MLB.com: Seven in a row for surging Rays

Opposing teams might want to reconsider playing a shift against Carlos Pena or tugging on Superman’s cape. Those approaches backfired for the Royals in Sunday’s 9-2 Rays win in front of a crowd of 20,587 at Tropicana Field, as Pena had three hits and Evan Longoria hit his 16th homer.

It was Tampa Bay’s season-high seventh consecutive victory and 11th in its past 12. The win was also the Rays’ 36th at Tropicana Field, thanks to a 32-6 home stretch since April 22.
...
James Shields (7-5) started for the Rays and surrendered two runs in the second before raining zeroes on the Royals for the remainder of the afternoon. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out eight in seven innings.

MIL J-S blog: Brewers, Indians agree on Sabathia

I just was told by a reliable club source that the Brewers have a deal in place with Cleveland for left-hander C.C. Sabathia, contingent on the paperwork being done and medical records exchanged.

But believe me, folks, that’s a deal. All that other stuff is formality.

All I know so far is that top prospect Matt LaPorta is in the deal. I was told two lower-level minor leaguers also are included. The Brewers refused to include another top prospect such as Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel.

Look for Sabathia to make his debut for the Brewers Tuesday night at Miller Park against Colorado.

The Brewers sweep the Pirates and now have the second best record in the NL, and this, too.  Productive day.

The Real McCoy: Volquez yes, Griffey no

Baker know...s nothing about Volquez.

Volquez and manager Dusty Baker discussed the possibility that he might not make the team.

With three mediocre starts before Sunday’s bad start-good finish appearance, Volquez could feel the All-Star game slipping through the fingers that throw that devastating change-up.

...“We have to watch Volquez,” said Baker. “He hasn’t thrown quite as good over his last four starts. This is new territory for him. What’s the most innings he has thrown in the big leagues?”

Volquez pitched 34 big-league innings at Texas last season, but 179 combined innings in the majors and minors.

“Yes, he threw more in the minors, but that’s not as much intensity, not as stressful inning as they are up here.”

Rosenthal: Dodgers out of mix for Sabathia, Brewers close?

The latest Robothalamuse…

The Los Angeles Dodgers are out of the running for C.C. Sabathia, according to a major-league source, an indication that the Milwaukee Brewers may be nearing a trade for the Indians’ left-hander.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays also are bidding for Sabathia, but neither of those clubs are expected to top the Brewers’ offer.

Class AA outfielder Matt LaPorta is the centerpeice of the Brewers’ proposal. The Indians also are expected to receive two more prospects in the deal.

LaPorta, a right-handed slugger who is below-average defensively, would be a better fit for the American League. He was the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2007, and played first base at Florida, but the Brewers converted him to left field — a position occupied by Ryan Braun, who is signed through 2015. The Indians badly need power. Center fielder Grady Sizemore leads the AL with 22 home runs, but designated hitter Travis Hafner hit only four before going on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain on May 30 and catcher Victor Martinez had zero before going on the DL June 12 with a right-elbow injury.

Let’s Go Tribe!: CC Sabathia Retrospective

A fond look back at the Cleveland career of one of the most popular players in franchise history.

The nineteenth pick was Tony Torcato. Then twenty-first pick was Jason Tyner. The twentieth pick was C.C. Sabathia. We weren’t lucky; we were providentially blessed.

...

You were and are a tumult of youth and ability, a teenager slamming on the gas pedal, a dare, a challenge, guns blazing, hip-hop, rock and roll, a momentum shifter, momentum itself, the founding father of the coolest nation in the world, smiles, first kisses, a Raiders fan, heat heat heat, the old man of the staff, the best young pitcher in baseball, a golden left arm, Fausto before Fausto, a family man, splatter painting, hitting a 9-iron 220 yards, danger, Pablo Picasso, the Declaration of Independence. You were not and are not corporate, bland, or Northeastern. Thank you for all that you’ve been and have not been; thank you for everything.

Skimming now a federal case for baseball

I miss the good old days where former/current players lying under oath to Congress was the height of federal tampering with the game.

“The FBI’s going to all the organizations . . . asking players if they received or gave money,” said Clay Daniel, international scouting supervisor for the Angels, whose Dominican-based scouts have already been interviewed. “I’m sure they’re looking into scouts, personnel, people like that that may have had a hand in it.”

