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Daily Clips May 20, 2014

Diamondbacks prospect Archie Bradley throwing again LOCAL after elbow injury La Russa ready to evaluate all aspects of D-backs By Arizona Sports By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizonasports.com/42/1733538/Diamondbacks- http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/chief- prospect-Archie-Bradley-throwing-again-after-elbow-injury -officer-tony-la-russa-ready-to-evaluate-all-aspects-of-d- backs?ymd=20140519&content_id=76044024&vkey=news_ari The Pulse: D-backs' hiring of a 'home ' By Arizona Sports Pollock, Puig named NL Players of the Week http://arizonasports.com/42/1733522/The-Pulse-Dbacks- By Joey Nowak / MLB.com hiring-of-Tony-La-Russa-a-home-run http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/d- backs-aj-pollock-dodgers-yasiel-puig-named-national-league- Culture drew Tony La Russa to players-of-the- By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports week?ymd=20140519&content_id=76038082&vkey=news_ari http://arizonasports.com/42/1733469/Culture-drew-Tony-La- Russa-to-Arizona-Diamondbacks New hire Tony La Russa begins evaluating state of Diamondbacks Likely cross one big name off list to be Diamondbacks next By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2 By Eric Sorenson / Sports 360 AZ 014/05/19/new-hire-la-russa-begins-evaluating-state-d- http://www.sports360az.com/2014/05/likely-cross-one-big- backs/2259280/ name-list-dbacks-next-manager/

Major League Baseball players born in Arizona Dad makes great catch at Diamondbacks game By azcentral sports By Tyler Baldwin / AZ Family http://www.azcentral.com/picture- http://www.azfamily.com/news/Dad-makes-great-catch-at- gallery/sports/mlb/2014/05/19/major-league-baseball-players- Dbacks-game-259893111.html born-in-arizona/9142843/ NATIONAL La Russa on role with D-backs: 'I'm not a general Tipsheet: Experts applaud La Russa hiring manager' By Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch By Tyler Lockman / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff- http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/story/la-russa-on-role-with- gordon/tipsheet-experts-applaud-la-russa- d-backs-i-m-not-a-general-manager-051914 hiring/article_8bf3fda0-6ef7-5100-9287-fa2a814531a6.html

Arizona Diamondbacks' CBO Tony La Russa clarifies his Tony La Russa stresses effort stance on By AP / ESPN By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10951178/arizona- http://arizonasports.com/42/1733617/Arizona- diamondbacks-chief-baseball-officer-tony-la-russa-talks-players- Diamondbacks-CBO-Tony-La-Russa-clarifies-his-stance-on- effort Sabermetrics Preview: Diamondbacks at Cardinals Diamondbacks Minor League Argeny Hiciano By The Global Post banned 50 games http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson- By Arizona Sports reuters/140520/preview-diamondbacks-at-cardinals http://arizonasports.com/42/1733580/Diamondbacks-Minor- League-pitcher-Argeny-Hiciano-banned-50-games La Russa, in new job, wants to balance effects of analytics By / St. Louis Post-Dispatch Arizona Diamondbacks A.J. Pollock named http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/la- Co-Player of the Week russa-in-new-job-wants-to-balance-effects-of/article_9ad1495d- By Arizona Sports a01f-535b-8f2d-4aa821432753.html http://arizonasports.com/42/1733566/Arizona- Diamondbacks-outfielder-AJ-Pollock-named-National-League- Methodical, 'egoless' La Russa is just what doctor ordered CoPlayer-of-the-Week in desert By / CBS Sports 1

│ http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon- By Visalia Times-Delta heyman/24567109/methodical-egoless-la-russa-is-just-what- http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/sports/2014/05/20/sa doctor-ordered-in-desert n-jose-giants-top-rawhide-slugfest/9314561/

Could La Russa steal St. Louis' Secret Weapon? SOUTH BEND SILVER HAWKS By Scott Wuerz / Belleville News Democrat Whitecaps fall to Silver Hawks http://www.bnd.com/2014/05/19/3215518/could-la-russa- By The Holland Sentinel steal-st-louis.html#storylink=cpy http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140519/SPORTS/1 40518896/-1/opinion D-backs Beat Dodgers 5-3, Win First Series At Home By Josh Garcia / vavel.com West Michigan Whitecaps loses to hottest team in the http://www.vavel.com/en-us/mlb/351930-d-backs-beat- Midwest League dodgers-5-3-win-first-series-at-home.html By Jeff Chaney / mlive.com http://www.mlive.com/whitecaps/index.ssf/2014/05/west_mi Tony La Russa Excited to Help the Diamondbacks Turn chigan_whitecaps_ace_do.html Things Around By 630 WPRO http://www.630wpro.com/common/more.php?m=58&ts=140 0521835&article=6C9AE817DF9B11E3B51EFEFDADE6840 A&mode=2 MISSOULA OSPREY Osprey name new hitting Tony LaRussa is the new chief baseball officer of the By The Missoulian Diamondbacks — why? http://missoulian.com/sports/osprey/osprey-name-new- By Paul Leibowitz / All Voices hitting-coach/article_672ecaf8-dba9-11e3-8a82- http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/17109180-tony- 001a4bcf887a.html larussa-is-the-new-chief-baseball-officer-of-the-diamondbacks- why NATIONAL

La Russa bound to make changes with Diamondbacks MLB NEWS By / FOX Sports May 20, 2014 • MLB.com http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/la-russa-bound-to-make- http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_ind changes-with-diamondbacks-051914 ex.jsp

New Boss In Town By Will Leitch / Sports on Earth May 20, 2014 • Sports.yahoo.com http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/76008918/arizona- http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews diamondbacks-hire-tony-la-russa-chief-baseball-officer#!O1w9D MLB TRANSACTIONS May 20, 2014 • MLB.com Rainiers clobber Reno, 11-0 http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions By The Seattle Times http://seattletimes.com/html/mariners/2023651403_rainiers20 xml.html

Tacoma bats produce homecoming victory By TJ Cotterill / The News Tribune http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/05/20/3202393/tacom a-bats-produce-homecoming.html?sp=/99/289/&ihp=1

MOBILE BAYBEARS Mobile BayBears fall for the first time in a week By Boxscore News http://boxscorenews.com/mobile-baybears-fall-for-the-first- time-in-a-week-p88291-68.htm

Lookouts Snap Losing Streak Beating BayBears, 6-5, in 10- By The Chattanoogan http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/5/19/276836/Lookouts- Snap-Losing-Streak-Beating.aspx

VISALIA RAWHIDE San Jose Giants top Rawhide in slugfest 2

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So don't expect to see La Russa naming himself as general LOCAL manager, and you can count on his days managing a team being La Russa ready to evaluate all aspects of D-backs over. By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/chief- What you can bet your last dollar on is that La Russa will baseball-officer-tony-la-russa-ready-to-evaluate-all-aspects-of-d- thoroughly, and in painstaking detail, evaluate every area of the backs?ymd=20140519&content_id=76044024&vkey=news_ari D-backs' baseball operations department before deciding whether to retain Towers or make any other changes. When he woke up Saturday morning, Tony La Russa felt a churning in his stomach. That includes sitting down with farm director Mike Bell to go over the team's development plan for its prospects. It wasn't a sign of illness, but rather that the 69-year-old was back in the business of winning and losing baseball games. And though he might look at some Draft prospects, it's likely that he'll be more interested in talking with scouting director Ray La Russa was named to the newly created position of chief Montgomery about the thought process that goes into arranging baseball officer by the D-backs on Saturday. He will oversee the the team's Draft board. entire baseball operation and will be the one that decides the fates of general manager and manager Kirk While the team is on a six-game road trip this week to St. Louis Gibson. and New York, La Russa will spend time watching -A Reno and Advanced Visalia play. Expect him to lay eyes "I've been around him a lot where his stomach does churn and on every player in the organization in the next couple of months it's always a good thing," Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire with trips planned to Class A South Bend and Double-A Mobile. said. La Russa's evaluation process will be fair and he realizes that it McGwire played for La Russa in Oakland and St. Louis, and it could lead to some -- particularly Towers and Gibson -- looking was La Russa who brought McGwire back into baseball when he over their shoulders a bit. If that's the case, though, so be it. added him to his coaching staff in 2010. "Anything that disturbs your comfort factor is good for you," La "It will be the first time I'm competing against him," McGwire Russa said. "For example, as a manager, you've got people said. "They've got a good one." looking over your shoulder -- owner, front office and everybody there. You've got fans, media, the players, their families. If you're La Russa retired from managing following the 2011 World kind of clueless and you just walk in there and nobody's Series, which was won in dramatic fashion by his Cardinals. watching, maybe you're missing a 'T' to cross or an 'I' to dot." Since that time he has been busy working as a special assistant to Baseball . In other words, how people respond to having La Russa evaluate them is, well, part of the evaluation. It was challenging work and it kept him around the game that he loved, but there was something missing. Two things, actually -- "One of the things I was taught and we try to teach is you wins and losses. embrace the pressure," he said. "You don't avoid it or hide from it because then we're not going to be good enough. So "I know Tony and how competitive he is," said Rockies manager somebody's looking over your shoulder? Good, look all you , who came up with the A's when La Russa managed want to because I'm going to to show you what I've got." there. "The toughest thing for him was not being involved on a daily basis with wins and losses on the line every day. He's been That's the attitude La Russa has about his new position and it's craving that, and it's great to see him back in the game. The one others will need to have if they want to keep theirs. game will be better for it. I can't say I'm surprised, but I wish it wasn't in our division. The Diamondbacks just got a heck of a Pollock, Puig named NL Players of the Week lot better with him being there. I'm not thrilled that he's working By Joey Nowak / MLB.com in the NL West." http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/d- backs-aj-pollock-dodgers-yasiel-puig-named-national-league- While working for the Commissioner, La Russa was also players-of-the- preparing himself for a role like the one he just took. Never one week?ymd=20140519&content_id=76038082&vkey=news_ari to leave things to chance, La Russa spent time learning about front-office work from Tigers GM . A pair of from division-rival clubs shared weekly National League honors, as the D-backs' A.J. Pollock and the "He gave me a course on this is how we arrange our professional Dodgers' Yasiel Puig were named the league's co-Players of the scouts, our free-agent scouts," La Russa said. "It was really Week. wonderful. He gave a really good piece of advice which I then also received from the Commissioner: If you ever get in a Over six games last week, Pollock led the league with a .500 (11- situation, just figure out what you can contribute, and if you for-22) average and .909 slugging percentage, while Puig have the opportunity to get that responsibility, don't do led the NL in RBIs (11) and was tied for the top spot with three something you can't do." homers.

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Pollock's 20 total bases also tied with Puig for first in the NL, and this week he is planning to watch two of the club's minor- and the Arizona speedster was tied for second in hits and on- league affiliates. base percentage (.522). He recorded his third multi- outing of the week with a 3-for-4 game Sunday as the D-backs took the Neither Hall nor La Russa has given an indication of how long rubber match of a three-game series against Puig's Dodgers at this feeling-out process will last, but Hall, in mentioning La . Russa's meticulous and thorough nature, seemed to suggest it might take a while before he arrives at decisions such as whether This came a day after Pollock went 4-for-6 with two RBIs and to retain General Manager Kevin Towers. three runs, while hitting his fifth homer of the season. This is his first career weekly award. Similarly, it could take time before the team makes any player- personnel moves, such as trading away one or more of its It's the second for Puig (also the week of June 9, 2013), who hit expensive veterans. La Russa might want to assess what the .348 (8-for-23) last week. He was held hitless in Sunday's loss, organization has in the minors before determining what areas to snapping a career-best 16-game hit streak that began April 30. target via trade, although it's also possible something would happen quickly if there were players he already didn't like. Puig did homer Saturday -- his ninth of the season -- to give him 35 RBIs on the year, currently tied for second in the league. It Still, La Russa stressed to reporters on Sunday that he wasn't the was his eighth straight game with at least one extra-base hit and general manager, that his position didn't replace the GM but one RBI, surpassing Pedro Guerrero's club record of seven such rather was overseeing him. outings, from July 31-August 9, 1985. Another question is how La Russa's presence will change Hall's 's Starlin Castro, Washington's Ian Desmond, St. Louis' job. Four years ago, Hall was involved in the decision to fire , Miami's Giancarlo Stanton and Cincinnati's then-GM and in the hiring of Towers, and since Johnny Cueto were among the other players recognized for their then he's been involved, in varying degrees, in major baseball outstanding performances last week. decisions.

