day in and day out."
Moore admitted, however, that he is disappointed with the team’s poor play. Kansas City is 11-23 after losing 4-0 to Cleveland on Wednesday night. The Royals left 13 men on base in the game.
Kansas City is now 56 games below .500 since Hillman was hired after the 2007 season, replacing Buddy Bell, who resigned. Hillman managed five years in Japan, including the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to the 2006 title.
"We’ve got to play better," Moore told the Star. "It’s not a question of effort or passion from our coaching staff. It’s all there. But together, we’ve got to perform and win games."
Moore maintained that the Royals can get back into the division race, but also warned that personnel changes are likely if there’s no turnaround.
"I believe in our baseball team," he told the Star. "I believe in the talent that we have here."
Hillman acknowledged his vulnerability in speaking with reporters Wednesday.
"I know it’s the last year of my contract," Hillman said. "I’ve been driven my whole live to be as successful as I could be. I’m still driven the same way. At the end of the day, what Trey Hillman really wants is the Kansas City Royals to be a contending club and to be in position to win baseball games. That’s all I want."
The manager, like his GM, tried to sound hopeful about the rest of the season.
"I’m still 11 games under .500," Hillman said. "I still feel blessed to be here. We’re not where we want to be. We’ve got 120-something games left. Over the years where I’ve been and what I’ve done, I’ve learned the first month and half of a season does not a season make. We can still gain some ground. We’ve still got some time to do some things right."
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Sporting News staff reports
Dismissing speculation that manager Trey Hillman is on the hot seat because of the last-place Royals’ poor start, general manager Dayton Moore told the Kansas City Star that Hill is "exactly what our organization needs at this point in time."
"Trey is a tremendous leader," Moore told the newspaper, "somebody who is very consistent with who he is day in and day out."
Moore admitted, however, that he is disappointed with the team’s poor play. Kansas City is 11-23 after losing 4-0 to Cleveland on Wednesday night. The Royals left 13 men on base in the game.
Kansas City is now 56 games below .500 since Hillman was hired after the 2007 season, replacing Buddy Bell, who resigned. Hillman managed five years in Japan, including the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to the 2006 title.
"We’ve got to play better," Moore told the Star. "It’s not a question of effort or passion from our coaching staff. It’s all there. But together, we’ve got to perform and win games."
Moore maintained that the Royals can get back into the division race, but also warned that personnel changes are likely if there’s no turnaround.
"I believe in our baseball team," he told the Star. "I believe in the talent that we have here."
Hillman acknowledged his vulnerability in speaking with reporters Wednesday.
"I know it’s the last year of my contract," Hillman said. "I’ve been driven my whole live to be as successful as I could be. I’m still driven the same way. At the end of the day, what Trey Hillman really wants is the Kansas City Royals to be a contending club and to be in position to win baseball games. That’s all I want."
The manager, like his GM, tried to sound hopeful about the rest of the season.
"I’m still 11 games under .500," Hillman said. "I still feel blessed to be here. We’re not where we want to be. We’ve got 120-something games left. Over the years where I’ve been and what I’ve done, I’ve learned the first month and half of a season does not a season make. We can still gain some ground. We’ve still got some time to do some things right."
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Only three NFL teams changed head coaches this offseason. However, there was plenty of shuffling on coaching staffs, with offensive and defensive coordinators moving in and moving out. Here are five coordinators in new spots facing serious pressure:
New coordinator Perry Fewell will have his hands full trying to rebuild the Giants defense.
Perry Fewell, DC, Giants
Who he replaced: Bill Sheridan, who was fired after the defense fell apart in 2009.
What he faces: Only the Lions and the Rams gave up more points than the Giants last season. Signing safety Antrel Rolle will help the secondary, but serious question marks remain. Can end Osi Umenyiora bounce back from a disappointing season? Can safety Kenny Phillips return successfully from his serious knee injury? Will first-round end Jason Pierre-Paul be a boom or a bust? And can anyone successfully replace Antonio Pierce at middle linebacker?
"The middle linebacker is important in anybody’s scheme," Fewell told reporters during the Giants’ recent minicamp. "When you have a veteran like Pierce, that’s very hard to replace because he’s an extension of the coordinator. He’s a communicator — he has to get everyone set."
At least five players should get a shot to replace Pierce: Chase Blackburn, rookie Phillip Dillard, Jonathan Goff, Bryan Kehl, and Gerris Wilkerson. However, the onus to improve the defense falls on Fewell, who believes he will benefit from his stint last season as the Bills’ interim head coach.
"I see the big picture more," Fewell said. "While I would like to make guarantees, I can’t. I’m going to demand that we be physical and play physical. The Giants’ defense is a physical defense, and we know that from history. I want to return to that defense."
Jim Haslett, DC, Redskins
Who he replaced: Greg Blache, who announced his retirement from coaching after head coach Jim Zorn was fired.
What he faces: Their highest-paid defensive player, tackle Albert Haynesworth, seems disgruntled and has irked new coach Mike Shanahan by skipping two voluntary minicamps. Haynesworth apparently wants no part of playing nose tackle in the Redskins’ new 3-4 defense. It’s possible the team could trade Haynesworth, but if he stays put, part of Haslett’s job will be dealing with him daily.
It’s not like the Redskins were a disaster on defense last season. They ranked 10th in the NFL and had 40 sacks — and they also have a budding star in linebacker Brian Orakpo. Shanahan is an offensive guru with a successful track record. So if the defense slips, fingers will immediately point toward Haslett.
Even if Haynesworth does not buy into what Haslett wants, newly acquired defensive tackle Adam Carriker believes most players will.