Seven first-timers dot All-Star lineups | MLB.com

Kevin Youkilis?

Perrotto: Pirates should have three All-Stars

Let the deluge of “All-Star snub” articles begin!

It’s been a long time since the Pittsburgh Pirates sent three players to the All-Star Game.

In fact, it was so long ago that the Pirates were actually good then. That was in 1990 when Bobby Bonilla, Barry Bonds and Neal Heaton were the representatives at Wrigley Field in Chicago as the Pirates went on to win the first of three consecutive National League East titles.

I heartily endorse Perrotto’s suggested starting outfield of Jason Bay, Nate McLouth, and Pat Burrell.

But in the AL...the Orioles get two players, and one of them is Aubrey Huff?

Wojciechowski : McGwire needs to come clean before he comes to clubhouse

McGwire didn’t technically lie that March day in Washington, D.C. He didn’t do anything, really. He was an empty suit, giving empty testimony and empty promises. He forgot how to read his own moral compass.

Now McGwire can right a wrong. It’s the least he can do for anyone who remains unsure if Big Mac’s special home run sauce came from a hypodermic needle or a rust-colored, plastic prescription bottle.

Some will say he owes us nothing, least of all an explanation. He’s served his time. His baseball life has been ruined.

If that’s true, I didn’t ruin it. You didn’t ruin it. He ruined it.

He did it by cheating the sport he loved and apparently still loves. He misled the fans. And when he had the chance to explain himself under oath, McGwire basically took the Fifth. His testimony was so tepid that if it were a cup of tea you could pour it on your crotch and not worry about burning anything important.

Herschel Pinkus Yerucham Shmoikel Krustofsky Posted: July 06, 2008 at 01:25 PM | 3 comment(s)
  Related News: Steroids

Post-Gazette: Collier: Summer of ‘68 seems like it was a million dollars ago

I think it’s so groovy now
That people are finally getting together (starts reading Fred “Ahmed” Evans’..."Cleveland: Now...And How!")

When it was all over, baseball lowered the pitching mound by 33 percent, from 15 inches to 10. By 1987, when the National League won the All-Star Game, 2-0, in 13 innings, some were saying it should be lowered again, but by 2007, pitchers often needed steroids, psycho-analysis, sunflower seeds, an emery board, and a novena just to make it through five innings.

The New York Times pointed out recently that total ERA, 2.98 in 1968, is now 4.17, but beyond all of the accepted precursors of atrocious pitching (including all the financial, political, medical, and insurance-driven reasons), the basic approach to pitching has gradually changed from attack to duck-and-cover.

This column has never been a fan of Roger Clemens for numerous and oft-stated reasons, but seeing him work was a pleasure compared to watching the great majority of people poisoning mounds this summer. In his prime and beyond, Clemens threw hard fastballs to various parts of the strikezone until the opposition demonstrated that something else might be necessary. He eventually developed a splitter that he mixed in as needed, but he certainly wasn’t fooling around out there.

Deconstructing Ian Kinsler’s Defense (Or Lack Thereof)

See anything fishy right off the bat? If not, you probably should. Kinsler has already committed more throwing errors in 734 innings played in the field this season than in the 1,136 innings he posted in the field in 2007, and is on pace to set new career highs in both areas. But what’s even more startling is his apparent statistical regression range-wise, something I did not expect to see when poring over this data.

Not only has Kinsler’s RZR gone significantly backwards (ranking a dismal ninth out of 10 qualifying AL second basemen, and 18th out of 22 qualifying ML second basemen), but with 86 games of the Rangers’ 162-game Major League schedule in the books, Kinsler is well behind his career-high 2007 pace where OOZ is concerned. That’s more than a little troubling, particularly given that Chris Dial’s Defensive Runs Saved metric already pegged Ian as a slightly below-average defensive second baseman last season.

Phillies, Lidge agree to extension

Brad Lidge will be saving games in Philadelphia through at least the 2011 season, after the pitcher agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension.

The deal includes a 2012 club option and performance incentives.

Working for $6.35 million in the final year before becoming a free agent, Lidge is off to the best start of his career, with an 0.77 ERA in 35 appearances. He’s one of two full-time closers in the Major Leagues, along with New York’s Mariano Rivera, not to blow a save this season.

