PEORIA, Ariz. Yu Darvish struck out three in two scoreless innings and made a run-saving play in his spring training debut during the Texas Rangers’ 6-2 win over a split squad of San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Darvish deals
in spring debut
PEORIA, Ariz. Yu Darvish struck out three in two scoreless innings and made a run-saving play in his spring training debut during the Texas Rangers’ 6-2 win over a split squad of San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
The Rangers spent more than $107 million this winter to land the 6-foot-5 right-hander who was a dominant pitcher for seven years in Japan. Darvish’s stated goal is to become the world’s best pitcher.
Pitching exclusively out of the stretch, Darvish threw 36 pitches, 26 for strikes. He allowed two hits, both doubles.
He struck out his first batter, Cameron Maybin, looking, and his last, John Baker, swinging.
He also made two nice defensive plays, one of which prevented a run in the second inning.
Michigan players may have violated rule
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan’s football program might have violated a secondary NCAA rule.
Spokesman Justin Dickens confirmed Wednesday that the school’s compliance department has been notified a rule may have been broken by receiver Roy Roundtree and linebacker Kenny Demens.
The two posted messages on their Twitter accounts to congratulate a recruit.
Roundtree and Demens tweeted to linebacker Mike McCray of Trotwood-Madison High School in Ohio after the highly touted prospect decided to play for the Wolverines.
NCAA rules prohibit messages being sent to recruits through social media from accounts affiliated with someone from the school.
The NCAA declined comment and athletic director Dave Brandon did not immediately return a message.
Notre Dame had a similar issue recently.
Fighting Irish tight end Tyler Eifert posted a message on his Twitter account toward a recruit before he visited campus, the South Bend Tribune reported on Saturday.
A Notre Dame spokesman told the newspaper that the school was aware of the tweet and had forwarded it to its compliance office.
Temple sports to Big East from A10, MAC
NEW YORK — Nearly a decade after Temple’s moribund football program was pushed out of the Big East, the revitalized Owls are rejoining the conference — and bringing along their potent men’s basketball team.
The school will move to the Big East for football next season and all other sports in 2013.
Temple football played in the Mid-American Conference last season, while all other programs, including men’s basketball, are in the Atlantic 10.
The Owls will pay an exit fee of $6 million to the MAC and $1 million to the A-10, with the Big East providing financial assistance in the form of future revenue distributions.
Temple was a Big East member in football only from 1991-2004 but was forced out because the program was one of the worst in major college football.
The Owls failed to meet minimum requirements for membership, most notably in attendance, facilities and fielding a competitive team.
NFLPA says it will do own bounty investigation
WASHINGTON — The NFL Players Association will do its own investigation of the New Orleans Saints’ bounty system and asked the league to help set up interviews with the team’s coaches and front-office staff.
In a statement released Wednesday, the union vowed to “vigorously protect the rights of all players.”
“If the facts prove that players voluntarily and willingly participated in conduct that jeopardized health and safety, we will work with them and the league to put in place additional safeguards to prevent this in the future,” the statement said. “Dangerous play and acts on the field by players intended to injure have no place in football. We must do better to ensure that this activity is not a part of our game.”
There was no mention of possible punishment for players involved.
After the NFL made its investigation public Friday, former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams admitted to running a bounty pool of up to $50,000 over the past three seasons, rewarding players for knocking targeted opponents out of games.
Son of ex-Packers coordinator died accidentally
OSHKOSH, Wis. — The son of former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was drunk and had marijuana in his system when he fell into the Fox River and drowned, police said Wednesday.
Michael Philbin, 21, had a blood alcohol level of .176, more than twice the legal limit to drive, and also had marijuana at some point before he fell through the ice Jan. 8, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Oshkosh police.
Police say they found no foul play or anything suspicious through their investigation. His death was classified as an accidental drowning. The 21-year-old disappeared after a night out with friends in the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus area, about 50 miles from Green Bay.
Joe Philbin had been with Green Bay since 2003, working as offensive coordinator since 2007.
He interviewed with the Dolphins Jan. 7, two days before his son’s body was recovered from the river. Miami announced his hiring on Jan. 20.
Seahawks release
CB Marcus Trufant
RENTON, Wash. — Marcus Trufant’s balky back and lofty salary finally led to the end of his career with his hometown team.
Trufant was released by Seattle on Wednesday after nine seasons as a constant in the Seahawks’ secondary, but was saddled with back problems the last few years.
“Out of respect for Marcus and his family, we’ve decided to release him today so that he has an opportunity to explore the full window of unrestricted free agency and the options that go along with it,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in a statement. “Marcus has done so much for this organization, but because of the changing landscape of the NFL, tough decisions have to be made and this is the correct thing to do at this time.”
Drafted by Seattle with the 11th overall pick in 2003, Trufant started all but one of the 124 regular-season games he played with the Seahawks. He also started all nine postseason games he played with the team.
He finished his career with Seattle with 21 interceptions — returning two for touchdowns.
Trufant was voted to the Pro Bowl after recording a career-high seven interceptions during the 2007 season.
Mavs G Kidd fined $25K for criticizing officiating
NEW YORK — The NBA has fined Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd $25,000 for criticizing the officiating in a game earlier this week.
Kidd was fined for comments he made following the Mavericks’ 95-91 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.
The fine was announced Wednesday by Stu Jackson, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations.
By wire sources