Kotchman headed to Cleveland on 1-year deal

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Roger Mooney

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 08:10 PM

ROGER MOONEY

Casey Kotchman, who hit a career-best .306 last season while playing first base for the Rays, accepted a one-year, $3 million deal Thursday from the Indians.

“Like I’ve said before, it’s an honor and a privilege to put on a major league uniform,” Kotchman said. “And it’s an honor to have the opportunity to put on another uniform. I want to take advantage of his opportunity and help (the Indians) continue and improve upon what they started last year.”

The Seminole product, playing in front of his hometown fans for the first time since high school, enjoyed the best offensive season of his career in 2011 while providing his normal steady glove at first.

In addition to his career-high batting average, Kotchman set career-highs in games (153) and on-base percentage (.378). Kotchman finished eighth in the AL in batting, making him the third Ray to finish in the top-10. Jason Bartlett (.317) was seventh in 2009 and Aubrey Huff (.311) was ninth in 2003.

Kotchman credited the treatment to cure the infection in his eye lids in December 2010 for his resurgence at the plate.

Kotchman led all major league first basemen with a .998 fielding percentage. It was the fourth straight season he finished with the highest fielding percentage among major league first basemen.

Kotchman accepted a minor league deal from the Rays with an invite to major league camp in January 2010. He didn’t make the team out of camp despite hitting .354 during the Grapefruit League. He accepted an assignment to Triple A Durham, but didn’t stay with the Bulls for very long

Kotchman was recalled on April 8 and replaced Manny Ramirez on the roster after the designated hitter retired rather than face a 100-game suspension for failing Major League Baseball’s performance enhancing policy for a second time.

With Dan Johnson struggling at the plate, Kotchman soon found himself in the lineup.

Beginning April 23, Kotchman played in 143 of the Rays remaining 147 games.

Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman maintained all offseason that Kotchman was very much in the discussion as Friedman looked for a first baseman. But a desire for more production led to the Rays resigning Carlos Peña, the Rays all-time home run leader.

 

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Hillsborough’s Sherit picks up offers from Arizona, Illinois

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 10:15 PM

Hillsborough defensive end Jordan Sherit, a first team, all-Hillsborough County selection last fall by the Tampa Tribune, has landed two more scholarship offers, including his first from west of the Mississippi.

Thursday, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Sherit picked up Arizona and Illinois. He now has a 13 offers. Along with his latest two, Sherit also has Georgia Tech, Purdue, Connecticut, the University of Central Florida, South Carolina, Auburn, Purdue, Duke, Miami, Vanderbilt and the University of South Florida who have made Sherit offers.

Last season, Sherit, an honors student enrolled in Hillsborough’s International Baccalaureate program, recorded team-highs in tackles (110) and sacks (9), both of which were among the top numbers in the county.

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Jon Gruden: always good for a sound bite

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 03:48 PM

Even at the crack of dawn, Jon Gruden is good for a quote or sound bite.

It was no different Wednesday at 6:30 in the morning, when his son, Deuce Gruden of Carrollwood Day School, signed his National Letter of Intent to play football for Lafayette College. As Deuce posed for the cameras and the small group of family and school administrators gathered for the event, his famous dad, ex-Bucs coach coach and Monday Night Football color analyst couldn’t help but toss in a funny line.

To hear what Jon Gruden said, please follow this video link: http://www2.tbo.com/sports/prep-sports/2012/feb/02/signing-day-gruden-style-05737-vi-25891/

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Weekly fishing report

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 01:34 PM

BY JIM LEE

Weekly Fishing Report

Fishing results and tips for freshwater and saltwater spots, including Tampa Bay and area locations.

Freshwater

Speckled perch (crappie) are in the grass in some areas or staging to spawn in other areas. Catches are full of roe. With our mild weather, bass action is at its best. Live shiners usually take larger fish, but high numbers and an occasional big boy can be taken on artificial lures.

KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Speckled perch catches have been good. The best catches are still coming in late in the evening or at night. They are staging along the grass line and may be spawning this week. Limits of bass are being taken by most. Most are in the 2- to 6-pound range.

LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Limits of speckled perch are filling coolers. Bass action continues to be better than expected for this time of year.

LAKE OKEECHOBBEE: Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort, 800-473-6766: Bass are us, but not too many specks reported. Bass up to 10 pounds seem to be the norm these days. Limits of bass are also normal in this area.

LAKE ROUSSEAU: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: The Withlacoochee River is producing good catches of bass. Lake Rousseau bass catches are improving. Some speckled perch are being caught in Lake Rousseau.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Lots of bass for this time of year. Limits are the norm. Bass in the 6- to 8-pound category can be found in this lake. Speckled perch catches are spotty.

Saltwater

Catches generally remain about the same in the Tampa Bay area. Spotted sea trout are open along the whole coastline and should stay that way. Catches are good in some areas, with smaller fish found in others. Sheepshead, flounder, redfish and a few bluefish are being taken. Offshore, there are plenty of gag grouper in 40 to 50 feet, but are not legal to take. Red grouper catch numbers increased to four fish, but finding a keeper size red grouper is about 1-in-100. Both redfish and trout were on the flats this past week with the great weather we have been having. Fish the docks with live bait. Flounder are still inshore and are most anywhere from the Skyway to Crystal River. Lots of sheepshead up to 9 pounds are being caught most everywhere. Fish the docks, structure, canals and any place that will hold fish.

