kimblr.com

Relievers — hard-throwing relievers — are in vogue. Traditionally, major league organizations haven’t groomed closers in the minors or taken them from college teams, believing it is more beneficial for developing pitchers to throw as many innings as possible. That’s changing.
The first time consecutive pitchers were selected Thursday was with picks 19-21 by the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers. All three — Andrew Cashner of Texas Christian by the Cubs, Josh Fields of Georgia by the Mariners and Ryan Perry of Arizona by the Tigers — are right-handed power pitchers who could move quickly from college to the majors.
Fields was the Atlanta Braves’ second-round pick last year but didn’t sign. He returned as the closer for Georgia, which is still in contention for the College World Series. Cashner and Perry both have fastballs that reach the 97-mph range and, though they have started in college, probably will move to the bullpen.
The move toward closers, after the early dominance of hitters in this draft, caused some highly rated starters to fall. Most notable was Eastern Kentucky left-hander Christian Friedrich, who went 25th to the Colorado Rockies. He was the only first-round pitcher after top-10 picks Brian Matusz (Baltimore Orioles) and Aaron Crow (Washington Nationals), who is certain to move through the minors as a starter.
Small markets, big bucks:
Baseball’s rush to add sluggers at its annual draft Thursday wasn’t slowed by concerns about size, position or money.
Teams that have been reluctant to commit big bonus offers to high draft picks sent signals that they could be willing to go the extra dollar to improve. Notable are Pedro Alvarez of Vanderbilt to the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 2 and Yonder Alonso of Miami (Fla.) to the Cincinnati Reds at No. 7.
Pittsburgh’s first-year president is Frank Coonelly, who joined the team after working in the MLB offices.

usatoday.com

‘02. Hugh Grant. An irresponsible playboy becomes emotionally attached to a woman’s 12-year-old son. (PG-13) (2:00) E!: Wed. 1 P.M., Thu. 9 A.M.
‘97. Clint Eastwood. A veteran thief catches the president of the United States in adultery and a murder cover-up. (R) (2:30) TNT: Sun. 9 A.M., 2:30 A.M. (CC)
‘49. Spencer Tracy. Married lawyers clash in and out of court over a woman’s right to shoot her husband and his lover. (NR) (2:00) TCM: Mon. 1:30 P.M. (CC)
• Adventures of Kitty O’Day
‘44. Jean Parker. A telephone operator plays homicide detective with her boyfriend, making it harder for the police. (NR) (1:15) TCM: Fri. 6:45 A.M.
• The African Queen
‘51. Humphrey Bogart. An imperious woman makes a gin-soaked boat captain fight Germans in the World War I Congo. (NR) (2:00) TCM: Mon. 6 P.M. (CC)
• Agent Cody Banks
‘03. Frankie Muniz. Recruited by the CIA, a teen works under cover to befriend a girl whose father is a pawn for an evil organization. (PG) (2:00) ABCFAM: Sat. noon (CC)
• Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
‘04. Frankie Muniz. A 16-year-old CIA agent poses as a clarinet prodigy while trying to recover stolen mind-control software. (PG) (2:00) ABCFAM: Sat. 2 P.M. (CC)
• Air Force One
‘97. Harrison Ford. Demanding the release of a political prisoner, a terrorist and his gang hijack the U.S. president’s plane. (R) (2:30) TNT: Sun. 2 P.M. (CC)
‘94. Brendan Fraser. Attention-hungry musicians decide to grab the media spotlight by taking staffers at a popular radio station hostage. (PG-13) (1:40) STZ: Fri. 8:30 A.M. (CC)
• Akeelah and the Bee
‘06. Laurence Fishburne. Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl living in South Los Angeles, discovers she has a talent for spelling, which she hopes will take her to the National Spelling Bee. (PG) (2:00) TMC: Sun. 8:45 A.M., 6 P.M., Thu. 7 A.M., 2:50 P.M. (CC)

post-gazette.com

Dr. Phil Single men learn the Mystery Method. 4 p.m. KCBS 5633
Dr. Phil Author Dr. Frank Lawlis (”Mending the Broken Bond”). 7 p.m. KCAL 81481
Real Time With Bill Maher Jason Alexander; author Richard Clarke; Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.); biologist Richard Dawkins. 11 p.m. HBO 508607

