The Sporting News articles from July 2003

The Sporting News archives from July 2003

Suit up for the season. (SportingNews.com).(web site features preseason report on football)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Put on the pads, paint on the eye-black and get ready for another season of football. SpotringNews.com's Preseason Countdown provides in-depth information on the upcoming NFL season like nothing else can. A subscription includes scouting...

Summer listening. (SportingNews Radio).(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Spend your summer weekend nights with Chet Coppock and Coppock on Sports. Each weekend, Chet wraps up the week in the world of sports, sets the table for the week ahead and dives headfirst into everything in between. Tune in from 7-11 p.m. ET...

Remember when. (SportingNews Books).('The Ballpark Book')(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Take a sentimental journey to baseball's hallowed grounds in a revised, updated edition of The Ballpark Book. It salutes 52 ballparks, from long-since departed fields such as the Polo Grounds, to today's parks. Order today at...

To know list: 6 Things that were meant to go together, unlike Michael and Milwaukee. (To Know All).(news about athletes)
July 7, 2003... 1 KEN ROSENTHAL'S SURPRISE ENDINGS Angels Their starting pitching isn't good enough, and they won't upgrade it significantly against the trade deadline; it's just not their style. Their offense was amazing in the playoffs last year, almost...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (Know It All).(brief news about various sports)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... (1) The All-Star break. Nearing the season's traditional midpoint, the Tigers are on a pace to win fewer than 50 games. Good news, though--the boys in marketing have already nailed next year's season-ticket slogan: "Dude, you been punked."...

'Stew', the featured entree of the rumor mill. (Caught on the fly).(analysis of baseball teams and football players)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Here's an exchange rate Canadians can live with: The Blue Jays are denting the plate six-plus times a game, about a run and a half better than their A.L. counterparts' average. But do they have enough arms to hang in the race? That's a...

On air. (Know It All).(radio programs about sports)
July 7, 2003... Peter Brown says: "I love baseball fans. Nobody watches the All-Star Game, so baseball fixes it to make it more interesting, and they still complain. It's time baseball fans woke up and realized their game is dying." from the Century 21...

The Good Guys I grew up with. (My Turn).(three brothers who are football players - Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey Selman)(Column)
July 7, 2003... I love the Good Guys issue of the SPORTING NEWS. What with partying coaches, players who achieve power through artificial means, and baseball bats popping corks like it's New Year's Eve, it's a refreshing change of pace to read about the Good...

Your turn. (My Turn).(Letter to the Editor)
July 7, 2003... * Jake Plummer, David Boston and Thomas Jones are gone. But fear not, Arizona fans, because Jeff Blake will be your leader. And your team's best player is the kicker. Will the suffering of Cardinals fans never end? Steve Rian San...

Early and awful to the ballot box. (All-Star Voter Fraud).(evaluations of baseball players)
July 7, 2003... The American League uses designated hitters, and National League fans consider that a heinous act of heresy upon a sacred shrine. The N.L. makes pitchers to come to the plate, often to strike out or bunt, which combine to bore A.L. fans like...

Behind the story...one decent exposure. (Story).(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Are the lives of two SPORTING NEWS employees--ones we all really, really like--worth risking for a great cover? Still thinking... No, of course not! And yet there they were, senior writer Paul Attner and photographer Dilip...

What's in a network blazer? (Static).(mixed employment of sportscasters )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Used to be you turned on the TV, saw Curt Gowdy, and you knew you were watching NBC. Pat Summerall was CBS, etc. Talent was clearly associated with their networks or identifiable by their sports. Today, Bob Costas graces Triple Crown races...

The buzz. (Static).(changes in personnel at 'NFL Countdown')
July 7, 2003... The buzz: ESPN has hired Michael Irvin for NFL Countdown, so an exit visa is imminent for Sterling Sharpe. Or Steve Young.

FYI. (Static).(basketball player Bill Walton)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... FYI: Bill Walton begged off ESPN's NBA Draft to be with son Luke, a second-round pick. E-mail: fquindt@sportingnews.com

Baseball still lives amid the corn. (A Visit to the Field of Dreams).(state of baseball field built in Iowa for film 'Field of Dreams')
July 7, 2003... Heaven turns 15 this week. No, not that heaven. Baseball heaven--at least as it is defined by the more than 800,000 visitors making the pilgrimage to a corn field in Iowa simply because of a movie. Not just any movie--Field of Dreams....

