Muckdogs split twinbill with Brooklyn

BATAVIA — A walk-off double by all-star catcher Juan Castillo got the Batavia Muckdogs off the schneid Thursday, as the host team won the nightcap of a doubleheader 2-1 over the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Batavia dropped the opener 3-1.

Since sharing the lead in the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division at 19-15 a little less than a month ago, Batavia (25-28) has won just six of its last 19 games, dropping 6 1/2 games out of first place.

 Batavia begins a three-game series with Stedler Division leader Vermont (26-27) at 7:05 tonight. It is the final post-game fireworks game of the season.

After the series with the Athletics’ affiliate, Castillo and five other Muckdogs hit the road for Lowell, Mass., home of the 2011 New York-Penn League All-Star game.

Two of Batavia’s three all-star pitchers took the mound in the doubleheader Thursday.

Todd McInnis started the second game, allowing just four hits over five innings. He gave up one run as leadoff batter Danny Muno scored on a Javier Rodriguez RBI single in the top of the third inning.

McInnis only struck out two batters, but drew seven groundouts, including a sharply turned 1-5-3 double play in the fourth.

“Even if the pitchers got behind in the count, I told them to keep going after them,” said Castillo, with the help of interpreter and relief pitcher Ricky Martinez. “Especially with two outs, and even if they make contact, it may be an out.”

Batavia took the lead early as Garrett Wittels opened the game with a leadoff double. He later scored on a error.

Wittels finished the nightcap 3-for-4 and a combined 5-for-7 Thursday.

The game stayed tied as the teams’ bullpens squared off. Batavia’s duo of Travis Miller and Danny Miranda combined for five strikeouts, no hits and one walk over the final three innings. The Cyclones (30-24) were held to just four hits.

“Pitching was outstanding today,” said manager Dann Bilardello. “I think we just need to be more aggressive offensively. It’s like we’re sitting back waiting for things to happen. Everybody knows we’re in a funk, so they get up there (to the plate), and are like ‘Don’t mess up.’ They’re just not aggressive enough.”

Brooklyn’s Jeremy Gould, who replaced starter Jeff Walters in the top of the sixth, collected four strikeouts himself before walking Roberto Reyes in the top of the eighth.

Gould then got his fifth “K,” striking out Jeremy Patton looking. Patton argued the call and was ejected from the game by umpire Ryan Additon.

During the next at-bat, Reyes stole second, then eventually scored on the Castillo double.

“I was excited to be in the position to bring a runner home, that somebody was on base,” said Castillo. “I wanted to bring in the winning run, so I just waited for a pitch and went for it.

“It’s a privilege. I know a lot of players would want to be in my spot,” said Castillo about making it to the All-Star game next Monday. “I’m really happy and excited to be part of it.”

Castillo is batting at a .341 average the past 10 games, .345 for the month of August — the best average on the team by more than 30 points.

The late-inning win helped erase the sting of the loss in the opener.

Although Batavia moved runners into scoring position in the bottom of the first three innings, the ’Dogs failed to score.

Brooklyn on the other hand capitalized, scoring twice in the third then adding an insurance run in the fifth.

The seven hits are the most given up this season by Maness, who suffered his first loss (0-1, 0.91 ERA). He went five innings, gave up three runs (two earned), struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

Previously, the most the righty had allowed was six hits over six innings (to State College), but allowed only one run in that outing.

Batavia got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning as Ruiz and Patton laced together back-to-back doubles.

The Muckdogs had a chance to even the score in the seventh, with two on, but they were unable to convert. In Game 1, Batavia went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The Cyclones’ Eduardo Aldama earned the win, and Jack Leathersich, whose father’s family are Churchville natives, picked up the save.

Leathersich, who came into the game with 11 strikeouts, one walk and no runs in five relief innings, was impressive in front of family who made the trip from the Rochester suburb. Over two frames, the lefty struck out five, gave up three hits, one run and one walk.

“I felt like my location was a little off, but I just used what was working and went at guys,” said Leathersich. “We just take it one pitch at a time, and when you win the majority of the pitches, you’re going to win games.”