New hire Tony La Russa begins evaluating state of "I've never really been overly involved," Hall said. "The GM has Diamondbacks always reported to me, and now Tony will report to me, but I've By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports never told the GM who to go after, who to get. I leave it up to http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2 them and make recommendations. There's some where I've said 014/05/19/new-hire-la-russa-begins-evaluating-state-d- no, but mostly we give them the liberty to do their job." backs/2259280/ Hall said he doesn't expect to do more or less with La Russa on The buildup to the most talked-about hire in baseball started board, although it sounded like he would have less of a voice in with silence. the shape of the club's baseball-operations department than he did four years ago. His team off to the worst start in franchise history, Diamondbacks CEO began weighing his options. "I'd like to bring somebody in who I have a lot more faith in One of them, he thought, might be Tony La Russa, the Hall of than I do in myself in making baseball decisions, and who better Fame manager who had been looking for the right front-office to evaluate whether the general manager, manager or anybody opportunity. else should still be here than (La Russa)?" Hall said. "I don't know that necessarily that should be a decision I should make. I Hall called La Russa and got his voice mail. He left a message thought it's perfect to bring in somebody that has the expertise, and waited. And waited. And waited. the talent to make those decisions for us."

"So a couple of days went by," Hall said, "and I was like, 'All La Russa, who since 2012 had been working for Major League right, he must not have interest.' " Baseball and recently oversaw the expanded use of instant replay, said he had multiple opportunities to join a front office. Turns out, Hall had left a message on a La Russa doesn't often check, and within a week La Russa was at Chase Field, "I had several interviews, but it just wasn't right," he said. "The where he sat and met with Hall and Diamondbacks Managing responsibility was just not right. This one is. I actually think this General Partner for the better part of three hours. type of responsibility with a veteran baseball guy can be really useful with a lot of organizations." He emerged from that session as the team's top option for a shake-up, and after another two-hour meeting days later, the players born in Arizona Diamondbacks hired him on Saturday as their chief baseball By azcentral sports officer, a new position at the top of the club's baseball- http://www.azcentral.com/picture- operations department. gallery/sports/mlb/2014/05/19/major-league-baseball-players- born-in-arizona/9142843/ For now, La Russa is in the early stages of what Hall called an "evaluation period." On Monday, he met with the entire organization and then with the baseball-operations department, (PHOTO GALLERY IS EMBEDDED)

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La Russa on role with D-backs: 'I'm not a general With that in mind, it stands to reason that some in the manager' organization are wondering what upheaval the future holds. If By Tyler Lockman / FOX Sports Arizona anyone feels like they have to keep looking over their shoulder, http://msn.foxsports.com/arizona/story/la-russa-on-role-with- La Russa said, good. d-backs-i-m-not-a-general-manager-051914 "Anything that disturbs your comfort factor is good for you," La PHOENIX -- A day after his introduction to the local media as Russa said. "One of the things I was taught and we try to teach is the newest member of the Diamondbacks front office, Tony La you embrace the pressure. You don't avoid it or hide from it, Russa met with the team Sunday morning for a quick because then we're not going to be good enough. So somebody's introduction. looking over your shoulder? Good. Look all you want to, because I'm gonna to show you what I've got." "I didn't get a chance yesterday to say hello and let them know that I was excited to be a part of the organization," La Russa D-backs manager said before Sunday's game said. "Just a real brief explanation of what I hope to contribute." against the Dodgers that he isn't concerned about any looming personnel changes. In fact, he has praised the addition of La Shortly afterward, the Hall of Fame manager spent about 30 Russa, regardless of what it could mean for his future with the minutes doing the same with reporters, offering what further organization. clarity he could about exactly what it is he'll do for the D-backs. "It couldn't be better for me," Gibson said. "It's a great situation. "I'm not a general manager," La Russa said. "I can see where it We want to get better, want to understand what it takes. would be perceived that way. But that's not the role of this type of person." "He's got that burning desire and that nervousness, he calls it. ... That's what I feel every day. You should feel it every day. So we La Russa emphasized that he intends to evaluate and henceforth have that in common, and I'm excited about what he's going to oversee every level of the Diamondbacks' baseball operations, lend to this organization." from the major league team on down to the low Single-A affiliates, as he works to reshape the culture of the organization. This week, La Russa will travel to California for a prior commitment, and around the trip he'll work in stops at Triple-A "I feel a real urgency to pay as close attention as I can to every Reno and Single-A Visalia. He'll then make his way to the bit of the organization that I can, whether in person or talking Midwest to see South Bend before working his way down to with guys," La Russa said. "I'm going to be just as involved with Double-A Mobile. He did not want to travel with the D-backs to the manager of the Triple-A and Double-A club as I will be with St. Louis, where he managed the Cardinals to two the major league club." titles, so as not to create a distraction for either team.

As chief baseball officer, a new position, La Russa will have final But in the meantime, the players have an understanding of say on all baseball operations matters, meaning general manager what's expected of them. In the aforementioned clubhouse Kevin Towers has a new boss. But La Russa seems determined meeting, La Russa imparted a message to the D-backs that might not to meddle or disrespect anyone's existing authority. soon be considered an organization-wide mantra.

"The models that I have personal experience with are Chicago, "I think there's a basic place to start in a competition, and it St. Louis and Oakland," La Russa said. "They were really a really doesn't involve a talent," La Russa said. "It involves a coordinated group of people (where) each understood their frame of mind, and that's just your effort level. The one message contribution." is that there's never an excuse to back off the effort. If times are tough, you can't back off it. If times are good, you don't back off La Russa would rather compare notes with others, be it a general and take it for granted." manager or field manager at whatever level, and determine a best practice. That doesn't mean, however, that he will be shy about Arizona Diamondbacks' CBO Tony La Russa clarifies his asserting his new authority when needed. stance on Sabermetrics By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports "You know, you make a suggestion in the right way and if it http://arizonasports.com/42/1733617/Arizona- comes down to it, you do have the authority to say, 'No, listen,'" Diamondbacks-CBO-Tony-La-Russa-clarifies-his-stance-on- La Russa said. "Sometimes, with the players, they say 'No, no, Sabermetrics no.' And you say, '??You've got the locker. I've got the office. This is the way we're going to do it.' " When it comes to the use of baseball analytics, the Arizona Diamondbacks can't seem to find a happy medium. Translation: The buck stops here. Josh Byrnes, who served as the team's general manager from In La Russa, the Diamondbacks have a new voice and vision, 2005 to 2010, was a strict believer in Sabermetrics, which helped one with more than 50 years of experience in baseball from shaped an NL West division championship team in 2008. which to draw. Their future will be molded by La Russa, whether that process begins later this season or after. Kevin Towers, Arizona's current GM, is more of an old school scouting and feel type, but his style has also contributed to a division crown in 2011. 5

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He is the second Diamondbacks Over the weekend, the D-backs hired legendary manager Tony pitcher to be suspended for 50 games this year, along with La Russa to take over as chief baseball officer and now there is Geremia Espinosa, who is also 17 years old. some doubt about what the team's reliance on advanced statistics will be moving forward. In total, there have been 29 players suspended this year under the Minor League drug program. In the past, managing general partner Ken Kendrick has stated that he'd like more of a balance between the two schools of Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock named thought. National League Co-Player of the Week By Arizona Sports La Russa, himself, has been critical of Sabermetrics in the past, http://arizonasports.com/42/1733566/Arizona- but acknowledges their place in today's game. Diamondbacks-outfielder-AJ-Pollock-named-National-League- CoPlayer-of-the-Week "My opinion is that it's a valuable tool, but mostly a tool to help you identify talent and then prepare the talent," La Russa told Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock is splitting the Burns and Gambo Monday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. "I think latest National League Player of the Week honor with Yasiel the biggest problem I see is there are teams that have gone way Puig of the Dodgers, as announced on the MLB overboard and they are really interfering with the way the Network on Monday. managers and coaches conduct strategy during the game by running the analytics and forcing them into it. In six games last week, Pollock led the National League in batting, posting a .500 (11-for-22) mark. The also "I would definitely say I think that's a bad idea, so I think my led the NL with a .909 slugging percentage during that time. It is attitude, and I've talked to Derrick (Hall) and Ken (Kendrick) the first time he has been named the Player of the Week. about it, is there's an important place for it, but if you don't stop and recognize the tradition and history of how you play and how On Saturday, he collected a career-high four hits, going 4-for-6 you get coached and managed, and the contributions you can with two RBI and three runs scored as the Diamondbacks rolled make, a computer analysis is never going to be able to replace to an 18-7 victory over the rival Dodgers. The 26-year-old that." outfielder followed that up with a 3-for-4 night Sunday -- his third multi-hit game of the week -- as the Diamondbacks beat La Russa went on to recall , who spent nearly 70 Los Angeles for the second night in a row, winning their first years in the Cardinals organization as a player, manager, coach, home series of the campaign. instructor and scout. Pollock is hitting .315 with nine doubles, five home runs, 11 RBI "If we allow the metrics to do the exaggerated claims that they and six stolen bases in 130 at-bats this season. want to do, guys like Kissell are a relic and irrelevant and that's a mistake," he said. "What you do is you take that basic premise As for Puig, he had a .348 batting average (8-for-23) in six games about the way human beings compete and how they need to be last week, posting a league-leading 10 RBI and league-high-tying coached and managed, especially during a game as conditions three home runs. The 23-year-old also tied Pollock change, and you don't mess with it. for the NL lead in total bases (20) while finishing second behind the D-backs outfielder with an .870 slugging percentage. This is "You help prepare using the analytics, but you don't let them the second time the second-year pro has received the weekly exaggerate. In fact, the teams that do are making a big mistake." honor.

Diamondbacks Minor League pitcher Argeny Hiciano Puig is batting .322 with nine home runs, nine doubles and 35 banned 50 games RBI in 152 at-bats in 2014. By Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1733580/Diamondbacks-Minor- The two players with each be rewarded with a watch courtesy of League-pitcher-Argeny-Hiciano-banned-50-games Game Time for their Player of the Week honors.

NEW YORK -- Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League pitcher Diamondbacks prospect Archie Bradley throwing again Argeny Hiciano has been suspended 50 games for a drug after elbow injury violation. By Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1733538/Diamondbacks- The commissioner's office announced the penalty Friday under prospect-Archie-Bradley-throwing-again-after-elbow-injury the Minor League drug program. At the end of April, Reno Aces pitcher Archie Bradley, one of Hiciano, a 17-year-old right-hander, tested positive for the top-rated Major League prospects, was placed on the 7-day metabolites of Boldenone. He is on the roster of the Dominican disabled list. Summer League Diamondbacks, and his ban will start when the team's season begins. When he reported soreness in his elbow, the Arizona Diamondbacks organization feared it could be serious, but it was found to be just swelling, and general manager Kevin Towers reported everything was structurally intact in Bradley's arm. 6

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But the Arizona Diamondbacks did just that Saturday, hiring Although placed on the DL for seven days, Bradley was to stay Tony La Russa as their new Chief Baseball Officer. idle for two weeks, according to Towers, and the organization hoped the right-hander could get back to pitching in games La Russa says there is something special about the D-backs that within a month. helped draw him back to the day-to-day operations of a team.