A work of heart: much of Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent's hometown of Trenton, N.J., is in disrepair. But his plentiful, passionate and personal work to rebuild and revitalize the community is beginning to show results and makes him No. 1 on TSN's annual list of Good Guys in pro sports. (The Good Guys).(Philadelphia Eagles)
July 7, 2003... Troy Vincent is walking through the Wilbur section of Trenton, N.J. He grew up in Wilbur when survival was a daily 10-round fight. It's worse now. Residents scratch out a living amid blocks of abandoned, boarded up, burned-out row houses and...

If everyone could be so lucky: the top three teams had it easy on draft night; the rest of the league had to work a little harder to come out ahead. (NBA).
July 7, 2003... The real winners in the latest version of NBA draft night were the aging patriarch of the Cleveland Cavaliers, his jovial new coach and the 2.9 million folks in the metro Cleveland area. So it was that Gordon Gund (the patriarch) and Paul Silas...

Retying the knot: success shared on the field and friendship nurtured off the field unraveled last season for Kurt Warner and Mike Martz. But they need each other--and they know it--for the Rams to be a Super Bowl contender again. (The QB And His Coach).(Los Angeles Rams)
July 7, 2003... Somehow this just doesn't seem right. Kurt Warner has been through too much, overcome too much, achieved so much and done it all with such a shiny smile and touching determination that he shouldn't have to start all over again. But...

Summer school: the end of the current labor agreement in 2004 looms over everything in the NHL, including a free-agent class that is about to learn a hard lesson in economics. (NHL).(National Hockey League)
July 7, 2003... This is the summer of preparation for the NHL and its teams. They must get their houses in order before the inevitable arrives. The NHL collective bargaining agreement, a lengthy legal document that has taken on a life of its own, expires on...

L.A. flaw: the Dodgers have been built on pitching and defense since moving to Los Angeles, but not even this year's dominant staff can overcome baseball's worst offense. (Baseball).(Los Angeles Dodgers)
July 7, 2003... A Bay area writer starts to ask Dodgers manager Jim Tracy about his offense. Tracy cuts him off, knowing what's coming. "You're not impressed," Tracy says smiling. Well, uh, no, Jim. "Which part aren't you impressed by?" Tracy...

Picking All-Star teams is serious business. (Baseball).
July 7, 2003... This time it counts. Excuse me, THIS TIME IT COUNTS. How do I know? Fox tells me so. And Fox is in charge of Major League Baseball plot development, at least as far as the All-Star Game is concerned. With home-field advantage in the World...

I got cut; now what? (Closer).(cut off of baseball team)
July 7, 2003... Major league baseball is a man's game. There are no friends, no favors and no room for people who don't carry their weight. So far this year, I hadn't carried my weight, so last week, I was designated for assignment, which means I ain't...

Minor league update. (Baseball).(player evaluations)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Keep an eye on these U.S. players in the Future Stars Game: J.J. Hardy, SS, Brewers. Hardy is the Brewers' shortstop of the future. He has played solid defense in his first shot at Class AA this year, plus he's hitting for both average...

Coming attractions. (Baseball).(brief evaluations of teams and players)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... The A.L. East race is as exciting as it is unexpected, and the three contenders meet in the coming week. In what should be a slugfest, the Blue Jays play host to the Red Sox for three games before welcoming the Yankees for three. So far this...

Burn, baby, burn: A's outfielder Eric Byrnes hopes his hot act--punctuated by speed and an all-out style--keeps him in the show. (Baseball).(Oakland A's)
July 7, 2003... The postgame spread had been laid out in a victorious A's clubhouse at Network Associates Coliseum when G.M. Billy Beane playfully picked on Eric Byrnes, the white-hot hitter who was then in the early stages of a career-best 22-game hitting...

N.L. reports. (Baseball).(National League baseball teams)
July 7, 2003... ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS The team is targeting RHP Curt Schilling (broken hand) to return before the All-Star break. The only thing still hampering Schilling is the inability to grip his curveball without discomfort. And shortly after...

