Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/20785
Friday, December 3, 2010 – Daily News – 3B A’s don’t offer deals to Spikes still hoping for chance at playoffs Cust, Buck, Encarnacion OAKLAND (AP) — The Oakland Athletics are not offering contracts to designated hitter Jack Cust, outfielder Travis Buck and third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, making them all free agents. Cust hit .272 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs in 112 games last season. He added 68 walks for a .395 on-base percentage. Buck batted just .167 in 14 games. Encarnacion was claimed by the A’s off waivers from Toronto last month. He batted .244 with 21 homers and 51 RBIs with the Blue Jays. The A’s offered contracts Thursday to all other unsigned players on their 40-man roster. That includes their seven remaining arbitration eligible players: left-hander Dallas Braden; relievers Craig Breslow, Brad Ziegler and Joey Devine; outfielders Conor Jackson and Ryan Sweeney; and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. SAN FRANCISCO (4-7) at GREEN BAY(7-4) San Francisco 49ers SANTA CLARA (AP) — Takeo Spikes has never been to the NFL playoffs and he thought this finally would be the year with the San Francisco 49ers. But now the 49ers, preseason favorites to win the NFC West, are on the verge of missing the post- season again as they head into Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. For the 49ers, it would be an eighth consecutive season without reaching the playoffs. But for Spikes, a two-time Pro Bowler, it would be a 13th consecutive year without playoffs. Spikes is doing everything he can to bring both those streaks to an end by playing some of the best football of his career. ‘‘That’s why I’m still playing,’’ Spikes said Thursday. ‘‘I want to play until I get that ring. I think I’ve really got into a groove and am playing some of my best foot- ball right now. I feel I’ve pro- gressed and taken it to another level.’’ Sunday, 10 a.m., FOX OPENING LINE — Packers by 9 1/2 RECORD VS. SPREAD — 49ers 5-6; Packers 6-5 SERIES RECORD — Packers lead 33-26-1 LAST MEETING — Packers beat 49ers 30-24, Nov. 22, 2009 LAST WEEK — 49ers beat Cardinals 27-6; Packers lost to Falcons 20-17 49ERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (17), PASS (21) 49ERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (11), RUSH (8), PASS (16) PACKERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (12), RUSH (23), PASS (7) PACKERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (12), RUSH (18), PASS (10) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Packers had four-game winning streak broken with loss at Atlanta last week. ... QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 344 yards with 2 TDs in last year’s victory over 49ers. ... WR Greg Jennings caught 5 passes for 126 yards and a TD vs. 49ers last year. ... Packers placed two more players on injured reserve, LB Brandon Chillar and TE Spencer Havner, running IR total to 13 players. ... After 0-5 start, 49ers have won four of last six games. ... QB Troy Smith took over as starter vs. Den- ver on Oct. 31 and has won three of four games. ... 49ers LB Patrick Willis has four sacks in his past three games. ... San Francisco lost RB Frank Gore to season-ending right hip fracture during Monday night’s victory at Arizona. ... 49ers defense allowed only 13 yards rushing against Car- dinals and has not allowed 100-yard rusher in 17 games. ... Packers coach Mike McCarthy was 49ers’ offensive coor- dinator in 2005. San Francisco coach Mike Singletary was on that coaching staff as assistant head coach/linebackers. ... 