The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 51

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS C5 Beantown breakup? It was a volatile mix to begin with, opinionated and outspoken Bobby Valentine managing a club coming off ahighly disappointing and turbulent 2011season in a city with a rabid media and fan base. And now it has blown up in the face of the Boston Red Sox with the gory details of a July 26 player mutiny exposed by Yahoo Sports. Several players, including Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia reportedly blasted Valentine to owners John Henry and Larry Lucchino and lobbied for a change, the last straw coming when Valentine left popular left-handed starter Jon Lester in togive up 11 runs in a July 22 loss to Toronto. Ownership, perhaps wary of a perception the inmates are running the asylum, continues to support Valentine despite the underachieving and expensive payroll) 59-62 record and 12 1 2 -game division deficit. General Manager Ben Cherington even gave Valentine a vote of confidence, saying that is our manager, and not considering anyone Of course, that and $2.85 will get you a Venti Nonfat Misto at Starbucks.

These things rarely work out for the manager, as New York Mets field boss Terry Collins can attest. When news leaked that the Angels were going to extend contract in June1999, about 10 players complained to then-GM Bill Bavasi about abrasive style. Bavasi went ahead with a two-year extension. By the end of that tension-filled season, Collins and Bavasi were gone, which is what Valentine will probably be come October. Hold your applause San Francisco outfielder Melky Cabrera was praised by many Wednesday for taking full responsibility for his 50-game suspension, for not blaming his positive test on a tainted supplement or mishandling by a FedEx driver.

But it should also be noted that on July 27, when confronted by CSNBay- Area.com reporter Andrew Baggarly about the possibility of a failed test, Cabrera vehemently denied the rumor, even suggesting that Dodgers fans may have made it up as a distraction. Aleague official confirmed to Baggarly on Wednesday that Cabrera at the time he had failed a drug test and was going through the appeals process. Baggarly wrote a public apology to Cabrera on July 28 for to the rumor by writing about it and knocking it down. There has been no such apology from Cabrera to Baggarly. Sticking to his guns Despite major league-best 74-46 record, GM Mike Rizzo will not waver from his decision to shut down Stephen Strasburg in his first year back from major elbow surgery, when the right- hander reaches a certain threshold, believed to be in the 160-inning range.

know it may stain my reputation or my career no way it can ever be proved if I was Rizzo told the Washington Post. hardheaded. The decision was made five months ago because it was the best decision for Stephen and the Nationals. And nothing is going to change DiGiovanna DOWN THE LINE Jared Wickerham Getty Images BOBBY VALENTINE blended well with some Red Sox players. Through Friday BATTING AVERAGE Trout, Cabrera, Mauer, Jeter, New Revere, Ortiz, Konerko, Fielder, Cano, New Rios, HOME RUNS Dunn, Hamilton, Willingham, Cabrera, Granderson, New Encarnacion, Trumbo, Bautista, Pujols, Butler, Kansas Reddick, Cano, New RUNS BATTED IN Cabrera, Hamilton, Willingham, Fielder, Pujols, Gonzalez, Encarnacion, Dunn, STOLEN BASES Trout, Davis, Revere, Crisp, Kipnis, Escobar, Kansas SLUGGING PERCENTAGE Ortiz, Trout, Hamilton, Cabrera, Encarnacion, Toronto.568 Trumbo, Willingham, TRIPLES Weeks, Jackson, Trout, Suzuki, New Rios, Andrus, Reddick, Escobar, Kansas Dyson, Kansas Zobrist, Tampa Berry, De Aza, ERA Price, Tampa Verlander, Hernandez, Sale, Weaver, Diamond, Minnesota.2.97 Peavy, Kuroda, New Harrison, W-L Price, Tampa Weaver, Sale, Harrison, Vargas, SAVES Rodney, Tampa J.