Kawakami: Let’s not get carried away with Zito’s good outing

Why...even Jeff Angus’ fair Game Score system went kablewie after this!

Ten strikeouts? Barry Zito had never gotten so many as a Giants pitcher, so you can understand the gratuitous round of standing ovations that christened his every move late in this game.

It was like cheering Halley’s Comet - a 10-strikeout victory by Zito might not happen again here for 76 years, which is, I believe, the exact length of his contract.

On July 5, 2008, Barry Zito, the $126 million man, actually looked like a pretty decent pitcher. Shoot off those fireworks! Strike up the band!

...Now Zito has to do what he did Saturday only about 11 or 12 more times before the end of September, and then and only then we’ll call this a non-terrible season.

Bochy credited the recent added life on Zito’s fastball, which was timed regularly at 87-88 mph by the home radar gun.

But please: That gun was suspicious only because it officially recorded Dodgers journeyman reliever Brian Falkenborg at 97 mph and unofficially had the Ball Dudes tossing foul balls into the stands at 109.

Justice: Add Miquel Tejada to Wade’s list of woes

To Ed Wade’s list of mistakes, add the name of Miguel Tejada. Put another $26 million on the general manager’s tab.

Six weeks ago, Tejada looked like Wade’s best acquisition. He was productive and energetic on the field and a delight in the clubhouse. Lance Berkman was among several players effusive in his praise of his new teammate. Snapshot evaluations during a marathon of a season can be wildly inaccurate. Tejada is hitting .220 in the last 40 games and has declined defensively as well. Maybe this is nothing more than an extended slump. Maybe he’ll snap out of it and become the player he was at the beginning of the season.

But he looks like a shadow of the guy he once was. His play declined significantly last season in Baltimore, so the Astros would be justified in wondering what he still has left.

They were warned. Seldom have scouts offered so many different views as they did of Tejada. Some believed he only needed a change of scenery. Others thought he was on his way downhill. Wade apparently had no doubts, telling reporters he’d personally scouted him and was certain of what he was getting.

Acquiring a player, especially an aging player, accused of using steroids is a risk because it’s impossible to know how his body will react. Unless Tejada turns it around, he’ll be a cautionary tale for every other GM.

In the immortal words of Sergio Leone..."Giù la testa!”

Ex-Sox Frank Thomas hopes for retired ‘35’

Just as Dick Kenworthy feels he’s uhh, worthy...ok, guess not.

And that brings us to Frank Thomas, the greatest hitter in White Sox history, who had a running media battle with the Sox when he was dumped after the 2005 season. But Thomas says now he would like to see his No. 35 be painted on the outfield wall near Fisk’s.

“Of course I would,” he said. “All the shenanigans that have gone on, that’s over in my mind. When you played 16 years like I did, saying goodbye is always going to be tough. I realize that now.

“I’m not a kid now; I’m 40 years old. So I respect and understand what went on. But you can’t take away what happened here for 16 years. This town made me, this organization made me. So there’s no disrespect at all.”

Thomas, now with the A’s, leads the Sox all-time in doubles, home runs, runs and walks. He said if he goes into the Hall of Fame, it will be in a White Sox hat. He says he and Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf “are fine and there’s no problem.”

“For me, I was upset that year [I left],” he said. “It’s over. You move on.”

Posnanski:  The Grady Chronicles

Another look at the “Why is this productive player hitting leadoff?” debate, only with Grady Sizemore instead of Soriano, Granderson, or McLouth.

Here’s what I see: Grady Sizemore this year has hit 16 of his 21 homers with nobody on base. He has had only 53 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Heck DAVID DELUCCI in 150 fewer plate appearances has 60 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Casey Blake — hitting sixth, seventh, eighth and even ninth — has had 70 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Ryan Garko, who has been really struggling, has had 75 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Even Ben Francisco has had more at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Just good to see a Cleveland story that doesn’t involve C.C. Sabathia.

Love you, Joe!  And, I agree:  Florida has the worst drivers.

PPG:  Kovacevic:  200 and bust for many starters

The evils of Bakerism…

Nineteen National League pitchers logged 200-plus innings in 2007, with Snell tied for ninth at 208 and Gorzelanny 17th with 201 2/3. The list included most of the league’s top overall performers, with Brandon Webb, Jake Peavy, Aaron Harang, Carlos Zambrano, Roy Oswalt, John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Jeff Francis, Dontrelle Willis ...

