When cleanup hitter Garret Anderson came down with conjunctivitis right before the playoffs, the Los Angeles Angels should have realized they were in trouble. After playing through injuries all season long, the Angels simply didn’t have it in their AL division series against the Boston Red Sox, hitting just .091 with runners in scoring position and .192 overall while being outscored 19-4.
Troy Tulowitzki could be collecting some serious hardware soon: the NL Rookie of the Year award, a Gold Glove, maybe even a World Series ring. Yet, when the Colorado Rookies’ 21-year-old star shortstop meets fellow major leaguers, he’s just like any other wide-eyed youngster coming face-to-face with a childhood hero: he wants an autograph.
Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano will get a second opinion on his non-throwing shoulder Wednesday and may have surgery Thursday after the team physician determined he had a torn labrum. The left-hander began the season 5-0 before losing his final 12 decisions to finish 5-12 with a 5.10 ERA that cost him his starting role.
The Detroit Red Wings survived their defensive breakdowns. Mikael Samuelsson had a goal and an assist to lift Detroit to a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. Chris Chelios, Tomas Holmstrom and Kris Draper also scored for Detroit. Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg each had two assists.
The Cleveland Browns were awaiting MRI results on running back Jamal Lewis’ sprained right foot, an injury that knocked him out after one play in Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots. Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Monday that X-rays on Lewis’ foot were negative. Lewis broke off an 11-yard run on his only carry in the Browns’ 34-17 loss before leaving the game.
Jake Delhomme last week called surgery on his strained right elbow “a last resort.” After experiencing pain trying to throw on Monday, the Carolina Panthers quarterback decided the worst-case scenario couldn’t be avoided. Delhomme will have season-ending ligament-replacement surgery on his elbow next week, leaving the Panthers without their leader on offense and scrambling to find another…
Thanks to a conflict in sports schedules at the Trent Green household, his wife was spared the scary sight of him face down and motionless on the field in Houston. When the Miami Dolphins quarterback was knocked unconscious by a severe concussion that could end his career, wife Julie was back home in South Florida at a tennis match with their children.
New York coach Isiah Thomas said his mind never left basketball during his three weeks in a courtroom facing sexual harassment accusations. Maybe that’s because he knew what he had in standout forward Zach Randolph. New York’s biggest offseason acquisition scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the Knicks’ 101-92 victory over Philadelphia on Monday night as both teams opened preseason play.
Tayshaun Prince scored 13 points and Chauncey Billups added 12 to help the Detroit Pistons beat the undermanned Miami Heat 103-86 in the exhibition opener Monday night. The Heat were missing Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning, who all stayed in Florida to deal with injuries. Udonis Haslem and Antoine Walker spent the night on the bench.
Acie Law IV made a fast-break layup with 25 seconds left to lift the Atlanta Hawks to a 94-93 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night in both teams’ preseason debut. Carlos Arroyo missed one of two free throws that would have tied the game with 15 seconds left. Marvin Williams, who had 19 points, made two free throws to seal the win.
