Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Roy Oswalt doesn’t need to save the Rangers, he only needs to provide insurance and depth
Goodness gracious,
of
all the dramatic
things I've ever seen
—Roy Oswalt is climbing
off his tractor in Mississippi
to serve as a rotation help
for the Texas Rangers!
That's the news, anyway, from Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News, who broke the story on Tuesday afternoon . Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports later placed the terms at one year worth a non-prorated $5 or 6 million.
And so ends the drama of where the best available pitcher will call home for the rest of the season. While the Phillies and Dodgers developed recent needs with Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly respectively hitting the disabled list, the 34-year-old righthander has opted to stay close to home while providing some much-needed insurance for the Rangers' pitching staff. Though it's uncertain how many starts he'll need in the minors to prepare, Oswalt should first help to fill the rotation hole created by Neftali Feliz's injury then provide back-end depth as the two-time AL champions aim for a third straight World Series.
That's the news, anyway, from Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News, who broke the story on Tuesday afternoon . Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports later placed the terms at one year worth a non-prorated $5 or 6 million.
And so ends the drama of where the best available pitcher will call home for the rest of the season. While the Phillies and Dodgers developed recent needs with Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly respectively hitting the disabled list, the 34-year-old righthander has opted to stay close to home while providing some much-needed insurance for the Rangers' pitching staff. Though it's uncertain how many starts he'll need in the minors to prepare, Oswalt should first help to fill the rotation hole created by Neftali Feliz's injury then provide back-end depth as the two-time AL champions aim for a third straight World Series.
Why 'bath salts' are dangerous
On Saturday night in Miami, a naked ''zombie-like'' man attacked another man, biting off parts of his face. The attack was halted only when police shot and killed the attacker, identified as 31-year old Rudy Eugene.
What would make someone attack another man like an animal? Armando Aguilar, president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, suspects that the attacker was under the influence of drugs known as "bath salts."These aren’t the same bath salts to make your tub water smell nice. “Bath salts” is just a fake name, but users know it’s not really for the bath.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse described bath salts as an "emerging and dangerous product" in February 2011, urging parents, teachers and the public to be aware of the potential dangers associated with these drugs, which had already been linked to numerous visits to the E.R. and calls to poison control centers in the U.S. In October 2011, these "bath salts" and its related products were put on schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, which means that the drug has no legitimate use or safety in the U.S. and is highly addictive.
Friday, 18 May 2012
Facebook debut as a public company fails to pop as stock closes nearly flat
Facebook debut as a public company fails to pop as stock closes nearly flat
(Nasdaq via Facebook, Zef Nikolla/ Associated Press ) - In
this image provided by Facebook, Facebook founder, Chairman and CEO Mark
Zuckerberg, center, applauds at the opening bell of the Nasdaq stock
market, Friday, May 18, 2012, from Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park,
Calif. The social media company priced its IPO on Thursday at $38 per
share, and beginning Friday regular investors will have a chance to buy
shares.
Solar Eclipse Visible From California to Texas Sunday Afternoon PHOTO: Annular solar eclipse
If you live in a band across the southwestern United States, , twilight will seem to come early on Sunday afternoon,
well before the sun actually sets.
The cause: a rare annual solar eclipse -- a ring of sunlight as the new moon passing between Earth and the sun, blocks most, but not all, of the sun's disc.
This is not the kind of total eclipse of which you usually see pictures -- the moon blocking the sun completely, creating a few moments of near-night in the middle of the day, with only the sun's ethereal corona visible around the moon's edges. The sky will darken a bit, but there will still be a blindingly bright ring (an "annulus" in Latin) of sun, and it's dangerous to look directly at it.
Still, there will be a striking sight to see, if you look at a heavily-filtered image projected onto a screen through binoculars or a small telescope, or protect your eyes with No. 14 arcwelders glass (not something found at most hardware stores).
The cause: a rare annual solar eclipse -- a ring of sunlight as the new moon passing between Earth and the sun, blocks most, but not all, of the sun's disc.
This is not the kind of total eclipse of which you usually see pictures -- the moon blocking the sun completely, creating a few moments of near-night in the middle of the day, with only the sun's ethereal corona visible around the moon's edges. The sky will darken a bit, but there will still be a blindingly bright ring (an "annulus" in Latin) of sun, and it's dangerous to look directly at it.