10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Corey McMillin, (239) 695-4420: NO REPORT.

SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 350-9790 or (941) 923-7799: Wade fishing in Sarasota Bay produced redfish and trout. Another day saw Spanish mackerel, bluefish and trout caught.

RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Great catches this week. Catches of trout, flounder, redfish and sheepshead continue to attract anglers in this area. Trout and redfish continue to be a little undersize, but the catching is good. Fish the Kitchen area for a mixed bag of silver trout, speckled trout and redfish. Snook are still being caught up the creeks and canals.

SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Still catching high numbers of sheepshead in this area. Most are in the 3- to 9-pound range. Catches of 20 to 30 sheepshead are still being taken. Good numbers of redfish are also on the menu.

LOWER TAMPA BAY: Captain Tony Frankland, (813) 915-8541: Trout and snook inhabit the canals and backwater areas. Fish the deeper canals in Apollo beach, under the docks and oyster beds. Whiting are a good food fish and now is the time to find them. Snook catches are up. Sheepshead are under docks and can be caught with a shrimp tail threaded on a jig head.

UPPER TAMPA BAY: Cody’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 884-3100: Trout and redfish are in abundance in this area. Fish Canal A for reds and snook. Fish the mangroves for reds at the mouths of the creeks.

SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Trout, redfish, mackerel and pompano are all around for the taking. Move fast with jigs rather than using live bait. Watch for mullet schools with redfish or trout mixed in with them.

FISHING PIERS: South Pier, (941) 729-0117: Expect the unexpected. Pier fishing offers most of the current species being caught in the bay. Fish the pier for Mangrove snapper, trout, redfish, perhaps a flounder and even a stray grouper. But you can’t keep the trout until January. Grouper are off limits.

MID-PINELLAS PARTY BOATS: Offshore bottom fishing from Hubbard’s John’s Pass Marina and Kingfish dock, (727) 393-1947: Gag grouper are not in season just as the bite gets good. Red grouper are available by the ton, but most all are short fish. The ration of keepers to undersize fish is 1-to-100. Gray snapper are big and there are plenty of them. Go offshore for a deep sea fishing extravaganza. Fish the deeper waters for great mangrove snapper catches. Black sea bass, porgies are also on the list.

GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: The Gandy Bridge is closed to fishing. However, Gandy Bait and Tackle is the place to go in this area for live bait and tackle and information. The upper bay action is picking up. Mangrove snapper, whiting and sheepshead are moving up into the bay. Weedon Island is producing trout and redfish.

CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: NO REPORT.

TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809 or (727) 808-6688: Good white bait can be found, but artificial lures are taking the trout. Cobia were sighted on the flats. Big 30 inch mackerel were spotted in a foot of water.

KEATON BEACH (PERRY): One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: NO REORT.

HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Fillman’s Bayou and Chassahowitzka back water areas are where the reds and trout are being caught. The trouble is that you need a shallow draft boat these days with the low tides. Fish the high tides only or you may have a problem. Homosassa is another good trout and redfish area, but watch for rocks. High numbers of trout are being reported taken in the potholes. Offshore fishing is still fantastic. Gag grouper are big and hungry, but expect to return them to the water. Many keeper-size fish are still being caught and released. Very few red grouper are being caught. You can keep four red grouper over 20 inches, but there aren’t many to find.

WEEKIWACHEE: Captain Steve Soults, Angling Adventures (352) 686-0853: Fishing up rivers is good. Also, fish Fillman’s Bayou for trout and redfish. The flats are not producing big trout.

FLY FISHING: Lets see now, mackerel, redfish, trout and sheepshead should be enough to keep any fly angler busy until we get more kingfish and cobia. Watch for schools of redfish or schools of mullet that may hold reds or trout. Go thrash the water.

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Variety, action in Sarasota and Gasparilla Sound

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 12:51 PM

BY RICK GRASSETT

Due to the great, warm water that we’ve had recently, fishing has been good. Anglers fishing deep grass flats with me caught and released trout, pompano, blues and Spanish mackerel on jigs and flies recently.

Clients fished Gasparilla Sound with me on a couple of trips and caught and released numerous trout, snook, pompano and bluefish on jigs with shad tails, tandem rigged jigs and clacker float/plastic shrimp combos. With shallow water temperatures reaching close to 70 degrees in back-country areas, we saw snook moving onto the flats to feed in the afternoon.

On another trip we found several schools of little tunny feeding off Siesta Key and got a few shots at them with a fly. We went back into Sarasota Bay and caught and released about a dozen trout and a 4-pound Spanish mackerel on a fly at Stephens Point and Bishop Point. Anglers fishing potholes in shallow water in Sarasota Bay with me caught and released several trout in the 3- to 4-pound class on flies recently.