Leathersich grew up in Beverly, Mass., approximately an hour north of Boston. He attended the University of Massachusetts and was drafted in the fifth round of the June draft by the N.Y. Mets.

“This is definitely different from college. Definitely a job now,” said Leathersich. “ But’s there’s nothing better than playing in New York and not playing for the Yankees.”

USA-Mexico: Linc to a great rivalry

FOR THIS TO remain a lasting rivalry for the ages, the federations-that-be can't force feed USA-Mexico.

Can't do it - unless it promises to produce the second half of play witnessed last night here at Lincoln Financial Field.

In spite of the prime-time exposure, the ESPN2 pomp and a Linc parking lot that would have made suburban soccer moms lock the doors and roll up the windows to their minivans, last night's match was a rivalry that at first glance didn't seem like one.

Mind you, these two teams did battle in front of a pro-Mexican crowd of 93,000-plus at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena a little more than a month ago in the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In American (and Mexican) soccer circles, USA-Mexico is Red Sox-Yankees, Lakers-Celtics - on an international stage. This rivalry has seen bags of urine, feces and other unknown excrement cascade down the rows of seats in the direction of U.S. players at Estadio Azteca in Mexico and on a whole has sold out (or come close to a sellout) in nearly every venue over the past 5 years.

You can't blame the U.S. Soccer Federation, or Mexico's for that matter. On this exact date last year, the men's program played to a near-sellout crowd of 77,223 against Brazil at New Meadowlands Stadium.

But you have to blame the circumstances that surround this date, one mandated by FIFA for international competitions. Not on record, but national team officials both pre- and post-Bob Bradley era have said that playing an international match on this date is ill-timed, and unfair to players who compete on overseas (specifically European) club teams.

In any case, the crowd of 30,138 that traveled to the Linc last night for a match scheduled for a 9 o'clock start (actual start 9:14) saw a motley crew of U.S. veterans and young up-and-comers battle to a 1-1 tie in a physical match that conveyed what this rivalry represents: a deep-seated dislike for the other. The United States is 15-32-12 all-time against its rival to the South, a 9-2-3 record since 2000 and a 2-0-1 mark against El Tri at the Linc.

Mexico would strike first in the 17th minute after forward Oribe Peralta deflected a ball past U.S. goalie Tim Howard from point-blank range off a laser of a cross from Antonio Naelson. In the 73rd minute, the Americans would bring it level after second-half substitutes Brek Shea and Robbie Rogers connected. Shea sped past a pair of defenders and slotted a perfect ball to Rogers across Mexico goalie Guillermo Ochoa's 6-yard box that Rogers needed only to tap in. More poignant was that Rogers, who plays for the MLS' Columbus Crew, was a late callup to new coach Jurgen Klinsmann's 22-man roster.

"I think we saw a real interesting game," Klinsmann said. "I think especially in the second half we saw an exciting game. We wanted them to get more confident the longer they were in the game and also give Mexico more pressure. And that's what we saw in the last half-hour, where we saw the players get more and more confident and the defensive tasks were under control."

The real story here was supposed to be Klinsmann's debut and just how the corps assembled 2 weeks before last night's match would perform given short rest and the lack of star power. But while the first half lacked little spark, the Americans took it to Mexico, especially late in the second half. It was very reminiscent of how the team played during last year's FIFA World Cup run that captivated the nation.

One name of note was defender Michael Orozco Fiscal, the former Union center fullback whose loan deal was not picked up by the club despite playing early in preseason. Orozco, 25, played a full 90 last night, sharing central defense with captain Carlos Bocanegra. Orozco exhibited smart, safe soccer, rarely getting jammed up in the defensive third and in the late stages of the game even pushed up behind the defensive midfield in the United States' efforts to nab a late goal.

"Just getting the start was obviously good for me," said Orozco Fiscal. "I have been working very hard with my club team to get a call in and [to be honest] I never expected one this quick. I still gotta keeping working, I am not going to put my hands down, and I was happy to get 90 minutes, especially in front of the fans in Philadelphia that have supported me."