Johnson, C. Perez, Soriano, New Aceves, INNINGS PITCHED Verlander, Hernandez, Vargas, Shields, Tampa Bay.167.1 Peavy, Price, Tampa STRIKEOUTS Verlander, Scherzer, Hernandez, Darvish, Shields, Tampa ON-BASE PERCENTAGE Mauer, Ortiz, Fielder, Trout, Jackson, Cabrera, RUNS Trout, Kinsler, Granderson, New Cabrera, Hamilton, Jackson, Cano, New Encarnacion, De Aza, Jones, HITS Jeter, New Cabrera, Gonzalez, Cano, New Jones, Rios, Gordon, Kansas Andrus, Fielder, Beltre, BASES ON BALLS Dunn, Zobrist, Tampa Santana, Pena, Tampa Mauer, Willingham, Encarnacion, Granderson, New Fielder, DOUBLES Gordon, Kansas Gonzalez, Choo, Brantley, Pujols, Kinsler, Cano, New Cabrera, Span, AL LEADERS Through Friday BATTING AVERAGE McCutchen, Pittsburgh.360 Cabrera, San Votto, Posey, San Wright, New Gonzalez, Molina, St. Holliday, St. Altuve, Freese, St. HOME RUNS Braun, Beltran, St.

Bruce, Kubel, McCutchen, Stanton, Holliday, St. Hart, Ludwick, LaRoche, RUNS BATTED IN Beltran, St. Holliday, St. Braun, Gonzalez, Kubel, LaRoche, Posey, San Freeman, STOLEN BASES Bourn, Bonifacio, Gordon, Pierre, Reyes, Stubbs, Victorino, SLUGGING PERCENTAGE McCutchen, Pittsburgh.605 Votto, Braun, Posey, San Gonzalez, Kubel, Goldschmidt, Beltran, St. ON-BASE PERCENTAGE Votto, McCutchen, Wright, New Posey, San Montero, Cabrera, San Francisco.390 RUNS McCutchen, Cabrera, San Bourn, Gonzalez, Upton, Braun, Holliday, St.

HITS Cabrera, San Francisco159 McCutchen, Bourn, Gonzalez, Wright, New Prado, Holliday, St. Altuve, Reyes, BASES ON BALLS Uggla, Wright, New Votto, Headley, San Weeks, Montero, Holliday, St. Posey, San A. Ellis, DOUBLES Ramirez, Votto, Goldschmidt, Wright, New Murphy, New Alonso, San Cuddyer, Bruce, Prado, Ethier, Hill, Altuve, Cozart, Espinosa, TRIPLES Fowler, Cabrera, San Bourn, Reyes, Castro, Pagan, San Colvin, DeJesus, Venable, San ERA Zimmermann, Cueto, Lohse, St. Vogelsong, San Dickey, New Cain, San Kershaw, W-L Burnett, Dickey, New Cueto, G.

Gonzalez, Strasburg, Washington.14-5 Lynn, St. SAVES Hanrahan, Kimbrel, Chapman, Motte, St. Clippard, Papelbon, INNINGS PITCHED Kershaw, Dickey, New Richard, San Cain, San Hamels, Philadelphia.163.2 Bumgarner, San Fran.163.2 STRIKEOUTS Dickey, New Strasburg, Kershaw, G. Gonzalez, Hamels, Cain, San Gallardo, Bumgarner, San Lincecum, San NL LEADERS INSIDE BASEBALL The Detroit Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder have a chance to be the first teammates to start all 162 games since the Texas Mark Teixeira and Michael Young in 2006, and Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer have a chance to be the first teammates to strike out 240-plus since Kerry Wood and Mark Prior with the 2003 Chicago Felix perfect game was the third no- hitter in four months at Safeco Field; Wrigley Field had one in 40 odd fact: The Tampa Bay Rays have been on the wrong end of three perfect games in the last four years by Mark Buehrle in and Dallas Braden in before Hernandez. Maybe why Joe Maddon went over the top trying to breakHer- Maddon was ejected forargu- ing balls and strikesand said he felt he had to do something about the size of umpire Rob strike zone.