Look for little tunny, Spanish mackerel and tripletail in the coastal gulf when sea conditions are good. Fishing shallow grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout and reds and deep grass flats for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano should also be good options this week.

Rich Grassett operates the Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key. For more details, contact him at (941) 923-7799 or visit his websites: http://www.flyfishingflorida.net or http://www.snookfin-addict.com

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FHSAA to live stream state cheer

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by TBO.com

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 12:22 PM

The FHSAA Network will live video stream the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading Finals beginning at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) on www.fhsaasports.com.

A general overview of the schedule of events along with information on the FHSAA Network is available at the following link: http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2012/0202 and the school-by-school times for tumbling, warm-up and performing can be found under “Schedule of Events” on the FHSAA’s Competitive Cheerleading page which can be found at: http://www.fhsaa.org/sports/competitive-cheerleading.

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Tampa Catholic-Jesuit hoops game sold out; time changed

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 04:18 PM

Jesuit’s Director of Athletics Terry Rupp announced this morning that all tickets for the basketball game between Jesuit and Tampa Catholic on Friday night at Jesuit have been sold and there will be no ticket sales at the door.

The junior varsity game, originally scheduled for 6 p.m. will now start at 5:15 p.m. The varsity game will tip off at 7 p.m. instead of its original game time of 7:30 p.m.

Jesuit enters the game 22-1 while Tampa Catholic is 16-7. On Jan. 13, Jesuit defeated Tampa Catholic 57-56 at TC.

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Bucs, McNabb might be a good fit

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 11:31 AM

 
  BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – Free agent quarterback Donovan McNabb says there are three teams he believes he could “add a little flavor to’’ and would be interested in playing for next season.

The Bucs should be hoping they’re one of them.

Though McNabb no doubt has his eyes fixed on teams without an established starter, he is just the kind of quarterback the Bucs need behind their designated starter, Josh Freeman.

With 13 years of experience and a build and style of play that is a virtual match with Freeman’s, McNabb could be an ideal mentor for the Bucs franchise cornerstone.

As long as he’s willing to mentor.

That’s what the Bucs would have to find out. If McNabb is only interested in starting and has no interest in putting on a coach’s hat and passing on his wealth of knowledge, then he’s probably not what the Bucs need.

If he is, though, then McNabb is a worth considering.

Freeman struggled in part last year because he had no one with regular game-day experience to turn to when his game went off the rails. McNabb would certainly give him that.

He also might discover some as yet undetected weapons in Freeman’s game. After all, like Freeman, McNabb is, or at least was, a big, mobile, strong-armed quarterback with a penchant for making plays with his legs.

And it’s not like McNabb is done. His 60-plus completion percentage and 82.9 passer rating with the Vikings last year is a sign he can still play at a winning level.

That’s another thing the Bucs need in their backup. They went without Freeman in one game last year and the results were not good. Someone who can keep them competitive should Freeman go down is a must.

So, if it’s really all about No. 5 - and there’s no reason to believe that hasn’t changed - it’s worth a call to see if another No. 5 has the Bucs on his list of target teams or would consider adding them to the list.

 

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Niemann heads to arbitration today

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Roger Mooney

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 06:25 AM

ROGER MOONEY

Pitcher Jeff Niemann has his day in front of a three-arbitrator panel today during his salary arbitration hearing.

Niemann, 11-7 with a 4.06 ERA in 2011, is seeking a one-year, $3.2 million contract. The Rays offered $2.75 million. Niemann made $903,000 last season.

The decision of the arbitrators is likely to be rendered Friday.

The Rays are 4-0 in arbitration under executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, winning two decisions against former catcher Josh Paul and one each against former catcher Dioner Navarro and center fielder B.J. Upton.

Niemann is the only player to take the Rays to arbitration this winter. The team reached deals and avoided arbitration this offseason with Upton and pitchers Joel Peralta, David Price, J.P. Howell and Burke Badenhop.

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Plant’s unexpected package deal: Few, Tate to Cornell

Posted Feb 1, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 1, 2012 at 09:15 PM

Earlier this month, Plant High teammates James Few and Mike Tate made separate trips to Cornell University and had even managed to have a day together on the campus of the Ivy League school in Ithaca, N.Y.

But until mid-morning Wednesday—National Signing Day—neither knew the other had made a verbal commitment to Cornell. Now, the two Panthers stars can be teammates for another four years—maybe even roommates.

“I knew that he liked the campus and the football facilities but I also knew he had other offers and could go somewhere else,” said Few, the Panthers’ starter at quarterback who threw for 2,513 yards and 29 touchdowns during this championship season. “We were both trying pretty hard to keep it a secret from everyone so we literally didn’t know we were both going there until today.”

“He (Few) decided what was best for him and I decided what was best for me and we only heard about it through the grapevine,” said Tate, who finished the 2011 season with a state-leading 210 tackles. “It’s pretty cool it worked out this way.”

Few, who carries a weighted grade point average over 6.0, and Tate, also a standout honors student, made their decision official at the Panthers’ ceremony held in the school’s media center.

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