Monday On , the 21-year-old starter himself reported "They've got several assets, one of them is the organization," La that he has taken his first important step toward a clean bill of Russa told Doug and Wolf Monday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. health. "You know, I've been a little cocoon in either Oakland or St. Louis, but once you get out, like the last couple years, you realize Judging by that announcement, he's just about a week behind the that the organization is well-regarded. schedule that Towers laid out. Nonetheless, he could be back to competing in games within two weeks, if all goes well. "You take the top handful organizations in baseball and the Diamondbacks are right there." Bradley had a 1-4 record with 23 in five starts with a 5.18 ERA before being sidelined. La Russa, who managed the Cardinals to a World Series title in 2011 in his final season, feels the Diamondbacks are a perfect fit The Pulse: D-backs' hiring of Tony La Russa a '' for what he has to offer. By Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1733522/The-Pulse-Dbacks- "Another thing that made it attractive was that they were talking hiring-of-Tony-La-Russa-a-home-run about the type of responsibility I hoped would be available," he said. "I've actually talked to several teams, but it was never Every day, ArizonaSports.com asks readers a question. It's the right." Sanderson Ford Poll Question of the Day, and it can be found midway down the right side of our home page. While the culture of the organization is widely regarded as a plus, the reality is the Diamondbacks are 18-28 and in last place in the On Sunday, May 18, we asked what fans thought of the Arizona as they begin a six-game road trip in St. Diamondbacks' hiring of former manager Tony La Russa to be Louis Tuesday. the chief baseball operator of the organization. But La Russa doesn't foresee coming in with guns blazing and With four options from which to choose, and 747 people making sweeping immediate changes because of the team's on- weighing in, the most popular answer by far was the most field performance. positive option: "Home run!" as 482 readers (64 percent) said. Another 20 percent gave a simple round of applause, clicking on "You can't come in here and say you have an answer if you don't "Good hire." have it. I've started to evaluate, but I think the other thing to consider is this is organization-wide, wherever you compete," he That left 10 percent of voters who said, "Depends on how much said. "I'm going to learn who's teaching what in the minor control he has," and just 6 percent of readers were indifferent, leagues, who are we teaching it to, what are players look like. I clicking on "Won't make a difference" -- perhaps skeptical of expect to learn what our drafting philosophy is and then you go this move being able to change around the perceived stagnant from there. culture in the clubhouse. "I'm not afraid to make tough decisions, but I'm more afraid of The hire seemingly came out of nowhere Saturday, and D-backs is making a decision that's wrong and you're making it for the players responded positively, while Doug Franz of The Doug & wrong reasons, like the organization has to prove that we're Wolf Show wrote that it's an important first step for this determined to change this around. I think what we've got to franchise in trying to turn itself around. prove is to figure out where we can help and provide the help and the improvement comes from there." La Russa began his career as a manager in 1979 with the and he didn't let up until 2011 with the St. Louis Likely cross one big name off list to be Diamondbacks next Cardinals. He has taken teams to three World Series titles, and manager he is a four-time Manager of the Year. By Eric Sorenson / Sports 360 AZ http://www.sports360az.com/2014/05/likely-cross-one-big- Culture drew Tony La Russa to Arizona Diamondbacks name-list-dbacks-next-manager/ By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1733469/Culture-drew-Tony-La- No weekend this baseball season ended sweeter for the Arizona Russa-to-Arizona-Diamondbacks Diamondbacks.

It's not every day when a baseball organization can just go out Saturday the club announced National Baseball Hall-of-Fame and hire a Hall of Famer who's got six league championships, inductee Tony LaRussa as their new Chief Baseball Officer. three World Series rings and four league Manager of the Year Sunday after honoring the 10th anniversary of ’s Awards on his résumé. perfect game they wrapped up their first home series win of season beating the 5-3.

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Still, the reality is a double-digit deficit in the National League West after a horrendous April. The Diamondbacks have gone Her dad says Kaylee is just now learning how to speak, already 14-14 over their past 28 games entering their six-game road trip saying words like Mommy and Daddy. But Chris says she has which begins night. now also added the word "baseball" to the list.

Managing general partner Ken Kendrick and president and CEO NATIONAL. Derrick Hall have essentially given LaRussa a key to the house, Tipsheet: Experts applaud La Russa hiring one which will likely be remodeled in the not-so-distant future. By Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch The 33-year manager said he will be evaluating how the http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff- organization is currently being run top-to-bottom before gordon/tipsheet-experts-applaud-la-russa- adjusting the current model. hiring/article_8bf3fda0-6ef7-5100-9287-fa2a814531a6.html

Could it include a return to the Dbacks dugout where he won The Diamondbacks-Cardinals midweek series won't be a big deal three World Series titles with the and St. to most folks. Arizona has tanked in the National League West Louis Cardinals? and nobody is expecting fireworks at this week.

“We said it and we mean it, he has the complete responsibility of But Tony La Russa is eager to see what happens. As the new the baseball department,” Kendrick told Sports360AZ.com’s Chief Baseball Officer of the Diamondbacks, he has just begun Brad Cesmat in a phone interview Monday morning. “If he were to evaluate how the franchise does everything. to decide, which I think is very highly unlikely that he would that putting on the uniform is something he wanted to do, we Some day he hopes the Diamondbacks will be more like the wouldn’t stand in his way but I don’t think that’s at all in the Cardinals, his previous team. Some day he hopes the team will cards.” develop, nurture and deploy lots of good young talent while playing the game the right way. Kendrick said he and Hall had been open with current manager Kirk Gibson, as well as general manager Kevin Towers about Getting from here to there will not be easy, given the mind- bringing in someone to oversee the organization leading up to boggling talent depletion that has occurred the last few years in Saturday’s announcement. Kendrick explained he and Gibson the Valley of the Sun. spoke about how LaRussa’s experience and wisdom could make Gibby a better manager. If anybody is up for a challenge, though, it is La Russa. His appointment to his new post drew generally good reviews: He was a bit more evasive when asked if the 2014 season is already lost particularly due to one glaring weakness. Jon Paul Morosi, FoxSports.com: "The La Russa hire can bring the same sort of cultural overhaul that initiated “We’ve got a tough situation,” Kendrick told Cesmat. “We don’t when he joined the in 2010. Showalter have a solid rotation. We recognize that…having that as a very transformed the organization from the manager's office; for obvious circumstance there’s not a lot you can do in changing now, at least, La Russa is prepared to do the same from above. that dramatically at this point of the season.” But we'd be foolish not to note that La Russa is now part of the same organization as his close friend and longtime pitching The Diamondbacks have five of the first 75 picks in next coach , who's a Diamondbacks pitching month’s amateur draft. Kendrick said it was important LaRussa consultant. As long as that's the case, baseball insiders will was “engaged with that process” working with scouting director theorize that La Russa might one day return to the dugout. In Ray Montgomery and his staff evaluating future prospects. the end, it's hard to view La Russa's presence in Arizona as anything but a huge win for the organization and its innovative Dad makes great catch at Diamondbacks game president Derrick Hall. La Russa has been associated with one By Tyler Baldwin / AZ Family losing season since 1999. He didn't take this job to accept the http://www.azfamily.com/news/Dad-makes-great-catch-at- status quo. Remember that fixed gaze we saw from him on the Dbacks-game-259893111.html top step of the dugout, behind those mysterious sunglasses? Over the coming weeks, he'll be looking at every Diamondbacks It was quite a catch at the Diamondbacks game this weekend. A employee the same way." catch from the stands, that is! Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports: "The hiring of Tony La Russa this The dad behind the amazing grab is actually a D-Backs fan from week as chief baseball officer reverberated through the New Mexico. The whole family caravans down to to Phoenix at organization. In recent weeks, general manager Kevin Towers least once a year to check out a game. This weekend they caught and manager Kirk Gibson steeled themselves to what seemed more than just a game. like the inevitable end of their tenures with the Diamondbacks. And placing La Russa atop them in the organizational hierarchy Chris Cauthen was holding his one-year-old daughter in one neuters whatever power was left amid Arizona's troublesome arm, wile he caught a Paul Goldscmidt home run in the other. start with a franchise-high payroll. It's reminiscent of Cincinnati's hiring of La Russa's old boss in St. Louis, , as a Saturday's game was little Kaylee's very first Diamondbacks special consultant in January 2008. Three months later, GM game. We bet it's one game she and her dad will remember for Wayne Krivsky was fired and Jocketty took the reins, turning years! around an organization though never getting the Reds to the 8

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NLCS. They're struggling this year as well, injuries and a http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10951178/arizona- miserable dooming them." diamondbacks-chief-baseball-officer-tony-la-russa-talks-players- effort Jon Heyman, CBSSports.com: "Hard to believe, but La Russa does seem to have mellowed a bit starting with his final season Tony La Russa said effort was the main theme of his first talk to managing, which resulted in a Cardinals World Series win, so Arizona Diamondbacks players in his new role as the team's perhaps intensity won't be a big issue. La Russa, to the contrary, chief baseball officer. is being viewed as an additional thoughtful voice to add an extra layer of consideration and restraint, to in effect make the "It was just a real brief effort to tell them what I hope to decision-making process more methodical. Along those lines, it's contribute," he said of his meeting with players before their said that he will give his top two baseball guys -- Towers and game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Gibson -- at least the season to show that they have the D-Backs back on track. All things considered, that's the right result." Headed to the Hall of Fame this year for his success as a manager, La Russa said he told players that competition doesn't Will Leitch, Sports on Earth: "Diamondbacks fans are about to start with talent, but with the level of effort. go on quite the ride. Having Tony La Russa be in charge of your team will drive you up the wall at times, and you'll have to adjust He said he has seen the team show its character by playing hard to instantly becoming everybody's least favorite team for a while. through the tough times, but wanted to drive the point home. But your team will win, by any means necessary; losing hurts La Russa more than it hurts you. If that's what you want -- and like "The one message is that there's never an excuse to back off the La Russa, don't care about anything else -- then you're going to effort," La Russa said. "If times are tough, you can't back off it. have one amazing time. And isn't that all everyone really wants?" If times are good, you don't back off and take it for granted. You just remind them who's watching. Your fans are watching." Jay Jaffe, SI.com: "Not only are the Diamondbacks off to a terrible start that has all but doomed their chances of making the In an informal half-hour session with reporters on Sunday, La playoffs, but they’re headed by an impatient managing partner in Russa said he doesn't mind if Arizona players are "looking over Ken Kendrick, whom I’ve characterized in this space as a desert their shoulder" wondering about their future, because that kind Steiinbrenner wannabe for his hands-on style and penchant for of pressure is a good thing. calling out the team’s underperforming players (and other employees) in the media. In 2010, he took the rare step of firing "Anything that disturbs your comfort factor is good for you," he general manager Josh Byrnes in midseason. Towers, who had said served as the Padres’ GM for 14 years (1996-2009), took over that fall, and under him the D-backs won 94 games and the NL La Russa, named to his post on Saturday, will be subordinate West in 2011 before receding to 81 wins in each of the past two only to owner Ken Kendrick and team president Derrick Hall, seasons while reshuffling the roster in controversial fashion by giving him authority over general manager Kevin Towers. But selling low on several young players who had recently appeared La Russa tried to dispute the notion that he has usurped Towers' to be at the center of their plans, often in the name of changing authority. the clubhouse culture. Having given Towers license to bump the payroll from $86.3 million last year to $112.3 million this year Kendrick brought in La Russa to shake things up for a team that (11th in MLB), Kendrick effectively put the GM on notice in has had an awful start to the season. late April via a lengthy interview in which he questioned those character-driven roster moves and limited use of analytics." La Russa said he doesn't like to use the word "patience," but it will take time to do any significant renovation. Mark Bauman, MLB.com: "La Russa's primary problems are not the existing management personnel or the existing structure of "I'm not sure fans really appreciate when somebody comes in the D-backs' organization. His primary problems are these two: and says `patience," he said. "That's not what they want to hear. the Los Angeles Dodgers and the . The They want to hear `We're getting better.' ` Dodgers, as those keeping score have noticed, are absolutely loaded with revenue, and they are now in a posture in which they Coming to the team during the season makes any significant are spending their mega-millions wisely. The Giants are a less changes a challenge. flashy operation, but they did win World Series in 2010 and '12. They have built their success on the firmest foundation of all -- "I don't have a lot of answers," La Russa said. "I feel a real pitching -- and this being another even-numbered year, they are urgency to pay as close attention as I can to every bit of the back in first place in the NL West. These are the challenges organization that I can, whether in person or talking with guys. facing Arizona. The club's next direction is uphill. Make that This week I'm going to go out and watch some (minor league) relentlessly uphill. The D-backs have to catch organizations with clubs. I feel that urgency, but I don't want to talk patience to either greater resources or a better base of talent, or both. If you fans, but you can't answer unless you have an answer." were in this kind of situation and you had the opportunity to hire La Russa, you would take that opportunity, too." La Russa said he won't accompany the Diamondbacks to St. Louis, where Tuesday they open a three-game series with the Tony La Russa stresses effort Cardinals, who he led to two World Series titles. By AP / ESPN

