Toronto and Long Beach added to 2009 Indy Car schedule.
July 31, 2008
The Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series will debut in Long Beach and Toronto next year.
The Grand Prix of Long Beach in California will be run on April 19. The 35-year-old event has hosted Formula One, CART and Champ Car World Series races. This season, Champ Car ran its final event there after its merger with the IRL, but awarded the drivers IRL points. Next year, it becomes a full-fledged IRL event. The agreement is through 2015.
The IRL will hold the Streets of Toronto race on July 12. It will make up for the loss of the Nashville event, which was dropped after efforts to negotiate an agreement for a 2009 race there failed.
“We don’t think it’s a perfect schedule, but we think it’s progress towards a much improved schedule,” Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL’s commercial division, said in a teleconference.
Angstadt said the IRL was interested in expanding into Cleveland and Houston, as well as sites in the northeastern and northwestern United States.
The IRL has taken steps to expand globally. The league will run its first IndyCar Series event in Australia this season with the Gold Coast Indy 300 scheduled for Oct. 26 in Surfers Paradise. The race also could be added to next year’s calendar.
“We are in active conversations with them for ‘09,” Angstadt said. “We are keeping a couple of slots open for them. We are hopeful we can get them included.”
HVM Racing Team owner Keith Wiggins said the updated schedule, and specially the expansion in Canada, was good for the IRL.
“When you race at venues like St. Petersburg, Toronto and Texas, along with Indianapolis, it naturally creates a better environment and greater interest,” Wiggins said in a statement. “This can only move our sport and, therefore teams like HVM Racing, to the next level.”
Speedway Motorsports president Marcus Smith had hoped the IRL would expand even more.
“We are very pleased that Texas Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway will be returning to the lineup of tracks hosting IndyCar Series events in 2009,” Smith said in a statement. “However, we are disappointed that the Indy Racing League chose not to add dates for Las Vegas Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Those two first-class facilities would have been excellent additions for the league and race fans next year.”
Angstadt didn’t rule out a move to those locations in the future. Las Vegas and New Hampshire host NASCAR races.
The season opener will be a road race in St. Petersburg, Florida on April 5. The season finale will be on Oct. 11 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, where this season began.
The 2009 schedule features 10 oval races, three permanent road courses and five temporary circuits.
The Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan was shifting to Sept. 19 after running in April since 2003.
The 93rd Indianapolis 500 will be on May 24.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Paul Tracy is still a major attraction in Indy Car Series.
July 31, 2008
It seemed like the IndyCar Series was getting along fine without Paul Tracy until the former champion showed up.
Like in the old saying: out of sight, out of mind.
Not anymore.
Tracy’s performance this past week at Edmonton in his second race of the season and first IndyCar race since running in the 2002 Indianapolis 500 raised eyebrows, proving that the 39-year-old Canadian still has the ability and star power that the newly unified open-wheel series can use.
“He’s a guy we need in the series,” said IndyCar points leader Scott Dixon, the Edmonton winner. “He’s fantastic to watch.”
Tracy, who said he spent way too much time on the couch and not enough in a race car in the past few months, shook off the rust in a hurry.
He consistently ran among the top 10 in practice, qualified 16th and drove to a surprising fourth-place finish on the temporary airport circuit, a track most of the returning drivers called the most physically demanding in the series.
The one-race deal came together at the last minute as the result of an effort by Tony George, the IndyCar founder and Vision Racing team owner, to help both Tracy and team owner Derrick Walker get back on track in the wake of the unification of the two American open-wheel series in February.
Tracy had been driving for Forsythe Championship Racing in Champ Car, while Walker had been fielding a two-car team in the series that was absorbed into IndyCar. Gerald Forsythe decided not to make the switch to the new series, while Walker was unable to find sponsorship to make the move.
Tracy’s only racing action came in the Champ Car finale at Long Beach in April, while Walker was spending his time fielding cars in the developmental Atlantic Series for the sons of former Formula One champion Nigel Mansell.
“Derrick and I had been talking, you know, all the way through the summer from Long Beach about trying to put something together and finding sponsorship, working on things,” Tracy explained. “It kept going down dead end roads.”
Finally, the deal for Edmonton, with Subway as the primary sponsor, popped up two weeks ago.