Maddon says he was trying to help his team win but admitted he did not feel it necessary to extend any courtesies to the Rangers were truly bold, trade Michael Young to the Cubs for Alfonso Soriano Young has lost the ability to drive the ball, and his playing time will be an ongoing issue for Manager Ron Washington The Atlanta Braves are going with a six-man rotation the next two times through, and Manager Fredi Gonzalez says performance will determine who moves to the bullpen. Kris Medlen is the likely man out, but pitched very well as a replacement for Tommy Hanson Rogers WHISPERS Cabrera Fielder CL CITY W-L COMMENT AAA Salt Lake65-613B Luis Jimenez (.318, 14 HR, 35 2B, 72 RBIs) in position for callup. AA Arkansas 54-69 CAlberto Rosario taken away by ambulance after home-plate collision. A Inland Empire58-651B C.J. Cron (23 HR, 115 RBIs) showing big power.

A Cedar Rapids 48-75 Top June pick R.J. Alvarez (0-2, 4.91 ERA in 17 games) off to so-so start. ANGELS MINOR LEAGUE REPORT CL CITY W-L COMMENT AAA Albuquerque72-55LF Jerry Sands still hot with 24 homers, 14 doubles, 94 RBIs. AA Chattanooga 64-58 Beat Jacksonville, 6-3, Friday on Nick walk-off three-run homer. A Rancho Cucamonga62-61Yasiel Puig had three hits in 7-2 win over Lake Elsinore on Friday.

A Great Lakes 57-66 Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter visited players and staff. DODGERS MINOR LEAGUE REPORT Most Valuable Player AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYERTEAMSTATISTICS Miguel Cabrera Tigers.327, 30 HRs, 103 RBIs, .388 OBP, .585 SLG Josh Hamilton Rangers.293, 32 HRs, 101 RBIs, .599 SLG Mike Trout Angels.340, 22 HRs, 66 OBP, 38 SBs, 93 runs NATIONAL LEAGUE Ryan Braun Brewers.302, 31 HRs, 79 RBIs, .380 OBP, .582 SLG, 76 runs Matt Holliday Cardinals.309, 23 HRs, 81 RBIs, .389 OBP, .534 SLG, 75 runs Andrew McCutchen Pirates.359, 24 HRs, 72 RBIs, .423 OBP, .606 SLG, 84 runs Cy Young AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYERTEAMSTATISTICS David Price Rays16-4, 2.39 ERA, 159 1.10 WHIP, .221 BAA Justin Verlander Tigers12-7, 2.46 ERA, 174 0.99 WHIP, .207 BAA Felix Hernandez Mariners11-5, 2.60 ERA, 174 1.044 WHIP, .220 BAA NATIONAL LEAGUE Johnny Cueto Reds15-6, 2.45 ERA, 127 1.16 WHIP, .250 BAA R.A. Dickey Mets15-4, 2.89 ERA, 175 1.04 WHIP, .225 BAA Clayton KershawDodgers11-6, 2.90 ERA, 165 1.01 WHIP, .213 BAA Rookie of the Year AMERICAN LEAGUE Wei-Yin Chen Orioles11-7, 3.70 ERA, 118 1.25 WHIP, .244 BAA Yoenis Cespedes Athletics.301, 15 HRs, 57 RBIs, .363 OBP, .506 SLG Mike Trout AngelsExpected to be unanimous choice. NATIONAL LEAGUE Norichika Aoki Brewers.284, 6 HRs, 29 RBIs, .348 OBP, .410 SLG Lucas Harrell Astros10-8, 3.81 ERA, 103 1.33 WHIP, .253 BAA Wade Miley D-Backs12-8, 3.02 ERA, 99 1.12 WHIP, .281 BAA Manager of the Year AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYERTEAMCOMMENT Joe Maddon RaysReality show: Home Makeover, Bullpen Edition. Buck Showalter OriolesTeam picked last in AL East is in playoff contention.

Robin Ventura White SoxRookie is tonic for post-Ozzie stress disorder. NATIONAL LEAGUE Dusty Baker RedsTough to get talented club to meet expectations. Clint Hurdle PiratesClub poised for first winning season since 1992. Davey Johnson NationalsDeft handling of Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg. AROUND THE HORN Times staff writer Mike leading postseason awards candidates (in alphabetical order; statistics through Thursday): Winning the most-valuable-player and rookie-of-the-year awards this season would be amonumental achievement for Mike Trout, a featonly Fred Lynn (1975) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001)have accomplished.

