Shin-Soo Choo’s hit in 10th lifts Tribe over Royals following melee
Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor Kansas City, MO, United States (AHN Sports) – Shin-Soo Choo was part of two of Saturday night’s biggest plays, including the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the 10th that helped the Cleveland Indians top the pesky Kansas City Royals 11-9, in the middle test of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. In the third inning, Choo was plunked on the knee by a Jonathan Sanchez fastball, which led to the first of two bench-clearing get-togethers on the infield, with Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan leading the charge. Choo, who has some history with the Royals starter, took exception to being thrown at and took few steps toward the mound while yelling at Sanchez to “throw it over the plate.” “I know he didn’t hit me on purpose,” Choo, who now has been hit three times already this season, said via MLB.com. “But still, I have a memory of last year.” A fastball from Sanchez, who was then pitching for the Giants in an Interleague game against the Indians last June 24 at San Francisco, broke Choo’s left thumb. It required surgery and caused the Indians slugger to spend nearly two months on the disabled list. “I don’t know how many times Sanchez is going to hit Choo, but the last time he did he has three screws in his thumb,” Hannahan said via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “If we’re going to contend, we need our big boys healthy.” Order was restored and the Indians scored five times in the third for a 5-0 lead, but tempers were still simmering in the bottom half when Cleveland starter Jeanmar Gomez it Mike Moustakas leading off the inning. It once again brought players out of the dugouts, but once the dust settled Gomez, Indians manager Manny Acta and Hannahan were tossed. Acta indicated the situation will be addressed with Gomez, who was making his first start of the year, but he was somewhat displeased with the outcome. “I believe he was trying to protect his teammates, but I think he went overboard a little,” Acta said via the Plain Dealer. “First…
Reds sign infielder Brandon Phillips to 6-year, $72.5M deal
AHN Sports Staff Cincinnati, OH, United States (AHN Sports) – The Cincinnati Reds continued signing their top players Tuesday, inking second baseman Brandon Phillips to a 6-year deal reportedly worth $72.5 million. Although Phillips has no homers or RBI yet on the season, he is 3-for-7 with two runs scored in his last two games. “Brandon is one of the great second basemen in baseball,” Reds CEO Bob Castellini said, according to MLB.com. “He’s also fantastic off the field. He represents the franchise with a big smile all the time. He really relates to the fans and vice versa.” Phillips was emotional about playing in a place he loves for years to come. “I cried about this. This is where I wanted to be,” Phillips said. “I’m still … you know … loss of words right now, for me to play in the city I really love. The fans have embraced me and they love me and I love them back.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Michael Young rips clutch hit, Rangers edge White Sox in opener
AHN Sports Staff Arlington, TX, United States (AHN Sports) – Michael Young drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Texas Rangers escaped with a 3-2 victory in Friday’s opener against the Chicago White Sox at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. After falling short for the second consecutive year in the World Series, the Rangers opened the 2011 MLB season with renewed hope of nailing an elusive World Series crown. Former American League MVP Josh Hamilton drove the first run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield in the first inning. Ian Kinsler doubled the Rangers’ lead with a solo homer in the third. But the White Sox fought back midway through as first baseman Adam Dunn blasted a solo homer and shortstop Alexei Ramirez drove in another run to tie the score at 2-2 in the sixth inning. Young then broke the deadlock with an RBI single in the bottom of the 6th. Sensing the need for a fresh hurler, Rangers manager Ron Washington took out starter Colby Lewis and put in Alexi Ogando in the seventh. Lewis allowed seven hits and two runs with nine strikeouts in six solid innings. Ogando, Mike Adams and Joe Nathan then secured the victory by shutting down the White Sox over the final three innings. White Sox starter John Danks surrendered six hits and three runs over six innings. He also fanned six batters. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Magic’s green for Dodgers blue: Johnson group buys team for $2B
AHN Sports Staff Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Sports) – Ex-Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Magic Johnson and former MLB executive Stan Kasten are part of a group that agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers from Frank McCourt Tuesday night, according to reports. The price tag is a whopping $2 billion, well eclipsing the price for sports franchises like the Premier League’s Manchester United ($1.47 billion) and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins ($1.1 billion). The deal must still be approved by federal bankruptcy court, but it didn’t stop Johnson from celebrating. “I am thrilled to be part of the historic Dodger franchise and intend to build on the fantastic foundation laid by Frank McCourt as we drive the Dodgers back to the front page of the sports section in our wonderful community of Los Angeles,” Johnson said in a statement. McCourt, who oversaw the team’s fall to 82-79 last season while failing to draw 3 million fans for the first time since 1992, said the Dodgers have a bright future. “This agreement with Guggenheim reflects both the strength and future potential of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and assures that the Dodgers will have new ownership with deep local roots, which bodes well for the Dodgers, its fans and the Los Angeles community,” McCourt, who was embroiled in an ugly public divorce with his wife Jaime through much of the season, said in a statement. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Stephen Strasburg to start on Opening Day for Nationals