With the whirlwind that has become the explosion of soccer in this country, from the U.S. national team playing to sellout crowds, Major League Soccer gaining popularity and expanding into different markets, soccer is here to stay, whether naysayers like it or not. Just yesterday, MLS and the NBC network announced a 3-year television deal, reportedly worth $10 million annually, to broadcast league matches and four national team games.

And it's all due in major part to rivalries like the one that played at the Linc last night. It's a match that may have arrived too soon, but one that didn't lack an explosive performance.

Abreu homers down Yankees

BOBBY ABREU hit his second homer of the game, a two-out, two-run shot off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning, to give the visiting Los Angeles Angels a 6-4 victory over the New York Yankees last night.

The Angels, the only American League team with a winning record against the Yankees over the last decade, saddled New York with its first three-game losing streak since early June.

"It's unbelievable," Abreu said. "You never expect as a hitter you're going to hit a homer against Mariano."

Abreu's drive deep into the rightfield seats was only the second homer allowed this season by Rivera (1-2). The Yankees closer faltered for the second straight appearance after he blew a ninth-inning lead Sunday night in Boston.

"I don't worry about that. That's going to happen," Rivera said. "Unfortunately, it happened tonight."

Jordan Walden worked the ninth for his 26th save in 33 chances for the Angels.

Abreu connected for his first multihomer game this season and 16th of his career. Once a star for the Yankees and Phillies, Abreu sat in a golf cart outside the Angels' clubhouse and chatted with some of his former teammates before the game while rain washed away batting practice.

The Angels moved a season-high 12 games over .500; they have the AL's best record since mid-June.

Curtis Granderson hit his 29th homer for New York.

In other games: *

At St. Petersburg, Fla., righthander James Shields (11-9) threw a six-hitter for his major league-best eighth complete game this season, Evan Longoria homered and had four RBI, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-0. Shields also has four shutouts this year. Longoria drove in two runs on a single during the first inning and hit a two-run homer in the sixth. He has driven in 12 runs over his last 12 games despite having just nine hits during the stretch.

The game was played in 1 hour, 53 minutes, the fastest nine-inning game in Tampa Bay history.

* At Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton drove in the winning run with a single in the ninth inning and the AL West-leading Rangers rallied from a three-run deficit for a 7-6 victory over Seattle. Ian Kinsler and Endy Chavez homered for the Rangers, whose division lead over second-place Los Angeles remained at 1 1/2.

* At Minneapolis, Darnell McDonald hit a two-run homer into the upper deck in leftfield to help the Boston Red Sox defeat the Minnesota Twins, 4-3. David Ortiz gave the Sox the lead for good on an infield single with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and Jonathan Papelbon earned his 26th save.

* At Toronto, Josh Willingham and Kurt Suzuki homered, Rich Harden pitched seven strong innings for his first career win over Toronto, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Blue Jays, 4-1.

* At Baltimore, Brent Morel homered and drove in two runs, Carlos Quentin also connected, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Orioles, 4-3, for their season-high fifth straight victory. Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings for the White Sox.

Lohman gets a hit off Zito for the Blaze

The highlight from our latest minor league update comes from San Jose. Recently promoted to the Bakersfield Blaze of the Single A California League, Cincinnati Reds prospect Devin Lohman faced Barry Zito on Monday night, who took a rehab start for the San Francisco Giants affiliate San Jose Giants.

The infielder from Righetti High School went 1-for-3 with two fly outs, a double and a run scored against Zito, a former UCSB Gaucho. He finished the game with a third fly out in the eighth off a reliever.

Through Sunday, Lohman had played 12 games for the Blaze and is batting .333 with three doubles, a triple and four RBI. The third round pick from the 2010 draft, Lohman started the season at Single A Dayton, batting .208 in 62 games. He played 29 games at Rookie League Billings, batting .322 before his promotion back to his home state of California.

Brian McConkey

St. Joseph/Cuesta/Riverside

A free agent signee by the Florida Marlins last summer, McConkey did well in short season A ball last year. This season McConkey started in Single A with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. In 63 games, he batted .263 with some power. McConkey hit 13 doubles and five home runs with 26 RBI.

There was a lot of movement by the Marlins after sending two players from the big club to Greensboro and McConkey ended up being sent to the short season Class A Jamestown Jammers on July 28. In 11 games, the first baseman is batting .225 in 40 at-bats.

