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07/02/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Here's a trivia question sure to stump your buddies: name the team that currently leads the majors in team batting average.
And no, it's not the Yankees, Red Sox or Rangers. Give up? It's ok, that team would be the perennial doormat Kansas City Royals (34-45). And yes, we are in July, not April. As a team, the Royals are hitting a solid .284 and have compiled 777 hits, both of which are tops in the majors. But you wouldn't know it by looking at the win-loss column.
Kansas City entered Friday nine games behind division-leader Minnesota. Beginning Friday night in Anaheim, the Royals will embark on a nine-game road swing leading up to the All-Star break. Following this weekend's three-game set with the Angels, they'll travel to Seattle and Chicago to take on the Mariners and White Sox, respectively.
Obviously, things can change in a hurry by the time that trip is finished -- Kansas City's 16-24 road mark isn't exactly promising. Still, on a larger scale, things are starting to look up for this long dormant organization, which will host the 2012 All-Star game.
Manager Ned Yost said the key is the team's overall approach at the plate.
"They've got a plan and they go up there and try to execute their plan and they're really good with plate discipline," he said earlier this week. "If a pitcher is going to give us the opportunity to walk, they're going to take that opportunity. They do a good job of that day-in and day-out."
Left fielder Scott Podsednik feels it's as simple as the offense playing up to expectations."When they put this club together in Spring Training, offensively we felt like we had a pretty good attack and right now we're showing that," he said.
Outfielder David DeJesus has been the poster child, hitting a robust .410 in June, while ranking second in the AL in hits (41) and RBI (16) for the month. Of course, the hope in Kansas City is that the offensive attack carries over to next year and beyond. And for someone like DeJesus, who is putting up career numbers in the final year of a five-year deal, that could potentially mean a change of scenery in the coming weeks as the July 31 trade deadline heats up.
Ditto for designated hitter Jose Guillen, who is also in the final year of his contract and has been swinging a hot bat of late. But to unload Guillen, the Royals would almost certainly have to eat a large chunk of the $6.2 million remaining on his $12 million salary for this season. General manager Dayton Moore is trying to set the team up for long-term success, and any move in the next month would reflect that, despite there being three months left to play in this season.
According to the Kansas City Star, the Red Sox have expressed interest in infielder Mike Aviles and utilityman Willie Bloomquist as potential replacements for injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Likewise, 34-year-old Podsednik (.293) could land with a team seeking outfield help.
Reliever Kyle Farnsworth has enjoyed a rebound season (2.14 ERA, 25 K, 9 BB), though his $4.5 million price tag this year could be a dealbreaker. That's the same linchpin surrounding injured starter Gil Meche, who is on the books for a team-high $12 million in 2010 and 2011.
Those are the names you're likely to hear in various trade scenarios over the next month. And although the Royals have proven capable at the plate so far this season, Moore will try to move as many of those names as possible, in the interest of next year and beyond.
TIGERS AIMING TO BE BUYERS AT TRADE DEADLINE
It's one of those fickle conundrums for the GM of a meddling baseball team as the trade deadline nears: buyer or seller? Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski finds himself in such a predicament, with his team seemingly underachieving, at 41-36. Still, the Tigers are only one game out of first place -- although they are also the same margin away from being a third-place team.
With Detroit, there is an interesting mix of veterans and young players. Back in the offseason, veterans Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson were unloaded in a three-team deal that returned payroll flexibility, and youth. But shortly after, the front office went out and signed 36-year-old outfielder Johnny Damon, and paid him more than Granderson.
All in all, the message from Dombrowski was clear: the Tigers are expected to contend this season, and hopefully, beyond. Depending on how things go over the next few weeks, Dombrowski will either reinforce that message, or move in a different direction.
SOX' GM WILLIAMS WEIGHING OPTIONS
Chicago general manager Kenny Williams usually finds himself in the same boat as Detroit GM Dombrowski, sitting in wait-and-see mode while the White Sox toil around .500 in July. But this time around, the pieces appear to be falling in place a bit earlier than usual. The evidence is in the White Sox' recent 11-game win streak, their longest since 1961.
But for Williams, the question is always, "How can this team be better?"
The pitching has been on point. Since June 9, the team has a combined 2.61 ERA. Closer Bobby Jenks has had his shaky moments, though he has converted 17 of 18 save opportunities. The bullpen in general has been solid for most of the season, ranking fifth in the American League with a 3.85 ERA. If anything, the team could use another left-handed stick in the middle of the lineup to drive in runs.
Multiple reports have linked Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn to Williams and the White Sox. The 30-year-old Dunn, who is in the final year of his two-year, $20 million deal, has been a consistent run producer throughout his career. But Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo won't part with Dunn for pennies.
"For us to move him will be very painful, and it will probably be very, very painful for the team that wants to acquire him," Rizzo told the team's website. "I mean, we are always listening. We are certainly not in a position with our history and our record this year and our record in the past that we have to turn a blind eye to any type of constructive idea or offer.
"We are certainly not shocked at Adam Dunn. He is one of the top five or 10 best offensive players in the game, a constant 40 home run guy, 100 RBIs, .400 on-base type of guy and, you know, he's 29 or 30 years old and he has been a centerpiece of our clubhouse for the last two years. He's a great guy."
YOUNG TRIBE SHOWING LIFE
Although still cemented in last place in the division, the Cleveland Indians (31-47) have stumbled onto a discovery this week: winning.
The Indians have won a season-high five straight, including the first four games of their current seven-game homestand. Next up is a weekend series with the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field.
Most importantly, the Indians are getting some very big contributions from key players. Recently recalled first baseman Matt LaPorta has homered in three straight games. Designated hitter Travis Hafner is hitting .367 with three homers, three doubles and seven RBI over the past nine games, crediting a recent adjustment to his swing. Justin Masterson tossed 8 1/3 innings of one- run ball against Toronto on Thursday, and he has held the opposition to two runs or less in four of his last six starts. Chris Perez (2.90 ERA, 7-for-10 SV) has emerged as a viable closer option if the front office is able to move Kerry Wood (6.62 ERA, 8-for-11 SV).
On the injury front, infielder Asdrubal Cabrera is making progress from a fractured forearm suffered in a May 17 collision. He could return soon after the All-Star break. All in all, Cleveland's Fun Bunch has put its youthful energy on full display, and the result has been a few more notches in the win column.
TWINS BULLPEN PROVES TO BE MORTAL
When the Twins lost four-time All-Star closer and single-season saves leader (47) Joe Nathan for the season before it even started, naturally, the bullpen figured to be a huge question mark. But up until now, those questions have been answered rather convincingly by the Twins' relief corps.
Minnesota's bullpen entered Thursday with an American League-best 2.79 ERA. But the 'pen finally came back down to Earth Thursday night when closer Jon Rauch spoiled a ninth inning lead, and the Tampa Bay Rays won 5-4 in the 10th when Willy Aybar hit an RBI single off Matt Guerrier. For Rauch, it was hit second straight blown save, and fourth in 21 chances this season.
"Our bullpen's been very good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Star Tribune. "Tonight we had a couple that didn't get it done, but that's the way it goes sometimes."
Translation: Gardenhire won't be making any drastic changes to the back end of the 'pen based on Rauch's recent struggles. After all, the Twins still lead the AL Central despite losses in seven of their past 10 games, and the bullpen has been a major reason for that.
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Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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