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2B FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2006 STANDINGS, MORE CURTAIN CALL NY Yankees Boston Toronto Baltimore Tampa Bay Detroit Chicago Sox Minnesota Cleveland Kansas City Oakland LA Angels Texas Seattle NY Mets Philadelphia Atlanta Florida Washington St. Louis Cincinnati Houston Milwaukee Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh San Diego Arizona LA Dodgers Colorado San Francisco Mora turns up heat on Falcons By Don Coble Morris News Service The Atlanta area was still buzzing over the heat-relat ed death of a 15 year-old high school football player on Tuesday, when Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora said he was turning up the heat in the team’s training camp. The Falcons had a three hour workout Wednesday, spending half their time out side in 100-degree heat and the other half indoors. A day earlier, a high school player less than 25 miles from Atlanta’s camp died of heat stroke. That prompted a lot of attention to the dangers of practicing in the heat. “(Heat) is a real concern, and anytime you see a trag edy happen like what hap pened (Tuesday), you pay attention to it,” Mora said. “But it’s something that I’m really focused on anyway. It just goes back to the day when Coiy Stringer died. It just woke everybody up. I think you’d be foolish this day and age to ignore the fact that there are issues, espe cially in this climate.” Mora’s father, former Indianhpolis and New Laßoche finds strong power stroke Adam Laßoche can look at sluggers such as the White Sox’s Jim Thome and Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn and realize, physically, that he’s unlike them. Laßoche, Atlanta > s first Atlanta s urst baseman, is listed at 6- foot-3, 185 NOTEBOOK „ R. Travis Haney Morris News Service pounds. That’s nearly three times less than Thome and Dunn’s combined weight, somewhere near 535 pounds. But Laßoche, the owner of a Kansas ranch, says all three have a common bond: They’re country strong. The 27-year-old says he’s much stronger than he was two years ago when he first arrived in the majors. As a result, he says the hard-hit doubles of 2004 are homers in 2006. Laßoche crushed two more home runs in Tuesday’s 4- 2 win to give him 22 on the year, passing the career high of 20 he set last season. He’s second on the team, just three behind pacesetter American League EAST W L PCT OR HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO 63 41 .606 - 35-19 28-22 582 493 Won 3 8-2 64 42 .604 - 35-16 29-26 586 523 Won 1 5-5 57 50 .533 7.5 35-21 22-29 568 524 Lost 4 3-7 49 60 .450 16.5 29-29 20-31 529 613 Lost 1 5-5 44 64 .407 21 26-25 18-39 480 590 Lost 2 3-7 CENTRAL W L PCT QB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO 72 35 .673 - 33-17 39-18 567 425 Won 2 7-3 63 43 .594 8.5 34-19 29-24 606 519 Lost 1 5-5 61 45 .575 10.5 39-15 22-30 533 483 Lost 2 6-4 46 60 .434 25.5 26-29 20-31 578 547 Lost 1 3-7 38 69 .355 34 23-29 15-40 491 631 Won 1 4-6 WEST W L PCT QB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LIO 57 51 .528 - 28-25 29-26 480 481 Won 1 6-4 55 52 .514 1.5 25-26 30-26 518 498 Lost 1 6-4 54 54 .500 3 26-30 28-24 549 528 Won 2 3-7 53 54 .495 3.5 28-26 25-28 506 497 Won 1 7-3 National League EAST W L PCT QB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO 64 42 .604 - 30-21 34-21 577 486 Won 1 6-4 51 55 .481 13 27-31 24-24 547 561 Won 2 7-3 50 56 .472 14 22-28 28-28 556 544 Won 2 5-5 50 57 .467 14.5 26-25 24-32 503 514 Lost 1 5-5 48 60 .444 17 26-24 22-36 502 563 Lost 1 6-4 CENTRAL W L PCT QB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO 58 48 .547 - 31-21 27-27 523 515 Lost 6 3-7 55 52 .514 3.5 27-27 28-25 528 549 Lost 4 4-6 51 56 .477 7.5 30-26 21-30 484 505 Won 2 5-5 51 57 .472 8 32-23 