Nowitzki delivers the heat for Rangers

Dallas Mavericks center Dirk Nowitzki threw out the first pitch before the Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday, delivering a low strike –- which was better than his performance in July after the Mavs won the NBA title.

“This time they told me to throw a four‑seam fastball,” said Nowitzki, who wore a blue Rangers jersey and cap. “I still don't understand what that means.  But I think that's the grip I had. Or was it a two‑seam fastball? I forgot.”

As for the NBA lockout, Nowitzki said he’s disappointed there hasn’t been more progress in talks between the league and the players.

“We were all hoping with the mediator that something was going to happen, and just talks broke off, so it's very unfortunate,” he said. “Hopefully we can get something going here anytime soon. But it doesn't look good.

"I've just been keeping in shape, working out, doing lots of cardio and lifting a little bit and running. If the season will start any time soon, I think I'll be ready.”

Nowitzki grew up in Germany, where baseball is a minor sport. Still, he was asked if he would consider an offer to try out for the Rangers if the NBA lockout continued.

"I  would love that," he said before turning serious.

"If there's no settlement I'll probably go back home soon, start training with my coach again," he said.  "It's time to really get back in the routine. Got to keep the options open, maybe see what's going on overseas."

-- Kevin Baxter, reporting from Arlington, Texas

 

 

A.J. Pierzynski likes this baseball broadcasting stuff

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is working for Fox as an analyst during the World Series between Texas and St. Louis, which begins Wednesday night. If you Google "A.J. Pierzynski" you find lists for "A.J. Pierzynski fight," and "A.J. Pierzynski jerk" and "A.J. Pierzynski meanest."

Maybe soon, A.J. Pierzynski, excellent broadcaster, will be a popular search term. Pierzynski, an Angels-killer in his day job as Chicago White Sox catcher, made baseball fans notice when he had an insightful discussion during the ALCS about how well Texas catcher (and former Angel) Mike Napoli blocked the plate in the series against Detroit, especially a play at home.

Pierzynski pointed out the way Napoli raised both legs up on that play, in contrast to  San Francisco Giants catching star Buster Posey, who had broken a leg early in the season and missed most of this year while blocking the plate on a similar play.

"You take the blow, you roll with it, you get your feet out of the ground. That's the proper way to stay healthy and still get hit hard but you get up and walk away," Pierzynski said.

Rain threatens ALCS game between Tigers and Rangers ... again

A steady drizzle has been falling in Detroit all afternoon, and the rain is expected to delay and possibly postpone Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Tigers and Texas Rangers.

The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. EDT, but the forecast calls for at least a 60% chance of rain from 4 to 7 p.m. Less than half an hour before the scheduled first pitch, the tarp remained on the infield. Game 2 of the ALCS was rained out Sunday in Texas, forcing the teams to play on Monday's scheduled off day.

The outlook for Thursday isn't much better, with a 30% chance of rain during the day and a 60% chance of rain in the evening. The teams could play on Friday's off-day, but Major League Baseball would like to get at least one game in over the next two days to preserve a possible Game 6 and 7 in Texas on Saturday and Sunday.

Two injured Tigers -- left fielder Delmon Young and designated hitter Victor Martinez, who both dealing with rib-cage strains -- are in the lineup, as is Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre, who fouled a ball off his left knee Tuesday night and played most of Game 3 in considerable pain.

Young suffered his injury in the division series and missed Games 1 and 3 of the ALCS. Martinez suffered his injury on a fourth-inning swing that produced a solo home run in Detroit's 5-2 Game 3 victory Tuesday night.

"Big-time players, they expect to be in the lineup," Detroit Manager Jim Leyland said. "They know the fans want to see them in the lineup. They know it helps their team."

Rangers Manager Ron Washington has both of his catchers in the lineup, Mike Napoli behind the plate and Yorvit Torrealba, who had a double and two singles in his first ALCS start Tuesday night, at designated hitter. Should Napoli get hurt, forcing Torrealba to catch, the Rangers would lose the DH.

"Well, it's something you do take into consideration, but I'm trying to put the best lineup out there that I possibly can, the one I think will help me produce the runs," Washington said. "And the way Torrealba swung the bat light night, I want him to get an opportunity to go out there today and be a good weapon."

