By Art Spander
Special to Newsday
GLENDALE, Ariz. — This wasn’t exactly joining the enemy. Baseball people change teams and uniforms all the time. And yet ... “Yes,” acknowledged Bob Geren, “one of the players said to me, ‘Now that you’re on the other side ... ’ ’’
Neither the player nor Geren had to finish. He knew. Everybody knows.
Copyright © 2016 Newsday. All rights reserved.
By Art Spander
Special to Newsday
MESA, Ariz. — Joe Maddon believes in time-tested methods and items. His transportation is a ’76 Dodge Tradesman van. His spectacles are horn-rimmed, popularized in the 1960s. And, not unlike most major-league manager, he understands great pitching is the essence of baseball.
As was confirmed in last year’s National League Championship Series by the Mets against Maddon’s Cubs.
Copyright © 2016 Newsday. All rights reserved.
Ben Zobrist, Cubs, Joe Maddon, Mets Email Article By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — For Bubba Watson, it was two weeks filled with trouble, with joy and finally with yet another victory in the Northern Trust Open, his second in the Los Angeles-area event in three years.
With birdies Sunday on the 16th and 17th holes at Riviera Country Club, Watson overcame a one-shot deficit to win by one stroke.
Copyright © 2016 The Sports Xchange
Email Article By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — One moment Jason Kokrak was in front of the Northern Trust Open. Then it was Chez Reavie. When the third round came to a close, it was Bubba Watson.
Two-time Masters champion Watson, who won this tournament in 2014, shot a 4-under par 67 on Saturday at Riviera Country Club to take a one-stroke lead over Kokrak (70), Reavie (69) and Dustin Johnson (68) with a 54-hole total of 12-under 201.
Copyright © 2016 The Sports Xchange
Email Article By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The PGA Tour chooses to describe golfers' skills with a tidy phrase: These guys are good.
That might be an understatement. As the leaderboard of the Northern Trust Open verifies, these guys are fantastic.
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