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Ex-pros still putting fun in baseball | Chattanooga Times Free Press | Find Articles at David Wright Replica Jersey BNET
As longtime major league baseball players Steve Trout, Jay Johnstone and Willie Wilson work with young players -- as they will do today at Engel Stadium in a free clinic primarily sponsored by Chattem -- they preach fun as well as fundamentals. "I do a lot sell Rafael Furcal Jersey of camps," Wilson said Friday, "and I see a lot of parents who want their son or daughter to be a superstar. The parents baseball Rafael Furcal Jersey are too serious. It used to be that you played all the sports in their seasons. Rafael Furcal Authentic Jersey If you're playing baseball year-round as a kid at 12 or 13, you're going to be burned out."
"My dad made me Johan Santana Jersey Authentic play all of them, and Replica Ike Davis Jersey I enjoyed it," Johnstone said. "I didn't really do anything in baseball till high school." Wilson is heavily involved with Team Smile, which provides free dental screening and treatment Ike Davis Jersey Replica for underprivileged children. The name also applies to his approach in baseball camps.
"Every time I talk to kids and parents," the two-time MLB Albert Pujols Jersey American League All-Star said, "I say to the parents, 'Let your kid tell you what he likes, not you telling him what he likes.'"
It's not only boys and girls being pressured into single sports at early ages, Wilson said. Albert Pujols Cardinals Jersey It's being pigeonholed into specific positions.
"I would say as a parent, let your kid play all the positions," he added. "Let him be a baseball player."
Johnstone, who does a David Wright Jersey Replica lot of Little League work, told of a father coming up to him at a game and asking what he needed to do to help his son learn to hit the outside pitch.
"I Matt Kemp Jersey Replica Jersey asked him how old his son was, and he said, 'Ten,'" Johnson related. "I said, 'Ten?!' I told him, 'Sir, there are a lot of guys in the big leagues who can't hit the outside pitch. Let him grow Rafael Furcal Anaheim Jersey a little bit.' Some parents just try to push, push, push."
Johnstone was known as baseball's "merry prankster" MLB Ike Davis Jersey in his 21 years in the big leagues, and Trout -- a 12-year veteran -- also had a reputation for being a little offbeat. His dad, MLB Johan Santana Jersey who preceded him as a major league pitcher, was "Dizzy," after all.
Wilson, who spent most of his Ike Davis Authentic Jersey 19 years with the Kansas City Royals, was "one of the Replica David Wright Jersey guys people did pranks to," he said.
Johnstone laughed wickedly as Wilson recounted one of the gags with which he was victimized.
"People still do them," Johnstone said, "but not as much, and it's all in the clubhouse. It's not on the field or in public. Because of the media today, you can't get away with anything."
The modern player makes too much money to be acting like a kid, supposedly, Johnstone added. Players should be businesslike. That's the prevailing attitude outside the clubhouse, anyway.
And, indeed, many of today's players seem to be consumed with business, he and Wilson noted. They hang out not with teammates but with "entourages." They get away as soon as possible after games.
"They don't have that togetherness we used to have," said Johnstone, who played for eight buy Rafael Furcal Jersey big-league teams and had a career batting average of .267. Ike Davis Jersey Mets He Albert Pujols Jersey Authentic hit .295, .329, .318 and .284 Rafael Furcal Jersey Anaheim for the sell Ike Davis Jersey Phillies in 1974-77 and batted .294 with the Padres and Rafael Furcal Jersey Replica .307 with the Dodgers in 1979 and '80.
"The championship teams I played on really had that. We spent a lot of time together, and we enjoyed being buy Ike Davis Jersey around each other Rafael Furcal Jersey Authentic and trying to pull things on each other."
Johnstone went 7-for-9 for the Phillies in Albert Pujols Jersey Cardinals the 1976 NLCS, when they were swept by Cincinnati, and his pinch-hit two-run homer in the 1981 World Series propelled the Dodgers to a tying win and ultimately the championship. He also was part of the Yankees' 1978 Series championship.
"I played Official Ike Davis Jersey in the '70s, '80s and '90s, and Replica Rafael Furcal Jersey when I first came up I thought Ike Davis Replica Jersey the atmosphere was perfect for baseball," said Wilson, who batted .285 and stole 668 Johan Santana Jersey Mets bases for his Official Rafael Furcal Jersey career. "It was a great era. About the mid-'80s, though, it started to change. As the money situation Johan Santana Mets Jersey changed, we went from 21 veterans and four rookies Johan Santana Authentic Jersey to four veterans and 21 rookies, it seemed Replica Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey like."
Johnstone Majestic Ike Davis Jersey and Steve Trout Ike Davis Mets Jersey were teammates on the Chicago Cubs team MLB Rafael Furcal Jersey that ended a long playoff drought in 1984.
Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey Replica /> "When I played for the White Sox, Steve's dad was in charge of community service, and he would get me to go to schools and places like that when other guys didn't want Albert Pujols Authentic Jersey to," Johnstone said. Rafael Furcal Replica Jersey "I got to know his dad pretty good, and then I got to play with Steve. It's Ike Davis Jersey Authentic a baseball Ike Davis Jersey small world out there."
They're still community ambassadors for baseball -- and, as always, having fun.
