SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 26, 2008) - San Jose SaberCats receiver/linebacker JASON GEATHERS was today named a member of the Arena Football League's All-Ironman Team, earning a spot on the prestigious squad for the second straight year.

"Jason is an athlete and provides us with a lot of options on the football field," said SaberCats head coach and general manager Darren Arbet.

Geathers (6-2, 205, Miami) saw action in 14 games making four starts at receiver and 10 at the Jack' linebacker position. He placed fourth on the team with 37 receptions for 365 yards and had five touchdowns. Geathers tied a team record when he caught 18 passes in a game at New Orleans on April 5.

The third-year AFL player started the final 10 games at linebacker helping the SaberCats to an 8-2 record in those games. He finished with a team season record-tying four fumble recoveries and ranked fifth on the team with 22.0 tackles. A versatile athlete, Geathers also scored three rushing touchdowns on the year and played on special teams.

Geathers was named to the All-Ironman Team for the second consecutive season and trails only James Roe, who earned three straight selections from 2003 to 2005. He is also just the third SaberCat to be named to the All-Ironman Team multiple times.

The SaberCats begin defense of their ArenaBowl title on Saturday, July 5, in a Divisional Round playoff contest against an opponent to be determined. Tickets are available and can be purchased at the HP Pavilion ticket office, all Northern California Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (408) 998-TIXS and online at ticketmaster.com.

A premiere franchise in the Arena Football League, San Jose has won three ArenaBowl championships and captured eight Western Division titles, nine consecutive playoff appearances and owns the league's best regular season record this decade.

(oursportscentral.com)

Estero, FL – The “Magic” is coming back to Germain Arena.  The Florida Firecats have been assigned the rights to Magic Benton, the team announced today.

Benton, who will become the only player to play for the Firecats during all eight years of the team’s existence, currently holds a number of team records including career points (1,020), receptions (584), receiving yards (7,698) and receiving touchdowns (165).  Magic remains the af2’s career leader in receiving touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards.  Since he retired, George Williams who played with the Boise Burn earlier this season passed Benton on the league’s all time scoring (1,084-1,020) and touchdowns list (179-167).

Benton should provide a boost to a Firecats offense that’s currently ranked 25th in the league in total offense (230.5 yds/g) and 18th in scoring offense (45.6 points per game).

“I’m very excited to be rejoining the Firecats,” Benton said.  “I’ve been itching for it for a little while and finally that day will be here on Saturday.  I’m ready to go.”

“Getting Magic back is big for our team offensively,” Firecats Head Coach Kevin Bouis said.  “He will step right in as if he had never left.”

Benton is expected to be in uniform when the Firecats return to Germain Arena this Saturday, June 28th to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT.  Call (239) 390-CATS (2287) today to reserve your seats! Visit the team online at www.FloridaFirecats.com.

(Firecats Press Release)

Also today, the Firecats announced they had been assigned the rights to offensive linemen Tony Tella and Chad Motte.

Tella, a 6’4” 300 pound lineman, played college football at the University of Miami where he started 23 games during his junior and senior seasons.  He was named an All Atlantic Coast Conference Honorable Mention after his senior season.  In 2006, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants.  Tella has also spent time with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.

“It is great to get a player of Tony’s caliber,” Bouis said.  “He is a former Hurricane who spent some time with Giants.  He will help solidify our offensive line.”

(Firecats Press Release)

Houston Texans and former Miami Hurricane, Andre Johnson hosts his birthday weekend.

Thursday, July 10 - Friday, July 11

On Thursday, it’ll be help at LEVEL which is located at 412 Main. Friday, it’ll be at EPIC which is located on 3030 Travis St. Both parties are from 9pm-2pm. There is a dress code and you know to get there early.

Dre’s pretty cool. Should be a nice get up. He’s also bringing along friends and I’m sure that’s not the entire list (as shown on the flier). Come out, enjoy. Mark your calenders!




(thatsthatish.wordpress.com)

Here is more of the Mike Martz interview I have been s ... t ... r ... e ... t ... c ... h ... i ... n ... g out over the past week. And yes, I've noticed that when Martz talks about his new offensive players he sounds like a proud papa reaching for his wallet to show you his beautiful babies. And yes, Martz had many gushing things to say two years ago about his offensive weapons on the Detroit Lions. But I think the bottom line is that over spring practices Martz was pleasantly and genuinely surprised by what he has to work with in San Francisco. The talent level here certainly is better than No. 32, which is where the offense ranked last season.

The key in this segment is what Martz says about Frank Gore's ability to learn his system. Remember, Gore had a low-low Wonderlic score entering the draft, and teams worried about his dyslexia almost as much as they did his surgically repaired knees. Learning the playbook, however, never has been an issue for Gore since joining the 49ers.

Q: Did anything surprise you about Frank Gore during minicamp and OTAs? MM: "He's a one-time guy. You tell him once and he has it. That's really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He's a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways, if you will. So, no, he's been outstanding with that. Usually guys who have been featured runners with a limited exposure, it's hard for them. He's not been that way at all. We've been able to put him out there has a wideout, we've motioned him outside, we've used him in a variety of ways. He's retained it, done an exceptional job with it and just really learns quick. The other thing I didn't realize until I saw him in person is how explosive he is when he runs the football. He has a gear he gets to - you blink and he's in it. He's a special player, there's no question about it. He's an elite player in this league. I'm just so excited to have him."

Q: A lot of people think he's going to be Marshall Faulk. Is that accurate? MM: "I don't think that's right to say. I think Marshall's Marshall, Frank is Frank. Frank has his own skill set. Frank is Frank. There are things that we'll play to that are really strengths of his."

Q: Running between the tackles? MM: "Well, anywhere. He's got that speed and explosiveness. He does it all. He really does. He's a physical guy that you can hammer or you can use him as a perimeter guy. So, I don't think I'd put a limitation on what he can do, really. It will be kind of fun to see."

(sacbee.com)

The handwriting is on the wall for two former first-day Eagles draft picks. DE Jerome McDougle, a first-round pick in 2003, and RB Ryan Moats, a third-rounder in 2005, appear to be on the outside looking in as training camp approaches. McDougle, whose promising career has been derailed by injuries, now sits seventh on the DE depth chart following the offseason additions of free agent Chris Clemons and rookie Bryan Smith, who will be tried at end despite needing to bulk up (he’s reportedly up to 245 pounds and could weigh more when camp arrives). McDougle is entering the final year of his rookie contract and most likely won’t make it out of camp.

(pfw.com)

That has yet to be finalized at this point, but offensive coordinator Ron Turner told fans at the Bears Expo earlier this month that Devin Hester’s workload on offense would likely triple from an average of 10-12 snaps last season to 30-35 this year. Said Turner: “If we can get him that many plays and we can get the ball in his hands 5-7 times a game—whether it’s some quick passes or down the field or whatever—he’s going to make our offense much more productive.”

(chicagobears.com)

When the Pittsburgh Steelers picked running back Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of the 2008 draft, it became fairly obvious that veteran Najeh Davenport would be the odd man out.

And that’s precisely the case.

A league source tells us that the Steelers are shopping Davenport, calling teams to gauge potential interest.
Davenport is signed through 2008, and he’s scheduled to earn a base salary of $1 million this season.  He rushed for 499 yards on 107 carries in 2007.

(profootballtalk.com)

The Bergen Record reports a source that has been accurate much of the time says the Giants have given up efforts to try to trade TE Jeremy Shockey, and that Shockey will stay put with the team. The rumor had been a very complicated multi-team deal was in the works, one which relied on a lot of things falling into place. One of the things that wasn't, however, was Shockey's ankle, and his inability to pass a team physical.

(ffmastermind.com)

James Jones on Thursday said he has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Trail Blazers next season, hours after he decided to become an unrestricted free agent by not exercising the player-in option in his contract with Portland.

Jones, who could have made $3.1 million this season, said he is anxious to test the free agent market and determine what his worth is around the league. In the course of that exploration, he said he will keep his door open to the Blazers.

"This was a tough decision,'' Jones said from Miami, where he had just landed after a vacation in the Bahamas. "But I'm definitely open to coming back to the Blazers, without a doubt. I would put it at 50-50; I would love to return there, but it would have to be under circumstances that are scripted perfectly. And that's left to be seen.''

Jones, who turns 28 in October, was hesitant to reveal what his perfectly scripted scenario would have to include. He said he wanted a "fair" contract, but added that he doesn't have a preconceived idea regarding a dollar amount or length of contract, and that he wanted to be on a team where he was "valued".

"I just want a fair deal,'' Jones said. "I won't throw anything out there because every organization's sentiment can differ. I want to be where I'm appreciated and valued.''

Jones said he felt he was valued by the Portland organization.

"There's no doubt about that, and that's why I have such an affinity for Portland,'' Jones said.

The crux of Jones' free agency lies in his desire to secure a long-term deal, or at least a deal longer than one season. If he is to land a long-term deal, he will almost certainly have to prove he has recovered from a sore left knee, which caused him to miss 24 games last season - a 12-game stint at the beginning of the season and a 12-game stint before the All-Star break.

"My knee feels great,'' Jones said. "I've had time to strengthen it, which was the biggest part of the ordeal last season. But for the past month I have been training, playing, riding my bike ... there is no pain.''

Jones said he hasn't identified any teams that he would like to play for next season.

"There is going to be a lot of activity in the draft, where established teams are looking to add, and young teams getting better ... I would like to sift through that and see what is best for me. But I feel I'm a good fit for any team that needs a shooter.''