Still, there will be a striking sight to see, if you look at a heavily-filtered image projected onto a screen through binoculars or a small telescope, or protect your eyes with No. 14 arcwelders glass (not something found at most hardware stores).
Will Smith Slaps Reporter After The Guy Tries To Kiss Him video
The world loves Will Smith . Maybe not enough to forgive Men in Black 2, but the world still loves him. They love him so much that he’s been claimed to be one of the only black actor who can open a movie overseas . That’s a lot of love. But sometimes those overseas folk love him too much, like a Ukranian reporter who accidentally brushed his lips against those of the star and got a slap for his effort.
TMZ has video of Smith at the Moscow premiere of Men in Black 3. While walking the red carpet, a male reporter attempted to give him a European kiss on the cheeks. Unfortunately, he got a little too close to the space in between and Smith pushed him back and gave him a light slap. Smith then walked away, saying, “He’s lucky I didn’t sucker punch him.” He then remembered he was surrounded by cameras and brought that million dollar smile right back up.
TMZ is reporting that kissing celebs is apparently that reporter’s “schtick.” That may be the case, but you can’t try that stuff with Big Willie Style. You’re no Kevin James.
Ps. Some of my co-workers really wanted me to headline this post with either “Men in Smack” or “The Pursuit of Slappyness.” Because I respect our readers to much, I refrained.
Watch the video below:
TMZ has video of Smith at the Moscow premiere of Men in Black 3. While walking the red carpet, a male reporter attempted to give him a European kiss on the cheeks. Unfortunately, he got a little too close to the space in between and Smith pushed him back and gave him a light slap. Smith then walked away, saying, “He’s lucky I didn’t sucker punch him.” He then remembered he was surrounded by cameras and brought that million dollar smile right back up.
TMZ is reporting that kissing celebs is apparently that reporter’s “schtick.” That may be the case, but you can’t try that stuff with Big Willie Style. You’re no Kevin James.
Ps. Some of my co-workers really wanted me to headline this post with either “Men in Smack” or “The Pursuit of Slappyness.” Because I respect our readers to much, I refrained.
Watch the video below:
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Tom Gabel Comes Out As Transgender: In Praise Of Bravery
Tom Gabel probably didn't want to be praised for her decision to come out as transgender ; she just wanted to be comfortable in her own
body. But I'm going to praise her anyway.
Because when Gabel announced to Rolling Stone on Tuesday that she planned to begin living as a woman — after struggling privately with gender dysphoria for years — it was undoubtedly the most personal thing a major recording artist has ever gone public with, an admission that's sure to make her the target of cruel insults and petty insinuations (to say nothing about what it might mean for the future of her band, Against Me!). But rather than focus on the close-mindedness of a select few, it is certainly more worthwhile — not to mention important — to laud Gabel for what is, in its purest form, a genuine act of bravery.
Because when Gabel announced to Rolling Stone on Tuesday that she planned to begin living as a woman — after struggling privately with gender dysphoria for years — it was undoubtedly the most personal thing a major recording artist has ever gone public with, an admission that's sure to make her the target of cruel insults and petty insinuations (to say nothing about what it might mean for the future of her band, Against Me!). But rather than focus on the close-mindedness of a select few, it is certainly more worthwhile — not to mention important — to laud Gabel for what is, in its purest form, a genuine act of bravery.
Against Me! singer/founder Tom Gabel comes out as transgender
Tom Gabel, the lead screamer of Florida power trio Against Me!, has
come out as transgender and plans to undergo sexual reassignment
surgery, according to excerpts from an interview published Tuesday night
on the website of Rolling Stone magazine. The singer, 32, founded Against Me! in
1997, and over the course of the past 15 years it has risen to become
one of the most successful of a new wave of punk rock bands.
According to Rolling Stone, Gabel, who is married, will soon begin the process of becoming a woman by taking hormones and receiving electrolysis treatments. He will take the name Laura Jane Grace.
According to Rolling Stone, Gabel, who is married, will soon begin the process of becoming a woman by taking hormones and receiving electrolysis treatments. He will take the name Laura Jane Grace.
North Carolina football players enrolled in questionable classes
Football players at North Carolina made
up more than a third of enrollments in suspect classes within a
department the school investigated for academic fraud.
The school said Tuesday football players
represented 246 of 686 enrollments (36 percent) in the 54 courses within
the Department of African and Afro-American Studies between summer 2007
and summer 2011. Those classes lacked appropriate supervision and were
called "aberrant" or were "taught irregularly" with limited contact
between instructors and students, according to a university report
released Friday.