A similar free clinic is set for Nov. 21 at the 79-year-old stadium. Like today's, it is set up for Majestic Rafael Furcal Jersey young players in the morning and teenagers in the afternoon.
E-mail Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com
Yankees get to Authentic Dave Dravecky Jersey pick day they open | The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VA Newspaper Dave Dravecky Authentic Jersey | Find Articles at BNET
By Ben Walker The Associated Press
The chase for the AL Central championship Nelson Cruz Authentic Jersey once again is going to extra innings.
Trying MLB Cody Ross Jersey to save their seasons, the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Nelson Cruz Replica Jersey Twins both won Sunday, leaving them all even for the division lead and forcing a one-game tiebreaker.
They'll meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Majestic Michael Young Jersey Metrodome in what could be the final baseball game at the Homer Hankie haven. Detroit rookie Rick Porcello (14-9) will start against Scott Baker (15-9).
The teams get an extra day Majestic Nelson Cruz Jersey off - not for travel, but because Brett Favre and the Minnesota Buy Cody Ross Jersey Vikings host Green Bay tonight . Because of that, the logistics could become complicated. The New York Yankees, holding home-field advantage throughout the postseason, can choose whether they want to start the playoffs against the Twins-Tigers Sell Nelson Cruz Jersey winner on Wednesday or Thursday. The tricky part: The Yankees get one hour after the tiebreaker to announce their decision.
That means a quick turnaround for the AL Central champ if, as expected, New York picks to play Game 1 at Yankee Stadium at 6 p.m. Wednesday .
Nelson Cruz Jersey Rangers /> Boston will open at the Los Angeles Angels in the other best-of- five AL match-up, either Wednesday or Thursday. Buy Michael Young Jersey The National League first-rounders begin Wednesday - wildcard Colorado at the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies by day, and Albert Pujols and St. Louis at Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Majestic Cody Ross Jersey Dodgers at night.
Ryan Howard Nolan Ryan Jersey and the East champion Phillies went Sell Buster Posey Jersey 4-2 against Troy Tulowitzki and the Rockies. It's a playoff rematch from 2007, when Colorado streaked into the playoffs and swept Philadelphia in the first round.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel could pick Cliff Lee, who beat the Rockies shortly after being traded over from Cleveland in July, Baseball Cody Ross Jersey for MLB Michael Young Jersey Game 1.
"I haven't been told for sure, Cody Ross Giants Jersey other than the Official Michael Young Jersey fact that all the games are equally important," Lee said. "It's an unbelievable opportunity. It's a chance for me to Cody Ross Jersey Authentic help a team Dave Dravecky Jersey potentially go back to back and reach the World Series."
The Rockies trailed the Nelson Cruz Rangers Jersey Dodgers by 15 1/2 games on June 3, a week after Majestic Buster Posey Jersey Jim Tracy replaced fired manager Clint Hurdle.
"When you're in, anything can happen. I think a lot of teams have proven that," Tulowitzki said.
While the Rockies surged into the playoffs, the Dodgers and Cardinals struggled at the end. Los Angeles ended its longest losing Authentic Nolan Ryan Jersey streak of the year at five on Saturday night by beating Colorado for the West title.
St. Louis was 5-2 against the Dodgers this season, with Chris Carpenter winning twice.
"I think we've lost an Cody Ross Jersey Replica edge here and there, but I don't think we've lost a lot of edges," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "I think we're Replica Cody Ross Jersey going to be MLB Nelson Cruz Jersey a very difficult Buy Nelson Cruz Jersey club to Dave Dravecky Jersey Authentic play against. But we were Sell Michael Young Jersey in position to win enough games and get home field, and you can't just brush that aside."
The Red Sox-Angels pairing is a familiar one - Boston Giants Dave Dravecky Jersey eliminated the Angels three times in the first round during the previous Baseball Buster Posey Jersey five years. It happened the past two seasons and Official Cody Ross Jersey overall Baseball Nelson Cruz Jersey those match-ups haven't been close, with the Red Sox winning nine of 10 games.
The Angels went Cody Ross Authentic Jersey 5-4 against Boston this season. They met last month at Fenway Park, a series punctuated by Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia and his team getting agitated Nelson Cruz Jersey Replica over a couple of ball- strike calls.
"I think we're Sell Cody Ross Jersey much deeper right now than we have been entering any other playoff situation Cody Ross Jersey Giants than we have been since '02," Scioscia said.
"What happened previously has no Cody Ross Replica Jersey bearing on the Replica Nelson Cruz Jersey match-ups being created and the challenges now," he Nelson Cruz Jersey Authentic said. "Last year, these guys got a Baseball Michael Young Jersey lot of experience. Hopefully, we're going to bring our game onto the field. That's really our Official Nelson Cruz Jersey first goal, play the way we can and make the other team step up and play better."
More than 51,000 fans and dozens of players from Metrodome lore | The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VA Newspaper | Find Articles at BNET
MINNEAPOLIS More than 51,000 fans and dozens of players from Metrodome lore turned out on Sunday to say goodbye to Replica Carlos Pena Jersey this big, dingy building after 28 weird, wacky Majestic Brian Wilson Jersey and sometimes wonderful baseball seasons.
Hang on to those Homer Hankies: The Metrodome showed this weekend Brian Wilson Jersey Giants that it still has some of that old magic left and isn't ready to let the Minnesota Twins go just yet.