Jones had the NBA's third best three-point percentage last season, making 44.4 percent while averaging 8.0 points. Perhaps more importantly, he became the sage of the team, often mentoring players like Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack, while also providing savvy and clutch plays on the court. When Jones played 24 or more minutes last season, the Blazers were 21-6.

With Jones becoming a free agent, the Blazers have 12 players, plus Rudy Fernandez, under contract. Where that number will stand after tonight's draft, and what the Blazers' roster looks like after tonight, will be under the watchful eye of Jones.

"I've always been a guy to take one step at a time,'' Jones said. "Right now, this is a decision I feel good with; it was a tough decision, but I feel good with it. Now, I will see what teams do in the draft, and then I will get a gauge for my value in free agency. Then we will go from there.

"Hopefully, I'll land back in the Black-and-Red. I felt like I was able to grow as a player in Portland. I really want to thank the Portland family - Nate, the players _ for allowing me to do that.''

(blog.oregonlive.com)

Baseball ain't rocket science. But if it were, that wouldn't stop rookie St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Brian Barton.

He's pretty good at both.

The 26-year-old Los Angeles native attended the University of Miami on an academic scholarship paid for by Boeing and majored in aerospace engineering. Barton, who has one semester of coursework remaining before he completes his degree, walked on to the university's elite baseball program and eventually led the Hurricanes squad to an eighth-place finish in the College World Series his junior year and batted a team-high .371 as a senior.

Now in his first season in the big leagues, Barton has seen his popularity with St. Louis fans skyrocket thanks to his broad grin, flowing dreadlocks and seemingly effortless speed on the base paths. After seeing scant playing time early in the season, he has begun to find his way into the starting lineup with increasing regularity.

Seated in front of his locker at Busch Stadium before a recent home game, however, Barton explains that he wants to be remembered for something other than his brainy background and athletic achievements. "I just want people to know me for more than just a baseball player or an engineer," he says. "I'm a broader person than that."

Barton says his favorite thing to do is travel. He visited Ethiopia while in college; he has a tattoo outlining the continent of Africa on his arm. ("I just have pride in my culture and where my ancestors came from," he says.) He's also done Europe (favorite stop: Munich) and plans to visit Australia and Japan in the upcoming off-season.

He likes old soul and R&B. That explains his choice of Sam Cooke ("A Change Is Gonna Come") as his at-bat music. "It's meaningful to me," he says. "It teaches patience through all the ups and downs. Whether it's on the field or in society, you have to have hope and faith that things will turn around. I like all types of music, but more so as I've grown older I appreciate that type of music more. It's more pure to me."

Barton was born and raised in economically deprived South Central Los Angeles, the part of town where Boyz n the Hood was filmed. He has three sisters and two brothers; the latter pair eventually went on to play college football. He attended Westchester High School, which is known more for its lengthy roster of alumni athletes (including former NFL linebacker Ken Norton Jr. and LA Laker Trevor Ariza) than its aerospace magnet program, which enrolls about 350 students each year. On the baseball field, he was a two-time all-conference selection, leading the Comets to a league championship his senior year. He played safety and wide receiver on the football team and ran the 400-meter for the track squad ("mostly just to stay in shape," he says). In the classroom, his 3.7 GPA helped net an internship in the satellite-systems department of Boeing's offices in El Segundo.

As a youth Barton took part in Major League Baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. John Young, a former major leaguer who founded the program in 1989, remembers Barton well. In fact, Young says, Barton used to live just a few blocks from his house in South Central.

"I'm pushing 60 now," says Young, who recalls Barton as a "free spirit" and "a very bright young man." "So I tell these stories a lot of kids have never heard — I talk about Mickey Mantle and Ozzie Smith and tell a lot of inside jokes about them. Most of them, they'd go over the other kids' heads. Brian would get them. He'd do his laugh, but he'd try not to acknowledge it.

"The thing about RBI is that it's about more than baseball," Young adds. "Our mission isn't to develop major-league baseball players, it's to develop good citizens. We use baseball as a carrot to get kids learning academic and social community skills. Basically, Brian is what we're looking to do."

After high school Barton was chosen by the Dodgers in the 38th round of the MLB draft. Rather than sign to play in the minor leagues, he opted to take his Boeing scholarship to nearby Loyola Marymount University. He soon grew restless, however, making the switch to Miami after his freshman year, attracted by the university's proximity to NASA's space program and its unique blend of athletics and academics.

"I just got tired of being in LA," he explains. "Moneywise, I had a scholarship going to Loyola, and Miami is quite a bit more expensive. But it was my first choice. I wasn't happy where I was. I felt in order to be happy I had to follow my heart."

As a transfer, he was required by NCAA rules to sit out a season of baseball. When he got his chance to play, he suffered a hand injury that kept him out of the lineup for part of his junior season. And he struggled to balance the rigorous engineering curriculum with baseball, widely recognized as one of the most challenging sports for student-athletes owing to its exhausting travel and practice schedule.

"When you're on the road, you don't want to study," Barton says. "The last thing you want to do is open a book after the game. No matter how many books I brought, I didn't open one."

Singiresu Rao, the chair of Miami's mechanical and aerospace engineering department, says the major is arduous even for students who aren't spending their evenings in the batting cage. "With term papers, projects and exams, the average student has to work about 60 to 70 hours a week," says Rao, noting that the program admits only 30 people each year. "If they're playing sports, they have to manage time very well."

Rao taught Barton's aerospace structural design course, in which students learn skills like how to design airplane wings with the proper size and thickness to keep a craft airborne. "I found him to be very punctual," Rao says. "He used to maintain time, whereas other students came late. He was always diligent. His performance may not have been at the top of the class, but he always put forth a tremendous effort."

Barton says college was the first time in his life when his dual career paths became a novelty.

"People would emphasize that instead of my performance," he says. "I remember one time I had a four-for-four game and we won, but afterward all the reporters were like, 'Hey Barton, tell me about your major.' It's good to have that story, to have kids who look up to athletes be able to say they can go to school and get an education and still be successful in sports. I'm not ashamed of my major, I'm not ashamed of what I want to do. I just may possibly do something else. Let me come to that conclusion."

RBI founder John Young believes Barton's commitment to his education hindered his development as a ballplayer. "When he was in college, he'd do internships at Boeing instead of the high-profile summer leagues that other prospects go to," Young says. "If Brian would not have been so academic, he probably would have been a first-round draft choice."

"People just felt like his commitment was to his education and not likely to the game of baseball," says Cardinals general manger John Mozeliak, explaining why Barton went undrafted out of college. "What ends up happening is players that have options — alternative career choices if you will — teams will shy away. In baseball there's a lot of failure; you have to understand the adversity that's in this game and the dedication it takes to overcome that."

Barton went on to sign with the Cleveland Indians and worked his way through their minor-league system to the AAA level at Buffalo. In December 2007 the Cardinals paid the requisite $50,000 to acquire him in the Rule 5 draft, a process that prevents teams from stockpiling minor-league talent by allowing unprotected prospects to be picked up by opposing teams.

"They are players that are maybe not good enough to be worried about losing but may have some value," Mozeliak says of Rule 5 picks. "I suspect Cleveland felt that since [Barton] had sustained a knee injury the year before, he might slide a little in productivity. We liked his offensive ability, his ability to get on base and his ability to run. We factored in that he could play multiple outfield positions and he just seemed like a very attractive pick."

Rule 5 draftees come with a significant contingency: In order to hang on to Barton, the Cardinals must keep him on their active roster for the entire 2008 season. Barton made the big-league club on the final day of spring training — by a whisker. Now, nearly halfway through his rookie year, he has appeared in 56 games and has 27 hits in 110 at-bats (including one in his first major-league plate appearance). He says he's still getting to know St. Louis and hasn't had much time to get out and experience the city. He lives about five minutes from Busch Stadium.

And for entertainment? "I don't know if you'd call it fun, but I read, I write. Sometimes if I've got something on my mind, I just write."

When his teammates aren't subjecting him to rookie mistreatment, they say Barton keeps to himself. "He's a good teammate and a good guy to be around," says second baseman Adam Kennedy, whose locker is next to Barton's. "But obviously me and him have no common factors when it comes to talking about [rocket science]."

Manager Tony La Russa praises Barton's "high-average stroke" and says the rookie has done an excellent job of being prepared to play every day in a crowded Cardinals outfield. Of Barton's reputation as the smartest guy on the team, La Russa says, "You can tell when you talk to him he's an intelligent guy. But the way he uses that intelligence on the baseball diamond — that's for real. He's very aware."

Reserved and soft-spoken, Barton plays down most praise that comes his way. When asked if he believes he's the fastest player on the team, a question that seems like a no-brainer for anyone who has seen him devour the base paths with the lengthy strides afforded by his six-foot-three frame, he says, "I just try to work with what I have and let the people who watch be the judge of that."

(Allows La Russa: "He and [shortstop] Brendan Ryan — that would be a pretty good race.")

As for his plans after baseball, Barton says he's thinks he'll go back and finish the last few classes that stand between him and a degree. After that, though, the future is wide open: "I just take it one step at a time. If I get back into [aerospace engineering] after baseball — if it happens, it happens.

"Right now I'm a baseball player. I'm just hoping to have a good season and help the team win. It doesn't get any simpler than that."

(riverfronttimes.com)

Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Aubrey Huff went 4-for-5, knocking in two runs and scoring three as the Orioles trounced the Cubs in the deciding game of their three-game series at Wrigley Field, 11-4.