“I went to Indianapolis for a seat fitting, got to know the team and, four days later, we were at the track,” Tracy said. “In between, I went home to Las Vegas and trained like crazy… I wasn’t in the best shape of my life … but definitely was able to carry it through here and was strong all through the race.”
Vision Racing, which supplied Tracy’s car and technical help to Walker, has generally been a midpack team and Tracy outperformed both of George’s drivers, with A.J. Foyt IV finishing 12th and Ed Carpenter 13th.
“I’m excited for Derrick and I’m excited for Tony’s team,” Tracy said. “I think the equipment they’ve got, we’ve shown them what the level is, where they’re at. So, hopefully, we can continue.”
Tracy, whose 31 career victories are the most of any active driver in the American open-wheel series, certainly enjoyed being back.
“The race was great,” he said. “There was action all the way through. I was fighting with many different drivers, passed a lot of guys, made a lot of really daring passes in the infield. … You know, I got this opportunity and we cashed in on it.
“So, from that standpoint, I hope the door cracked open for us. I hope it’s wide-open for me and Derrick to be able to move forward and do something long term.”
Now they just have to wait and see.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Tigers trade Ivan “Pduge” Rodriguez to the Yankees.
July 31, 2008
Ivan Rodriguez was the steady hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. A year later, he was the spark that helped turn around the Detroit franchise when nobody wanted to be a Tiger.
The New York Yankees hope he can be a little of both during their push to the playoffs.
The Yankees acquired the 14-time All-Star from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for hard-throwing reliever Kyle Farnsworth, a trade that filled glaring holes for both contenders.
“Honestly, I was shocked by this, but that’s baseball,” Rodriguez said. “Now, I’m just looking forward to playing for the Yankees and maybe I will play against Detroit again in the playoffs.”
In the option year of a $50 million deal he signed with the Tigers in February 2004, Rodriguez will step into the hole in the Yankees’ lineup created by Jorge Posada’s shoulder injury. Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday and is out for the season.
The 36-year-old Rodriguez, who has won the Gold Glove award 13 times, was hitting .295 with five home runs in 82 games this season.
Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Rodriguez are the only three players in baseball history with at least 12 Gold Gloves and a career .300 average or better. Rodriguez has caught 2,142 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.
“He’s still an everyday guy,” Yankees manager Brian Cashman said. “He’s an upgrade in spite of everything we’ve got.”
Rodriguez has said he wants to play next season and beyond, but for now is focusing solely on helping the Yankees catch Tampa Bay and Boston in the AL East.
“It’s going to be very exciting,” he said. “They are in the race and I’m ready to do my job.”
Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said the team didn’t want to trade Rodriguez, but had bigger needs in the bullpen. The two teams began discussing the deal early Wednesday and had it wrapped up about six hours later, just as the Yankees were finishing off a 13-3 victory against the Orioles.
The Yankees expect Rodriguez to join the team on Thursday, when they start a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
“Pudge has done an outstanding job for us,” Dombrowski told reporters before Detroit played the Cleveland Indians. “I’m sure he was very surprised by this, but for him this is a good situation. He’s going to New York City, and they are in contention.”
Scott Boras, Rodriguez’s agent, said playing in the Bronx was very appealing to his client.
“Pudge had a no-trade clause and he waived it today to go to New York,” Boras told the Associated Press. “Pudge has always wanted to play in New York and Detroit felt it needed a relief pitcher, so both sides were able to get what they wanted to some degree.”
The Yankees made their second deal in the week leading up to the Thursday trade deadline. On Friday, the Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four minor leaguers.
The addition of Marte gave the Yankees the freedom to deal Farnsworth, who has been an inconsistent part of their bullpen for the past three seasons.
Farnsworth was 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 games, and joins a bullpen badly in need of reinforcements three days after veteran Todd Jones was removed from the closer role in Detroit.
“It’s always hard, no matter what. Just one of those things you have to deal with,” Farnsworth said in the Yankees clubhouse. “I’m going someplace they want me, that’s how I look at it.”
Farnsworth pitched for the Tigers for the first four months of 2005, compiling a 2.32 ERA in 46 games before he was traded to the Braves at the trading deadline.
Dombrowski said it would be up to manager Jim Leyland to decide where to slot Farnsworth in the bullpen. Fernando Rodney, who has one career save, is the new closer for the Tigers.