Men's basketball players
represented 23 enrollments, roughly 3 percent, during that span.
The school's investigation found fraud and poor
oversight, including unauthorized grade changes and reports of grade
rolls with what appear to be forged faculty signatures. The report found
no evidence of favorable treatment for student-athletes or grades
awarded without written work.
The News and
Observer of Raleigh first reported the athlete enrollment figures
Monday.
The probe was a result of an NCAA investigation into the football program. In
one of the suspect classes, a former football player wrote a research
paper that later led to accusations of plagiarism.
The report directed blame toward the former
department chairman and a now-retired administrator.
Julius Nyang'oro resigned as chairman last year and
will retire in July. His name on the grade rolls or he was listed as
instructor for 43 courses considered aberrant or taught irregularly from
2007-09. He was also the instructor for the only two classes that
qualify as taught irregularly after 2009, according to the report.
The administrator, Deborah Crowder, worked under
Nyang'oro and wouldn't talk with school investigators. UNC found no
aberrant courses or unauthorized grade changes after her September 2009
retirement, according to the report.
Josh Hamilton: Four-homer night complicates Rangers' dilemma
The Texas Rangers have embraced the idea all along that they will let prized outfielder Josh Hamilton walk away as a free agent at the end of the season.
He's too brittle . Too big of a risk with his drug and alcohlic past . Too expensive, particularly over a long-term deal.
Let someone else make the mistake of giving him a seven-year deal for about $175 million, the Rangers muse, but they're sure not about to do something stupid.
Then, along comes a night like Tuesday's historic performance, and the Rangers are perplexed, wondering just what to do about their most popular player, and one of the most talented players in the game.
Hamilton tied a major league record against the Baltimore Orioles with four home runs , set the American League record with 18 total bases, and is now producing at a clip that defies the imagination.
Take a deep breath and check out the numbers yourselves:
Forget the All-Star home-run derby, let's put Hamilton's batting practice on display for the national TV audience.
This was only the 16th time in major league history that a player hit four homers, the last in 2003 by Carlos Delgado of Toronto. The folks in Baltimore hadn't seen a power-display like this since Rocky Colavito hit four in 1959 against the Orioles.
Hamilton wrote a book back in 2008 called Beyond Belief, but it may be time to republish.
"That's the greatest individual performance I've ever seen," Rangers infielder Michael Young told reporters. "I'm not sure if we'll ever see something like that again.
"Josh is the most talented player in the game. When somebody does something like this it's always shocking, but he's one of the few guys you know are capable of actually doing it."
Hamilton, who has hit five homers in his last six plate appearances, is now on pace to hit 76 homers, eclipsing Barry Bonds' all-time record of 73 homers in 2001.
Impossible, right?
Well, he has already knocked out the impossible, overcoming a deep drug addiction that robbed him of four years of baseball, and nearly killed him.
He was left for the dead by baseball, only for the Cincinnati Reds to work out a deal for him in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft, once the Tampa Bay Rays gave up on him, leaving him off their 40-man roster.
Hamilton, who had played only 15 minor-league games since 2002, hit .292 with 19 homers and 47 RBI in 90 games.
They made the fateful mistake of giving up on him, too, trading him a year later to Texas for starter Edinson Volquez and reliever Danny Herrera.
The trade helped turn around the Rangers' franchise. It won back-to-back American League pennants and is threatening to salt away the AL West Division title by Memorial Day.
Now, the Rangers find themselves in the same predicament.
They flirted all winter with free agent first baseman Prince Fielder, hoping he would anchor their offense, and make it much more palatable to let Hamilton walk away.
The Detroit Tigers came in and blew up the Rangers' plans with a nine-year, $214 million deal.
Now, the way Hamilton, 31, is playing, his next deal may even eclipse Fielder's contract.
"It's truly a miracle," Hamilton told USA TODAY Sports this spring, "that I'm even here in this situation."
The Rangers, buoyed by a $3 billion TV contract, certainly have the finances to keep Hamilton. If they can drop $107 million on Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, who had never even thrown a pitch in the U.S. until spring training, surely they can reach deep into their pockets to pay a guy who's given his heart and soul to the Rangers for the past four seasons.