"Has is a fiery guy," Carriker said. "He’s very charismatic. He’s going to get you excited to play."
Can new Bears coordinator Mike Martz turn Jay Cutler into an elite QB?
Don Martindale, DC, Broncos
Who he replaced: Mike Nolan, who resigned to become the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator.
What he faces: The Broncos lost eight of their last 10 games last season, and the defense surrendered 25.8 points per game during that stretch. Linebacker Elvis Dumervil led the league in sacks, but how long can safety Brian Dawkins, 36, and cornerback Champ Bailey, 31, play at a high level?
This will be Martindale’s first stint as an NFL coordinator, but he was popular with Broncos players as their linebackers coach last season. However, some had expected coach Josh McDaniels to hire former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees to run the Broncos’ defense.
Pees and McDaniels worked together on the Patriots’ staff, but McDaniels felt Martindale was the right choice. If the Broncos’ defense falters, McDaniels’ decision to go with Martindale will be second-guessed.
Who he replaced: Ron Turner, who was fired after Jay Cutler’s turnover-filled season.
What he faces: This gets my vote for the most-scrutinized coordinator hire. It will be fascinating to see whether Martz can help Cutler become an elite quarterback. Martz’s success with Kurt Warner in St. Louis is well-documented, but Martz’s most recent stops with the Lions and 49ers have not ended in glory.
Coach Lovie Smith’s job is on the line, but he is a defensive-oriented coach who is trusting Martz to get help fix a quarterback who led the NFL in interceptions last season. You get the feeling this will go really well or really badly.
Mike Nolan, DC, Dolphins
Who he replaced: Paul Pasqualoni, who was fired after the Dolphins lost their last three games and finished 7-9.
What he faces: There are high expectations for this unit to improve. That’s because the Dolphins signed former Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby to a huge contract and used seven of their eight draft picks on defensive players, including tackle Jared Odrick (first round) and outside linebacker Koa Misi (second round).
This is clearly a defense in transition, with Jason Taylor and Joey Porter gone and Nolan running the show. Nolan did an impressive job in Denver last season, as the Broncos’ defense improved from No. 29 overall to No. 7. However, this will be another serious challenge for him. The Dolphins could have six new starters on defense, yet they hope to challenge the Patriots and Jets in the AFC East.
Only three NFL teams changed head coaches this offseason. However, there was plenty of shuffling on coaching staffs, with offensive and defensive coordinators moving in and moving out. Here are five coordinators in new spots facing serious pressure:
New coordinator Perry Fewell will have his hands full trying to rebuild the Giants defense.
Perry Fewell, DC, Giants
Who he replaced: Bill Sheridan, who was fired after the defense fell apart in 2009.
What he faces: Only the Lions and the Rams gave up more points than the Giants last season. Signing safety Antrel Rolle will help the secondary, but serious question marks remain. Can end Osi Umenyiora bounce back from a disappointing season? Can safety Kenny Phillips return successfully from his serious knee injury? Will first-round end Jason Pierre-Paul be a boom or a bust? And can anyone successfully replace Antonio Pierce at middle linebacker?
"The middle linebacker is important in anybody’s scheme," Fewell told reporters during the Giants’ recent minicamp. "When you have a veteran like Pierce, that’s very hard to replace because he’s an extension of the coordinator. He’s a communicator — he has to get everyone set."
At least five players should get a shot to replace Pierce: Chase Blackburn, rookie Phillip Dillard, Jonathan Goff, Bryan Kehl, and Gerris Wilkerson. However, the onus to improve the defense falls on Fewell, who believes he will benefit from his stint last season as the Bills’ interim head coach.
"I see the big picture more," Fewell said. "While I would like to make guarantees, I can’t. I’m going to demand that we be physical and play physical. The Giants’ defense is a physical defense, and we know that from history. I want to return to that defense."
Jim Haslett, DC, Redskins
Who he replaced: Greg Blache, who announced his retirement from coaching after head coach Jim Zorn was fired.
What he faces: Their highest-paid defensive player, tackle Albert Haynesworth, seems disgruntled and has irked new coach Mike Shanahan by skipping two voluntary minicamps. Haynesworth apparently wants no part of playing nose tackle in the Redskins’ new 3-4 defense. It’s possible the team could trade Haynesworth, but if he stays put, part of Haslett’s job will be dealing with him daily.
It’s not like the Redskins were a disaster on defense last season. They ranked 10th in the NFL and had 40 sacks — and they also have a budding star in linebacker Brian Orakpo. Shanahan is an offensive guru with a successful track record. So if the defense slips, fingers will immediately point toward Haslett.
Even if Haynesworth does not buy into what Haslett wants, newly acquired defensive tackle Adam Carriker believes most players will.
"Has is a fiery guy," Carriker said. "He’s very charismatic. He’s going to get you excited to play."
Can new Bears coordinator Mike Martz turn Jay Cutler into an elite QB?
Don Martindale, DC, Broncos
Who he replaced: Mike Nolan, who resigned to become the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator.
What he faces: The Broncos lost eight of their last 10 games last season, and the defense surrendered 25.8 points per game during that stretch. Linebacker Elvis Dumervil led the league in sacks, but how long can safety Brian Dawkins, 36, and cornerback Champ Bailey, 31, play at a high level?
This will be Martindale’s first stint as an NFL coordinator, but he was popular with Broncos players as their linebackers coach last season. However, some had expected coach Josh McDaniels to hire former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees to run the Broncos’ defense.
