<strong>Let the (Pan American) games begin </strong>
Renato Luiz "Sorriso" Lorenzo, holding the Pan American Games torch, jumps in front of the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Friday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For more on the Pan Am Games, which start Saturday, see Page 7C.
The best closer in the minor leagues could be former University of Arizona starter John Meloan.
Meloan, who seems to going by “Jonathan” these days, was converted to a reliever after being selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth round in 2005. He was selected by Rotoworld as the 60th-best minor league prospect at midseason, one spot below ex-Cat outfielder Trevor Crowe, a first-round pick in 2005.
Rotoworld called Meloan the “game’s best pure relief prospect.”
Meloan is ripping through Double-A hitters. Pitching for Jacksonville, he had a 2.11 ERA with a 5-2 record and 17 saves through Thursday.
“He has the arsenal to start, but because of his maximum-effort delivery, the Dodgers figured that putting him in the pen was the best way to keep him healthy. It looks like they were right,” Rotoworld wrote.
“With a 92-94 mph fastball and a pair of strikeout breaking balls, he could prove to be a long-term closer.”
Meloan has the swing-and-miss stuff that teams like to see from their closers. He has 63 strikeouts and just 16 walks in 42 1/2 innings with Jacksonville. Batters are hitting just .158 against him.
“His fastball command keeps improving, and he continues to utilize his above-average breaking ball,” Dodgers director of player development De Jon Watson told MLB.com.
Prediction: Meloan gets called up and has an impact on the NL West race this season.
Sheffield: I felt myself being controlled by Bonds
Detroit Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield isn’t shying away from sharing his thoughts.
Besides criticizing Yankees manager Joe Torre (story, 1C), Sheffield also addressed his past relationship with San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds in an interview with HBO’s “Real Sports,” which will air Tuesday night.
The two spent an offseason working out together in California after Bonds hit his record 73 homers during the 2001 season.
Sheffield denied to HBO that he ever took steroids, but admitted to taking the “clear” and the “cream” – two designer steroids created by BALCO. Sheffield said he didn’t know they were steroids, claiming, “In a million years I don’t care what anyone says. Steroids is something you shoot in your butt.”
Sheffield told HBO he trusted Bonds and said he felt himself being controlled by Bonds. But, Sheffield claimed, “If I took what Barry Bonds took, why don’t I look like him?”
On Friday, Sheffield said he doesn’t speak with Bonds.
“We don’t have any communication,” he said. “I love and respect Barry to this day. I had a problem with him at that time, but I moved on and forgave.”
- The Associated Press
With LeBron watching, Durant still can’t find shot
LAS VEGAS – Kevin Durant struggled again with his shot Friday, this time with superstar LeBron James sitting courtside.
Durant missed his first six shots and finished 9 of 23 in the Seattle SuperSonics’ 85-74 loss to Golden State. He was 13 of 16 from the free-throw line, however, and finished with 32 points, his summer league best.
Durant said James’ appearance did not make him nervous, and he called the Cleveland Cavaliers’ star “just another person in the crowd.”
- The Associated Press
Visa goes through wash; Braves wait for reliever
ATLANTA – Braves reliever Wilfredo Ledezma was stuck in Venezuela because of visa problems, and Atlanta placed him on the restricted list Friday.
Ledezma went home for the All-Star break. Braves general manager John Schuerholz said Ledezma’s visa was damaged “in a washing incident” and became detached from his passport.
The Braves hope Ledezma can return to the team by the middle of next week.
- The Associated Press
Miners’ coach Price gets stent in heart
EL PASO, Texas – Texas-El Paso coach Mike Price was released from a hospital after doctors implanted a stent to relieve a blocked artery in his heart.
Price, 61, in his fourth season at UTEP, was resting at home Friday afternoon after being released. He was having routine tests Thursday when doctors discovered a significant blockage in one of his arteries.
- The Associated Press
UA swimmer Nymeyer second at Evans meet
University of Arizona and former Mountain View High School swimmer Lacey Nymeyer finished second in the women’s 100-meter freestyle in the Janet Evans Invitational on Friday.
Dana Vollmer of Granbury, Texas, won in 55.50 to Nymeyer’s 55.66.
New Zealand’s Melissa Ingram won the 200 backstroke in 2:12, followed by UA’s Caitlin Iversen (2:16.71) and Jenny Forster (2:17.81).
Ex-UA swimmer Ryk Neethling won the men’s 100 freestyle in 49.50 and ex-Wildcat Adam Ritter was third in 50.11, and former Wildcat Simon Burnett was second in the 200 backstroke in 2:01.40.
- Citizen Staff Report
QUOTABLE '(It) hit the mitt and stuck. I had to check to make sure it was in there.'
JEFF SALAZAR,
former Tucson Sidewinders outfielder, on scaling the right-field fence to rob the Padres' Brian Giles of a homer and preserve an 8-3 D'backs' win
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ON THIS DATE
1968: Hank Aaron hits his 500th home run off Mike McCormick as the Atlanta Braves beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2.
1995: Ramon Martinez throws a no-hitter, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 7-0 victory over the Florida Marlins.
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SPORTS SOUND-OFF
We should have measure of Cats by Oct. 13
Re: UA trying to match 2006 football ticket sales.
Winning cures everything. Before Oct. 13, when UA faces USC in Los Angeles, we should have four wins and know how good the defense is, and how we stack up against the best.
BOB B.
Blame rule makers for kids’ disappointment
Re: Little League official resigns over pool play flap.
Sabino Canyon (District 5) 9-10s also went 4-0 this year and did not advance. We didn’t even get trophies! What do you tell a kid when he works so hard to succeed? . . . It’s the folks who make the rules who keep everyone from opportunities.
STEVE B.
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NUMBER OF THE DAY
2,297
Career RBI total for Hank Aaron, best in history. The rest of the top 10:
2. Babe Ruth 2,213. 3. Cap Anson 2,076. 4. Lou Gehrig 1,995. 5. Barry Bonds 1,972. 6. Stan Musial 1,951. 7. Ty Cobb 1,938. 8. Jimmie Foxx 1,922. 9. Eddie Murray 1,917. 10. Willie Mays 1,903
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TRIVIA CORNER
Connie Mack (3,776) and John McGraw (2,840) are the winningest managers in baseball history. Who are third and fourth?
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Answer: Tony La Russa (2,337) and Bobby Cox (2,219)