If the Angels outfielder pulls off the rare double, though, it could raise a potentially vexing question: What does he do for an encore? do what I did as a rookie, playing in Boston on such a big stage, everybody thought, he going to do next year, run for Lynn, 60, recalled of 1975, a year he hit 21home runs, 47 doubles and 105 runs batted in to help the Red Sox reach the World Series. had high expectations of myself, but what expectations other people put on you, those can be difficult to live up The smooth-swinging, acrobatic-fielding Lynn had afine 16-year career, hitting .283 with 306 homers and makingnine All-Star teams and winning theGold Glove Award four times. But the former USC star and Angels center fielder from 1981to had only one other MVP-caliber season, when he hit .333 with 39 homers and 122 RBIs for Bostonin 1979 and placed fourth in American League voting. A series of injuries, many from crashing into walls, limited Lynn to an average of 123 games per season. know what happened after 1975, whether they pitched him tougher or said TBS broadcaster Dick Stockton, a rookie play-by-play man in Boston in 1975.

I think it puts the on your head when you win the MVP as a The problem with winning the MVP so soon is it creates an expectation to win it multiple times or finish among top vote- getters every season. Trout, who entered Saturday with an AL-leading .339 battingaverage, 93 runs and 38 stolen bases to go with 22 homers and 66 RBIs, has the tools as well as a level-headedness to be a star for years. (He had three hits, including a homer, and three RBIs in his first three at-bats Sat- urday). But if he hits .310 with 25 homers and 90 RBIs next year and crack the top five in MVP voting, would he be considered a failure? an age-old adage that you want to hit said Lynn, who shares a spacious home in the hills above the La Costa Resort Spa with his wife, Natalie. want to hit .299, because then they expect you to hit Lynn hopes to meet Trout, 21, this week in Fenway Park, where the Angels begin a three-game series Tuesday.

Lynn, who will be hosting guests in a luxury suite, has seen highlights of Trout but does not receive Angels telecasts at home and has not seen him on national TV. looking forward to seeing him play heard alot about his speed and Lynn said. like to talk to him to see what thinking. so different from when I played because under the microscope already. remember ever, during the 1975 season, anyone saying, you could be rookie of the year or It even a blip on my radar screen.

It was all about the team. This was the Red Sox. We won anything Lynn was 23 when he won the center-field job in 1975, and he teamed with fellow rookie Jim Rice and veteran Carl Yastrzemski in the middle of a potent lineup. He had a monster first half, hitting .342 with 16 homers and 71RBIs, the highlight a June 18 game in Tiger Stadium.He went five for six with three homers and 10 RBIs, his first homer hitting the roof and his last, in the ninth inning, reaching the upper deck. won, 15-1, and Darrell Johnson took most of the veterans Lynn said, referring to the Boston manager.

were in a bar across the street watching on TV when I hit my last homer. I came into the locker room and there was no one there, just a couple of beat writers and me. Those days are The Red Sox pulled away from the Yankees in August, won the AL East and swept Oakland in the AL championship series. Next was the World Series against Cincinnati and a Game 6 many consider the greatest game ever played. Lynn hit a three-run homer in the first inning, he was on second when Bernie Carbo hit his pinch-hit, game-tying three-run homer in the eighth and in the on-deck circle when Carlton Fisk hit his famous 12th- inning homer off left-field foul pole.

had a ringside seat for some incredible Lynn said. But the Reds won Game 7, preventing Lynn from savoring his awards. His other two postseason forays ended in heartbreak, the loss to the Yankees in 1978 and the 1982 ALCS loss to Milwaukee. still wake up in the middle of the night thinking about the 1975 World Series, the 1978 playoff game and Lynn said. 60 years old, out of the game for 20 years, and those things still haunt me.

When you win a ring, I care if in the Hall of Fame, it just feel mike.digiovanna@latimes.com Fred cautionary tale Mike DiGiovanna Los Angeles Times FRED LYNN his home in Carlsbad, holds his 1975 MVP and rookie-of-the- year awards. The nine-time All-Star had only one MVP-caliber season after that. He is one of only two to be chosen MVP and rookie of the year in the same season. Mike Trout, listen up. MIKE DIGIOVANNA ON BASEBALL.