A.L. reports. (Baseball).(American League baseball teams)
July 7, 2003... ANAHEIM ANGELS RF Tim Salmon will be the primary designated hitter now that Brad Fullmer is out for the season with a knee injury. Salmon, 34, will be used as the DH against righthanders and will play the outfield against lefthanders....

No reason to see red over pass on yellow. (NASCAR).(stock car racing rules)
July 7, 2003... What did you expect, Kevin Harvick? Robby Gordon is a racer. Get used to it. So what if he's your teammate. Did you really expect him to cut you some slack with a victory in his sights? Did you really expect him to abide by the bogus...

TSN 10: the 10 big races to watch this year. (NASCAR).(automobile races)
July 7, 2003... Track Skinny If Bristol is NASCAR's answer to Wrigley Field's friendly confines and Darlington is akin to quirky, asymmetrical Fenway Park, then Daytona is its Yankee Stadium. Daytona is mammoth, in breadth and length and height....

This time, the Raiders will get it right. (NFL).(Oakland Raiders; evaluative reports on football teams)
July 7, 2003... Training camp is less than a month away, and anticipation already is mounting. All 32 teams are without a loss and are in playoff contention. Although our friend and colleague Dan Pompei recently wrote his predictions for the 2003 season in...

AFC. (NFL).
July 7, 2003... BALTIMORE RAVENS GETTING FOCUSED: DE Adalius Thomas could be better if he concentrated on defense, but he may have to add bulk to play end full time. In the last two seasons, Thomas has started at outside linebacker and end and played...

NFC. (NFL).(football teams)
July 7, 2003... ARIZONA CARDINALS STRONG GROUP: The club is deeper and more athletic at linebacker than it has been in years. OLB Ray Thompson is the only definite starter. MLB Ronald McKinnon is being pushed by James Darling, and there's competition at...

A draft night gone bad. (NHL).(players who had problems in the basketball draft)
July 7, 2003... I sat with Keith Kreiter, the agent for 18-year-old Polish forward Maciej Lampe, two weeks ago at a Chicago eatery, discussing his client. I had heard about Lampe's skills from a handful of NBA personnel people, who added that the kid was a...

The art of the bad deal. (NHL).
July 7, 2003... There are some tempting free agents out there, waiting to sign their names to multimillion-dollar deals. They are ready and willing, but will they be able to give back enough on the ice to make it worth the high price? General managers and...

Eleven is enough for the ACC. (College Basketball).(Atlantic Coast Conference)
July 7, 2003... It started as a case of building strength through expansion. It became one of ensuring survival through imminent change. After weeks of hand-wringing and public wrangling, the ACC decided last week to add Miami and Virginia Tech. ...

Spartans choose the hard road. (College Basketball).(Michigan State Spartans)
July 7, 2003... You might figure that after consecutive seasons in which the losses for his Michigan State Spartans climbed into double figures, Tom Izzo would arrange to take a nice, slow cruise through a schedule deep in the likes of Pacific, Florida...

Ultimate fantasy source. (Fantasy).(fantasy baseball play tips)
July 7, 2003... ROTO RAP Many fantasy leagues, including Yahoo!'s popular public game, have an innings limit for pitchers. Owners must locus more on quality than quantity and pick and choose where they want those innings to come from. That requires...

Matchup heaven & hell. (Fantasy).(opinion about baseball matchups for the week)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... Favorable and unfavorable schedules for hitters during the week of July 7-13. HEAVEN A's. Behold the power of a cheese schedule: the Orioles and Devil Rays come to town. Astos. Yahtzee of the week: seven games at hitters paradise...

Bend it like Beckham? I don't think so.(influence soccer player David Beckham has on fashion despite his unique appearance)(Column)
July 7, 2003... Sheltered creature of small-town America that 1 am, I neither know nor expect to know any of those men identified in the popular culture as "metrosexuals." The New York Times last week refreshed my memory of the term itself. In fact, reporter...