Pees and McDaniels worked together on the Patriots’ staff, but McDaniels felt Martindale was the right choice. If the Broncos’ defense falters, McDaniels’ decision to go with Martindale will be second-guessed.
Who he replaced: Ron Turner, who was fired after Jay Cutler’s turnover-filled season.
What he faces: This gets my vote for the most-scrutinized coordinator hire. It will be fascinating to see whether Martz can help Cutler become an elite quarterback. Martz’s success with Kurt Warner in St. Louis is well-documented, but Martz’s most recent stops with the Lions and 49ers have not ended in glory.
Coach Lovie Smith’s job is on the line, but he is a defensive-oriented coach who is trusting Martz to get help fix a quarterback who led the NFL in interceptions last season. You get the feeling this will go really well or really badly.
Mike Nolan, DC, Dolphins
Who he replaced: Paul Pasqualoni, who was fired after the Dolphins lost their last three games and finished 7-9.
What he faces: There are high expectations for this unit to improve. That’s because the Dolphins signed former Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby to a huge contract and used seven of their eight draft picks on defensive players, including tackle Jared Odrick (first round) and outside linebacker Koa Misi (second round).
This is clearly a defense in transition, with Jason Taylor and Joey Porter gone and Nolan running the show. Nolan did an impressive job in Denver last season, as the Broncos’ defense improved from No. 29 overall to No. 7. However, this will be another serious challenge for him. The Dolphins could have six new starters on defense, yet they hope to challenge the Patriots and Jets in the AFC East.
The Phillies sent closer Brad Lidge back to Philadelphia today to have his surgically repaired pitching elbow examined by team doctor Michael Ciccotti, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lidge was unavailable to close Monday because he experienced stiffness in the elbow, and he wasn’t pleased with how it felt after a throwing session Tuesday.
"We just thought, after thinking about it last night, the best thing to do would be to send him back and let the doctor look at it," Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock told the newspaper.
Lidge told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he isn’t worried about the situation. "It’s really nothing that is alarming unless for some reason it doesn’t get better for a couple of days," said Lidge, who believes the condition is a normal aftereffect of the surgery.
Sporting News staff reports
The Phillies sent closer Brad Lidge back to Philadelphia today to have his surgically repaired pitching elbow examined by team doctor Michael Ciccotti, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lidge was unavailable to close Monday because he experienced stiffness in the elbow, and he wasn’t pleased with how it felt after a throwing session Tuesday.
"We just thought, after thinking about it last night, the best thing to do would be to send him back and let the doctor look at it," Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock told the newspaper.
Lidge told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he isn’t worried about the situation. "It’s really nothing that is alarming unless for some reason it doesn’t get better for a couple of days," said Lidge, who believes the condition is a normal aftereffect of the surgery.
Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Sporting News baseball writer Ryan Fagan discusses the players who have been most disappointing in the early going.
Sporting News
Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Sporting News baseball writer Ryan Fagan discusses the players who have been most disappointing in the early going.
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
Strike 1: Eckstein and the Padres refuse to fade
David Eckstein still has a baby face but at 35 on a Padres club full of 20-somethings, he has become the old guy in the lineup. "Luckily, we have Matt Stairs, too," says Eckstein of the 42-year-old pinch hitter.
David Eckstein provides a veteran presence on the young Padres.
Eckstein continues to prove wrong all those who, as long ago as 2002, said he didn’t have enough game to play every day. Two World Series rings and a World Series MVP award later, Eckstein has moved from shortstop to second base but still is starting and remains as pesky as ever at the plate (two strikeouts in his first 121 plate appearances this season). He also has embraced his role as veteran leader.
"These guys make that enjoyable," Eckstein says. "I don’t have to remind someone to run hard when they hit a popup. It’s more like make sure you keep up that meanness on the field. I have guys on other teams come up to me and say, ‘You guys play the game the right way.’ "
Pegged for last in the NL West, the Padres have pitched and scratched their way to first place and, at 20-12, are off to their best start since they went to the World Series in 1998. Jon Garland has boosted a rotation that hasn’t completed a game but has a 2.78 ERA, though the real strength of the staff has been the NL’s best bullpen (2.58 ERA).
On offense, only Adrian Gonzalez figures to hit 20 homers. Yet for a small-ball team, the Padres don’t hit much for average (.243) and strike out too much (second only to the Diamondbacks in the NL). So far, though, their lack of production hasn’t caught up to them.
"We’re going to put pressure on the defense other than hitting doubles and home runs," Eckstein says. "That’s the biggest difference with this club."
The Padres lead the majors in steals and make the most of the runs they score. Consider how they beat the Giants in their first four meetings. They walked 12 times Tuesday night and won 3-2. Last month, they got one hit but won 1-0. The previous night, they won on a 10th-inning homer off the left-field foul pole from their most unlikely power source, Eckstein.
"I was more in shock than anything," Eckstein says. "I thought it was going foul but somehow, luckily, in that corner the wind blows it back a little bit and it stayed true."
Eckstein, too, has stayed true. When we talked the other day, it was three hours before first pitch. I told him that I bet he already had been to the batting cage, hit the weight room and had a massage. And that he was ready for batting practice.
"Well, I haven’t gone to the weight room yet because we don’t stretch for another hour. But I will," Eckstein said.
Strike 2: Porcello needs a break(ing ball)
If the Tigers want to stay in the AL Central race, their rotation needs to pick it up. Their league-leading bullpen and Miguel Cabrera-led offense can’t be expected to shoulder such a load for the long haul.
Rick Porcello needs a third pitch.
