Sporting News staff reports
Red Sox manager Terry Francona on Friday offered his theory as to why his team’s games against the Yankees take so long to play — essentially, both teams are good and they play on TV a lot.
"There’s various reasons," Francona said in a radio interview with Dan Patrick. "One is, most of them are nationally televised, so you’re going to add a lot of time between innings right off the get-go. Every pitch, every thing is contested. Every pitch is so meaningful, and the players take it that way, the managers take it that way, the coaches take it that way.
"It’s not that people don’t care, that they don’t respect the game. It’s just it’s a big deal, and sometimes the games last longer. I don’t think people mind. Seems like a lot of people are watching."
Boston and New York are playing a three-game series this weekend, with Saturday’s game on Fox and Sunday’s game on ESPN. Their three-game set in April averaged 3 1/2 hours per game, leading umpire Joe West — who worked the series — to call the teams’ pacing "embarrassing," among other things.
Sporting News staff reports
Red Sox manager Terry Francona on Friday offered his theory as to why his team’s games against the Yankees take so long to play — essentially, both teams are good and they play on TV a lot.
"There’s various reasons," Francona said in a radio interview with Dan Patrick. "One is, most of them are nationally televised, so you’re going to add a lot of time between innings right off the get-go. Every pitch, every thing is contested. Every pitch is so meaningful, and the players take it that way, the managers take it that way, the coaches take it that way.
"It’s not that people don’t care, that they don’t respect the game. It’s just it’s a big deal, and sometimes the games last longer. I don’t think people mind. Seems like a lot of people are watching."
Boston and New York are playing a three-game series this weekend, with Saturday’s game on Fox and Sunday’s game on ESPN. Their three-game set in April averaged 3 1/2 hours per game, leading umpire Joe West — who worked the series — to call the teams’ pacing "embarrassing," among other things.
Sporting News staff reports
The Cubs on Friday promoted prized shortstop prospect Starlin Castro from Class AA Tennessee, and the 20-year-old phenom wasted no time making his mark — he homered in his first major league at-bat and lined a bases-loaded triple, giving him six RBIs in his big-league debut.
Castro, a right-handed batter, launched an opposite-field, 3-run blast to right in the second inning against Reds starter Homer Bailey. The home run came on a 2-2 pitch. In the fifth, against reliever Micah Owings, he laced a liner into the left-center field gap, clearing the bases.
Castro hit .429 with a homer and five RBIs in 35 Cactus League at-bats this spring, and he hit .376 with a homer and 20 RBIs in 26 games with Tennessee this season.
With Castro taking over as the Cubs’ starting shortstop, Ryan Theriot will shift to second base and Mike Fontenot will become a reserve. Theriot has played exclusively at shortstop since the 2008 season but has played 79 games at second in his major league career.
Sporting News staff reports
The Cubs on Friday promoted prized shortstop prospect Starlin Castro from Class AA Tennessee, and the 20-year-old phenom wasted no time making his mark — he homered in his first major league at-bat and lined a bases-loaded triple, giving him six RBIs in his big-league debut.
Castro, a right-handed batter, launched an opposite-field, 3-run blast to right in the second inning against Reds starter Homer Bailey. The home run came on a 2-2 pitch. In the fifth, against reliever Micah Owings, he laced a liner into the left-center field gap, clearing the bases.
Castro hit .429 with a homer and five RBIs in 35 Cactus League at-bats this spring, and he hit .376 with a homer and 20 RBIs in 26 games with Tennessee this season.
With Castro taking over as the Cubs’ starting shortstop, Ryan Theriot will shift to second base and Mike Fontenot will become a reserve. Theriot has played exclusively at shortstop since the 2008 season but has played 79 games at second in his major league career.
The Tampa Bay Rays are off to the best start in baseball and a big reason is the pitching of Matt Garza. If you have a question for Garza, send it, along with your name and hometown to kbradley@sportingnews.com and we’ll have him answer five of the best ones in a future issue of Sporting News magazine.
