Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is ignoring calls to move next year's All-Star game from Phoenix because of Arizona's new immigration law.
He responded to such demands Thursday by defending baseball's record on minority hiring. Selig was speaking at an owners' meeting and said baseball has "done very well" in this regard.
He cited praise baseball had received from sports sociologist Richard Lapchick and an award the commissioner was given by the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
Selig also said he was concerned the proposed sale of the Texas Rangers has not been completed. (By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer)
The Toronto Blue Jays’ offense continues to show no signs of slowing down. With Brandon Morrow taking the mound, it may actually need to produce more, however.
Morrow looks to rebound from the shortest start of his career as he takes the mound Sunday for Toronto, which hopes to complete a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers.
While that kind of support is usually enough for most starting pitchers, Toronto can’t be too sure about what it will get from Morrow (2-3, 6.69 ERA). The right-hander, who has struggled with control issues in his first season with the Blue Jays, issued six walks and gave up six runs over 1 2-3 innings of a 7-6 loss to Boston on Monday.
“I was just a mess,” said Morrow, who has walked 26 over 35 innings. “That’s an embarrassing start to go out there and walk six in not even two innings.”
Texas struck out 12 times, including four by Josh Hamilton, who hit .318 over the previous four contests.
Frustration for the Rangers seemed to peak in the ninth when manager Ron Washington and Nelson Cruz(notes) argued with plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after he called strike two on Cruz, who grounded out to third on the next pitch.
“I wasn’t arguing balls and strikes, I was arguing him (Wendelstedt) taking his mask off and getting in Cruz’s face,” an angry Washington said. “All of a sudden he (Cruz) can’t say anything? Now he (Wendelstedt) wants to get antagonistic and pull his mask off. All off a sudden they’re control freaks.”
The Rangers’ offense hopes to provide more support for Colby Lewis (3-1, 3.15), who takes the mound Sunday.
Lewis is winless in his last three outings despite a quality start in each. The Rangers have given him only three runs of support over 22 innings in that stretch.
The right-hander is 1-2 with a 12.08 ERA against the Blue Jays, but has not faced them since a relief appearance in 2007 when he gave up two runs in 3 2-3 innings. He’s allowed six home runs to the Blue Jays over 12 2-3 innings.
Forecast: Rangers get swept? I don't know. I think this one could easily start out like the game a couple of days ago. Both of these guys suck against the other team. Just being HONEST. They do. Look for a high scoring game, Rangers avoid the sweep. Score: 8-6.
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