Sunday, July 31, 2016

Jimmy Walker wins PGA Championship with dramatic finish at 18

At a time when golf’s pool of talent is broader than it’s ever been, it’s the guys in the sportcoats who are threatening to scuttle the game in the post-Tiger Woods era. The 98th PGA Championship ended up working out just fine for winner Jimmy Walker, but Mother Nature ended up bailing the PGA of America out of what could have been a very ugly weekend indeed.
The tournament came down to a two-man race on the back nine at Baltusrol: Walker vs. defending champ Jason Day. Two weeks ago, at the British Open, golf saw one of the most epic head-to-head battles when Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson matched red numbers with red numbers.
This wasn’t that … until it was.
Walker, playing in the group behind Day, watched as the world No. 1 scrambled for par after par, leaving Walker to take a more conservative approach.
As Day walked to the 18th, he trailed Walker by two. It appeared the tournament was over, until Day plugged his second shot on the par-5 18th to within 12 feet. Eagle was in play, and so was the tournament … for about a minute.
Moments later, Walker drained a birdie at 17, moving him to 14-under, three strokes clear. Even if Day eagled, he’d only need par on 18 to grab his first major championship win.
Day did eagle to move within one, putting the pressure squarely on Walker, who flew his second shot on 18 into the greenside rough. Suddenly, the Wanamaker Trophy was still in play.
Still, he had three strokes to make par. He pitched out conservatively to 33 feet, lagged his putt to three feet, then stood over the knee-knocker and dropped it in.
Jimmy Walker reacts after holing out from a green-side bunker on No. 10. (AP)
 
Jimmy Walker reacts after holing out from a green-side bunker on No. 10. (AP)
“[The eagle] really put it in me to make a par, and sometimes pars are hard, and I got it,” Walker said. “There was a lot of emotion going on out there, I’m not going to lie.”
Walker’s victory came at the end of a marathon 12-hour day that featured the final five groups playing two full rounds Sunday. Clouds rolled in on Saturday afternoon, drenching the course with up to 10 inches of rainfall that washed out Saturday’s play before the leaders had even teed off.
Granted, the PGA has an enormous field, 156 players, and well over half of them managed to make the cut. Even so, the PGA set itself up for second-guessing by electing not to start Saturday’s round early, in trios instead of pairs, or on split tees. Everyone knew the weather was coming; the only question was how much would be lost.
Once Sunday morning dawned and the expected monsoon held off, the PGA elected to permit the controversial – but in this case wise – practice of “preferred lies,” meaning that players could clean the wet goop and garbage off their golf balls on virtually every shot.
But then things began to break the PGA’s way. First, the Sunday rain, while steady throughout most of the day, never increased in intensity, and lightning never materialized, meaning the Monday finish that everyone expected never materialized. As the round wore on, it became clear that the lift, clean & place rules were only going to speed up play, not lead to some kind of record-setting performance. A 62 carded with that kind of benefit would have carried an asterisk large enough to be seen from space.
Par ruled the day until 5:25 ET. Right when the leaders made the turn, the tournament finally caught a spark. In the lead was Walker, the 37-year-old journeyman who’d never won a major but held at least a share of the top spot every single round of this one. Right behind him, Henrik Stenson, just two weeks removed from one of the most exceptional major duels in golf history at the British Open. Also in the mix: Jason Day, the defending champion who’d allegedly come into this tournament sick and unprepared but had somehow managed to courageously post three straight sub-70 rounds.
Walker, who looks a bit like a face-swap of Justin Timberlake and Blake Shelton, had gone as bland as toast his front nine, parring every single hole. But then he chipped in from the bunker to start the back nine, and that kicked off the flurry. Moments later, Day rolled in a 22-foot birdie on the 11th to close to within one. Stenson, meanwhile, had ridden a relentlessly efficient one-under round – only a single birdie at the 6th – to remain close.



But the smell of destiny began cutting through the stench of wet hay that surrounded the course. Walker followed his birdie on 10 with a 30-foot birdie putt on 11, and suddenly he was two strokes clear of Day and three of Stenson.
Curiously, thanks to the rain none of the three leaders played with the other; the tight turnaround meant that the PGA couldn’t re-pair the groups to let the leaders compete head-to-head. That meant Walker, Day, and Stenson played within sight of, but not with, each other.
The lead trio parred their way through the next few holes, but Stenson was the first to blink, running into trouble on the 15th. He double-bogeyed to drop five strokes back, effectively ending his hopes of winning two straight majors. Day, meanwhile, couldn’t close the gap, only matching Walker’s run of pars. Day’s most clutch putt of the back nine, an 11-footer on No. 15, was only good enough for a par to keep him on the pace.
The eagle on 18 provided the tournament with a bit of drama, but ultimately Walker made it a moot point. He’d put himself in position where par on 18 would be good enough, and par he got.
That brings to a close the final major of 2016; while there’s golf in the Olympics and the Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai and the Ryder Cup still ahead this year, the real prizes golfers care most about are done for the year. It’ll be a long eight months until Augusta.