Jay Payton added two hits and knocked in three more runs as the Orioles posted their second-highest run total this year - Baltimore scored 12 runs in a 12-2 win over the Yankees on May 20. Guillermo Quiroz went 3-for-4, knocking in two runs and scoring one.

"This is definitely one of the most satisfying series we played this year," Huff said. "As far as it being a satisfying win, I think you look at the big picture. We came in here and played very well against a good team."

Radhames Liz (2-0) threw five-plus strong innings, giving up two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks. It marked Liz's third consecutive start in which the Orioles posted a victory and the sixth win for Baltimore in its last nine games.

"The reason we won this series was that we have a team that plays good, fundamental baseball," said Orioles manager Dave Trembley. "We have a team that will compete every night, and I guarantee you we'll bring our best game every night. The other team better bring theirs, too."

(mysportsbook.com)

Growing up in California, Milwaukee Brewers’ slugger Ryan Braun idolized Ken Griffey Jr. Now, with National League All-Star voting drawing to a close, Braun will have to overcome his boyhood hero for a starting slot in the NL outfield.

Braun, currently fourth among outfielders, has been making up ground on Griffey rapidly, and was about 175,000 votes behind in the most recent results. Balloting ends next Wednesday, and fans can vote on MLB.com.

After a 2007 season in which he set an all-time rookie slugging record (.634) and hit 34 home runs in just 113 games, Braun captured the Rookie of the Year Award, then promptly donated his bonus to charity. He so impressed Milwaukee brass on and off the field that in the offseason, the team locked him up to the richest deal in organization history, an an eight-year, $45 million contract.

It appears he’s worth the money. Currently, he’s fifth in the NL in home runs with 20, and ninth in RBI (57). Among NL outfielders, only Lance Berkman has more home runs and RBI than Braun, who recently took a few moments during a rare off day to speak with NBCSports.com about his wondrous rookie season, what making the all-star would mean to him, and baseball pranks.

Q: Almost midway through ’08, you’re probably on your way to 40 home runs, 100+ RBI, what do you think about your year so far? A: I feel like I’m doing OK. I have extremely high expectations, and I always feel like there are things I can improve upon. For the most part I feel like I’ve been consistent, and the team is playing well right now so it’s exciting to continue to get better and work hard to get to the postseason.

Q: What do you feel you need to improve on? A: Everything in general. The biggest thing for me is my approach. Offensively, I just want to have consistent at-bats and make sure I have the same level of focus and intensity for every at-bat, day-in and day-out.

Q: How do you feel about where the Brewers are? You guys are 15-7 in June, are you reaching your stride? A: We’re in great shape. Beginning of the year we had a tough schedule; a lot of day games, a lot of road games, but I think we weathered that storm, and right now we’re hitting on all cylinders. We’ve had great starting pitching, the bullpen’s been phenomenal, and everyone’s contributing offensively, so it’s a lot of fun to come to the clubhouse when we’re playing like this, and I don’t see any reason for that to change.

Q: What is the clubhouse like with many young players who are helping to revive Milwaukee baseball? A: It’s fun. It’s a very loose clubhouse, and we have guys with great personalities so we have a lot of fun messing with each other. It makes a big difference, just the fact that we enjoy spending time with each other, even away from the field. We spend so much time together, that having that relationship and wanting to win for each other goes a long way.

Q: You guys finished two games behind Chicago last year in the division. What’s going to be the key to making the playoffs this time around? A: Just recognizing the importance and significance of every game. Just having the experience of being in the playoff race last year in September is something invaluable for us this year. We know what to expect and anticipate, and we’re more prepared than we were last year.

Q: What’s the biggest lesson from it? A: I think we learned the significance of focusing on ourselves. You get caught up sometimes in scoreboard-watching, and we were definitely watching what the Cubs were doing. But ultimately if we go out and play the way we’re capable of, and the way we expect ourselves to play, it doesn’t really matter what anyone else is doing.

Q: You were a Brewers first-round pick in ’05. Did you expect success so quickly? I always had high expectations for myself. I certainly expected to get there pretty quickly but I never set a timetable. I wanted to go through the minors, learn as much as possible, get used to the grind of playing every day, and as soon as I was prepared and ready in all facets, I hoped the opportunity would come. It certainly came pretty fast.

Q: You came in with a big impact, and won rookie of the year hitting 34 homers despite playing in only 113 games. At any point during that wild ride, did you kind of pinch yourself over your success? Not really, not during the course of the season at least. Everything happens so fast and there’s so much going on that you rarely have the opportunity to reflect on it. Not until the offseason when things slowed down did I get the chance to look back, reflect and realize how special the first year really was. I learned a lot last year and I’m continuing to learn more now.

Q: What did it feel like to win the rookie of the year award? A: It’s extremely special. It’s a culmination of everything I’ve worked for to that point of my baseball career. Whenever you win an award like that, in a historical sense, it’s something special in the history of the game. Obviously there’s only one person in each league, each year who gets that award. So I really felt an appreciation for what everyone’s done to help me get to that point, and it’s rewarding to know that all the hard work and effort I put in has paid off as well.

Q: Obviously, you experience the season in the daily grind of it, but when you maybe look at your rookie card, and just look at the statistics of what was a truly remarkable season, what do you think of it? A: It really is pretty special, especially for my first year. Whenever you do something that is mentioned in a historical sense, it’s pretty crazy. And I know last year I set the all-time rookie record for slugging percentage. When you hear the names of people who put up similar slugging percentages or numbers, it’s really amazing and incredible, and nothing I could have envisioned happening to me, certainly not this early in my career.

Q: How have you had to adjust at the plate this year as pitchers have gotten to know you more? A: Baseball is a constant game for adjustments. Whoever makes them quicker – the pitcher or the hitter – will ultimately have more success. Teams are constantly changing the way they pitch to me, so I’m constantly trying to adjust to that. For the most part, I feel I’ve done OK, but I feel I can certainly do better than I have.

Q: You switched positions this year to outfield. Are you more comfortable there? A: I am. I feel great. I’m really enjoying it, trusting my athleticism, relying on my instincts, and trying to learn from everything I’ve been through. I feel like I’ve played it well, and the adjustment has gone smoothly, and I’m having fun out there.

Q: Between yourself and Prince Fielder, the Brewers might have a middle of the order to rival any team in baseball for years to come. Do you two talk about expectations of the future? A: It’s not something we necessarily talk about. We’ve learned the importance of focusing day-to-day, not looking ahead too much. We certainly appreciate the fact we play together along with so many great young players for the next few years. The future is something that’s extremely exciting for us, but at the same time, we expect to win now. Our focus is on right now.

Q: You’re currently in fourth among NL outfielders for all-star voting? Have you been keeping an eye on the voting tallies as they come out? A: You know, the media brings it up every time it’s updated, so I’m certainly aware of what’s going on. I’m not going to pretend like I’m not paying attention to it. At the same time, it’s not a day-to-day focus, but at least once a week, I’ll see where I’m at. It’d be a tremendous honor and a great accomplishment and obviously I’d love the opportunity to play in the all-star game, so we’ll see what happens.

Q: And what about potentially having the opportunity to play at Yankee Stadium before it closes? A: It’s certainly going to be a historic all-star game. For me, I love New York and I love the big stage, so I would love the opportunity to play in the all-star game just because it has a chance to be the last significant sporting event in the stadium unless the Yankees make the World Series. It’s certainly going to be a special event.

Q: What would it mean to you to be a starter? A: You know what, I think it’s pretty cool because Ken Griffey Jr., is in third place, and he was one of my favorite players growing up, so just recognizing that I’m right there in votes with him speaks volumes to where I’m at and what I’ve accomplished, so that alone is pretty cool.

Q: So Griffey was one of your favorites? Who else did you look up to? A: Griffey was definitely one of my favorites. Also, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. Those guys are great baseball players, but they’ve also carried themselves the right way off the field as well, so they’re great role models for myself and all the other young guys coming up now.
Quick hits
Q: There are so few days off in the schedule. What do you do on your days off? A: Golf a little, go to the local mall or just hang out. It’s nice to relax and get away from baseball a little bit. If we’re in Milwaukee, we go up to Lake Geneva, we go up there all the time, do some jet skiing, or just rent a boat, go out and spend a nice day on the water. It’s a nice escape from baseball.

Q: Where do you keep your rookie of the year award? A: My parents have it at their house in L.A.

Q: How many of your own rookie cards do you own? A: I don’t own many myself, but my parents have every one they could get their hands on.

Q: What’s your favorite sport to watch other than baseball? A: Basketball. I grew up in Los Angeles and I’m a big Lakers fan so I watch as many Lakers games as possible. It hasn’t been a fun last week-and-a-half, I’ll tell you that.

Q: Do you play fantasy sports? A: Not really. I follow it, but I don’t really play very often.

Q: What’s your favorite movie? A: I’m a big Denzel Washington fan. I don’t have a specific favorite, but any movie he’s in.

Q: What was the best rookie prank your team played against you last year? A: The rookies have to sing on the bus, I wasn’t really prepared for that, so the first bus trip, I had to sing.

Q: That doesn’t sound that bad. What did you have to sing? A: I did two Boys II Men songs. One was "On Bended Knee," and the other was I think, "River Runs Dry." It wasn’t very good, and no one wants to hear me sing, but I had fun with it.

Q: Can you sing? A: Not really. I’m OK. I got into it. I got a personality, but not the voice.