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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/la- Preview: Diamondbacks at Cardinals russa-in-new-job-wants-to-balance-effects-of/article_9ad1495d- By The Global Post a01f-535b-8f2d-4aa821432753.html http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson- reuters/140520/preview-diamondbacks-at-cardinals Tony La Russa was in town last week to deliver a commencement address at Washington University. But with his looks to become the second seven-game new team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, in town tonight, he will winner in the National League when he takes the hill to face the not be here. visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in the of a three-game series. Wainwright was denied his seventh “What’s one of my favorite things to try to avoid?” asked La victory in his last outing when St. Louis Russa. “It’s distractions.” blew a in the ninth . Rosenthal also squandered a ninth-inning save in Sunday's 6-5 setback to the Braves, La Russa wants his new struggling team, which has the National snapping the Cardinals' four-game winning streak. League’s second worst record, to try to stay on a winning course (two wins) without him looking over any shoulders or having The Diamondbacks won the final two of a three-game set attention showered on him rather than his club. Instead, the new against division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, Arizona chief baseball officer will begin touring the minor league but they are still buried in the NL West basement following a system, starting with the Visalia, Calif., Class A team. disastrous 9-22 mark in April. Despite the back-to-back victories, Arizona remains a woeful 6-18 at home compared to a The man who managed the Cardinals for 16 seasons and to two 12-10 mark on the road. Veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo, World Series championships and directed the Chicago White in his first season with the Diamondbacks, will oppose Sox and Oakland for another 16-plus, doesn’t enter the business Wainwright looking to win his fourth straight start. arena with a lot of pre-conceived notions. “I know what I don’t know,” said La Russa, “and I also respect the people who know TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, FSN Midwest (St. Louis) the stuff I don’t know.”

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Bronson Arroyo But, in the big picture, La Russa wants to make sure old-school (4-2, 4.15 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (6-2, 2.11) philosophy is maintained not only off the field but on. “Balance” is the word La Russa uses. Much like his team, Arroyo has turned things around with the arrival of May, allowing only two runs and 15 hits over 23 1/3 “There’s a lot of metrics and analytics,” said La Russa. “But you innings during his three-start winning streak. He struck out a have to make sure you don’t lose the importance of the staff on season-high seven and limited Washington to one run on seven the field to adapt the strategies. There’s a challenge to strike a hits last time out in going at least seven innings for the third balance there. consecutive outing. Arroyo allowed at least one homer in each of his first four starts, but hasn't surrendered one in his last four. “The balance is the competition between teams, no matter what era and whether it comes down to pitcher vs. hitter or offense Wainwright, who failed to go at least seven innings for only the vs. defense, and in essence it’s the same historically,” said La second time in nine starts last time out, has held the opposition Russa. “ is and is Stan to two runs or fewer seven times. That includes a spectacular Musial. string of three starts in which he did not allow a run and permitted only nine hits over 24 innings. Wainwright last faced “That what makes our game great and the priority is to do the Diamondbacks on Opening Day in 2013, giving up four runs anything we can to enhance that. Some of the primary enhancers on 11 hits in six innings to fall to 5-4 with a 2.77 ERA against are the coaches and the managers and the teaching. them. “You’ve got to preserve that and you’ve got to emphasize that. WALK-OFFS The analytics are valuable tools and the information from them has its place. But when that place starts to diminish the priority 1. St. Louis was 3-4 against the Diamondbacks last season, of the coaching that goes on and the decision making that goes allowing at least six runs on five occasions. on, then you’re worse, not better.”

2. Arroyo has not has much success against St. Louis, logging an Citing a longtime Cardinals minor league manager and 8-16 record in 4.64 ERA in 38 appearances (36 starts). instructor, La Russa said, “The George Kissells are becoming irrelevant. How can that possibly be? George Kissell is a relic? 3. Diamondbacks CF A.J. Pollock was 8-for-12 in the series That’s bull. against the Dodgers and is 3-for-3 lifetime versus Wainwright. “In my opinion, George Kissell and guys like him are actually PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2 more important now than they were then because so much teaching has to go on at the major league level.” La Russa, in new job, wants to balance effects of analytics By Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch The 69-year-old La Russa, who retired as a manager after the Cardinals won the , has been without a team the past two-plus years as he’s worked on special projects for 10

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Commissioner Bud Selig, including serving as one of the architects of the expanded replay system. “I haven’t studied (the analytics). I didn’t go to the Ivy League,” said La Russa. “But I’ve studied the other side. So I’m going to But all the while La Russa, who will be inducted into the Hall of have at it. Does it make sense to hire me? People may decide Fame in July, made it clear he wanted to be in a front office they don’t agree with what I’m saying — and they’re welcome to position to experience again the “winning and losing,” even it.” though he lost 2,365 games as a big league manager. As Fox Sports Midwest viewers would conclude from his postgame La Russa is immediately put into a position tonight of having to sessions, he didn’t seem to enjoy any of those defeats. pull against the Cardinals for the first time in his life, but he doesn’t see it that way. In Phoenix, La Russa rejoins his longtime pitching coach, Dave Duncan, who is a pitching consultant with the D’backs; Dave “The priority is the competition between two teams,” he said. McKay, his first-base coach in Oakland and St. Louis; and “You want your team to win the competition, but that doesn’t , a front office special assistant who was the mean you pull against the other team. White Sox general manager who gave La Russa his first big league managing job. “In no way am I pulling against the Cardinals.”

“If they were not there and this opportunity came up, I still And, incidentally, La Russa’s return to a major league team would have taken it,” said La Russa, “but the fact that all three wouldn’t have compromised his Hall of Fame status, if he hadn’t are there is an advantage, a nice edge to start with.” already been elected. Managers with 10 or more years in baseball are eligible to be considered by a veterans’ committee panel as His former boss, Selig, said from , “I’ll miss him a lot. soon as six months after retirement if they are over 65 years old. Active executives over 65 also are eligible. “I didn’t know him all that well other than watching that scowl in the dugout for many years, “ said Selig. “It was only in the last Methodical, 'egoless' La Russa is just what doctor ordered couple of years that he managed that I got to know him pretty in desert well. By Jon Heyman / CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon- “But for two years here, he was just extraordinary. And the heyman/24567109/methodical-egoless-la-russa-is-just-what- longer he was here, the more I liked and respected him. doctor-ordered-in-desert

“I know how badly he wanted to go back with a team, although I The Diamondbacks considered a few other alternatives before really think he enjoyed the last couple of years. I have profound making the bold decision to hire managerial great Tony La Russa respect for him as a person and a baseball man, and he has a to become their new chief baseball officer. wonderful mind.” Among the main other considerations were, 1) replace GM Selig is retiring after this season and will spend more time in his Kevin Towers, 2) replace manager Kirk Gibson, and 3) replace second home in the Scottsdale, Ariz., area. “He said he was both Towers and Gibson. going to make me happy — that the Diamondbacks would be competitive,” said Selig. Under those circumstances, Diamondbacks management made the right call. To this, La Russa laughed said, “I told him I was going to try.” They are happy to have bought more time before making any As for folks who might presume that La Russa is interested in rash judgments, but they are especially thrilled to add La Russa, a quickly replacing both general manager Kevin Towers and consummate competitor and winner, who will bring a reasoned, manager Kirk Gibson, the last of whom hurt La Russa’s fresh and neutral voice to a team that has made a lot of big Oakland team in the World Series in 1988 with a one-legged gambles with gutsy moves but hasn't always won the bets. home run swing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, that is not the case. D-Backs president Derrick Hall said he can hardly "stop pinching myself" since luring La Russa, who is said to have been “I haven’t had a chance to talk to Kevin yet,” said La Russa. courted by a few other teams and to have turned down at least “I’ve talked to Kirk Gibson. His head’s in the right place. His one other big opportunity because he didn't believe he was experience is in the right place. I know the same about Kevin. needed there. They’re baseball men. Here in the desert, it seems he is. “I want to see what I can add rather than subtract them. At this point, the Diamondbacks are open-minded about how far to go The Diamondbacks were expecting to take a step forward on the with (his philosophy), so it’s a good place for somebody like me field following two straight disheartening .500 seasons (they to be.” don't take mediocrity well there, so you can only imagine what they are thinking now), and instead have come close to burying La Russa is entering an arena populated by men from prestigious themselves within the first weeks of the season. institutions, although he does have a law degree from Florida State. 11

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Their just-concluded home series victory against the disliked In any case, Gibson seems to have close to a fresh slate, and he Dodgers was their first in a season that's seen them begin 6-18 at is said to seem rejuvenated. "Even Tony wouldn't have been able Chase Field, which is unsurprisingly and easily the worst home to win," Hall admitted of the depleted roster. mark in baseball. Towers has been similarly on board, and he's said to great They've had some very bad luck, starting with the reverence for La Russa, though it's obvious the move cuts into surgeries for ace and Daniel his power and makes clear he's on a clock of undetermined Hernandez, as well as shocking underperformance by most of length. La Russa is said to have the ultimate respect for Towers' the team's seemingly serviceable remaining starting rotation. But abilities as an evaluator -- though now it is La Russa doing the they've also made some questionable calls, too. evaluating of Towers.

The result is that they are in a big hole, and what's more, they've Top Diamondbacks brass are thrilled, as it gives them time to also somewhat depleted their impressive young player/prospect observe and provides an "outside" expert who will bring an largesse with trades of Justin Upton, , , unbiased viewpoint of what's happening here. Hall admittedly and some others. Previously, Towers had close to feels extremely close personally to both "Gibby" and "KT," so full autonomy to make the moves within their small-to-mid- La Russa brings a new and neutral perspective to the mix. market budgetary constraints, but now he'll run everything by La Russa, who is one of baseball's great thinkers, the guy who The move seemingly had to be made. practically invented the bullpen matchup, and while not a sabermetrics guy in the new strict sense, certainly was among the But if there's one concern, it has to be whether all that intensity earliest users of advancing statistics. can fit into one hierarchy. Ann Killion (@ankillion), columnist of the San Jose Mercury News, humorously tweeted, "Tony La The Diamondbacks in recent years looked at times like a team Russa is now Kirk Gibson's boss. That will be a super relaxed that too easily has fallen in and out of love with players and work environment." people, and this gives them a better chance to fairly ascertain how they should feel about their top management setup and Hard to believe, but La Russa does seem to have mellowed a bit staff going forward. Towers and Gibson were given what was starting with his final season managing, which resulted in a seen as lukewarm votes of confidence with extensions of Cardinals World Series win, so perhaps intensity won't be a big unannounced length heading into (at least issue. La Russa, to the contrary, is being viewed as an additional Gibson's is thought by a couple people to have been a short- thoughtful voice to add an extra layer of consideration and term thing), but 46 additional games with an injury-depleted restraint, to in effect make the decision-making process more roster this year is not enough to make calls to let two largely methodical. successful (before this start) veteran people go. Along those lines, it's said that he will give his top two baseball Towers has some great qualities, including about the biggest guts guys -- Towers and Gibson -- at least the season to show that in baseball to make the boldest moves, but his bosses probably they have the D-Backs back on track. All things considered, don't mind the idea of someone above him to take to a step that's the right result. back, and to put on a "stop" sign when it's deemed necessary. La Russa may be viewed in some circles as a bit of gamble since his Could La Russa steal St. Louis' Secret Weapon? resume is that of a Hall-of-Fame manager with limited front By Scott Wuerz / Belleville News Democrat office experience, but no one who knows him sees him failing at http://www.bnd.com/2014/05/19/3215518/could-la-russa- anything. steal-st-louis.html#storylink=cpy