Indians land Andrew Miller, lose out on Jonathan Lucroy

The Indians landed lefty reliever Andrew Miller from the Yankees for four prospects. (AP)
The giddiness in Cleveland over two major acquisitions by the Indians in a 12-hour span wore off Sunday morning after one of the trades fell apart, but the go-go Indians did finish one deal, getting lockdown reliever Andrew Miller from the retooling New York Yankees for four prospects.
Excitement over Miller was tempered by the disappointment of not finishing a trade for Jonathan Lucroy, the All-Star catcher whom the Indians had agreed to acquire from the Milwaukee Brewers late Saturday night. By Sunday morning, Lucroy had rejected the trade to Cleveland, his right via a no-trade clause, after the Indians refused to tear up his club option for 2017, sources familiar with the situation told Yahoo Sports.
While the spin from Lucroy’s camp has been he was concerned about spending too much time at first base and designated hitter with Cleveland next season, executives across the game told Yahoo Sports that even if he did, it would not lessen his value going into the 2017 offseason, when Lucroy hits free agency. He is widely regarded as a top 3 catcher in baseball, alongside Buster Posey and Salvador Perez, and Lucroy’s addition would’ve filled a huge hole on an Indians roster that needs a catcher to spell the injured and struggling Yan Gomes. Lucroy, who signed what turned out to be a well-under-market contract with Milwaukee, is making $4 million this year and will make $5.25 million under the option next year. Cleveland could have offered other financial incentives to induce Lucroy to accept the trade but didn’t.
With Miller, the Indians at least took care of their other pressing need. It cost four prospects: Budding star outfielder Clint Frazier, left-handed pitcher Justus Sheffield and two right-handed relievers, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen. Had the Lucroy deal been finished – while other teams believe it could be resurrected, the Indians say privately the deal is dead – they would’ve yielded four more prospects: switch-hitting catcher Francisco Mejia, shortstop Yu-Cheng Chang, outfielder Greg Allen and reliever Shawn Armstrong.
Milwaukee now pivots to other potential options, which include the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Texas Rangers, none of whom are on his no-trade list. It also could hold on to Lucroy and try to trade him during the offseason to one of the 21 teams to which he cannot block a deal.
While a deal for Lucroy seemed imminent Saturday, the one Sunday morning for Miller was a shocker. The Yankees aren’t entirely forfeiting their season, as they dealt for reliever Tyler Clippard soon after the Miller trade’s completion. Still, it was an unlikely posture for the Yankees, first trading Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs and now Miller – with two more seasons at a reasonable $9 million per on the books – to a Cleveland team that desperately needed back-end bullpen help.
Miller provides that and more. Whatever role he fills – closer or high-leverage fireman to be deployed by manager Terry Francona at any time – he’s likely to shine. In 45 1/3 innings this season, Miller has 77 strikeouts, seven walks and a 1.39 ERA. Pairing him with closer Cody Allen and setup men Bryan Shaw and Dan Otero gives Cleveland a bullpen every bit worthy of its rotation, which is the best in the AL.
The price was significant. Frazier, 21, best known for his flowing red hair and similarly fiery bat speed, immediately becomes the Yankees’ best prospect. Sheffield should find himself near the top of the list, too, while Heller throws 100 mph out of the bullpen and should soon find himself setting up new Yankees closer Dellin Betances.
New York’s prospect depth is now among the best in the game, with Frazier likely to join the outfield sometime next season, Gary Sanchez primed to take over at catcher and a panoply of others on the come: Shortstop Gleyber Torres, the main return in the Chapman deal, along with second baseman Jorge Mateo, third baseman Miguel Andujar, outfielder Aaron Judge and this year’s first-round pick, Blake Rutherford, who is OPSing 1.055 in his first 24 games.
The Indians are playing for now, and the deal for Miller and attempt at Lucroy indicates they’re targeting a mediocre American League. As August dawns and they carry the AL’s best record into it, Cleveland has put the rest of the league on notice: Not only are they a team with good starting pitcher. They’re a team, even without Lucroy, that’s good enough to win the pennant.

Pocono race postponed to Monday (again) because of rain

It rained Sunday at Pocono, the second time in 2016 a race has been delayed at the track (Getty).
It rained Sunday at Pocono, the second time in 2016 a race has been delayed at the track (Getty).
 
Who wants some Monday NASCAR at Pocono again?
Sunday’s race at Pocono was postponed because of rain and will be run at 11 a.m. ET on Monday. The race never got going Sunday. As NASCAR and Pocono officials were drying the track as 3 p.m. ET approached, rain hit the track again, wiping out the previous hours of drying efforts.
Martin Truex Jr. is set to start on the pole when the race does go green. Carl Edwards will start second.
Kurt Busch won the June race at Pocono. That race was also run on Monday because of rain.

Lawyer: Baylor dissuaded accusers via possible conduct violations

(Getty Images)
A lawyer representing women suing Baylor for the school’s conduct towards their sexual assault accusations said the school told accusers their parents could be told of potential code of conduct violations if the women came forward with their accusations.
Chad Dunn told the Associated Press that “A number of victims were told that if they made a report of rape, their parents would be informed of the details of where they were and what they were doing.”
Six women have filed a civil suit vs. the school regarding a cavalier attitude towards sexual assault allegations. The lawsuit was filed this spring as allegations of Baylor’s handling of sexual assault reports became public.
As a Baptist university, Baylor has a code of conduct for all students. The code states “Baylor will be guided by the biblical understanding that human sexuality is a gift from God and that physical sexual intimacy is to be expressed in the context of marital fidelity. This it is expected that Baylor students, faculty and staff will engage in behaviors consistent with this understanding of human sexuality.
Part of that code of conduct regarding drugs and alcohol states that “Baylor University policy prohibits the unlawful manufacture, possession, use, sale, transfer, or purchase of a controlled substance or another dangerous drug such as a controlled substance analogue (designer drug) on or off the campus. It is also a violation of University policy for anyone to possess, use, or be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage on the campus or at a University-related activity off campus”
Per the AP, part of the recommendations from the Pepper Hamilton law firm’s investigation into Baylor’s actions included an amnesty provision for sexual conduct offenses. Alcohol and drug offenses deemed to be minor in nature were amnesty-eligible in 2015.
According to the report, “two women [in the suit] said they were pushed to accept alcohol conduct violations when they reported their assaults, or feared sexual conduct violations if they did.” One of the women said she was threatened with punishment for an off-campus alcohol violation regarding her accusation while the school said it couldn’t help her because her alleged sexual assault came off campus.
Two former football players are serving prison sentences for rape convictions and another, former defensive end Shawn Oakman, is currently facing sexual assault charges in addition to other reported accusations of sexual and domestic assault by members of the football team.
Coach Art Briles was fired along with two staffers after the Pepper Hamilton investigation revealed members of the football program weren’t following university protocol regarding sexual assault accusations. President and chancellor Ken Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw also resigned.
One of the fired staffers has petitioned for the release of the full Pepper Hamilton investigation – which Baylor has said was an oral report – as he claims he was fired without much explanation.

NFL denies it wrote Donald Trump letter about debate dates

So which is the less reliable narrator — Donald Trump or the NFL? It’s a fascinating debate to consider when you hear this story.
 
