Bartlett and Zobrist lead Rays past Toronto 9-3

The Tampa Bay Rays have turned their steady focus into an early lead in the AL East.

Jason Bartlett and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs apiece during a seven-run eighth inning, John Jaso hit his first major league homer and the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-3 on Saturday night.

"We have one gear right now and I love it ... full out," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

B.J. Upton tied it at 3 on an RBI single in the eighth off Scott Downs (0-2). Pinch-hitter Reid Brignac drew a bases-loaded walk from Casey Janssen, who also hit Jaso with a pitch as the Rays took a 5-3 lead. Bartlett and Zobrist added two-run singles to make it 9-3.

"That's going to happen once in a while," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "We just have to bounce back (Sunday) and hope that we get into the eighth with a lead again and see what happens."

Tampa Bay (13-5) is off to the best start in franchise history. The Rays, who have a half-game lead over the New York Yankees, have come from behind to win seven times.

Jaso, a late insertion into the lineup, gave the Rays a 2-1 lead in the fifth with a two-run shot against Ricky Romero. He got the start after catcher Dioner Navarro was scratched due to soreness in his lower right leg.

"It was the first one. Hopefully there's some more to follow," Jaso said.

Adam Lind and Lyle Overbay homered for the Blue Jays, who had their six-game road winning streak snapped. Toronto hasn't won seven in a row away from home since August 1996.

Dan Wheeler (1-0) struck out Alex Gonzalez with two on and two outs in the eighth.

The Blue Jays went up 3-2 on Lind's two-run homer in the sixth off Jeff Niemann. Overbay, who entered hitting .127, put Toronto ahead 1-0 in the fifth with his first homer this season.

Niemann gave up three runs, five hits and one walk while striking out eight in 6 2-3 innings. The right-hander retired his first eight batters before Travis Snider reached on an infield single.

Romero went seven innings, allowing two runs and six hits. The left-hander woke up Saturday with a sore throat and felt dizzy at times during the game due to a cold.

"At that point, you just pitch with your heart and leave it all out there," Romero said.

Toronto loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but failed to score when Randy Choate struck out Fred Lewis. Tampa Bay put a runner on third with none out in the seventh, but Romero worked out of the jam.

"Each person has his job, and basically that's mine, to get those tough left-handers out," Choate said. "We have a lot of good hitters. We're pretty hot right now, hitting the ball and scoring runs. If we hold them down long enough, eventually I think we can win most of the games."

Jaso was recalled from Triple-A Durham on April 13 to be the backup catcher when Kelly Shoppach went on the disabled list with a right knee injury.

The announced crowd for the contest, which included a postgame concert by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty, was 23,870.

NOTES: Rays DH Pat Burrell was out of the lineup because of a stiff upper back. Maddon said Burrell should play on Sunday. ... Overbay stole second in the seventh for his 13th career stolen base. He has played in 1,002 major league games. ... Cuban SS prospect Adeiny Hechavarria was hitless in three at-bats as the DH in his first game with Toronto's extended spring training team. The 21-year-old agreed to a $10 million, four-year contract with the Blue Jays this month.

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2010 NFL Draft 2nd Round Draft Picks LIST

2010 NFL Draft 2nd Round Draft Picks LIST. The first round of the NFL draft took Tebow to Denver and left Colt McCoy on the sidelines. Many were wondering if he would get drafted during the second round, but if you flip through the results below you will see that he was left in the dark.

Here are your 2010 NFL 2nd Round Draft Pick Results-

Rams – OT Rodger Saffold

Vikings – DB Chris Cook

Buccaneers – DT Brian Price

Chiefs – RB Dexter McCluster -

Eagles – DB Nate Allen

Browns – S T.J. Ward

(Trade) Buccaneers – WR Arrelious Ben

Dolphins – Koa Misi OLB

Bills – Torell Troup DT

(Trade) Patriots – TE Rob Gronkowski

Ravens – LB Sergio Kindle

Raiders – DT Lamarr Houston

Broncos – OG Zane Beadle

Giants – Linval Joseph DT

(Trade) Cardinals – LB Daryl Washington

Panthers – QB Jimmy Clausen

49ers – S Taylor Mays

Chiefs – DB Javier Arenas

Vikings – RB Toby Gerhart

Steelers - OLB Jason Worilds

Patriots – Jermaine Cunningham-

Bengals – DE Carlos Dunlap

(Trade) Cowboys – ILB Sean Lee

Packers – DT Mike Neal

Ravens – DT Terrence Cody

Texans – RB Ben Tate

(Trade) Browns – RB Montario Hardesty

Seahawks – WR Golden Tate

Jets – OG Vladimir Ducasse

Patriots – LB Brandon Spikes

Colts – LB Pat Angerer

Saints – OT Charles Browns

Now that we know the 64 players that have been drafted this far, we can move on to the next rounds. There’s just one question looming in our minds at the conclusion of the second round…will Colt McCoy get drafted into the NFL?