La Russa has impressed MLB officials in his short time at the The problem that arises when one of the top people in your main office at 245 Park Ave., leading the rules committee not organization joins another one, is that he tries to surround only with his smarts but, perhaps surprisingly, an "egoless" himself with familiar faces. approach. So that makes me wonder what the St. Louis Cardinals have to "He's not a me guy," Hall said. "He's all about the success of the fear from former manager Tony La Russa taking a newly-created group." position as chief baseball officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

La Russa went quickly for a closed-door meeting with Gibson, Fortunately, many of his lieutenants in St. Louis are already and asked the ultra-intense manager whether he's in favor. Not gone. Former coaches Dave Duncan and Dave McKay already that he had much of a choice, but Gibson is said to have work for the Diamondbacks. Mark McGwire left the Cardinals answered, heck yeah, or words to that effect. to become the hitting coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the rumor mill has already started to churn reports that La Russa There have been questions about whether Gibson's ultra intense wants to fire Arizona manager Kirk Gibson and replace him mindset may stifle some of the club's younger players, with a few with Redbirds third base coach Jose Oquendo. of them said to have told other folks they were afraid to make mistakes. La Russa, winner of six pennants and three World Oquendo is a low profile guy, so his value might be a little bit Series, probably heard similar criticisms at times in his career. So under the radar. But it would be tough for St. Louis to lose him perhaps there is simpatico there. not only because he's the Cardinals fielding guru. But he's got a ton of institutional knowledge about what it means to be a 12

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Cardinal. Who, besides has spanned the last home run in the third. The D-backs went on to score in the next four decades as a member of the Redbirds? three innings against Dan Haren.

If La Russa came calling, Oquendo would have a tough call to Gerardo Parra singled and advanced to second a to make. This could be his last shot at becoming a major league then be brought home on a RBI single in the third manager. But would it be a great idea to take over as skipper of a inning. Cody Ross homered on a moon shot off the center field floundering team that's getting ready for a major housecleaning? wall in the fourth. The final two D-back runs came from a Eric Look at former St. Louis coach who was hired by Chavez two run homer in the fifth inning. Chavez came in as a the to develop a group of young players. defensive replacement for Martin Prado, who left the game due As soon as those players were set to contend, the Nats planned to blurred vision in his left eye. The Diamondbacks finally got to to shove him out the door and hire a higher profile skipper. Haren this season, as he pitched six innings, allowing five runs Riggleman saw the writing on the dugout wall and quit before he (four earned) off ten hits. could be fired. pitched just good enough by going 5.1 innings, It would be a shame to give up such a steady job for a tenuous while giving up three earned runs on four hits and two walks. position as a transitional manager. Let's remember while La The bullpen was great behind him, despite a few tense situations. Russa probably wouldn't turn his back on Oquendo if he lured Oliver Perez escaped a jam in the sixth and Brad Ziegler loaded him to the desert, Tony is 69 years old. I'd be a little surprised if the bases to escape without allowing a run. Addison Reed he was still working full-time for the Snakes beyond three years. recorded his twelfth save of the season after striking out two of the four batters he faced. La Russa's other dealings could benefit the Cardinals, however. The D-backs get a travel day off on Monday before starting a On his short list of potential new general managers if former St. series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday at Busch Louis GM Walt Jocketty. Stadium. A promising pitching matchup is scheduled, with Bronson Arroyo and Adam Wainwright taking the mound. Both Shown the door by the Redbirds for his unwillingness to play are looking to continue great pitching in the month of nice with the Money Ball guys, Jocketty would be an excellent May. As for Los Angeles, they head to New York to face New choice for La Russa to hire to help him prove the old fashioned York Met prospect pitcher Rafael Montero. takes way of evaluating talent is still viable. And Jocketty might be the mound for the Dodgers. ready to leave the who seem to have run out of money last off-season as they jettisoned one of their best Worth Noting: offensive players and one of their best starting pitchers to cut costs. Dodger right fielder Yasiel Puig ended his hitting streak at 16 games after going 0-3 Sunday. If Jocketty left the Reds, it could send Cincinnati reeling into a The Arizona Diamondbacks celebrated the 10th anniversary of rebuilding period. Randy Johnson's perfect game with a pre game ceremony and commemorative t-shirts. There probably aren't many players the Diamondbacks could flip to the Cardinals in a that would benefit St. Louis. I Tony La Russa Excited to Help the Diamondbacks Turn doubt the D-Backs would be willing to send 26-year-old slugger Things Around at a reasonable cost. But the Redbirds don't By 630 WPRO have a bunch of free agents that La Russa could raid. So as far as http://www.630wpro.com/common/more.php?m=58&ts=140 players go, St. Louis is pretty safe. 0521835&article=6C9AE817DF9B11E3B51EFEFDADE6840 A&mode=2 D-backs Beat Dodgers 5-3, Win First Series At Home By Josh Garcia / vavel.com With his managerial career behind him, Tony La Russa is http://www.vavel.com/en-us/mlb/351930-d-backs-beat- heading to the front office, joining the Arizona Diamondbacks dodgers-5-3-win-first-series-at-home.html as the team's chief baseball officer.

The Arizona Diamondbacks followed up their best game of the La Russa has been out of baseball since the end of the 2011 season --a 18-7 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday-- with a 5- season when he was with the St. Louis Cardinals. Now he's 3 series clinching win against the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday turning attention to the Diamondbacks. afternoon. The series win was the D-backs' first at home this season and their fourth out the previous five. "The one message is that there's never an excuse to back off the effort," La Russa said. "If times are tough, you can't back off it. The Dodgers came out swinging, as Hanley Ramirez blasted a If times are good, you don't back off and take if for granted. deep home run to left field off Josh Collmenter in the first You just remind them who's watching. Your fans are watching." inning. The hot Arizona offense tied the ballgame at one in the second inning. Cody Ross lined a double to right field, that was Through 44 games, the Diamondbacks have been a the result of a misread by Yasiel Puig, and was able to score on a dissappointing, with a record of 18-28, 5th in the NL West. Hanley Ramirez throwing error on a Cliff Pennington ground ball. Adrian Gonzalez answered for L.A. by hitting a two run

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La Russa will have to answer only to owner Ken Kendrick and He’s bolstering his credentials. team president Derrick Hall, meaning he has authority over general manager Kevin Towers. How many great managers or coaches in any sport also became great executives? Tony LaRussa is the new chief baseball officer of the Diamondbacks — why? Off the top of my head come Pat Riley and Red Auerbach in By Paul Leibowitz / All Voices . In the other sports, it’s hard to find http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/17109180-tony- coaches/managers who walked away from running the team on larussa-is-the-new-chief-baseball-officer-of-the-diamondbacks- the field and made it work from the front office. why was the Packers’ general manager and coach, Having accomplished just about everything he could in baseball but once he left the field, the team fell apart. Jack McKeon is a as a manager and about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, great, Hall of Fame-worthy baseball man, but he was a good the obvious question for Tony LaRussa as he takes over as the general manager and a good manager. He didn’t do enough in chief baseball officer of the floundering Arizona Diamondbacks either capacity to warrant being referred to as an all-time great. is a simple one: Why? was a general manager twice with the Cardinals and Angels and laid the foundation for the dominant Cardinals Let’s speculate. of the 1980s in the same position, but his fame came from managing. owned and managed the Athletics and He’s bored. is one of baseball’s luminaries. John McGraw has the same status. That was 100 years ago before blogs, websites, Since he retired from managing the Cardinals after the 2011 sabermetrics and the crushing pressure. The other great World Series win, LaRussa has kept busy. In addition to managers who come to mind —, , functioning as an adviser to Major League Baseball on various , and — never worked in any front issues such as the home plate collision rules, he was something office as the true decision-maker for the club. of a roving instructor for friends like when he was still managing the Tigers. It wasn’t as if LaRussa disappeared, With his credentials as a manager nonpareil, it would be went fishing, worked on his Animal Rescue Foundation charity noteworthy for LaRussa to return as a manager with another and receded into the background. He’s a baseball lifer. He was team and cobble together a winner. Noteworthy is not mentioned as a possible team president for the Dodgers and exceptional. If he went back onto the field as a manager, the best then openly campaigned for the same title with the Mariners last he could hope for is the nodding acknowledgement of those winter. This type of job wasn’t just a possibility, but was who already harbor great respect for him as they say, “He can seemingly inevitable. still do it.”

While LaRussa might not want to get back into the ring as a From those who are arrogant enough to reference the new stat- manager and have to endure the day-to-day operation of a team, based revolution to discredit LaRussa or out-and-out criticize taking over as team president gives him time to relax while still him for his style, winning as team president would be an in-your- being in the middle of competition, if in a different form than face slam dunk. From stat guys like Jeff Luhnow and , what he’s accustomed to. It's a new challenge. people who LaRussa holds in contempt for interfering with his baseball aesthetic, all he would get is silence and a head-shaking Some might say it’s the minutiae that tire a person out. LaRussa, eye roll at the renewed appellation of “greatness.” however, was someone who immersed himself in the tiniest aspects of the game to root out any advantage he could use. If he walks into what is widely perceived as a dysfunctional mess with the Diamondbacks, gets everything in line and turns the Whether it was using stats no one had thought of, reading a entire organization around, how is that going to look on his player’s body language to determine when to replace him, taking resume? Will it be the added line from managing? Or a whole the opponent’s perceived disarray and panic as the ideal time to new category to bolster his image by getting the job done not call for a squeeze play or knowing when to roll the dice on a play only as the field manager but as an executive as well? that statistics say is a total absurdity, LaRussa loved that part of the game. The Luhnow factor.

It was the other stuff: the travel, the new criticisms he was facing It’s not just Luhnow himself that LaRussa would like to compete as the game changed and the media — especially the media — against and defeat, but what he represents. LaRussa hated that drove him from the dugout. Had the Cardinals not won in — hated that people who’d never picked up a 2011, LaRussa might have gone on managing waiting for that baseball or paid their dues learning the game in the trenches last great moment, but walking away as a champion was far more were suddenly telling him and his cronies what to do, hated palatable than hanging on and chasing that elusive final having his gut feelings scrutinized, hated that his longtime championship that might never have come. friends and allies like Walt Jocketty were forced out of the Cardinals front office due to the new baseball math and power Now that he’s rested and is taking on a job that doesn’t require struggle, hated that his and Dave Duncan’s preferred method of the physical energy that managing does, he’s ready to jump back procuring and developing players was suddenly called into in even as he approaches 70 years old. question and their influence reduced.

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Luhnow epitomizes what LaRussa reviles about today’s game Alderson when both were with the Padres, he’s older-school not due to any personal enmity (although that’s probably there than most of today’s GMs and is chameleon-like in his ability to as well), but because Luhnow parachuted into LaRussa’s world adapt and survive. While Towers is probably unhappy that his and was suddenly given authority on how his team was built and influence will be diminished with the hiring of LaRussa, it’s still run. better than an outright firing or the hiring a baseball outsider as his boss who’s going to clear out the whole house as Luhnow Imagine it as a grizzled military man who worked his way up did with the Astros. from private to four-star general through work, intelligence and success and was saddled with a privileged kid from a military The phantom nature of being club president. academy who’d never seen combat walking in and undoing everything the general had done based on reading about the The question will undoubtedly be asked why LaRussa simply exploits of Napoleon, Alexander the Great and Sun Tzu without didn’t take over as general manager. For someone who hates having the experience and respect from the troops that was a talking to the media, being a GM is the last job he wants to take. natural corollary to tangible accomplishments. Who wouldn’t While managing, LaRussa gave his monosyllabic responses, chafe at the intrusion? Who wouldn’t use sharp-elbowed indecipherable mumbles and grunts to media queries. Many infighting and bullying tactics to regain some semblance of times they were accompanied by a condescending head tilt or control? laser-like glare.