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump points to supporters during a campaign rally, Wednesday, July 27, 2016, in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo: Evan V...
Presidential candidate Donald Trump says the NFL wrote him a letter about the debate dates, which the league denies (AP).
Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, was asked by ABC News in an interview whether he liked the idea of three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. Trump mentioned that he didn’t like the timing of the debates — especially given that they’re slated opposite two prime-time NFL games.
“I’ll tell you what I don’t like,” Trump said. “It’s against two NFL games. I got a letter from the NFL saying, ‘This is ridiculous.'”
The NFL denies any letter being sent to Trump, via league spokesman Brian McCarthy.
Mike Sisak Jul 30
Brian McCarthy
While we'd obviously wish the Debate Commission could find another night, we did not send a letter to Mr Trump.
Trump later added: “I don’t think we should be against the NFL. I don’t know how the dates are picked.”
And he tweeted:
 
Donald J. Trump
As usual, Hillary & the Dems are trying to rig the debates so 2 are up against major NFL games. Same as last time w/ Bernie. Unacceptable!
The debates are scheduled currently for Sept. 26, Oct. 9 and Oct. 19. The Atlanta Falcons play at the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 26, which is a Monday, on ESPN. The New York Giants are facing the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 9, which is a Sunday night, on NBC.
Could the league feasibly have reached out to Trump? Perhaps. But why write him? Yes, Trump is capable of throwing a fit and causing the date(s) to be changed, but it’s not his call solely. Perhaps the league reached out to The Commission on Presidential Debates to get something done about those dates (McCarthy’s tweet is vague on that), but we’re not aware of that. Besides, the CPD locked in those dates nearly a year ago — before we knew the candidates or what the NFL schedule might look like.

Wade Davis to undergo MRI on ailing right arm

Wade Davis
Wade Davis is headed back to Kansas City to receive an MRI on his right arm. (AP)
 
Royals closer Wade Davis left the team and headed back to Kansas City to receive an MRI on his ailing right arm, sources told Yahoo Sports on Saturday, ending the possibility that the struggling world champions will trade him before Monday’s deadline and continuing the rash of injuries they’ve faced in an increasingly grim season.
Davis, 30, has tried to grit through continued pain in his forearm, which earlier this season sent him to the disabled list and could again. When it refused to subside, Davis decided to return to Kansas City and left on a flight out of Dallas, first noted by Twitter user Casey Jones, who was on the flight.
Earlier this week, Yahoo Sports reported the Royals were contacting teams interested in Davis and trying to package him with struggling starter Ian Kennedy, who is owed $62.5 million over the next four years after signing with the Royals this offseason. While there were no bites, teams continued to express interest in Davis, who over the past two seasons has been the best reliever in baseball.
Despite the injury, Davis has been his solid, if not entirely typical, self. He carries a 1.60 ERA and has saved 21 games for the Royals, who have dipped beneath .500 since the All-Star break. Davis’ value was high despite his drop in strikeout rate and increased walk rate – both of which pointed to an underlying issue.
Still, competitive teams adored the idea of Davis pitching in consecutive postseasons. He closed out the World Series for Kansas City last year, and the $10 million club option on the 2017 season was considered a no-brainer bargain.
Depending on what the MRI shows, that could change. Forearm pain can signal any number of issues, from strains in the four-muscle flexor-pronator mass to issues in the ulnar collateral ligament, which requires Tommy John surgery when damaged. The MRI is expected to provide clarity on the severity of the injury.

Tyron Woodley stuns Robbie Lawler to win UFC welterweight title

Tyron Woodley is the new UFC welterweight champion. (Getty Images)
Tyron Woodley is the new UFC welterweight champion. (Getty Images)
 
Apparently the most difficult thing to do in the UFC in 2016 is for a champion to retain a title. Tyron Woodley clocked Robbie Lawler with a crushing right hand Saturday in the main event of Phillips Arena in Atlanta to win the welterweight title at UFC 201.
Woodley is the seventh person to win a full UFC belt in 2016, including bantamweight Dominick Cruz, women’s bantamweight Miesha Tate, heavyweight Stipe Miocic, middleweight Michael Bisping, lightweight Eddie Alvarez and women’s bantamweight Amanda Nunes.
In addition, light heavyweight Jon Jones and featherweight Jose Aldo won interim belts.
The only champions who entered 2016 with a belt who still have one now are light heavyweight Daniel Cormier, featherweight Conor McGregor, flyweight Demetrious Johnson and women’s strawweight Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Woodley threw a feint and then came with the overhand right. Lawler fell backward immediately. Woodley was in hot pursuit and landed five hard shots on the ground before referee Dan Miragliotta jumped in to stop it at 2:12 of the first.
A two-time All-America wrestler at Missouri, Woodley never bothered to attempt a takedown on Saturday.
“We just knew that Robbie would be well prepared for the takedown,” Woodley said. “We knew that he would be hitting me with knees and uppercuts and be aggressive in defending, so I used a little speed and a feint to close the gap.
“I caught him with the right hand. Something told me that right hand was going to be open and I went for it.”
Lawler entered on a huge roll, having won eight of his past nine and winning some of the most exciting fights of modern times.
But he never was able to get untracked on Saturday.
“It is what it is,” Lawler said. “He feinted me, my head went down and he threw a punch over the top and he caught me. I expected that kind of stuff, but I was sitting back a little too much, not moving, and he took advantage.”
On the undercard:
Karolina Kowalkiewicz appeared to earn a shot at Jedrzejczyk’s title by taking a split decision over Rose Namajunas. Scores were 29-28 twice for Kowalkiewicz and 29-28 for Namajunas.
Kowalkiewicz’s Muay Thai skills, particularly her knees to the body, appeared to be the difference. She did good work in the clinch and also landed several kicks that bothered Namajunas.
Though it wasn’t an official title eliminator, it seems almost certain that Kowalkiewicz’s win will set up an all-Polish bout for the title against Jedrzejczyk, her countryman and by far the dominant fighter in the division.
“I know Joanna,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I know her and I respect her very much. She’s the best in the world. But I want to fight the best and I will beat the best.”
Jake Ellenberger scored a massive upset in a welterweight bout, stopping Matt Brown with a kick to the liver just 1:46 into the fight. Ellenberger, who entered the fight having lost two in a row and five of six, decked Brown seconds into the fight with a perfectly placed right hand.
Brown survived that, but couldn’t survive the kick to the liver that crumpled him.
After a slow start, bantamweight Erik Perez rallied for a unanimous decision victory over Francisco Rivera. Judges had it 30-26, 29-28 and 30-26 for Perez.
The third round started with each man standing in front of the other and swinging wildly, for about 45 seconds, until a winded Rivera fell to his knees. It was all Perez from there.
“I got crazy in the third round,” Perez said. “Maybe I wanted a little extra bonus money. I want to have more exciting fights, I’m Mexican, we’re known for that in our boxing fights. Francisco Rivera has very powerful hands so I wanted to make sure to set the pace.”
In the pay-per-view opener, Ryan Benoit survived Fredy Serrano’s takedowns to score a split decision victory. Two judges had it 29-28 in favor of Benoit and the other had it 29-28 for Serrano.