UPDATE – Colt McCoy was the 85th draft pick heading to the Cleveland Browns during the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. Amazing that such a talented player had to wait until the third round to get snatched up.

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NBA Playoffs: Free Saturday Basketball Playoff Pick

Picks for Saturday’s NBA Playoff Games

Lots of these series are getting very interesting. Charlotte gets their first home game against Orlando, as do the Bucks. Portland and Oklahoma try to even up their respective series after winning one out of the first 3 games.

Orlando Magic @ Charlotte Bobcats (+2) (4-24: 2:00 PM ET – TNT): It almost seems wrong to take the Bobcats, but I’m not letting the first two outcomes sway me. I still think Charlotte matches up fairly well with the Magic, and playing their first ever playoff game at home should get them pumped to play, and maybe start out the game not getting behind big early. That has been the difference, so I’ll take the Bobcats to start better and upset the Magic.

Phoenix Suns (+1.5) @ Portland Trail Blazers (4-24: 4:30 PM ET – TNT): I think Phoenix has the Blazers figured out a bit, and playing away from home isn’t going to hurt them. They won easily two nights ago, and the Blazers aren’t getting Brandon Roy or either of their two centers back anytime soon, so they’ll continue to struggle. If Jason Richardson continues his stellar play, the Suns will win by double digits again. More on NBA playoffs odds for Suns V Trail Blazers.

Atlanta Hawks (+1) @ Milwaukee Bucks (4-24: 7:00 PM ET – ESPN): Playing in Milwaukee doesn’t mean Bogut will heal miraculously – so just like the last couple games, this is Atlanta’s to lose. I see the Hawks sweeping the Bucks.

LA Lakers (+2) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (4-24: 9:30 PM ET – ESPN): The Lakers lost last time out despite Durant struggling from the floor, again. He made some really big shots down the stretch. but his teammates really helped him out. Russell Westbrook had about the sickest playoff dunk I’ve seen this year as he dunked all over every Laker in the history of the franchise. But again, if the Lakers just go to their bigs, they should win fairly easily. I’m hoping I’m wrong, and I’m hoping I’ll be wrong every time I ever pick L.A. but I have a feeling the Lake-show goes up 3-1 in this one.

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Bucs load up on defense in NFL draft

By FRED GOODALL (AP) – 11 hours ago

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay's determination to restore a once fearsome pass rush didn't stop with the selection of Gerald McCoy.

A day after taking the former Oklahoma star with the third overall pick in the NFL draft, the Buccaneers surprisingly added another defensive tackle — UCLA's Brian Price — early in the second round.

It didn't matter that McCoy and Price played the same position in college, or that a year ago the club used a third-round pick on Roy Miller, another a young tackle coach Raheem Morris feels has a chance to develop into an outstanding pro.

"It starts up front around here. It's always started up front. That's never been truer," said Morris, who also serves as his own defensive coordinator.

"Get those guys up front humming and it makes your linebackers better, your secondary better, the guy calling the plays better, everybody better."

One of the keys to the Tampa 2 defensive scheme that was the backbone of the Buccaneers for more than a decade is having disruptive tackles who cause pass protection problems and can get opposing quarterbacks on the ground.

Morris thinks he has three of them now, giving the Bucs the depth necessary to stay fresh and apply constant pressure in the intense Florida heat.

"We were very creative last year with some of our tackles and some of our schemes," the second-year coach said. "With (McCoy and Price) coming in, all kind of thoughts go around in your head, especially as a defensive coordinator."

In addition to bolstering a defense that ranked last in the NFL against the run and tied for 26th in sacks a year ago, the Bucs entered the draft needing to add some offensive playmakers around young quarterback Josh Freeman.

It seemed logical they might go for a receiver with the first two second-round picks. Instead, they went for Price at No. 35 overall before finally turning their attention to offense with the selection of Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn four spots later.

To get Benn, who led Illinois in receiving each of the past three seasons, general manager Mark Dominik traded up three spots in the draft order.

In addition to receiving the second of Tampa Bay's two second-round picks — No. 42 overall — the Oakland Raiders also got a fifth-round pick from the Bucs.