The Rangers wouldn't mind making Hamilton one of the highest-paid players in the game, if they somehow had a guarantee that he could stay healthy. He has missed 143 games the last three years. He'll be 31 years old on May 21. And he is a recovering drug addict who has had a couple of publicized drinking binges, including one in January .
Do their follow their heart? Trust their gut? Or stick to their original and conventional thinking?
The Rangers, who have quietly been negotiating with Hamilton, really have no option but to wait.
The price tag is already exorbitant, and for the next six months, nobody else can touch him or talk to him.
This is decision looms as one of the biggest in franchise history. It will have to come after the Rangers' seemingly inevitable foray into October concludes.
He's too brittle . Too big of a risk with his drug and alcohlic past . Too expensive, particularly over a long-term deal.
Let someone else make the mistake of giving him a seven-year deal for about $175 million, the Rangers muse, but they're sure not about to do something stupid.
Then, along comes a night like Tuesday's historic performance, and the Rangers are perplexed, wondering just what to do about their most popular player, and one of the most talented players in the game.
Hamilton tied a major league record against the Baltimore Orioles with four home runs , set the American League record with 18 total bases, and is now producing at a clip that defies the imagination.
Take a deep breath and check out the numbers yourselves:
- He leads the free world in virtually every offensive category, hitting .406 with 14 homers and 36 RBI.
- That goes along with his .458 on-base percentage, .840 slugging percentage and 89 total bases.
- He has hit more home runs himself than the entire San Diego Padres team
Forget the All-Star home-run derby, let's put Hamilton's batting practice on display for the national TV audience.
This was only the 16th time in major league history that a player hit four homers, the last in 2003 by Carlos Delgado of Toronto. The folks in Baltimore hadn't seen a power-display like this since Rocky Colavito hit four in 1959 against the Orioles.
Hamilton wrote a book back in 2008 called Beyond Belief, but it may be time to republish.
"That's the greatest individual performance I've ever seen," Rangers infielder Michael Young told reporters. "I'm not sure if we'll ever see something like that again.
"Josh is the most talented player in the game. When somebody does something like this it's always shocking, but he's one of the few guys you know are capable of actually doing it."
Hamilton, who has hit five homers in his last six plate appearances, is now on pace to hit 76 homers, eclipsing Barry Bonds' all-time record of 73 homers in 2001.
Impossible, right?
Well, he has already knocked out the impossible, overcoming a deep drug addiction that robbed him of four years of baseball, and nearly killed him.
He was left for the dead by baseball, only for the Cincinnati Reds to work out a deal for him in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft, once the Tampa Bay Rays gave up on him, leaving him off their 40-man roster.
Hamilton, who had played only 15 minor-league games since 2002, hit .292 with 19 homers and 47 RBI in 90 games.
They made the fateful mistake of giving up on him, too, trading him a year later to Texas for starter Edinson Volquez and reliever Danny Herrera.
The trade helped turn around the Rangers' franchise. It won back-to-back American League pennants and is threatening to salt away the AL West Division title by Memorial Day.
Now, the Rangers find themselves in the same predicament.
They flirted all winter with free agent first baseman Prince Fielder, hoping he would anchor their offense, and make it much more palatable to let Hamilton walk away.
The Detroit Tigers came in and blew up the Rangers' plans with a nine-year, $214 million deal.
Now, the way Hamilton, 31, is playing, his next deal may even eclipse Fielder's contract.
"It's truly a miracle," Hamilton told USA TODAY Sports this spring, "that I'm even here in this situation."
The Rangers, buoyed by a $3 billion TV contract, certainly have the finances to keep Hamilton. If they can drop $107 million on Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, who had never even thrown a pitch in the U.S. until spring training, surely they can reach deep into their pockets to pay a guy who's given his heart and soul to the Rangers for the past four seasons.
The Rangers wouldn't mind making Hamilton one of the highest-paid players in the game, if they somehow had a guarantee that he could stay healthy. He has missed 143 games the last three years. He'll be 31 years old on May 21. And he is a recovering drug addict who has had a couple of publicized drinking binges, including one in January .
Do their follow their heart? Trust their gut? Or stick to their original and conventional thinking?
The Rangers, who have quietly been negotiating with Hamilton, really have no option but to wait.
The price tag is already exorbitant, and for the next six months, nobody else can touch him or talk to him.