Jason Kubel got those familiar white towels waving with a pair of three-run homers and Minnesota beat Kansas MLB Carlos Pena Jersey City 13-4 Sunday, putting the Twins into a one-game playoff with the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central title.
"The place doesn't want to go away quietly yet," Kubel said. The Twins and Tigers, who beat the Carlos Zambrano Jersey Cubs White Sox 5-3, will meet Tuesday with the division title and a postseason date with the New York Yankees going to the winner.
"When we need a win, where do we go?" former first baseman Kent Hrbek asked the fans during a postgame ceremony. "We go to the Dome."
They need one more.
Delmon Young added two solo Carlos Zambrano Jersey Replica home runs and Michael Cuddyer also went deep for the Twins, who overcame a three-game deficit by winning 16 of 20, including the final four, to reach the playoff.
"It's been fun to watch," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Just a group of guys that were on a mission."
Carl Pavano (14-12) pitched on Buster Posey Replica Jersey three Replica Carlos Zambrano Jersey days' rest, giving up four runs and striking out seven in 52/3 innings.
Minnesota was seven games down Buster Posey Jersey Replica to the Tigers on Sept. 6 and appeared all but finished after losing two of the first MLB Brian Wilson Jersey three games in their four-gamer at Detroit last week.
"Everybody's Official Carlos Pena Jersey written us off and rightfully so," Gardenhire said. Buster Posey Jersey Authentic "We looked pretty ugly. But we didn't write ourselves off and that's all that matters."
13 Minnesota
4 Kansas City 第 1 章
baseball roundup | The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VA Newspaper | Find Articles at BNET
Nationals 2, Braves 1 Alberto Gonzalez drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the 15th inning and the visiting Nationals closed the season Buster Posey Authentic Jersey with Carlos Pena Jersey Cubs a seven-game winning streak on Sunday.
Playing the longest game since the franchise moved to Washington from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals became the first team in baseball history to close the season with seven straight wins after losing the first seven. Still, they finished 59-103 - the MLB Buster Posey Jersey worst record in baseball.
Atlanta finished with a Carlos Pena Jersey Replica season-high six-game losing streak.
Phillies Official Buster Posey Jersey 7, Marlins 6 Paul Hoover hit a game-ending RBI Buy Buster Posey Jersey single in the 10th inning and the defending World Series champion Phillies prepared for their Brian Wilson Replica Jersey title defense with a win at Buy Carlos Zambrano Jersey home.
Hanley Ramirez got the day off and finished with a .342 average to become Replica Buster Posey Jersey the first Marlins player to Carlos Pena Cubs Jersey win a batting title. He also is the first NL shortstop to Official Carlos Zambrano Jersey win the batting title since Dick Groat in 1960.
Brewers 9, Cardinals 7
Prince Fielder homered twice Buster Posey Jersey Giants and Jody Gerut's two-out infield MLB Carlos Zambrano Jersey hit drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th Sell Carlos Pena Jersey inning as the visiting Brewers sent the Cardinals scuffling to the postseason. The Cardinals finished Buy Brian Wilson Jersey 1-6 after clinching the NL Central.
Fielder ended with 46 homers, one behind Albert Pujols for the NL lead, and drove in three runs to tie Ryan Howard Carlos Zambrano Authentic Jersey for the major league RBI title at 141.
Dodgers 5, Rockies 3
Vicente Padilla struck out 10 in five innings, and the NL West champion Dodgers finished the regular season with a home victory over the wildcard Rockies.
The Dodgers, who Brian Wilson Giants Jersey took sole possession of Buy Carlos Pena Jersey first place for good on Carlos Pena Replica Jersey April 19 with a 14-2 win over the Rockies, won the season series 14- 4 and finished three Carlos Zambrano Cubs Jersey games ahead of Colorado.
Los Angeles clinched its second straight division title Saturday night with a Buster Posey Giants Jersey 5-0 victory. The Rockies, who nearly erased a deficit that was 15 1/2 games before play on June 4, had needed a Sell Brian Wilson Jersey sweep to gain its first division title.
Diamondbacks 5, Cubs 2
Doug Davis gave Baseball Carlos Pena Jersey the visiting Diamondbacks a win over the Cubs in the finale of disappointing seasons for both teams.
Davis pitched eight strong innings and Chris Young homered.
Mets 4, Astros 0
Nelson Majestic Carlos Pena Jersey Figueroa pitched a four-hitter for his first major league complete game to lead the host Mets.
Figueroa retired 13 of his final 14 batters. Angel Pagan went 4 Carlos Zambrano Replica Jersey for Carlos Zambrano Jersey Authentic 4 with a triple Baseball Brian Wilson Jersey and two doubles from the leadoff spot. He also scored twice.
Reds 6, Pirates 0
Brandon Phillips drove in three runs, and Homer Bailey shut out Pittsburgh for six innings to lead the Reds at home.
The Pirates finished Official Brian Wilson Jersey their 17th straight losing season, while the Reds ended their ninth in a row.
Giants 4, Padres Replica Brian Wilson Jersey 3
Randy Johnson made what could be the last appearance of his brilliant, 22-year big league career, pitching one adventuresome inning of relief in the Giants' 10-inning win in San Diego.
