Angels' Palmer set for spot start against Athletics

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04/09/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Palmer came out of nowhere last season to bring an extra jolt to the Angels' pitching staff. Los Angeles will turn to him tonight to get the club through another bind when it hosts the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game series at Angel Stadium on the anniversary of pitcher Nick Adenhart's death.

With Scott Kazmir beginning the season on the disabled list due to a strained right hamstring, the 31-year-old Palmer will slide into the rotation this evening. Palmer has already pitched once this season, as he followed starter Joe Saunders on Tuesday with two scoreless innings of relief in a 5-3 loss to the Twins.

Signed to a minor league contract in 2009 by the Angels and owner of just three big-league starts before the start of that season, Palmer went on to go 11-2 with a 3.93 earned run average in 40 games (13 starts) last year. He also became the first rookie over 30 years old in league history to win his first six decisions.

The right-handed Palmer has never started versus the Athletics, but has posted a 3.86 ERA in five relief outings against them without a decision.

Palmer takes the hill exactly one year after Adenhart lost his life in a car accident at the age of 22 that also claimed the lives of two other people. The accident happened just hours after he had thrown six scoreless innings of a 6-4 setback to Oakland.

"The shock ... I don't think you ever get over the shock," pitcher Jered Weaver told the Angels' Web site. "Any time you bring it up, it's there."

The Angels will try to snap a three-game slide that followed a season-opening win over the Twins on Monday. Los Angeles scored six runs in that victory, but managed just six more over the final three contests of the four-game set.

Minnesota blasted three home runs yesterday to hand LA a 10-1 setback. Maicer Izturis drove in the lone run for the Angels, who went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and are off to their worst start since going 0-4 to begin the 1992 season.

"Runners in scoring position was our Achilles' heel," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll get better, but tonight we just couldn't get that hit."

Joel Pineiro was unsuccessful in his return to the American League, giving up five hits and three runs over six-plus innings.

Oakland, meanwhile, has won three straight after it lost its first game of the season on Monday to Seattle. The Athletics claimed the series win on Thursday, posting a 6-2 victory in the four-game set's finale.

Daric Barton went 3-for-4 with a career-high four runs batted in, while Cliff Pennington and Ryan Sweeney also drove in runs. Brett Anderson pitched six- plus scoreless innings, yielding three hits while fanning four.

"It's still the first week of the season, so we shouldn't get too confident," Barton admitted. "We won three of four against a division rival, and that's always a good start."

After going 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA in six games this past spring, Gio Gonzalez was awarded the fifth spot in Oakland's rotation and he makes his season debut tonight.

"It's the first time I get to open the season with the A's, and it's going to be an exciting year trying to get some wins," Gonzalez told Oakland's Web site last Saturday.

The 24-year-old lefty pitched in 10 games in 2008 with Oakland, then went 6-7 with a 5.75 ERA in 20 games (17 starts) last year. Though he held opponents to three runs or less in 10 of his starts, he also had four outings in which he gave up five runs or more.

Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in three career starts versus the Angels.

The Angels won 12 of their 19 games versus the Athletics last year, taking the final four meetings in the season series. However, Los Angeles did drop six of 10 at home to Oakland in 2009.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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