This is decision looms as one of the biggest in franchise history. It will have to come after the Rangers' seemingly inevitable foray into October concludes.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Jayson Werth has surgery
Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth
will be sidelined for 12 weeks after having surgery on his broken left
wrist, MLB.com reported Monday, citing a baseball source.
Werth was injured while trying to catch a blooper off the bat of Placido Polanco in the sixth inning of the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 win on Sunday.
Werth's glove got caught underneath him and he bent his wrist backward trying to grab Polanco's sinking liner. Werth stayed on the ground briefly before throwing the ball back to the infield. He walked off holding his left wrist.
Werth was injured while trying to catch a blooper off the bat of Placido Polanco in the sixth inning of the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 win on Sunday.
Werth's glove got caught underneath him and he bent his wrist backward trying to grab Polanco's sinking liner. Werth stayed on the ground briefly before throwing the ball back to the infield. He walked off holding his left wrist.
Washington Nationals Fail to Sweep Phillies as Jayson Werth Gets Injured: A Fan’s Reaction
The Washington Nationals failed to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies on May 6,
losing by the score of 9-3. Cole Hamels of the Phillies picked up his
fourth win of the year while Jordan Zimmermann had his third loss.
Jordan Zimmermann
Zimmermann pitched a solid game on May 6, going six innings while giving up three runs on seven hits along with one strikeout. He was simply outpitched by Cole Hamels, who went eight innings and gave up only one run to go with eight strikeouts. It is the second straight loss for Jordan, who gave up four runs in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in his previous start, but he has certainly pitched well enough to be 3-1 and not 1-3; the offense for the team has just failed to score runs whenever he has been on the mound this year, but I expect it to turn around sooner or later.
Jayson Worth
The Nationals suffered the biggest blow of the game in the sixth inning, when Jayson Werth broke his wrist sliding for a ball in the outfield. Even though Werth hasn't been playing that great in 2012, the last thing the Nationals needed was for another person to be injured, as Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, and Michael Morse have all had spent time on the bench this early in the season. Hopefully Xavier Nady or Roger Bernadina can step up their game to fill in for Werth, but either way one looks at it, the Nationals will need to continue their stellar pitching to stay in games over the coming weeks.
Another series win
Even with the negative news, there are still some positives to take out of the series against the Phillies. The Nationalswon two out of three games, making it the third straight series won against an opponent from the National League East and the fourth win in five games for the ball club. Also, even though both Stephen Lombardozzi and Rick Ankiel failed to get a hit in the last game of the series, both hit well over .300 overall, with Stephen going 6 for 15 and Rick 6 for 12 at the plate. The Nationals will need production from these two going forward, and hopefully they can continue providing it as the team goes on to face the Pittsburgh Pirates next.
Jordan Zimmermann
Zimmermann pitched a solid game on May 6, going six innings while giving up three runs on seven hits along with one strikeout. He was simply outpitched by Cole Hamels, who went eight innings and gave up only one run to go with eight strikeouts. It is the second straight loss for Jordan, who gave up four runs in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in his previous start, but he has certainly pitched well enough to be 3-1 and not 1-3; the offense for the team has just failed to score runs whenever he has been on the mound this year, but I expect it to turn around sooner or later.
Jayson Worth
The Nationals suffered the biggest blow of the game in the sixth inning, when Jayson Werth broke his wrist sliding for a ball in the outfield. Even though Werth hasn't been playing that great in 2012, the last thing the Nationals needed was for another person to be injured, as Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, and Michael Morse have all had spent time on the bench this early in the season. Hopefully Xavier Nady or Roger Bernadina can step up their game to fill in for Werth, but either way one looks at it, the Nationals will need to continue their stellar pitching to stay in games over the coming weeks.
Another series win
Even with the negative news, there are still some positives to take out of the series against the Phillies. The Nationalswon two out of three games, making it the third straight series won against an opponent from the National League East and the fourth win in five games for the ball club. Also, even though both Stephen Lombardozzi and Rick Ankiel failed to get a hit in the last game of the series, both hit well over .300 overall, with Stephen going 6 for 15 and Rick 6 for 12 at the plate. The Nationals will need production from these two going forward, and hopefully they can continue providing it as the team goes on to face the Pittsburgh Pirates next.