Q: Here’s the most important question: Did you know the words to those songs by heart? A: I had an iPod in one ear. Whoever was sitting in the front of the bus, I got their iPod and that was the first available song.

(msnbc.com)

CAROL CITY
Rudy Barber - 1989
S - Kenny Phillips - 2005
QB - Ethenic Sands - 1998

COLUMBUS
RB - Danyell Ferguson - 1992
RB - Alonzo Highsmith - 1983

CORAL GABLES
RB - Frank Gore - 2001
LB Jon Vilma - 1999

EDISON
DL - William Joseph - 1998
GULLIVER
S - Sean Taylor - 2001

HIALEAH DE - Ted Hendricks - 1965

HOMESTEAD
LB - Micheal Barrow - 1988

KILLIAN
WR - Randal Hill - 1987

MIAMI HIGH
WR - Andre Johnson - 1999

NORLAND
LB - Darren Smith - 1988

NORTHWESTERN
RB Melvin Bratton - 1982
OL Vernon Carey - 1999
QB - Jacory Harris - 2008
WR - Aldarius Johnson - 2008
WR - Brett Perriman - 1984
LB - Sean Spence - 2008
LB - Nate Webster - 1996
NORTH MIAMI DB - Earl Little - 1992

SOUTH DADE
DB - Antrel Rolle - 2001
REMEMBER: Nominations should be based on high school performance and not what the athlete did after high school!

(miamiherald.com)

22. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts: When Marvin Harrison was out last season, Wayne emerged as the team's go-to receiver. The guess here is that is that it stays that way. He's a true star now.

23. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens: He is the prototype modern safety: rangy and can still tackle. He is what safeties like Roy Williams wish they could be.

26. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans: Injuries limited him last season, but Johnson is one of the best when he's on the field. The Texans were a different team without him last season.

41. Vince Wilfork, DT, New England Patriots: He was the best front-seven player on the Pats defense last season. He's a load in the middle. Moving him off the ball is tough for any center.

44. Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland Browns: He has emerged as one of the rising stars for a rising team. His ability to stretch the defense is vital to the Cleveland offense.

50. Devin Hester, KR, Chicago Bears: I don't normally put return men on these lists, but this guy has earned it. It will be interesting to see how long he can maintain it.

(cbs.sportsline.com)

Warren Sapp never really had a sack dance. He would just kind of stomp over the fallen quarterback as if putting out a cigarette butt. But Sapp will enjoy one last tango in Tampa on Saturday night when he hosts a retirement party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The event will benefit the Tampa Children's Cancer Center.

After 96?sacks, eight Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl championship, the former Bucs and Raiders defensive tackle is finally ready to take a bow. But performing still is in his blood and Sapp, 35, says he plans to accept an offer to appear on Dancing With the Stars.
But before he begins practicing the Sapp Samba, No. 99 took time in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times to reflect on his career, and he doesn't tiptoe around any questions.

Why retire now?
I like the way it reads. It would've been real nice to get 100 sacks and all that, but I'm okay with 96.5. It's triple digits, right? I can finally skew my sacks a little bit like everybody else did.

What stands out when you reflect on your career?
I didn't ride out on a blaze of glory on a playoff run. But I've been to 31 of the 32 NFL stadiums, with the exception of Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo. … I look back and say, "Wow, I was just blessed to play 13 years and have an opportunity to share this career with my mother and family." I can't put into words what it has meant to me."

How did you know it was time to retire?
There's no better way than me pulling the trigger on myself. It's no longer fun. It had nothing to do with where I was playing or the team I was playing for. It became a job. It was an absolute job. I was punching a clock. …
There's a lot of stuff going on in this league I don't believe in. You see it on television every day. I'm that old veteran guy. Guys come in and they're 21 or 22 years old. I'm more than a generation apart. … You see a kid come in the meeting room and he's sleeping and we need this guy on third down and I've got to play next to him? C'mon. No way. Uh-uh.

What impact did Tony Dungy have on your career?
The man put me on a pedestal and said for us to be any kind of defense, I've got to get to Brett Favre because they were the champions at that time. That's the path he put me on. He took the chains off of me, let me be freewheeling, up the field and trample the run on the way to the quarterback.

So Dungy gets credit for building the defense?
He built us into a championship defense. From 1996 to 2002, me, (Derrick) Brooks, (John) Lynch and the boys gave up 16.02 points per game. That's why I always said give me 17 points and I'll make it stick. We did that for 96 NFL games. I'm not a stat guy, but I'll take that to my grave.

What impact did Jon Gruden have when he arrived?
Jon made the offense accountable. There was no way he was going to walk and let the defense be the show after they paid $8-million and gave up four picks to the Raiders. He made them so accountable. He'd run bootlegs during nine-on-seven to make sure our ends were disciplined. Oh, let him hit a pass on us and he'd run down that field like a kid in a candy store.

So who deserves the most credit for winning the Super Bowl? Dungy or Gruden?
I always say this: The damn cake was already in the oven. It was just a matter of when it came out. All Jon had to do was put the icing on it.

Do you think your team should have won more Super Bowls?
No, because the next year we came back was the last year of my contract and they had to decide between me and (Booger) McFarland. I told Mac, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. They've got to spend it on somebody."

So who was responsible for you having to leave the Bucs?
It was all of them, but Monte (Kiffin) led the charge. He said, "We can do it without him." Me and Monte had the rockiest relationship — a stepson-to-step­father relationship. It was always his defense, and he barked people out of the building. It was too much about him. … I was never a self-promoter. I always said (Derrick) Brooks is the best player on the team.

So how did it go down?
We've all talked about it. Monte wanted to go with Mac. Jon looks at (Rod) Marinelli, who has full faith in McFarland. What can he say? I can't fault them for what they did. I was like 30 at the time. I'd take the younger dude who looks like me on tape. What they failed to realize is they only make someone like me once in a lifetime.

Do you think McFarland struggled because of the comparisons to you?
I told him it was going to be tough. I said, "I left some pretty big footprints. That's something you have to live down." But that's the way it is. If they signed me back up, I'd have to play to the standards of 99. You can only compare me to me.

How would you describe your experience with the Raiders?
As dark as a black hole. Stuff went on in that organization that shouldn't go on in sports. I don't think there's one person who knows who or what is making the call. Let's just say the Oakland experience is unique. The phone rings quite a bit on that sideline. Insubordination is grounds for termination in any company.

Did you consider signing a one-day contract with Tampa Bay and retiring as a Buc?
When I talked to Al (Davis) about retiring, that was it. He had already put me on some list or something. I think he still has my rights. If that's the rules, then let it be.

You're living in Orlando. Why did you move from Tampa?
The whole thing with Tampa was over almost five years ago. I dropped my little girl off at school and stopped at my favorite sub shop. A dude with a Bucs hat and T-shirt came up and said, "What are you doing here?" I said, "Last time I checked, this wasn't Russia. What am I doing here?"

Sometimes you get signs. I didn't want to be Michael Irvin and get pulled over for doing 55 in a 54 (mph) zone. I went to get my mother another house and saw a place for myself on a lake with a dock. There's no football or baseball team there, nobody to ask me, "What are you doing here?"

Many believe you're a first ballot Hall of Fame player. What do you think?
When it's all said and done, my resume is rivaled by five other people that played the game. Four are in the Hall of Fame and the other will be: Reggie White, Lawrence Taylor, Joe Green, Jack Ham and Derrick Brooks. They went to at least seven straight Pro Bowls, defensive player of the year and won a world championship. When you can bring up the ghosts of the game, it tells you where you are.

What do you think about possibly going into the Hall of Fame in 2013 with Favre?
How 'bout that? The guy Tony told me to get close to. He retired the same day I did. I woke up and was told he was retiring. I had five good minutes and Favre gets all the tears.

So what now? Any interest in broadcasting?
You just listen. I don't want to go to (ESPN) every week for a two-hour show. I want something short and sweet. I'd love to have a radio gig, just turn on the mic and talk about the topics of the day. I might do that Dancing With the Stars.

Really? They've approached you about that?
Yeah, it's something that sort of came out of nowhere. But I enjoy the idea of training for something else. My whole life has been football. I could hang out in L.A. for a few weeks. My daughter would love it. There's nothing wrong with my smile. I don't think I speak Ebonics. I think I will (do the show)." If you go
Sapp retirement party
What: Warren Sapp retirement party to benefit Tampa Children's Cancer Center.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 N Orient Road, Tampa
Tickets: $75. Available through Ticket­master or online at qbkilla.com
Food and entertainment is provided at the event, including a tapas buffet, sushi bar and dessert bar. The dress is upscale casual attire. Music provided by DJ Selfborn.

(tampabay.com)

Linebacker Rocky McIntosh is someone the Redskins will keep a close eye on during training camp. Before his knee injury last season, he had emerged as a key player on defense. McIntosh wisely attached himself to veteran London Fletcher, who is the heart and soul of the Redskins' defense. If defensive coordinator Greg Blache can get McIntosh, Fletcher and Marcus Washington back together, it will be a formidable group.

(espn.com)

These Saints could use some saving.

Jonathan Vilma could, too.

In that way, the February trade that sent the former Jets middle linebacker to the Saints for conditional draft picks was the perfect swap.

The thud of New Orleans’ disappointing ’07 campaign still echoes throughout the city. Fresh off an NFC championship game berth following a revitalizing 2006 season, the Saints sputtered to a 0-4 start and finished 7-9 in ’07, missing the playoffs after being billed as a legitimate title contender.

