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2B Daily News – Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Development of young pitchers is the key to Oakland Athletics season TOKYO (MCT) — Any talk of how the Oakland Athletics might fare in 2012 begins with the uncertainty surrounding their pitching staff. That's unusual for a team whose question marks generally revolve around a toothless offense. But consider the state of the Ath- letics' staff as they open the season Wednesday against Seattle at the Tokyo Dome. Their No. 1 starter, Brandon McCarthy, has never cracked double digits in victories. Bartolo Colon, their No. 2 man, turns 39 in May and strug- gled over the second half of 2011. And new closer Grant Balfour is an eight-year veteran who's never held down a ninth-inning gig until now. If the staff doesn't jell quickly, it figures to be a long season for Athlet- ics fans. "I think the talent's here," McCarthy said. "It's just a matter of what combination is going to work. Anytime you have a young team like this, everybody has to flesh out roles and find out who can do what." Just a year ago, people were dis- cussing the A's as boasting one of the game's top pitching staffs. Then came the winter purge. Convinced they couldn't compete in the American League West this sea- son, A's officials dealt away their top two starters in Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez. Three days after Christmas, closer Andrew Bailey was shipped to Boston. In their place came a host of prospects, including starters Tom Milone, Jarrod Parker and Brad Pea- cock. Milone already appears set in the rotation and Parker and Peacock might assume spots soon. Their development is key if the A's are to become factors in the AL West. "Obviously we're not as experi- enced," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "But we feel the talent level is all there, and they're gonna continue to get better over the course of their careers. They're probably just not as far along as a Bailey, Gonzalez or Cahill." As things stand, the rotation will go McCarthy, Colon, Milone, Tyson Ross and Graham Godfrey, those last three in no particular order. Parker and Peacock were both optioned to the minors before the A's left for Japan, but Melvin considers them still in the running for the fifth starter spot, which isn't needed until April 17. Consider: Colon has 161 career victories under his belt. The combined win total of the other four likely rota- tion members listed above: 35. McCarthy, who went 9-9 last sea- son to go with a 3.32 ERA and five complete games in 25 starts, is a cru- cial piece. His ascension into the No. 1 role shouldn't mask the fact that his recurring shoulder problems make him an injury risk. He spent six weeks on the DL last season with a stress reaction in his shoulder blade. Still, his 25 starts were a career high. "I think it's good for him," catcher Kurt Suzuki said of McCarthy assum- ing the No. 1 role. "He's got the lead- ership qualities. He's more of an example-type guy. You watch his rou- tine. It's so strict. He sets a good example to pitchers." McCarthy will match up in the opener against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, a pitcher the A's could face three times in the first three weeks based on how the schedule falls. King Felix is 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA lifetime against Oakland. "That's not the way you want to draw it up," Melvin said. "(But) we feel good about our guy that's pitching against him as well." Giants have a big decision regarding Cain over their heads." BY MONTE POOLE The Oakland Tribune (MCT) Less than a year after the ring ceremony celebrating their 2010 World Series championship, the Giants face a multitude of troubling issues, one of which will shed considerable light on the organization's priorities. Lurking behind the Fred- dy Sanchez dilemma, the Brandon Belt conundrum and anxiety over the chal- lenges facing Buster Posey and Ryan Vogelsong, is the crucial decision concerning Matt Cain. Do the Giants pay up over the next 10 days and exhale? Or do they back away, cross their fingers and hope they can afford Cain next winter? The 27-year-old right- hander last month expressed a desire to secure his future with the Giants before open- ing day. Negotiations con- tinue, according to general manager Brian Sabean, but with only 10 days remaining the prospects of reaching an agreement are becoming more unlikely. Is it still conceivable to strike a deal before April 6? "We'll see," Sabean said Monday, sounding more cautious than apprehensive. "If it doesn't happen by opening day, we'll put it aside (for after the season). I think it's unfair to pitchers to have them going out there with something like this Connecting this dot with several more, it seems rea- sonable for fans to brace for Cain's free agent departure — especially if he has another impressive season. This could be another instance in which the Giants are casualties of the deal they reached with Barry Zito after the 2006 season. Zito's contract, at seven years and $126 million, is the largest in franchise histo- ry. Seduced by the Zito mar- keting/performance