Dontrelle Willis has been the Tigers’ most effective starter but although he has provided a hopeful comeback story, a 3.99 ERA isn’t what you want leading your staff. Justin Verlander has overcome a slow start and lowered his ERA to 4.50, but Max Scherzer, Jeremy Bonderman and Rick Porcello have ERAs well north of 5.00. The result is a 5.72 for the AL’s worst rotation ERA.
Porcello was one of 2009’s feel-good stories when he won 14 games as a 20-year-old rookie just two years out of high school. Now there is talk that he could benefit from more time in the minors. Porcello has lasted six innings just once this season, and that was against the Royals. He took a 7.50 ERA into Wednesday’s start against the Yankees.
According to a scout, hitters have learned to take advantage of Porcello’s lack of a major league-quality third pitch to go with his fastball and changeup. "I don’t know if he had enough time to let his breaking ball develop," the scout said. "And when a hitter isn’t worried about a guy throwing a breaking ball, all of a sudden their ability to hit goes up."
Strike 3: Practice perfect etiquette
A’s lefthander Gio Gonzalez missed the first two innings of Dallas Braden’s perfect game Friday because he was working out. Once in the dugout, he spent the rest of the game not exactly sure what he was rooting for.
"I didn’t know it was a perfect game until after the game when it was announced," Gonzalez said. "I thought it was a no-hitter. Throughout the game, I’m saying to myself, ‘Come on Dallas, get the no-hitter. Get the no-hitter.’ "
Gonzalez’s teammates couldn’t correct him because they weren’t saying anything. "Nobody was talking," Gonzalez said. "Everybody was on one side of the dugout except Dallas and (backup catcher) Josh Donaldson. They were sitting next to each other, but I don’t think Josh said a word to him.
"You don’t move in a situation like that. You just keep doing what you’ve been doing the whole game. I had a baseball in my hand the whole time, and I didn’t let it go until we won and then I threw it in the stands. Like, ‘Yes, I can get rid of this ball already.’ "
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
Strike 1: Eckstein and the Padres refuse to fade
David Eckstein still has a baby face but at 35 on a Padres club full of 20-somethings, he has become the old guy in the lineup. "Luckily, we have Matt Stairs, too," says Eckstein of the 42-year-old pinch hitter.
David Eckstein provides a veteran presence on the young Padres.
Eckstein continues to prove wrong all those who, as long ago as 2002, said he didn’t have enough game to play every day. Two World Series rings and a World Series MVP award later, Eckstein has moved from shortstop to second base but still is starting and remains as pesky as ever at the plate (two strikeouts in his first 121 plate appearances this season). He also has embraced his role as veteran leader.
"These guys make that enjoyable," Eckstein says. "I don’t have to remind someone to run hard when they hit a popup. It’s more like make sure you keep up that meanness on the field. I have guys on other teams come up to me and say, ‘You guys play the game the right way.’ "
Pegged for last in the NL West, the Padres have pitched and scratched their way to first place and, at 20-12, are off to their best start since they went to the World Series in 1998. Jon Garland has boosted a rotation that hasn’t completed a game but has a 2.78 ERA, though the real strength of the staff has been the NL’s best bullpen (2.58 ERA).
On offense, only Adrian Gonzalez figures to hit 20 homers. Yet for a small-ball team, the Padres don’t hit much for average (.243) and strike out too much (second only to the Diamondbacks in the NL). So far, though, their lack of production hasn’t caught up to them.
"We’re going to put pressure on the defense other than hitting doubles and home runs," Eckstein says. "That’s the biggest difference with this club."
The Padres lead the majors in steals and make the most of the runs they score. Consider how they beat the Giants in their first four meetings. They walked 12 times Tuesday night and won 3-2. Last month, they got one hit but won 1-0. The previous night, they won on a 10th-inning homer off the left-field foul pole from their most unlikely power source, Eckstein.
"I was more in shock than anything," Eckstein says. "I thought it was going foul but somehow, luckily, in that corner the wind blows it back a little bit and it stayed true."
Eckstein, too, has stayed true. When we talked the other day, it was three hours before first pitch. I told him that I bet he already had been to the batting cage, hit the weight room and had a massage. And that he was ready for batting practice.
"Well, I haven’t gone to the weight room yet because we don’t stretch for another hour. But I will," Eckstein said.
Strike 2: Porcello needs a break(ing ball)
If the Tigers want to stay in the AL Central race, their rotation needs to pick it up. Their league-leading bullpen and Miguel Cabrera-led offense can’t be expected to shoulder such a load for the long haul.
Rick Porcello needs a third pitch.
Dontrelle Willis has been the Tigers’ most effective starter but although he has provided a hopeful comeback story, a 3.99 ERA isn’t what you want leading your staff. Justin Verlander has overcome a slow start and lowered his ERA to 4.50, but Max Scherzer, Jeremy Bonderman and Rick Porcello have ERAs well north of 5.00. The result is a 5.72 for the AL’s worst rotation ERA.
Porcello was one of 2009’s feel-good stories when he won 14 games as a 20-year-old rookie just two years out of high school. Now there is talk that he could benefit from more time in the minors. Porcello has lasted six innings just once this season, and that was against the Royals. He took a 7.50 ERA into Wednesday’s start against the Yankees.
According to a scout, hitters have learned to take advantage of Porcello’s lack of a major league-quality third pitch to go with his fastball and changeup. "I don’t know if he had enough time to let his breaking ball develop," the scout said. "And when a hitter isn’t worried about a guy throwing a breaking ball, all of a sudden their ability to hit goes up."
