On May 16 Authentic Marcus Johansson Jersey , St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter stood in the batter’s box at Target Field in Minneapolis. The career .275 hitter was batting an embarrassing .140, and St. Louis fans were calling for his benching.
What a difference six weeks make.
Going into Wednesday night’s series finale with the Cleveland Indians at Busch Stadium, Carpenter is now hitting .259. Since the middle of May, Carpenter has collected 53 hits and batted .349. His 16 doubles and 12 homers in that span rank second in the majors, and no hitter can equal his 1.115 OPS over that period, not even Mike Trout.
In Tuesday night’s 11-2 blowout of Cleveland, Carpenter did something no other Cardinal has ever done. He went 5-for-5 with five runs scored and belted a pair of solo homers. That’s a roll call not even Stan Musial or Albert Pujols can answer.
Included in that outburst was a leadoff homer off Indians ace Corey Kluber, a blast that cut a 2-0 deficit in half and restored energy in a dugout that could have gotten down after a quick deficit following a 90-minute rain delay.
“He’s one of the best in the game,” Carpenter said of Kluber. “That’s just an outstanding job by our team. We took a lot of good at-bats. I’m starting to put things together. We play a long Womens C.J. Mosley Jersey , long, long season. I knew I could physically do it.”
A five-run second inning turned flames into an inferno, burning Kluber in the shortest start of his career. It also put the Cardinals (42-36) in position to sweep the American League Central leaders and gave them four straight wins after a stretch of eight losses in 10 games.
St. Louis will send Jack Flaherty (3-2, 2.50 ERA) to the mound in search of a sweep on Wednesday. Flaherty is coming off the best start of his young career, tying his career high with 13 strikeouts Friday night in Milwaukee. He took a no-hitter one out into the seventh inning before Jesus Aguilar golfed a breaking ball over the left-center-field wall.
But Flaherty had to settle for a no-decision that night in his team’s eventual 2-1 loss, although the performance may have made him a candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.
“He prepares beyond his years,” Cardinals pitching coach Mike Maddux told mlb.com. “If you saw him, you would think he’s been around the block.”
Flaherty has never faced Cleveland.
Flaherty’s resume does read like a grizzled veteran compared to Indians right-hander Shane Bieber (2-0, 2.45) Youth Donte Jackson Jersey , who will make his fourth big league start. Bieber blanked Detroit over seven innings Friday night in a 10-0 victory, allowing just four hits and walking one while fanning nine.
“I was saying before the game that I was excited to watch him pitch, and that’s why,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said to mlb.com. “He pounded the zone with three different pitches. He changed speeds. That was fun to watch.”
Nothing about this series has been fun for the Indians, who in two games have managed just 10 hits, none for extra bases. That’s been a dramatic contrast after outscoring opponents by 54 runs during a seven-game winning streak.
The Texas Rangers sent rookie left-hander Yohander Mendez back to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday for violating team rules.
Mendez was supposed to start Wednesday’s series finale against Kansas City. But right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx will get the ball instead.
”It’s not criminal Youth Joel Iyiegbuniwe Jersey , nothing involving MLB or the police,” general manager Jon Daniels said. ”There will be a program that we’ll work with Yohander on.”
Daniels said at least one other player was involved, but his discipline will be handled in-house.
Second baseman Rougned Odor was scratched from Texas’ lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Royals, but manager Jeff Banister refused to comment on if the benching was related to the incident with Mendez, which took place after Monday night’s 6-3 victory at Kansas City and away from Kauffman Stadium.
Banister said Mendez will have to merit a return to the majors.
”Part of the development of where we are as a club is upholding a certain level of standards for veterans and young players alike Kailer Yamamoto Jersey ,” Daniels said. ”Part of the development process of young players is on the maturity side as well. I’d say that’s kind of where this one falls.”
The 23-year-old Mendez is 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA in two games with the Rangers this season. He made his first major league start Friday against Colorado and was tagged for six runs and seven hits over three innings in a 9-5 loss.
The Valencia, Venezuela native broke into the majors in 2016. He is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in 11 career outings.
Bibens-Dirkx was recalled from Round Rock to replace Mendez. He made two starts for Texas earlier this season, going 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA.
”The rest of it I don’t have any comment,” Banister said. ”My messaging to the team is what I say to them as a group. I don’t always need my messaging to come out in print. We are a team. There are things that happened inside the team concept. We’ll continue to put the team first in these types of situations. There are standards we want to live by every day and we want to make sure those standards are held in high regard.”
Federica Brignone edged Olympic champion Michelle Gisin to win the last women’s World Cup Alpine combined event of the season on Sunday Authentic Uchenna Nwosu Jersey , while Wendy Holdener took the season-long title in the discipline.