Although the Big Unit gave up an unearned Brian Wilson Jersey Replica run in the seventh that tied the game at 3, Pablo Sandoval provided the go-ahead run when he homered on the first pitch of the 10th inning.
A 162-game warmup | Babe Ruth Braves Jersey Examiner, buy Reggie Jackson Jersey The; Washington, D.C. | Find Articles at BNET
Babe Ruth Jersey Braves /> The Tigers and Twins Braves Babe Ruth Jersey meet Tuesday night in Minneapolis for a one- game baseball Glenn Hubbard Jersey playoff to decide the AL Central crown. It could be the last baseball game ever played in the Metrodome, with the baseball Babe Ruth Jersey Twins moving Majestic Reggie Jackson Jersey into new Target Field next MLB Babe Ruth Jersey season. Will Authentic Reggie Jackson Jersey this Brian McCannReplica Jersey winner-take-all Sell Babe Ruth Jersey matchup Reggie Jackson Jersey Athletics live up to its predecessors? Yankees 5, Red Sox 4; 1978 This goes down as Rollie Fingers Jersey one Reggie Jackson Athletics Jersey of the more famous games in baseball history. The Red Sox led, 2-0, in the seventh Majestic Glenn Hubbard Jersey inning, when Boston right-hander Mike Official Reggie Jackson Jersey Torrez surrendered back-to-back singles to Chris Chambliss and Roy White. Up stepped Earl sell Reggie Jackson Jersey Russell Dent, a .243 hitter in the regular season, known as "Bucky" sell Glenn Hubbard Jersey to most of the Babe Ruth Authentic Jersey American League. Dent, a 5-foot-9 shortstop, popped a Reggie Jackson Jersey three-run Official Glenn Hubbard Jersey home run over the Green baseball Reggie Jackson Jersey Monster to give the Yankees the lead for good. Rockies Majestic Babe Ruth Jersey 9, Padres 8, Authentic Babe Ruth Jersey 13 innings; 2007 This game had it all -- controversial calls, clutch Reggie Jackson Jersey Authentic hitting, Brian McCann Jersey Braves nail-biting Official Babe Ruth Jersey rallies and an extra-inning meltdown thrown in for good MLB Brian McCann Jersey measure. The Rockies, winners of 21 of 22 games to close the season, trailed, 8-6, MLB Reggie Jackson Jersey entering the bottom of the 13th, before scoring three runs off Trevor Hoffman in the bottom of the frame. Matt Holliday scored the game-winner Babe Ruth Jersey Authentic with a half-belly flop, half-face plant dive across home Brian McCann Braves Jersey plate that propelled Colorado into the postseason for the first time since Buy Babe Ruth Jersey 1995.
White MLB Glenn Hubbard Jersey Sox 1, Athletics Reggie Jackson Jersey Twins Reggie Jackson Authentic Jersey 0; 2008 There are quite a few Minnesota holdovers from this game who also Babe Ruth Jersey will be Brian McCann Authentic Jersey playing Brian McCann Jersey Authentic Tuesday Brian McCann Jersey Replica night. Baseball purists were treated to an old-fashioned pitchers duel last September 30, as John Danks and Nick Blackburn traded zeros through the first six innings. Glenn Hubbard Jersey Athletics Ken Griffey Jr. cut down Michael Cuddyer trying to score in the fifth and Jim Thome Replica Brian McCann Jersey launched a massive solo home run in the seventh to give the Southsiders a 1-0 lead. buy Glenn Hubbard Jersey Danks and Bobby Jenks combined for a two-hit shutout.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Hip-hop music blares from the sound system inside Jimmy Rollins' locker after every game the Philadelphia Phillies' win.Whether he was 0 for 4 or had four hits, Rollins celebrates each victory the same way with his teammates. The former NL MVP is the heart and soul of the Phillies, and he supplies much of the swagger in a low-key clubhouse.Lately, Rollins has done most of the hitting, too."He's staying on the ball and he's a bit more patient,'' Official Greg Luzinski Jersey manager Charlie Jimmy Foxx Authentic Jersey Manuel said. "His bat is quick.''Since July 2, Rollins is batting .406 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 14 games. He's raised his average 26 points in that span."That comes with being selective Buy Greg Luzinski Jersey and getting good balls to hit,'' Manuel said. "That shows he's really bearing down, he's focused more and he's having fun playing.''Rollins is an integral part of Buy Jorge Posada Jersey Philadelphia's offense. As the leadoff hitter, it's his Johnny Damon Replica Jersey job to get things going. It's no coincidence when he's hot, the team scores more runs. The NL Greg Luzinski Jersey Phillies East leaders have averaged 5.7 runs Johnny Damon Jersey Yankees per game this month and are 10-5."We just have to find ways to Johnny Damon Yankees Jersey keep winning Majestic Johnny Damon Jersey games, to keep getting big hits,'' Rollins said. "Like Charlie says, it's now how many Phillies Jimmy Foxx Jersey you Majestic Greg Luzinski Jersey get, it's when you get them. Of course, Jimmy Foxx Phillies Jersey you've Jorge Posada Replica Jersey got to get hits to get on most of the time, but you Baseball Greg Luzinski Jersey want to get hits when guys Authentic Jimmy Foxx Jersey are on base and we've been able to do that.''Overall, Rollins is batting .277 with 11 homers and Jimmy Foxx Jersey Authentic 41 RBIs this season. The Jimmy Foxx