Receiver became a high priority after Antonio Bryant was not re-signed after last season's 3-13 finish.

Benn had 38 receptions for 490 yards and two touchdowns at Illinois last season. He was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2008, but his statistics lagged a year ago after the Illini changed offensive coordinators and quarterbacks.

"When you turn on the tape, you see a guy who catches the football and then after he catches the football, he's tough to get on the ground," said Morris, who has known Benn since the Bucs coach was an assistant at Kansas State and tried to recruit the receiver to sign with the Wildcats.

K-State's quarterback at the time was Freeman, Tampa Bay's first-round pick a year ago.

"Maybe it was meant to be," Benn said of being united with Morris and Freeman, who was 3-6 as a starter as a rookie.

Price was the Pac 10 defensive player of year at UCLA last season, when he made 23 1-2 tackles for loss and had seven sacks.

The Bucs were impressed with the 6-foot-1, 303-pound Price during the prospect's predraft visit to Tampa, and Morris noted that a team that practices every day and plays half its game in Florida's extreme heat can never have too much depth, especially on the defensive line.

"We do live in Tampa," the coach said. "It's hot, and we're talking about bigger men."

The Bucs continued loading up on defensive help, selecting Vanderbilt cornerback Myron Lewis with the third pick of the third round.

The 67th pick overall had 10 career interceptions in college, four as a senior. At 203 pounds, he's a big cornerback who'll be expected to compete for playing time behind veteran Ronde Barber.

The Bucs have seven picks on Saturday, the final day of the draft. Five of them are in the seventh round.

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Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, Tim Tebow perfect fit

By Jeff Sentell -- The Birmingham News

April 24, 2010, 9:45AM

Tim Tebow may have found a perfect coach in Denver's Josh McDaniels. (The Associated Press)Lots and lots has been written and said about Tim Tebow.

There's the character, the ethic and the leadership. But stop and think about the fit at Denver. Coach Josh McDaniels was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who turned a season-ending injury to Tom Brady into a Pro Bowl-type year for no-name Matt Cassel.

Cassel threw just 33 career college passes at USC backing up Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer. He never threw a touchdown and only saw mop-up duty.

McDaniels steered him to 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first serious football since high school. He did have three seasons as a backup at New England before that season, but scant game experience.

Now think about all the big snaps Tebow had at Florida. All those passes he threw against defenses at least half-filled with future NFL players.

Think McDaniels can't do the same with Tebow? He needs to win now at Denver and sounds ready to bet his coaching career on the kid. It feels more like an investment to anyone's who seen Tebow rip the SEC's best up for the last four seasons.

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Denver Broncos Select Tim Tebow

First round

1. St. Louis: Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford.
2. Detroit: Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh.
3. Tampa Bay: Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy.
4. Washington: Oklahoma OT Trent Williams.
5. Kansas City: Tennessee S Eric Berry.
6. Seattle: Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung.
7. Cleveland: Florida CB Joe Haden.
8. Oakland: Alabama LB Rolando McClain.
9. Buffalo: Clemson RB C.J. Spiller.
10. Jacksonville: California DE Tyson Alualu.
11. San Francisco: Rutgers OT Anthony Davis.
12. Miami: Fresno State RB Ryan Matthews
13. Philadelphia: Michigan DE Brandon Graham.
14. Seattle: Texas S Earl Thomas.
15. N.Y. Giants: South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul.
16. Tennessee: Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan.
17. San Francisco: Idaho OG Mike Iupati.
18. Pittsburgh: Florida C Maurkice Pouncey.
19. Atlanta: Missouri LB Sean Weatherspoon.
20. Houston: Alabama CB Kareem Jackson.
21. Cincinnati: Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham.
22. Denver: Georgia Tech WR Demaryius Thomas.
23. Green Bay: Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga.
24. Dallas: Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant.
25. Denver: Florida QB Tim Tebow.
26. Arizona: Tennessee DT Dan Williams.

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NFL Draft Update, Day 1

NFL Draft Update, Day 1

(The Sports Network) The Arizona Cardinals have the 26th pick, which is the 26th pick of the First Round.