“Kyle was a big part of our bullpen,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It was tough to see him go.”
Inge said he was excited to be getting a chance to start behind the plate on an everyday basis for the first time since 2003, when he started 98 times at catcher. Since then, he has gotten most of his starts at third base.
“I wan to play every day not matter what position, so I’m pumped,” he said. “Did I learn a lot from Pudge? He’s a future Hall of Famer, so watching him makes everybody better. I’m not Pudge; I’ll just go out and do what I can.”
Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield said trade made sense for both sides.
“This is a surprise to people if they don’t know the situations of the players,” he said. “Both teams get better by this, and that’s what a trade is supposed to be all about.”
Rodriguez appeared in the Tigers’ empty dugout hours before the game and waved over to Indians players, who were taking batting practice. He then disappeared back into the tunnel.
“You talk about a Hall of Fame catcher coming in here,” Girardi said. “He’s the complete package. He can do everything.”
Later in the day, the Yankees traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins to Houston for Class-A infielder Matt Cusick. New York designated Hawkins for assignment Saturday after acquiring Nady and Marte.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Reds trade Ken Griffey Jr. to the Chicago White Sox.
July 31, 2008
The Cincinnati Reds traded Ken Griffey Jr. to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, CBSSports.com has confirmed. Griffey accepted the trade, which must be approved by the commissioner’s office because of the amount of cash involved.
That approval is expected to be a formaility.
The Reds will get infielder Danny Richar and right-handed pitcher Nick Masset in the deal, according to sources. Cincinnati will also pay most of the remaining $4 million on Griffey’s contract.
It’s believed that the White Sox intend to play the 38-year-old Griffey in center field, a position he hasn’t played since 2006. The slumping Nick Swisher would move to first base, sharing time with Paul Konerko, whose own slump has been even worse.
The White Sox have tried to trade for Griffey before, but this deal still caught many people by surprise. Griffey hit his 600th career home run earlier this year, but he’s hitting just .245 for the Reds, with 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 102 games.
“He’s OK, if he plays once a week against guys who don’t throw hard,” said one scout who has seen Griffey several times this season. “He needs a lot of rest, and right now, he’s very easy to pitch to. He doesn’t have any bat speed, from what I’ve seen.”
Griffey is in the final year of a nine-year deal. There’s a club option for 2009 at $16.5 million, but it’s unlikely the White Sox would exercise that option.
The White Sox have been in first place since the middle of May, but the Twins have closed the gap to 1½ games and the Tigers have also been playing better. Manager Ozzie Guillen has at various times expressed concern about his offense, and this week he talked openly about sitting Konerko more often.
Konerko is 14-for-66 (.212) since he came off the disabled list on July 8.
Richar, who turned 25 last month, played 56 games at second base for the White Sox last year. He’s hitting .262 at Triple-A Charlotte, with nine home runs and 39 RBI.
The 26-year-old Masset has appeared in 32 games this year for the White Sox, with a 4.63 ERA. He has been used mostly out of the bullpen, but was a starter in the minor leagues and has started two big-league games.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Cubs look to sweep as they beat Brewers again in Milwaukee.
July 31, 2008
Alfonso Soriano is hitting, and the Chicago Cubs are taking charge in the NL Central.
Soriano got on base five times, Ryan Dempster pitched seven superb innings and Chicago once again beat the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 7-2 Wednesday night.
The Cubs will try for a four-game sweep Thursday.
After arriving at Miller Park this week with a tenuous edge over Milwaukee in the division, Chicago now leads the Brewers and St. Louis by four games.
“Games in your own division are huge. Games in your own division with teams that are right behind you, come in here one game up, it could have easily turned around and been the other way,” Dempster said. “We knew we had to play good baseball.”
Dempster (12-4) struck out nine and gave up one run and five hits. He won consecutive road starts in the same season for the first time since 2001 as the Cubs improved to 25-30 away from home this year.
“I know the road’s different, everything’s different,” Dempster said. “Notoriously, teams don’t play as well on the road and individuals usually don’t do as well on the road, but for me, I feel like I’ve been pitching well on the road.”
The All-Star took the mound for the eighth, but was pulled to get an ovation from the large Cubs contingent at home in “Wrigley North” following the solid outings of Ted Lilly on Monday and ace Carlos Zambrano on Tuesday.