Ryan Kekoufski lives near the Nationals' stadium and has been
following the team ever since they moved to Washington D.C. He covers
sports for the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and currently resides in
Virginia
Cole Hamels called classless, gutless by Nationals GM Rizzo
If any questions remains about the burgeoning Phillies-Nationals rivalry after last night ... well, it's on.Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made sure of that this morning in an calling Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels "fake tough" and that hitting Washington rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch Sunday was "a classless, gutless, chicken (bleep) act."
Hamels admitted after the Sunday night ESPN game that his fastball to the middle of Harper's back in the first inning was intentional.
"I was trying to hit him," Hamels said after the game, which he and the Phillies won 9-3. "I'm trying to continue the old baseball. I think some people kind of get away from it."
If Hamels was referring to noted intimidators such as Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson, he might have missed one point. They didn't admit to throwing at anyone. They just stared down their opponents.
"Cole Hamels says he's old school?" Rizzo told The Post. "He's the polar opposite of old school. He's fake tough. He thinks he's going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie who's eight games into the big leagues? He doesn't know who he's dealing with."
Harper, who said he had no idea what prompted the pitch, said nothing on the field and took first base. He also took home later in the inning, stealing home when Hamels made a pickoff attempt to first base.
Rizzo called for Hamels to be suspended. Major League Baseball has not announced any disciplinary action.
The Phillies-Nationals rivalry has been evolving, but previously it was mostly among the fans. Phillies fans have regularly filled Nationals Park when their team visits Washington but this year the Nationals made a concerted effort to have their fans gobble up tickets for the three-game weekend series. They didn't complete shut out the Phillies fans, but did finally regain majority representation.
And it doesn't hurt that the Nationals, who haven't finished over .500 since moving to Washington in 2005, lead the NL East while the five-time defending division champion Phillies are in last place after winning just once over the weekend.
"I think it could be a good rivalry," said Hamels, who was hit on the leg by Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann while attempting to bunt in the third inning. "We have 15 more games against them."
The next four are May 21-24 at Philadelphia. Barring a suspension that could be delayed if Hamels would choose to appeal, there's a good chance he'll get the face the Nationals again soon.
Hamels admitted after the Sunday night ESPN game that his fastball to the middle of Harper's back in the first inning was intentional.
"I was trying to hit him," Hamels said after the game, which he and the Phillies won 9-3. "I'm trying to continue the old baseball. I think some people kind of get away from it."
If Hamels was referring to noted intimidators such as Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson, he might have missed one point. They didn't admit to throwing at anyone. They just stared down their opponents.
"Cole Hamels says he's old school?" Rizzo told The Post. "He's the polar opposite of old school. He's fake tough. He thinks he's going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie who's eight games into the big leagues? He doesn't know who he's dealing with."
Harper, who said he had no idea what prompted the pitch, said nothing on the field and took first base. He also took home later in the inning, stealing home when Hamels made a pickoff attempt to first base.
Rizzo called for Hamels to be suspended. Major League Baseball has not announced any disciplinary action.
The Phillies-Nationals rivalry has been evolving, but previously it was mostly among the fans. Phillies fans have regularly filled Nationals Park when their team visits Washington but this year the Nationals made a concerted effort to have their fans gobble up tickets for the three-game weekend series. They didn't complete shut out the Phillies fans, but did finally regain majority representation.
And it doesn't hurt that the Nationals, who haven't finished over .500 since moving to Washington in 2005, lead the NL East while the five-time defending division champion Phillies are in last place after winning just once over the weekend.
"I think it could be a good rivalry," said Hamels, who was hit on the leg by Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann while attempting to bunt in the third inning. "We have 15 more games against them."
The next four are May 21-24 at Philadelphia. Barring a suspension that could be delayed if Hamels would choose to appeal, there's a good chance he'll get the face the Nationals again soon.
Austerity Faces Sharper Debate After European Elections
After elections in France and Greek punished leaders advocating austerity, Europeans on Monday contemplated
a new and untested political landscape shaped by competing demands for
austerity on one hand to counter the debt crisis and growth on the other
to avert further deprivation
With final results of the French presidential election announced on Monday, the socialist challenger,Francois Hollande had secured 51.62 percent of the runoff vote, defeating Nicolas Sarkozy as polls had foreshadowed.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Junior Seau Found Dead at California Home
Junior Seau's apparent suicide stunned an entire city and saddened former teammates who recalled the former NFL star's ferocious tackles and habit of calling everybody around him "Buddy."
It also left everyone wondering what led to Seau's death Wednesday morning in what police said appeared to be a suicide. He was 43.