Hey, seeing a pattern yet?

By any standard, but especially with a 21-year-old, that is extraordinary handling of a pitcher, and there is a widely held view within the industry that this example and others reflect poorly on Fresno State’s sixth-year coach, Mike Batesole, despite his team having won the NCAA championship two weeks ago.

Gerrymandering…

On its surface, it might appear the Pirates are intent on stocking all their Latin American signings on one minor-league affiliate, that being Bradenton of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League: Bradenton’s 33-man roster includes 20 players in that category, most freshly arrived from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

By contrast, State College, the next level up in the short-season New York-Penn League, has a 31-man roster with eight players in that category.

and conspiracy theory.

The numbers will show the Pirates have been lousy in the first inning, getting outscored, 62-35. But that discrepancy is not so great at home, where they have been outscored, 30-20.

There might be something to that.

Ask the players, and they will attest that, for a standard 7:05 p.m. game at PNC Park, any lingering sunshine during the first inning can create a dazzling glare off certain Downtown buildings that makes life miserable for hitters, especially visitors unaccustomed to it.

Trifecta!

JS Online: Hunt: Brewers: Taking a cue from history

Of course, this was on Doug Melvin’s mind as he continued to balance the merits and demerits of renting the services of one Carsten Charles Sabathia for the final 74 or so games of the season.

Matt LaPorta might not be the latter-day concept of David Green, mostly because the Brewers’ farm system has become that good. But it’s fair to say LaPorta is up there. LaPorta is ahead of Ryan Braun’s minor-league pace, which is saying something.

LaPorta could become the next Willie Mays. He also could become the next Willie Mays Hayes, Wesley Snipes’ erratic character in the baseball movie they filmed in what is now a parking lot out back. Jeff Francoeur was just sent to Double-A ball by the Atlanta Braves. Mike Piazza was drafted in the 62nd round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Point is, you never know.

And then there’s this…

On a wholly different topic, Brewers manager / philosopher Ned Yost said Saturday: “It’s baseball. It’s different every day. It’s the beauty of the game. Nothing that was today will be like tomorrow. That’s why it’s so much fun. It’s not like going to a concert.”

Yes, Ned Christagoof is right! Saw The Feelies cover Wire’s “Outdoor Miner” (mining same stop/start cascading geetar smeglasound) the other day...then found out they had also played it the night before!

LoHud: Abraham: When all the stars come out, Mariano Rivera deserves honorary start

But, but...can Mariano handle the pressure of NOT having a lead? (toy pinstriped Datsun bullpen car whizzes by)

Here’s an idea that would make the game even more special: Name Mariano Rivera the starting pitcher for the American League.

Yes, we know, Rivera is a closer. But he also has been the best pitcher in the American League for more than a decade now. Here is an opportunity for his greatness to be recognized at his home ballpark in front of a worldwide audience.

...But this goes beyond strategy. For all he has done in baseball, Rivera curiously has been left out at awards time. He has not won the MVP Award or Cy Young Award, and he was the World Series MVP only once in the four times the Yankees have won the title during his tenure. He has won a few of those Rolaids Relief Awards, but nobody gets too excited about that. This could be his last chance to get some real recognition. We’re talking about one of the best players in the history of the game, the best relief pitcher ever. Has any professional athlete ever been better at his job?

N.Y. Daily News: Spector: Rounding the bases vs. being on base

Much like LMD’s “The Low Murderer is Out At Night”...Ryan Howard is grinding away to somewhere peculiar.

So what about Howard, who is still two and a half seasons away from free agency? His power is not an out-of-nowhere phenomenon like Batista or Sprague. He’s looking more like a modern-day Kingman or Rob Deer. Howard’s career OPS+ is 142, far above Kingman’s 115, but certainly trending downward. In fact, it’s trending downward enough that I have to wonder at this point in his career whether Howard will join this list - the most homers for a hitter with a career OPS+ mark of 120 or lower:

Dave Kingman:     442 HR, 115 OPS+ 
Andre Dawson:     438 HR, 119 OPS+ 
Cal Ripken:       431 HR, 112 OPS+ 
Darrell Evans:    414 HR, 119 OPS+ 
Andres Galarraga: 399 HR, 118 OPS+

And now that I’ve compiled this list, it’s the first time that I’ve questioned myself for my opinion that Dawson should be in the Hall of Fame.