49ers RB DeShawn Wynn was seventh-round draft choice of Packers in 2007. OAKLAND (5-6) at SAN DIEGO (6-5) The San Francisco defense has gone along with him. Sparked by Spikes’ interception and four tackles, the 49ers had perhaps their top defensive performance of the season during Monday’s 27-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers recorded a season low for points allowed while giv- ing up just 203 total yards. The Cardinals finished with only 13 yards rushing, the third-fewest San Francisco has allowed in a game in franchise history. Oakland Raiders ‘‘That’s why I’m still playing. I want to play until I get that ring. I think I’ve really got into a groove and am playing some of my best football right now. I feel I’ve progressed and taken it to another level.’’ Takeo Spikes That kind of performance has become a trend for the 49ers. After a lukewarm start, a unit that was expected to carry the team has climbed to 11th in the NFL in total defense. San Francisco ranks eighth in the league in rushing defense and 10th in fewest points allowed. The resurgent play of Spikes, who turns 34 on Dec. 17, has been instrumental in the recent upswing. He had a season-high 13 tackles two weeks ago against Tampa Bay. He ranks second on the team behind Patrick Willis with 74 total tackles. The 49ers appeared to be grad- ually working third-round draft pick NaVorro Bowman into the lineup in place of Spikes earlier in the season, but that transition has ceased. Spikes is an every-down linebacker again. ‘‘He’s kept on playing at a high level week in and week out,’’ defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. ‘‘We’re always counting on him to lead the guys and it’s good to see him having some success at inside linebacker. He’s an older guy that’s busting his butt to get to the playoffs.’’ Spikes has come close only on season-ending injury reserve. ALAMEDA (AP) — The Oakland Raiders have signed backup quarter- back J.T. O’Sullivan and placed Bruce Gradkowski GIANTS (Continued from page 2B) when he was up at the plate. It will be nice to have some- one hitting in the middle of our order with his experi- ence.’’ The Giants had a void at shortstop after declining to exercise their $9.5 million option on Renteria earlier this month, instead paying him a $500,000 buyout. Then they lost Uribe, who signed a $21 million, three- year deal with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. That’s when they quickly moved to get Tejada. ‘‘It was quite a relief once we signed Miggy,’’ Bochy said. ‘‘That’s a pretty big hole we had to fill there. We couldn’t have had a better player available to fill that Sunday, 1:05 p.m., CBS OPENING LINE — Chargers by 12 1/2 RECORD VS. SPREAD — Oakland 5-6; San Diego 6-5 SERIES RECORD — Chargers lead 56-44-2 LAST MEETING — Raiders beat Chargers 35-27, Oct. 10, 2010 LAST WEEK — Raiders lost to Dolphins 33-17; Chargers beat Colts 36-14 RAIDERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (17), RUSH (5), PASS (27) (28), PASS (5) (15), PASS (2) (3), PASS (2) RAIDERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (13), RUSH CHARGERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (1) RUSH CHARGERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (1), RUSH STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Chargers have rebounded from woeful 2-5 start by winning four straight, including Sunday night’s 36-14 victory at Indianapolis when they intercepted Peyton Manning four times, return- ing two for TDs ... San Diego looking to re-establish dom- inance in this rivalry. Chargers’ 13-game winning streak against Raiders snapped Oct. 10, when Raiders blocked consecutive punts early en route to 35-27 victory. ... Charg- ers appear to have fixed special teams problems and turnovers that plagued them during 2-5 start. ... Chargers 13-0 in December since Norv Turner took over in 2007. ... Turner 7-2 overall against Oakland. He coached