19-34 495 573 Lost 1 5-5 44 62 .415 14 22-29 22-33 443 543 Won 1 7-3 40 68 .370 19 27-28 13-40 487 553 Lost 2 5-5 WEST W L PCT QB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO 55 52 .514 - 25-30 30-22 488 485 Lost 3 5-5 54 •52 .509 .5 26-26 28-26 531 533 Lost 1 5-5 52 55 .486 3 31-24 21-31 539 513 Won 5 5-5 52 55 .486 3 28-26 24-29 495 476 Won 1 6-4 52 56 .481 3.5 30-26 22-30 504 510 Won 1 1-9 Orleans coach Jim Mora, was different. He didn’t allow water or ice on the field dur ing practices. The son is more forgiving - to a point. Team trainer Ron Medlin watches every player during practice, making sure they drink plenty of fluids. The team also weighs the players before and aftere to make sure they aren’t losing too much fluid during the work outs. Mora also said when the heat index gets past 100 degrees, he often allows play ers to remove their shoulder pads. But that’s it. He won’t cut a practice short no mat ter how hot it gets. “I’d try not to because I’d like to get the work in,” he said. “I’d certainly adjust the attire. These guys are all tough and they’re in good shape. They’ve worked through the off-season to get themselves in shape. When a guy goes down because of the heat - (Tuesday) we had a couple guys between practices that were severely dehydrated that where hurt ing - I don’t look at those guys and go, OThey’re not in good shape or they’re not very tough.’ I think that’s Andruw Jones. Since the All-Star Break, he’s been particularly ablaze. Entering Wednesday’s game here against the Pirates, Laßoche had nine home runs in the 16 games since the break, including three multi-homer games. More diligence when it comes to a workout regimen has helped, but Laßoche said he believes his off-sea son routine of vigorous daily chores has been the key to his power stroke. “I’ve got to give a lot of it to just working at the ranch,” Laßoche said. “I mean, there aren’t many days when we’re not out side putting up fence or just doing something.” His slow, natural swing has helped, too. Teammates such as Ryan Langerhans have marveled at his swing since the minors. “I knew he was capable of doing this, because I saw it every year in the minor leagues,” Langerhans said. DIFFERENCE OF A YEAR: There’s no rhyme or reason, but Laßoche has hit far better on the road this year after struggling mightily away the wrong mindset to take in that case. These guys are tough and they are in great shape.” The players were more concerned with the rugged nature of Mora’s practice sessions than the heat. After closing out the 2005 season with six losses in the final eight games, Mora decided this year’s preseason will focus as much on intensity as technique. The players, so far, have embraced the diffi cult workouts - the afternoon workout on Tuesday lasted three hours; Wednesday’s session also lasted three hours - although it led to several on-field fights. “It is definitely tougher than it was last year or the year before,” said quarter back Michael Vick. “All the guys respect that. You have to respect what coach’s mindset is. If camp is going to be tough - and he thinks it should be tough - then so be it. We have to deal with it and I think we’ll respect him in the end and appreciate what comes out of this tough train ing camp. You don’t hear any of the guys crying or pouting about it.” from Turner Field last sea son. Entering Wednesday, 17 of his 22 home runs and 46 of his 61 RBIs had come on the road. He was batting .292 away from Turner Field, .247 at home. “I can’t explain it,” he said Tuesday night. Last season, Laßoche hit .307 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs at home. On the road, he batted .215 with nine homers and 35 RBIs. Go figure. PLAYING WITH 24: The Braves were a man short Wednesday, and they might