“I was gassed,” Dempster said. “It was a great ovation, always nice.”
The Brewers have lost a season-high four straight at home. Chicago has handled Milwaukee’s top starters so far, getting the better of reigning AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia on Monday, four-time All-Star Ben Sheets on Tuesday and emerging left-hander Manny Parra (9-4) on Wednesday. The Cubs have 20 runs and 40 hits in the series.
“They’re hitting pitches they’re getting fisted on. They’re getting them over the infield or hitting it up the middle,” Parra said. “I don’t know how really to defense that. Right now they’re on fire.”
Soriano had three hits and two walks, and is 6-for-12 in the series. He’s also scored five runs and stolen three bases, helping Chicago improve to 7-2 in its last nine at Miller Park.
“That’s my game. That’s what I play. I play very aggressive on the bases and very aggressive at home plate,” Soriano said. “The most important thing, I feel healthy. When I feel healthy, I’ve been able to do what I’m doing now.”
Soriano, who came off the disabled list last week after missing six weeks with a broken left hand, got the Cubs going in this game, too, scoring in the first inning when Parra threw a wild pitch on a two-out strikeout.
“I felt the presence of Soriano in our lineup would mean a lot to us from an offensive standpoint,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “And it has. You can see the difference in production.”
Up 2-1, the Cubs opened a comfortable lead in the sixth inning when Dempster and Soriano singled before Ryan Theriot’s triple chased Parra.
After reliever Carlos Villanueva struck out Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez walked and the Cubs went ahead 5-1 on an RBI single by Reed Johnson. The Cubs added two more runs in the ninth.
Prince Fielder hit his 21st homer in the bottom half for the final margin.
Again the Cubs struck first, even after a two-out strikeout. With runners on the corners in the first inning, Johnson fanned on a pitch that bounced in front of the plate and squirted through catcher Jason Kendall.
Johnson turned to walk back to the dugout before realizing what happened, but even with the late jump he managed to make first base after Fielder couldn’t handle Kendall’s throw.
“I think I heard the ball hit one of the signs in the back and that’s when I knew the ball had gotten past him,” Johnson said. “I just tried to get down there as fast as I could.”
Soriano scored on the play and made an emphatic safe call after watching Johnson reach first. Mark DeRosa followed by flaring an RBI single.
Milwaukee cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the first when Dempster made his only mistake by uncorking a wild pitch that scored Ray Durham, who led off with a double and tagged up to reach third.
But the Brewers fell to 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position in the series and are 3-for-60 in the last eight games.
“We’ve faced two All-Star pitchers in the last two days,” Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. “You can talk about it all you want with runners in scoring position. Those are good pitchers. Those are very, very good pitchers, and that stuff happens when you face All-Star pitchers.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Packers president Murphy goes to Mississippi to talk to Favre.
July 30, 2008
Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy traveled to Mississippi to meet with quarterback Brett Favre and his agent James “Bus” Cook on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to talk Favre out of reporting to camp later this week.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy would not discuss the nature of the discussions after practice Wednesday morning.
“I really don’t have any thoughts as far as Mark Murphy going to Mississippi,” McCarthy said. “That’s something you’re going to have to ask Mark about. I’m not involved in the specifics of it. I really have no information for you.”
The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported on its website Tuesday night that Murphy flew to Mississippi in hopes of talking Favre out of reporting to camp, a situation with the potential to cause a major distraction to a team that committed to moving on after Favre retired in March. Murphy declined comment to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter at the Green Bay airport before his flight left Tuesday night.
It was not clear whether Murphy would speak to reporters after he returned from Mississippi.
Nearly five months after his tearful retirement news conference in March, Favre filed for reinstatement with the NFL on Tuesday. He is awaiting approval from commissioner Roger Goodell, which could come as early as Wednesday.
Once he is reinstated, a step considered a formality, the Packers will have 24 hours to decide whether to release him or return him to their active roster. The team has ruled out releasing Favre, fearing he would immediately sign with division rival Minnesota.
The Packers also could trade Favre, although no deal appeared imminent. The Packers hold Favre’s rights until his contract expires after the 2010 season.
Despite the apparent nature of Murphy’s trip, McCarthy reiterated Wednesday that Favre “absolutely” was still welcome in Packers camp. Team officials have made it clear, both publicly and to Favre, that he would no longer be the starter if he returned to the team.
