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Fantasy Fix

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:44:27 GMT

clipped by: Skipper61


Most Added Player
Rk	Player	%Change
1	Jorge Cantu	25.42
2	Ryan Doumit	18.35
3	J.D. Drew	11.27
4	Armando Galarraga	10.97
5	Jose Guillen	9.80


Most Dropped Player
Rk	Player	%Change
1	Micah Owings	-12.01
2	Victor Martinez	-11.76
3	J.J. Putz	-7.66
4	Chien-Ming Wang	-6.65
5	Ryan Church	-5.86

Dodgers Sweep Reds Behind Stults

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:41:25 GMT

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Clip Source: msn.foxsports.com

CINCINNATI (AP) - A grass-stained baseball was stuffed in the right pocket of Eric Stults' tan slacks, a souvenir from the way he finished off Los Angeles' three-game sweep.

Stults pitched into the seventh inning in his season debut Thursday, and Matt Kemp emerged from his slump by hitting a two-run double, setting up a 7-4 victory and a three-game sweep of the rock-bottom Reds.

"That was fun," said Stults, who took a shutout into the seventh. "Your first time out, you still have some of the jitters, being in front of a bigger crowd and facing the best hitters in baseball."

The Dodgers picked the right time and place for a turnaround.

They arrived in town with a five-game losing streak and an offense that could barely score. They broke out against a team they've dominated no matter where they play. The Dodgers hadn't won three in a row since their three-game sweep of the Reds in Los Angeles from May 19-21.

Mariners Fire McLaren

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:40:18 GMT

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Clip Source: msn.foxsports.com

SEATTLE (AP) - John McLaren is the latest member of the Mariners to get cut loose. He probably won't be the last.

On the day McLaren was fired as manager, Seattle executives said they agree with franchise cornerstone Ichiro Suzuki that players should also be jettisoned from the team with the worst record in the majors.

After beginning the year with playoff expectations, the Mariners are now in the midst of what appears to be a lost season. They fired general manager Bill Bavasi this week and followed by dismissing McLaren on Thursday.

Bench coach Jim Riggleman was promoted to run the team, starting Friday night in Atlanta. He became Seattle's fifth manager in six seasons.

"We hadn't shown any improvement for the last couple of months. In fact, we were probably regressing," interim GM Lee Pelekoudas said. "To give the players a chance to improve ... we thought a different voice was needed."

McLaren was the second manager in the majors to be fired this season

Dave Bush Loses No-No Bid

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:38:11 GMT

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Clip Source: sports.espn.go.com

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Dave Bush remained alone, sitting down the clubhouse hall in an equipment room, where players can grab cool drinks between innings.

The quiet righty never watches his teammates hit while he's pitching. He can't see the field and can't hear the chatter, but he knew the circumstances.

Bush took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning before it was broken up by the player he was traded for, and the Milwaukee Brewers barely held off the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 Thursday.

"I always know. I always know if I've had guys on base and given up hits," Bush said. "I would say it's probably after the sixth that I actually start thinking about it. The game starting to wind down, and you kind of see what happens."

Lyle Overbay opened the eighth by slicing a triple just beyond the reach of diving left fielder Ryan Braun. Bush (3-7) was dealt to the Brewers in 2005 for Overbay, but said he'd never seen him play before this series.

Yanks Win 7th Straight Behind Joba

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:35:33 GMT

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Clip Source: sports.espn.go.com

New York Yankees' Joba Chamberlain delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Thursday, June 19, 2008. The Yankees won 2-1. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Girardi signaled to the bullpen before he reached the mound. He wasn't going to let Joba Chamberlain talk him out of it.

The Yankees manager would love for the converted reliever to get his first win as a starter, but not at the expense of throwing too many pitches. Chamberlain would have to settle for another no-decision and a career-high nine strikeouts in New York's 2-1 win Thursday to sweep the San Diego Padres.

"Your heart wants to do it," Girardi said, "but your head tells you that you need to make a change."

Chamberlain gave up one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings in his fourth start. He also helped prevent a run with his catcher's skills, blocking home plate to make a tag.

Zambrano To Miss Next Start

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:33:27 GMT

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Clip Source: sports.espn.go.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano will miss his next scheduled start because of shoulder trouble and will undergo an MRI exam Friday.

