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2B ♦ FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2006 STANDINGS, MORE CURTAIN CALL American League EAST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO NY Yankees 70 47 .598 - 39-22 31-25 644 543 Lostl 5-5 Boston 69 50 .580 2 39-19 30-31 658 595 Won 1 4-6 Toronto 64 56 .533 7.5 38-24 26-32 620 577 Lost 1 7-3 Baltimore 52 68 .433 19.5 30-31 22-37 575 676 Won 1 3-7 Tampa Bay 48 72 .400 23.5 30-27 18-45 521 638 Won 1 3-7 CENTRAL W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LIO Detroit 78 42 .650 - 37-19 41-23 614 475 Lostl 4-6 Chicago Sox 71 48 .597 6.5 40-23 31-25 676 575 Lost 2 6-4 Minnesota 70 49 .588 7.5 42-18 28-31 602 531 Won 3 6-4 Cleveland 53 66 .445 24.5 32-30 21-36 647 595 Lost 2 6-4 Kansas City 43 78 .355 35.5 26-33 17-45 550 730 Won 2 5-5 WEST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LIO Oakland 68 52 .567 - 36-26 32-26 545 527 Won 6 9-1 LA Angels 62 59 .512 6.5 27-28 35-31 587 576 Lostl 5-5 Texas 62 59 .512 6.5 31-31 31-28 644 601 Won 1 6-4 Seattle 56 64 .467 12 31-29 25-35 553 576 Lost 7 3-7 National League EAST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO NYMets 71 48 .597 - 35-22 36-26 621 541 Lost 3 6-4 Philadelphia 59 60 .496 12 31-33 28-27 628 614 Won 3 6-4 Florida 56 64 .467 15.5 27-28 29-36 559 575 Won 1 5-5 Atlanta 55 64 .462 16 25-31 30-33 616 614 Lost 2 5-5 Washington 53 67 .442 18.5 30-29 23-38 551 615 Won 2 4-6 CENTRAL W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO St Louis 63 56 .529 - 34-24 29-32 577 575 Lost 1 4-6 Cincinnati 62 58 .517 1.5 31-31 31-27 593 622 Won 1 5-5 Milwaukee 57 63 .475 6.5 34-24 23-39 546 625 Won 2 5-5 Houston 57 63 .475 6.5 34-31 23-32 543 555 Lost 5 4-6 Chicago Cubs 52 68 .433 11.5 25-31 27-37 506 616 Won 4 6-4 Pittsburgh 46 75 .380 18 32-30 14-45 532 606 Lost 2 4-6 WEST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO LA Dodgers 64 57 .529 - 39-26 25-31 603 554 Lost 1 8-2 Arizona 61 59 .508 2.5 30-31 31-28 598 597 Won 2 6-4 San Diego 60 60 .500 3.5 28-34 32-26 534 532 Lost 3 3-7 Colorado 58 62 .483 5.5 31-29 27-33 549 529 Lost 2 4-6 San Francisco 57 63 .475 6.5 31-28 26-35 543 550 Won 3 5-5 Braves pedaling hut not going anywhere WASHINGTON, D.C. - Matt Diaz was on a station ary bicycle Wednesday night, trying to get loose for a game against Washington. The harder » he pedaled, the more he sweated. And NOTEBOOK no matter Don Coble how hard he Morris News tried, the bike Service never moved. Just like the Braves. Atlanta’s baseball team has been riding a stationary bike. The harder they try, the longer they stay in the same place. The Braves entered Wednesday night’s game X — „TT>l -fff B '“’ /■ >il T 1 I I /aHP tAE p Play Better Golf with JACK NICKLAUS „ | | | Te^nSlH THE &ALL. t-u MONCRIEF From page iB this about Kahne. But what you might not know is since he’s been in the Cup Series he’s been living off somebody else’s success. When he entered in 2004 he finished the season 13th. That’s when he had all those second place finishes (five). But, whose cars do you sup pose he inherited? None other than former NASCAR champion Bill Elliott’s. If you think those cars (Intrepids) weren’t hooked up, take note of this. When Elliiott got out of them at the end of 2003, he had one win, eight top-five finishes and finished ninth in the pre-Chase points stand ings. So, Kahne, the rookie, as one of 10 teams within six games of the National League wild card lead. Wild card-leading Cincinnati is just three games over .500, so it won’t take much for any one of the teams to take con trol with a winning streak. For Atlanta, that’s been more than difficult. The Braves haven’t won more than two consecutive games since July 19. And since the All-Star break, Atlanta is 15-14. YOUTH MOVEMENT: If the Braves are going to make a run at the wild card in the National League, they will have to get a lot of help from some younger players. Chuck James, Monday night’s winning pitcher, is didn’t exactly jump into a “green” automobile. The year following, how ever, they began to intro duce new cars into his cor ral - I know because I’m on the Evernham mailing list and believe me, I’ve studied this hard. What was the end result? He finished 23rd. He had a win but his top-five