The Tampa Bay Rays are off to the best start in baseball and a big reason is the pitching of Matt Garza. If you have a question for Garza, send it, along with your name and hometown to kbradley@sportingnews.com and we’ll have him answer five of the best ones in a future issue of Sporting News magazine.
Sporting News staff reports
Rasheed Davis, the alleged pimp in the Lawrence Taylor rape case.
The 16-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by Lawrence Taylor told police that her pimp instructed her to tell Taylor that she was 19 years old, TMZ.com reports citing FBI documents.
Taylor is facing charges of third-degee rape, which involves having intercourse with a person under the age of consent, which is 17 in New York state.
Meanwhile, TMZ.com has obtained a photo of Rasheed Davis, the alleged pimp involved in the case.
The police are accusing Davis of punching the alleged victim in the face before taking her to Taylor’s hotel room.
Davis, who faces several charges related to the Taylor case, previously served a 14-year stint in prison on a first-degree manslaughter conviction and was released in 2008, TMZ.com reports.
• More from TMZ on Lawrence Taylor
Sporting News staff reports
Rasheed Davis, the alleged pimp in the Lawrence Taylor rape case.
The 16-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by Lawrence Taylor told police that her pimp instructed her to tell Taylor that she was 19 years old, TMZ.com reports citing FBI documents.
Taylor is facing charges of third-degee rape, which involves having intercourse with a person under the age of consent, which is 17 in New York state.
Meanwhile, TMZ.com has obtained a photo of Rasheed Davis, the alleged pimp involved in the case.
The police are accusing Davis of punching the alleged victim in the face before taking her to Taylor’s hotel room.
Davis, who faces several charges related to the Taylor case, previously served a 14-year stint in prison on a first-degree manslaughter conviction and was released in 2008, TMZ.com reports.
• More from TMZ on Lawrence Taylor
Despite several banged-up players and a few slumping All-Stars, the Yankees appear primed to defend their World Series championship. The Red Sox, however, have struggled to stay near .500.
Boston, which got a fundamental makeover this past offseason with an emphasis on pitching and defense, has struggled to find its identity. Its 4.79 rotation ERA ranks 21st in the majors, and its 4.68 team ERA ranks 23rd. Defensively, the Red Sox are 15th with a .982 fielding percentage. Last season, Boston committed 18 errors through May 6 (in 28 games); this season, it has 20 errors in 29 games.
The Red Sox have recovered from a 4-9 start, but given the hole they dug in a division that features the teams with the majors’ best two records, hovering around .500 won’t cut it.
Why this weekend’s series against New York is vital to Boston:
Are things turning around for Big Papi’s bat?
Division dominance: The Rays (21-7) and Yankees (19-8) have been superb, and the Red Sox are a combined 1-6 against the AL East front-runners. Even more alarming, all seven of those games have come at Fenway Park.
Tampa Bay’s biggest weakness last season is now a strength. The Rays went 32-49 on the road in 2009, but they are 12-1 away from Tropicana Field this season. They have scored the most runs in the majors, and their starters’ 2.51 ERA and 17 wins are both best in the majors.
Despite slow starts from Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Johnson, the Yankees are second in the AL in runs scored and first in the majors in OPS. Their starting pitchers not named Javier Vazquez are 15-1 with a 2.14 ERA, and they have survived the past week without Mariano Rivera.
The Red Sox can’t expect the Rays and Yankees to suddenly come back to the pack, so they must get some head-to-head wins.
Fenway factor: Boston’s 56 home wins last season were second to the Yankees’ 57. But the home-field advantage has been lacking this season. The Red Sox are just 9-8 at Fenway Park even after their four-game sweep of the Angels this week.
Boston is averaging 5.35 runs at home, compared to 4.92 on the road, but its 17- and 11-run outputs against the Angels this week skewed those numbers a bit. Overall, the Red Sox’s .275 batting average at home is identical to its road mark.