Drew Bernier

St. Joseph/Oral Roberts

The longest tenured local in pro ball, Bernier is currently in his 10th season. This year after signing a free agent contract with the New York Yankees, the dependable infielder is batting .274 with the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees of the Triple A International League.

In 71 games, Bernier has nine doubles and three triples. He has driven in 26 runs and scored 27 times.

JImmy Van Ostrand

Hancock/Cal Poly

The Canadian national is batting .308 for the Corpus Christi Hooks, a Double A affiliate of the Houston Astros in the Texas League. Drafted in the eighth round of the 2006 draft, Van Ostrand has played in 97 games this season with 21 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 46 runs batted in. He ranks second on the team in homers, RBI, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Paul Smyth

Atascadero/Kansas

Also playing in the Texas League, Smyth, a pick by Oakland in 2009, is pitching for the Midland Rockhounds. In 33 games, he has pitched 52 innings, recording 48 strikeouts with an ERA of 5.19. Smyth is 5-2 with one save.

Chance Chapman

San Luis Obispo/Oral Roberts

An eighth round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007, Chapman last pitched on June 20 for the Reading Phillies of the Double A Eastern League. On June 26, he went on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain.

In five games before his injury, Chapman was 0-0 with one save and seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Before Reading, Chapman was 2-2 in 17 games for Lehigh Valley of the Triple A International League.

Jeff Farnham

Hancock/New Mexico State

Picked by the New York Yankees in the 25th round of the 2009 draft, the former Hancock catcher is playing for the Charleston Riverdogs in Single A.

In 25 games Farnham is batting .227 with four doubles, two home runs and eight RBI. On Sunday, Farnham had two hits, including a double with one runs scored and one run batted in.

Brandon Creath

Righetti/Hancock

Creath spent one season at Embry-Riddle University before being drafted in the 44th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. As a member of the Gulf coast Cardinals, Rookie League team, Creath is 3-2 with an ERA of 3.24. In 16.2 innings he has 11 strikeouts.

Erik Morrison

Arroyo Grande/Kansas

Morrison has only played one game this season due to an injury to his left thumb. On the roster of the Frisco Roughriders of the Texas League, the 46th round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2008, Morrison played on April 14, going 0-for-2.

Miller penned in for relief

A day after he threw 71 pitches in relief, Andrew Miller was informed he would remain in the Red Sox bullpen for a while.

Miller is not scheduled to start again until Aug. 16 or 17 against Tampa Bay. He met with manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Curt Young before last night’s game against the Yankees and received the news.

“We’ll give him some downtime,’’ said Francona. “We may ask him to cover in the bullpen a little bit and then we’ll get him prepared for a start.’’

The Sox have a doubleheader against the Rays Aug. 16, then one game the next day.

“That’s a pretty logical landing point,’’ Francona said.

Meanwhile, Tim Wakefield will pitch Monday against the Twins, followed by Erik Bedard and Jon Lester.

Miller is 4-1 since being called up from Pawtucket in June but has a 5.44 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. He did not help his cause Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits, two walks, and a hit batter over 2 2/3 innings against the Indians.

Bedard also met with Francona and Young yesterday and assured them he is ready to go on regular rest. The lefthander has made only two starts since coming off the disabled list but threw 70 pitches over five innings Thursday.

Bedard is not fully stretched out, however.

“He pitched really well,’’ said Francona. “We want to keep an eye on this guy. We want him to continue to get stronger. We’re certainly going to up the workload as he goes but we’ll keep an eye on him.’’

Bedard had been out with a strained left knee and is pitching with a brace.

One more time Jed Lowrie will extend his rehabilitation assignment with Pawtucket for another game. Lowrie was the designated hitter against Buffalo last night, going 1 for 4 with a walk and an RBI, and will play shortstop today. He would then take tomorrow off and be activated Monday. There was a chance Lowrie would be activated for the Yankees series, but Francona felt that would have been “pushing it a little bit.’’ Lowrie has not played since June 16 because of nerve damage in his left shoulder. He has looked solid since joining Pawtucket Monday, going 4 for 12 with two walks and three RBIs. “Real good,’’ Francona said. “He did fine.’’