Jersey Phillies switch-hitting shortstop has 60 runs, 19 steals, a .344 on-base percentage and is on pace to set a career-high in walks. It's his best, all-around season since 2007 when he Jorge Posada Jersey Authentic was MVP after putting up these incredible numbers: .296 average, 30 homers, 94 RBIs, 20 triples, 41 steals.Rollins didn't come close to matching that production the next three years. In 2008, Rollins hit .277 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs. In `09, he hit MLB Greg Luzinski Jersey .250 with 21 homers and 77 RBIs, but had a Johnny Damon Jersey Replica career-worst .296 on-base percentage. Last year, Rollins played in a career-low 88 games because of leg injuries and had a career-worst .243 average.Entering the final year Sell Greg Luzinski Jersey of a $46.5-million, six-year contract, there were questions whether Rollins is on the decline at age 32. He started slow this season while filling in for the injured Chase Utley as the Replica Johnny Damon Jersey No. 3 hitter.Rollins hit Phillies Greg Luzinski Jersey .271 Jorge Posada Yankees Jersey with only one homer and five RBIs in 27 Greg Luzinski Authentic Jersey games batting third in the lineup. He's hitting .277 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs in 64 games leading off."If you're swinging better, you're likely going to get more Buy Johnny Damon Jersey hits,'' Rollins said. "If you're not swinging well, the one time you do hit a line drive, Greg Luzinski Phillies Jersey they catch it. You've got to keep putting them out there and hope Baseball Johnny Damon Jersey for something to fall. I've been able to do that.''Rollins was drafted in the second round of the 1996 Majestic Dave Hollins Jersey amateur draft by Jorge Posada Jersey Yankees the Phillies and has played here his entire career. But he'll become a free agent for the first time after this season, Greg Luzinski Jersey and there's no guarantee he'll be back.It's hard to envision the Phillies without Rollins, especially since they expect to be Official Johnny Damon Jersey contenders for a few more years because of their elite pitching staff. Rollins isn't motivated by getting a Sell Johnny Damon Jersey new contract, even though he's been underpaid compared to some Greg Luzinski Jersey Authentic of his teammates."I play baseball the Official Jorge Posada Jersey same way every day,'' he said. "You are who Replica Jorge Posada Jersey you are.''Heading into Jorge Posada Authentic Jersey a 10-game homestand, the Phillies have the best record in the majors at 61-36 and were 4 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta in their pursuit of a fifth-straight division title. Anything less than a World Series championship Jimmy Foxx Jersey won't be considered a success in Philadelphia.Rollins can help make that happen Jorge Posada Jersey Replica now Authentic Greg Luzinski Jersey and in the future."He sees the type of MLB Johnny Damon Jersey team we have here with the pitching MLB Jorge Posada Jersey and he very much wants to be a part of it,'' Manuel said. "He wants to see us win, too.''
CINCINNATI (AP) - On their way to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, the Cincinnati Reds did a lot of things right. A year later, they can't even win two games in a row.And Jimmy Foxx Jersey Authentic they're starting to run out of time to get their act together.The defending NL Central champions are struggling to stay in contention with virtually the same lineup that brought home a title. Veterans Scott Rolen and Jonny Gomes haven't played to last season's MLB Johnny Damon Jersey form, problems at shortstop and left field have Phillies Jimmy Foxx Jersey lingered, and the rotation has been in flux because of injuries and mononucleosis.The Reds haven't Jimmy Foxx Phillies Jersey won back-to-back games since June 14-15, a span of five stunning weeks that has left them stranded in fourth place."You don't like it, but Greg Luzinski Phillies Jersey you've got to Sell Greg Luzinski Jersey deal with it,'' manager Dusty Baker said. "You've just got to keep fighting and scuffling.''And hoping that a lot of very bad trends begin to change ... soon."I think at some point, we're going to end up playing well Majestic Greg Luzinski Jersey and winning a bunch of games,'' Official Jorge Posada Jersey NL MVP Joey Votto said. "But it's just kind of how it's Greg Luzinski Authentic Jersey been this year. It will click at some point.''The Reds had everything clicking during their season-opening homestand. They won their first five games while scoring 43 runs, their best such start since the Big Red Machine rolled through the National League. It seemed like a carry-over from 2010, when they led the league in most offensive categories.Instead, it turned out MLB Greg Luzinski Jersey to be their high point. It quickly became apparent that it was going to be a whole different year for the same Reds roster.Cincinnati spent more than $150 million in the offseason on contract extensions for Jorge Posada Authentic Jersey Votto, right fielder Jay Bruce, and starters Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto. They had several problem areas - shortstop