Vilma, coming off a season he calls the most trying of his football career, is in the final stages of rehab from knee surgery that was performed after a dead piece of bone dislodged from his knee last October, ending his season after just seven games.

“This past season, it was tough,” said Vilma, who's entering his fifth year. “That was the first time I couldn’t take anything positive from the last season. Regardless of my injury, we were having a tough time. We started 1-5 (before he was injured). The defense wasn’t doing well. That was really tough to swallow.

“So going into this year, it’s almost like starting over. It’s like a clean slate where I just have to understand that last season was a tough one and I just need to learn from that and grow from there.”

With an improved supporting cast around him on defense, most notably first-round pick DT Sedrick Ellis, who was brought in to help keep blockers off the middle ’backer, and what appears to be a successful rehab, Vilma is the key piece to the Saints’ short-term rebuilding project. If healthy, he gives the squad what it lacked most last season and even during its run to the conference championship — a versatile playmaker in the LB corps with Pro Bowl potential.

The Saints and Vilma probably will end up saving each other — a big season could mean a big payday for Vilma, entering the final year of his rookie contract — but don’t tell the 2005 Pro Bowler that. Vilma flatly rejects the notion that he’s some kind of savior for New Orleans’ woeful defense. The way he sees it, the ‘D’ isn’t as bad as its rankings of 26th overall and 30th against the pass suggest it was in ’07.

He could be right. It’s rare that one player alone is able to transform a unit’s fortunes. However, it could be Vilma's impenetrable optimism, fresh set of eyes and return to a 4-3 scheme, which his talents are better suited for than the 3-4 of Jets head coach Eric Mangini, that helps rejuvenate a defense to complement what is already one of the most dynamic and explosive offenses in the league. That combination should be able to return the Saints to the top of a weak division and quickly return them to the role of contender.

“I don’t have to come in and bark orders or anything like that,” Vilma said. “That’s not what I do, it’s not even my personality, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. If it means that I need to get on somebody about doing their job because it’s going to help us win, well then yeah, I’ll definitely do that.

“I’m coming in to help the team win. That’s the bottom line for me. I want to help this team win and get to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl. That’s what I’m here for.”

Vilma’s vision for his new crew and willingness to publicly put a Super Bowl title at the top of his to-do list could be taken as foolish ambition, but he says he felt the kind of anxiousness pulsating on the field through OTAs that leads him to believe the hunger to be the best is still strong. Those Saints who remain from last season aren’t willing to accept more losing, which should make Vilma’s job much easier.

“I say anxious because no one is really comfortable with what happened last year,” Vilma said. “Even though I wasn’t here, the guys that are still here from last season, you can tell that they’re definitely not OK with what happened. I think guys are looking to come out and prove a point. The point is that it wasn’t a fluke two years ago when they made the NFC championship. It was hard work and it was a lot effort and a lot of talent and a lot of winning, of course.

“I think that you can feel that tension, which is not a bad thing, it’s actually a good thing because it keeps the guys on edge and it keeps the guys focused.”

Hard work, effort, talent and winning — these are Vilma’s most prized football traits and a recipe for success in the NFL.

Vilma embodies hard work, effort and talent. Throw good health into the equation, and the Saints will be winning a lot once again in ’08.

(pfw.com)

James Jones, the Trail Blazers sharp-shooter and locker room leader, did not exercise the player-in option in his contract and has become a free agent, the Blazers said Thursday morning.

Jones had until midnight this morning to decide whether to exercise the option, which would have kept him in a Blazers uniform for the 2008-2009 while paying him just more than $3.1 million.

Jones will now test the free agent market and can begin negotiating with other teams on July 1. He can still sign with the Blazers.

Jones, who turns 28 in October, played in 58 games last season and averaged 8.0 points and finished third in the NBA in three-point percentage (44.4). His 91 three-pointers were third highest on the Blazers (Webster 123, Blake 121).

But shooting was only part of the story with Jones. He was a strong presence in the locker room and displayed a veteran savvy on the court that often produced subtle, game-changing plays. The Blazers were 21-6 when he played more than 24 minutes in a game.

But therein lies the problem: Jones was healthy enough to play 24 or more minutes only 27 times. He battled a balky left knee from Day One in training camp. The knee problem - which was never pinpointed, and only described as a bone bruise - caused him to miss two stints: 12 games the first month of the season and 12 games leading up and just beyond the All-Star break.

The Blazers now have 12 players under contract, NOT counting Spaniard Rudy Fernandez, who is expected to be under contract shortly. The maximum is 15.

(blog.oregonlive.com)

After being announced as an addition to FOX's NFL Sunday pregame show, Michael Strahan became the first to publicly confirm that Jeremy Shockey wants out of New York.
"He doesn't want to be here, he doesn't want to play here," Strahan said. "I think the best thing for them and for Shockey is, if they have the opportunity, let him go." It's up to the Giants to decide Shockey's immediate future, and since he is a good player, they definitely aren't going to just "let him go."

(rotoworld.com)

The Star Tribune reports Minnesota Vikings OLT Bryant McKinnie isn't likely to get closure on his latest legal problems before the Vikings report to training camp on July 23 and his status with the NFL also remains in limbo. When the latter situation will get resolved is anyone's guess at this point. McKinnie had his criminal case continued again Friday during a hearing in Miami-Dade County Court and now is scheduled for a Sept. 24 court date at which he does not have to be present. As pointed out before, however, the NFL is not required to wait for the legal system to play out before imposing punishment and a possible suspension on McKinnie. That's because McKinnie, who met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in late May, is a repeat offender of the league's personal-conduct policy. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail Tuesday that he had "nothing to report" on the McKinnie situation or the fact that the player's next hearing is scheduled for a date that will be three weeks into the regular season. Nonetheless, there is a chance the NFL will act on the McKinnie situation before that next court date. If McKinnie does find himself suspended, look for OT Artis Hicks to replace him at left tackle.

(ffmastermind.com)

Good day …

There’s been some talk lately about what’s best for rookie Cardinals outfielder Brian Barton. As a Rule V draftee, he can’t be sent to the minors without first being offered back to his former team, the Cleveland Indians. The teams could work out a deal, and the Cardinals could send a player/prospect to Cleveland to gain unconditional rights to Barton, but nothing is in the works on that front. Ideally, Barton would benefit and develop  from regular ABs, and that certainly would help bring out his power — but he simply won’t get those starts at the MLB level. 

In that context, I think what Barton is doing is fairly impressive. There are a lot of veteran players in this game who don’t play well after sitting for long stretches. Without a lot of ABs, swings get rusty and it’s difficult to establish consistency. This is especially problematic for a young player who is used to playing every day in the minors, only to come to the majors to park on the bench for games at a time.

Barton, for example, recently received only four ABs in an 11-game stretch.

But when manager Tony La Russa finally put Barton in the lineup in recent days, the rookie responded magnificently with strong performances Sunday in Boston and Tuesday in Detroit. 

In the two games, Barton went 3 for 7 with two runs, two doubles, a homer, three RBIs and a stolen base.

To get back into the flow and produce so quickly after being virtually idle for a couple of weeks is a positive reflection of Barton. And it does reveal his value.

Barton has also done a fine job as a pinch hitter. He’s 8 for 27, .296.  Only five players in MLB have more pinch hits, and only six (minimum 20 ABs) have a higher BA than Barton. And again — isn’t reliable pinch-hitting supposed to be the domain of a veteran?

I’ve seen people write and blog and heard them say that maybe it’s best to just part ways with Barton because (1) he won’t get the time he needs up here; and (2) the Cardinals can’t send him down; (3) he is of limited value to the team.

I respectfully disagree. Barton, 26, does have value to this team, right now, as a guy who can come off the bench and make a difference, either as a PH or a spot starter vs. LHP. 

Keep in mind that this Cardinals OF generally doesn’t stack up well against LHP.

Let’s take a look (all stats through Tuesday):

Ludwick:  .244 / .333 / .535  - OPS of .866
Barton:     .246 /.375 / .385    - OPS of .760
Ankiel:       .211 / .263 / .394    - OPS of  .658
Schumaker:  .169 / .250 / .185  - OPS of  .435
Duncan:    .115 / .148 / .192   -  OPS of   .340

Barton also has speed, which isn’t in great supply on this team.

And though his arm isn’t very good, in terms of range and reliability he’s done fine in LF — and has a +1 rating so far by the John Dewan - Bill James system.

Unlike some of his OF colleagues, Barton will take a walk against LHP.  His OPS vs. the LH isn’t great, but it is second-best among Cardinals outfielders.  The Cardinals could use another good bat out there, and maybe that will be Colby Rasmus before long. Barton can’t play every day; too many ABs would likely expose him. There is a fine line here, and I’d like to see La Russa give Barton a little more run.

But Barton hasn’t done anything so poorly that it warrants cutting ties with him.  Unless I’m missing it, I just don’t see a bunch of guys out there who can get something going after sitting and waiting, sitting and waiting.

And Barton, to this point, has a higher BA, OBP and SLG than Chris Duncan, who continues to get the ABs.

(stltoday.com)

ATLANTA - Ryan Braun tugs at the gloves, pulls an imaginary wrinkle out of the shoulder of his jersey and takes his stance. He takes his initial pose at the plate, feet slightly wider than shoulder width, slightly leaning toward the pitcher, the bat held out defiantly at an angle in his left hand, like some sort of "I dare you" pose out of "Braveheart."

He then settles back, confidently holding the bat high, like trying to entice a lightning bolt out of the sky.