Strike 3: Practice perfect etiquette
A’s lefthander Gio Gonzalez missed the first two innings of Dallas Braden’s perfect game Friday because he was working out. Once in the dugout, he spent the rest of the game not exactly sure what he was rooting for.
"I didn’t know it was a perfect game until after the game when it was announced," Gonzalez said. "I thought it was a no-hitter. Throughout the game, I’m saying to myself, ‘Come on Dallas, get the no-hitter. Get the no-hitter.’ "
Gonzalez’s teammates couldn’t correct him because they weren’t saying anything. "Nobody was talking," Gonzalez said. "Everybody was on one side of the dugout except Dallas and (backup catcher) Josh Donaldson. They were sitting next to each other, but I don’t think Josh said a word to him.
"You don’t move in a situation like that. You just keep doing what you’ve been doing the whole game. I had a baseball in my hand the whole time, and I didn’t let it go until we won and then I threw it in the stands. Like, ‘Yes, I can get rid of this ball already.’ "
NBA:Tweet of the day: LeBron Marino and the Cleveland Chargers? – CBS Sports columnist Mike Freeman.
MLB: In case you missed it, David Letterman gave Dallas Braden a clear shot (or two) at Alex Rodriguez in last night’s 10 list on the Late Show. No. 10: "Grandma’s right. Stick it, A-Rod," and No.1: "Maybe I can give Kate Hudson a call."
And for a more meaningful take on the pitcher, The New York Times has a nice piece on Braden.
Golf/NBA: Golfer Fred Couples has bought a pair of premium Charlotte Bobcats season tickets for next season, a transaction that might’ve been spurred by his recent pro-am round at the Quail Hollow Championship with team owner Michael Jordan, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. There also have been rumors that Couples plans to buy a small ownership share, though team president and COO Fred Whitfield called that a "premature" topic for discussion.
NFL: When first reading the headline "Chiefs visit Fort Leavenworth," Fly thought it was some sort of new "scared straight" program with NFLers visiting the penitentiary that once housed Michael Vick. Nah, the players and GM Scott Pioli took a trip out to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to visit soldiers at the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi, KCChiefsBlog reports.
NBA:Tweet of the day: LeBron Marino and the Cleveland Chargers? – CBS Sports columnist Mike Freeman.
MLB: In case you missed it, David Letterman gave Dallas Braden a clear shot (or two) at Alex Rodriguez in last night’s 10 list on the Late Show. No. 10: "Grandma’s right. Stick it, A-Rod," and No.1: "Maybe I can give Kate Hudson a call."
And for a more meaningful take on the pitcher, The New York Times has a nice piece on Braden.
Golf/NBA: Golfer Fred Couples has bought a pair of premium Charlotte Bobcats season tickets for next season, a transaction that might’ve been spurred by his recent pro-am round at the Quail Hollow Championship with team owner Michael Jordan, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. There also have been rumors that Couples plans to buy a small ownership share, though team president and COO Fred Whitfield called that a "premature" topic for discussion.
NFL: When first reading the headline "Chiefs visit Fort Leavenworth," Fly thought it was some sort of new "scared straight" program with NFLers visiting the penitentiary that once housed Michael Vick. Nah, the players and GM Scott Pioli took a trip out to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to visit soldiers at the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi, KCChiefsBlog reports.
After news broke that Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing had tested positive for a banned substance and would be suspended for four games, the the Associated Press announced it would hold a new vote for Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro Outside Linebacker, both honors that Cushing received for the 2009 season. AP Sports Editor Terry Taylor joined Joe and Evan on WFAN in New York to discuss the decision.
Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing was suspended four games by the NFL after he tested positive for a banned substance.
Why did the AP decide to hold another vote for those awards?
Taylor: Here’s what we did. As you know, this broke on Friday, where he said that he did take a banned-non-steroid substance. Whatever it was and it wasn’t named, it’s still considered a performance enhancing drug by the NFL. He lost his appeal. He’s got a four-game suspension.
This was very deliberate. We’ve never done this at the AP. This was unprecedented. It took a long time. It took an entire shift. It was about eight hours by the time we talked it out with senior editors.
I have to tell you, in case there are any questions, there was no single voter who called and said, "Hey, you’d better do this." There was no demand from any voter – and there are 50 of them.
But the whole basis of a vote, whether it’s college basketball, college football, or the NFL awards that we do, is an informed vote. It’s on-field performance. In this case – we can talk about Julius Peppers and Shawne Merriman – but in this case, they didn’t know. They didn’t know until long after they cast their ballot that there was a suspension, there was what was considered an infraction, and then the penalty was handed down and he said yes, he took something…
We thought the best thing to do was to put it out there again and leave his name on there.
When has enough time passed that it’s too late to re-vote?
Taylor: This is something we’re going to have to sit down and figure out. There is no retroactive vote. This is a fresh vote. This is from the season in which we last gave our awards. This is a fresh set of votes. The NFL awards, they came out in January. We had nothing in place. We’ve never encountered this before.
Does Taylor foresee this happening again?
Taylor: I can tell you, from what went into the decision yesterday, I surely hope not. If I may say this, I don’t think so and I hope not…
I really do think there is less tolerance from everybody out there – the leagues, the public, and that includes the media – for steroids, PEDs, everything. We have all lived through the headlines. This is me speaking, I am not speaking for any of the voters here, but I think there is much more of an awareness out there of these things and I think there is much more of a reaction to it.
Can Taylor shed light on the process that led to this decision?
Taylor: It’s very deliberate. I am the sports editor. I have a number of senior managers at the AP. They were all informed yesterday. And this is the decision of AP senior editors. We were all in agreement on this. It’s not something you just want to rush out and do. It took all of the day yesterday to talk about this and the significance of this and to just go out and do it. We thought it was the fair thing to do. It’s the accountable thing to do.