Rio Olympics security firm fired, maligned police force takes over

(Getty)
Less than a week before the 2016 Rio Olympics are set to start, the Brazil Ministry of Justice terminated its contract with a private firm that was supposed to provide security for the games. The ministry cited “incompetence and irresponsibility” from the Rio de Janeiro-based firm Artel, and moved to strip them of their duties.
It’s not hard to see why the Ministry of Justice reacted so harshly. With only a few days left until the first venues are set to open, Artel admitted that they have only hired 500 security personnel.
They were supposed to hire 3,400.
These staff members were going to be responsible for screening visitors outside each Olympic venue. X-ray machines and body searches are now going to be handled by local police forces to secure areas that are expected to have tens of thousands of screaming fans.
The same local police that had this welcoming sign for tourists last month.
(AP)
 
Police have voiced concerns over pay, and there have been open strikes in the lead-up to the Rio Olympics. 85,000 security forces in total are still expected to be present when the competition begins on Wednesday.
This is latest of many last minute gaffes that Brazil and Rio organizers have had to deal with. Repairs to the Olympic Village were just completed after some teams remarked that their accommodations were unlivable. Some officials from the host city have even alleged that a number of the problems were a result of sabotage by disgruntled workers.
Guanabara Bay has been deemed safe to compete in, but garbage can still be seen floating at the surface of the water. People outside of the competition have even volunteered to help clean up the bay for it to be competition ready.
Similar security issues occurred at the 2012 London Olympics when G4S, one of the world’s biggest security firms, announced that it would be unable to hire the amount of qualified staff members needed in time for the games. Other armed forces were able to be hired to assist and the London games went off without a hitch.
The last minute nature of organization of these Olympics has been concerning to many. Especially in light of recent terrorist attacks, and the high propensity of street crime in Rio, one would have thought security would have been a higher priority to lock down at the Olympic venues.
The first events will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 3.

TODAY IN HISTORY - JULY 31ST

781 – The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: July 6, 781).
1715 – Seven days after a Spanish treasure fleet of 12 ships left Havana, Cuba for Spain, 11 of them sink in a storm off the coast of Florida. A few centuries later, treasure is salvaged from these wrecks.
1777 – The U.S. Second Continental Congress passes a resolution that the services of Gilbert du Motier "be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connexions, he have the rank and commission of major-general of the United States."
1867 – S. S. Kresge, American businessman, founded Kmart (d. 1966) is born.
1875 – Andrew Johnson, American general and politician, 17th President of the United States (b. 1808) dies.
1912 – Irv Kupcinet, American football player and journalist (d. 2003) is born.
1921 – Peter Benenson, English lawyer and activist, founded Amnesty International (d. 2005) is born.
1923 – Stephanie Kwolek, American chemist and engineer, invented Kevlar (d. 2014) is born.
1923 – Ahmet Ertegun, Turkish-American songwriter and producer, founded Atlantic Records (d. 2006) is born.
1930 – The radio mystery program The Shadow airs for the first time.
1948 – At Idlewild Field in New York, New York International Airport (later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport) is dedicated.
1948 – USS Nevada is sunk by an aerial torpedo after surviving hits from two atomic bombs (as part of post-war tests) and being used for target practice by three other ships.
1961 – At Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, the first All-Star Game tie in Major League Baseball history occurs when the game is stopped in the ninth inning because of rain.
Image result for Fidel Castro hands over power to brother Ra̼l Castro.1964 РRanger program: Ranger 7 sends back the first close-up photographs of the moon, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from earth-bound telescopes.
1973 – A Delta Air Lines jetliner, flight DL 723 crashes while landing in fog at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts killing 89.
1991 – The United States and Soviet Union both sign the START I Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the first to reduce (with verification) both countries' stockpiles.
2006 РFidel Castro hands over power to brother Ra̼l Castro.
2012 – Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Padres trade Matt Kemp to Braves in swap of bad contracts

Matt Kemp is headed to the Braves in a swap for infielder Hector Olivera. (AP)
The San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves agreed to swap one regret for another on Saturday.
According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Padres have agreed to ship veteran outfielder Matt Kemp to Atlanta in exchange for infielder Hector Olivera, which would subtract one bad contract from each team’s payroll while adding another in its place. The deal is still contingent on both players passing a physical.
Kemp, 31, is still owed $21.5M in each of the next three seasons. The Padres are currently paying $18M of that each season, while the Dodgers remain on the hook for the other $3.5M. It’s noted that money will be changing hands in this deal as well, so Atlanta won’t be covering the full remaining price. Any way you slice it though, there’s still a lot of money to be covered.
It’s clear that the Braves still view Kemp as a productive hitter, which isn’t wrong. He’s hitting .262/.285/.489 this season with 24 home runs while playing half his games in Petco Park. That’s very attractive, and Kemp’s star powers might be seen as a way to attract fans to SunTrust Park next season.
 
Hector Olivera appeared in 30 games with the Braves over the past two seasons. (AP)
 
Hector Olivera appeared in 30 games with the Braves over the past two seasons. (AP)
Olivera, also 31, still has four years and 28.5M remaining on his contract. That’s obviously a lesser financial hit. Then again, when you factor in Olivera’s off-field baggage and the fact he’s yet to earn a job in MLB, the contract becomes a rather large eyesore. In fact, Olivera is still serving a domestic violence suspension until Aug. 1.
It’s also rumored San Diego will immediately consider designating Olivera for assignment and presumably eating the money just to set up opportunities for younger players. Given that they’ve now traded Kemp, Melvin Upton Jr., Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea, and with reports that Derek Norris is near certain to be traded, it’s a full-on fire sale in San Diego.