The next five on that list are Joe Carter, Graig Nettles, Harold Baines, Matt Williams and Carlton Fisk. So of the top 10 on that list, the only Hall of Famers are Ripken and Fisk, each of whom played a premium position in the field - and each of whom, I believe, could be argued against as Hall of Famers on the basis of their impressive career statistical totals being a result of abnormal longevity.

TBO:  Lancaster:  Rays Plotting Move

Friedman, however, dismissed that sort of pre-emptive second-guessing as “outcome-based instead of the process,” saying the Rays need to figure out now how they would fill potential holes in the coming months and move accordingly

That sounds much more business-like than baseball-like.  Somewhere, TLR is frowning.

Postgame audio: The Moose is loose

At one point, a writer asked Mike what he was doing differently this season.

“I changed everything! Everything I do!” Mussina said with a chuckle. “Well not quite everything, I still throw right-handed. But it was suggested that I change.”

SD Union-Tribune: Peavy, Hairston rattle D-backs

Swatting a third-inning pitch into the smaller of two pools beyond the wall in right-center at Chase Field, [Scott] Hairston sent Peavy and the Padres toward a 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
...
Hairston assisted Peavy again leading off the sixth. This time he sent Davis’ fastball into the left-field seats for his 11th home run. Hairston also doubled as part of a barrage that showed he can still be dangerous, despite losing playing time to rookie Chase Headley.
...
The big picture for the Padres (35-53) remains cloudy, but they are painting some sunshine into the clouds. Led by starting pitchers Cha Seung Baek and Peavy, who combined for 13 scoreless innings, they have won the first two games of the series. The last time they won two in a row on the road was May 30-31 at San Francisco.

They also have moved to eight games out of first place. The Diamondbacks (43-45) are still atop the National League West, but they are trending downward. They are in the midst of a third consecutive losing month.

LA Times: Dodgers miss a great chance, losing to Giants

Shortstop Who’s Been There Sees (Jose) Reyes in His Own Image (RR)

Before becoming one of baseball’s best leadoff hitters, Jimmy Rollins had to bat seventh or eighth for the Philadelphia Phillies. Before becoming the clubhouse bedrock, he had to endure criticism from teammates. Before winning the Most Valuable Player award last season, he had to hit .245.

Which is why Rollins said he was not at all concerned about the Mets’ mercurial shortstop, José Reyes.

“Sometimes it takes a year or two, but with me, it took three,” Rollins said in a recent interview. “I was the same way until I figured out who the heck I was. I could run, I could play, I was fast, but it was all raw ability. But now, I’m showing off my raw ability, with learning, with knowledge. I’ve learned the game. I understand the game. You come out of that, you’re a completely different player.”

Since 2006:

Reyes: .291/.354/.459, 112 OPS+, .853 RZR, 171 SB, 78.4 SB%.
Rollins: .284/.338/.494 108 OPS+, .820 RZR, 96 SB, 90.6 SB%.

Rollins is a very fine player but the implication that he is what Jose Reyes should strive to be is silly.

Boston Herald: Streaking Pedroia won’t slow down

“If there’s an audience to be found
He’ll be streakin’ around
Invitin’ public critique”

Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan went so far as to put Pedroia in a far more exclusive class, one that includes one of the most accomplished hitters of all time.

“Tony Gwynn,” Magadan said. “They’re actually pretty similar in that way. They have a way of manipulating the bat and getting the bat head to the ball. . . .

“When you watch (Pedroia) take batting practice, he just has a way to get that good part of the bat on the ball almost every time. If he takes 30-35 swings in BP, he probably squares up 30 of ’em. He’s just got tremendous hand-eye coordination.”

All of that leads to an obvious question: How long before Pedroia wins a batting title?

...“He hit .317 last year and there’s no reason why (he can’t win a batting title). He’s got it in him,” Magadan said. “I’d rather let it play out than set lofty goals for him, but he’s got it in him.”

Newsday: Maine injures elbow, Church out but Mets win

The Mets won a game in rousing fashion and lost two players in bizarre fashion Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.