and left field topped the list - but went Jorge Posada Replica Jersey for modest solutions that haven't worked.They let shortstop Orlando Cabrera Jimmy Foxx Authentic Jersey leave, buying out his option year rather Authentic Jimmy Foxx Jersey than paying him $4 million. They tried to replace him with backup Paul Janish and newcomer Edgar Renteria. The outcome? Janish struggled and was demoted. And Renteria is hitting .232 Jorge Posada Yankees Jersey with one homer and 14 RBIs.Gomes had the best opening half of his career in 2010, batting .277 with 11 homers and 60 RBIs at the midpoint. He tailed off in the second half, but the Reds picked up his option for $1.75 million and added Johnny Damon Yankees Jersey Fred Lewis. Gomes has Greg Luzinski Jersey Authentic lost the starting job Buy Greg Luzinski Jersey - Jorge Posada Jersey Authentic he's batting .215 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs - and Lewis has struggled as well, batting .260 with two homers and 15 RBIs.Rolen was a big part of the Reds' surge last season, getting them on track with a huge first half. He hit .290 with 17 homers and 57 RBIs before the break, then tailed off severely as injuries took a toll. He's been bothered by a shoulder problem again this season, limiting him to a .242 mark with five homers and 36 RBIs.As a result, they're getting a lot less from several spots.The Buy Johnny Damon Jersey pitching has been in flux because of injuries. Homer Bailey has been on the disabled list twice. Johnny Cueto went on the DL with a bum shoulder during spring training, but has a 1.98 ERA in 14 starts. Arroyo came down with mononucleosis that persisted into the season Jorge Posada Jersey Replica - he's 7-8 with a 5.57 ERA.Opening day starter Edinson Volquez was so ineffective that he was sent to the minors. The Reds Sell Johnny Damon Jersey thought hard-throwing left-hander Aroldis Chapman could help fill the setup role vacated Phillies Greg Luzinski Jersey by lefty Arthur Rhodes, but couldn't get his 105 mph fastball over the plate. He wound up in the minors for a while, too.With all that, the Reds haven't Greg Luzinski Jersey Phillies gotten on a surge."There are Replica Jorge Posada Jersey periods when we've gotten poor pitching, and everybody Replica Johnny Damon Jersey is focused on the pitching,'' Baker said. "And there are periods where you're not hitting. It seems we Baseball Greg Luzinski Jersey just haven't combined the two yet, and you don't Majestic Dave Hollins Jersey want to fall any further.''Despite the issues, they've managed to stay in contention. They had a chance to move into first place during the last week before the All-Star break, when they played seven games in St. Louis and Milwaukee. Closer Francisco Cordero, who had blown only two saves chances to that point, blew three straight to MLB Jorge Posada Jersey end those hopes and knock Cincinnati Jimmy Foxx Jersey Phillies back to the fringe.Since the All-Star break, they've struggled to drive in runs. Twice this week, Baseball Johnny Damon Jersey they were shut out in Pittsburgh."I just feel like lately, we've been beating ourselves,'' second baseman Brandon Phillips said. "There's a lot of games we feel we should have Johnny Damon Jersey Yankees won, but runners in scoring position has just been real tough for us this year."But you know, once we start Johnny Damon Replica Jersey getting them Buy Jorge Posada Jersey runs in, I feel like nobody Official Johnny Damon Jersey can beat us.''The Reds were one of baseball's best comeback teams during their championship season, winning 22 Jimmy Foxx Jersey times in their final Greg Luzinski Jersey at-bat. This year, they've failed Official Greg Luzinski Jersey when the pressure's on, going 14-22 in one-run games - the most such losses in the majors.Following a day off on Thursday, the Reds open a 10-game homestand against Atlanta, the New York Mets and San Francisco. They Majestic Johnny Damon Jersey know that they need to finally start playing well."It's going to be a tough homestand, but this is our time Johnny Damon Jersey Replica to hopefully shine,'' Baker said.---AP Sports Writer Will Graves Authentic Greg Luzinski Jersey and freelance writer Chris Adamski in Pittsburgh contributed to this report. Jorge Posada Jersey Yankees
KANSAS CITY -- Wild finish on a wild pitch.Alex Gordon dashed home on an errant pitch by White Sox closer Sergio Santos to give the Royals an 11-inning, 2-1 victory to give 13,831 fans some extra sizzle on a hot Wednesday night Replica Nelson Cruz Jersey at Kauffman Stadium.White Sox lefty Chris Sale got two outs in the 11th but walked Gordon on a 3-2 pitch. Mitch Maier, in the game for an ailing Melky Cabrera (upset stomach), lined a single to center and Gordon reached third base.The right-handed Santos came in to face Billy Butler. At third base, Gordon watched Santos throw his Nelson Cruz Rangers Jersey warmup tosses to catcher A.J. Pierzynski and consulted with third-base coach Eddie Rodriguez."I told Eddie I knew they were going to pitch Billy tough with splitters and sliders. So I told him that if I get anything close to a wild pitch, I'm going," Gordon said. "So