Round One:

1. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma); 2. Detroit Lions - Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska); 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma); 4. Washington Redskins - Trent Williams (OT, Oklahoma); 5. Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Berry (S, Tennessee); 6. Seattle Seahawks - Russell Okung (OT, Oklahoma State); 7. Cleveland Browns - Joe Haden (CB, Florida); 8. Oakland Raiders - Rolando McClain (ILB, Alabama); 9. Buffalo Bills - C.J. Spiller (RB, Clemson); 10. Jacksonville Jaguars - Tyson Alualu (DT, California); 11. San Francisco 49ers - Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers); 12. San Diego Chargers - Ryan Mathews (RB, Fresno State); 13. Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Graham (DE, Michigan); 14. Seattle Seahawks - Earl Thomas (S, Texas); 15. New York Giants - Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, So Florida); 16. Tennessee Titans - Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech); 17. San Francisco 49ers - Mike Iupati (OG, Idaho); 18. Pittsburgh Steelers - Maurkice Pouncey (C, Florida); 19. Atlanta Falcons - Sean Weatherspoon (OLB, Missouri); 20. Houston Texans - Kareem Jackson (CB, Alabama); 21. Cincinnati Bengals - Jermaine Gresham (TE, Oklahoma); 22. Denver Broncos - Demaryius Thomas (WR, Georgia Tech); 23. Green Bay Packers - Bryan Bulaga (OT, Iowa); 24. Dallas Cowboys - Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma State); 25. Denver Broncos - Tim Tebow (QB, Florida);

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Tebow brushes aside the detractors

Tim Tebow needs a hot tub time machine.

He could journey back to a simpler era where a high draft selection would be guaranteed. Tebow's quarterbacking accomplishments at the University of Florida would outweigh the concerns about his mechanics and throwing motion being espoused by NFL personnel directors and draft analysts. His wholesome image would be universally lauded, not ridiculed by snarky media members and Internet bloggers.

Unfortunately for Tebow, time travel can only happen in the movies. Tebow, though, still plans to make his critics all wet whenever and wherever he is picked in the 2010 draft.

"I honestly let all that talk fuel me to work and train that much harder," Tebow told FOXSports.com on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, that's the society we live in today. A lot of people want to pull you down."

Detractors be damned, Tebow's draft stock is on the rise heading into tonight's first round. He recently conducted private workouts for five NFL teams - Denver, Washington, Seattle, Minnesota and New England - and has drawn interest from other clubs intrigued by his mix of size, leadership, competiveness and athleticism. All the work Tebow has done toward changing his release point and taking snaps from under center has paid dividends. Once considered a likely second-round pick, Tebow now shows signs of going late in the first round.

"There have been a lot of tests that teams have put me through," Tebow said. "Quarterback coaches have been talking about different schemes, the digit system, West Coast-style offenses and how it relates to pass protections. They're taking what I already know about football and adding to it."

Tebow ranks among the greatest college players ever. A dual run-pass threat, Tebow won a Heisman Trophy and was part of two national champion teams.

Even so, there are legitimate concerns such success won't translate to the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers personnel director Kevin Colbert said Tebow would need one to three years adjusting to a pro-style offense after playing in a spread system at Florida. Sirius NFL Radio analyst and ex-NFL quarterback Jim Miller is concerned that Tebow will revert to old habits - like holding the football too low on his wind-up - when under pressure in games. Miller played for Chicago in the late 1990s when the Bears unsuccessfully attempted to change Cade McNown's sidearm throwing motion.

"They tried to get him to become more accurate by throwing over the top and he just couldn't do it," Miller said. "He spent the whole offseason working on it, then lo and behold, everything went to crap on the first day of practice. He threw the way he always threw.

"For Tim, it's not just the motion or footwork involved. It's everything."

One thing that won't be questioned is Tebow's character. Although his participation in a pro-life Super Bowl commercial rankled some pro-choice advocates - not to mention those who believe he goes too far publicly espousing Christianity -- Tebow has practiced what he preaches, living a squeaky-clean lifestyle in a hard-partying college town. Google searches would boom on game days with fans wanting to know the meaning of the biblical verses Tebow had imprinted on his eye-black - a practice recently banned by the NCAA.

"From the NCAA's perspective, I can understand them doing that because there are so many thousands of athletes and so many rules. This makes it easier for them overall to control things," Tebow said. "But for me, it was a great thing. It was an opportunity to get my message out there."

Besides the football training and marketing responsibilities arranged by agent Jimmy Sexton, Tebow has still made time this month for speaking engagements at colleges and religious functions. Tebow plans to continue such outreach though his new foundation ( www.timtebowfoundation.org ) aimed at helping orphanages as well as sick and disadvantaged children.