Washington also kept Michael Young in the cleanup spot despite the utility player's .111 average (3 for 27) in seven postseason games. Young has scored two runs but has not driven in a run.

"For me, to make that type of change would be to panic," Washington said. "I'm not panicking, because my guy is not panicking. We're talking about Michael Young. Seven years of 200 hits. He knows how to make an adjustment. At some point, he will. Today could be the day Michael Young stops all this talk about him hitting .111 in the fourth spot."

Detroit right-hander Rick Porcello is scheduled to oppose left-hander Matt Harrison, with the Rangers leading the best-of-seven series, two games to one.

The Rangers lineup: 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Elvis Andrus, CF Josh Hamilton, 1B Michael Young, 3B Adrian Beltre, C Mike Napoli, RF Nelson Cruz, LF David Murphy, DH Yorvit Torrealba, P Matt Harrison.

The Tigers lineup: CF Austin Jackson, RF Ryan Raburn, 1B Miguel Cabrera, DH Victor Martinez, LF Delmon Young, C Alex Avila, SS Jhonny Peralta, 2B Ramon Santiago, 3B Brandon Inge, P Rick Porcello.

--Mike DiGiovanna in Detroit

 

Delmon Young back in lineup for Tigers in Game 2

Delmon Young was activated by the Detroit Tigers on Monday, and the American League division series hero will be in left field and batting third in Game 2 of the AL championship series against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Young, a former Camarillo High School standout, hit three home runs in the division series against the New York Yankees, but he suffered a rib-cage strain in Game 5 and was left off the roster for the ALCS.

But when right fielder Magglio Ordonez suffered a season-ending broken right ankle in Game 1 Saturday night, a 3-2 Rangers win, the Tigers, in a move that hints of desperation, turned to Young on Monday.

"He did not swing [Sunday], but he was tested by the doctors and did all kinds of other workouts and exercises," Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said. "He's fine. He's swinging good today. So he will play."

Texas left-hander Derek Holland will oppose Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer in Game 2, which was scheduled for Sunday night but postponed to 1 p.m. PDT Monday because of rain some four hours before first pitch.

Angels lose a game and some ground in Toronto

The Angels, chasing teams in two separate playoffs races, had a chance to pick up ground in each Thursday in Toronto.

The Boston Red Sox, who lead the wild-card race, were idle Thursday. And the Texas Rangers, who lead the American League West, had already lost in Oakland by the time the Angels took the field.

But instead of gaining, the Angels lost twice -- dropping a game to Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, in 12 innings and a losing half a game in the standings to the Red Sox. As a result they'll begin their final homestand of the season Friday trailing the Red Sox by three games and the Rangers by five with six to play.

That leaves little room for error for a team that looked anything but sharp in a game they had to win Thursday, giving up the tying run on a wild pitch and losing on Edwin Encarnacion's walk-off homer to start the 12th inning.

The homer, Encarnacion's 17th, came off rookie Garrett Richards, who came on to face big league home run leader Jose Bautista with one out in the 11th inning and got him. But he couldn't get Encarnacion an inning later. 

Angels look to end regular-season road campaign on an upbeat

The Rogers Centre's retractible roof with be open Thursday night when the Angels take the field in Toronto for their final road game of the season.

The regular season, that is. Because the Angels begin play just 2 1/2 games behind Boston in the American League wild-card race with seven games to play.

The division race is pretty much over. The Angels trail the Texas Rangers by five games and would have to go unbeaten the rest of the way while hoping Texas loses twice just to force a tie atop the American League West. That's not likely to happen.

But the Red Sox have been coming back to the Angels for quite some time. While Mike Scioscia's team was winning 12 of 19 in September, Boston was losing 15 of 21. The Tampa Bay Rays are also tied with the Angels, 2 1/2 games behind the idle Red Sox, with seven to play. Tampa Bay plays the Yankees on Thursday in New York.

The Angels will be glad to get home no matter how Thursday's road finale goes. That's because they have gone 11-15 in their last 26 road games and are just two games over .500 on the road overall. At Angel Stadium, however, they've gone 44-31.