Ranked fifth after the super-G portion, Italian GS and super-G specialist Brignone surpassed expectations by posting the third-fastest time in the slalom leg. Her run was just enough to deny Gisin another victory, 10 days after the Swiss skier won Alpine combined gold at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
”It’s steep and I love that,” Brignone said about the Mont Lachaux course. ”I love this snow, the spring snow, for slalom.”
It was Brignone’s third win of the season, raising her career total to eight. The Italian overcame persistent adductor problems, which forced her to return early from a preseason training camp in South America and to sit out the start of the World Cup season.
”I just want to finish my season in the best way,” Brignone said. ”For sure the beginning was hard because of my injuries. I just wanted to recover and show good races.”
She certainly showed her strength Sunday, finishing in an aggregate time of 1 minute, 46.46 seconds and beating Gisin by 0.03 seconds. Petra Vlhova of Slovakia trailed by 0.09 in third place. Sofia Goggia of Italy, who led after the super-G run Marshall Faulk Jersey , dropped to eighth.
Holdener, who won the only other combined event this season, finished fourth to secure the season title in the discipline. The Swiss skier also won the globe for the season’s best combined skier in 2016.
”It’s extremely nice to win another crystal globe,” the Swiss skier said. ”I knew I didn’t have to win this race. That made it difficult for me. I wasn’t as relaxed as usual. I gave my best. It wasn’t the best skiing but I am happy that it was enough.”
After placing third and earning 60 World Cup points in Saturday’s super-G, Holdener added another 50 points on Sunday, closing the gap to overall leader Mikaela Shiffrin to 561 points with six races remaining.
Shiffrin, who won silver in Alpine combined at Pyeonchang to add to her gold from the GS, didn’t race this weekend to prepare for next week’s technical races in Germany. Also, American teammate Lindsey Vonn skipped the events in the heart of the Swiss Alps as she will only compete again at the World Cup finals in Sweden in two weeks’ time.
While there is still a mathematical possibility to overtake Shiffrin, Holdener said ”there is no chance” that she will dethrone the reigning overall champion.
”I just hope to defend my place,” she said. ”I am second and it would be nice if it stays that way.”
Marty Hurney will be calling the shots once again with the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina re-hired Hurney as its general manager on Wednesday Brendan Leipsic Jersey Kids , marking his second full-time stint as general manager. Hurney previously worked for the Panthers from 1998-2012, beginning as GM in 2002. He rejoined the Panthers last July as on an interim basis.
Panthers COO Tina Becker said Hurney did an ”exceptional” job in helping the Panthers to an 11-5 season last year.
Article continues below ... ”Marty’s guidance and vision helped build the foundation for this team, and his work this season was instrumental in returning the team to the playoffs,” Becker said in news release. ”We believe he will continue to craft a roster that will win games and contend for a championship.”
The Panthers reinstated Hurney as interim general manager last week after an NFL investigation found no wrongdoing into charges of harassment by his ex-wife.
Hurney had been on a paid leave of absence during the investigation and had disputed all accusations through his attorney.
Hurney returned to the Panthers in an interim capacity in late July 2017, prior to the start of training camp after owner Jerry Richardson abruptly fired Dave Gettleman. Gettleman had served as the team’s general manager since 2013 and had helped the Panthers get to the playoffs three times in four seasons behind a team that Hurney largely constructed.
He said he’s excited to be in charge of personnel decisions in Carolina.
”I have always felt a strong connection to this organization and viewed this job as one of the very best in the NFL because of the people here,” Hurney said. ”Mr. Richardson and Tina have been open and honest with me from the beginning, and I am thankful for the trust they have placed in me.”
The Panthers made three playoff appearances, won two NFC South titles, and played in two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl under Hurney during his first tenure.
His last two first-round draft choices as general manager – quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly – both won NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Newton went on to become the league’s MVP in 2015 leading the Panthers to a 17-2 season, while Kuechly was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in his second season.
Hurney also traded for tight end Greg Olsen and hit home runs on draft picks like center Ryan Kalil.
He also made a few mistakes along the way, including overpaying to keep some veteran players and trading up to get wide receiver Armanti Edwards from Appalachian State, a move that never panned out.
”I gained a lot of perspective being away and then back in an interim role last season,” Hurney said. ”I feel that I am the best person to help (coach) Ron (Rivera) and this team moving forward. We have a really special core of players in place, and I’m extremely excited about the direction we are headed.”
The Panthers went 11-5 last season with Hurney as their interim general manager, but lost in the wild card round of the playoffs to the New Orleans Saints.
