- Excuse the picture above, couldn't find a Marlon Byrd shot.
- Is there anything Byrd can't do these days? After Aki gives up 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th, the Rangers go back ahead on Byrd's 2 run triple. And if I'm a Tiger fan, I have to be wondering what management has been seeing in Todd Jones for the past 2-3 years. The guy throws 85 mph heat and looks like he should be delivering Miller Lite to the stadium.
Rangers rally, win 9-6. How much more fun is it to watch this team when they're playing like this? Tell that prick Teixeira to take his sweet time getting healthy.
DETROIT – Marlon Byrd hit a tiebreaking triple in the ninth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 9-6 on Tuesday night after blowing a three-run lead in the eighth.
Brad Wilkerson hit a three-run homer and Sammy Sosa had two RBIs for the last-place Rangers, who won for the sixth time in seven games and beat AL Central-leading Detroit for the second consecutive night. Byrd knocked in three runs during an 8-3 victory Monday.
Tigers closer Todd Jones (1-4) retired the first two batters in the ninth, but Michael Young walked and Sosa singled before Byrd hit a sharp liner to right that got by Magglio Ordonez and scored both runners. Ramon Vazquez followed with an RBI single, knocking Jones out of the game.
Akinori Otsuka (2-1), who allowed three runs in the eighth, got the win. Eric Gagne pitched the ninth for his eighth save in eight chances. He struck out Ordonez, the major leagues' batting leader, with two on to end it.
Otsuka went into the eighth with a 6-3 cushion and a 10-game scoreless streak, but couldn't hold the lead.
The Tigers loaded the bases with one out, and Sean Casey's two-run single pulled Detroit within a run. Craig Monroe followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the score.
The Rangers' ninth-inning rally was their second in three innings. They took the lead with five runs in the seventh.
Jason Grilli started the inning by hitting Victor Diaz with a pitch, and Gerald Laird followed with a double. That brought Tim Byrdak into the game, but Wilkerson hit his second pitch into the tunnel beyond the right-field fence for his ninth homer.
Errors by third baseman Brandon Inge and left fielder Craig Monroe let the Rangers add a fifth run. Sosa's ground-rule double to left – his second of the game – made it 6-3.
The Tigers scored twice in the first after loading the bases on an infield single and a pair of walks.
Carlos Guillen made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly and Casey followed with an RBI single off the glove of third baseman Travis Metcalf.
After that, Nate Robertson and Willie Eyre hooked up in a pitchers' duel until Curtis Granderson hit his 10th homer in the fifth.
Granderson became the first player since Nomar Garciaparra in 2003 to reach double figures in doubles, triples and homers before the All-Star break.
On the next pitch, Placido Polanco hit a line drive that hit Eyre in the chest. As he fell to the ground, the ball happened to land in his glove for the second out of the inning. He stayed down for several moments, but eventually walked off the field under his own power.
Eyre, who was making his first start in his 62nd major league game, allowed three runs in a career-high 4 2-3 innings.
Texas cut the margin to 3-1 in the sixth on Sosa's sacrifice fly.
- Check out this wicked rumor, not sure how much stock I put in this, but interesting nonetheless.
Mavs Talk KG
DB Scoop: 'Sexy' Deal Discussed
By Mike Fisher -- DB.com
DallasBasketball.com has learned that the Mavs have quietly laid the groundwork necessary to be bidders in the Kevin Garnett Sweepstakes, with a backup plan that could land an impact lottery-level player in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
“We know what’s going on out there,’’ Mavs president Donnie Nelson tells DB.com. “If there is a way to get something like that done, we’ll probe it.’’
From what we can gather, Dallas has done more than probe. NBA sources say Minnesota has been very clear in talks what they would require from the Mavs: A draft pick between No. 3 and No. 7 overall; a package of expiring contracts; and a future young star.
And the Mavs, we’re told, have informed the T’Wolves that “we are not scared of the money part’’ and that “we are interested.’’
Nelson would not confirm those details except to say, “A deal like this is unlikely because there are so many moving parts. It’s sexy to talk about. But that being said, we won 67 games. We were in the Finals last summer. We love our team.’’