Nationals fill bullpen need by acquiring Pirates closer Mark Melancon

Mark Melancon is headed to the Nationals in a trade. (AP)
The Washington Nationals have landed the late-inning reliever they’ve been searching for at this year’s trade deadline.
According to Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal, Washington struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon, acquiring three-time All-Star closer Mark Melancon. In return, Pittsburgh will receive major-league left-hander Felipe Rivero, according to Rosenthal. Jon Heyman of Fan Rag adds that left-handed pitching prospect Taylor Hearn will also be included.
The addition of Melancon is a big acquisition for Washington after they missed out on prime deadline target Aroldis Chapman. With incumbent closer Jonathan Papelbon struggling, it’s clear they wanted a more dependable arm in the ninth inning, and that’s how they view Melancon.
With that in mind, this is obviously a demotion for Papelbon, whom they acquired at this time last season to serve as their hopeful long-term closer. That hasn’t worked out, but the good news is Papelbon seems content to take a step back.
Chelsea Janes
Melancon will close for the Nationals. Papelbon has been told, was understanding, according to someone familiar with the situation.
At least they won’t have to worry about a clubhouse blow up. Beyond that, perhaps this is the motivation Papelbon needed to get turned around. Either way, the Nationals bullpen is a lot better than it was coming into Saturday, which was a goal they needed to accomplish.

Storms halt PGA Championship on Saturday

GettyImages-584702368
The third round of the PGA Championship was suspended at 2:14 p.m. on Saturday, anticipating dangerous weather moving in the area, with play never resuming.
PGA of America officials originally announced they anticipated a one-hour delay. That delay turned into nearly four hours before play was halted for the day. Play is to resume at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. However, storms are expected to continue through the night and for much of Sunday, bringing into question if it will even be possible for the tournament to resume given the condition of the golf course.
However, the PGA has an ambitious, albeit unorthodox plan, to finish the tournament on Sunday. At 8:40 a.m., they will start Round 4 without the third round having finished. Players will not repair, going off in their third round pairings in nine-minute intervals up until a 3:25 p.m. final tee time with Robert Streb and Jimmy Walker. The intent will be to complete play around 8 p.m. on Sunday night.
Co-leaders Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb, both at 9-under 131 through 36 holes, are yet to tee off, as are the five other groups in front of them. A total of 38 players, among the 85 who made the cut, have completed their third rounds.
Before the rain delay, scoring conditions were generous. Two players, Kevin Kisner and Padraig Harrington, finished off 5-under 65s each. Phil Mickelson, who shot 2-under 68 on Saturday, said he thought scoring conditions could yield a record-low score for a major championship just a day after Robert Streb became the latest player — the third in 16 days — to shoot 63 in a major.
“I think somebody is going to break that 63 record in these next two days,” he said. “The greens are pristine. You can make a lot of putts. They are soft, so you can get the ball very close. I think that there’s that 61 or 62 out there that I was probably trying to chase a little too hard.”

Chiefs extend Eric Fisher

Kansas City Chiefs v Pittsburgh SteelersWhen the Chiefs took Eric Fisher as the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, they envisioned him as their franchise left tackle for years to come. They still feel that way.
That’s why the Chiefs have reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension with Fisher, a league source tells PFT.
Before agreeing to this extension, Fisher was slated to earn $3.4 million this year and $11.9 million on his fifth-year option in 2017.
Although it took Fisher some time to make the transition from Central Michigan to the NFL, the Chiefs like the way he has developed. Now, at age 25, he’s slated to play his prime years in Kansas City.

Chinese Olympian robbed in Rio after thief pretended to be drunk, vomited on him

Shi Dongpeng was robbed in Rio in a bizarre ruse. (Getty)
Shi Dongpeng was robbed in Rio in a bizarre ruse. (Getty)
 
The Rio de Janeiro Olympics have still yet to commence, but we may already have a candidate for the most bizarre story to come out of Brazil.
According to reports, Chinese 110m hurdler Shi Dongpeng and his cameraman were robbed shortly after they arrived in Rio by a man who caught them off guard by pretending to be heavily intoxicated.
The International Sport Press Association reports that as Shi and his cameraman checked into their Rio hotel on Monday night, a man who appeared to be drunk rushed over to them and vomited on the hurdler. Shi then went to clean up and the cameraman went to catch the man. By the time they returned, the cameraman’s equipment had completely vanished.
Security footage revealed that the alleged drunk was just a decoy used to distract Shi and his cameraman while another man swiped their belongings.
Safety has been a major issue surrounding the Rio Olympics. Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported that police will take over security for the games after the private firm contracted for the job failed to provide enough staff.

DeAndre Hopkins not at Texans camp, displeased over his contract

The Houston Texans’ two best players are not participating in training camp now.
One is the injured J.J. Watt, who is out indefinitely. The other is DeAndre Hopkins, who apparently didn’t report to camp after it appeared initially that he arrived and then left, per ESPN.com.
DeAndre Hopkins, seeking new contract, did not report to Houston Texans training camp (Getty Images)
A day after Texans GM Rick Smith received a contract extension, his job just got harder. Hopkins watched his GM get paid, and now he wants to as well.
All offseason, the Texans have been aware of Hopkins, 24, being interested in ripping up his rookie contract and working on a new one. But it has been Smith’s and the Texans’ policy in years past to redo deals when there is a year left, and — even for a star player — changing those precedents can create tough conflicts for future deals.
Hopkins’ base salary of $1 million is clearly chump change commensurate with his value. But the Texans know they have him locked up for this season and next, with 2017 coming under the fifth-year option price of $7.9 million. That’s less than $9 million for two seasons, which is likely less than what he might seek as an annual rate for any future deal Hopkins signs.
Thirteen NFL receivers have an APY north of $10 million, with Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green setting the highwater mark at $15 million per year.
By not reporting, Hopkins is subject to daily fines of $40,000, and the team could come after his signing bonus if it wants to get extreme. But these fines often get waived as an exchange to return.
We’ll see where Hopkins’ mindset is. With the Texans having a new quarterback in Brock Osweiler, an injured star in Watt and a GM who is now in prove-it mode with his new contract, Hopkins is trying to strike while the iron is hot — even if the Texans might disagree with the timing of it all.

