The Pittsburgh Pirates understand that if any member of their organization uses a racial slur, or a word rooted in racial hate, then it's a serious issue that needs to be addressed. "If that ever happened," said one official, "then we'd have a major problem, and we would do something about it."
After Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips accused Pirates pitcher Jared Hughes of yelling an unacceptable racist word at him the other day, Pittsburgh officials looked into the matter extensively, even forensically, examining different angles of television replays of the incident. They spoke with players and staffers who were in the vicinity, from catcher Rod Barajas to manager Clint Hurdle to center fielder Andrew McCutchen.
The Pirates reached this conclusion: Hughes did not do what Phillips says he did. "Jared Hughes is a tremendous young man," said Pirates GM Neal Huntington. "Jared knows what he said. He knows he did not say what he's accused of saying.
"We know beyond a shadow of a doubt he didn't say what he's accused of saying."
Beyond the simple fact that the Pirates are certain that Hughes didn't yell the word "boy" at Phillips, they moved aggressively to defend the pitcher Wednesday because they know how a charge of racism can hang on a player's reputation.
Phillips and Hughes spoke by phone Tuesday and seemingly settled their differences, but the Pirates were greatly surprised when Phillips reiterated Wednesday that Hughes used the racially charged phrase, and said that Hughes acknowledged using it in their phone call. From Rob Biertempfel's story:
In an interview with NBC's "SportsTalk," Phillips told Erik Kuselias that Hughes "said what he said" after Phillips was hit by a pitch. Phillips said it was the first time he had heard a player make a racist comment on the field during a game.
When Kuselias pressed Phillips to confirm Hughes made an offensive remark, Phillips paused and said, "He did. That's what we talked about. If you want to know what he said, you should ask him." Phillips said he forgave Hughes during their phone conversation Tuesday.
Hughes said Wednesday he was surprised and frustrated by Phillips' comments to NBC.
"I did not say those things he is saying I said," Hughes said. "I did not make any comment with a racial undertone or connotation during our exchange on Monday night -- period. While I cannot repeat everything that I said because I did swear, it is obvious when reviewing the tape that I in no way, shape or form made any remark that was in any way connected to race. It is not how I was raised and not who I am as a person."
Nobody other than Phillips can speak for him, or what he believes he heard. But none of the television replays the Pirates viewed show the pitcher yelling the word "boy" at Phillips.
The replays do show Hughes aiming a 12-letter profanity at Phillips that is well within the bounds of professional sports.
There were others in the room when Hughes spoke with Phillips, including manager Clint Hurdle, and they offered a different version of Hughes' end of the conversation, saying that Hughes never acknowledged using the word.
The Pirates aren't trying to vilify Phillips. But they maintain, with 100 percent certainty, that Hughes did nothing wrong.
Meanwhile, the Pirates have pressing issues on the field: They have lost six straight.
Top five teams in need of a win today:
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Pirates
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
Elsewhere
• Another rookie lifted the Oakland Athletics, who have 12 straight road victories -- that's twelve -- and counting. The Angels had no answers, again, as Mike DiGiovanna writes.
From ESPN Stats & Info, how the amazing A.J. Griffin won
A) Angels hitters were 1-for-6 with three strikeouts against Griffin's curveball.
B) Four of the five outs on his curveball, including all three strikeouts, came after he threw a fastball on the previous pitch. Griffin's fastball averages 90 mph this season and his curveball averages 68. That 22 mph velocity differential is tied with Roy Oswalt for the largest in baseball this season among starting pitchers.
C) Griffin threw a season-high 64 percent fastballs Wednesday, and he recorded a season-high 14 outs with the pitch.
D) Griffin went to five three-ball counts but didn't walk a single batter.
From Elias Sports Bureau: Griffin is 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his first 11 big league starts. Since the major leagues began recording earned runs about 100 years ago, the only other pitcher who was undefeated in his first 11 big league appearances, all of which were starts, while maintaining an earned run average under 2.00, was Jered Weaver in 2006 (12 GS, 9-0, 1.95).
By the way: There is a lot of speculation about Mike Scioscia's standing if the Angels don't make the playoffs, and because he's under contract through 2018, there is an assumption that Arte Moreno's financial obligation to Scioscia could be a factor.
But keep in mind that if Scioscia is fired, he'll almost certainly find a job immediately and be under contract with another team, which would mitigate -- not eliminate -- the Angels' cost.
Three Texas Rangers starters got hurt in the Rangers' latest victory.
• The Baltimore Orioles continue to benefit from unlikely heroes, and on Wednesday, the heroes were Manny Machado and Nate McLouth, as Eduardo Encina writes.
The Rays had their guts ripped out, and now they're three games out in the division and wild-card race. The aggressiveness of a late-season call-up hurt them.
From Marc Topkin's game story:
But with the disappointment and frustration from the loss obvious in the clubhouse, the more telling Rays performance will be what happens over the remaining 20 games, starting with today's matinee series finale that suddenly looms extremely large.