fin ishes went from 13 to five. Not exactly champion cali Handgun Instructions Rudy Adams (478) 244 -0190 www.ea9leseyeshooting.lom in his second tour of duty for the big league club. He’s spent some time working in Class AAA at Richmond, Va., so every pitch is not only important for the team, but for his own future. It’s the kind of added pressure, he said, that can make or break a career. “I definitely think you have to make sure you don’t try to do too much,” James said. “At the same time, you want to leave a good impres sion. You not only are trying to win games, but you’re trying to win a job for next year. That’s the way a lot of the younger guys look at it. We’re playing to go as far as we can. There’s a lot on the line.” bre if you ask me. But hey, Kahne, next to Dale Earnhardt Jr., is prob ably the most marketable driver in NASCAR. Girls love him it’s said (and probably a few guys with a crush in my editorial opinion). I wish him the best. But, unlike him, I also won’t ignore the men who helped make him the driver he is today. NRA Safety & Marksmanship Classes Defensive Pistol Tactics Class Beginner & Advanced 00036372 SPORTS Wednesday's Sports Transactions By The Associated Press ■ BOSTON RED SOX-Sent LHP Lenny DiNardo to the Gulf Coast Legaue for a rehab assignment. Sent C Corky Miller outright to Pawtucket of the IL. ■ CLEVELAND INDIANS-Assigned INF Ramon Vazquez to Buffalo if the IL after he cleared outright waivers. ■ DETROIT TIGERS-Placed IF Placido Polanco on 15 day DL. Recalled IF Ramon Santiago from Toledo of the IL ■ KANSAS CITY ROYALS-Signed 2B Mark Grudzielanek to a one year contract extension. ■ NEW YORK YANKEES-Activated RHP Octavio Dotel from the 15-day DL. Optioned RHP Jose Veras to Columbus of the IL. ■ SEATTLE MARINERS-Purchased the contract of LHP Eric O’Flaherty from Tacoma of the PCL. Optioned INF Greg Dobbs to Tacoma. ■ TEXAS RANGERS-Placed OF Brad Wilkerson on the 15-day DL. Recalled OF Freddy Guzman from the PCL, ■ TORONTO BLUE JAYS-Traded LHP Scott Schoeneweis to Cincinnati for a player to be named. ■ CHICAGO CUBS-Purchased the contract of LHP Ryan O’Malley from lowa of the PCL. Placed LHP Scott Eyre on the 15-day DL ■ CINCINNATI REDS-Acquired LHP Scott Schoeneweis from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a player to be named or cash. Falcons’ wide receivers gaining Vick’s confidence By Adam Van Brimmer Morris News Service FLOWERY BRANCH - The Falcons’ Michael Vick has trust issues, particularly with wide receivers. The logical explanation is the Falcons’ quarterback knows he can offset short comings elsewhere. A porous offensive line would be no problem for the elusive Vick. And he could offset an inef fective running game with his own legs. But he can’t catch the ball as well as throw it, despite the Superman logo tattooed on his hand. And until a wide receiver proves sure-handed, he can’t build chemistry with Vick. “You have to go out and perform in practice; if you catch the ball in practice he’ll throw it to you in the game,” second-year wide receiver Roddy White said. “If you go out there and work hard and catch balls, he gets secure about you.” White and Michael Jenkins are Atlanta’s two starting wide receivers. Their bond with Vick is vital to the I P3AJ3MJ siiittij ppo.vi su| aieoipuAs somjeaj Hiirjj Aq 9qqzc» j CLUB From page iB is 11th as is Thomas Carter at 2-4 and Suzanne Miller, who posted a 2-1 record Monday. Poole has a ringer percent age of 28.33, Carter 16.67 and Miller 30.83. Ronnie Miller is 14th at 1.5-1.5, Dave McKim 15th, 1-3, Marcus Waters 16th 0.5-2.5 and finally, Gordon Vandergrief is 0-3 and 17th. Their ringer percentages are 27.50, 40.63, 23.33 and 0.83, respectively. DONATE TO GOODWILL. , ♦ 2209 Moody Road m ♦ 115 Margie Drive M ♦ 1355 Sam Nunn Blvd m ♦ Galleria Mail - 2922 Watson Blvd www.goodwillworks.org i Building lives, families, and communities Wednesday's Ma|or League Line scores Detroit 001 003 000-4110 Boston 001 02210x-6 8 0 Verlander, Grilli (7) and IRodriguez DWells, Hansen (7), Papelbon (9) and JvLopez. W-DWells 2-2. L-Verlander 14-6. Sv-Papelbon (32). HRs-Detroit, MOrdonez (17), Clevten (3). Boston, DOrtiz (42). Toronto 000 030 000-3 8 0 Tampa Bay 400 004 OQx-813 2 Lilly, Frasor (6), Tallet (6), McGowan (7) and BMolina Shields, Camp (7), Switzer (7), Orvella (8), McClung (9) and Navarro. W-Shields 5-6. L—Lilly 10-11. HRs-Toronto, BMolina (11). Tampa Bay, Hollins (14). Baltimore 111 000 000-3 81 New York 000 011 000-27 0 Loewen, Williams (6), Byrdak (7) Hawkins (7), Ray (8) and RaHemandez Lidle, Villone (7), Dotel (8), Proctor (8), Farnsworth (9) and Fasano, Posada (7). W-Loewen 3-4. L-Lidle 1-2. Sv-Ray (28). HR-Baltimore, Markakis (6). Kansas City 006100 030-10151 Chicago 000 000004-4 8 0 Bernero, Gobble (7), Sisco (8) Dohmann (9) and Bako Contreras, Cotts (7), MacDougal (8), McCarthy (9) and Pierzynski. W-Bernero 1-0. L-Contreras 11-5. HRs-Kansas City, Grudzielanek (5), Sheaiy (2). Chicago, Cintron (4). Los Angeles 000 002 010-3 7 2 Texas 108 000 00x-9 8 0 Saunders, Gregg (3), Donnelly (8) Romero (8) and JMolina Eaton, CJWilson (8), Feldman (9) Bauer (9) and Laird. W- Eaton 3-2. L-Saunders 4-1. HRs-Los Angeles, Izturis (4). Falcons’ success, particu larly with Brian Finneran, the team’s leading wideout in 2005, out for the season with a knee injury. Jenkins is earning Vick’s trust one catch at a time. The third-year wide receiv er fumbled his way through the opening days of training camp. Then Finneran went down, and Jenkins started catching everything. Vick said Finneran’s inju ry changed Jenkins’ and White’s outlook. Jenkins and White room together during training camp. Hours after Finneran went down, they sat alone in their dorm room talking. They chal lenged each other to become difference-makers. They showed it in prac tice. And Jenkins backed it up in last week’s preseason opener. He made two catches for 31 yards in limited action, a performance that belied a burgeoning relationship between Jenkins and Vick as well as back-up quarter back Matt Schaub. Jenkins’ second catch was a 21- yard touchdown grab from -Bible Study Classes- Mondays @ 6:oopm -Beginning 2nd Sunday in September -9:ooam Service Jay Westbrook, Pastor \ jjb THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Texas, Kinsler (9), Cruz (2). Cleveland 000 200 000-2 8 0 Minnesota 100108 06*-717 0 ClLee, FCabrera (6), Carmona (7) RBetancourt (8), ABrown (8) and VMartinez CSilva, Crain (6) DReyes (7), Neshek (8), Guerrier (9) and Mauer. W- Neshek 2-0. L-Carmona 1-8. HFT-Minnesota, Cuddyer (18). Seattle 000 000 000-0100 Oakland 030100 00*-4 81 Meche, Green (6), O’flaherty (7) JMateo (7) and Johjima Haren, Duchscherer (7) JKennedy (8), Street (9) and Kendall. W-Haren 11-9. L- Meche 9-8. HR-Oakland, Ellis (8) Chicago 000 001 000-140 Houston 000 000 000-0 51 O'malley, Howry (9) and Barrett Pettitte and Ausmus, Munson (8). W-O’malley 1-0. L-Pettitte 11-13. Sv-Howry (4). HR- Chicago, Barrett (14). Milwaukee 000 010 100 008 0-0 131 Plttstargh 001 001 000 000 8-2 70 (13 innings) Capuano, Helling (7), Capellan (8), Kolb (10), BShouse (11), Gonzalez (12), FCordero (13) and Rivera Duke, Capps (7), STorres (8), MGonzaiez (9), Grabow (10), Marte (12), Reames (13) and Paulino. W-Gonzalez 4-2. L-Marte 0-7. Sv-FCordero (8). Florida 401 205 030-15101 Los Angelas 200 200 000- 4 7 3 Johnson, Moehler (7), Pinto (8), Mitre (9) and Olivo, Treanor (8) Hendrickson, Sele (3), Carrara (5), Beimel (6), Tomko (9) and THall. W-Oohnson 11-6. L- Hendrickson 1-5. HRs-Florida, MiCabrera 2 (20), Helms (8). Schaub. “It’s important for the quarterbacks to know they can throw it up and we will go and make a play,” Jenkins said. “It builds confidence in the wide receivers, the quarterbacks and the whole offense.” Atlanta in still looking for a breakout year offen sively. This is the third season under coordinator Greg Knapp, who installed his own version of the West Coast offense when he came to the Falcons from the San Francisco 49ers in 2004. Atlanta has led the NFL in rushing the last two years but has finished outside the league’s top-10 in total offense because of a poor passing game. Many West Coast offense aficionados, including for mer 49ers quarterback Steve Young, say quarterbacks and teams need three years to truly learn the scheme and feel comfortable in it. Vick claims he has reached a point where he can “close (my) eyes and throw to a certain spot and know (my) guys are going to catch it.” kg fj/iru/ Sffieu Q&ame Hi 3 4 LAKE JOY RD. • PERRY non.^s7, w,