once I saw it get away from Pierzynski a Buy Michael Young Jersey little bit, I was off."Santos' 2-1 pitch bounced away, Pierzysnki retrieved the ball Nelson Cruz Jersey Replica and made a quick toss to Santos covering Replica Cody Ross Jersey the plate, but Gordon dove in safely."I thought I did everything right, it just hit the heel of my glove and Nolan Ryan Jersey kicked to my right," Pierzynski said. "A half Sell Michael Young Jersey inch to the right or half inch to the left, it goes right in my Cody Ross Giants Jersey glove."His throw was too late and too high to get Gordon."It wasn't that far away, so it was almost like I was going, but I was kind of reading it at the same time," Gordon said. "I was just trying to be aggressive. It was 1-1 through 11 innings and nothing much was happening, so I was trying to make something happen."What he made happen was a happy pile-on at home plate in celebration of the Royals' 10th walkoff victory and a second straight series victory, two games to one, over the White Sox.Not only Official Cody Ross Jersey did Gordon score the winning run, he prevented the White Nelson Cruz Replica Jersey Sox from scoring two runs in the sixth inning with a sliding catch just inside the left-field MLB Cody Ross Jersey line. With two Baseball Michael Young Jersey on and two out, he snagged Paul Konerko's line drive just off the turf."I was just Buy Nelson Cruz Jersey kind of jogging over there and made a dive and made it look tougher than it was," Gordon deadpanned.Oh, sure. But it MLB Michael Young Jersey was a game-saver."That ball [makes the score] 3-0 Baseball Nelson Cruz Jersey and they probably take control of the game from there," said Jeff Francoeur, who admired the catch from right MLB Nelson Cruz Jersey field.Gordon probably grabbed most of the headlines, but Royals manager Ned Official Nelson Cruz Jersey Yost was Majestic Nelson Cruz Jersey also looking at the story behind the story -- the superb pitching by starter Bruce Chen and relievers Joakim Soria and Aaron Crow. Chen went eight innings, Dave Dravecky Jersey Authentic Soria pitched a perfect ninth and Crow added two scoreless innings."Bruce was phenomenal, Jack was great, Crow was very, very good," Yost said.Chen Cody Ross Jersey Giants didn't give up a hit until Carlos Quentin led Giants Dave Dravecky Jersey off the White Sox fifth with a home run into the seats down the left-field line for a Sell Buster Posey Jersey 1-0 lead."It was a 1-0 changeup and it was down and he hit it out," Chen said. "He's a power guy and he got the count in his favor and he picked a pitch he could handle and he hit it out."Meanwhile, the Royals were having a rough time with Majestic Buster Posey Jersey left-hander John Danks, who has always given them fits. They've never beaten him and he came into this game with a career 2.74 ERA against them in seven previous games. This time around, Baseball Cody Ross Jersey he threw a shutout for seven innings on five hits.Finally the Royals gained Cody Ross Jersey Authentic a 1-1 tie in the Majestic Michael Young Jersey eighth against the White Sox bullpen.Gordon, after a long but foul home-run shot, singled on a 3-2 pitch, but Maier popped a bunt to pitcher Matt Thornton. He was relieved by right-hander Jesse Crain, who surrendered a single to Butler and a score-tying double to Francoeur. Because Francoeur hustled to second while Butler held third, the White Sox intentionally walked Eric Hosmer to fill the bases.But nothing more developed. Crain struck out Pena. Sale was summoned to face left-handed Mike Moustakas. A perfect Sell Cody Ross Jersey time for Moustakas to break out Dave Dravecky Authentic Jersey of his Authentic Dave Dravecky Jersey 0-for-20 swoon but he rolled out to first base, ending the inning.Moustakas had another chance in the 10th against Sale. Butler reached base on a strikeout, thanks to a Buy Cody Ross Jersey wild pitch. Francoeur was hit by a pitch Sell Nelson Cruz Jersey but Hosmer and Pena made outs. Nelson Cruz Jersey Rangers Moustakas drilled Cody Ross Jersey Replica a liner but it was just foul down the right-field line."It just takes one big hit, and I Official Michael Young Jersey thought he had it Authentic Nolan Ryan Jersey there. It was six inches foul," Yost said.Then Moustakas popped out and his skid reached 0-for-22.Although infielder Mike Nelson Cruz Jersey Authentic Aviles was recalled from Triple-A Omaha late Wednesday after infielder Wilson Betemit was traded, there was no chance to use him as either a pinch-runner for Butler or a pinch-hitter for Moustakas in the 10th. He hadn't arrived yet."Aviles Cody Ross Authentic Jersey is still not Cody Ross Replica Jersey here, so after Melky got sick and we put Mitch Maier in the game, the only player we Dave Dravecky Jersey had left was [catcher Matt] Treanor," Yost said. "So we had [pitcher] Kyle Majestic Cody Ross Jersey Davies run Baseball Buster Posey Jersey upstairs, get his spikes on and get his glove in case we had another issue and needed an athletic-type player. Kyle can play the outfield."Such emergency measures were not required, thanks to a Nelson Cruz Authentic Jersey wild one that got away.