Why not? That seems appropriate, especially to reach for another movie image.

"He looks like 'The Natural,' " said Jim Powell, the Milwaukee Brewers' radio voice.

There is an arrogance to it all. There is a message to the pitcher from Braun that, odds be damned, I own this at-bat, this plate, this game.
In this case, it is exuded by a 24-year-old with a mere 190 games in the major leagues. He's still supposed to be knock-kneed and fetching the doughnuts for the veterans, not up there acting he has Cooperstown on call-waiting.

"From the day he came up he looks like the best major league hitter I've ever seen," Powell said. "We keep waiting for him to tail off, for the flaws to be exposed, the problems to emerge, and it's not happening."

In 77 games this season, Braun is batting .287 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs. He's fifth in the National League in homers, sixth in RBIs, third in total bases, eighth in hits, fifth in extra-base hits.

This after a .324 average with 34 homers and 97 RBIs in 113 games of his rookie season in 2007.

"Come up your first year and just instantly start putting up the numbers he did, you don't see that. Guys don't do that," said Jim Skaalen, the Brewers' hitting coach.

"The guy did it last year and he's doing it again this year," said teammate Rickie Weeks. "He's a great hitter now, and he's getting better and better."

For big-picture stuff, Braun is the Brewers' left fielder, the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year and superstar in the making.

To think locally, Braun will ultimately be considered the greatest major leaguer to have ever worn a Huntsville Stars uniform. Better than Jose Canseco, who became an inflated Marvel Comics character and nowhere near the all-around player he had been in Huntsville. Better than Mark McGwire, who had a season for the ages, but an inconsistent career.

Braun played only 59 games for the Stars and, like McGwire (who played just 55 games for Huntsville), was a third baseman whose defensive skills did not bring to mind the word "smooth."

Hence the Brewers have moved Braun to left. For the most part, he has made the transition nicely. For the most part. Apologies to lip-readers who caught the close-up Wednesday afternoon when a misjudged line drive soared over his head.

"He's already started to look like a guy who has been playing left field for a long time," Powell said.

There's one guy in particular, though, who isn't very impressed with Ryan Braun.

Ryan Braun.

"I'm disappointed in my performance so far," he said, sitting at his locker in the Brewers clubhouse. "I've got to keep working hard. I feel like I've swung the bat OK, but I feel like I can do a lot better than I've done."

That's not false modesty. It's actually a little of that arrogance or confidence.

"He's a nice kid, quite down to earth," Powell said. "He just knows he can play. I don't think he looks down his nose at anybody, but he knows he's a stud. And it's hard to argue with him."

Said Braun, "I know what I'm capable of doing. I've always had high expectations for myself. My goals far exceed anybody else's expectations for me. I don't worry about what anybody else says."

Naturally.

(al.com)

TMZ.com, a Web site that tracks all things salacious in the celebrity world, is reporting that a Phoenix-area company is suing Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis for nearly $5,800 for what TMZ says were hostesses who were provided for a Lewis event at the last Super Bowl.

To be clear, the suit itself identifies whatever Lewis is supposed to owe money for as "promotional services." If the word hostess is in the lawsuit and I missed it, I apologize.

An odd thing about the suit is that it identifies some of the defendants thusly: "Ray and Jane Doe Lewis are husband and wife and are nonresidents of Arizona."

If the Ravens' linebacker is married, that's news to me and also to the team. Here's a copy of a suit posted by TMZ.

(baltimoresun.com)

Having already courted the country music crowd, Clinton Portis's offseason push for heartland fan allegiance took its next natural step this week, when he went on the NFL Network to debut four new characters. If you watch the accompanying video, some of the youthful zest will likely be drained from your initial glee, after you you hear Rich Eisen say that "WE'VE created" all these new costumes for Portis.

Who's this "We," exactly? Look, we don't want to see any dang market-research-inspired costumer behind any dang curtain, especially not an NFL-employed market-research-inspired costumer. In our minds, Clinton sits at home and sketches out these characters on construction paper, using magic markers and sparkle glue, before going to various thrift shops and dollar stores to shop for supplies while dressed in his bathrobe and slippers. There are certainly no NFL market research fellas in on this.

But anyhow, Portis is seeking your vote on which character to debut for the D.C. media this fall, which means you're also voting on which character will lead Joseph White's AP mid-week story this fall. The choices include a Wizard-hat wearing Rasta Prime Minister named Yah Man with the most brutal island accent you've ever heard, a winless 115-pound ultimate fighter named Bud Foxx whose signature move is cracking knuckles, a nastily-toothed dentist named Dr. Do Itch Big who claims credit for inserting the gap into Michael Strahan's grill, and my vote, a pipe-smoking environmentalist named Electra whose shirt reads "Off the Grid is Off the Chain."

(As of this writing, "Off the grid is off the chain" yields zero Google results. And that's a legit chuckle line. Well done, evil NFL marketers. Next thing you know, you'll be providing hysterically customized beer bongs for all our favorite NFL stars.)

"You realize smoking's not that great for the environment," Eisen pointed out to the pipe-smoking environmentalist.

"It's FROM the environment," Portis countered, in one of several moments from this segment that made me laugh even though I promised I wouldn't.

"I never thought about it that way," Eisen admitted.

Maybe it's a bit forced, but still, for June, I say bravo, and let this be the first step in Portis's attempt to force his way into the Pro Bowl by being that much more likable than his peers. Although, to be honest, the best costume might have been Portis's street-clothes: a shirt reading "Money" and a mohawk. I'd vote for that.

Vote for your favorite one by clicking here

In his three seasons in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers’ Frank Gore has established himself as one of the premier all-around running backs in the league. Gore is equally adept at catching passes out of the backfield as he is breaking free for long runs.

Gore may not have had the numbers in 2007 that backs like LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Willie Parker and Brian Westbrook amassed, but he is definitely one of the game's top offensive threats out of the backfield. A testament to his versatility lies in the fact that Gore led the 49ers in receptions and rushing yards last season.

That’s why what Gore did on Monday is even more impressive. He went to one of the most prolific running backs in the history of the NFL and asked for advice on how to be a more productive member of Mike Martz’s offense.

Gore asked all-everything Marshall Faulk for some pointers on how he can more quickly adjust to Martz’s offensive schemes. After all, who better to solicit advice from than a man who is a future Hall of Famer and who had some of his best success under Martz in St. Louis? Faulk is a guy who won a Super Bowl, won the league’s MVP award, was a three-time league offensive MVP and set the NFL single-season record for most yards from scrimmage with 2,429.

Here are some of the things Faulk told Gore:

• Always work on things you don’t understand. Don’t just take people’s evaluation, but try to understand why you may not be as good at certain aspects of the game. If someone says that you aren’t as strong of an inside runner, try to understand why you aren’t and work on improving that part of your game.
• I always looked at myself as a football player -- not a running back, not a receiver, but a football player. So when Martz would ask me if I could do something, I would say, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll try.’ Whatever he asks you to do, try your best to get it done.
• Be there for your quarterback. Be the bail-out guy. You’re the last line of defense for your quarterback in the passing game. You can either be the key block that protects him or get open out of the backfield.

Meanwhile, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis heaped praise on Gore.

“Between myself, Edgerrin, Willis and Frank, I always thought Frank was the best of all of us,” Portis, Gore's former University of Miami teammate, admitted. “I’m big on myself, but I always loved Frank’s attitude and willingness to learn. If you look at Frank’s freshman year and my junior year, Frank and I kind of latched onto each other. Anytime Frank got in a game as a freshman, he would go in there and have a spectacular run.”

That is pretty strong praise when you are talking about backs like McGahee. But Gore was in line to be the starter at tailback for Miami in the spring of 2002 ahead of McGahee before he tore his ACL. James has also done pretty well for himself in his NFL career. Portis has established himself as the go-to offensive weapon with the Redskins.

Portis said that Gore’s willingness to listen to Faulk is a testament to his work ethic and positive attitude. If he takes that advice from Faulk and applies it to his already established positive attributes, 2008 might be a special season for Gore in San Francisco.

(realfootball365.com)

The continued display of the positive things that athletes are actually doing in the community that does not get any headline press!

Yesterday Redskins LB spoke with the athletes of the Brian Mitchell football camp along with Scotty Graham (former Viking and Steeler and current NFLPA Director). They shared with them the importants of team work, getting good grades and being MEN!

But the highlight of the day was having all three (BMitch, Graham and McIntosh) participate in the practice with them as they help instruct the players on the field.

So sorry about lack of blogging today. I really needed to get out of the basement, so I went to Fox's news conference introducing Michael Strahan as the newest member of its pregame cast.

You can read all about it by buying Newsday Wednesday or by reading Newsday.com and clicking on a bunch of ads. We really need the dough. Thanks.

To whet your appetite, click below for Michael's comments when I asked him about Jeremy Shockey. Interesting stuff.

Here's Michael:

"It’s a situation where he doesn’t want to be here; he doesn’t want to play here. That’s obvious with everything that’s going on. I don’t think you really gain much by keeping a guy around, regardless of how well he plays for you, there’s always that tension and that’s one thing you can’t have if you’re expected to go back and repeat and have a team that’s going to get everything you expect out of them.

"You can’t have that tension. You have to have guys there who are happy to be there, not someone who is there and doing his job and no doubt he’d do his job very well, but you just don’t need that extra in the locker room, especially since he is one of the older guys, one of the leaders. You don’t need that out of one of your leaders.

