Report: Zambrano inks $90 million extension (ESPN Radio 1000)

The calm, cool and collected Carlos Zambrano has re-upped with the Chicago Cubs, signing an extension that will pay the fiery right-hander a reported $90 million over the next five years.

With stories suggesting that this arm slot has dropped and concerns about his shoulder rising (not to mention his continuing cramping problems in his arm), the timing of the extension is a bit curious.  Good for the Cubs in locking him down, though.

Just remember to keep him away from his laptop.

Can the plea deal happen so we can move on with our lives? (The Big Lead)

The Big Lead sums it up nicely in the title, but there’s obviously more to it than just that one sentence.

Dolphins’ two-point conversion seals win over KC (AP/SI.com)

Trent Green returned to Kansas City triumphant Wednesday with his visiting Miami Dolphins downing the Kansas City Chiefs 11-10 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Despite being greeted with a smattering of boos, Green looked sharp, completing four of seven passes for 41 yards in limited action. His potential successor in in KC didn’t have the same fortunes as Green as Brody Croyle tallied a six-for-eleven completion rate for 82 yards that including an untimely interception in the red zone on a potential scoring drive.

The final score of 11-10 was the first time in NFL history — regular season or post-season — that it has ever happened.

Pronounce it An-KEE-el (STLToday)

When he was a pitching phenom coming up through the St. Louis Cardinals system in the late-1990s, the lefthanded fireballer Rick Ankiel was said to pronounce his last name as Rick An-keel.

Back then, there was a minor rebuke from the lefty, but not enough people caught on — including team broadcaster Mike Shannon — and us folks kept calling him by his two-syllable pronunciation rather than the correct three-syllable one. This spring, when the now-outfielder was beginning his journey at Triple-AAA Memphis, his wife decided it was time to get things right.

At Class AAA Memphis, his wife approached the team broadcasters about the correct pronunciation. When Ankiel arrived in St. Louis last week, the team’s game notes spelled out the correct pronounciation as An-Kee-Uhl. In his first at-bat at Busch Stadium, the public address announcements used the three-syllable pronunciation, but team broadcaster Mike Shannon and others have continued to use the two-syllable version. On Thursday, Shannon said he planned to talk to Ankiel about his preference.

“If (three syllables) is how he wants his name pronounced,” Shannon said, “that’s the way we’ll pronounce it.”

Live it. Love it. Learn it.

The morning after Lance Niekro starts experimenting with a curveball...

The Cardinals moved within 2.5 games of first in the NL Central after obliterating the Brewers in a three-game series sweep; Kelvim Escobar returns to Toronto to show them the err or their ways; Jason Marquis gets bailed out after coughing up a four-run lead; Justin Verlander pitches well enough for the win after overcoming the flu and the Pittsburgh Pirates show some fight in a comeback win over the visiting Mets.

White Sox 5, A’s 8 (10 innings) — Kurt Suzuki’s walk-off three-run home run in the 10th inning helped the A’s complete a three-game sweep of the White Sox with an 8-5 victory.

Tigers 8, Yanks 5 — Detroit’s Carlos Guillen hit a first-inning grand slam off Mike Mussina, and Ivan Rodriguez also homered to help the flu-ridden Tigers top the Yankees.

Angels 4, BlueJays 3 — Kelvim Escobar was solid against his old team, allowing a run and five hits over seven innings to get the win. The BlueJays didn’t go away quietly, touching Los Angeles closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez for two runs in the home half of the ninth, but fell just one run short in the loss.

More after the jump »

News and notes as tragedy strikes the rescue efforts in the Crandall Canyon mines of Utah…

Packers to cut ties with receiver Ferguson (AP/ESPN)  The Green Bay Packers will end their seven-year association with veteran wide receiver Robert Ferguson.  He was a second round pick of the club back in 2001.

Hasta la vista, A-Rod? (ESPN News Services) The Yankees claim that should the coveted free-agent-to-be opt out of his contract, the club will not pursue him.

Lionel Messi dazzles — and copycats (The Fanhouse) Lionel Messi scores a highlight-rell goal over Bayern Munich and it looks eerily similar to a Zinadine Zidane goal.

Tocchet to be sentenced (AP/SI.com) The former NHL star will likely get a sentence sans jail time due to his role in an illegal sports gambling ring operating out of New Jersey.