Ex-NFL player Antonio Armstrong and wife killed by their teen son

antonioarmstrongFormer NFL linebacker Antonio Armstrong and his wife were shot and killed by their teenage son in their home in Houston on Friday, police say.
Police were called to the Armstrongs’ home around 1:30 a.m. in response to shots fired, the Houston Chronicle reports. Dawn Armstrong died at the scene and Antonio Armstrong died in the hospital a few hours later. KTRK reports that the couple’s 16-year-old son has been charged with murder. One of the couple’s two other children was at home at the time but was not harmed.
Relatives described the Armstrongs as a loving family and say they can’t imagine what could have led to such a situation.
“They kept them busy and they supported them in everything that they did. There was not any mark that they missed with their children,” a cousin of Dawn Armstrong told the Houston Chronicle. “There was nothing that even could possibly have justified this situation. This doesn’t even make sense.”
Antonio Armstrong was an All-American linebacker at Texas A&M and a sixth-round draft pick of the 49ers in 1995. He played briefly for the Dolphins and Rams and then spent four seasons in the Canadian Football League. In retirement he has worked as a personal trainer and was well known in his community as a volunteer youth coach.

Manziel, back in the clubs, says he’ll play for the Cowboys

Football has moved on without Johnny Football. But Johnny Football still hasn’t moved on from football.
Capping a month that supposedly began with a vow of sobriety, Johnny Manziel was back in a club on Friday night. As he emerged (and got behind the wheel of a car — which is fine if he wasn’t drinking, anything but fine if he was), Manziel celebrated the return of Josh Gordon with a “YES!” and said the Browns “absolutely” should bring Gordon back.
“He’s been a Pro Bowl!” Manziel exclaims to TMZ.
Manziel then said he’s “absolutely” returning to the NFL and that he’ll play for the Cowboys.
That could be news to the Cowboys, who reportedly have zero interest in Manziel unless and until he turns his life around. With still no indication of a clear desire to do what he needs to do to win back the trust of any NFL team, Manziel is going to have to wait for a lot of quarterbacks to get injured before his phone will ever be ringing with a call from Dallas.

Judge rules Tony Stewart responsible for costs in Kevin Ward Jr. lawsuit


The ruling means Stewart bears direct responsibility for any potential settlements stemming from a civil lawsuit filed by the family of Kevin Ward Jr.
Tony Stewart's insurance carrier is not responsible for any fees the NASCAR owner-driver may incur as a result of his involvement in the death of another driver in 2014, a federal judge ruled Friday.
U.S. District Court Judge David Hurd of the Northern District of New York ruled that Stewart's policy with Axis Insurance Co. specified 105 events and did not give the three-time NASCAR champion coverage outside events not listed by Tony Stewart Racing. The events that were covered included 65 World of Outlaw races, 30 USAC Sprint Car races and 10 USAC Silver Crown races.
Therefore Stewart is responsible for any liability incurred in races beyond the 105 specifically listed. He will now have to cover the financial expenditures of his defense in a civil lawsuit filed by the family of Kevin Ward Jr. last August, as well as any potential settlements determined through trial or mediation.
Stewart struck and killed driver Ward Jr. during a sprint car race in August 2014 at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park in August 2014. Ward had been involved in a racing incident with Stewart that disabled his car and was walking on the track seemingly to confront Stewart when the right-rear tire of Stewart's car clipped the 20-year-old.
The incident occurred in an Empire Super Sprints event, which was not specified in any of Stewart's three policies with Axis. Stewart's attorneys argued language within the underwriting policy was confusing and that he was covered should he compete in races for TSR outside those listed.
An autopsy determined Ward died of blunt force trauma. An Ontario County grand jury declined to charge Stewart with criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter.
Ward's parents, Kevin Ward Sr. and Pamela Ward, filed a civil lawsuit against Stewart contending he "could have easily acted reasonably and with prudence to avoid striking" and "caused Mr. Ward's death by acting with wanton, reckless and malicious intent and negligence." They are seeking unspecified damages.
The civil suit is pending. No trial date is set.

TODAY IN HISTORY - JULY 30TH

1626 – An earthquake in Naples, Italy, kills about 10,000 people.
1729 – Foundation of Baltimore, Maryland.
1733 – The first Masonic Grand Lodge in the future United States is constituted in Massachusetts.
1863 – Henry Ford, American engineer and businessman, founded the Ford Motor Company (d. 1947) is born.
1865 – The steamboat Brother Jonathan sinks off the coast of Crescent City, California, killing 225 passengers, the deadliest shipwreck on the Pacific Coast of the U.S. at the time.
1871 – The Staten Island Ferry Westfield's boiler explodes, killing over 85 people.
1932 – Premiere of Walt Disney's Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon short to use Technicolor and the first Academy Award winning cartoon short.
1956 – A joint resolution of the U.S. Congress is signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, authorizing In God we trust as the U.S. national motto.
1922 – Henry W. Bloch, American banker and businessman, co-founded H&R Block is born.
Image result for jimmy hoffa1947 – Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician, 38th Governor of California is born.
1965 – U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Social Security Act of 1965 into law, establishing Medicare and Medicaid.
1974 – Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard Nixon releases subpoenaed White House recordings after being ordered to do so by the Supreme Court of the United States.
1975 – Jimmy Hoffa disappears from the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at about 2:30 p.m. He is never seen or heard from again.
1990 – George Steinbrenner is forced by Commissioner Fay Vincent to resign as principal partner of New York Yankees for hiring Howie Spira to "get dirt" on Dave Winfield.
1992 – Joe Shuster, Canadian-American illustrator, co-created Superman (b. 1914) dies.
2003 – Sam Phillips, American record producer, founded Sun Records (b. 1923) dies.
2006 – The world's longest running music show Top of the Pops is broadcast for the last time on BBC Two. The show had aired for 42 years.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Derrick Rose loses motion, will face trial in civil gang-rape suit

Derrick Rose is displayed on the screen of a video camera as he speaks during a news conference at Madison Square Garden, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Ne...
Derrick Rose is displayed on the screen of a video camera as he speaks during a news conference at Madison Square Garden, Friday, June 24, 2016, in New York. (AP/Mary Altaffer)
 