"We've got to win (today)," centerfielder B.J. Upton said. "We felt like we had to win (Wednesday), but reality is we've got to win (today). We've got no choice. If we want to end up where we want to be, we have to win the game (today), and we have to win the series in New York."
Jason Hammel will have his MRI today.
The New York Yankees won, but Derek Jeter aggravated a bone bruise, writes David Waldstein. Andy Pettitte may come off the disabled list next Tuesday, in Toronto.
• The St. Louis Cardinals lost again, and Kyle Lohse was really unhappy about it. St. Louis doesn't have a lot of roster depth, writes Bernie Miklasz.
• Stephen Strasburg is going to be available down the stretch … as a pinch-hitter. The transition was seamless for the Nationals.
• The Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers continued their rush toward the top of the wild-card standings: Jimmy Rollins was the hero for Philly, and Rickie Weeks was the hero for the Brewers.
The Phillies are finding out that the kids are all right, writes Bob Ford.
• Alfredo Aceves wouldn't give the ball to his manager, as mentioned within this Dan Duggan notebook.
Bobby Valentine says Kevin Youkilis' issues weren't his doing.
By The Numbers
From ESPN Stats & Info
10: Starts with 6+ IP and 2-or-fewer ER with a loss or no-decision by Kyle Lohse, tied for most this season.
16: Salvador Perez and Ryan Zimmerman extended their hitting streaks to 16 games, the longest current streaks in the majors.
94.9: Max Scherzer's average mph fastball from August-September, which ranks in the top three in MLB.
475: Career home runs by Albert Pujols, tying Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 28th place all-time.
Dings and dents
1. Michael Morse has a bone bruise.
2. Ramon Hernandez needs surgery, writes Patrick Saunders.
3. The Astros' Jed Lowrie was back in the lineup, as Zachary Levine writes.
4. Mike Adams is dealing with a strained trap.
5. Zach Cozart says he's feeling a lot better, as Tom Groeschen writes.
6. Ryan Braun is playing through wrist pain.
Moves, deals and decisions
1. Rod Barajas is willing to take less money to stay with the Pirates.
2. Jordan Pacheco will get a start at catcher Sunday.
3. Within this notebook, there is word that some Angels scouts have been fired.
AL East notes
• Ricky Romero continues to struggle.
AL Central notes
• Robin Ventura stands by his bullpen. The Chicago White Sox will face Justin Verlander tonight.
Max Scherzer came through, at a time when the Tigers are drawing a lot of scrutiny. Alex Avila had a crucial bunt.
From ESPN Stats & Info: Scherzer's fastball averaged 95.3 mph, his second highest in the last four seasons; he averaged 96.2 mph in his start last Friday. Scherzer's fastball velocity has been trending up all season.
Scherzer's fastball this season (average mph/miss percentage)
April-May: 93.8/23 percent
June-July: 94.4/22 percent
Aug.-Sept.: 94.9*/27 percent*
* Ranks top 3 in MLB
• The Kansas City Royals batted around, twice.
• Remember when the Cleveland Indians hovered around the top of the AL Central? After their latest loss, they are 25 games under .500.
• The Minnesota Twins played a sloppy game.
NL East notes
• John Lannan stepped into Stephen Strasburg's spot in the rotation and had a strong outing.
• The New York Mets didn't hit much, again.
• The Miami Marlins were fried.
• The Atlanta Braves were dominated in Milwaukee; they need to start playing better ASAP.
NL Central notes
• The Reds' magic number is down to eight after their latest sweep.
• Travis Wood was The Man for the Chicago Cubs.
• An Astro avoided serious injury.
NL West notes
• Tim Lincecum threw well again, and the San Francisco Giants are closing on the division title. The Giants played without Angel Pagan and Pablo Sandoval.
From ESPN Stats & Info: Since joining the Giants, Marco Scutaro has seen an uptick in fastballs batting primarily in the two-hole in front of Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey. Thirteen of the 18 pitches (77 percent) he saw Wednesday were fastballs, and all three of his hits came against them. He's seeing 67 percent fastballs since he joined the Giants, which ranks among the highest in baseball since then. He saw just 60 percent fastballs with the Rockies.
Highest percentage of fastballs seen (since July 2
Ben Revere: 70 percent
Derek Jeter: 69 percent
Jamey Carroll: 69 percent
Marco Scutaro: 67 percent
Scutaro vs. fastballs this season (with COL/with SF)
Percentage seen: 60 percent/67 percent
Batting average:.278/.328
Slugging percentage: .377/.459
Extra-base hits: 15/11
• The Dodgers just keep losing, and when it was over, Adrian Gonzalez wasn't happy. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti is happy with the Big Trade, no matter what happens this season.
• Trevor Cahill recovered nicely.
• The San Diego Padres are making a late rush toward .500, and after their latest sweep, they're 21-7 at home since the All-Star break.
Chase Headley in his last 38 games: a .316 batting average, 15 homers, 50 RBIs.