Raiders in 2004-05. ... The victory at Indy was 100th of Turner’s coaching career. He is 100-107-1 in three stints as head coach, including playoffs. In regular season, he’s 96-103- 1. ... Raiders turning to quarterback Jason Campbell again since Bruce Gradkowski is sidelined indefinitely after suf- fering another third-degree shoulder separation. Campbell has started seven games this season but has been pulled from lineup twice, in Week 2 win over St. Louis and dur- ing 35-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Nov. 21. ... Darren McFad- den, who led the NFL with 108.1 yards rushing per game going into Pittsburgh, held to 16 yards on 18 carries the past two games. ... Raiders rookie WR/KR Jacoby Ford had 329 all-purpose yards in 33-17 loss to Dolphins, sec- ond time this season he’s cracked the 300-yard mark. He had 208 yards on seven kick returns, including 101-yard return for a TD on opening kickoff. NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division WL Pct GB Lakers 13 6 .684 — Phoenix 8 9 .471 4 WARRIORS 810 .444 4.5 KINGS 412 .250 7.5 Clippers 4 15 .211 9 Southwest Division WL Pct GB San Antonio15 3 .833 — Dallas 14 4 .778 1 New Orleans13 5 .722 2 Memphis 8 11 .421 7.5 Houston 6 12 .333 9 Northwest Division WL Pct GB 15 5 .750 — Utah Okla. City 13 6 .684 1.5 Denver 11 6 .647 2.5 Portland 8 10 .444 6 Minnesota 4 14 .222 10 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL Pct GB Boston 14 4 .778 — New York 10 9 .526 4.5 Toronto 7 11 .389 7 New Jersey 6 13 .316 8.5 Philadelphia 5 13 .278 9 Southeast Division WL Pct GB Orlando 14 4 .778 — Atlanta 12 7 .632 2.5 Miami 12 8 .600 3 Charlotte 6 12 .333 8 Washington 5 12 .294 8.5 Central Division WL Pct GB Chicago 9 7 .563 — Indiana 9 8 .529 .5 Cleveland 7 11 .389 3 Milwaukee 6 12 .333 4 Detroit The move Thursday comes a day after Grad- kowski expressed hope that he could return from his second shoulder injury before the end of the sea- hole at such a key position.’’ The Giants last week brought back first baseman Aubrey Huff on a $22 mil- lion, two-year contract. They also agreed this week on a one-year, $1 million deal to bring back outfielder Pat Burrell. The 34-year-old Burrell came to the Giants on a minor league deal May 29 after his release by Tampa Bay and spent a short stint with Triple-A Fresno before joining the Giants on June 4. He batted .266 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs in 96 games for San Francisco, becoming the everyday left fielder. Burrell, who also won a ring with the Phillies in 2008, struggled in the World Series — won in five games by the Giants over the Texas NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Dallas WL OT Pts GF GA 15 8 1 31 70 63 Phoenix 12 7 5 29 70 70 Ducks Central Division Detroit SHARKS 12 8 4 28 72 68 Kings 13 11 3 29 71 80 13 10 0 26 63 57 WL OT Pts GF GA 16 4 2 34 78 59 Chicago 14 11 2 30 86 79 Columbus 14 8 1 29 65 57 St. Louis 12 9 3 27 63 68 Nashville 11 8 5 27 58 63 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 13 7 3 29 75 61 Colorado 13 9 2 28 85 74 Minnesota 11 11 2 24 58 69 Calgary 10 13 2 22 69 76 Edmonton 9 12 4 22 68 92 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 17 8 2 36 82 64 Philadelphia 15 7 4 34 87 64 N.Y. Rangers15 11 1 31 80 74 New Jersey 8 15 2 18 46 74 N.Y. Islanders5 13 5 15 51 78 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Montreal 16 8 2 34 68 52 Boston 14 8 2 30 70 47 Ottawa 11 14 1 23 58 79 Buffalo 9 13 3 21 62 73 Toronto 8 12 4 20 51 70 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA 6 13 .316 4.5 ————————————————— Thursday’s results Phoenix at Golden State, late Miami 118, Cleveland 90 Today’s games Sacramento at Lakers,7:30 p.m.,CSNC New Jersey at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Oklahoma City at Toronto, 