Ervin Santana will take the ball for the Angels hoping to snap a personal three-game losing streak. He's gone 19 innings, giving up 13 runs -- 10 earned -- in those three starts.

The lineups:

Angels

SS -- Erick Aybar

2B -- Howie Kendrick

DH -- Bobby Abreu

RF -- Torii Hunter

1B -- Mark Trumbo

3B -- Alberto Callaspo

LF-- Vernon Wells

CF -- Peter Bourjos

C -- Bobby Wilson

P -- Ervin Santana

Toronto Blue Jays

SS -- Mike McCoy

LF -- Eric Thames

DH -- Jose Bautista

1B -- Adam Lind

3B -- Edwin Encarnacion

2B -- Kelly Johnson

CF -- Colby Rasmus

C -- Jose Molina

RF -- Adam Loewen

P -- Henderson Alvarez

MORE:

RELATED:

Angels-Blue Jays box score

Torii Hunter says Angels have exceeded expectations

Angels keep playoff hopes alive with victory over Toronto

Rays would have edge over Angels, Red Sox in three-way tie

 

-- Kevin Baxter in Toronto

Photo: Manager Mike Scioscia celebrates an Angels victory on September 18. Credit: Steve Ruark / Getty Images.

Angels offense heating up during stretch drive

Pitching has the Angels knocking on the door to the postseason. Now, Manager Mike Scioscia says, it's up to the offense to carry the team over the threshold.

"It’s a critical time for us to move forward; getting a couple of guys swing the bats to their capabilities and carry this thing through," he said. "It’s in there. Our guys, if they can swing the bats to their potential, it’s going to put us on a good run. Needless to say, we need it."

Center fielder Peter Bourjos took up that challenge Wednesday, making history with a triple, home run and two runs scored in a 7-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

With the win -- the Angels' second straight and third in four games -- Scioscia's team assured itself it wouldn't lose ground in the either the division or wild-card races. And they could gain a game a game in both.

The Texas Rangers, who started the day leading the American League West by five games, were playing in Oakland later Wednesday. The Red Sox, who entered Wednesday 3 1/2 games ahead of the Angels in the wild-card standings, were also playing a night game.

Everything goes to plan for Angels in rout of Blue Jays

Every B-grade adventure movie has a scene in which the intrepid hero, finding himself in a fix, comes up with an escape plan that has seemingly no chance of succeeding.

That’s where the Angels find themselves now. Despite Tuesday’s 10-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Angels trail Texas by 4 1/2 games in the American League West pending the result of the Rangers' night game in Oakland.

In the wild-card race, Boston, which was still playing when the Angels' game ended, is only slightly closer. And there are only eight games left in which to catch the Red Sox.

Yet in the Angels’ clubhouse, hope remains.

“We still have a plan,” outfielder Torii Hunter said. “All is not lost. [But] we’ve got to make it happen. We’ve got to battle.”

Angels fall further back in playoff chase

The finish line, just nine days away, is almost close enough to touch.

The goal, a playoff berth, is also within reach. But despite all that, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia admits his team’s destiny is no longer in its own hands.

“At this point, right now, we need help,” he said.

They didn't give themselves any Monday in Toronto, when four poor fielding plays allowed the Toronto Blue Jays to escape with a 3-2 win in 10 innings. All three Toronto runs were unearned.

The winning run scored when Torii Hunter, playing as a fifth infielder, backhanded Adam Lind's ground ball toward second base, then threw wildy to the plate, allowing Mike McCoy to scored.

That dropped the Angels five games back of the idle Texas Rangers in the American League West, their largest deficit in the division race since Aug. 19.

They’re four games behind Boston in the wild-card race, pending the outcome of the Red Sox’s night game with Baltimore. And since they have onlyt three games left with Texas and they don’t play the Red Sox at all, neither deficit is one the Angels can make up on their own.

The winning rally started when McCoy led off with a ground ball that rolled up Erick Aybar's arm at shortstop. Aybar then hurried his throw to first base, bouncing it in the dirt.

Eric Thames followed with a single to center. Jose Bautista then hit what appeared to be a double-play grounder at third baseman Maicer Izturis, but his throw to second was slightly off the mark and Howie Kendrick couldn't make the turn, leaving runners at the corners with one out.

