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08/17/2010 -
HOUSTON (AP) -The New York Mets are withholding injured closer Francisco Rodriguez's salary while he's sidelined, and the team wants to convert his contract to a non-guaranteed deal.
The moves could be a prelude to the Mets releasing the star closer without paying most of his 2011 salary.
Rodriguez was placed on the disqualified list Tuesday, six days after he tore a ligament in the thumb of his pitching hand while punching his girlfriend's father outside a family lounge at Citi Field. Rodriguez had surgery Tuesday to repair the self-inflicted injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
The Mets said he won't be paid while on the disqualified list. In addition, they said they were exercising a contractual right to convert the rest of his $37 million, three-year deal to non-guaranteed, meaning they could try to avoid paying most of what's left on it.
The players' association planned to fight the team's actions.
The Mets announced the move before Tuesday night's game at Houston in a conference call that included chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, general manager Omar Minaya and executive vice president and general counsel David Cohen.
Rodriguez, a four-time All-Star, was suspended for two days without pay following the fight outside a family room at the ballpark last Wednesday.
By going on the disqualified list, Rodriguez will lose $3,016,393 of his $11.5 million salary this year. Added to the $125,683 he lost when the Mets put him on the restricted list for two days last week, the altercation already has cost him $3,142,076.
In addition, by converting his contract to non-guaranteed, the Mets gave themselves the ability to release Rodriguez in the early part of spring training next year for 30 days' termination pay. That would mean paying $1,885,246 rather than his $11.5 million salary next year. They still likely would owe the $3.5 million buyout attached to the $17.5 million club option for 2012 that's included in his deal.
The 28-year-old reliever was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and second-degree harassment following the fight. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Sept. 14.
He will not be paid or accrue major league service time until he is deemed able to perform his job again and removed from the disqualified list, the Mets said.
``He has to get himself healthy and part of that has to do with anger management to deal with any issues he has right now,'' Wilpon said.
A player can remain on the disqualified list indefinitely.
``There's no specific time limit,'' Cohen said. ``A player can apply for reinstatement, otherwise he's reinstated at the time that the club believes that he is ready to perform the services under his contract.''
Rodriguez's lawyer, Jay Reisinger, declined comment on the Mets' decision. The players' association vowed to take action.
``The Mets' actions are without basis and I expect the union will file a challenge right away,'' players' association head Michael Weiner wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
If the union files a grievance and the case isn't settled, arbitrator Shyam Das would decide whether the Mets' actions were justified.
The Mets said they haven't decided if they'll try to void the remainder of K-Rod's contract, which would be an even stronger step that would potentially eliminate termination pay next year and the 2012 buyout. Wilpon said that's a decision that doesn't have to be made now, but the team will reserve its right to do that in the future.
Minaya said the club is not aware of any problems with violence in Rodriguez's past. The GM said he hopes Rodriguez will return next season.
``We do plan on bringing him back next year,'' Minaya said. ``Today we want him back. Let's see how this process goes.''
Doctors have told the team that if Rodriguez performs his rehabilitation, he'll be ready for spring training next year.
When Rodriguez returned from his suspension, he apologized to teammates and fans, then gave up a leadoff double but didn't allow a run in a 4-0 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Monday that Rodriguez didn't indicate he was injured before pitching in Saturday's game. Manuel said he first learned of the injury on Sunday.
Rodriguez is accused of grabbing 53-year-old Carlos Pena, hauling him into a tunnel near the family lounge beneath Citi Field and hitting him in the face. Pena was taken to a hospital with a scrape and swelling above his eyebrow.
Hisanori Takahashi got his first career save while filling in for Rodriguez in a 3-1 win over the Astros on Monday night.
Right-hander Ryota Igarashi was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo before Tuesday's game to take Rodriguez's roster spot.
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AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Rockies recall Chacin, place Buchholz on DL
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies on Tuesday placed
right-handed pitcher Taylor Buchholz on the 15-day disabled list and recalled
righty Jhoulys Chacin from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Buchholz had previously been
<< Mets place Rodriguez on disqualified list after thumb surgery
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets took another step
towards distancing themselves from embattled closer Francisco Rodriguez on
Tuesday, placing him on the disqualified list.
The move came immediately followin
<< IndyCar wraps up road/street course schedule at Sonoma
Sonoma, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: IZOD IndyCar. Date: Sunday, August 22.
Race: Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Site: Infineon Raceway. Track: 2.303-mile,
12-turn road course. Start Time: 5:45 p.m. (et). Laps: 75. Miles: 172.7. 2009
winner: Dario
<< Seahawks release RB Peterson
Renton, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks released running back
Adrian Peterson, less than a week after signing the former member of the
Chicago Bears.
Not to be confused with the Minnesota running back of the same name
If healthy, Blackmon provides versatility for Pack >>
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -Sometimes, Will Blackmon's versatility even surprises his teammates.Exhibit A came early in training camp, when wide receiver Greg Jennings ran his route and plowed straight into a safety. Then Jennings looked up and did a doub
Nolasco leads Marlins to shutout of Pirates >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Nolasco threw six shutout frames and
drove in two runs to lead Florida to a 6-0 win over Pittsburgh in the second
meeting of a four-game set.
Nolasco (14-8) allowed five hits, walked one and st
Buchholz strong on mound, Kalish hits slam as Red Sox blank Angels >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clay Buchholz turned in seven scoreless innings
and Ryan Kalish hit his first career grand slam as Boston downed the Los
Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 6-0, in the opener of a three-game set from Fenway
Park.
Oswalt, Rollins lift Phillies over Giants >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Oswalt pitched seven solid innings and
Jimmy Rollins drove in three runs, as Chase Utley and the Philadelphia
Phillies downed the San Francisco Giants, 9-3, in the opener of an important
three-g
The San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.
Thursday, August 21
NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37
NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road
In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games
Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.
Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.
Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.
That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.
Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.
CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
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MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect
LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.
Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.
Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.
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