PHOENIX -- Eleven Carlos Beltran Jersey Replica days before the nonwaiver Trade Replica Joe DiMaggio Jersey Deadline, Brewers buy Carlos Beltran Jersey shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and third baseman Casey McGehee are showing signs of life at just the right time. Both players had three hits on Tuesday MLB Joe DiMaggio Jersey night, including two homers from Betancourt. His on-base percentage remains an ugly .262, but he Majestic David Wright Jersey batted .305 over 24 games through Tuesday night to raise his batting average from .228 to .245. McGehee hit .289 with a .349 on-base percentage in David Wright Mets Jersey his past 13 Sell Joe DiMaggio Jersey games. The Brewers have been monitoring the Yankees Johnny Damon Jersey infield market for upgrades at those positions, but available starters at shortstop and third base are hard to find. One potential target fell off the market Wednesday when the Royals traded infielder Wilson Betemit to the Tigers for two Minor League pitchers. "[Brewers general manager] Doug [Melvin] is the one who is going to make any moves, if we have any moves to make, but I know I feel better about it when I see these guys swinging," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Betancourt and McGehee. "So, yeah, I think things can change your mind, Carlos Beltran Replica Jersey especially when you have history with guys. We have history with Casey here, who has had a year David Wright Jersey Mets and a half that he's been really good. Buy Joe DiMaggio Jersey With history, whenever a Official Carlos Beltran Jersey guy turns it around you're like, 'OK, he's back.'" McGehee's history is one reason the Brewers have not turned Official David Wright Jersey to Triple-A third baseman Taylor Green, who is hitting .315 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs in a season that, to some, has reestablished his position as a top prospect. But the Minor Leagues are "completely different," Roenicke said, and he pointed to the Brewers' own Replica Carlos Beltran Jersey Mat Gamel as one example of a player who put up big numbers at Triple-A that did not translate to the Majors. "I know people get impatient, and maybe we look at it, too," Roenicke said. "You get them here and you don't see the same thing." The Brewers Official Joe DiMaggio Jersey are more likely to add infield depth than a bona fide starter. They have been linked to the Dodgers' Jamey Carroll, and, according to Authentic Johnny Damon Jersey ESPN, checked in with the Astros about Jeff Keppinger before Authentic Joe DiMaggio Jersey he was dealt to San Francisco. The Brewers already made one splashy trade by acquiring reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Mets. Does Roenicke think Melvin has more in store? "He's looking," Roenicke said. "He's talking to a lot of teams about different things. I don't think there's a desperate need, that you can say if we get one guy the team is going to take off." &n bsp; ; &n bsp; Braddock placed on inactive list at Joe DiMaggio Jersey Authentic Nashville PHOENIX -- A top Brewers official said he was not at liberty to discuss the status of left-handed reliever Zach Braddock, who spent a third day on Triple-A Nashville's temporary inactive list on Wednesday. Braddock, who MLB Carlos Beltran Jersey was penciled in before the season as a key cog in the Brewers' bullpen, was on the disabled list earlier this season while receiving treatment for a sleep disorder, but assistant general manager Gord Ash Baseball Joe DiMaggio Jersey could not divulge any details of Braddock's buy David Wright Jersey latest setback. Ash baseball Carlos Beltran Jersey also could not say when Braddock might pitch again. "It's a personal and private matter," Ash said. "I don't want to be Joe DiMaggio Jersey Replica vague with you, but it's necessary Joe DiMaggio Jersey Yankees at this time. We'll leave it at that." It's been a complicated season for Braddock, who spent most of May on the DL, returned in early June, but then was demoted to Nashville on June 15 after reporting late on several occasions. He returned again June 27 but struggled, allowing 11 earned runs on eight hits and five walks in five innings spanning eight baseball David Wright Jersey games. The Brewers optioned Braddock back to Nashville on Friday and added him to the inactive list Monday. With Braddock out, Mitch Stetter still rehabbing a left hip injury and no left-handers in Majestic Carlos Beltran Jersey the bullpen, Milwaukee officials are monitoring the left-handed relief market ahead of the July 31 nonwaiver Trade Johnny Damon Authentic Jersey Deadline. They were linked Wednesday by FOXSports.com to A's reliever Craig Breslow, a former Brewers farmhand. Breslow has handled hitters from both sides of the plate in his career (.217 average against right-handers and .222 against lefties), but left-handed batters have hit him at a .400 clip (22-for-55) this season. &nb sp; &nb sp; Hawkins, Hart to take part in charity event &nbs p; PHOENIX -- Brewers reliever LaTroy Hawkins and outfielder Corey Hart will be among the attendees at a charity event on Carlos Beltran Jersey Mets July 31 to raise funds for the Foundation for Children with Cancer, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to families. The event is being organized by Lesley Redman, the wife of former Major League outfielder Tike Redman and an acquaintance Joe DiMaggio Yankees Jersey of Hawkins. The Redmans' Joe DiMaggio Replica Jersey 13-year-old daughter, Jalyn, was diagnosed in 2009 with bone cancer. She's cancer-free, but must return every three months for five years to undergo testing. Brewers Wives, an arm of the club's community Johnny Damon Jersey foundation, is also involved in MLB David Wright Jersey the event, to be held at Dave & Buster's in Wauwatosa, Wis., from 5-8 p.m. CT on July 31. For a $25 donation, attendees get food and beverages and an opportunity Joe DiMaggio Jersey to Joe DiMaggio Authentic Jersey mingle with Brewers players and coaches, plus a chance to bid on silent auction items. For information, fans are David Wright Authentic Jersey encouraged to contact Lesley Redman at Yankees Joe DiMaggio Jersey lesley@childrenwithcancer.org. &nb sp; &nb sp; Last call ; • Brewers manager Ron Roenicke David Wright Jersey Authentic said Ryan Braun "was not sore at all" after playing four innings in the field and getting three Carlos Beltran Mets Jersey at-bats on Tuesday night, Braun's first start since a setback with his strained left Johnny Damon Jersey Authentic calf. The team is easing Braun back into full-time duty.• The start time for the sell David Wright Jersey Brewers' home game against the Pirates on Aug. 13 was shifted to 3:10 p.m. CT to sell Carlos Beltran Jersey accommodate a FOX national broadcast. With the new start time, the game will not be carried by WMLW. Instead, WITI-TV (FOX 6) will carry the game Majestic Joe DiMaggio Jersey locally.
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