There’s no denying that the Mavs could stand pat and remain elite. At the same time, there is so much logic (and just enough whispers) to affirm that the necessary homework is being done. For instance, some details on what we’ve learned:
* The Mavs believe they are shy in the “expiring contracts’’ department. Austin Croshere is a potential piece, as is Jerry Stackhouse. But Stack’s situation is complicated: The Mavs would prefer not to part with him. And, he’d have to agree to sign his way to a trade to Minnesota. We get strong indications that his agent would balk at that request.
DB.com's very clever David Lord tosses out a wildly creative notion: With Dallas still technically owning the rights to Keith Van Horn, can they "invent an expiring contract'' and throw him into the deal?
* There are those in the organization that visualize the acquisition of superstar Garnett happening without sacrificing Dallas’ collection of young talent. But the overriding feeling is that “we’d be awfully stripped down,’’ as one staffer put it. “It’d be Dirk and KG and a bunch of supporting guys. We’d look like LA with Kobe and KG and a bunch of guys. We might have no (quality) 1’s or 2’s or 3’s. Does that really make us better?’’
* From an X’s-and-O’s standpoint, the answer to that question seems to be, “Yes.’’ One NBA assistant tells us that “KG is like Dirk’’ in the sense that he can create for himself, so Avery Johnson’s desire for a premier and pure point guard would be lessened.
* In theory, the Mavs would be forced to part with Josh Howard and Jason Terry (and maybe Devin Harris?) if involved in a three-way deal. Part of that package would go to a lottery team in order to get a premier pick, which would be shipped to Minnesota along with the rest of the talent. We are certain the Mavs have spoken with Boston at No. 5 – but we are also told as of very late Monday night that a deal with the Celtics is “unlikely.’’
* Why? Probably because the No. 5 spot is too far down the draft to nab Florida’s Al Horford, who we have learned is the apple of the T’wolves’ eye – and the apple of the Mavs’ eye, too. Dallas sees him as the Brand/Boozer sort of power forward we’ve been clamoring for around here for years. And if a premier pick were acquired by the Mavs but then a deal with Minny not consummated, a young Brand/Boozer would be a terrific consolation prize for Dallas.
* Horford, however, will not get past Atlanta at No. 3, the Mavs believe. Therefore, we assume Dallas is in conversation with the Hawks. Meanwhile, the Mavs think highly of Chinese 7-footer Yi Jianlian. (Who, by the way, is more known by Del Harris than by another other coach on the planet.) And they do not think highly (in terms of his being a top-five guy) of Florida’s Joakim Noah. (“His hustle makes him appear to be more talented than he is,’’ says one voice. “You’d love to have him. But he’s not a difference-maker.’’) So you might be able to laugh off the rumor of Jason Terry being swapped for Noah.
* Put another way: As a Mavs staffer tells us, “We can’t just create a top-seven pick out of mid-air.’’ And in a related issue: Can Mavs rival Phoenix create something like this out of mid-air? Well, yeah. With two No. 1 picks this year and Atlanta’s No. 1 next year, the ammunition seems easier for the Suns to load up.
* One more thing about draft order (and while it might not necessarily be Mavs-related, you still get to hear it here first: Sources with knowledge of the thoughts of a variety of NBA teams swear Yi won’t get past Milwaukee at No. 6. And if Don Nelson has his way, the Warriors make a leap from No. 18 and Nellie gets himself another unique foreign talent.
* Without a doubt, the Mavs have expressed to Minnesota that they believe they can top LA’s offer of Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. “A flimsy offer,’’ one source scoffs. Dallas knows it is more likely it’ll have to pattern its proposal after the Boston-Minnesota deal that would’ve happened had KG not vetoed the swap: Garnett to the Celtics for young forward Al Jefferson, a lottery pick, and Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract. Dallas has enough talent to handle the Jefferson-like part. But how to get a lotto pick? How to add up to Ratliff numbers? How to throw in enough other pieces to satisfy what will certainly be Minnesota’s desire to dump into the deal overpaid players like Troy Hudson?
“Mark this down,’’ says a source. “You want in on this, you’re going to be taking on some of Minnesota’s bad contracts.’’