4 p.m. Portland at Washington, 4 p.m. Orlando at Detroit, 4:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Houston at Memphis, 5 p.m. New York at New Orleans, 5 p.m. Chicago at Boston, 5 p.m., ESPN Minnesota at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. Indiana at Phoenix, 6 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Denver, 6 p.m. Dallas at Utah, 7:30 p.m., ESPN Wednesday’s late result L.A. Clippers 90, San Antonio 85 Washington 18 7 2 38 91 71 Tampa Bay 14 9 3 31 78 89 Atlanta 13 10 3 29 82 77 Carolina 10 11 3 23 71 78 Florida 10 13 0 20 60 62 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ————————————————— Thursday’s results San Jose 4, Ottawa 0 Boston 8, Tampa Bay 1 Dallas 2, Washington 1 Edmonton 5, Toronto 0 Montreal 5, New Jersey 1 N.Y. Rangers 6, N.Y. Islanders 5 Pittsburgh 3, Atlanta 2 Florida at Los Angeles, late Today’s games Colorado at Carolina, 4 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers, 4 p.m. Columbus at Buffalo, 4:30 p.m. Calgary at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Vancouver at Chicago, 5:30 p.m., NHLN Detroit at Anaheim, 7 p.m. Wednesday’s late results Anaheim 5, Florida 3 Vancouver 7, Calgary 2 once before in his 13 seasons with the 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. But Buffalo lost on the final day of the 2004 season when a victory would have put the Bills in the playoffs. Spikes has been plugging away ever since, and admits that before the season began he had very high expectations the 49ers would get there. Those hopes remain with San Francisco winning four of its past six games after a 0-5 start. The 49ers are just one game out of first place in the NFC West with six to play. Spikes’ steady performance hasn’t wavered much through the ups and downs he has experienced in his three seasons with the 49ers, which included a 122-tack- le season in 2008. He ranks sixth among active NFL players in career tackles. ‘‘He’s just playing the way he always plays,’’ Willis said. ‘‘His approach to the game is the same since day one. You can just tell by the way he goes out there and practices, by the way he plays, by the things he says. Playoffs or no playoffs, that’s just the way he is and the way he plays.’’ Raiders sign backup QB J.T. O’Sullivan, IR Gradkowski this week. son. But Coach Tom Cable says it is unlikely Grad- kowski would have been able to return before then. O’Sullivan was last on San Diego’s roster before being cut in October. Oak- land plays the Chargers Rangers. He went 0 for 13 with 11 strikeouts and was benched for Game 4 at Texas. He had 22 strikeouts in 49 at-bats overall during the postseason. Sabean is trying to keep as much of his roster intact to make another deep postsea- son run in 2011. San Francis- co won the city’s first title since moving West in 1958, beating the Texas Rangers in five games. NCAAFOOTBALL Today’s Top 25 game No.24 Northern Illinois vs. Miami (Ohio) at Detroit, 4 p.m., ESPN2 Today’s other televised game Illinois at Fresno State, 7:15 p.m., ESPN2 This is O’Sullivan’s 11th team since being drafted by New Orleans in 2002. He has played 17 career games, making eight starts for San Fran- cisco in 2008. NCAABASKETBALL Thursday’s Top 25 results No. 4 Kansas 77, UCLA 76 No. 9 Missouri at Oregon, late No.11 Baylor 68, Arizona State 54 Today’s Top 25 games No.5 Kansas St.at Wash.St., 8 p.m.CSNB No. 7 Connecticut vs.UMBC, 4 p.m. No.12 Villanova vs.Saint Joseph’s, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday’s late Top 25 result No.17 San Diego State 69, Saint Mary’s 55 ODDS Glantz-Culver Line For Dec.3 NCAAFootball Today Illinois N.Illinois at Cincinnati 5.5 (57.5) at Fresno St. Mid-American Conference Championship At Detroit 17.5 (54.5) Miami (Ohio) Saturday 2 (55) at West Virginia 20.5 (44.5) 