Faith in Crawford Carl Crawford entered last night’s game in a 6-for-40 slump that stretched over 10 games. His .276 on-base percentage is 79th among American League qualifiers, his .242 batting average 69th. Crawford, who turned 30 yesterday, started slowly this season, then spent a month on the disabled list with a hamstring strain. He has been inconsistent since. But Francona believes Crawford can still be a factor. He was 2 for 4 with a double last night. “Even though his batting average is a little lower than it’s supposed to be, that doesn’t mean he can’t be the player that we’re looking for,’’ said the manager . . . Righthander Bobby Jenks, who has not pitched since July 7 because of a back strain, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. When the team heads on the road, he will report to Fort Myers, Fla., to continue working out there. The hope is that will lead to a rehabilitation assignment with Pawtucket. “That’s what we’re mapping out with him going forward,’’ said Francona. “It’s obviously in pencil. The last couple of times, we’ve reached a little quick and it’s gone backwards. The biggest thing is he feels good Sunday when he throws.’’ Jenks has pitched in just 19 games this season.

A-Rod absent Alex Rodriguez, who is on the disabled list with an injured right knee, did not accompany the Yankees to Fenway Park. He is working out at the team facility in Tampa. According to an Associated Press report, Rodriguez took ground balls and some batting practice yesterday. He is not expected back for 7-10 days at least. The Yankees have been using Eduardo Nunez and Eric Chavez at third base . . . Francona did a double-take when a New York reporter mentioned that Dustin Pedroia was “so humble’’ when talking about his recent hot streak. “You got the right guy?’’ Francona said.

Streak is over Adrian Gonzalez’s hitting streak ended at 14 games. He was 0 for 4 . . . Mariano Rivera appeared in his 1,022d game, tying Jose Mesa and Lee Smith for 10th all time . . . The Yankees did not walk a batter during their four-game sweep of the White Sox this week. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to sweep a four-game series and not allow a walk was the Red Sox against the White Sox Aug. 5-8, 1968 . . . Both teams are carrying 13 pitchers. The Yankees will have Phil Hughes available as an extra reliever for the final two games of the series . . . Before the game, Jim Rice presented David Ortiz with a framed display commemorating his 1,000th game as a member of the Red Sox. Ortiz hit the milestone July 27 . . . The Red Sox did not use a singer for the national anthem, just the Fenway Park organ and some old-school singing from the fans.

Remembering 1961 Phillies' 23-game losing streak

RUBEN AMARO SR. was the shortstop on that 1961 Phillies team that lost 23 games in a row. Finished with the worst record in baseball, 47-107. Were dead last in attendance, luring 590,039 masochists into Connie Mack Stadium, a decrepit ballyard in North Philly.

Ruben Amaro Jr. is the general manager of this 2011 Phillies team that owns the best record in baseball. Has sold out its glitzy ballpark 182 times in a row, with no end in sight.

Same town, same team, same family. Fifty years apart. Only in America, only in baseball, only in Philadelphia.

Amaro Jr. swapped four minor leaguers to get Hunter Pence on July 29. Last year, he traded for Roy Oswalt on July 29. The year before, he got Cliff Lee on July 29. Karma? Coincidence? Redemption? That historic 23-game losing streak began on July 29. How woeful was that '61 team? Well, it lost five in a row before it won the second game of a doubleheader at home against the Giants on July 28. Lost the next 23, a record for futility that still stands. For those of you scoring in bed, as announcer By Saam once said, that's 28 out of 29 soul-sapping defeats.

Amaro Sr. scouts for Houston. He was checking out the Phillies' "baby aces" in Clearwater when we caught up with him, seeking memories of that nightmare losing streak.

"We went out there and played our asses off," Amaro Sr. recalled, "but we were overmatched. We were so young. It was like a kindergarten team playing a fourth- grade team."

Gene Mauch, the manager, was young, too. He just looked old. Got the job when Eddie Sawyer quit after the first game (and first loss) of the 1960 season saying he was "49 and wanted to live to be 50."