What will happen if Cushing does not win the re-vote?
Taylor: It’s a title. There was no monetary award with this. He just relinquishes his title as the rookie defensive award winner.
Sports Radio Interviews
After news broke that Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing had tested positive for a banned substance and would be suspended for four games, the the Associated Press announced it would hold a new vote for Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro Outside Linebacker, both honors that Cushing received for the 2009 season. AP Sports Editor Terry Taylor joined Joe and Evan on WFAN in New York to discuss the decision.
Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing was suspended four games by the NFL after he tested positive for a banned substance.
Why did the AP decide to hold another vote for those awards?
Taylor: Here’s what we did. As you know, this broke on Friday, where he said that he did take a banned-non-steroid substance. Whatever it was and it wasn’t named, it’s still considered a performance enhancing drug by the NFL. He lost his appeal. He’s got a four-game suspension.
This was very deliberate. We’ve never done this at the AP. This was unprecedented. It took a long time. It took an entire shift. It was about eight hours by the time we talked it out with senior editors.
I have to tell you, in case there are any questions, there was no single voter who called and said, "Hey, you’d better do this." There was no demand from any voter – and there are 50 of them.
But the whole basis of a vote, whether it’s college basketball, college football, or the NFL awards that we do, is an informed vote. It’s on-field performance. In this case – we can talk about Julius Peppers and Shawne Merriman – but in this case, they didn’t know. They didn’t know until long after they cast their ballot that there was a suspension, there was what was considered an infraction, and then the penalty was handed down and he said yes, he took something…
We thought the best thing to do was to put it out there again and leave his name on there.
When has enough time passed that it’s too late to re-vote?
Taylor: This is something we’re going to have to sit down and figure out. There is no retroactive vote. This is a fresh vote. This is from the season in which we last gave our awards. This is a fresh set of votes. The NFL awards, they came out in January. We had nothing in place. We’ve never encountered this before.
Does Taylor foresee this happening again?
Taylor: I can tell you, from what went into the decision yesterday, I surely hope not. If I may say this, I don’t think so and I hope not…
I really do think there is less tolerance from everybody out there – the leagues, the public, and that includes the media – for steroids, PEDs, everything. We have all lived through the headlines. This is me speaking, I am not speaking for any of the voters here, but I think there is much more of an awareness out there of these things and I think there is much more of a reaction to it.
Can Taylor shed light on the process that led to this decision?
Taylor: It’s very deliberate. I am the sports editor. I have a number of senior managers at the AP. They were all informed yesterday. And this is the decision of AP senior editors. We were all in agreement on this. It’s not something you just want to rush out and do. It took all of the day yesterday to talk about this and the significance of this and to just go out and do it. We thought it was the fair thing to do. It’s the accountable thing to do.
What will happen if Cushing does not win the re-vote?
Taylor: It’s a title. There was no monetary award with this. He just relinquishes his title as the rookie defensive award winner.
Rays left field Carl Crawford landed a verbal slap on ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine on Tuesday, a day after Valentine tweaked Crawford for diving to catch a line drive.
"Tell Bobby Valentine to take that. He said I could have caught that ball standing up. And I want to tell him, first inning, just getting warmed up, I definitely couldn’t have caught it standing. Everybody knows if I can catch a ball standing, I’m going to do it because I don’t want to get hurt," Crawford told reporters before Tampa Bay’s game in Anaheim. "I can’t believe he said that."
Then came this haymaker:
"Obviously he don’t know what it’s like to have this kind of ability."
In fact, Valentine was was a football and baseball star — like Crawford — more than 40 years ago in Connecticut. Valentine, like Crawford was recruited by major programs, including Southern California.
Sporting News staff reports
Rays left field Carl Crawford landed a verbal slap on ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine on Tuesday, a day after Valentine tweaked Crawford for diving to catch a line drive.
"Tell Bobby Valentine to take that. He said I could have caught that ball standing up. And I want to tell him, first inning, just getting warmed up, I definitely couldn’t have caught it standing. Everybody knows if I can catch a ball standing, I’m going to do it because I don’t want to get hurt," Crawford told reporters before Tampa Bay’s game in Anaheim. "I can’t believe he said that."
Then came this haymaker:
"Obviously he don’t know what it’s like to have this kind of ability."
In fact, Valentine was was a football and baseball star — like Crawford — more than 40 years ago in Connecticut. Valentine, like Crawford was recruited by major programs, including Southern California.
The NFL prides itself on continuously looking for ways to improve. The still-unfolding controversy regarding Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing and his positive test for violating the league’s policy regarding anabolic steroids and related substances shows that, when it comes to performance-enhancing substances, the league has plenty of room to enhance its own performance.
The ultimate goal — both for the league and the NFL players’ union — should be to keep Congress from insinuating itself into the process, a prospect that likely would result in stiffer penalties, more stringent requirements, and (most importantly) the loss of control over a key aspect of the business of pro football.
And Congress will only mind its own business (or, more accurately, business more important to the fate of the republic than whether athletes are juicing) if the general public has confidence in the manner in which sports leagues like the NFL are minding their own shop.
Given the lessons learned from the Cushing case, here are five things the NFL and the NFLPA can do in conjunction with the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations to protect the program from the eventual involvement of Congress.
1. Use different levels of punishment for different types of substances
Currently, the policy enumerates as prohibited substances 58 types of anabolic steroids, five types of hormones, 14 types of anti-estrogenic agents, 26 masking agents and 11 stimulants. Given the stigma that attaches to the use of steroids, why not incorporate a stiffer penalty for such infractions?