Lind then followed with his sharply hit ground ball.

That wasted a stellar effort by Angels starter Jerome Williams, who gave up just a pair of unearned runs on six hits through 6 1/3 innings. And it was Williams who made the error that led to the two runs. After making a bare-handed stab of Kelly Johnson’s fourth-inning grounder that looked as if it was headed up the middle, Williams made an off-balance throw to second base that sailed away from Aybar for an error.

Two batters later Toronto had the bases loaded with no outs when Mark Trumbo started a nifty 3-2-3 double play, one of two nice plays he made on the night. But J.C. Arenciba followed this one with a two-run single to give the Blue Jays a short-lived 2-1 lead.

Williams got some more help from his defense an inning later when Hunter made a tremendous throw from the right-field corner to prevent Eric Thames from stretching a single into a double. The assist gave him a career-best 15 in his first full season as a right fielder. And then in the eighth inning, with reliever Bobby Cassevah on the mound, Kendrick and Trumbo made diving stops of hard-hit grounders on consecutive plays, short-circuiting a Toronto rally.

But as good as Williams and the Angels defense was, Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero matched them nearly pitch for pitch. Romero, who has lost only once since mid-July, allowed only one baserunner through the first four innings -- but that runner scored when Hunter led off the second with his 21^st homer of the season.

Trumbo accounted for the Angels’ second run –- and second hit -– when he led off the fifth inning with his team-leading 28^th homer. An inning later Romero began a streak that saw him retire 10 men in a row before Hunter looped a single to center with two outs in the ninth.

Romero left after that inning, having scattered six hits over nine innings, striking out five and not walking a batter.

Hunter and Vernon Wells were the only Angels to finish with multiple hits, with Wells leading off the 10th inning with a double off the center-field wall only to be left at third when Aybar struck out and pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo grounded weakly to third.

Thames had three hits and Arencibia and Johnson and Thames two apiece for Toronto.

MORE:

Angels-Blue Jays box score

Erick Aybar AL co-player of the week

Baltimore's Alfredo Simon throws at Torii Hunter, Mark Trumbo

-- Kevin Baxter, reporting from Toronto

Photo: Angels right fielder Torii Hunter is congratulated by first baseman Mark Trumbo after hitting a home run in the fourth inning Monday night in Toronto. Credit: Mike Cassese / Reuters

Which MLB team not in a playoff spot has best shot to get in? [Updated]

 
 
Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss which Major League Baseball team fighting for a playoff spot will make, or not make, the post season. Weigh in with a comment of your own.

[Updated at 1:41 p.m.:

Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times

I'm going with the Los Angeles Angels. They have six games left with the Texas Rangers, who lead the American League West. The Rangers have 21 games left with teams with winning records. The Angels have 13, six of those against the Rangers.

Over the next two weeks the Rangers play the Boston Red Sox, the Angels, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Red Sox again and the Rays again. At the same time the Angels play the Chicago White Sox, the Rangers, the Seattle Mariners, the Minnesota Twins and the Mariners again.

The Angels aren't going to out-hit anybody but they just called up mega-prospect Mike Trout to join Peter Bourjos and Torii Hunter in baseball's best outfield defense. Jared Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana can give up all the fly balls they like now -- and the Angels can win 2-1.

Harvey Failkov, Orlando Sun Sentinel

Unless MLB adds another wild card team, as the owners have been contemplating, seven of the eight playoff teams seem locked in. Tampa Bay has the hard luck to be trapped in its division with the Yankees and Red Sox, favorites to face the pitch-rich Phillies in the World Series.

Detroit, led by Justin "No Hit" Verlander and closer Jose Valerde, are pulling away from Cleveland.

World Series runner-up Rangers are ranked third in offense, too much firepower for the Angels.

The Brewers, flexing their "Braun," have left the Cardinals in their dust. No one will catch Atlanta for the wild card.

NL West-leading Arizona has scored six runs in five-straight losses. while the defending world champion Giants (35-25 at home) begin a 12-game home stand against sub-.500 teams. Unless Manager Kirk Gibson grabs a bat, the Giants, led by Tim Lincecum, will overtake the no-name Diamondbacks for the final spot.]