Mauch was named after Gene Tunney and he must have felt like he was fighting Jack Dempsey 6 days a week and twice on Sundays. Yep, they played doubleheaders back then and the Phillies lost three of those during the streak.

Check out the numbers. The Phillies lost 17 road games and six home games, were outscored 133-54, losing eight games by one run. They were shut out four times, three in a row at one point. Hit .248 during that nightmare stretch, were woeful with runners in scoring position.

Chris Short and Jim Owens lost four times apiece. Art Mahaffey, Don Ferrarese and Frank Sullivan lost three each. Desperate, Mauch tried using starters as relievers and relievers as starters. He used Robin Roberts sparingly, saying he was throwing like Molly Putz. The genteel Bulletin changed the quote to Betsy Ross, but the insult stung just the same. Yep, there was a paper named the Bulletin back then.

And yes, Roberts won 52 more big-league games after the Phillies sold their Whiz Kid hero to the Yankees for 25 grand.

Mauch juggled the lineup almost every day. Sometimes Amaro led off, sometimes it was second baseman Bobby Malkmus, who was very good at painting commemorative plates. Sometimes it was Johnny Callison, who died much too young.

"Mauch had so many guys from so many different teams," Amaro Sr. explained, "and he was trying to find out what they could do, who could play. Same with the pitchers.

"I remember one game vividly. We're playing the Braves and Mahaffey had struck out Joe Adcock three times on nine pitches in an earlier game. We've got the lead in the ninth inning and this is a game we're gonna win.

"Somebody walks and then Mahaffey gets two quick strikes on Adcock. Here comes Mauch, running out of the dugout. Our catcher was Gus Triandos and he's standing there, his mask on top of his head, wondering what the hell is going on?

"Mauch tells Mahaffey, 'If you're gonna waste a pitch, don't throw it high.' Twenty seconds later, bang, Adcock hits the next pitch into the centerfield bleachers and we lose . . . 17th game in a row. That was disheartening."

Fifty years will blur memories. Mahaffey held a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning when Adcock tied it with a two-run homer. Clay Dalrymple, who hit .220, was the catcher. Jack Baldschun lost it in the 11th when he struck out Henry Aaron and then gave up the game-winning hit to Al Spangler. Uh huh, Al Spangler. It was the 20th loss in a row, the streak ending that Sunday, second game of a doubleheader.

Johnny Buzhardt was the winning pitcher. And afterward, he told the media that we'd been mispronouncing his name all year. It wasn't "buzz-ARD" after all. It was "BUZZ-hard."

Whatever. The team flew home on a charter landing 6 minutes before midnight. Players glanced at the terminal and saw a huge crowd silhouetted near the gate, maybe 2,000 fans.

"Get off in 2- or 3-yard intervals," Sullivan warned. "That way they can't get us all with one burst." And then he yipped, "They're selling rocks for a dollar a bucket."

Wrong again. The fans clutched musical instruments and welcoming signs and had love in their hearts. Some beefy guys lifted Mauch on their shoulders.

"We were young and we tried hard," Amaro Sr. said. "They cared about us. I've been with a lot of teams in a lot of different cities and there are no baseball fans like Philadelphia fans. And now for the last 5 years they've gotten terrific baseball to watch, which is why they fill the ballpark every night."

Mauch, searching for rose petals in the pigsty of a season, said that the long losing streak would bond the players, and pay off down the road.

"Well, he was right in some ways," Amaro Sr. said. "Those guys, Callison, [Tony] Gonzalez, [Tony] Taylor, Short, they were the core of that 1964 team. And that team was fundamentally the best team in baseball. We were the best team in baseball for 150 games."

We all know what happened after that. Another losing streak, this one for 10 brutal games, a story for another time, another place.

Damn Yankees

Spend an evening under the stars with the whole family at Maui Academy of Performing Arts’ outdoor production of the musical comedy, Damn Yankees, which will be presented on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Aug. 5 though 21 at Maui Tropical Plantation’s Field of Dreams.

A charming re-telling of the Faust legend, Damn Yankees, follows the story of a middle-aged baseball fanatic who makes a pact with the devil for a chance to lead his favorite baseball team, the Washington Senators, to victory against the New York Yankees.