A federal judge on Wednesday denied Derrick Rose’s motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit alleging he and two other men drugged a woman, broke into her apartment and raped her, meaning the case against the New York Knicks point guard will proceed to trial.
Court documents published Friday by Daniel Werly of The White Bronco show that Rose’s motion for summary judgment in the case, filed on June 20, was denied by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald due to substantial disagreements on the most important facts of the case between the versions forwarded by Rose and his fellow defendants — Ryan Allen, the younger brother of Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, and Randall Hampton, “Rose’s best friend since grammar school,” identified in a December 2014 New York Times story as his manager — and the woman who first filed the civil complaint against the three defendants in Los Angeles County Superior Court last August, identified in court documents only as “Jane Doe.”
“The record presents a genuine dispute of material fact as to the central issue in this action: whether Plaintiff consented to sexual intercourse with Defendants in early morning of August 27, 2013,” Fitzgerald wrote in his judgment. “Because the jury and not the Court must resolve this central issue, summary judgment is improper. ”
In the original civil complaint, Jane Doe alleged that then-Chicago Bulls guard Rose — with whom she had allegedly had a sexual relationship from late 2011 until July 2013 — Allen and Hampton placed a drug in her drink during a night out, and that she was in an “incapacitated state of consciousness” when they allegedly “gang raped” her, according to Patrick M. O’Connell of the Chicago Tribune:
The 31-page lawsuit offers explicit details of the couple’s sexual relationship, portraying Rose as pushing the woman to engage in sexual encounters she was uncomfortable with, including with friends. That pressure, according to the lawsuit, contributed to the couple’s breakup. […]
The woman claims the sexual assault happened after the group attended a party at a home in Beverly Hills, Calif. After drinking tequila at the party, the woman alleges in the lawsuit, she left in a taxi with a friend. Rose, Hampton and Allen allegedly later drove to her home and sexually assaulted her. […]
In the weeks after August 2013, the woman, who worked as an administrator for a property management company, said she became paranoid that Rose was monitoring her phone calls, according to the lawsuit.
But the suit does say she was reluctant to report the incident for fear of retaliation and because she had been in a consensual relationship with Rose. Trauma from the alleged assault led to emotional turmoil for the woman, according to the lawsuit, and she lost her job.
Jane Doe is seeking $21.5 million in damages in the suit, which was first filed in state court and later transferred to federal court.
Rose’s attorney, Lisa Cohen, responded with a statement granting that Rose and Jane Doe had engaged “in a non-exclusive, consensual sexual relationship with the plaintiff for over two years,” but calling the gang-rape allegations “completely false and without any factual basis” and casting the case as “nothing more than a desperate attempt to shake down a highly respected and successful athlete.”
In a subsequent court filing, another attorney for Rose, Mark D. Baute, disputed the claim that the sexual contact during the incident in question was non-consensual, according to The Associated Press:
In Baute’s filing on behalf of Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP denies the allegations and says the woman “consented to the actions she now claims were non-consensual.”
“The Plaintiff consented to sexual interaction with more than one co-defendant on more than one occasion, consented to sexual interactions on the day in question, and invited the defendants to her apartment and buzzed them in through security and opened the apartment door to welcome them, and then consented to additional group activities later that evening,” it reads.
Rose’s filing also says the woman “became upset a few weeks or months later because she felt she should be reimbursed for one of the sex toys she purchased and used during the day and night in question.” She also became upset with Rose for not being responsive enough to her text messages, according to the court document.
Since the lawsuit was filed last year, Rose has maintained his innocence.
“I am not going to comment other than to say — I know the truth, and am confident I will be proven innocent,” Rose said in a statement.
“It’s not true,” Rose told reporters at the opening of the Bulls’ 2015 training camp. “I can’t let one incident that’s not true affect the way that I live, and I’m not going to let it.”
In May, Rose filed a motion calling for Jane Doe’s parents to be deposed so that his attorneys could “question the plaintiff’s parents about her ‘traditional, religious upbringing,'” and asking the court “to force Doe to reveal her identity,” claiming “she has waived her privacy rights by putting her emotional condition at issue.” Doe’s attorneys balked at that, arguing that “being forced to reveal her identity could prohibit future rape victims from coming out against their celebrity attackers.”
Rose went one-for-two on that motion, according to Marisa Kabas of Fusion:
In the end, Rose’s request was both allowed and denied: The judge found no compelling reason to publicly release the woman’s real name, which also means that Rose’s defense will not be able to use her social media as evidence of her “sexual” nature at trial. He did, however, allow the disclosure of her name within the realm of the discovery, or fact-finding, process. This means that third party eyewitnesses, including people present at Rose’s house that night and other people familiar with their prior relationship, will be privy to her identity for the sake of understanding what exactly happened that night.
The Bulls traded Rose to the Knicks on June 22 along with forward Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round draft pick in exchange for center Robin Lopez, point guards Jose Calderona and Jerian Grant. Rose is expected to be the Knicks’ starting point guard for the upcoming season. If the case is not settled out of court before, his trial is scheduled to start Oct. 4 in Los Angeles, a date that will likely fall in the middle of Knicks training camp.

MLB Trade Deadline Digest: Dodgers eyeing blockbuster three-team deal

The Stew’s Trade Deadline Digest recaps the day in news and rumors as MLB gets closer to the non-waiver trade deadline on Aug. 1. If you missed any of Thursday’s action, we’re here to help you catch up with all the important links and tidbits.
POTENTIAL BLOCKBUSTER: The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly working to line up a three-team blockbuster that would ultimately land them coveted outfielder Jay Bruce. Obviously, the Reds would be heavily involved, though the third team remains a mystery. All hail, the mystery team. [@jaysonst]
 
Jay Bruce could be heading west very soon. (AP)
Jay Bruce could be heading west very soon. (AP)
 
TWO ISN’T ENOUGH: According to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, the Dodgers and Reds discussed a deal centered around Jay Bruce and Yasiel Puig, but were unable to find common ground. That could be where the third team would come in. [@JeffPassan]
Jeff Passan
Sources: Dodgers, Reds discussed deal centered around Jay Bruce and Yasiel Puig. Didn't materialize. Still plenty of permutations possible.
OTHER OPTIONS: Along with the Dodgers, the Nationals, Orioles, Mariners and Mets are also believed to be in on Bruce. [@JonHeyman]
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest now]
DONE DEAL: The Marlins added a pair of starters early Friday, acquiring right-handers Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea in a seven-player trade with the Padres. Miami adding minor leaguer Tayron Guerrero in the deal, while giving up righties Jarred Cosart and Carter Capps, and prospects Josh Naylor and Luis Castillo. [Yahoo Sports]
STARTING TIME: The Marlins will waste no time getting Rea and Cashner into the rotation. Both are scheduled to start this weekend against St. Louis. [@Marlins]
Miami Marlins
Updated starting rotation vs. St. Louis:• Saturday: RHP (#30)• Sunday: RHP Andrew Cashner (#48)
ILL-TIMED BLISTER: Potential trade target Rich Hill is going to miss his scheduled start on Sunday with a continuing blister issue. He hasn’t started since July 17. [@JaneMLB]
THINK IT OVER: The Brewers are currently considering mulling multiple offers for catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Nothing appears to be imminent, but that could change quickly. [@Ken_Rosenthal]
STRAIGHT UP: It’s believed the Nationals are willing to trade top prospect Lucas Giolito straight up for elite Yankees reliever Andrew Miller. Whether the Yankees would be willing is another story. [@jonmorosi]
ANOTHER CLOSER FOR SALE: The Indians, Giants and Nationals are in mix for Pirates closer Mark Melancon. Pittsburgh is reportedly looking for a major-league reliever as part of the return. [@Ken_Rosenthal]
METS LOOKING FOR RELIEF: The Mets are reportedly close to acquiring veteran reliever Jim Johnson from the Braves. [@ChrisCotillo]
MORE METS: If that falls through, they may be interested in Angels reliever Joe Smith.