be again this afternoon, since reliever Ken Ray left the team to attend his grandmother’s funeral. Manager Bobby Cox said he thought Ray might be bJck today, but he wasn’t sure if Ray knew this after noon’s game will begin at 12:35, one of the earliest start times of the year. Atlanta should have a pretty rested bullpen to handle Ray’s absence. After an off day, only setup man Danys Baez and closer Bob Wickman were needed for Tuesday’s two-run victory. SPORTS Wednesday's Sports Transactions By The Associated Press ■ MLB-Suspended Marcos Chavez and Jonathan Gonzalez of the St Louis Cardinals’ organization 50 games tor violations of Major League Baseball's Venezuelan Summer League drug prevention and treatment program. B KANSAS CITY ROYALS-Activated C Paul Bako from the DL. Optioned C Paul Phillips to Omaha of the PCL. ■ MINNESOTA TWINS-Recalled RHP Boot Bonser from Rochester of the IL. Activated RHP Matt Guerrier from the 15-day DL. ■ TEXAS RANGERS-Optioned RHP Scott Feldman to Oklahoma of the PCL. ■ HOUSTON ASTROS-Activated OF Orlando Palmeiro from the bereavment list. Optioned INF Eric Bruntlett to Round Rock of the PCL. ■ NEW YORK METS-Recalled LHP Royce Ring from Norfolk of the IL. Optioned RHP Mike Pelfrey to Norfolk. ■ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES- Re-signed F Justin Reed. ■ SAN ANTONIO SPURS-Signed C Francisco Elson. ■ ARIZONA CARDINALS-Released TE Ben Hall. ■ DALLAS COWBOYS-Signed S Roy Williams to a four-year con tract extension through the 2010 season. ■ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS-Traded RB Michael Bennett to Kansas City for an undisclosed 2007 draft pick. CAMP From page 1B . going to be a four-day event as the Hornets must, and will, return to Perry for the start of the new school year. “We try to have at least two full practices a day plus a kicking-game practice, so it’s actually three practices in a day,” said Jones about the schedule at camp. “It’s just a chance to gef away. Usually there’s a lot going on at the school at' this time, so it’s best to get away so the players and the coaches don’t get dis tracted.” The two full camp prac tices will start early in the morning and a couple of hours before sunset. In between is the part of the CLUB From page 1B Dave McKim was 0-1, Ayer 0-3 and Alma McKim 0-2. Dave’s ringer per centage was 42.5. Ayer’s was 12.5 and Alma’s was 11.67. The group is slated to contend again Monday. CLEATS /were you KIPPIMG, PEE? Y •5 [ CAM YOU FEALLY EAT f YoJ GUY^V CAFE AOW MAMY AOT L POGG I CAM EAT? / *? * I *\ V —***^ Play Better Golf with JACK NICKLAUS Wednesday’s Ma|or League Linescores By The Associated Press Texas 011 500102-1014 0 Minnesota 000 001 010- 212 3 KWells, Littleton (6), Mahay (7), Bauer (8). Otsuka (9) and Laird Bonser, Guerrier (5), Eyre (8) and Redmond. W-KWells 1-, 0. L-Bonser 2-3. HRs-Texas, Teixeira 2 (17). Seattle 200 000 000-2 61 Baltimore 000 001 000-1 61 FHernandez, Lowe (6), Sherrill (8) Putz (8) and RRivera Bedard, Manon (6), Britton (7), Williams (9) Byrdak (9), Ray (9) and RaHernandez. W-FHernandez 10-9. L-Bedard 12-7. Sv-Putz (23). HR-Seattle, Beltre (10). Oakland 100 010 010-3 5 0 Los Angeles 000110 000-2 0 3 Loaiza, Halsey (6), Calero (6), Street (8) and Kendall KEscobar, Shields (8), Donneily (9) and JMolina. W-Calero 3-1. L-Shields 6-7. Sv-Street (23). Toronto 000 000 002-2 6 0 New York 001 006 OOx-714 0 Lilly, McGowan (6), Downs (6) and BMolina, JPhillips (8) Wang, Villone (9) and Posada. W-Wang 13-4. L—Lilly 9-10. HRs-Toronto, Glaus (28). New York, Jeter (8), Posada (13). Detroit 200 000 042-8 10 0 Tampa Bay 100011 000-0 60 Miner, JWalker (6), Grijli (6), Rodney (8), TJones (9) and VWilson Corcoran, Camp (6), Switzer (7), RLugo (8), Harville (9) and Navarro. W-Grilli 1-1. L-Switzer 2-2. HRs-Detroit, DYoung (5), Monroe (16). Cleveland 300 000 020-510 0 Boston 000 022 002-6 8 0 day at this time of year when heat indexes can shoot well above 100 degrees. Even with this week’s practices, the Hornets have hit the field at 6:30 p.m. for a two-hour session. “It’s scary,” said Jones about the dangers of prac ticing in extreme heat that have resulted in some play er deaths over the past sev eral years. “There’s such a thin line. You’ve got to get in shape. You try to keep water in them and keep an eye on them.” Jones said he even moni tors the pace in which his coaches has the Hornets running during practice. He said there wouldn’t be much at the beginning, but they do tiy to increase it each day. On a more upbeat note, Jones talked about 2006 being the best summer AMATEUR From page 1B Gary Kiphart, after trailing first round lead er Dave Smith by three shots, shot a 1-under par 71 in the final round Sunday to win by three shots over Smith. AYEAM. 3UT I YOUf? MOM V WAG FUPE OF ME TO l ''4 I'LL JUGT TAKE AG 1 (c) 2006 Universal Press Syndicate* you COULP PROBABLY PIPM'T YOU WAT CM TAE FOUFTA f "CLAGGIC MOT-POG EATIMS" OM E - JULY COMFETITIOM OM EGPM? JLq CLAGGIC, LATE AT -4 !/ /ye AA, TAE OLP GTUFF- H / ( BACK wAEM FAT (c) 2006 Bill Hinds. PisT by Universal Press Syndicate THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Sowers, Sikrski (6), RBetancourt (7) Carmona (9) and Shoppach Lester, Delcarmen (7), Timlin (8) Papelbon (9) and Mirabelli. W-Papelbon 3-1. L-Carmona 1 -6. HRs-Cleveland, Hafner (30), VMartinez (12). Boston, MRamirez (30), WPena (6). Chicago 000 200 010-6 6 2 Kansas City 010 020 22x-7131 FGarcia, McCarthy (7), Cotts (8) and Pierzynski LHudson, Gobble (8) JoPeralta (8), Nelson (9) and Buck. W-LHudson 4-3. L-FGarcia 10-7. HRs-Chicago, Dye (30), Uribe (14). Kansas City, Teahen (13). Washington 100 000 203-011 0 San Francisco 101 400 20x-8 131 Armas Jr., SRivera (4), Corcoran (6) RWagner (7), Hughes (8) and Schneider Schmidt, Kline (7) Hennessey (7), Benitez (9) Stanton (9) and Alfonzo. W-Schmidt 8-7. L-Armas Jr. ' 7-7. Sv-Stanton (1). HRs- Washington, ASoriano 2 (34), NJohnson (16). San Francisco, Alou (12), Hillenbrand (1). Atlanta 000 010110-6 6 2 Pittsburgh 000 100 100-2 61 Hoßamirez, Yates (7), DBaez (8) Wickman (9) and Pratt Maholm, STorres (8), Marte (9) and Paulino. W-Yates 1-1. L STorres 3-5. Sv-Wickman (4). HR-Atlanta, Diaz (3). Los Angeles 004 010 000-0 71 Cincinnati 000 200 010-3 41 Penny, Dessens (7), Saito (8) and Martin Elßamirez, Standridge (5), Weathers (6), Coffey (8), Cormier (9) and Ross. W-Penny 11-5. L-Elßamirez 4-7. Sv-Saito (10). HRs-Cincinnati, Griffey Jr. (22), Hatteberg (10), Clayton (1). Westfield has had in terms of participation in off-sea son weight training. Since the second week of June, he had the weight room on campus open for 33 days. Considering the fact that several Hornet athletes par ticipate in multiple sports such as football and base ball, the coach said that somewhere between 15 to 20 football players showed up for 27 of those 33 days to lift. The other thing that’s looking good on the Westfield campus is the new grass laid out at the stadium. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Jones. The 2006 season begins on Sept. 1. There is'the possibility of a scrimmage on Aug. 24, though details were not finalized as of Wednesday. The Original Solunar Tables® By Mrs. Richard Alden Knight Release week of Jul/ 30- Aug. 6,2006 AM PM Date Day Minor Major Minor Major 7/30 Su 10:05 3:55 10:30 4:15 7/31 M 10:45 4:35 11:10 4:55 8/1 T 11:30 5:20 11:55 5:40 8/2 W 0 6:05 12:15 6:30 8/3 Th 12:50 6:50 1:00 7:15 8/4 F 1:30 7:35 1:50 8:05 8/5 S 2:20 8:30 2:45 8:55 8/6 Su 3:10 9:25 3:35 9:55 O 2006 by King Feature* Syndicate. 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