pack- age _ durability, marquee name, local visibility, tangi- ble achievements _ the own- ership group, with Peter Magowan as CEO, thought it had found the guy who would replace Barry Bonds as the face of the franchise. The investment has been an unmitigated disaster. Zito, despite countless adjustments and occasional effectiveness, is 43-61 as a Giant. More to the point, his contract has clogged the payroll — and surely con- tributes to the reasons Cain has not been signed to a long-term deal sure to cost the Giants at least $100 mil- lion. Given their Zito experi- ence, who couldn't under- stand their concern? Here is where we discov- er how much latitude is given to current CEO Larry Baer, and whether he can influence other partners, Charles B. Johnson chief among them. A limited partner and team president officially promoted in January, Baer replaced Bill Neukom amid suspicions that some of the partners felt Neukom was too autonomous with his decisions, too visible with his persona and a bit too loose with the payroll. Neukom, who replaced Magowan after the 2008 season, had lofty ambitions for the Giants. A former Microsoft executive, he talked of instilling a "Giants Way," that would articulate the franchise's pursuit of excellence. During his three-plus years atop the organization, one of which resulted in San Francisco's only champi- onship, Neukom oversaw a payroll increase of about 30 percent. That's predictable and unavoidable in the wake of success. He also authorized a 2011 mid-season trade for Carlos Beltran, which added to the payroll, eight months after signing off on a two- year, $22 million deal for Aubrey Huff. The Huff con- tract threatens to haunt Neukom as Zito's haunted Magowan. Cain, then, becomes a barometer of the best inten- tions of the latest incarnation of the team's executive com- mittee, led by Baer, directed by the Johnson and others. Getting Cain's name on a long-term contract worth about $20 million per sea- son sometime before April 6 tells us those in charge are willing to stretch the budget in hopes of retaining a start- ing rotation capable of con- tending for years to come. Not reaching agreement, presumably because they don't want to spend the money — Cain's price likely rises as a free agent — would provide one more reason to believe we know why Neukom is the former CEO. And it would be an omi- nous sign for Giants fans, implying they remain finan- cially rigid despite the full stands and the fantastic yard. Sabean says the team's $130 million payroll, which had no room to re-sign the likes of Beltran or Cody Ross, is set and likely to remain the general basis for the immediate future. "We have some young players who will start to get expensive," he said, refer- ring to Pablo Sandoval and Posey. "We were able to (buy some time) with (Tim) Lincecum." Though Lincecum, the staff ace, was comfortable with a two-year deal for $41.5 million, Cain, per- ceived as a co-ace, is seek- ing a long-term deal. If the Texas Rangers can make a $108 million investment in untested Yu Darvish, what is Cain worth? A New Giants Way is coming. Baer and Johnson get to decide, for better or worse, what it means. Final Four coaches poised to keep cashing in By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer Ohio State coach Thad Matta has already cashed in on the Buckeyes' trip to the Final Four. So have the rest of the coaches whose teams are headed to New Orleans. Matta has racked up $100,000 in incentives tied to his team's performance in the Big Ten and NCAA tournament this season. And that doesn't include the one-year extension that was triggered when the Buck- eyes beat Michigan State for a share of the conference regular-season title. Kansas coach Bill Self, whose team plays Ohio State on Saturday night, and John Calipari of Kentucky and Rick Pitino of Louisville are already rack- ing up similar bonus pack- ages, according to a review of their contracts by The Associated Press. ''It's a heavyweight group, no question about that,'' Self said Tuesday, referring to the quartet of coaches and their schools. They're getting paid like heavyweights, too. Self signed a contract extension that runs from April 2008 through the 2017-18 season and guaran- tees an annual salary of $2.5 million. But it's the bonus provisions that could turn an already princely sum into a greater financial windfall. By winning the school's eighth consecutive Big 12 title during the regular sea- son, Self earned a $50,000 performance bonus. And when his team pulled away late to beat North Carolina in the Midwest Regional finals Sunday, Self guaran- teed himself another $100,000. If the Jayhawks can get by Ohio State, a team they've beat once already this season, and then win their second national cham- pionship in five years, Self will take another $200,000 to the bank. The potential of $350,000 in incentives pales in comparison though to what could await Calipari. Despite making $3.8 million — an annual guar- anteed package that gets a $1 million retention bump starting next season — offi- cials at Kentucky still man- aged to sweeten the pot by factoring in hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of