"So I think the best thing for them and for Shockey is if they have the opportunity, let him go. You read the paper; you know it’s like that. I’m not telling you anything that’s a secret. He doesn’t want to be there."

(newsday.com)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears All-Pro kick returner Devin Hester is hosting a football camp July 12-13 at Lake Forest Academy. The Devin Hester Football Camp for kids ages 7-14 will focus on fundamental skills.




(bears.com)

ATLANTA -- A minor hand injury could be contributing to a rare -- and relative -- cold streak for Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun.

Braun went 3-for-8 in Games 1 and 2 of a series in Atlanta that concluded Wednesday afternoon, but still entered the finale hitting .240 with two RBIs and 10 strikeouts in his previous seven games. Braun was hitting .256 this month, though he had contributed six home runs and 17 RBIs.

He has been getting treatment for soreness in the meaty part of his right hand between his thumb and forefinger for about a week. Braun cannot trace the source of the injury, but believes he irritated a ligament on a swing during the Brewers' last homestand.

"I'm just trying to get by right now until I get healthy," Braun said. "I feel OK, but not great.

"The good thing is that everybody is contributing," he said. "It's not a case that I need to carry the team or Prince [Fielder] needs to carry the team. It's a lot easier when everybody is contributing and that's why we're winning games."

Brewers manager Ned Yost wondered why anyone would think Braun -- hitting .287 this season with 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and a chance to start next month's All-Star Game -- was slumping in the first place.

"He's an incredible, talented kid, but you can't expect him to get three hits every night," Yost said. "If he goes his little 1-for-4 with a single or a double, he's not having a little bump in the road."

Braun said he is swinging the bat, "OK, but not great," and declined the notion that his ups and downs this season are related to the growing scouting report on him.

"Anybody who brings that up as an excuse, I just don't get it," Braun said. "I think the scouting report is based more on individual pitchers' strengths. If you get guys who throw real hard, they'll probably challenge you with more fastballs. If you get finesse guys, they'll throw more off-speed pitches."

Braun has not missed any time because of the soreness in his hand. He did leave a game for a pinch-hitter on June 19, when the Brewers had an 8-1 lead in the eighth inning. He has started every game since May 25.

"Everybody has something. The hardest thing in this game is staying healthy," Braun said. "You just deal with it when things come up. The bottom line is that everybody deals with it and you have to make the most of it."

(mlb.com)

Aubrey Huff, 1B/3B, Orioles. Huff has quietly put together an impressive (and surprising) .271-14-42 season thus far. Those stats look a little more impressive after a recent six-game hitting streak in which he went 12-for-25 with five long balls and seven RBIs. He's hot, but just as the Orioles may be looking to sell high soon, so should fantasy owners with other needs.

(sportingnews.com)

After playing an average of 10-12 snaps on offense last season, we hear the Bears expect Devin Hester to at least triple his workload as a receiver this season. In offensive duty during 2007, Hester made 20 receptions for 299 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with his six return TDs while playing on special teams.

(pfw.com)

Redskins, according star running back Clinton Portis who is the guest analyst on the NFL Network Monday and Tuesday.

Portis said he and a number of Skins players spoke up in favor of Gregg Williams as Joe Gibbs replacement early this year.

Portis is appreciative of what Williams did while with the team. Williams is ”a great guy” says Portis, but Zorn brings a new approach and a new attitude that will benefit the team.  

In Zorn’s playbook, the offense will get a better look at what defense they are up against. In Al Saunders’ system, there were so many pre-snap shifts and movement that the players didn’t get so good a look.

The video segment with Portis’ Redskins 2008 Outlook is up on NFL.com.  

CP’s appearance on the show provided another opportunity to look at Clinton’s goofy characters, from Tu-Tu, to Dr. I Don’t Know to Sheriff Gon Getcha. Southeast Jerome appears in a video of the segment. Jerome mysteriously disappeared just before a Giants game in New York.

Portis revealed that the “Barber twins” are persons of interest in the case.

Portis will debut several characters tonight who might make an appearance in his 2008 press conferences. Fans will vote on NFL.com later today on which character they would like to keep. Portis has a sense of which character will win fan favor, but gave no hints Monday.

The Inside Clinton’s Head video is up on NFL.com.  

Portis is guest analyst on NFL Access on the NFL Network at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

(mvn.com)

The word we’re hearing out Boston is that it’s only a matter of time before the Patriots begin negotiating a new contract with NT Vince Wilfork. Wilfork’s rookie deal extends through 2009, but the coaches’ belief that he’s the most important cog in their defensive scheme is reason enough for them to be particularly proactive in locking him up. However, a deal for Wilfork won’t be nearly as easy to come by as fellow DL Ty Warren’s was a season ago. For starters, Wilfork’s wife, Bianca, who handles his business endeavors, is known as a tough and shrewd negotiator, and won’t settle for anything less than a blockbuster offer. But the most significant complicating matter is the uncertainty surrounding the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, which is putting a kink in numerous teams’ contract structuring. Still, it’s more a matter of “when” than “if” when it comes to Wilfork and the Patriots.

(pfw.com)

Miami Dolphins right tackle Vernon Carey returned from a cruise vacation this week only to find his Mercedes GL 550 up on blocks on his driveway at his Davie home with the tires and four Asanti rims gone.

Carey reported the theft to the Davie police on Tuesday after a friend informed him of the robbery. According to the police report, the 22-inch rims were valued at $6,000. Nothing else was taken.

Phone messages left for Carey were not returned.

Lt. William Coyne said that the case is being investigated.

(sun-sentinel.com)

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Former NFL player Kevin Everett on Friday launched a new foundation aimed at helping people like him, who have suffered a sports related spinal injury.

The Beaumont native launched the Kevin Everett Foundation at a luncheon today in southwest Houston. The foundation will help people with spinal cord injuries sustained through sports.

Everett was left paralyzed after taking a hit during an NFL game in September, but has made a full recovery.

"The medical bills are very expensive and I mean, it's hard for some low income families to afford to get a wheelchair for their family member that's injured or something like that," Everett told us. "So that's why I feel it's on me to start this foundation so I can help out with those things."

If you want to read more about it, here's a link to the Kevin Everett Foundation.

(abclocal.go.com)

The first thing Bernie Kosar knew about Arena football was that he didn't know much about the Arena Football League. This was an indoor eight-man game played on a 50-yard field, certainly not his father's football league -- or even anything remotely resembling what Kosar played for the Browns in the 1980s and 1990s.

That's why the former quarterback didn't bring in one of his old NFL buddies to coach the team. And why he wasn't cocky enough to believe he could fix this ailing franchise by himself after he was hired as president of the Cleveland Gladiators, which moved here from Las Vegas after a 2-14 season in the desert.

Today, the Gladiators are 9-7 and in the playoffs after beating Columbus, 47-35, before 14,397 at Quicken Loans Arena Saturday night. It's the most stunning turnaround in the AFL this season.

Yes, Kosar fueled the engine, but he was smart enough to know he needed a lot of help top stay on the right road.

He hired Mike Wilpolt, a veteran AFL defensive coordinator who also played in the league to be head coach-- his experience dating back to 1992.

Next on board came offensive coordinator Brian Partlow, who has coached in the AFL since 2000.

"Bernie lets us coach," said Wilpolt. "We run everything past him. We want to know what he has to say. He is very involved. But he also respects the game and realizes it is really different [from the NFL]."

Kosar sometimes goes into the dressing room at halftime. He has spoken to the team at practice, and is on the headset listening during the games.

But he has found a way to do all that, and not get in the way.

Kosar's other major contribution was to recruit Ray Philyaw, who may not be a household name to Browns fans. But the 33-year-old is one of the best AFL quarterbacks, ever. He's been in the league nine years, and he's 9-for-9 making the playoffs. Kosar bonded with Philyaw during the recruiting visit, having the quarterback stay at Kosar's home in Portage County.

This is a tough league for a newcomer. Just ask former Massillon High and Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick, who was in town Saturday night with the Columbus Destroyers. He is the team's backup, yet to throw a pass in a game. He gets on the field as part of the kickoff coverage team.

Former NFL players Steve DeBerg (0-5) and Chris Spielman (2-14) struggled when trying to be head coaches in this league, where there are no punts, the field is only 85-feet wide and holding a team under 40 points is like keeping the score under 10 in the NFL.

"It has taken me a while to get to up speed," said Kosar. "I've been learning a lot."

And doing it fast.

Only three players returned from the Las Vegas disaster, Kosar and his coaches changing the roster from one end to the other. A key move was signing Randy Hymes only a month ago. He had played for several NFL teams, but never in this league. Finding a player like that who catches three touchdown passes in his first AFL game is the kind of scouting that transformed this franchise.

Fans have been starting to notice.

The Gladiators entered the night averaging 13,979 fans for their first seven games, ranking fifth in the 17-team league. Tampa Bay leads with 16,636 per game. A year ago, the Gladiators averaged a mere 5,383 while finishing 2-14 in Las Vegas. But that was last year, and thanks to Kosar and his coaches, everything is different now.

(cleveland.com)

Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie's hearing in Miami-Dade County Court today was continued until Sept. 24, said his attorney, Larry Kerr.

"Both parties are hopeful of resolving this case, with this pretrial diversion program," Kerr said. "But we need more time to cross all the T's and dot all the I's, and the judge understood that and is giving us the time to accomplish all of that."

McKinnie does not have to be present at that hearing, Kerr added.