AAC commissioner: 'It looks like' some members will leave for Big 12

It’s pretty much inevitable at this point, right?
The American Athletic Conference will probably lose at least one member to the Big 12. The majority of its 12 members have been connected to the Big 12’s new push for expansion in some capacity, and AAC commissioner Mike Aresco told Gridiron Now’s Tony Barnhart this week that the league has begun “contingency planning for just about every scenario.”
“I’ve been talking to the (athletic directors) and the president of the schools that might leave, and it looks like some of them will,” Aresco told Barnhart. “We’re talking to each other and trying to figure out the future. We expect everyone who leaves will leave on good terms.”
Houston, coming off a 13-1 season and Peach Bowl win over Florida State, is the school that is mentioned in expansion the most, but other AAC schools like Cincinnati, Memphis, UCF, USF, and UConn (along with independent BYU and the Mountain West’s Boise State and Colorado State) are in the mix, too. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said last week the league would consider adding two or even four new members.
The AAC is in limbo – or “shadow boxing,” as Aresco termed it – right now, but it appears the Big 12 could come to a consensus on members sooner rather than later. According to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, the Big 12 “would prefer to wrap up the expansion process before the start of the 2016 football season.” The first game involving a Big 12 team is Sept. 2, when Baylor hosts Northwestern State.
That timeline isn’t concrete (this is the Big 12 we’re talking about, after all), but it leaves the conference with about a month to make up its mind. Dodd reported that the threat of expansion talk lingering over the season is a concern.
The Big 12 has other matters to handle, as well, with a championship game returning in 2017. How the two title game participants will be chosen (Bowlsby has said dividing members into two divisions, with winners squaring off for the championship, is most likely) is still up in the air. A swift expansion resolution – with new members possibly joining for 2017 – could factor into that decision.
Still, there are procedural and logistical things that could get in the way of a quick resolution. Per SB Nation, the AAC has a $10 million exit fee – and that’s when a school provides 27 months’ notice. Joining the Big 12 in time for the 2017 campaign clearly wouldn’t fit under that timeline, so a different (read: pricier) exit fee would have to be negotiated.
The exit fee isn’t quite as expensive for the Mountain West, but it’s not cheap either.
From SB Nation:
Per the conference’s bylaws, a school like Boise State or Colorado State can resign effective June 30 of each year, but must announce it “on or before” the previous June 30. For a program to resign in time to join the Big 12 for 2017-2018, it would need to notify the MWC by June 30, 2016 … which would be impossible, since it’s currently July.

So joining the Big 12 in 2017-2018 would mean penalties. Per MWC bylaws, that school would forfeit its final year of conference revenue and pay the MWC either $5 million dollars or double the amount of the final year’s revenue, whichever is greater.

If the Big 12 is going to figure this out before the season begins, it clearly has a lot of work to do.

Marlins to acquire Andrew Cashner, Colin Rea from Padres

Andrew Cashner is headed to Miami and will reunite with Fernando Rodney. (AP)
Andrew Cashner is headed to Miami and will reunite with Fernando Rodney. (AP)
 
On Friday morning, a month after acquiring back-end reliever Fernando Rodney from the San Diego Padres, the Miami Marlins returned to the San Diego Padres to add two starting pitchers — Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea — at a cost of two more prospects, along with right-handers Jarred Cosart and Carter Capps. Capps is recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Marlins also received right-handed reliever Tayron Guerrero.
The Marlins are in a scrap against the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets in the NL East, against the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers for the wild card, and against themselves in their city.
Second in the division, tied for second in the wild card, and last in the league in attendance, the Marlins endeavor to make something of these next 60 games, for the sake of their first postseason appearance since 2003, perhaps for the sake of their standing in their own community.
At a time when the Marlins required pitching reinforcements and the Padres sought to gather momentum for future seasons, the two have become fast friends.
The Padres, in just under two months, have jumped a pitching-starved market by trading James Shields to the Chicago White Sox, Drew Pomeranz to the Boston Red Sox, and Cashner and Rea to the Marlins. All four were in their starting rotation when the season began. While Padres general manager A.J. Preller’s first impression in San Diego was a momentary — and offseason — hit, the regular seasons have seen more of the same for the downtrodden franchise, and so the strategy becomes a longer-term project.
Meanwhile, the Marlins have today to consider, a unique experience for a franchise whose whims have led to frequent managerial changes, personnel changes and new ways to alienate a fan base that could hardly keep up, and evidently had little interest in trying.
Friday’s trade layered their starting rotation with the mercurial Cashner, who was 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA for the Padres, and 10-23 with a 4.47 ERA in 47 starts since the start of 2015, along with Rea, the 25-year-old right-hander whose first full season has netted a 5-5 record and 4.98 ERA. They would join Jose Fernandez (12-5, 2.79 ERA), Adam Conley (7-5, 3.38) and Tom Koehler (8-8, 4.18) on the five-man staff.
The Marlins clearly hope the new-look rotation, and Dee Gordon’s return from a PED suspension, and a second-half surge from Giancarlo Stanton, will continue their relevancy and perhaps become a challenge for the Nationals. The short-term schedule is a challenge. The Cardinals are in Miami for three more games and then the Marlins go to Wrigley Field for three against the Chicago Cubs. The season concludes with nine games of 13 against the Nationals and Mets. Perhaps, by then, their own wary city will have taken notice.