Second chance to play. (SportingNews.com).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... The All-Star break is approaching, which means time is running out to sign up for one of SportingNews.com's three mid-season fantasy baseball games. So if the first half of the season didn't go as you had planned, this is your opportunity to...

The countdown's on. (SportingNews Radio).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... With two-a-days and the season right around the corner, it's time for our annual Top 25 College Football Countdown. We'll break down the top teams, No. 25 to No. 1 as ranked by TSN, talk with players and coaches from each school and add...

Get ready. (SportingNews Books).(Book Review)
July 14, 2003... There's no better way to prepare for the NFL season than with a copy of Pro Football, which includes analysis of all 32 teams, schedules, depth charts, rosters, unit rankings and much more. Order today--and choose from among 17 covers--at:...

To know list: 7 good times that don't add up to half as much fun as a Sweet Lou dye job. (Know It All).
July 14, 2003... (1) B-BACKS IN THE SADDLE? The horses will return soon--and a stud hitter might join the run for a title The resurgent Diamondbacks are in the midst of a nearly complete makeover, and their changes might include not just Randy Johnson,...

Pinstripes face a checkered pitching future. (Caught On The Fly).
July 14, 2003... You can always count on the Yankees to do some kind of big deal, but for the first time in a looooong time, they may be reluctant trade partners come July 31 (relatively speaking, of course). The more exposure Juan Rivera gets, the more he gets...

Bob Hille's starting 5. (Know It All).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... (1) The All-Star Game. With the World Series home-field advantage at stake, this year's game means something... other than the usual "Rangers fans, it's almost football season." (2) The NHL. "Free-agent money has dried up because...

Second half fantasy tips. (Stock Exchange).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... TSN fantasy baseball expert Brendan Roberts looks at which players fantasy owners should trade or acquire for the second half. Magglio Ordonez. Would you quit your snivelin' already, Mags owners? He's still the same elite player you fell in...

I'm a dangerous emcee. (My Turn).
July 14, 2003... Sorry this isn't your usual sports column. Cut me some slack. I'm hosting the ESPYs (July 16, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN), which isn't your usual awards show. I know, because I've been the host for MTV's Video Awards. I've been to the Academy...

Your turn. (My Turn).(Letter to the Editor)
July 14, 2003... * I would like to know why it's wrong for the ACC to expand by raiding the Big East, but it was perfectly acceptable that the Big East expanded by raiding the Atlantic 10. Sean Mitchell Indian Head, Md. * Congratulations to Sean...

How to ... heckle. (Fanscape).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... To help you do right by your team--not to mention yourself--while at a game, Fanscape checked with two experts at opposite ends of the spectrum: Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute, and lawyer Robin Ficker, the most famous heckler...

Going glow-ball. (Fanscape).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... If your shots don't go down after the sun does, check out the new Illuminite from Huffy Sports--a basketball that absorbs the sun's rays then glows green when dusk arrives. You may not have light, but you'll still have game.

The art of sports. (Fanscape).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... Baseball is so deeply connected to it past that knowing the back stories enhances your appreciation of the present. The same is true with The Perfect Game: America Looks at Baseball, an illuminating and entertaining exhibit at the American Folk...

The skis are on for baseball's All-Star game. (Jumping The Shark).
July 14, 2003... The Red Sox jumped the shark when they sold Babe Ruth. The Bills took their NFL leap when Scott Norwood's kick in Tampa sailed wide right. Bobby Knight had his legendary chair toss at Assembly Hall. "Jumping the shark" refers to the moment...

On air. (Know It All).
July 14, 2003... Tim Brando says: "I respect what the NBA is doing to add foreign talent, but even when you're big in France--like Jerry Lewis--if you don't sell in the U.S., you're yesterday's news." Bill...

Pitching baseball's American Idol. (Static).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... Pitching baseball's American idol: Sure. Fox pushed for the All-Star Game winner to get home-field advantage for the World Series. Once operating clandestinely, it now boasts to selling owners and players that this concept would be healthy for...