* Maybe that what the Mavs meant when they expressed to Minnesota that they don’t care about “the money part.’’ Or maybe it’s a message to not worry about waiting until after the draft to pull the trigger. On the surface, it would seem the Mavs should hope Minnesota waits until draft night and beyond to do anything because as time goes on, a commodity like Howard becomes a “base-year’’ player (after June 30) and therefore is more financially “filling’’ when it comes to trades. Our David Lord has pieced together a workable idea: Diop, Howard, Terry, Croshere and a No. 1 for KG and change. That can happen by mid-July.
But our impression is that Mavs owner Mark Cuban is willing to examine the right deal NOW as well.
* Using very round numbers here, understand that doing Howard-for-Garnett, one-for-one, leaves the Mavs about $17.5 shy of being legal. (Updated cap info at 202pm June 26: Right now, the number that Minny would count J-Ho for is $8.67 mil, but the Mavs can only take back $1.67 mil because of poison-pill status. After June 30 the number that Minny would count him for moves to $9 mil, but the Mavs can only take back $4.5 mil. See? It’s complicated.)
Add JET, Erick Dampier and a pick and you get pretty close. Or try the Croshere/Van Horn idea as you search for whether Minny would rather have players like Terry and Damp or eventually cap room from "non-players'' Cro and KVH. ... Again. … lots of “moving parts.’’
* As one team exec puts it, “By the time real offers hit the table, the asking price is going to be outrageous. That’s the No. 1 reason I think nothing will happen: Minnesota’s going to end up wanting too much.’’
* Oh, and there’s this: One NBA staffer suggests to us that Minnesota isn’t enamored with the idea of getting Jason Terry. And apparently plenty of teams aren’t in love with the idea of acquiring Erick Dampier.
* We hate to even acknowledge the Chicago Tribune’s KG-to-Dallas angle, but we must: No, Dallas is NOT talking about getting Garnett by dumping Dirk Nowitzki. Dopes.
* It should be noted: The Mavs have no desire to lose Howard. And they still believe in Harris’ future. Terry, however, is clearly viewed as valued-but-expendable. One Mavs staffer says, “I think it’s a tough call. Jason’s a leader. He’s a chemistry guy. He’s important.’’ But, adds an NBA exec who has apparently been involved in phone conversations: “I think Avery will move him if he can.’’
* Kevin Garnett’s money comes up often. He’s got a trade kicker in his contract (we believe it's $3 million) though that could conceivably be waived. Still, the Mavs have in their minds thought of having to budget about $25 million a year for him. A 12-year vet, KG is due to make $22 mil this season and $23 mil next season, the final year of his existing deal. Oh, and Dallas can expect to be asked to give him an extension, too.
“Mark Cuban has never been scared of making the big move,’’ says one source.
And they don’t get much bigger – or much more complicated, or much more sexy – than this.
- The latest on KG from ESPN's Chad Ford
• What's happening with the Kevin Garnett four-team blockbuster? Depends on who you ask.
From what we can reconstruct, it appears that talks started when Lakers owner Jerry Buss and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor began talking about a KG-to-the-Lakers trade between the two teams.
Once it became apparent that the Lakers didn't have a good enough package to entice the Wolves to do the deal, each team went back to an older offer.
The Lakers knew that the Pacers might take Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum for Jermaine O'Neal.
And the Wolves knew what the Celtics were offering for KG -- the No. 5 pick, Al Jefferson and Theo Ratliff.
The problem now is the Celtics aren't ready to give up the same package for O'Neal, and the Pacers reportedly never got roped back into the deal.
At least one other GM believes that Taylor isn't going to trade KG to the Lakers (aka the enemy) and eventually would have balked anyway. If that's the case, someone needs to sit him and Kevin McHale down and tell them that, at this point, getting some first-round picks and massive cap room would be a good deal for KG. If they wait much longer, he'll walk for nothing.
So, anyway ... what has to give? Either the Celtics decide to include Jefferson in the deal (very, very unlikely) or the other three teams try to find a way to sweeten the pot for Minnesota.
How about this crazy thought? Maybe the teams eliminate the Pacers from the conversation, and Boston takes back Odom and Bynum. Then Boston offers to sweeten the pot by sending the Wolves back their 2009 first-round pick that the Celtics acquired in the Wally Szczerbiak deal and the Lakers throw in a future first-round pick to boot.