calendarlive.com

School will soon be over and the snow will soon melt. If you need some extra entertainment to cheer you up, check out this Hollywood docket full of appealing big stars and interesting stories. This upcoming spring schedule should take you up to Memorial Day weekend when the highly anticipated Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull kicks off the summer.
NOTE: all dates subject to change - be sure to check each film’s ratings.
Epic action directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) and co-starring Omar Sharif.
College Road Trip
Father Martin Lawrence takes his daughter, played by Raven Symone, to see campuses in this G-rated comedy.
The Bank Job
Jason Statham (Transporter) stars in this heist movie inspired by a famous 1971 robbery at Lloyds Bank in London, England.
Horton Hears a Who
Jim Carrey and Steve Carell lend their voices to this animated adaptation of the Dr. Suess book.
Never Back Down
Young man encounters an underground fight club in this martial arts showcase. Dijmon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) stars.
Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns
Grandma Madea (Perry) returns in this romantic drama, which also stars Angela Bassett.
Owen Wilson helps bodyguard bullied students in this comedy.
Talented students led by teacher played by Kevin Spacey, make money counting cards in Las Vegas casinos. Laurence Fishburne also stars.
Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this thriller about mysterious circumstances after an accident.
A British man enters a marathon to win back his girlfriend in this comedy directed by David Schwimmer (Friends television series).
War drama where solider struggles after returning from the Iraq war. Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Timothy Olyphant (Hitman) stars.
Comedy comic spoof about the battle between Dragonfly and The Hourglass stars Leslie Nielsen, Regina Hall, Tracey Morgan, and Pamela Anderson.
George Clooney directs and stars in this romantic comedy surrounding the beginning of pro football in the 1920s. Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski (The Office television series) also star.

blogcritics.org

KINGSTON - Bob Churchill blasted an 800 triple to lead Academy General Insurance bowling at Mid-City Lanes. His games were 275, 268 and 257.
Top junior performances in Father and Son came from Nicholas Torres (257-692) and Zachary Nerone (259-672).
ACADEMY GENERAL INSURANCE-Bob Churchill 275-268-257-800, Eric Markle 288-277-770, Bud Lukaszewski 279-276-768, Ron Dressel 255-255-724, Ron Jansen 249-236-235-720, Charles Tiano 278-714, Jason Becker 267-232-709, Vern Scism Jr. 244-684, Bob Weiss 240-235-682, Wayne Brady 233-231-678, Gary Dougherty 245-676, Mel Hill 234-675, Chris Tozzi 258-235-671, Wayne Noble 248-671, Ralph Eggleston 246-662, Jim Troeger 245-658, Dave Schussler 245-654, John Lowwesr 238-653, Frank Williams 235-649, Eddie Heins 236-644, Mike Mowry 245-640, Rob Scott 238-638, Lester Schwark 637, Kevin Bocekelmann 258-634, Wade Boughton 631, Herb Petersen 628, Larry Waite 627, Brian Hommel 231-624, Rob Sutton 275-619, Henry Miller Jr. 236-617, Wayne Sweller 616, Jason Naccarato 249-613, P.J. Scism 258-613, Bud Lowe 234-611, Ernie Cozza 610, Todd Hackett 266-608, Bill Brauer 607, Bob Gilbon 607, Dan Brown 605, Drew Pinkham 604, Paul Scism 602, Ryan Richers 235-602, John Grant 602, Tom Lossee 244, Tom Tyler 237, Skip Demand 237, Ron Jones 235.
OUR LEAGUE-Ron Jansen 278-269-236-783, John Cook Jr. 236-236-686, Gary James 236-236-684, Artie Singleton 246-676, Don Quesnell 267-235-672, John Grant 247-668, Ryan Smith 237-665, Tim Van Wagenen 654, Ernie Stahl 243-653, Rob Pitman 247-639, Lou Swart 631, Kyle Reilly 233-625, Bob Gallagher 269-619, Rob Hand 619, Charlie Freer 236-615, Bill Stokes 602, Alan Fong 245-600, Tim Barcone Sr. 234, Joe Hutton 233; Teresa Howard 224-594, Marci Taylor 202-535, Nancy Swart 534, Laurie Miggins 205-528, Robin Charlton 524, Jackie Hutton 520, Kim Osterhoudt 200-513, Michelle Young 510, Marge Miggins 505, Joan Millhan 501.
TUESDAY NIGHT MIXED-Nick Logan 289-762, John Ellsworth 257-698, Ernie Cozza Jr. 256-683, Ernie Stahl 608, Rob Munson 230-595, Herbie Rougier 237; Evey Fisher 502, Cheryl Temple 194-497, Mary Speicher 489, Jess Wells 480. Beuty & Beasts 767-2147.

dailyfreeman.com