Sep/060
Wright and Simien Earn Extra Year
Apparently youth will be served by the Heat — at least when it comes to salary commitments.
Friday, well in advance of the league’s Oct. 31 deadline, the Heat announced it had exercised the fourth-year rookie-scale option on guard Dorell Wright and the third-year rookie scale option on forward Wayne Simien.
Wright, who is entering his third season, is now under contract to the Heat at least through 2007-08. By picking up the option, the Heat can either lock up Wright to a long-term extension next summer or deal with him as a restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason.
Simien, who is entering his second season, also is now under contract through 2007-08. The Heat will have a similar one-year option on Simien next summer to guarantee his deal through 2008-09.
Neither of Friday’s moves impact the Heat’s salary cap or luxury tax for the coming season. Wright, 20, will now earn approximately $2 million in 2007-08, while Simien, 23, will earn approximately $1 million for that season.
Despite each being locked up for an additional season, playing time figures to remain in short supply over the short run.
The Heat not only returns its championship starting lineup of Shaquille O’Neal, Udonis Haslem, Antoine Walker, Dwyane Wade and Jason Williams, but in the offseason locked in the return of top bench contributors James Posey, Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton.
After appearing in only 23 games last season, Wright could contend for the minutes given last season to veteran guard Derek Anderson, who was waived earlier this week. Simien, who appeared in 43 games last season as a rookie, could have a more difficult time finding action in a power rotation that also features O’Neal, Mourning, Haslem, Michael Doleac, Earl Barron and sometimes Walker.
Wright was taken with the No. 19 pick in the 2004 draft and Simien with the No. 29 selection in 2005.
Both options were due this year because the new collective-bargaining agreement reduced the number of guaranteed seasons for first-round picks from three to two.
Friday’s moves leave the Heat with nine players already under contract for 2007-08: O’Neal, Mourning, Doleac, Haslem, Walker, Wade, Williams, Wright and Simien. Posey is expected to sign an extension and push that figure to 10.
Sep/060
Pregame: Marlins @ Braves, 7:35 PM EST
MARLINS @ BRAVES GAME 1
Game Particulars
When: Fri., September 15 @ 7:35 p.m. ET
TV: FSN | Radio: WQAM 560, WQBA 1140 (Sp.)
Scouting Willis
Willis has lost six of 10 road decisions despite a 3.19 ERA. … In his past five starts, Willis is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA, nine walks and 32 strikeouts in 36 innings. One of those wins came against the Braves, who scored three runs (two earned) on four hits in seven innings Aug. 20 at Dolphin Stadium. … In four starts against the Braves, Willis is 1-1 with a 5.26 ERA.
Scouting Cormier
Cormier has made two appearances (one start) against the Marlins and allowed three runs on eight hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in seven innings. … Right-handed hitters are batting .326 and reaching base at a .369 clip against Cormier. … Though his home ERA is 1.85 runs lower than his road mark, Cormier is allowing a .317 opponents’ batting average at Turner Field.
Marlins short hops
With one more Dan Uggla homer, the Marlins will have baseball’s second 25-homer rookie tandem — Al Rosen (37) and Luke Easter (28) did it for the 1950 Cleveland Indians. Josh Willingham hit his 25th Wednesday. … Wednesday’s loss dropped the Marlins to 4-6 in extra-inning games and 68-7 when leading after eight innings. … The Marlins are 7-9 against the Braves, including a 2-5 record at Turner Field.
Braves short hops
3B Chipper Jones this season became the fourth player to begin his career with 12 consecutive 20-homer seasons, joining Eddie Mathews, Billy Williams and Frank Robinson. … RF Jeff Francoeur entered Thursday’s series finale against the Phillies tied for second in the majors with 49 two-out RBI. … CF Andruw Jones had 334 homers through Wednesday, one shy of tying Hank Aaron for third in Atlanta history.
Pitching plans
Saturday — RHP Anibal Sanchez (8-2, 2.96) vs. RHP John Smoltz (12-9, 3.86); Sunday — RHP Ricky Nolasco (11-9, 4.67) vs. TBA.
Sep/060
New iTunes 7.0 Available
Buy music, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks, or download free podcasts from the iTunes Store 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Organize and play everything on your Mac or PC. Then sync it to your iPod and bring it along. Anywhere. Buy Disney films from the iTunes Store and go to the movies without leaving your comfy chair. With Cover Flow, you can flip through your digital music and video collection just as you would CDs. Just $4.99 in the iTunes Store, iPod games give you hours of fun. Make the most of your time by telling iTunes in what order to download content from the iTunes Store. Get at-a-glance information about everything on your iPod.
iTunes 7.0 – September 12, 2006
• 64-bit support
• iPod games for iPod Video
• Ability to back up iTunes Library and take to another computer
• Ability to have playlist distributed over multiple libraries
• Automatically updates album art
• Cover Flow – browse using album art in a jukebox-like view
• Album Artist tagging
• Further refinement to user interface and blue version of existing logo
• iPod Summary showing information about what files are on the connected iPod
• Gapless playback Support (Seamless transitions between songs)
• iPod Updater software now integrated in iTunes
• Support for:
• iPod Shuffle (Clip)
• iPod Nano (2nd edition)
Download your copy here.