Zambrano left Wednesday night's game at Tampa Bay because of discomfort in his right shoulder. He was examined Thursday in Chicago by team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo.

Zambrano, 8-3 with a 3.13 ERA in 16 starts for the NL Central leaders, had been set to pitch Tuesday night at home against Baltimore.

"I don't think there's a possibility at all," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said before the series finale against the Rays.

Zambrano was originally set to have an MRI exam Thursday. The Cubs decided to instead schedule an MRI arthrogram, a test in which dye is injected into the problem area to provide a more detailed look.

"I hope it's not serious," Piniella said. "I hope we find out what's wrong and we can take care of it in short order."

Zambrano won a career-best 18 games in 2007.

Federer, Djokovic In Same Bracket at Wimbledon

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:32:17 GMT

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Clip Source: sports.espn.go.com

WIMBLEDON, England -- Roger Federer could face No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semifinals as he bids for a sixth straight Wimbledon title.

Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, was drawn into Federer's half of the bracket Friday for the grass-court Grand Slam tournament opening Monday.

Earlier this week, Djokovic said he thinks Federer is vulnerable after his lopsided loss in the French Open final -- and that he is one of several players who could end the Swiss star's five-year reign at Wimbledon.

"Some things are changing. I think he's a little bit shaken with that loss and mentally he has been struggling in the last couple of months," Djokovic said Wednesday. "New names are coming, fresh talented players who believe more they can win against him and I am one of them," Djokovic said. "Suddenly he is worried a little bit."

Rafael Nadal, who routed Federer in Paris but lost to him in the past two Wimbledon finals, is in the other half of the draw.

10 Tips If You're Jumping On a Bandwagon

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:30:03 GMT

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Clip Source: sports.espn.go.com

Now baseball season is in the spotlight. And with midseason quickly approaching, it is time for many of the unscrupulous among us to decide to which team we will attach ourselves like a barnacle to a whale. Will people flock to an old favorite like the Red Sox? Or how about the upstart Rays? Why not the Cubs?

So, fancy a bandwagon jump? Here are 10 steps to doing it right:

1. Pick your bandwagon

2. Stock up on gear

3. Get the family involved

4. Create a connection

5. Research, Part 1: Get the basics

6. Research, Part 2: Go a little deeper

7. Research, Part 3: Learn whom to hate

8. Take on the identity of the team and its fan base

9. Avoid "real" fans

10. Get a car flag

Russert's Wife: "I Had a Feeling"

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:26:21 GMT

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Clip Source: www.people.com

Leaving their hotel room in Italy ahead of his wife and son to go back to Washington, D.C., so he could tape that Sunday's Meet the Press, Tim Russert was grabbed by his wife, PEOPLE reports in its latest issue, on sale Friday.

"I said to him, 'I want to give you a hug; maybe I'll never see you again,' " says journalist Maureen Orth, 65, speaking publicly about her husband for the first time since his June 13 passing – the day after he left Italy. "I don't know why I said that to him. I just had a feeling."

Russert was under extra stress at the time of his death: covering this year's presidential election, flying to Buffalo to visit his widowed father, Tim Sr., 84, in an assisted living facility – which Orth calls "a huge psychological strain for him."

On the morning of the day he died, she recalled, Russert took a chunk of time off from work to go to his son's new apartment in D.C. and wait for the cable man. "He could have hired someone to do it, but that wasn't Tim."

Many Celebrities Rally Behind Obama

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:23:11 GMT

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Clip Source: www.reuters.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Many Hollywood heavyweights who had supported Hillary Clinton are rallying behind Barack Obama, pledging money and star power to his U.S. presidential bid before a big fundraiser next week.

Experts say that since Clinton conceded defeat this month after a grueling Democratic nominating contest, celebrities have quickly united behind Obama.

The result, they said, could be a campaign cash windfall for the senator from Illinois, but star support doesn't necessarily translate directly to votes.

Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a senior scholar at the University of Southern California, said that once a politician becomes known, voters look for candidates with positions they like and with whom they can identify, regardless of celebrity backing.

In fact, stars can cause harm if a performer's public image rubs voters the wrong way. That happened when Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand campaigned for former Texas Gov. Ann Richards in her conservative state, and Richards lost the bid.