bonuses tied to on-court success. Already, Calipari has cashed in for winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season and tourna- ment titles, worth $50,000 each. He earned $100,000 each for making the region- al semifinals and finals, and $150,000 for beating Bay- lor and taking the Wildcats back to the Final Four. Winning the basketball- mad school's eighth NCAA tournament title would net another $350,000. Incidentally, the bonus tied to Kentucky's academ- ic progress rate? A mere $50,000. ''What John Calipari has done on and off the court ... to reunite and rejuvenate this fan base has been mag- ical,'' Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said last June, which he announced that Calipari's contract had been restruc- tured. Calipari's counterpart in the Bluegrass State is mak- ing out well, too. Pitino is making $3 mil- lion this season and next season under an extension that took effect in July 2010, and that includes a bump in annual compensation to $3.9 million starting in 2013. He also receives cumula- tive bonuses for on-court success: $50,000 for win- ning the Big East tourna- ment title, another $50,000 for making the regional semifinals and finals, and $75,000 when the Cardinals knocked off Florida to book their trip to the Superdome. Pitino will cash another $150,000 check if Louisville cuts down the nets Monday night. Then there is Matta, whose total package this season — base salary, media responsibilities, deferred compensation, retention bonuses, retire- ment and endorsements — totals $2,735,000. The Ohio State coach already has accrued $20,000 for a Big Ten co- championship and $40,000 for making the NCAA tour- nament. He earned another $20,000 for making the regional finals and $20,000 more when the Buckeyes beat top-seeded Syracuse for a spot in the Final Four. That's a total of $100,000 in bonuses so far, and Matta would double it if the Buckeyes can win two more games and capture the school's first national title since 1960. That's the cost of doing business in major college athletics. Or, more accurately, the cost of success in major col- lege basketball. NASCAR all-star race change CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR's annual all-star race will be split into five segments this year, with a manda- tory pit stop before the final 10-lap sprint for the $1 million prize. The All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be 90 laps and begin with four 20-lap segments. The winner of each segment will move to the front of the field right before the cars head down pit road for their mandatory stop. Drivers will then line up in the order they leave pit road to start the final segment. ''It's sprint, quick races. Twenty-lap races will mean a lot more now if you can start up front or at least pit first for the final segment, which will mean everything,'' said 2008 win- ner Kasey Kahne. ''In 10 laps here, if you start anywhere out of the front two rows, you probably don't have a shot at win- ning. To have the best shot at winning the All-Star Race, you'll want to win one of those (segments).'' The new format is designed to place a premium on win- ning one of the first four segments, as well as showcase pit crews for the mandatory stop before the 10-lap shootout. Steve Addington, crew chief for Kurt Busch's 2010 win, said teams will have to decide quickly what to do during the pit stop. ''The guys in that top five or six are going to be the ones with the pressure on them to decide if they want tires or not,'' he said. ''There'll be a guy in eighth, ninth, 10th that's going to gamble going for a million bucks, who will do a splash of fuel, a stop-and-go and get out and try to get clean air and get away from everyone else.'' A's (Continued from page 1B) Mariners since 1992 yet has never seen his team play in person _ a streak that will be extended this week. Even though the games against Oakland on Wednes- day and Thursday will be played at the Tokyo Dome, about a two-hour drive from his home in Kyoto, Yamauchi, 84, will watch on television, the Mariners announced. No reason was given. "He just indicated to me he's not going to be here," Mariners Chief Executive Howard Lincoln told reporters at a news confer- ence when the team arrived last week. "Quite frankly, a man of his age and stature doesn't have to explain why he's not here." The Mariners have one other Japanese player, infielder Munenori Kawasa- ki, on their 25-man roster. Another, pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, was among the 30 they brought on a trip that also included two exhibition games against Japanese pro- fessional teams. In all, the Mariners and the Athletics will spend about a week in Japan, which will play host to its fourth MLB opener, after the New York Mets versus Chicago Cubs in 2000, the New York Yankees versus Tampa Bay in 2004 and Boston versus Oakland in 2008. The teams played before near-sellout crowds of more than 42,000 in each of their doubleheader exhibitions last weekend against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Lakers Clippers Phoenix WL Pct GB 30 19 .612 — 28 21 .571 2 25 24 .510 5 WARRIORS 20 27 .426 9 KINGS 17 32 .347 13 Southwest Division WL Pct GB San Antonio 33 14 .702 — Memphis Dallas Houston 27 21 .563 6.5 28 22 .560 6.5 27 23 .540 7.5 New Orleans 12 37 .245 22 Northwest Division WL Pct GB Oklahoma City 37 12 .755 — Utah Denver 27 23 .540 10.5 27 23 .540 10.5 Minnesota 24 27 .471 14 Portland 23 26 .469 14 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Philadelphia 28 22 .560 — Boston New York Toronto Miami WL Pct GB 27 22 .551 .5 25 25 .500 3 16 34 .320 12 New Jersey 16 35 .314 12.5 Southeast Division WL Pct GB 35 13 .729 — 32 18 .640 4 30 21 .588 6.5 Orlando Atlanta Washington 11 38 .224 24.5 Charlotte Central Division x-Chicago 40 11 .784 — Indiana 7 40 .149 27.5 WL Pct GB 29 19 .604 9.5 Milwaukee 23 27 .460 16.5 Cleveland 17 30 .362 21 Detroit 17 32 .347 22 x-clinched playoff spot —————————————————— Tuesday's results L.A. Lakers at Golden State, late Memphis 93, Minnesota 86 Milwaukee 108, Atlanta 101 Philadelphia 103, Cleveland 85 Houston at Dallas, late Oklahoma City at Portland, late San Antonio at Phoenix, late Today's games San Antonio at Sacramento, 7 p.m. New Orleans at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. Denver at Toronto, 4 p.m. Detroit at Cleveland, 4 p.m. Minnesota at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Orlando at New York, 4 p.m. Chicago at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Indiana at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. Utah at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Phoenix at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m. Thursday's games Washington at Indiana, 4 p.m. Dallas at Miami, 5 p.m. New Orleans at Portland, 7 p.m. Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m. Today's games San Jose at Anaheim, 7 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Winnipeg, 4 p.m. Detroit at Columbus, 4:30 p.m. Dallas at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Calgary, 6:30 p.m. Colorado at Vancouver, 7 p.m. Thursday's games San Jose at Phoenix, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Toronto, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at N.Y. Islanders, 4 p.m. Tampa Bay at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Washington at Boston, 4 p.m. Florida at Minnesota, 5 p.m. St. Louis at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. Giants of the Nippon Profes- sional Baseball's Central League. The Mariners lost 5-1 to the Tigers on Saturday and 9-3 to the Giants on Sunday. The A's beat the Giants, 5-0, and lost to the Tigers, 12-6. Suzuki, the main attrac- tion for Japanese fans, was greeted by the twinkling of thousands of camera flashes as he approached the plate in each of his eight at-bats. Around town, he is omnipresent, his likeness all over the street on billboards and all over television on commercials. Suzuki had one hit, a sin- gle in his first at-bat. "It's a special event, it's important to us," he said after Game 1, referring to the Mariners playing in Japan for the first time. "This is probably a once-in-a-life- time event for myself." Oakland has its own Suzuki — Hawaii-born catcher Kurt, who starred for Cal State Fullerton in 2004 when the Titans won the College World Series. Kurt Suzuki, the only A's player who was also with the team when it opened in Japan against the Red Sox in 2008, hit a home run in each of the exhibition games, a two-run blast against the Giants and a three-run shot against the Tigers. The Athletics and Mariners also play in their mainland regular-season opener, April 6 at Oakland. MLB is still referring to April 4 as Opening Day, when the defending world champion St. Louis Cardi- nals play Miami in the Mar- lins' new ballpark. NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division WL OT Pts GF GA SHARKS 39 27 10 88 210 196 Dallas 41 30 5 87 202 203 Phoenix 37 27 13 87 200 202 Kings 37 27 12 86 175 165 Ducks 32 33 11 75 191 212 Central Division WL OT Pts GF GA x-St. Louis 48 20 9 105 199 147 x-Detroit 46 25 5 97 237 187 Nashville 44 25 8 96 219 202 Chicago 42 26 9 93 231 222 Columbus 24 45 7 55 177 250 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA y-Vancouver46 21 9 101 230 187 Colorado 40 32 6 86 201 207 Calgary 35 27 15 85 191 212 Minnesota 31 35 10 72 161 210 Edmonton 31 36 9 71 206 223 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA x-Rangers 48 21 7 103 209 170 x-Pittsburgh 47 23 6 100 256 200 x-Philadelphia44 24 8 96 241 213 New Jersey 43 28 6 92 208 201 N.Y. Islanders32 33 11 75 185 227 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Boston 45 28 3 93 249 186 Ottawa 39 28 10 88 236 227 Buffalo 38 29 10 86 202 210 Toronto 33 35 9 75 217 242 Montreal 29 34 14 72 199 214 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Florida 37 24 15 89 189 208 Washington 38 31 8 84 206 219 Winnipeg 35 33 8 78 205 223 Tampa Bay 35 34 7 77 216 260 Carolina 31 31 15 77 205 228 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division —————————————————— Tuesday's results Boston 5, Tampa Bay 2 Buffalo 5, Washington 1 Carolina 3, Toronto 0 Florida 3, Montreal 2, SO New Jersey 2, Chicago 1, SO N.Y. Islanders 5, Pittsburgh 3 N.Y. Rangers 3, Minnesota 2 St. Louis 3, Nashville 0