The buzz. (Static).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... * The buzz: Rehiring Mike Pearl (who invented Charles Barkley at TNT) as executive producer underlines ABC's new goal of separating the network's identity from ESPN. E-mail: fquindt@sportingnews.com

Vital stats. (Static).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... * Vital stats: Fox's NASCAR season averaged a 5.8 Nielsen--equal to the last two years, while basketball and hockey audiences dwindled--but New York (2.0) and Los Angeles (2.6) ratings remain underwhelming. Best o' luck, NBC. E-mail:...

Do not adjust your set. (Static).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... * Do not adjust your set: Fox miked Yankees coach Lee Mazzilli giving Hideki Matsui base-running advice... in Japanese. E-mail: fquindt@sportingnews.com

Why do so many folks hate Jeff Gordon? (Driver's ed: a stick-and-ball fan's guide to NASCAR).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... You realize those aren't index fingers and wonder why NASCAR fans hate Jeff Gordon. He's young and good looking and wins like crazy. What's not to love? For starters, he's young and good looking and wins like crazy. Gordon broke into...

Linked & loaded: Jake Plummer needs a mentor who will hone his talent and limit his mistakes. Mike Shanahan needs a quarterback with the flash to make his scheme succeed. Together, they will thrive. (The QB And His Coach)(NFL).
July 14, 2003... Jake Plummer drops back, looks, steps up. The pocket moves past him. Receivers run deep and into the corners. The middle of the field beckons. He bursts up the gut, nothing but 50 yards of grass between him and the end zone. His mates on...

Dogged determination: Todd Bodine and Kenny Wallace and the smaller teams they drive for face daunting tasks, but they continue to work hard, believing an underdog can have his day. (NASCAR).
July 14, 2003... On the surface, the parity in NASCAR would seem to be an underdog's dream. As recently as 1998, two drivers won more than half the races, but already there have been 14 different winners in this season's first 17 races. Common templates...

Supreme court decision: who's this year's top high school player? The debate is lively, and the verdict won't be rendered in the media, but on the hardwood. (College Basketball).
July 14, 2003... The difference between this year's LeBron James and next year's LeBron James is that this year's bears that name on his birth certificate--and drives the most notorious SUV in the land and owns contract guarantees that place his net worth into...

Second helpings: baseball fans can look forward to a rollicking stretch run that will make the lackluster first half a distant memory. (Baseball).
July 14, 2003... If you've been watching much baseball--judging by sagging attendance figures, many of you haven't--the first half of the season must have left you thinking this game is as much fun as a rain delay on a cold night at Shea Stadium. The...

Standing still gets you nowhere. (Baseball).
July 14, 2003... Imagine the Mariners with a more productive third baseman than Jeff Cirillo. A power hitter in left who would reduce Randy Winn to a fourth outfielder. Another high-quality starting pitcher or dominant late-inning reliever who could fortify the...

A second chance to make a first impression. (Closer).
July 14, 2003... On Thursday, June 26, I didn't go to the park. I was out of work. I flew back to Denver from Pittsburgh, and my wife and I packed our entire apartment into our truck and shipped out of Denver. This is where wives don't get enough credit....

A hard thrower overcomes harder times. (Baseball).
July 14, 2003... Jason Schmidt is quiet, reserved and nice. Very nice. He chuckles at compliments and dismisses them immediately. His smile is contagious, and he appears to be a happy, content man. Except when he thinks about the past. That's when his head...

Coming attractions. (Baseball).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... This weekend is the final action before the All-Star break, and there are plenty of important series, especially in the N.L. The Diamondbacks are back in the N.L. West race and welcome the division-leading Giants for three games. Arizona will...

Two-strike hitters. (Spotlight).
July 14, 2003... Patience and savvy are key elements in the makeup of a great two-strike hitter. 1. Jose Vidro, 2B, Expos The more a pitcher throws, the more he gets tired, the sooner a team can pounce on him. That's why it's important for hitters to...

Top five. (Baseball).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... 2002 All-Stars who are looking to regain their form: 1 Paul Konerko, 1B/DH, White Sox. Chicago's other first baseman/DH (Frank Thomas) was supposed to falter this season, but Konerko has been downright awful, hitting below the Mendoza line...

Stat scape. (Baseball).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... So far in baseball's Year of the White Elephant, clubs have released 10 ex-regulars owed $53 million--more than 11 teams' entire payrolls. Many others cling to jobs despite performances worth a fraction of their bloated contracts (Exhibit A:...