“I’ve said it, and I’ll just say it again: He was a big part of our history, and he can reinstate, come here and be part of our future,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy acknowledged that the ongoing Favre saga puts Aaron Rodgers in a unique situation, but said Rodgers is handling the situation well. Rodgers has been solid in his first few days of camp, although the Packers’ defense seems to be ahead of the offense in the first week of camp.
Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman, a close friend of Rodgers and the quarterback’s roommate in training camp, said Rodgers is a “tough guy” who will only get tougher under scrutiny.
“He’s a grown man,” Kampman said. “He’s handling it very well. He’s done tremendous. I think he continues to validate he’s got some special stuff inside of him.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Raheem Brock is the veteran leader of the Colts defensive line.
July 30, 2008
Raheem Brock remembers it well.
And if the memory isn’t necessarily a fond one, Brock – a seven-year veteran leader who is now one of the Colts’ most versatile defensive linemen – can still look back on it and laugh.
This was Brock’s first training camp.
The year was 2002. Brock joined the Colts in camp at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, having been released by his hometown team, the Philadelphia Eagles, a few months after the Eagles selected him in the seventh round of that year’s draft.
It was not, Brock said, exactly a promising beginning.
“Definitely not,” Brock said with a laugh Tuesday between a pair of 2008 Training Camp practices at Rose-Hulman. “No way. When I first got here, I wasn’t getting any reps or anything. I was doing special teams and that was it, but I worked my way up.
“It was just a blessing since I’ve been here. I’ve just got to keep working hard.”
Years pass and times change.
“Time is flowing,” Brock said, laughing.
Brock, after starting much of the past two seasons at tackle, this season has returned to end, the position at which he started from 2002-2005.
And he is now more than a durable, reliable starter, teammates say.
Rather, he a veteran leader whose versatility is crucial to what Brock said this week is one of the team’s most talented lines in his seven seasons.
“That’s important, to have a guy who is a changeup type of guy,” Colts middle linebacker and defensive captain Gary Brackett said. “He can play inside or outside. Last year, he developed into a really good three-technique (defensive tackle). After learning everything trial-by-fire his first year (2005), he really came on.
“Now, he’s moving out to his natural end position. He’s excited about going out there and rushing the quarterback, but we’re excited because we get a big group out there. With him, (end) Josh Thomas, Big Ed (Johnson) and people in front, it increases our chance to be effective against the run and also those guys are great pass rushers.”
Brock, who started 27 games at tackle over the past two seasons, said while he likely will play more end this season, he also likely will play at tackle in some passing situations. That’s a return to the role he played in 2004 and 2005, when he registered a career-high 6.5 sacks each season.
“I prefer playing end,” Brock said. “You can run more. It gives you more room to do things. Tackle is tough. I don’t mind playing both, especially on third down – going inside to play tackle and get after the quarterback. Whatever I can do to make us better.”
Brock said the experience at tackle – particularly learning interior run-defense techniques and making line calls – was invaluable.
“I learned a lot with that change, going from end to tackle,” he said. “I got a lot of experience in being able to stay in control of the line and calling games and people looking up to me and having confidence in me to call those games and keep things together. That’s a great feeling.
“If I had to, I’d play anywhere. As long as I’m out there having fun. Football’s fun to me.”
Brock in two seasons at tackle improved steadily. In 2006, he started 16 games for a fourth consecutive season and finished the regular season with 74 tackles, 15 solos, and three sacks. He also forced three fumbles, recovered three fumbles, and he finished fourth on the team with 11 quarterback pressures.
In the postseason, he had a sack, three quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery.
This past season, he started 11 games, the first time since 2002 he had not started every game. He missed five games with injuries, registering two and a half sacks, 42 tackles, four passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
He also had 12 quarterback pressures, fourth on the team and first among defensive tackles, in the process emerging as a leader among a group of young tackles that included then-rookies Johnson, Keyunta Dawson and Quinn Pitcock.
That leadership role is one Brock said he relishes.
“Every year, we have new young guys coming in,” he said. “We have to take them under our wing and get them up to speed to where we are. We’re going to need them down the line. It is fun. That’s part of the game, part of the business, to see these guys grow and mature like I did and go out there to be great ballplayers to help the team get to where we want to be. That’s a good feeling.