AHN Sports Staff Washington, DC, United States (AHN Sports) – Washington Nationals ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg is the team’s Opening Day starter against the Chicago Cubs on April 5 at Wrigley Field, Nats manager Davey Johnson disclosed Wednesday. Strasburg, the first-overall pick in the 2009 MLB entry draft, will not only be making his debut as an opening day starter but also a maiden appearance at the legendary Wrigley Field. “I think anybody wants to have the opportunity to pitch Opening Day,” Strasburg told ESPN Wednesday. “To be able to say I have that under my belt is awesome. It’s a great feeling and I’m looking forward to it.” Strasburg was winless with a 5.52 ERA in three Spring Training games, but recently came through with a solid performance in a 2-0 loss to the Yankees. The right-handed hurler surrendered one run and two hits in five innings, while throwing 54 of his 85 pitches for strikes. Strasburg went 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in five starts last season after having a sizzling start in his career in 2010 season, where he retired 92 batters in 68 innings. However, the Nats hurler had Tommy John surgery in September of 2010 after hurting his right elbow. Johnson, who will manage the Nationals for the second season, said he made sure his best pitching personnel is on the field to kick start the 2012 season. “I like to put my best foot forward from the get-go,” Johnson told ESPN Wednesday. “This isn’t about Stephen Strasburg. It’s about the Washington Nationals.” Lefthander Gio Gonzalez is expected to become the no.2 starter for the Nats, with Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson, and Chien-Ming Wang rounding up the starting rotation. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Jeff Moorad drops bid to purchase Padres
AHN Sports Staff San Diego, CA, United States (AHN Sports) – Jeff Moorad has dropped his bid to purchase the San Diego Padres, indicating his preference to work on a television deal instead for the team. The season is approaching, so Moorad, the team’s CEO, said he wanted to focus on that area of business. “With Opening Day less than one month away, John Moores and I believe our top priority is to ensure that Padres fans will be able to watch broadcasts of what we believe is an exciting baseball team,” Moorad said in the statement, according to the report in the San Diego Union Tribune. “I remain fully committed to the San Diego Padres and our fans, and am looking forward to the 2012 season.” MLB commissioner Bud Selig said he supported Moorad’s decision. “I am pleased that John and Jeff are working on ensuring that the club’s games will be televised this season and beyond, and I know that they are acting in the best interests of Baseball, the franchise and the great fans of San Diego,” Selig said in the statement. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Cards sign catcher Yadier Molina to 5-year, $70M extension
AHN Sports Staff St. Louis, MO, United States (AHN Sports) – The St. Louis Cardinals signed All-Star catcher Yadier Molina to a 5-year, $70 million extension, multiple sources reported Thursday. Molina, a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, will be staying with the World Series champ Cardinals for quite some time after inking a lucrative 5-year deal. Known as baseball’s best defensive catcher, Molina is coming off a strong offensive season, batting .305 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI. The 29-year-old Molina arrived at Spring Training ahead of schedule as the Cardinals prepare to defend their title without superstar slugger Albert Pujols, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels last winter. “I just think certain players have the ability to push themselves beyond contracts, beyond recognition. I just think it’s something inside of them that they strive for greatness.” manager Mike Matheny told MLB.com Monday. “For him to be out here in the dark working harder than all these younger kids just shows his makeup.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Major League Baseball close to deal on expanded playoffs
AHN Sports Staff New York, NY, United States (AHN Sports) – Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are reportedly close to a deal that would expand the playoffs. The two side are working toward a deal that would add two additional Wild Card teams and create a one-game first-round playoff in each league, beginning with the 2012 postseason. The new format was set late last year for a 2013 inception in the new five-year Basic Agreement between the owners and union. The two sides had a deadline of about two months to negotiate the logistics of beginning it a year early. Various reports Wednesday stated that the deal is nearly complete and most view the deal as a formality at this stage. The current Wild Card format and three divisions in each league were adopted in 1994. From 1969-93, there were two divisions in each league and a League Championship Series between the first-place teams as a prelude to the World Series. Prior to 1969, only the pennant winners in each league met in the World Series. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Braun sample collector says he followed protocol
AHN Sports Staff NY, NY, United States (AHN Sports) – The man who collected the urine sample of Brewers star Ryan Braun said he followed the same procedure he had followed many times before, despite the slugger’s contention it was ‘fatally flawed’. Braun initially had a positive test for elevated testosterone, but had a 50-game suspension by MLB overturned when it was learned Dino Laurenzi Jr., the man who collected the sample, kept it for a few days before mailing it out. Laurenzi said a delivery option wasn’t immediately available, so he secured the sealed and signed sample in his home as he did with hundreds of previous samples. When a distribution facility was open, Laurenzi said he sent the package on its way. “Given the lateness of the hour that I completed my collections, there was no FedEx office located within 50 miles of Miller Park that would ship packages that day or Sunday. Therefore, the earliest that the specimens could be shipped was Monday, October 3,” Laurenzi said in a statement. “In that circumstance, CDT has instructed collectors since I began in 2005 that they should safeguard the samples in their homes until FedEx is able to immediately ship the sample to the laboratory, rather than having the samples sit for one day or more at a local FedEx office,” Laurenzi added. “This situation has caused great emotional distress for me and my family. I have worked hard my entire life, have performed my job duties with integrity and professionalism, and have done so with respect to this matter and all other collections in which I have participated,” Laurenzi said, directing further questions to his lawyer. MLB officials didn’t publicly comment, but are said to believe that Braun’s test was positive and the punishment should have stood. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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