It’s a fun, all-American, family-friendly show with something for everyone. A nostalgic throwback to a simpler time, Damn Yankees is a great love story wrapped up in a terrific sports story with a variety of show-stopping dance numbers, memorable music and an engaging message about the value of love and family. Audiences are sure to walk away from the show with smiles on their faces and a warm feeling in their hearts.

Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Damn Yankees first opened on Broadway in 1955 with choreography by the famed Bob Fosse. The show is filled with non-stop hits including the fun-loving You Gotta Have Heart, the boisterous Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO, and the sultry Whatever Lola Wants.

This is the first production of Damn Yankees on Maui in decades and MAPA is pulling out all the stops for this unique outdoor theatrical event. Directed by David C. Johnston, with choreography by Andre Morissette and musical direction by Marti Kluth, the cast is a deep bench of some of Maui’s finest performers: Steve Hatcher, Cyndi Davis, Mark Bolden, Mark Collmer, Kristi Scott, Andrew Bulkley, Joel Agnew, Leighanna Locke, Francis Tau’a, Eric Peterson, Rochelle Dunning, Beth Garrow, Julie Kawamura, Greg Cotton, Robyn Grahn, Adam Burke, Gina Duncan, Allen Cohen, Miles Kelsey, Joseph Duncan, Jason Stahn, Joshua Eldred, Dillon Green, Cody Ball, Sydney Roberts, Hana Valle and Rayna Koishikawa.

Performances begin at 7:30, and the gates open at 6:15 p.m. so that audience members can enjoy dinner and drinks before the show begins. Maui Tropical Plantation will tend bar while Bruddah Willy’s Sticky Ribs will provide baseball themed picnic dinners for sale, including Maui’s own Redondo hotdogs, Maui Cattle Beef burgers, and of course, Bruddah Willy’s famous BBQ Baby Back Ribs. Other choices include veggie burgers, homemade mac-n-cheese, salads, snacks and delicious desserts, such as triple-chocolate brownies, banana bread pudding, mini caramel apples and fresh made “Maui-sadas.”

What the 2011 New York Yankees might look like

The 2011 New York Yankees roster could see quite a few changes, especially if they are successful in the 2011 free agent market. Bigger questions come from their own free agents though, because these Yankees have quite a few players that still aren't under contract for the 2011 MLB season. The Yankees currently have salary commitments of $142.35 million in 2011, but that only covers 10 players on a 25-man roster. The biggest chunks go to Alex Rodriguez(notes) ($31 million), CC Sabathia(notes) ($23 million), and Mark Teixeira(notes) ($22.5 million). That doesn't mean that they will be the top three salaries on the 2011 roster though.

Three names are vacant from the 2011 New York Yankees roster; Derek Jeter(notes), Mariano Rivera(notes), and Andy Pettitte(notes) are not under contract with the Yankees at this time. All three have the best chance to re-sign with the Yankees, but the question will be what their rates end up being, and if the Yankees feel that they might have to pay too much in order to keep them interested. Jeter is going to need around $20 million, Rivera will need around $13-$15 million, and Pettitte will have to be convinced that he shouldn't retire at this point. The Yankees probably need all three back on the roster in order to make another playoff run, so management will probably focus on them first.

Getting those three players back under contract will easily push the Yankees payroll past $180 million for 2011, and that doesn't even begin to discuss the free agent market. It is assumed that they will let Lance Berkman(notes) walk, and that they are going to be making significant offers to both Cliff Lee(notes) and Carl Crawford(notes) in the free agent market. Both players are looking for big paydays, and the Yankees seem like the best option to make that come true. Crawford could walk right into a starting slot in left field, even if that means that the Yankees will need to part ways with Marcus Thames(notes) and Brett Gardner(notes). Gardner could be someone that fetches a lot of action in the trade market.

With an outfield of Crawford, Curtis Granderson(notes), and Nick Swisher(notes), the Yankees could have one of the better hitting outfields around. That would then allow them to focus attention on Cliff Lee, who is easily the best pitcher available in the 2011 free agent market. Lee could be looking to make close to $20 million per season, and if the Yankees can make that wish come true, he would be the best starting pitcher on their roster. Having Lee, Sabathia, and Phil Hughes(notes) at the beginning of the starting rotation would make their staff one of the best in the game. Getting Pettitte back at that point would just be icing on the cake.