"I'm sorry to say, Superman is dead," said Shawn Mitchell, a chaplain for the San Diego Chargers. "All of us can appear to be super, but all of us need to reach out and find support when we're hurting."
Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. A gun was found near him, McCoy said. Police said no suicide note was found and they didn't immediately know who the gun was registered to.
Neither Mitchell nor Seau's ex-wife knew what might have led to the former first-pumping, emotional leader of his hometown San Diego Chargers to kill himself.
"We have no clues whatsoever," Gina Seau said. "We're as stunned and shocked as anyone else. We're horribly saddened. We miss him and we'll always love him."
Seau's death in Oceanside, in northern San Diego County, stunned the region he represented with almost reckless abandon. The same intensity that got the star linebacker ejected for fighting in his first exhibition game helped carry the Chargers to their only Super Bowl, following the 1994 season. A ferocious tackler, he'd leap up, pump a fist and kick out a leg after dropping a ball carrier or quarterback.
"It's a sad thing. It's hard to understand," said Bobby Beathard, who as Chargers general manager took Seau out of Southern California with the fifth pick overall in the 1990 draft. "He was really just a great guy. If you drew up a player you'd love to have the opportunity to draft and have on the team and as a teammate, Junior and Rodney (Harrison), they'd be the kind of guys you'd like to have."
Quarterback Stan Humphries recalled that Seau did everything at the same speed, whether it was practicing, lifting weights or harassing John Elway.
"The intensity, the smile, the infectious attitude, it carried over to all the other guys," said Humphries, who was shocked that Seau is now the eighth player from the '94 Super Bowl team to die.
Seau's mother appeared before reporters outside the former player's house, weeping uncontrollably.
"I don't understand ... I'm shocked," Luisa Seau cried out.
Her son gave no indication of a problem when she spoke to him by phone earlier this week, she said.
"He's joking to me, he called me a 'homegirl,'" she said.
Seau's death follows the suicide last year of former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson, who also shot himself in the chest.
In October 2010, Seau survived a 100-foot plunge down a seaside cliff in his SUV, hours after he was arrested for investigation of domestic violence at the Oceanside home he shared with his girlfriend. The woman had told authorities that Seau assaulted her during an argument.
There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol involved in the crash and Seau told authorities he fell asleep while driving. He sustained minor injuries.
It also left everyone wondering what led to Seau's death Wednesday morning in what police said appeared to be a suicide. He was 43.
"I'm sorry to say, Superman is dead," said Shawn Mitchell, a chaplain for the San Diego Chargers. "All of us can appear to be super, but all of us need to reach out and find support when we're hurting."
Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. A gun was found near him, McCoy said. Police said no suicide note was found and they didn't immediately know who the gun was registered to.
Neither Mitchell nor Seau's ex-wife knew what might have led to the former first-pumping, emotional leader of his hometown San Diego Chargers to kill himself.
"We have no clues whatsoever," Gina Seau said. "We're as stunned and shocked as anyone else. We're horribly saddened. We miss him and we'll always love him."
Seau's death in Oceanside, in northern San Diego County, stunned the region he represented with almost reckless abandon. The same intensity that got the star linebacker ejected for fighting in his first exhibition game helped carry the Chargers to their only Super Bowl, following the 1994 season. A ferocious tackler, he'd leap up, pump a fist and kick out a leg after dropping a ball carrier or quarterback.
"It's a sad thing. It's hard to understand," said Bobby Beathard, who as Chargers general manager took Seau out of Southern California with the fifth pick overall in the 1990 draft. "He was really just a great guy. If you drew up a player you'd love to have the opportunity to draft and have on the team and as a teammate, Junior and Rodney (Harrison), they'd be the kind of guys you'd like to have."
Quarterback Stan Humphries recalled that Seau did everything at the same speed, whether it was practicing, lifting weights or harassing John Elway.
"The intensity, the smile, the infectious attitude, it carried over to all the other guys," said Humphries, who was shocked that Seau is now the eighth player from the '94 Super Bowl team to die.
Seau's mother appeared before reporters outside the former player's house, weeping uncontrollably.
"I don't understand ... I'm shocked," Luisa Seau cried out.
Her son gave no indication of a problem when she spoke to him by phone earlier this week, she said.
"He's joking to me, he called me a 'homegirl,'" she said.
Seau's death follows the suicide last year of former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson, who also shot himself in the chest.