I just noticed and article on Engadget regarding problems the new iTunes is causing for some ipod users. The following is taken from Engadget:
Specifically, users on Apple’s web forums and our own tipsters are reporting that some new nanos aren’t being recognized in Windows iTunes 7, music being played through iTunes 7 sounds “scratchy” at times, CoverFlow doesn’t always entirely download properly, and there are allegations that iTunes 7 has become, slow, bloated, and a resource hog. Some of us here at Engadget who have installed iTunes 7 haven’t noticed any bad playback or other slowdowns, but have been dissappointed that very few of the albums on our machines have successfully downloaded album art. Furthermore, The Sydney Morning Herald called iTunes 7 a “lemon” yesterday and went on to report that: “Both Mac and PC users appear to be affected by the glitches being reported, and numerous different threads on the Apple discussion forum have described a range of technical issues.” Oh, and did we mention that many professionally produced podcasts — including CNET’s Buzz Oud Loud, Popular Mechanics, and our own — are reportedly not working. If Apple doesn’t do something about this pretty soon, people might start calling it iCan’t — as in: “I can’t play my music anymore.”
I don’t know about you ipod users but I am sticking with my excellent copy of Anapod Explorer.
Sep/060
Dolphins On The Run Podcast – (09/12/2006)
The Miami Herald and Herald.com present Dolphins On The Run, a weekly on-demand Internet radio program hosted by longtime South Florida sportscaster Phil Latzman. Phil will share insights from region’s most knowledgable — and funniest — football experts: columnists Dan Le Batard and Greg Cote and Dolphins writers Armando Salguero and Jason Cole. On The Run will take you to the front lines of Dolphins camp and behind the scenes with the players, with the latest scoop on the team and what to expect from their opponents.
How long will the Dolphins’ opening night loss to the Steelers linger? Armando Salguero reviews week 1, and previews Miami’s home opener this Sunday against the Bills in this week’s Dolphins on the Run.
Sep/060
The Race to the Wild Card, It’s Now a Sprint Not a Marathon
Here’s a look at the National League wild-card contenders and where they stand with just over two weeks remaining:
San Diego Padres
Record, wild-card position: 76-69, leader.
Remaining schedule (6 home, 11 away): @LAD (4), ARI (3), PIT (3), @STL (3), @ARI (4).
Comment: Wild card a fall back for Padres as they aim for NL West title. They trail Dodgers by one-half game. … Have NL’s best pitching staff (3.95 ERA) and NL-best 11 shutouts. … Former Marlins prospect Adrian Gonzalez is a big-time contributor.
Philadelphia Phillies
Record, position: 74-72, 2.5 behind.
Remaining schedule (7 home, 9 away): @HOU (3), CHC (3), FLA (3), HOU (1), @WAS (3), @FLA (3).
Comment: At 34-25, have second-best post-All Star break record. … Homer total second highest in club history, 21 shy of 2004 record (215) thanks to slugger Ryan Howard. … Only Mets (43) have more road wins in the NL.
San Francisco Giants
Record, position: 74-72, 2.5 games behind.
Remaining schedule (6 home, 10 away): @STL (3), @COL (3), @MIL (4), ARI (3), LAD (3).
Comment: Have won eight of 11 to get in wild-card hunt. … Barry Bonds has been hot, but Ray Durham among league’s best hitting second baseman. … Giants getting NL’s second-best pitching (4.01) since May 9, but closer Armando Benitez is done.
Florida Marlins
Record, position: 73-73, 3.5 games behind.
Remaining schedule (6 home, 10 away): @ATL (3), @NYM (4), @PHI (3), CIN (3), PHI (3).
Comment: Have a combined 19-28 record against remaining teams on their schedule. … Still getting great starting pitching, but bullpen has been unreliable. … Behind Josh Willingham and Dan Uggla, Marlins on verge of setting franchise homer record.
Cincinnati Reds
Record, position: 72-74, 4.5 behind.
Remaining schedule (4 home, 12 away): @CHC (3), @HOU (3), CHC (4), @FLA (3), @PIT (3).
Comment: Reds coming off 4-5 homestand, including 1-2 against Padres. … Have 33-36 road record and have lost nine of 11 away from Great American Ballpark. … On pace to hit 200 homers and allow 200 for the second time in franchise history.
Houston Astros
Record, position: 71-74, 5 games behind.
Remaining schedule (10 home, 7 away): PHI (3), CIN (3), STL (4), @PIT (4), @ATL (3).
Comment: Getting Roger Clemens back tonight helps, but Andy Pettitte has elbow issues. … Roy Oswalt pitching like a Cy Young winner. … Realistically, Astros need 14-3 finish for shot at third consecutive wild card.
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