Phil Rodgers, Chicago Tribune

Seldom has a September in the wild-card era offered less excitement for baseball fans. We're in for an overdose of anticlimactic champagne celebrations beginning around Sept. 15 and the only drama lies in whether two of baseball's best pitching staffs -- the Giants and the Angels -- can sufficiently rise to the occasion to overcome teams with much better lineups (the Diamondbacks and Rangers). As much as I love the Angels' trio of Jared Weaver, Ervin Santana and Dan Haren, I don't think they can stop a team that is a threat to outslug the Red Sox or Yankees in a playoff series. But the Giants can -- and probably will -- reach the playoffs. They have the confidence of winning a down-to-the-last-day race against the Padres a year ago, and they have a favorable schedule. They are 28-17 against NL West teams, which other than the Astros (4) and Cubs (3) is all they play the rest of the way. You know the Phillies are rooting furiously for the Diamondbacks, but I think we're heading for a first-round rematch of the 2010 NLCS, Phillies vs. Giants.

Photo: The San Francisco Giants have the pitching staff, led by Tim Lincecum, and a favorable schedule to make the postseason again. Credit: Cary Edwards / US Presswire

Which MLB team not in a playoff spot has best shot to get in?

 
 
Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss which Major League Baseball team fighting for a playoff spot will make, or not make, the post season. Weigh in with a comment of your own.

Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times

I'm going with the Los Angeles Angels, they have six games left with the Texas Rangers, who lead the American League West. The Rangers have 21 games left with teams with winning records. The Angels have 13, six of those against the Rangers.

Over the next two weeks the Rangers play the Boston Red Sox, the Angels, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Red Sox again and the Rays again. At the same time the Angels play the Chicago White Sox, the Rangers, the Seattle Mariners, the Minnesota Twins and the Mariners again.

The Angels aren't going to out-hit anybody but they just called up mega-prospect Mike Trout to join Peter Bourjos and Torii Hunter in baseball's best outfield defense. Jared Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana can give up all the fly balls they like now--and the Angels can win 2-1.

 

Harvey Failkov, Orlando Sun Sentinel

Unless MLB adds another Wild Card team, as the owners have been contemplating, seven of the eight playoff teams see locked in. Tampa Bay has the hard luck to be trapped in the division with the Yankees and Red Sox. favorites to face the pitch-rich Phillies in the World Series.

Detroit, led by Justin "No Hit" Verlander and closer Jose Valerde, are pulling away from Cleveland.

World Series runner-up Rangers are ranked third in offense, too much fire-power for the Angels.

The Brewers, flexing their "Braun," have left the Cardinals in their dust. No one will catch Atlanta for the Wild Card.

NL West-leading Arizona has scored six runs in five-straight losses. while the defending world champion Giants begin a 12-game homestand (35-25) against sub-.500 teams. Unless Manager Kirk Gibson grabs a bat, the Giants, led by Tim Lincecum, will overtake the no-name Diamondbacks for the final spot.

Phil Rodgers, Chicago Tribune

Seldom has a September in the wild-card era offered less excitement for baseball fans. We're in for an overdose of anticlimatic champagne celebrations beginning around Sept. 15 and the only drama lies in whether two of baseball's best pitching staffs -- the Giants and the Angels -- can sufficiently rise to the occasion to overcome teams with much better lineups (the Diamondbacks and Rangers). As much as I love the Angels' trio of Jared Weaver, Ervin Santana and Dan Haren, I don't think they can stop a team that is a threat to outslug the Red Sox or Yankees in a playoff series. But the Giants can -- and probably will -- reach the playoffs. They have the confidence of winning a down-to-the-last-day race against the Padres a year ago, and they have a favorable schedule. They are 28-17 against NL West teams, which other than the Astros (4) and Cubs (3) is all they play the rest of the way. You know the Phillies are rooting furiously for the Diamondbacks, but I think we're heading for a first-round rematch of the 2010 NLCS, Phillies vs. Giants.

 

Photo: The San Francisco Giants have the pitching staff, led by Tim Lincecum, and a favorable schedule to make the postseason again. Credit: Cary Edwards / US Presswire