From 2000-09, only three teams in the major had more home wins than the Red Sox, and that is the home-field advantage they must recapture. Especially with a challenging road schedule ahead. By the end of May, Boston must play the Tigers, Yankees, Phillies and Rays at their parks. All of those team have winning records.
Creating confidence: The Red Sox (15-14) are above .500 for the first time since their season-opening win over the Yankees — a game they trailed 5-1 at one point. The team is riding a season-best four-game winning streak, and there are signs that things are beginning to turn.
The starting pitching, a major factor in the team’s slow start, finally is stabilizing. After going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his first three starts, Jon Lester is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in his past two outings. Josh Beckett followed two brutal starts with seven innings of two-run ball in his most recent outing. And any concerns about John Lackey have been put to rest (2-0, 2.57 ERA in his past three starts). Clay Buchholz (2.97 ERA) has been the ace, leaving Daisuke Matsuzaka as the biggest lingering concern. And Dice-K won’t pitch this weekend.
Offensively, David Ortiz’s bat is thawing. After hitting .143 with a homer and four RBIs in April, Big Papi has a .286-3-3 line in May. And he isn’t the only Red Sox hitter showing signs of life. J.D. Drew (.435-1-6) and Victor Martinez (.304-1-7) both are streaking in the right direction this month. And Adrian Beltre, who has hit for a high average since the start of the season, hit his first two homers this week.
A big weekend would create even more momentum, but losing two of three (or worse) to the Yankees would be devastating.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Red Sox tickets available
Despite several banged-up players and a few slumping All-Stars, the Yankees appear primed to defend their World Series championship. The Red Sox, however, have struggled to stay near .500.
Boston, which got a fundamental makeover this past offseason with an emphasis on pitching and defense, has struggled to find its identity. Its 4.79 rotation ERA ranks 21st in the majors, and its 4.68 team ERA ranks 23rd. Defensively, the Red Sox are 15th with a .982 fielding percentage. Last season, Boston committed 18 errors through May 6 (in 28 games); this season, it has 20 errors in 29 games.
The Red Sox have recovered from a 4-9 start, but given the hole they dug in a division that features the teams with the majors’ best two records, hovering around .500 won’t cut it.
Why this weekend’s series against New York is vital to Boston:
Are things turning around for Big Papi’s bat?
Division dominance: The Rays (21-7) and Yankees (19-8) have been superb, and the Red Sox are a combined 1-6 against the AL East front-runners. Even more alarming, all seven of those games have come at Fenway Park.
Tampa Bay’s biggest weakness last season is now a strength. The Rays went 32-49 on the road in 2009, but they are 12-1 away from Tropicana Field this season. They have scored the most runs in the majors, and their starters’ 2.51 ERA and 17 wins are both best in the majors.
Despite slow starts from Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Johnson, the Yankees are second in the AL in runs scored and first in the majors in OPS. Their starting pitchers not named Javier Vazquez are 15-1 with a 2.14 ERA, and they have survived the past week without Mariano Rivera.
The Red Sox can’t expect the Rays and Yankees to suddenly come back to the pack, so they must get some head-to-head wins.
Fenway factor: Boston’s 56 home wins last season were second to the Yankees’ 57. But the home-field advantage has been lacking this season. The Red Sox are just 9-8 at Fenway Park even after their four-game sweep of the Angels this week.
Boston is averaging 5.35 runs at home, compared to 4.92 on the road, but its 17- and 11-run outputs against the Angels this week skewed those numbers a bit. Overall, the Red Sox’s .275 batting average at home is identical to its road mark.
From 2000-09, only three teams in the major had more home wins than the Red Sox, and that is the home-field advantage they must recapture. Especially with a challenging road schedule ahead. By the end of May, Boston must play the Tigers, Yankees, Phillies and Rays at their parks. All of those team have winning records.