John Maine walked off the mound in the sixth inning after grabbing his left (non-throwing) elbow three times. The Mets called the odd injury a forearm cramp.

Then there was this ominous announcement in the eighth inning: Ryan Church left the game because of dizziness.
...
The Mets scored three runs in the eighth and three in the ninth to overcome a 4-3 deficit. It could end up being one of their best wins of the season. It also could end up being one of their most costly if they lose their No. 3 starter and rightfielder for any length of time.

Is there ever such a thing as an uneventful time for the Mets?

Yahoo!:  Fielder drives in game-winner for Brewers

MILWAUKEE (AP)—Prince Fielder singled in Rickie Weeks with one out in the bottom of the ninth and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Saturday night for their second straight win.

Hindsight being 20/20 and all, I probably would have walked Fielder to face Hart, who was hitless.

Tyler Yates came in for the ninth.  Yahoo! lists Damaso Marte as the Bucs’ closer, but he doesn’t seem like a great option.  Said it before, say it again:  Joe Borowski fits here, at least for the rest of the season, without Matt Capps.

Maholm, the lefty who has a 2.43 ERA over his past seven starts, allowed only Mike Cameron’s solo homer in the second while giving up four hits and striking out six.

The one recent bright spot from the starting pitching, and it’s being wasted.

And

The Brewers then got caught in a baserunning blunder when Jason Kendall hit a chopper up the middle. Shortstop Jack Wilson threw to third and caught Hall in a rundown. Jose Bautista tagged Hall and alertly fired to first, where Kendall had made the turn and couldn’t avoid being tagged out by Adam LaRoche.

If Brian Schneider had done this, he’d never hear the end of it.

MIL Journal-Sentinel blog: Brewers waiting for Indians’ reply

Doesn’t seem like the C.C. Sweepstakes is going to last too long, however it ends.

I just spoke with general manager Doug Melvin who told me he’s waiting to see if the Cleveland Indians will accept his trade proposal for left-hander C.C. Sabathia.

“Mark said he’d be in touch with me,” said Melvin, referring to Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro. “I’m sure they’ve got to think through everything.”
...
Sabathia’s next scheduled start for the Indians is Tuesday, and he threw a bullpen session Saturday in preparation for that outing. But No. 5 starter Jeremy Sowers, whose next turn is being skipped, also threw a bullpen, providing a Plan B should Sabathia be traded before Tuesday.
...
Melvin expects to hear soon whether he’s the winner in the Sabathia sweepstakes. “They’re probably going through all the offers from every club,” said Melvin. “Their owner probably has to get involved, too. Only Cleveland has the answers.”

I got the feeling that Melvin expects to hear back by Sunday or Monday, at the latest.

CLE Plain Dealer: Deal for Sabathia seemingly imminent

MLB.com: Wood can’t close out Cardinals

Rick Ankiel smacked a walk-off two-run single in the ninth inning off Wood to spark the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4, come-from-behind victory over the Cubs on Saturday, and close to 2 1/2 games in the National League Central.
...
“He almost got out of it,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “You walk the first two hitters in an inning, you get yourself in trouble right from the get go. We weren’t sure if Kennedy was going to bunt or not bunt, and he hits the ball by the first baseman. Then the two-out hit by Ankiel—tough loss.

“All I know is it didn’t work out today, that’s all.”

Wood had converted 12 straight save opportunities, and entered the game with a road ERA of 1.83. He has now converted 22 of 27 save situations.

The Brewers are also just 3.5 back, and 1 back of the wildcard leaders the Cards, in a race involving the teams with the three best records in the NL.

KC Star: Guillen and McClure separated after exchanging harsh words in clubhouse before game

Outfielder José Guillen initiated a near-brawl with pitching coach Bob McClure in the Royals’ clubhouse before Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Witnesses said no blows were exchanged, but the two had to be separated after exchanging heated words. Guillen remained in the lineup as the designated hitter.

Guillen is thought to have been upset at what he considered excessive supervision by coaches in the clubhouse. The coaches’ lockers in the visitors’ clubhouse at Tropicana Filed are located alongside the players’ lockers.

Witnesses said Guillen knocked over a chair near his locker and began talking in a loud voice. When McClure told Guillen to be quiet, Guillen responded by knocking over another chair and moving toward McClure.