The 2011 New York Yankees are certainly going to look a bit different, but there are so many questions left in regards to how the free agent market plays out that anything could happen at this point.

Touch 'Em All: Los Angeles wits lampoon Dodgers owner

It's not enough that Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is bankrupt, embroiled in a bitter divorce and waging a two-year long fight to hang onto his team.

Now he's the butt of jokes on T-shirts and jerseys.

Jon Moore, a Los Angeles event promoter, has a line named "Frankrupt" billed as "Apparel for the fed-up LA baseball fan."

But the same people trying to oust McCourt remained on his side on this issue. Major League Baseball's online shop refuses orders for a Dodgers jersey personalized with the name "Chapter" above the number 11.

Confident Bombers

The Yankees stood pat at the trade deadline for the first time in 13 years, the New York Post said.

Carrasco out six

Cleveland righthander Carlos Carrasco was suspended six games and fined for throwing at Kansas City's Billy Butler, but has appealed the decision and will start Wednesday game against Boston.

Carrasco was ejected in the fourth inning Friday night after he threw a ball at Butler's head just after giving up a grand slam to Melky Cabrera.

Captains absent

Both the Yankees and the White Sox played without their captains on Monday.

New York's Derek Jeter had a bruised finger on his left had and Chicago's Paul Konerko had a bruised left calf.

Both were injured when hit by pitches on Sunday.

Alcohol in fatal fall

A mixture of marijuana and alcohol played a role in the death of a man who fell from a stairway during a Colorado Rockies game, according to an autopsy report released Monday.

The report from the Denver medical examiner's office shows Robert Seamans had marijuana in his system and a 0.19 percent blood-alcohol level, which is more than twice the legal limit for driving. The report said the drug and alcohol mix was a "significant" contributing factor in the 27-year-old's death.

Noteworthy

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said recently acquired lefthander Erik Bedard will start Thursday's series finale against Cleveland.

Cleveland manager Manny Acta said newly acquired Ubaldo Jimenez will make his first start against Boston on Friday.

Moves

Washington unconditionally released slugging pinch-hitter Matt Stairs.

The 43-year-old was in his 19th big-league season. He holds the major-league record with 23 pinch-hit home runs, plus a memorable two-run pinch homer for the Phillies in the 2008 NLCS against Los Angeles.

He also holds the major- league record by having played for 13 different teams.

Kansas City put struggling righthander Kyle Davies on the disabled list with what the team called a right shoulder impingement.

Atlanta placed righthanded reliever Scott Linebrink on the disabled list with a lower back strain.

Chris Ray was placed on the 15-day DL after the Seattle reliever strained a muscle in his right shoulder.

Finally

Before you judge the worth (or lack of same) of the players who changed unis prior to Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline. remember this: the most significant move made last season was on Aug. 21, when the Giants got Cody Ross from Florida on the waiver wire.

Phillies fans remember him from the NLCS.

Punch Shots: MLB’s trade deadline winners and losers

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, the non-waiver trade deadline is behind us in Major League Baseball.

The weekend flurry of moves was largely underwhelming after a busy week. But here’s a brief rundown of winners and losers at the deadline.

Winners

-- Phillies: Getting a piece for the future and present in Hunter Pence for guys who won’t be ready to contribute for a few years while saving guys like Vance Worley and Dom Brown is tremendous.

-- Cardinals: They shore up relief with Octavio Dotel and Marc “I’d like to buy a vowel” Rzepczynski, rotation with Edwin Jackson and the middle infield with Rafael Furcal. I guess they think they can win now.

-- Giants: A healthy Carlos Beltran could yield a pennant.

-- Blue Jays: Colby Rasmus has a lot of upside, if only the Jays can harness it the way the Cards never quite could.

-- Orioles: Tommy Hunter’s a good major league starting pitcher, and Chris Davis could slip out of his funk eventually. Just sayin’.

-- Pirates: Derrick Lee and Ryan Ludwick are bona fide major league bats.