Creating confidence: The Red Sox (15-14) are above .500 for the first time since their season-opening win over the Yankees — a game they trailed 5-1 at one point. The team is riding a season-best four-game winning streak, and there are signs that things are beginning to turn.
The starting pitching, a major factor in the team’s slow start, finally is stabilizing. After going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his first three starts, Jon Lester is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in his past two outings. Josh Beckett followed two brutal starts with seven innings of two-run ball in his most recent outing. And any concerns about John Lackey have been put to rest (2-0, 2.57 ERA in his past three starts). Clay Buchholz (2.97 ERA) has been the ace, leaving Daisuke Matsuzaka as the biggest lingering concern. And Dice-K won’t pitch this weekend.
Offensively, David Ortiz’s bat is thawing. After hitting .143 with a homer and four RBIs in April, Big Papi has a .286-3-3 line in May. And he isn’t the only Red Sox hitter showing signs of life. J.D. Drew (.435-1-6) and Victor Martinez (.304-1-7) both are streaking in the right direction this month. And Adrian Beltre, who has hit for a high average since the start of the season, hit his first two homers this week.
A big weekend would create even more momentum, but losing two of three (or worse) to the Yankees would be devastating.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Red Sox tickets available
Sporting News staff reports
U.S. Cellular Field the site of latest fan-on-field incident.
A fan ran onto the field during the Blue Jays’ 2-0 win over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday, according to multiple reports out of Chicago.
Security subdued the man without using a Taser, as the fan "hook-slid, calmly going to his knees in surrender," the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The incident is notable because there were two similar incidents in Philadelphia earlier in the week, the first of which ended when a police office Tasered the fan on the field. The next night at Citizens Bank Park, Phillies security corralled the offending fan without a Taser. The Phillies announced that they were changing their security policy to keep police officers off the field unless greater force is necessary to remove a fan.
U.S. Cellular Field was the site of the fan attack on Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa in 2002. In the wake of the Gamboa incident, the White Sox pushed for tougher penalties for fans who run on the field, the Chicago Tribune notes.
Sporting News staff reports
U.S. Cellular Field the site of latest fan-on-field incident.
A fan ran onto the field during the Blue Jays’ 2-0 win over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday, according to multiple reports out of Chicago.
Security subdued the man without using a Taser, as the fan "hook-slid, calmly going to his knees in surrender," the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The incident is notable because there were two similar incidents in Philadelphia earlier in the week, the first of which ended when a police office Tasered the fan on the field. The next night at Citizens Bank Park, Phillies security corralled the offending fan without a Taser. The Phillies announced that they were changing their security policy to keep police officers off the field unless greater force is necessary to remove a fan.
U.S. Cellular Field was the site of the fan attack on Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa in 2002. In the wake of the Gamboa incident, the White Sox pushed for tougher penalties for fans who run on the field, the Chicago Tribune notes.
NBA: After all the ugly news coming out of the sports world this week, Fly’s feelin’ the need for a little injection of faith in humanity. Thank you, Dwight Howard for providing a dose of it. Howard hasn’t forgotten Haiti, and he wants you to remember the earthquake’s devastation, too: "Yall gotta help me help kids in Haiti who were hurt by the earthquake – I want to see all of my fans make a $3 donation by May 13."
NFL: Continuing the "Charitable Friday" theme: Titans quarterback Vince Young is raising money to help flood victims in Nashville. Young is partnering with Reebok and asking fans to make a donation of $100. In turn they’ll receive an autographed Pro Bowl photo of Young and a "Flood ’10 Reebuild’ t-shirt.
• NFLer Kellen Winslow is getting in on the good guy act, helping raise $25,000 for a youth sports program that was devastated by thefts and vandalism at its home field in Florida.
NASCAR: Also pitching in for Nashville, Cup driver Elliott Sadler and ESPN analyst Marty Smith are having a "Tweetup" at Darlington, asking fans to help the flood recovery efforts. The pertinent facts via Twitter: "TWEET-UP! Sat. 430p. Outside T-1 near pedestrian tunnel. To raise $ for Nashville. Me @elliott_sadler & u. COME. DONATE! Even $1 helps!"