Given that players who test positive for one of the many banned substances routinely attempt to claim that they didn’t take a steroid, the penalty for taking a steroid should be greater. The use of a heightened sanction beyond the standard four-game suspension for a first offense would make it clear to the media and the fans whether a player’s claim that he didn’t take a steroid holds water.
It also would mesh with the expectations of the general public. Some banned substances are worse than others, and the rules should reflect that reality.
2. Test for HGH
No one will take the steroids policy seriously until the NFL and the union establish a procedure to test players for Human Growth Hormone, or HGH. Without a test, the policy has no teeth. Without teeth, there’s no deterrent. Without a deterrent, a high percentage of players will use HGH.
Or, as the case may be, they will continue to use HGH.
Last year, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Earnest Graham suggested that 30 percent of all NFL players use HGH. Some think Graham’s estimate is too low. Possibly by as much as 70 percent.
3. Remove the lag between positive test and suspension
The testing program necessarily incorporates various delays. From the collection of the urine sample to the testing of the sample to the verification of the positive result to the notification of the player to the exercise of appeal rights to the scheduling of the appeal hearing to the possible rescheduling of the appeal hearing because of the specific calendars of the persons who need to attend to the submission of post-hearing written briefs to the deliberation over the information to the preparation of a letter upholding the appeal, several months quickly can pass.
That’s exactly what happened in Cushing’s case. The problem is that he was permitted to continue to play while his appeal unfolded, and then the decision came well after the season during which the violation occurred.
Though it’s impossible to immediately suspend players who test positive during the regular season, the NFL and the players’ union must come together and trim the fat out of the process. Given the stakes, a month would be ideal; two months should be the absolute maximum.
4. Use independent arbitration
When it comes to suspensions imposed by the NFL, the league office maintains the ability to act as judge, jury, executioner, appeals court and reprieve-giving governor. The commissioner has the ultimate power to impose the penalty, and the commissioner has the ultimate power to consider the appeal.
The union wants to use independent arbitration to resolve the appeals. The NFL understandably wants to retain full control over the steroids program, including the resolution of the question of whether a suspension will be upheld. At a minimum, the NFL wants a concession from the union in exchange for giving up the ability to control the process.
That said, the entire program would be regarded as more legitimate and credible if any suspension ultimately comes from a neutral party — especially since players routinely claim that the league’s ultimate action represents a hypertechnical adherence to a convoluted protocol. If the suspension arose from someone with no actual or apparent agenda, it would be regarded as more powerful.
5. Abandon confidentiality once a suspension is upheld
Above all else, the league and the union must come up with a way to counter the self-serving assertions and leaks from players whose positive tests result in suspensions. Currently, the entire program is cloaked in confidentiality, preventing the league or the player’s team from commenting on the circumstances surrounding the positive test.
To be viewed as adequate, the process must be transparent. Once a suspension has been completed, the league should be able to provide to the media all relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the positive test, including the substance detected, the concentration measured, the reason for the presence of the substance on the banned list, and any other information necessary to a fair understanding of the basis for the significant decision to prevent a player from working for 25 percent of his annual work calendar.
These measures wouldn’t make the program perfect, but it would make it better. More importantly, it would help keep Congress from opting to add its own improvements.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
The NFL prides itself on continuously looking for ways to improve. The still-unfolding controversy regarding Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing and his positive test for violating the league’s policy regarding anabolic steroids and related substances shows that, when it comes to performance-enhancing substances, the league has plenty of room to enhance its own performance.
The ultimate goal — both for the league and the NFL players’ union — should be to keep Congress from insinuating itself into the process, a prospect that likely would result in stiffer penalties, more stringent requirements, and (most importantly) the loss of control over a key aspect of the business of pro football.
And Congress will only mind its own business (or, more accurately, business more important to the fate of the republic than whether athletes are juicing) if the general public has confidence in the manner in which sports leagues like the NFL are minding their own shop.
Given the lessons learned from the Cushing case, here are five things the NFL and the NFLPA can do in conjunction with the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations to protect the program from the eventual involvement of Congress.
1. Use different levels of punishment for different types of substances
Currently, the policy enumerates as prohibited substances 58 types of anabolic steroids, five types of hormones, 14 types of anti-estrogenic agents, 26 masking agents and 11 stimulants. Given the stigma that attaches to the use of steroids, why not incorporate a stiffer penalty for such infractions?
Given that players who test positive for one of the many banned substances routinely attempt to claim that they didn’t take a steroid, the penalty for taking a steroid should be greater. The use of a heightened sanction beyond the standard four-game suspension for a first offense would make it clear to the media and the fans whether a player’s claim that he didn’t take a steroid holds water.
It also would mesh with the expectations of the general public. Some banned substances are worse than others, and the rules should reflect that reality.
2. Test for HGH
No one will take the steroids policy seriously until the NFL and the union establish a procedure to test players for Human Growth Hormone, or HGH. Without a test, the policy has no teeth. Without teeth, there’s no deterrent. Without a deterrent, a high percentage of players will use HGH.
Or, as the case may be, they will continue to use HGH.
Last year, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Earnest Graham suggested that 30 percent of all NFL players use HGH. Some think Graham’s estimate is too low. Possibly by as much as 70 percent.
3. Remove the lag between positive test and suspension
The testing program necessarily incorporates various delays. From the collection of the urine sample to the testing of the sample to the verification of the positive result to the notification of the player to the exercise of appeal rights to the scheduling of the appeal hearing to the possible rescheduling of the appeal hearing because of the specific calendars of the persons who need to attend to the submission of post-hearing written briefs to the deliberation over the information to the preparation of a letter upholding the appeal, several months quickly can pass.