“I think this is one of the best groups we’ve had since maybe my rookie year when me and Dwight and (Larry) Tripplett were here. They look pretty good. We learned from last year we need that depth. I got hurt and Dwight and (defensive tackle) Boog(er McFarland) and Robert (Mathis) – we had a lot of injuries.
“We need the young guys. You never know what’s going to happen. They look real good and they should be able to help us this year.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.
NL Central showdown game 3 preview - Cubs vs Brewers.
July 30, 2008
It’s been seven years since Ryan Dempster last won consecutive road starts in the same season. He’s had more frequent success overall against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Chicago All-Star looks to help the Cubs notch a fourth straight victory as they try to further extend their lead in the NL Central over the Brewers Wednesday night at Miller Park.
The Cubs (63-44) won their second straight to begin this four-game set, 7-1 over Milwaukee on Tuesday to increase their lead to three games over the Brewers in the division.
“We’re pleased that we won the first two,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “Let’s not relax now.”
Milwaukee (60-47), meanwhile, has lost four of five since winning eight in a row.
“The season doesn’t stop just because we lost two games to the Cubs,” center fielder Mike Cameron told the Brewers’ official Web site.
After Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano outpitched Milwaukee’s CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets in the two wins for the Cubs, they’ll turn to Dempster (11-4, 2.99 ERA), who won away from home for the first time this season in his most recent road start.
Dempster, 1-3 with a 3.42 ERA in nine starts away from Wrigley Field, allowed six hits in eight innings of a 9-0 win at Houston on July 20 for the former starter turned reliever turned back to starter’s first winning road start since April 16, 2005 at Pittsburgh.
“Such a relief,” Dempster said. “All the questions can stop.”
Despite winning his last start of 2002 and first of 2003, the right-hander hasn’t won consecutive road starts in the same season since winning five in a row for Florida in 2001.
Though Dempster failed to earn a decision after allowing a run and two hits in six innings of a 3-2 loss to Florida on Friday, he looks to remain perfect against the Brewers this season.
Prior to this series, Dempster earned both of Chicago’s previous victories over Milwaukee in 2008 - both at Wrigley - while posting a 3.00 ERA in the process. He is 6-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 10 career starts versus Milwaukee.
J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart - the Brewers’ Nos. 2-5 hitters - are a combined 3-for-33 against Dempster.
After struggling to score runs the past two weeks, Chicago has 22 in its last three contests and has outscored the Brewers 13-5 in this set.
On Tuesday, Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-5 with three doubles and a RBI, while Kosuke Fukudome’s two-run triple highlighted a five-run sixth inning for the Cubs, who have won three in a row on the road where they are 24-30.
Ramirez is 11-for-30 with six RBIs in his last seven contests since going hitless in five straight games.
While the Cubs were able to succeed against Milwaukee’s top two pitchers, they’ll be in for another challenge Wednesday against Manny Parra (9-3, 3.72 ERA).
Parra allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 3-1 loss to Houston on Friday while trying for a ninth consecutive win.
“I want to win every time I pitch,” Parra told the Brewers’ official Web site.
The left-hander allowed three runs in three innings before leaving with a season-ending thumb injury in a 5-4 loss on Aug. 30 in his only previous start versus the Cubs.
Mike Cameron had two hits and the lone RBI on Tuesday for Milwaukee, which looks to avoid losing a season-high four straight games at Miller Park where it is 32-21.
Braun went 1-for-3, but failed to homer for a fourth consecutive contest. He is hitting .382 (13-for-34) against Chicago in 2008.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Sixers sign free agent guard Kareem Rush.
July 30, 2008
The Philadelphia 76ers signed free agent guard Kareem Rush on Tuesday to help bolster the team’s 3-point shooting.
Terms of the deal were not released.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Rush has averaged 6.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 314 games in five NBA seasons.
Last season with the Indiana Pacers, he averaged 8.3 points, a career-best 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.2 minutes per game and shot 39 percent from 3-point range.
“As we continue to build our team, we’re fortunate that we were able to sign a player as talented as Kareem Rush,” 76ers general manager Ed Stefanski said in a statement. “We feel his abilities on both ends of the floor and his range as a 3-point shooter will be assets to us this season.”