Olympics: Greg Louganis is giving back, too, getting involved with the Swimming Hall of Fame and mentoring swimmers who hope to compete for aquatic gold themselves someday.
NBA: More good news Friday: Bill Walton is feeling good for the first time in a very long time and telling everyone about the back surgery that brought him back from the brink.
NBA: After all the ugly news coming out of the sports world this week, Fly’s feelin’ the need for a little injection of faith in humanity. Thank you, Dwight Howard for providing a dose of it. Howard hasn’t forgotten Haiti, and he wants you to remember the earthquake’s devastation, too: "Yall gotta help me help kids in Haiti who were hurt by the earthquake – I want to see all of my fans make a $3 donation by May 13."
NFL: Continuing the "Charitable Friday" theme: Titans quarterback Vince Young is raising money to help flood victims in Nashville. Young is partnering with Reebok and asking fans to make a donation of $100. In turn they’ll receive an autographed Pro Bowl photo of Young and a "Flood ’10 Reebuild’ t-shirt.
• NFLer Kellen Winslow is getting in on the good guy act, helping raise $25,000 for a youth sports program that was devastated by thefts and vandalism at its home field in Florida.
NASCAR: Also pitching in for Nashville, Cup driver Elliott Sadler and ESPN analyst Marty Smith are having a "Tweetup" at Darlington, asking fans to help the flood recovery efforts. The pertinent facts via Twitter: "TWEET-UP! Sat. 430p. Outside T-1 near pedestrian tunnel. To raise $ for Nashville. Me @elliott_sadler & u. COME. DONATE! Even $1 helps!"
Olympics: Greg Louganis is giving back, too, getting involved with the Swimming Hall of Fame and mentoring swimmers who hope to compete for aquatic gold themselves someday.
NBA: More good news Friday: Bill Walton is feeling good for the first time in a very long time and telling everyone about the back surgery that brought him back from the brink.
Thursday’s arrest on a charge that he raped a teenage girl in a New York hotel is just the latest legal trouble that Lawrence Taylor had found himself in:
Feb. 14, 1986: Enters six-week drug-rehab program in Houston, stays one week.
March 20, 1986: Admits in public statement that he has received help for substance abuse.
Aug. 29, 1988: Given 30-day, four-game suspension for second violation of NFL’s drugabuse policy for cocaine use.
March 1989: Fails breath test when police find him asleep behind the wheel of his Jeep beside the Garden State Parkway in N.J.
May 10, 1989: Acquitted in Saddlebrook, N.J., of drunken driving charges.
Oct. 1995: Tries to choke a reporter after a Giants practice.
April 16, 1996: Driver’s license suspended for outstanding parking tickets in Newark, N.J.
May 3, 1996: One of 15 arrested in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for allegedly trying to buy $100 worth of crack from undercover police while in town for a celebrity golf tourney. Charges dropped when LT agrees to 60 hours of public service.
June 4, 1997: Pleaded guilty to filing false 1990 income-tax return and failing to report $48,000 income from the now-defunct LT Sports Club in East Rutherford, N.J.
May 13, 1998: Arrested in his New Jersey home in a roundup of deadbeat parents. Released after about 10 hours in jail when a friend pays $6,000 in child support and for an outstanding traffic violation.
Oct. 19, 1998: Arrested again, this time in Florida, for allegedly buying $50 in crack from an undercover cop and for possessing drug paraphernalia.
Nov. 2009: Arrested in Miami for leaving the scene of an accident.
May 6, 2010: Arrested and accused of raping a teenage girl at a hotel in Suffern, N.Y.
Source: New York Daily News
Thursday’s arrest on a charge that he raped a teenage girl in a New York hotel is just the latest legal trouble that Lawrence Taylor had found himself in:
Feb. 14, 1986: Enters six-week drug-rehab program in Houston, stays one week.