Presumably it still grates on LaRussa that the Luhnow faction Other times, he'd unleash an outburst. How long would he last that was with the Cardinals for the latter years of his tenure as dealing with that in a job like GM where a vast proportion of it manager is still given significant credit for the 2011 World Series is talking to the media and justifying oneself? Where he didn’t win. This ignores the reality that had LaRussa not demanded that have the outlet of managing the actual game for three hours a the team make drastic mid-season maneuvers such as trading night? away and bringing in puzzle pieces , , and , they not Not long. only wouldn’t have won the World Series, they’d have been under .500 for the season. As team president, he can be there, but not be there. He can make himself available to the media, but not be required to make Is it an attraction for LaRussa that Luhnow is receiving himself available to the media. He can pick and choose his spots accolades for what he’s doing as the general manager of the when to speak. Most times, he can stay up in a luxury suite at the Astros in spite of the team being supernaturally awful? That the park and run the team without the day-to-day operations he’d rebuilding of the farm system and turning the Astros into an have to oversee as the GM or manager. This is why it’s likely expansion-level franchise in the interest of accumulating high that Towers survives. LaRussa has no reason to partake in the draft picks is the strategy they’re utilizing, unfettered by a ancillary — and annoying — parts of being a GM. He’s in manager who has the ability to express his displeasure at the lack charge without being in the daily line of fire from the despised of talent on his roster? That the Astros are a front office media. comprised of people who’d never played baseball and are veterans of ? LaRussa is back in the game, and it’s in a capacity that provides him with the best of all possible worlds. He gets a lot of money, Of course. he only answers to team CEO Derrick Hall and managing partner Ken Kendrick, he can show everyone what a genius he is To say to someone like LaRussa that the manager should be little and he’s back in the game without the constant stress. more than a functionary designed to carry out edicts from the front office is tantamount to spitting in his face. It’s no shock It’s a clash of baseball worlds, old school vs. new school and the that LaRussa had interest in running the Mariners. In part, it was old school couldn’t find a better representative than Tony clearly because the job was open. But it was also likely that the LaRussa. hyper-competitive, egomaniacal and vindictive LaRussa wanted to beat Luhnow head to head in the same division. It didn’t La Russa bound to make changes with Diamondbacks work out, so now he’s got to show what he can do running a By Ken Rosenthal / FOX Sports club in the opposite league. That won’t dilute the common http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/la-russa-bound-to-make- denominator —“my” way is better — if LaRussa succeeds and changes-with-diamondbacks-051914 Luhnow doesn’t. The sad thing is, Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers It’s this that crafts a strong chance of Kevin Towers surviving as is universally well-liked within the sport, manager Kirk Gibson GM. Towers is not some 28-year-old kid with an Ivy League the same. degree, a smug look on his face and a handbook as to how he’s going to reinvent the game from the general manager’s chair and Towers' superiors just undercut him, but still hold him in high become as famous as . regard. Many in the organization question Gibson's decision- making, but greatly respect him as a person. While LaRussa would look upon such a newly found underling with disdain and presumably dismiss him at the first available Maybe it all will work out, and the team's hiring of Tony La opportunity, Towers played professionally, he worked under Russa as chief baseball officer will be the move that reboots the LaRussa's friend and former GM with the Athletics Sandy entire organization and brings out the best in Towers and 15

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Gibson. The D-backs, at least publicly, are leaving open that The search for a new GM, meanwhile, could be even more possibility. And, as team president Derrick Hall says: "Even if we fascinating. La Russa doesn't want the job, just as he doesn't were .500 and I had the opportunity to get Tony La Russa, I'm want to manage. Sources say that he has yet to even discuss doing it." candidates with upper management. But two names were brought to my attention over the weekend, both rather OK, but the D-backs are not .500 -- they're 10 games under, intriguing. even after winning two of three from the Dodgers over the weekend. And let's be realistic: La Russa is about the last person The first was , the Tigers' assistant GM. La Russa, the D-backs would hire if they were looking to remain one big, remember, spent the spring of 2012 with the Tigers, learning happy family. how a front office works. He remains close with Tigers GM David Dombrowski and former manager Jim Leyland, going Change is coming. The only question is, how soon? back to their days together with the White Sox in the early 1980s. And Avila, Dombrowski's top assistant, long has been Hall already has acknowledged interviewing candidates for viewed as a future GM. Towers' job during the search that led him to La Russa. Some in the organization, meanwhile, believe that Towers put together a The second candidate is someone with whom La Russa is even competitive club, but the players have underperformed due to more familiar -- his former boss with the Cardinals, Reds GM the tense climate under Gibson and his strategic weaknesses. Walt Jocketty. This is the final year of Jocketty's contract. He recently bought a home in Phoenix. And he has told friends that That probably is too harsh an assessment -- the D-backs were he only wants to remain a GM for a few more years. devastated by their two Tommy John surgeries, to left-hander Patrick Corbin and right-handed reliever David Hernandez, and This could get complicated: Jocketty, 63, might be loyal to Reds the loss of Mark Trumbo to a stress fracture in his owner , and he also is good friends with Towers. right foot on April 21. Then again, if the D-backs fired Towers, he almost certainly would bless Jocketty as his replacement. Towers is remarkably What's more, the D-backs remain last in the majors with a 5.28 even-handed, accepting of the game's harsh ways. rotation ERA, a shortcoming that reflects more on Towers than on Gibson, at least in the narrow view. The problem is that The thing I wonder about is whether a La Russa-Towers Gibson, after nearly four full seasons as a manager, still makes combination actually could work. Towers previously served his share of head-scratching moves. under demanding bosses, most notably with the Padres. And the D-backs' current failings aside, Towers' eye for Case in point: Friday night, second inning of a scoreless game, pitching remains almost unmatched in the sport. the Dodgers' wondrous on the mound. The D- backs put runners on first and second with none out. Chris Perhaps the biggest question is, what does Ken Kendrick, the D- Owings, who was flashing extra-base power even during a two- backs' managing general partner, want? week slump, stepped to the plate. A month ago, Kendrick publicly bemoaned the D-backs' limited So what happened? use of data, essentially saying that Towers relied too little upon analytics and his previous GM, Josh Byrnes, too much. Gibson asked Owings to bunt in front of the D-backs'€™ No. 8 hitter, , who at the time was 3-for-24 on the La Russa can give off an old-school vibe -- he told the St. Louis season with no extra-base hits. Owings popped up his bunt. Post-Dispatch in 2009: "I believe analysis from a computer is Inciarte hit into a 4-6-3 . And the D-backs went on useful but should be secondary to what you observe." But at that to lose, 7-0. time, he was still bristling over the departure of Jocketty in favor of a more analytically driven front office. Such missteps are not isolated, and scouts who see the D-backs routinely criticize Gibson's handling of pitching as well. As a Categorize La Russa at your own risk -- he is neither old school player, Gibson could almost will himself to success, as evidenced nor new school, but his own school. As a manager, he practically by his home run off in Game 1 of the 1988 invented the matchup bullpen. What is the goal of matchups? To World Series. As a manager, he has not quite figured out how to maximize a roster's capability, a sabermetric principle if there will his team the same way. ever was one.

But, as one rival executive asked Sunday: "Who do you bring in "Chief baseball officer" is a new job for La Russa -- and to manage?" somewhat of a new job in baseball, somewhere between club president and GM. He's going to implement his own ideas, that , the team's Triple-A manager, is a Towers guy. Dusty much is certain. And as always, he will be utterly compelling, no Baker, La Russa's old rival? Don't think so. Jose Oquendo? La matter who is on his side. Russa might talk to his old third-base coach Oquendo at some point. But would he seek to disrupt the Cardinals' staff to bring New Boss In Town in Oquendo during the middle of the D-backs' lost season? By Will Leitch / Sports on Earth Seems doubtful. http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/76008918/arizona- diamondbacks-hire-tony-la-russa-chief-baseball-officer#!O1w9D

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For 16 years, I analyzed, scrutinized and obsessed over every he brought up two different general manager candidates and move Tony La Russa made as manager of the St. Louis three different managerial ones.) This is not to imply that La Cardinals. It'll put you in a strange head place. With other teams, Russa needs yes-men: La Russa, the beautiful maniac, will want you sense that on some days, everyone's taking a day off; there's whatever is required to win as many games as possible and fight that backslapping, towel-snapping "hey, we all work in baseball down that screaming pain in his stomach. ("Losing sucks," he and therefore our lives are awesome!" complacency you grow said after losing in the . "I don't think most accustomed to when you watch baseball teams work and co- people understand how bad it feels." My favorite La Russa exist. Tony La Russa teams, for better or worse, never have this. quotes are the ones that get across how much physical pain La Russa is so intense and so manically focused on winning losing causes him.) But La Russa will not allow his power to be baseball games that I have no idea how players handle it. It wore questioned. And why would he? There's no reason to bring in me out, and I was only watching. Tony La Russa and have him be some cog in the machine.

This exhaustion is considerably leavened, eventually, by all the There are dozens of questions as to how this is going to work, wins. but it's difficult to imagine La Russa as a , big picture of the organization guy; no one's going to run any La Russa said, when he was introduced as the Arizona marketing plans by La Russa anytime soon. (I pity the poor Diamondbacks' "Chief Baseball Officer" on Saturday, "I never Diamondbacks middle-management-exec who would have to missed the managing, but boy, I missed the winning and losing." try.) He's here for the roster, the on-field product, and I can't This is how you knew that La Russa was never going to stay help but wonder if this "chief baseball officer" job the D-Backs retired, on field or not, for all that long; the wonder, really, is have invented for him is a way to try to push Towers to resign that he somehow held out for more than two years, other than before that extension -- again, the one he just signed -- kicks in. some side work in the commissioner's office. I imagine La Russa being insane in every vaguely competitive endeavor since If you were Towers, would you want to stick around? Whatever October 2011; Lord help the poor soul who has ended up at the your thoughts on Towers' recent roster moves, he has been a same trivia night as La Russa. (La Russa would spend two hours baseball general manager -- the guy in charge -- for 18 years. trying to figure out the perfect team name. Also, somebody's Does that sound like someone eager to be a second fiddle to getting a dart thrown at them.) La Russa is controlling and anyone, even a Hall of Famer? These two can't possibly co-exist, overpowering and the biggest guy in every room, no matter the and the Diamondbacks (and, presumably, Towers and La Russa) room. This could drive Cardinals fans crazy at times... but not have to know this. If I were a general manager wanting to hold nearly as crazy as losing would have driven them. Ultimately: La onto power, La Russa is essentially the last person I'd want hired Russa is someone you're just grateful is on your side. above me.