That’s exactly what happened in Cushing’s case. The problem is that he was permitted to continue to play while his appeal unfolded, and then the decision came well after the season during which the violation occurred.
Though it’s impossible to immediately suspend players who test positive during the regular season, the NFL and the players’ union must come together and trim the fat out of the process. Given the stakes, a month would be ideal; two months should be the absolute maximum.
4. Use independent arbitration
When it comes to suspensions imposed by the NFL, the league office maintains the ability to act as judge, jury, executioner, appeals court and reprieve-giving governor. The commissioner has the ultimate power to impose the penalty, and the commissioner has the ultimate power to consider the appeal.
The union wants to use independent arbitration to resolve the appeals. The NFL understandably wants to retain full control over the steroids program, including the resolution of the question of whether a suspension will be upheld. At a minimum, the NFL wants a concession from the union in exchange for giving up the ability to control the process.
That said, the entire program would be regarded as more legitimate and credible if any suspension ultimately comes from a neutral party — especially since players routinely claim that the league’s ultimate action represents a hypertechnical adherence to a convoluted protocol. If the suspension arose from someone with no actual or apparent agenda, it would be regarded as more powerful.
5. Abandon confidentiality once a suspension is upheld
Above all else, the league and the union must come up with a way to counter the self-serving assertions and leaks from players whose positive tests result in suspensions. Currently, the entire program is cloaked in confidentiality, preventing the league or the player’s team from commenting on the circumstances surrounding the positive test.
To be viewed as adequate, the process must be transparent. Once a suspension has been completed, the league should be able to provide to the media all relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the positive test, including the substance detected, the concentration measured, the reason for the presence of the substance on the banned list, and any other information necessary to a fair understanding of the basis for the significant decision to prevent a player from working for 25 percent of his annual work calendar.
These measures wouldn’t make the program perfect, but it would make it better. More importantly, it would help keep Congress from opting to add its own improvements.
Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.
Under the category of Now It Can Be Told: Giants left-hander Barry Zito has finally explained why he sported a radical new windup on his first day with San Francisco in 2008.
Zito tells the San Jose Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly he decided to apply new principles being taught by Dick Mills, who had been instructing Zito for years. The changes included an exaggerated leg kick and stride; Zito used a tape measure to determine the latter.
The alterations took Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti by surprise and, Zito says, created friction between the two.
"It was definitely a little rocky because we were at odds," Zito tells the Mercury News. "But I understand in retrospect. I’m trying to do new stuff, and I was not conscious that I probably shouldn’t come to spring training with a completely new delivery after using the same one for six or seven years."
Zito went back to his old windup days later, but two bad seasons followed. In the meantime, he made amends with Righetti and tweaked his approach — more long toss, a change in release point, an improved slider. Now, Zito is once again a solid starter. He’s 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA in six starts this season.
These days, Zito is singing Righetti’s praises and thanking him for his patience. In the process, he also may be inadvertently taking shots at his old pitching coach with the A’s, Rick Peterson.
"In my opinion, when you talk about pitching coaches, there are two guys," Zito says in the Mercury News story. "There’s feel guys and there’s the guy who has, like, a lot of intellectual knowledge of stats and numbers and biomechanics and all that stuff (i.e., Peterson).
"(Righetti) is a feel guy. He knows exactly what it takes to succeed. And I think the people who haven’t succeeded at the big league level try to make up for a lack of feel, of pure pitching at the best level, with that intellectual knowledge. Rags doesn’t need that."
Righetti pitched 16 seasons in the majors and was a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star with the Yankees; Peterson, now the Brewers’ pitching coach, never got beyond Single-A as a minor league pitcher.
Sporting News staff reports
Under the category of Now It Can Be Told: Giants left-hander Barry Zito has finally explained why he sported a radical new windup on his first day with San Francisco in 2008.
Zito tells the San Jose Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly he decided to apply new principles being taught by Dick Mills, who had been instructing Zito for years. The changes included an exaggerated leg kick and stride; Zito used a tape measure to determine the latter.
The alterations took Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti by surprise and, Zito says, created friction between the two.
"It was definitely a little rocky because we were at odds," Zito tells the Mercury News. "But I understand in retrospect. I’m trying to do new stuff, and I was not conscious that I probably shouldn’t come to spring training with a completely new delivery after using the same one for six or seven years."
Zito went back to his old windup days later, but two bad seasons followed. In the meantime, he made amends with Righetti and tweaked his approach — more long toss, a change in release point, an improved slider. Now, Zito is once again a solid starter. He’s 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA in six starts this season.
These days, Zito is singing Righetti’s praises and thanking him for his patience. In the process, he also may be inadvertently taking shots at his old pitching coach with the A’s, Rick Peterson.
"In my opinion, when you talk about pitching coaches, there are two guys," Zito says in the Mercury News story. "There’s feel guys and there’s the guy who has, like, a lot of intellectual knowledge of stats and numbers and biomechanics and all that stuff (i.e., Peterson).
"(Righetti) is a feel guy. He knows exactly what it takes to succeed. And I think the people who haven’t succeeded at the big league level try to make up for a lack of feel, of pure pitching at the best level, with that intellectual knowledge. Rags doesn’t need that."
Righetti pitched 16 seasons in the majors and was a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star with the Yankees; Peterson, now the Brewers’ pitching coach, never got beyond Single-A as a minor league pitcher.