The charges stem from his Feb. 24 arrest outside a Miami nightclub, a matter that compelled NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to meet with McKinnie recently. McKinnie faces four charges, including felony battery, after a fight with a member of the nightclub's staff.

"Bryant is obviously taking this matter very seriously," Kerr said. "At the last court hearing, he was present with his mother. He's handling the matter in the right way, and he has confidence in the justice system.

"Now it's a matter of letting me and the prosecutor do our jobs and let the case play itself out."

Asked about the NFL, Kerr said, "I have no control over the NFL. I can only tell you that that's what happened in court this morning."

(twincities.com)

There is news that the Bucs have expressed interest in Jeremy Shockey. As if the Bucs don’t already have enough troubled tight ends. They are starting to corner the market on tight ends like they have on quarterbacks. Since this is still a rumor, let’s hope the Bucs show absolutely no interest in him at all from this point on.

In his 7 years in the league, Shockey has 371 receptions for 4,228 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has long been considered a cornerstone for the Giants team, an irreplaceable leader, if you must. Whether the quarterback is Eli Manning or Kerry Collins, Shockey seems to be the go-to favorite. He was a 4-time Pro Bowler, and the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year in 2002. In 2005, he was rewarded with a contract extension, making him the highest paid tight end in the league, at $26 million for 6 years.

The biggest testament to me, about a player, is their character. We all know what happens when a player has a Michael Vick character, or a Pacman Jones character. While Jeremy Shockey isn’t killing people or dogs, he is becoming notorious for being self-absorbed. At the end of the 2007 season, Shockey insisted on more playing time or a trade. Neither happened. What did happen was several injuries and vastly reduced playing time. Even though he did play, his selfishness kept him grounded, giving rookie tight end Kevin Boss the opportunity to make a name for himself.

To me, the most telling moment about Shockey’s character came during Super Bowl XLII. He was injured, and could not play. In fact, he didn’t even dress. But instead of sitting on the sideline with his team, he was up in the owner’s box, sipping on champaign, becoming inebriated by the fourth quarter. His selfishness is what kept him in the owner’s box, as did GM Jerrey Reese. He made Shockey sit in the owner’s box. If Shockey weren’t so selfish, sitting down with the team wouldn’t have been a problem. But because of the way he was acting, Reese decided it was better that Shockey stay away from the team. Months after the Giants had won, Shockey skipped the team’s ring ceremony. Even if he was mad at the team, he should have been there to receive his Super Bowl Ring. His most recent dispute was a shouting match with Reese, proving that he does have character issues.

The Bucs would be at a loss if they took Shockey. He has been battling injuries for the past few years, and his character issues and high maintenance could cause a plethora of problems for the Bucs. Jerrramy Stevens keeps his mouth shut. So far, Aqib Talib has kept his mouth shut. But if that’s something the Bucs want Shockey to do, then they will be sorry.

(mvn.vom)

A few hours before game time, Aubrey Huff surveyed the grounds at Miller Park and declared it could be a good night. Though he has spent most of his career in the American League East, Huff played six games here during his short stint with the Houston Astros in 2006. And though he put up modest numbers then, he remembered just how far a well-hit ball could carry.

"It's a hitter's park," Huff said. "The ball carries pretty good. The batter's eye in the background is pretty good. It's very friendly for the hitters."
So when the Orioles outslugged the slugging Milwaukee Brewers, 8-5, on Friday, guess who was at the middle of it all?

Huff finished 4 for 5, including a pair of solo homers and an RBI single. It was enough support for an Orioles bullpen -- that despite issuing seven walks -- kept the Brewers off the scoreboard for seven innings. George Sherrill capped the effort by enduring a scary ninth inning for his 25th save.

Sherrill allowed an infield hit and walked two to load the bases. But in a show of poise, Sherrill induced a game-ending double play by Gabe Kapler to preserve Baltimore's fourth straight victory, which pushed them four games over the .500 mark for the first time since May 20.

"The National League style of game is two games within one," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "It's the first five or six innings, and then seven, eight and nine get interesting. You have to keep your poise. If you don't, you're going to play right into the fast pace, and that's not what you want to do."

Huff turned in his first multi-homer game since Aug. 21, 2006, at Cincinnati. In his past 10 games, Huff has 5 homers, 11 RBI and a .476 batting average.

"So far this year, it's the best I've felt," said Huff, whose homers pushed the Orioles' lead to three. "It just seems like my timing feels good right now. I'm seeing the ball even if it's an off-speed pitch, and I've been able to lay off the bad pitch."

(washingtonpost.com)

Guillermo Diaz has signed with Caserta as announced by the GM of Caserta Pierfrancesco Betti. According to Corriere di Caserta in an interview of Pierfrancesco Betti he confirmed that Guillermo Diaz has signed with them to play again next year for Caserta.

The puerto-rican shooting guard signed with Olympiada in Greece last year but due to personal reasons he left the team before the beginning of the championship. Since then he played in the NBDL and briefly with the LA Clippers. He ended up with Caserta and he helped them ascend back to the LegaA1.

There is an NBA-out clause in his contract so if he finds a contract there he will be able to break the contract with Caserta. Betti joked about it and said that he will go to the Las Vegas Summer League and take him out every night so he will be too tired to run and play!

Diaz averaged 18.4 points 4 rebounds and 3.1 assists in the D-league for Anaheim in 21 games. In Caserta he averaged 8.6 points 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 8 games.

(thehoop.blogspot.com)

John Salmons keeps flying under the radar, but not for long. He has steadily improved his play in every one of his six years in the league. Salmons set career highs in many categories this season, including points (12.5), rebounds (4.3), and shooting (47.7%). The Kings have secured his services for just over $5 million each of the next three seasons. If he keeps this up, Salmons will be an incredible bargain. Francisco Garcia also improved a lot last season. His shooting percentages have gone up every year and he was able to put in 12.3 points per game this season. Garcia still has one more year under the rookie pay scale and another performance like this one would definitely make him a keeper.

(nbadraft.net)

By now everyone knows the story with Brian Barton. A Rule 5 draft pick, Barton must remain on the Cardinals’ 25-man Major League roster for the entire 2008 season, be returned to the Cleveland Indians (from whom he was plucked) for $25k, or the Cards have to work out a “trade” with the Indians to keep him and send him to the minor leagues. Given Barton’s relative progress with the Cards, they’re more likely to accept option two rather than work on option three.

So what of Barton then? What is his future with the Cardinals?

He started the season off well, being very successful in mostly a pinch hitting role for the first month of the season, going .333/.409/.462 in March/April. Since then he has tailed off significantly and steadily. That being said, his numbers split between games he starts and those he pinch-hits in are wildly different. Barton is hitting .290/.333/.419 as a pinch hitter. Compare that to only .227/.337/.307 in games he starts. Is he another Lenny Harris? A guy who can’t get it done on a regular basis, but for his one at-bat per game, he can put a charge into a line drive? He’s certainly the picture-perfect example of a pinch-hitter, going in there and swinging at 43% of first pitches that he sees in his plate appearances.

All of that brings me around to my point. Barton has had a horrendous June thus far, and has only appeared for four pinch-hit at-bats since June 8th. No starts since then, and no extended substitute appearances. Granted, he plays for Tony LaRussa, so the string of right-handed pitchers has surely played a role in Barton’s disappearance from the outfield rotation.

But that doesn’t tell the whole story either. The Cardinals have essentially employed a roster with only four outfielders since Joe Mather was sent down on June 14th, because Chris Duncan is taking all of the starts at first base, in Albert Pujols’ absence. Despite the narrowed outfield roster, the Cards have trotted out the same outfield of Skip Schumaker, Rick Ankiel, and Ryan Ludwick every game since June 10th. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad outfield for the Cards to put in the lineup, it just piques my interest that Barton can’t get a start in two weeks of games.

Additionally, the platoon argument doesn’t seem to hold up in this case as, like Ludwick, Barton has hit right-handed pitching better than lefties on the season.

Ultimately, Barton seems to still have upside. He’s still learning to hit Major League pitching, after all, he didn’t have an MLB at-bat to his credit prior to this season. He seems to be a plus defender in left field, posting above-league-average range factor and a .964 RZR (which is pretty ridiculously high, when you consider that Ankiel’s .947 RZR rating leads the National League among all qualified fielders).
But are the Cardinals willing to let him hold down a roster slot for this entire season just to hang onto him? Would they then option him back down next season to try and further his development?

Rumors swirling before the Rule 5 draft had San Diego trading up to take Barton, which obviously never happened. But would the Pads still be interested in him now, given that he would still have to remain on their 25-man roster to avoid return to the Indians? Do the Padres have anyone that would interest the Cards who merits giving up on Barton’s potential at this stage? Tadahito Iguchi comes to mind, but I tend to think Barton’s upside outweighs any possible upgrade Iguchi may or may not represent over the current 2B situation in St Louis.
Could the Cardinals turn Barton into a solid left-handed bullpen option, say from the Pirates (John Grabow or Damaso Marte or the Rockies (Brian Fuentes)?

It would seem that Barton’s recent relative absence from action would indicate the Cards are starting to lose their sweet tooth for the guy, where some of these other teams who are not in the race and can gamble on upside might be interested. Moving Barton now would make room for Mather to get a true test in the bigs, as well as Nick Stavinoha who is setting the world alight with his bat down in Memphis, and the other name just around the corner, Colby Rasmus.

Not to mention the unenviable task of trying to decide what to do with Duncan once El Hombre returns (get well soon Albert!)…

(pitchershiteigth.com)