I actually think getting Odom and Bynum makes more sense for Boston than getting O'Neal at this point. Put a starting lineup of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Odom, Jefferson and Bynum on the floor with Delonte West, Tony Allen, Szczerbiak and Kendrick Perkins coming off the bench, and I think the Celtics are right back in the playoff picture in the East.
As for the Lakers, if this deal falls through, I think acquiring a player like Zach Randolph could be their backup plan.
- The latest re Sean Williams
Boston College center Sean Williams also is struggling to get a team to commit. Just about every team from No. 14 on down likes him. But they haven't gotten a chance to get close enough to him to write off their concerns about his off-court issues. That could put him in a nosedive on draft night.
Nets president Rod Thorn and GM Ed Stefanski flew to Houston on Monday to see Williams work out. They desperately need what he brings to the table -- size, athleticism and shot-blocking. We know the Nets aren't afraid of players with legal problems -- they drafted Marcus Williams last year despite his being charged with stealing laptops.
New Jersey is a pivotal place for Sean Williams. If the Nets pass at No. 17, his next stop is probably Charlotte at No. 22 or New York at No. 23. Or Detroit at No. 27. But that's a pretty big range this close to the draft. If he slips past there, he could slide into the second round.
- More JET rumors
Mavericks: Jason Terry To Be Sacrificed?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bill Ingram
for HOOPSWORLD.com
The Dallas Mavericks need a big man, and they believe they can get one in the draft. Of course, to move into the first round, where the Mavs don't currently hold a pick, someone's going to have to be sacrificed. As much as I hate to say it, it's sounding more and more like Jason Terry is the one who will ultimately be sent out to get the piece the Mavericks feel they need to get to the next level.
It's not entirely fair to Jet, who has done everything he's been asked to do and then some. He has become as close to Avery Johnson as anyone on the team, and it's Jet who gets the fans going when the upper crust Dallas fans forget that fan participation is an important part of a team's home court advantage. The only thing Jet doesn't have is about three more inches of height to make him a true off guard.
The point guard position is going to be turned over to Devin Harris. Harris is a much better decision-maker than Terry, and though he lacks the veteran savvy of the Jet, the Mavericks feel he's ready to take the next step. That said, Terry is a proven NBA starter, and benching him simply is not an option. The choice, then, is to trade him and use his value to fill another need.
Scanning the internet rumor sheets yields a plethora of proposals for Terry. Minnesota needs another scorer in the backcourt now that they've traded Mike James. The Memphis Grizzlies are also in the market for another backcourt threat, and Terry could help tremendously as a mentor to Rudy Gay. Both of these teams have top ten picks in the draft and it's possible the Mavericks could land UNC's Brandan Wright or Florida's Joakim Noah. It's also been suggested that they might be able to get Darko Milicic from Orlando for Terry, though the Magic are very high on Milicic and it's unlikely they take a small for a big. Never mind that fact that the Mavs already have two centers on their roster and would need to move one of them to justify taking on a third while giving up a starter.
The Mavericks aren't looking to make major changes this offseason, and after winning 67 games it's tough to blame them for that approach. It could easily be argued that Jason Terry, who was a big part of those 67 wins and knows Avery's system inside and out, is more valuable than the player he might bring back in trade. But the rumors are out there, and where there's smoke there's usually fire. Jason Terry could be the one who gets sacrificed to bring in the low post scoring threat that the Mavs currently lack.
- I may be here for UCLA-Notre Dame in 3 months. Details possibly to follow in the coming months.
-Never gets old
- Bill Murray was absolute genius
- Rick Moranis playing a very underrated comedic part
- Picks O' the day
Yesterday - 3-2
YTD - 20-18
As always, home underdogs, and these:
Baltimore +135 - Bedard a very good pitcher, BALT at home, and I hate Clemens
White Sox -115 - Buerhle pitching very well, team is 9-5 in his starts
LA Dodger/Arizona Under - Webb and Lowe pitching, 2 of the premier sinker ball pitchers in the game, I wouldn't be surprised to see a 2-1 game.
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