In October 2010, Seau survived a 100-foot plunge down a seaside cliff in his SUV, hours after he was arrested for investigation of domestic violence at the Oceanside home he shared with his girlfriend. The woman had told authorities that Seau assaulted her during an argument.
There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol involved in the crash and Seau told authorities he fell asleep while driving. He sustained minor injuries.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Harper doesn't have to be savior for Nationals, but he can help now
WASHINGTON-- Justin Upton was walking by the pool of a resort in the
Bahamas, an offseason respite after leading the Diamondbacks to a
division title, when he saw someone familiar.
He hadn't yet met the 19-year-old with the rattail haircut, but Upton and Bryce Harper certainly knew who each other was.
The mutual recognition goes well beyond the casual international encounter. As the Harper Era begins -- the Nationals' prodigy played his first major league game on Saturday -- no one has a better understanding of Harper's situation than Upton who, by chance, was his opponent on Tuesday for his home debut at Nationals Park when he went 0-for-3 in a 5-1 loss.
Both, after all, are No. 1 overall draft picks and five-tool prospects who played a different position in high school before moving to the outfield in the minor leagues and then making their major league debuts at 19 as injury replacements.
"I wish I had known to relax and just play the game," Upton said of his rookie year. "I'm happy for him. To be in the big leagues at this age, it can be fun if you let yourself have fun."
Harper said he felt comfortable this weekend in Los Angeles, where he showed all five tools in just two games against the Dodgers by demonstrating great strike-zone awareness in taking a walk on close pitches, smacking a double off the fence, nearly beating out an infield single, unleashing a terrific throw home that beat the runner and crashing into the outfield wall to make a leaping catch.
"I'm trying to stay as calm as I can," he said. "Take one at-bat at a time. One pitch at a time. And make things happen, I hope. I'm just going to come out here every day and give 110 percent and play hard and try to walk away with a W."
Many of Harper's answers on Tuesday may have been full of clichés, but he knows humility plays better than brashness when you're a rookie of whom so much is expected. Harper is the latest teenager to debut in the last 25 years, joining an illustrious group that includes Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Andruw Jones, Adrian Beltre, Gary Sheffield and the Upton brothers, Justin and B.J. But the track records in their debut seasons isn't great -- no teenager in the last quarter-century has had double-digit at-bats and an OPS of at least .760.
No one, however, knows quite what Harper's life is like in the modern world of media and hype. An SI cover boy at age 16, he's been in the national spotlight for years.
He hadn't yet met the 19-year-old with the rattail haircut, but Upton and Bryce Harper certainly knew who each other was.
The mutual recognition goes well beyond the casual international encounter. As the Harper Era begins -- the Nationals' prodigy played his first major league game on Saturday -- no one has a better understanding of Harper's situation than Upton who, by chance, was his opponent on Tuesday for his home debut at Nationals Park when he went 0-for-3 in a 5-1 loss.
Both, after all, are No. 1 overall draft picks and five-tool prospects who played a different position in high school before moving to the outfield in the minor leagues and then making their major league debuts at 19 as injury replacements.
"I wish I had known to relax and just play the game," Upton said of his rookie year. "I'm happy for him. To be in the big leagues at this age, it can be fun if you let yourself have fun."
Harper said he felt comfortable this weekend in Los Angeles, where he showed all five tools in just two games against the Dodgers by demonstrating great strike-zone awareness in taking a walk on close pitches, smacking a double off the fence, nearly beating out an infield single, unleashing a terrific throw home that beat the runner and crashing into the outfield wall to make a leaping catch.
"I'm trying to stay as calm as I can," he said. "Take one at-bat at a time. One pitch at a time. And make things happen, I hope. I'm just going to come out here every day and give 110 percent and play hard and try to walk away with a W."
Many of Harper's answers on Tuesday may have been full of clichés, but he knows humility plays better than brashness when you're a rookie of whom so much is expected. Harper is the latest teenager to debut in the last 25 years, joining an illustrious group that includes Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Andruw Jones, Adrian Beltre, Gary Sheffield and the Upton brothers, Justin and B.J. But the track records in their debut seasons isn't great -- no teenager in the last quarter-century has had double-digit at-bats and an OPS of at least .760.
No one, however, knows quite what Harper's life is like in the modern world of media and hype. An SI cover boy at age 16, he's been in the national spotlight for years.
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