Amy Winehouse Undergoes More Tests

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:20:54 GMT

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Clip Source: www.reuters.com

LONDON (Reuters) - British soul singer Amy Winehouse has undergone more tests after being taken to hospital four days ago, but hopes to perform as scheduled next week, her office said on Thursday.

"Amy has undergone more scans and tests today and we are awaiting the verdict of her doctors," a statement from her publicist said.

"At present, she still intends to perform at her two scheduled dates next week. However, the decision will be made entirely on the advice of her doctors and in her best interests."

She was rushed to a clinic by her father on Monday after fainting at home.

The 24-year-old singer and songwriter, who has publicly battled drug problems and whose personal life has attracted widespread media attention, is still at the private clinic.

Winehouse, who won five Grammy Awards in February and enjoyed commercial success with her album "Back to Black", put her touring commitments on hold last year amid reports she had been hospitalized for severe exhaustion.

Motley Crue Set to Tour

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:19:45 GMT

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Clip Source: www.reuters.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Motley Crue are back with a new album, a song that's a hit with gamers and an upcoming festival tour, but the bad-boy rockers are frustrated that a long-awaited movie about their lives is going nowhere.

The glam-metal veterans first announced in 2006 they had reached a deal with MTV Films/Paramount to start producing a biopic based on their best-selling autobiography "The Dirt," which was co-written with Neil Strauss

But the band is now looking for new partners, bassist/lyricist Nikki Sixx told Reuters.

"We're trying to get them (MTV) out of the way to make this movie that should have been made a long time ago," he said.

"MTV has become bogged down in its own way. It's a channel that used to be hip and has now actually become unhip. We signed with them because we believed they were right, but they haven't come to the table," he said. "We need to find the right partner. They are not the right partner."

Hollywood Picks 25 Stars For Walk of Fame

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:18:35 GMT

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Clip Source: www.reuters.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cartoon character Tinkerbell, singer Shakira and "Iron Man" Robert Downey Jr. and actress Cameron Diaz were among a diverse group of 25 stars named on Thursday to join the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said the celebrities will each get their star on its Walk of Fame next year, but the dates have not been announced.

The Walk of Fame is a stretch of sidewalk lining either side of Hollywood Boulevard on which celebrities in music, movies, television and other entertainment arenas have their names emblazoned in brass set into large, pink terrazzo stars.

A committee of the Chamber of Commerce chose the 25 stars from among hundreds of nominations.

Others on the list include director Tim Burton, and actors Sir Ben Kingsley, William H. Macy and Hugh Jackman. Among the television stars are Macy's wife, Felicity Huffman, producer Mark Burnett and music stars include Kenny "Baby Face" Edmonds and disco-era band The Village People.

'Zoey 101' Star Has Baby Girl

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:16:46 GMT

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Clip Source: www.reuters.com

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Britney Spears' 17-year-old sister Jamie Lynn, star of Nickelodeon's popular TV show "Zoey 101," has given birth to a baby girl, People magazine reported on Thursday.

Jamie Lynn Spears gave birth to Maddie Briann on Thursday morning at a hospital in Mississippi, the magazine said.

A high school student who lives in Louisiana, Jamie Lynn Spears reportedly met the father, Casey Aldridge, the son of a Tennessee paper mill worker, at church. The couple are engaged, People magazine said.

Jamie Lynn Spears' personal publicist was not immediately available for comment.

"Zoey 101," which wrapped production on its fourth and final season in September, revolves around a headstrong student at a co-ed boarding school in California.

Man Lost 80 Pounds Eating at McDonalds

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:15:31 GMT

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Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

QUINTON, Va. — A Virginia man lost about 80 pounds in six months by eating nearly every meal at McDonald's.

Not Big Macs, french fries and chocolate shakes. Mostly salads, wraps and apple dippers without the caramel sauce.

Chris Coleson tipped the scales at 278 pounds in December. The 5-foot-8 Coleson now weighs 199 pounds and his waist size has dropped from 50 to 36.

The 42-year-old businessman from Quinton says he chose McDonald's because it's convenient.

His inspiration came from his two children and from the story of a blind war veteran who rode a tandem bicycle cross-country.

Coleson says his goal is to get back to the 185 pounds he weighed when he married Tricia Summer. Their 10th anniversary is Saturday.