38.5 (61.5) Southern Cal 6.5 (54) NFL AFC West WL T Pct PF PA Kansas City 7 4 0 .636 285 231 Chargers 6 5 0 .545 310 225 RAIDERS 56 0 .455 255 256 Denver East 3 8 0 .273 250 323 WL T Pct PF PA New England 9 2 0 .818 334 266 N.Y. Jets 9 2 0 .818 264 187 Miami Buffalo South 6 5 0 .545 205 225 2 9 0 .182 229 295 WL T Pct PF PA Indianapolis 6 5 0 .545 282 252 Jacksonville 6 5 0 .545 240 294 Tennessee 5 6 0 .455 257 218 Houston 5 7 0 .417 288 321 North WL T Pct PF PA Baltimore 8 3 0 .727 250 188 Pittsburgh 8 3 0 .727 254 181 Cleveland 4 7 0 .364 216 229 Cincinnati 2 9 0 .182 225 288 NFC West Seattle WL T Pct PF PA 5 6 0 .455 209 275 St. Louis 5 6 0 .455 213 231 49ERS 47 0 .364 187 225 Arizona 3 8 0 .273 194 319 East WL T Pct PF PA Philadelphia 8 4 0 .667 344 281 N.Y. Giants 7 4 0 .636 277 240 Washington 5 6 0 .455 215 262 Dallas South Atlanta 3 8 0 .273 256 301 WL T Pct PF PA 9 2 0 .818 276 209 New Orleans 8 3 0 .727 265 197 Tampa Bay 7 4 0 .636 219 223 Carolina 1 10 0 .091 140 276 North WL T Pct PF PA Chicago 8 3 0 .727 222 172 Green Bay 7 4 0 .636 269 166 Minnesota 4 7 0 .364 189 239 Detroit 2 9 0 .182 258 282 ————————————————— Thursday’s result Philadelphia 34, Houston 24 Sunday’s games San Francisco at Green Bay, 10 a.m. Oakland at San Diego, 1:05 p.m. Buffalo at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Chicago at Detroit, 10 a.m. Cleveland at Miami, 10 a.m. Denver at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Jacksonville at Tennessee, 10 a.m. New Orleans at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Washington at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m. Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 1:15 p.m. Carolina at Seattle, 1:15 p.m. Dallas at Indianapolis, 1:15 p.m. St. Louis at Arizona, 1:15 p.m. Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 5:20 p.m. Monday’s game N.Y. Jets at New England, 5:30 p.m. at South Florida 1.5 (41.5) Connecticut at Boise St. Nevada Washington 6.5 (54.5) at Washington St. Oregon at Idaho at Hawaii Troy at Fla.International4.5 (54) at UCF Auburn Conference USA Championship 9 (55) Southeastern Conference Championship At Atlanta 5.5 (61) South Carolina Atlantic Coast Conference Championship At Charlotte, N.C. Virginia Tech 4 (52) Oklahoma Florida St. Big 12 Conference Championship At Arlington, Texas 6 (54) NFL Sunday at Minnesota 5.5(44.5) at Miami 4.5 (43) 4.5 (44.5) Buffalo at Tennessee OFF (OFF) Jacksonville at Kansas City 8.5(48.5) Cleveland Denver at N.Y.Giants 7 (43.5) Washington Chicago at Green Bay 9.5(41.5) San Francisco New Orleans 6.5 (46) Atlanta at San Diego 13 (45) at Seattle at Baltimore 3 (40) at Indianapolis 5.5 (47.5) St.Louis 6 (40) 3.5 (43) Monday at New England 3.5 (46) Off Key Tennessee QB questionable NCAABasketball Today at Georgia 3.5 at Villanova 21.5 Kansas St. E.Michigan-x 5.5 at Idaho Niagara at Iona at Montana 11 5 7 1 x-at Moscow, Idaho NBA Today at Charlotte Portland 7 Oklahoma City 1.5 Orlando at Atlanta at New Orleans 7 at Memphis at Boston at San Antonio 12.5 at Phoenix at Denver 6 4 at L.A.Lakers 13 at Utah 9.5 4 NHL Today at Carolina -135 at N.Y.Rangers-220 N.Y.Islanders +180 at Buffalo -145 at Minnesota -130 at Chicago -120 Detroit Calgary+110 -140 atAnaheim +120 Colorado +115 Columbus +125 Vancouver+100 3.5 5.5 7.5 5 New Jersey at Washington at Toronto at Detroit Philadelphia New York Houston Chicago Minnesota Indiana L.A Clippers Sacramento Dallas UAB Saint Joseph’s 4 at Washington St. Monmouth, N.J. North Dakota at Marist Canisius Portland at Arizona Pittsburgh N.Y.Jets at Detroit at Cincinnati 3 (44.5) at Tampa Bay Oakland Carolina Dallas Nebraska Pittsburgh Rutgers Utah St. 9 (69.5) at Louisiana Tech at UCLA 16.5(64) at Oregon St. 13.5 (55.5) San Jose St. 35(64.5) UNLV 4.5 (55) at Fla.Atlantic MiddleTenn. SMU