March 20, 1986: Admits in public statement that he has received help for substance abuse.
Aug. 29, 1988: Given 30-day, four-game suspension for second violation of NFL’s drugabuse policy for cocaine use.
March 1989: Fails breath test when police find him asleep behind the wheel of his Jeep beside the Garden State Parkway in N.J.
May 10, 1989: Acquitted in Saddlebrook, N.J., of drunken driving charges.
Oct. 1995: Tries to choke a reporter after a Giants practice.
April 16, 1996: Driver’s license suspended for outstanding parking tickets in Newark, N.J.
May 3, 1996: One of 15 arrested in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for allegedly trying to buy $100 worth of crack from undercover police while in town for a celebrity golf tourney. Charges dropped when LT agrees to 60 hours of public service.
June 4, 1997: Pleaded guilty to filing false 1990 income-tax return and failing to report $48,000 income from the now-defunct LT Sports Club in East Rutherford, N.J.
May 13, 1998: Arrested in his New Jersey home in a roundup of deadbeat parents. Released after about 10 hours in jail when a friend pays $6,000 in child support and for an outstanding traffic violation.
Oct. 19, 1998: Arrested again, this time in Florida, for allegedly buying $50 in crack from an undercover cop and for possessing drug paraphernalia.
Nov. 2009: Arrested in Miami for leaving the scene of an accident.
May 6, 2010: Arrested and accused of raping a teenage girl at a hotel in Suffern, N.Y.
Source: New York Daily News
Sporting News staff reports
Weight-loss program Nutrisystem has ended its endorsement deal with Lawrence Taylor following the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s arrest on rape charges, SportsBusiness Daily reports citing multiple sources.
Taylor has appeared in Nutrisystem TV commercials after becoming an endorser in March 2009. The brand uses several sports figures as endorsers, including Dan Marino, Don Shula and John Kruk.
Nutrisystem has replaced Taylor’s image on their website with Padres right fielder Matt Stairs, TMZ.com reports.
Florio: Taylor’s celebrity may cost him
Sporting News staff reports
Weight-loss program Nutrisystem has ended its endorsement deal with Lawrence Taylor following the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s arrest on rape charges, SportsBusiness Daily reports citing multiple sources.
Taylor has appeared in Nutrisystem TV commercials after becoming an endorser in March 2009. The brand uses several sports figures as endorsers, including Dan Marino, Don Shula and John Kruk.
Nutrisystem has replaced Taylor’s image on their website with Padres right fielder Matt Stairs, TMZ.com reports.
Florio: Taylor’s celebrity may cost him
Sporting News staff reports
Astros left fielder Carlos Lee tells the Houston Chronicle he may retire when his contract runs out after the 2012 season.
"I don’t know if I’m going to play after this contract," Lee says. "I’m ready to go home."
Lee is due $18.5 million this year and the next two. He owns cattle ranches in Texas and his native Panama.
"Maybe on my last year if I still have a love for the game and I still feel like I can play, I will probably come back," Lee says. "As of right now, me and my family have plans to finish up here in Houston."
The Chronicle points out that Lee has a full no-trade clause this year and limited no-trade rights in 2011. He would regain full rights in 2012 when he reaches five years of service with the Astros.
Sporting News staff reports
Astros left fielder Carlos Lee tells the Houston Chronicle he may retire when his contract runs out after the 2012 season.
"I don’t know if I’m going to play after this contract," Lee says. "I’m ready to go home."
Lee is due $18.5 million this year and the next two. He owns cattle ranches in Texas and his native Panama.
"Maybe on my last year if I still have a love for the game and I still feel like I can play, I will probably come back," Lee says. "As of right now, me and my family have plans to finish up here in Houston."
The Chronicle points out that Lee has a full no-trade clause this year and limited no-trade rights in 2011. He would regain full rights in 2012 when he reaches five years of service with the Astros.