Preston Wilson CF, Rockies. (Scouting Report).
July 14, 2003... Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 213 Throws: Right Bats: Right 2003: Hitting a career-best .301 with 19 home runs and 76 RBIs. Last year: Hit .243 for the Marlins, a career low since he became an everyday player, with 23 homers and...

Minor league update. (Scouting Report).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... World Team players to watch in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game: Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Dodgers. In a couple of years, Gutierrez, a native of Venezuela, might make the Dodgers' offensive woes a distant memory. He strikes out a lot and...

N.L. reports. (Baseball).
July 14, 2003... ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS LHP Randy Johnson's return appears to be imminent. He threw four perfect innings for Class AAA Tucson last weekend, needing just 44 pitches and striking out four, Johnson, who had knee surgery two months ago, was...

A.L. reports. (Baseball).
July 14, 2003... ANAHEIM ANGELS The emergence of OF Jeff DaVanon has left OF Eric Owen scrambling for playing time, even though Owens has been productive in his limited role. DaVanon supplanted Owens as the team's fourth outfielder by hitting .349 with...

Chevy left the others at the levy. (NASCAR).
July 14, 2003... Before too much praise gets heaped on NASCAR for its move to common templates, perhaps we should try to figure out why one car make has assumed such a dominant position in Winston Cup. The 2003 season is nearly half-over, and Chevrolet...

What are the weaknesses of four drivers having standout seasons? (Driver reports).
July 14, 2003... Matt Kenseth 17 Though Kenseth has topped the standings since the fourth race of the year, he has raced long enough to know that with just more than half the reason remaining, his points lead, 180 after the Pepsi 400, nearly can...

Wideouts dominate breakout team. (NFL).
July 14, 2003... Our 2003 offensive breakout team (rookies were not considered): Quarterback The light finally is burning brightly instead of flickering faintly for Matt Hasselbeck of the Seahawks. This will be Hasselbeck's sixth year in the same basic...

AFC. (NFL).
July 14, 2003... BALTIMORE RAVENS NO CONTEST: A heated contest was expected between CBs Gary Baxter and Corey Fuller, but Fuller seems to have the inside track based on his experience with coach Brian Billick with the Vikings. Assistant coaches like...

NFC. (NFL).
July 14, 2003... ARIZONA CARDINALS SAFETY STORY: New FS Dexter Jackson was impressive during recent minicamps. He covered a considerable amount of ground in coverage, and his enthusiasm helped increase the tempo and intensity of practices.... Coaches have...

Coming to terms--with terms. (NBA).
July 14, 2003... As we tumble through the first part of the free-agent swap meet, you're probably wondering what effects the early July moratorium on signings is having on basketball-related income as it pertains to escrow and qualifying offers. Maybe you're...

How to win over fans. (NHL).
July 14, 2003... The NHL always is trying to figure out how to bring in more fans. But in a little more than a year, it will have to find a way to keep the fans it has during a work stoppage everyone has seen coming for months and months and months. Below...

ACC allows the Hokies to dream. (College Basketball).
July 14, 2003... If you think Virginia Tech always has been this hopeless, this feckless, this forlorn, then your memory is shorter than a Dell Curry 3-pointer. This university is not without basketball tradition. It just hasn't had a team in a while. Most...

Miles' move is a guaranteed winner. (College Football).
July 14, 2003... He started it all by giving away his money. Cold, hard cash that should've been socked away somewhere gathering compounded returns was funneled into hands that needed it more. Spend money to make money, right? Best investment Les Miles ever...

Ultimate Fantasy Source. (Fantasy).
July 14, 2003... FIRST HALF REVIEW By Rob Hurtt What in the name of Esteban Loaiza is going on this season? There must be something kooky happening when an eight-year veteran with a 4.88 career ERA leads the majors in that category. Loaiza wasn't...

Matchup heaven & hell. (Fantasy).(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... Favorable and unfavorable schedules for hitters during the week on July 14-20. Most teams have one four-game series after the All-Star break. HEAVEN Astros. They face the Reds and their N.L.-worst pitching staff at Great American Ball...