Rush was the 20th overall pick in the 2002 draft by Toronto before his rights were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Brett Favre files reinstatement papers with the NFL.
July 30, 2008
Brett Favre’s decision to file for reinstatement will force the Green Bay Packers to do one of three things: release him, trade him, or allow him to report to camp.
If he reports, it potentially could cause a major distraction for a team that committed to moving on after he retired in March.
NFL spokesman Randall Liu confirmed that Favre sent his reinstatement paperwork to the NFL offices Tuesday. He now is awaiting approval from commissioner Roger Goodell, a step that is considered a formality, but wouldn’t be forthcoming until Wednesday at the earliest.
Once Favre is reinstated, the Packers will have 24 hours to decide what to do with him.
“That’s obviously the first step in Brett coming back, so we’ll deal with that when he is reinstated and we’ll definitely have a plan in order,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after practice Tuesday afternoon.
If Goodell reinstates Favre on Wednesday, his return to the practice field for the Packers could come Friday. The Packers practice twice Wednesday but can wait a day to put Favre back on their active roster. The team does not have a scheduled public practice Thursday.
Throughout Favre’s latest round of flip-flopping on his football future, Packers officials have said that Favre had the option of rejoining the team — but Aaron Rodgers would be the starter.
“Brett Favre is still a very good football player,” McCarthy said Tuesday. “He is an asset to our football team. Once again, I’m going to answer this question for the last time. The plan for Brett Favre will be discussed with Brett Favre first, and then we’ll make it aware to the public.”
McCarthy also said Rodgers will start all of the preseason games and probably get more playing time than Favre used to in the preseason.
“He’ll be starting all of the games as the starter,” McCarthy said of Rodgers. “We’ve talked about possibly playing our first group maybe a little longer, and those are things that we’ll discuss. The health of your football team obviously factors into that, so that is our plan going into the preseason with Aaron.”
Rodgers insisted he isn’t bothered by the potential of having Favre lurking over his shoulder.
“You know, I’m not as affected as you guys (the media) think I am or should be,” Rodgers said. “They told me I’m the starter, and until that changes, that’s going to be my focus.”
Rodgers said he is confident in his abilities and the firm commitment he has received from Packers coaches.
“I’ve been empowered as the starting quarterback and until that changes, I’ll say it again, that’s going to be my focus,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers said he and Favre have “never had a problem” and would probably “joke around” when they saw each other again.
“We’ve got a great relationship,” Rodgers said. “If he’s here, we’ll welcome him back.”
But some Packers players seemed skeptical that Favre would remain the backup if he ended up reporting to camp and wasn’t traded away.
“I don’t know about that,” wide receiver Donald Driver said. “But we’ll see. We’ll see what happens.”
Cornerback Charles Woodson — who chanted “We want Brett!” as he left the practice field Tuesday, but later laughed it off as “just having a little fun” with reporters — seemed to think Favre could play his way into the position.
“Who knows how Brett feels about that — if he’s coming in as being the backup, or coming in and a potential trade is going to happen, I don’t know,” Woodson said. “But if he comes in as the backup, he just comes in and plays the way he knows how to play. And if it’s better, then the organization has another decision to make.”
But Woodson said players aren’t taking sides.
“There’s no reason for anyone in the locker room to take sides or say in the media they prefer one guy over the other,” Woodson said. “It’s A-Rod’s job, and at this point, it’s his job to keep.”
McCarthy said Favre’s presence wouldn’t become a distraction.
“I’m not concerned about it,” McCarthy said. “We have talked about it as a football team. The players are handling it totally different than I think the perception is out there. We’re about playing football. We’re about getting ready for our season upcoming. Everybody is aware of everything that is going on. There are no ill feelings toward Brett Favre, and he will be welcomed back into our locker room.”
Of course, it won’t come to that if the Packers can work out a trade deemed acceptable to Favre in the next few days.
The Packers have no plans to grant Favre the release he has requested, suspecting that he would immediately sign with division rival Minnesota; the Packers have filed tampering charges against the Vikings.
The team owns Favre’s rights until his contract expires after the 2010 season, making a trade the most likely outcome acceptable to both Favre and the Packers.
But maybe not for some of his old teammates.
“He would look ugly in any other uniform, plain and simple,” Driver said. “Every guy that leaves here and gets another uniform, that’s what I tell them: They look ugly.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.