Unless, theoretically speaking, you happened to be in charge the That's unfortunate for Towers, and Gibson. (I still wouldn't put day before your boss hired him. it past La Russa to give himself both jobs someday anyway, just out of general antsiness.) But Diamondbacks fans are about to Kevin Towers has been an object of some ridicule for the last go on quite the ride. Having Tony La Russa be in charge of your few years among sabermetrically-inclined folks, mainly for his team will drive you up the wall at times, and you'll have to adjust tendency to trade away young talent for veteran guys with grit to instantly becoming everybody's least favorite team for a while. and/or intestinal fortitude. "The Kevin Towers era is not good," But your team will win, by any means necessary; losing hurts La ESPN's Keith Law said earlier this year. "Basically every major Russa more than it hurts you. If that's what you want -- and like move he's made, particularly in the trade front, has made the La Russa, don't care about anything else -- then you're going to team worse." The Diamondbacks brass apparently haven't have one amazing time. And isn't that all everyone really wants? agreed: Just three months ago, they extended Towers' and manager Kirk Gibson's contracts to an undisclosed length. "If RENO ACES you look at the track record, these are two guys that have not Rainiers clobber Reno, 11-0 had a losing season," team president Derrick Hall said. "And I By The Seattle Times think that these guys are as loyal as it gets." Here was Towers at http://seattletimes.com/html/mariners/2023651403_rainiers20 the time: "This is a place where we hope we get to spend the rest xml.html of our careers," he said. TACOMA — Matt Palmer and Chance Ruffin combined on a Oops. "Loyal as it gets" is thrown out the window rather fast five-hitter and Jesus Montero hit his eighth home run of the when you start 9-22. The Diamondbacks gave Towers an season, leading the to an 11-0 victory over the extension and a bunch of money, and then three months later, Reno Aces in a baseball game Monday they've brought in a Hall of Famer who's rather infamous for night. wanting absolute power in all matters. With a made-up position - - "Chief Baseball Officer" is a term, by my research, that has The Rainiers had 15 hits, and they scored six times in the sixth never existed in the history of the game -- that basically means inning to take a 9-0 lead, with one of the runs in the sixth "person in charge of everything." Which, until about 72 hours coming on Montero’s sole home run. ago, Towers thought he was. Palmes pitched the first five innings for Tacoma, allowing three Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal tried this morning to imagine a hits and two walks and striking out five. Ruffin allowed two hits scenario in which La Russa and Towers (along with Gibson) and no walks and struck out three. could work together , but I'm not sure his heart was in it. (And 17

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Tacoma bats produce homecoming victory James Gillheeney (1-3, 7.88 ERA) starts for the Rainiers and will By TJ Cotterill / The News Tribune be opposed by Reno right-hander Zeke Spruill (1-1, 6.04) at 6:05 http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/05/20/3202393/tacom p.m. Tuesday. The game will broadcast on 850-AM. a-bats-produce-homecoming.html?sp=/99/289/&ihp=1

Roy Howell seemed tired enough of the cold nights in Reno, MOBILE BAYBEARS wind storms in Las Vegas and near 100-degree temperatures in Mobile BayBears fall for the first time in a week Sacramento, which the Tacoma Rainiers endured on their recent By Boxscore News 13-day trip — not to mention the eight losses they suffered in 12 http://boxscorenews.com/mobile-baybears-fall-for-the-first- games. time-in-a-week-p88291-68.htm

He was pleased to be back at Cheney Stadium on Monday to The Mobile BayBears fell 5-6 in 10 innings to the Chattanooga begin a 12-day homestand with the game-time temperature at 67 Lookouts Monday afternoon at Stadium. Mobile and sunny. But he was even more so with the Rainiers’ dominant held a 5-4 lead entering the seventh but Chattanooga tied the pitching and hitting that led to an 11-0 Pacific Coast League game with a run off of BayBear's RHP Kaleb Fleck. The loss victory against the Reno Aces. snapped the BayBears eight game win streak just one victory shy of the franchise record with nine consecutive wins set back in “We came out for (batting practice) and it was just gorgeous. It 2009. just felt good to be home,” Howell said. “It seemed like every place we went (on the road trip) we were hit with something The Lookouts were the first on the board in the second with a unusual. homerun by O'Koyea Dickson but the BayBears answered with four runs just three outs later. Jon Griffin homered in the “The guys played relaxed today, got big hits, good pitching and bottom of the second and RHP Mike Lee helped his own cause when you do that – what are you going to do? That’s how you wit ha two-run double. Mobile lead until the seventh inning win baseball games.” when Noel Cuevas scores on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5-5. In the top of the tenth Dickson scored again for the Lookouts , Ty Kelly and Leury Bonilla each had three on Chris O'Brien sacrifice to secure fly off of BayBears RHP hits, and Jesus Montero hit his team-leading eighth home run. Blake Cooper.

It was Almonte’s first game at Cheney Stadium since the Seattle Lee went seven innings for Mobile, allowing three runs on five Mariners demoted him May 4 after he hit .198 in 27 games. He hits before the bullpen took over. Copper (3-1) suffered his first was 3-for-3 his first three at-bats Monday. loss of the season, allowing the go-ahead run to score for the Lookouts 6-5 lead. The allowed by the BayBear “As soon as I got here today, it started to feel a little more like righty was just the third earned run he had given up in 22.2 home and I felt really comfortable today,” said Almonte, who hit innings in 2014. .314 in 94 games with the Rainiers last season. “I’m going through a tough time hitting right now, so I just want to start to With an off day on Tuesday the BayBears travel to Tennessee to get my feeling at the plate, and I was feeling good today.” face the Smokies in a five game series with the first game starting at 6:15 PM CT Wednesday night. RHP Bradin Hagens (1-2, Rainiers starter Matt Palmer safeguarded the Rainiers’ 3-0 lead 2.36) will take the mound for Mobile as the BayBears and through five innings. But the cushion ballooned to a 9-0 lead in Smokies meet for the first time in 2014. When the BayBears the bottom of the fifth, sparked by Kelly’s RBI double and complete the road trip in Tennessee, they will return home for a Bonilla’s bases-clearing double over the center fielder’s head. five game set with the Jackson Generals with the first game scheduled for 4:05 PM CT Monday, May 26. Montero extended the lead to 10-0 with a two-out solo shot in the sixth. Montero also had a 2-run single to get the Rainiers on Lookouts Snap Losing Streak Beating BayBears, 6-5, in 10- the scoreboard in the first inning. Innings By The Chattanoogan It was more than enough for the Rainiers’ pitching staff, which http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/5/19/276836/Lookouts- came off the 13-day trip with a 6.14 ERA. Snap-Losing-Streak-Beating.aspx

Palmer allowed just three hits and struck out five in five innings MOBILE. AL --- Monday's Southern League game at Hank before being pulled after 78 pitches. It was his second start of Aaron Stadium had a Twilight Zone parallelism. Each team's the season – first at home – after starting the season on the - Chattanooga's O'Koyea Dickson and Mobile's disabled list with a sore shoulder. Jon Griffin - led off the second inning with a home run over the left-field fence. Each team's - Mobile's Mike Lee “That road trip just wasn’t productive for us,” Howell said. We and Chattanooga's Garrett Gould - plated his team's second run got it handed to us a few times. But when you hit like we did with a double into the left-center gap. Each team loaded the today and you have those two guys we had who just dealt out bases in the ninth off hard-throwing relievers - Chattanooga's there, it sure makes it a fun day.” Pedro Baez and Mobile's - but failed to score.

Each team got two runners on base in the 10th inning.

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That's where the parallelism ended. Chattanooga got one of its The San Jose Giants salvaged a split of their four-game series runners home, Mobile did not and the 6-5 decision ended the against the with a 12-8 win over the Rawhide Lookouts four-game losing streak and ended their five-game Monday afternoon at Recreation Park. series on a winning note. The Giants and Rawhide (28-17) combined for 29 hits, including Dickson's one-out walk off Mobile's seventh pitcher, Blake four home runs. Cooper (3-1), started Chattanooga's 10th-inning rally. Running on a 3-2 pitch, Dickson went to third on Ryan Adams' pinch-hit San Jose Blake Miller was 4-for-5 with three RBIs. He single up the middle. That allowed him to score on Chris hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to cap the game’s O'Brien's sac fly to center. scoring.

Chattanooga (17-27) held on in the 10th despite some The Giants had three other players witth three hits — Jesus misadventures in the field. led off the home half of Galindo, Shawn Payne and Mark Minicozzi. the 10th by lining a single past Darnell Sweeney. Dustin Martin lofted popup into shallow left field off Rawhide right-hander Aaron Blair gave up eight hits and five reliever Matt Shelton. Left fielder Casio Grider ran into Erisbel runs in five innings. Henry Garcia (3-2) received the loss after Arruebarrena, sending both players sprawling and the Lookouts allowing five runs in a sixth inning that saw a 6-4 Rawhide lead trainer running onto the field, but the Chattanooga shortstop transform into a 10-6 Giant advantage. held on to the ball for the out. Mike Freeman hit the ball sharply to first, where Dickson gloved it, stepped on first for the second hit his ninth home run for the Rawhide, a two- out and threw to second to try to head off Lamb and end the run shot in the first inning off San Jose starter Martin Agosta. game. But his throw skipped past Arruebarrena. Shelton got Tom Belza to ground out to Dickson to end the game -- the Evan Marzilli had three of the Rawhide’s 13 hits. Marzilli had a Chattanooga first baseman's seventh unassisted putout of the pairof doubles and two RBIs. game. Rudy Flores and Ryan Court each went 2-for-4 with a double Baez, who pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers two weeks ago, and an RBI. walked Belza, gave up a two-out single to Garrett Weber, then decided to walk after falling behind 2-0. With the Rawhide’s Standing: The Rawhide sit one game behind first- bases loaded, Griffin put some electricity into Hank Aaron place Bakersfield with 25 games left in the first half. The next Stadium with a long line drive that landed foul down the left- closest division foe is Stockton (22-23) and the Ports are six field line before Baez struck him out to end the inning. the Rawhide. Today begins a seven-game road trip for the Rawhide, as they face Modesto for three games (today After Dickson homered down the left-field line to give through Thursday) and San Jose for four games (Friday through Chattanooga a 1-0 lead in the second, Mobile answered with a Monday). The Rawhide return home to Recreation Park on May leadoff homer in its half of the frame - a long ball onto BayBear 27 to start a three-game series with Bakersfield. Next week’s Mountain by Griffin. Mobile didn't stop there. After singles by series against Bakersfield is the last one between the two teams Martin and Freeman, Lee helped himself with a two-out, two- for first-half play. run double. Sean Jamieson's double completed the four-run outburst. SOUTH BEND SILVER HAWKS Whitecaps fall to Silver Hawks Chattanooga got two of the runs right back in the third, with By The Holland Sentinel Gould doubling in a run and scoring on 's http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140519/SPORTS/1 single. 40518896/-1/opinion

Jamieson doubled again in the fifth and scored when Lamb beat COMSTOCK PARK — The West Michigan Whitecaps lost 12- out a two-out chopper. 5 to the South Bend Silver Hawks on Monday at Fifth Third Ballpark. Trailing 5-3, Chattanooga got a two-out, run-scoring double from O'Brien in the sixth. In the seventh, Noel Cuevas led off Austin Kubitza started and allowed two earned runs in five with a double off reliever Kaleb Fleck, went to third on Brian innings. He had three strikeouts, four walks and got a no- Cavazos-Galvez's pinch-hit flare to right and scored on decision. Sweeney's long foul out to left to tie the game. Montreal Robertson (1-3) took the loss in relief with four earned VISALIA RAWHIDE runs allowed in the sixth inning. San Jose Giants top Rawhide in slugfest By Visalia Times-Delta Wynton Bernard had three hits, a run and an RBI for the http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/sports/2014/05/20/sa Whitecaps. n-jose-giants-top-rawhide-slugfest/9314561/ West Michigan Whitecaps ace loses to hottest team in the Nothing like a little ol’ afternoon game at Recreation Park to put Midwest League a charge into the scoreboard. By Jeff Chaney / mlive.com

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│ http://www.mlive.com/whitecaps/index.ssf/2014/05/west_mi MISSOULA OSPREY chigan_whitecaps_ace_do.html Osprey name new hitting coach By The Missoulian COMSTOCK PARK, MI – \West Michigan Whitecaps pitcher http://missoulian.com/sports/osprey/osprey-name-new- Austin Kubitza has been in command all season, but it was his hitting-coach/article_672ecaf8-dba9-11e3-8a82- command that he lost Monday night against the hottest team in 001a4bcf887a.html the Midwest League. The Missoula Osprey baseball season is just over a month away Kubitza, who has already been named the MWL Pitcher of the and the club is putting the final touches on its coaching roster. Week twice and came into Monday's game against the visiting South Bend Silver Hawks with a 5-0 record and 1.98 ERA, Vince Harrison will be the Osprey hitting coach for the 2014 struggled with his location. And one of the best offensive teams season, Missoula’s parent club the Arizona Diamondbacks in the league took advantage as Kubitza could not hold a 5-1 announced Wednesday, filling a role vacated by lead his team's offense gave him early in a 12-5 loss when the latter took a Double-A position in the Phillies organization. He left the game after the fifth inning, giving up three runs and walking four Silver Hawks. Harrison was slated to be the Arizona Rookie League The West Michigan bullpen wasn't any better in relief of the staff Diamondbacks hitting coach, but was promoted to Missoula ace. following Ducey’s departure from the organization.