A league embarrassed by the off-field actions of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has nothing to worry about with Tebow. No wonder NFL commissioner Roger Goodell personally lobbied (albeit unsuccessfully) for Tebow to attend draft festivities at Radio City Music Hall. Tebow will instead spend the draft with friends and family members in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla.

Within 48 hours, Tebow will have a new NFL home. And the road he took to get there is one Tebow wouldn't change - time machine or not.

"I feel I'm becoming a better quarterback," Tebow said. "I'm better when it comes to fundamentals and understanding different schemes. The key to my whole life is trying to get better every day. That's not true of every athlete. Sometimes when people feel they've arrived, they settle. Not me. My edge is constantly having that drive to be the best."

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Gerald McCoy Selected 3rd Overall and Now a Buccaneer

by

Randy Lutz

Written on April 22, 2010

Mark Von Holden/Getty Images

Gerald McCoy has been selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

McCoy will help to shore up a line that ranked last in the league against the run this past season. Most see McCoy as a perfect fit for the Tampa 2 defense the Bucs run.

Personally, I have some reservations about McCoy, particularly about his strength. I think a lack of core strength showed through with his 23 reps of 225 at the combine. However, regardless of those reservations he was productive at the college level, and most believe he projects very well at the next level. The Bucs hope, as the Lions do in selecting Suh before them, that they've now solidified their defensive line for the next ten years.

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2010 NFL Draft

by

Eric Galko

I know many are getting sick of hearing about him, many are getting sick looking at him, and hey, I’m sick of writing about him for the most part.

But, the reason there is so much buzz about him is that he’s everything that makes the draft exciting. Arguably the greatest college player ever, he isn’t a top prospect but has the star power already.

Every team would love to have him, but not every team is in position to take him. Which team will take the chance? In what round might he go in? What could his arrival mean? All great points and factors that make Tebow the most intriguing prospect in the last 10 years.

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50 days from kickoff, local organizer says World Cup one of SAfrica's 'defining moments'

By Associated Press

April 21, 2010 | 3:24 a.m.

KIMBERLEY, South Africa (AP) — Chief local organizer Danny Jordaan marked the 50-day countdown to the World Cup on Wednesday, saying the tournament was one of South Africa's "most important defining moments."

Jordaan said hosting soccer's showcase tournament was one of a series of "significant moments that have shaped the country we live in today," comparing it to Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990, and South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.

Jordaan was in Kimberley, in the country's Northern Cape province, with South African President Jacob Zuma to mark the 50-day countdown to Africa's first World Cup.

A series of celebrations are planned at the Galeshewe Stadium on Wednesday, 50 days before the host nation kicks off the 2010 tournament against Mexico on June 11 at Soweto's Soccer City Stadium.

Jordaan said South Africa will defy the skeptics who thought the country was incapable of hosting the tournament because of its high rate of violent crime and erratic transport system.

"The world has heard so many stories about us (since 1994), sometimes more negative than positive," Jordaan said. "But this World Cup gives all South Africans the opportunity the show the world who we really are 16 years into our democracy."

Zuma has said the country was "more than ready" to host soccer's biggest event.

Jordaan said the 10 World Cup stadiums were ready, and the needed infrastructure was in place.

He also said tickets "were selling fast" despite worries over empty stadiums when organizers put 500,000 unsold tickets on sale on April 15.

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Rays on the rise!

Posted April 20th, 2010 by Devon Rogers

• This was a very important sweep of the Red Sox. We knocked the Sox back to fourth place and have everyone everywhere questioning whether the Red Sox need to have a firesale or trade for big names. Many think this is the death of them. Winning is great isn’t it.
• Jason Bartlett had a great day in another blowout. There were no real close games other than Friday’s in this series. Three blowouts is how you want to go about beating the Red Sox.
• The Rays will look to remain perfect on the road as they head to Chicago for a three game series against the White Sox. The Rays will send Price, Davis and Shields to the mound before heading home Friday. The Rays would hope to continue their win streak here in the 2008 ALDS rematch.
• The Rays will send David Price to the mound tonight in what seems to be a pitchers duel. Price has had an awesome season thus far, going 2-0 in two starts with a 2.45 ERA> Hopefully Price can keep it up and show he is who everyone thought he was when the Rays picked him first.
• The Rays will be faced by John Danks, who is also having a very good start. Danks is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA. The Rays have had a string of good starters that they have beaten up on, so hopefully that can continue. As for the rest of the series, the Rays will face Mark Buerhle tomorrow and Jake Peavy Thursday. Great matchups, huh.
• As for the home opener on Friday, the matchup will be Ricky Romero against Matt Garza.

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