The loss drops West Michigan a game and a half behind South Harrison was drafted in the 13th round by Tampa Bay in the Bend in the Eastern Division standings. The Silver Hawks now 2001 MLB first-year player draft out of the University of have a six-game winning streak and have won nine of 11. Kentucky, where he played both baseball and football. He played from 2001-2007 in affiliated baseball and 2008-2011 in the “It's hard to do well went you can't throw your and Independent Leagues. He was named the Atlantic League secondary pitches for strikes,” Kubitza said. “I threw well for the Playoff MVP in 2011 for the York Revolution. first couple of innings, but I didn't throw that many strikes. They were just chasing pitches. Once they figured out I couldn't get The O’s open the season June 16 in Helena under manager anything over, they started taking pitches and I had to bring the Audo Vicente and pitching coach . ball up. Mechanically, I felt like I was doing thing right, I just couldn't get a consistent release point." NATIONAL

Kubitza retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, but in the MLB NEWS fourth South Bend scored a run to make it 3-1 without getting a May 20, 2014 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews hit. The Silver Hawks got on the board after a batter, an error, http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews two walks and a couple of fielder choices. May 20, 2014  The Reds sign Jair Jurrjens 9:15 am EDT (NBC Sports) “Austin was a bit off with his command, and we all noticed  Jackwagon Anaheim bro injuries an old lady while that,” West Michigan manager Andrew Graham said. “He did diving for a foul ball 8:51 am EDT (NBC Sports) battle through, making it through five innings, and he left with  Wakeup Call: Sabathia out until July . . . or longer 8:48 the lead. And the bullpen didn't do its job today. We left the ball am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England) up, and we gave up too many hits. And tip your cap to the other  and Billy Hamilton saved the Reds’ team, they did a good job of getting their pitch and driving it.” bacon with fantastic catches 8:25 am EDT (NBC Sports)

After Kubitza left in the fifth, Montreal Robertson, Julio Felix  Japan's new plan to beat deflation: more baseball 7:24 and Scott Sitz gave up nine runs on 10 hits. am EDT (Reuters)  And That Happened: Monday’s scores and highlights “They are a hot and a good team,” Graham said. “We have to 6:31 am EDT (NBC Sports) come out and do a better job keeping the ball down and keep  No , but Keuchel delivers again 3:02 am that lead. And our bats went quiet from the fifth inning on.” EDT (Comcast SportsNet Houston)  Astros-Angels Preview 2:25 am EDT (The Associated The Whitecaps raced out to a 5-1 lead thanks to some sloppy Press) play from the Silver Hawks. Only one of the Whitecaps' five  For the Astros, hope is always a draft away 2:16 am runs was earned, but the South Bend bats were good enough to EDT (Yahoo Sports) make a winner of starter Hector Hernandez.  Reds-Nationals Preview 2:01 am EDT (The Associated Press) “This is baseball, it's a game of failure,” Kubitza said. “This is a  Keuchel pitches Astros past Angels 5-2 1:54 am humbling game. I tried to keep them off the board as much as I EDT (The Associated Press) can. I just didn't have my best stuff tonight.”  Brewers-Braves Preview 1:30 am EDT (The Associated Press) HILLSBORO HOPS  Brandon Phillips, Billy Hamilton rob Nats in extras 1:29 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

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 SportsNet Central Update: White Sox pull off wild win  Yankees-Cubs Preview 7:36 pm EDT (The Associated 1:21 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) Press)  Frazier's homer lifts Reds over Nats 4-3 in 15 1:18 am  Cubs Road Ahead: Tanaka, Yankees travel to Wrigley EDT (The Associated Press) 7:19 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)  Jacob Petricka earns first save of career in White Sox  Blue Jays acquire Raul Valdes from Astros 7:00 pm wild win 1:04 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) EDT (NBC Sports)  Daily Dose: 1:03 am EDT (Rotoworld)  Theo vs. Evil Empire: How Cubs move on from  White Sox-Royals Preview 1:02 am EDT (The Associated Tanaka fallout 6:57 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) Press)  Cubs prospect Kyle Hendricks is on a roll with Triple-  Keuchel, Astros steamroll Angels 12:52 am EDT A Iowa 6:22 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) (Comcast SportsNet Houston)  Williams explains why Zim is working out in left field  Pierce Johnson ready to make some noise with Cubs 6:21 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) 12:46 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)  Giants-Rockies Preview 6:20 pm EDT (The Associated  Padres GM: No surgery recommended for Cashner Press) 12:37 am EDT (The Associated Press)  Jose Abreu has no structural damage in ankle 6:16 pm  Tigers-Indians Preview 12:29 am EDT (The Associated EDT (NBC Sports) Press)  Reds 1B Votto to miss fourth game with knee injury  White Sox rally from 5-run hole, beat Royals 7-6 12:15 5:58 pm EDT (The Associated Press) am EDT (The Associated Press)  Diamondbacks-Cardinals Preview 5:56 pm EDT (The  Nationals lose marathon game 12:14 am EDT (Comcast Associated Press) SportsNet Mid Atlantic)  Tigers delayed, arrive late for game in Cleveland 5:49  Freeman, Upton homer as Braves beat Brewers 9-3 pm EDT (The Associated Press) 12:09 am EDT (The Associated Press)  Twins-Padres Preview 5:47 pm EDT (The Associated May 19, 2014 Press)  Brantley's homer in 10th beats Tigers 5-4 11:53 pm  Rays expected to activate Alex Cobb Thursday 5:46 pm EDT (The Associated Press) EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)  Jose Abreu's injury could topple limping White Sox  White Sox get good news on Jose Abreu's injured ankle 11:19 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) 5:43 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)  (VIDEO) Astros Scoop: 1-3 hitters on fire, solid  Astros trade Raul Valdes to Blue Jays 5:21 pm EDT rotation, perfect Sipp 11:17 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet (Comcast SportsNet Houston) Houston)  Rays expected to activate Alex Cobb on Thursday 5:12  Shaughnessy: Sox 'played over their heads last year' pm EDT (NBC Sports) 11:17 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)  Sox drop fourth straight for first time since 2012 5:05  Long ball lifts White Sox to wild victory over Royals pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England) 11:11 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)  Moss awarded AL Player of the Week honors 4:45 pm  Jim Henderson is nearing a minor league rehab EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area) assignment 11:01 pm EDT (NBC Sports)  Blake Treinen to start for Nats on Thursday against  PST: What should Phillies do with Ben Revere? 10:43 Pirates 4:44 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)  Indians ready to welcome back 4:40 pm  Phillies have record day in fight against ALS 10:39 pm EDT (NBC Sports) EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)  Phillies' future could hang on upcoming stretch 4:35 pm  How Abreu's absence affects Konerko's playing time EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia) with Sox 10:27 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)  Blue Jays-Red Sox Preview 4:22 pm EDT (The Associated  VIDEO: Wilson Ramos goes airborne to snag a pop- Press) up bunt from Billy Hamilton 9:55 pm EDT (NBC  Down with the pitchers win, up with the Tango 4:21 Sports) pm EDT (NBC Sports)  Villar resting for Angels opener 9:49 pm EDT (Comcast  Forget it: is not learning to play left SportsNet Houston) field 4:13 pm EDT (NBC Sports)  Tanguay: No need to panic on the Red Sox 9:01 pm  Dodgers-Mets Preview 3:50 pm EDT (The Associated EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England) Press)  Reds undecided on DL stint for Joey Votto 9:01 pm  For one day the A's are a major deal 3:36 pm EDT EDT (NBC Sports) (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)  Blake Treinen to take Gio Gonzalez’s spot in the  South Dakota and Santo Domingo: baseball hotbeds Nationals’ rotation 7:58 pm EDT (NBC Sports) 3:30 pm EDT (NBC Sports)  White Sox sore from start but elbow is fine  Carlos Gonzalez is struggling to play through knee 7:40 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) problems 3:19 pm EDT (NBC Sports)  MRI exam on White Sox slugger Abreu negative 7:38  Don't blame older core for Phils' early stumbles 3:18 pm EDT (The Associated Press) pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

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 Strasburg, Leake square off as Nats host Reds 3:14 pm Tony Removed From 15-Day DL, (Left Cincinnati Reds EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic) Cingrani shoulder tendinitis)  They’re making a fictionalized TV show out of PEDs Colorado Michael Sent to Minors, For

in baseball 3:00 pm EDT (NBC Sports) Rockies Cuddyer Rehabilitation  Orioles-Pirates Preview 2:57 pm EDT (The Associated Colorado Wilin Removed From 15-Day DL, Press) Rockies Rosario (Viral infection)  Marlins release former Cubs closer Carlos Marmol 2:55 Colorado Wilin Recalled From Minors, Rehab pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago) Rockies Rosario Assignment  Suspended signs with Marlins 2:45 pm Colorado Michael EDT (The Associated Press) Sent to Minors Rockies McKenry  Extra Baggs: Alarming trend of Tommy John surgeries 2:37 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area) Tigers Justin Miller Sent to Minors  HBT Daily: The Tigers and the Athletics are kicking Anibal Removed From 15-Day DL, some serious butt 2:30 pm EDT (NBC Sports) Sanchez (Right middle finger laceration)  Mariners-Rangers Preview 2:07 pm EDT (The Associated Minnesota Michael Sent to Minors Press) Twins Tonkin  Yasiel Puig is taking bat-flipping to the next level 2:00 New York Called Up from Minors, (recalled Jose Ramirez pm EDT (NBC Sports) Yankees as 26th roster player)  Will Sox make any changes to right ship? 1:54 pm EDT New York Bruce (Comcast SportsNet New England) Outrighted to Minors Yankees Billings

New York Jose Ramirez Sent to Minors Yankees MLB TRANSACTIONS May 20, 2014 • MLB.com Oakland Acquired Off Waivers From from http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions Athletics Reds, Cincinnati Oakland Transferred to 60-Day DL, Last updated: Tue, May 20, 2014, 01:21 EDT Athletics (Strained left quad) Monday, May 19, 2014 Oakland Joe Savery Sent to Minors Team Player Transaction Athletics Pittsburgh Brandon Justin Sent to Minors, For Return of 26th man

Chicago Cubs Pirates Cumpton Ruggiano Rehabilitation Carlos Pittsburgh Brandon Called Up from Minors, (recalled

Miami Marlins Released Pirates Cumpton as 26th roster player) Marmol St. Louis Removed From 15-Day DL, (Left Miguel Signed to a Minor League Jaime Garcia

Miami Marlins Cardinals shoulder inflammation) Tejada Contract St. Louis Recalled From Minors, Rehab Minnesota Chris Jaime Garcia Called Up from Minors Cardinals Assignment Twins Herrmann Miles Philadelphia Signed to a Minor League Rangers Sent to Minors

Shawn Camp Mikolas Phillies Contract Dan Tampa Bay Brandon Called Up from Minors Sent to Minors Robertson Rays Gomes Toronto Blue Marcus Traded From from Astros, Sent to Minors Stroman Raul Valdes Houston (for future Jays considerations) Washington Gio Placed on 15-Day DL, (Left Sunday, May 18, 2014 Nationals Gonzalez shoulder inflammation) Washington Ryan Team Player Transaction Called Up from Minors Nationals Mattheus Traded From from Dodgers, Los Ozzie Angeles (for future Martinez considerations) Chicago White Recalled From Minors, Rehab Adam Eaton Sox Assignment Chicago White Placed on 15-Day DL, Jose Abreu Sox (Tendinitis, left ankle) Chicago White Removed From 15-Day DL, Adam Eaton Sox (Strained right hamstring) Tucker Cincinnati Reds Sent to Minors Barnhart 22