St. Louis pitcher Carlos Martinez found his rhythm early Eagles Elite Jerseys , both on the mound and at the plate.
It was another encouraging sign for the right-hander, who struggled through a rough May and wound up on the disabled list for the first time in his career.
Martinez pitched seven effective innings for his third consecutive win and doubled in the Cardinals‘ first run in a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Saturday.
”You could tell he found something in the `pen that he carried right onto the mound in the first inning,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. ”That’s a great place for him to be and he just kept building on it. Now it looks just like he was before he got hurt.”
Martinez missed 23 games while sidelined with a right lat strain and was only marginally effective upon his return. In his last three starts, however, Martinez has a 2.36 ERA while allowing five runs in 19 innings.
”Right now my arm is great so I don’t have any pain in there,” Martinez said. ”I have focus always and I believe in myself.”
Martinez allowed one run on six hits with three strikeouts and did not walk a batter for the third time this season.
Kolton Wong had two hits and scored a run, disgruntled outfielder Dexter Fowler added a sacrifice fly and Francisco Pena singled in a run.
Martinez (6-4) was steady most of the afternoon and only allowed one runner past first base until the sixth inning. He got Brandon Belt to pop out with a runner on third in the first Authentic Logan Cooke Jersey , stranded runners on base in the second and fourth and then got Brandon Crawford to ground out after Belt’s RBI double in the sixth.
Jordan Hicks allowed a run in the eighth and Bud Norris retired three batters for his 17th save.
”The last outings I’ve had really good focus and I’m comfortable with myself,” Martinez said. ”All my pitches are moving, and today I was trying to throw right in the middle because I’ve got a lot of movement on my two-seamer and my cutter.”
Belt had three hits and drove in both runs for the Giants. San Francisco has been held to two runs or fewer in five of its last six games.
Jeff Samardzija had an uneven outing in his first start since May 29. Activated off the disabled list before the game, Samardzija (1-5) gave up three runs in five innings and repeatedly pitched with runners on base.
”The mistakes aren’t because of the arm,” Samardzija said. ”They’re just because of the execution of the pitch, and that’s always a good thing.”
FOWLER’S FUNK
Fowler went 0-for-3 to drop his batting average to .168. Earlier this week, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak appeared to question Fowler’s effort but later backed off those comments.
”That’s a big run right there Authentic Sampo Ranta Jersey ,” Matheny said, adding that Fowler has been taking better at-bats. ”I know he’s looking for results right now and the fact that we can get a run in, that’s a result. But I know he’s looking for some hits to fall in, just like everybody else.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: Yadier Molina was given the day off after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder. LHP Tyler Lyons (elbow strain) began his rehab assignment and threw 13 pitches in one scoreless inning for Triple-A Memphis. Lyons has been out since June 6. RHP Luke Gregerson (shoulder impingement) threw nine pitches in a rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield.
Giants: 2B Joe Panik was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left groin strain he injured while running from first to third during Friday’s game. Closer Hunter Strickland (broken hand) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. INF Chase d’Arnaud was called up from Triple-A Sacramento and RHP Chris Stratton was optioned down.
UP NEXT
Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-3, 2.58 ERA) pitches the series finale Sunday against Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty (3-4, 3.19). Bumgarner has lost five of his last six starts against St. Louis. Flaherty allowed five runs in four innings during his only career appearance against San Francisco in 2017.
The Washington Nationals‘ bats finally came alive Friday night. They hope that offense shows up again Saturday as the Nationals attempt to win two straight games for the first time in more than three weeks.
Washington hit seven home runs against the Phillies on Friday, including two by rookie Juan Soto and the 20th of the season from Bryce Harper. The team scored 17 runs on 18 hits in the win after combining for three runs on 12 hits in its previous three games.
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Nationals, who are 9-15 in June and have not won consecutive games since June 5-6. Still, they are 42-38 on the season and one game behind the Phillies in the division.
Right-hander Vince Velasquez (5-8, 4.69 ERA) will try to keep the Phillies in second place on Saturday.
With one exception, Velasquez has been reliable for the Phillies over the last two months. The hard-throwing righty has allowed fewer than three earned runs in seven of his last 10 starts. He allowed 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 8 but has a 2.73 ERA in his other nine starts dating back to May 5.
Velasquez, who averages 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings Vladimir Sobotka Jersey , had seven strikeouts in six innings against the Yankees on Monday. He gave up two runs on three hits and four walks in the outing and took the loss as the Phillies’ offense struggled in the 4-2 defeat.
“I had a couple walks here and there, and I had to pitch around some guys,” Velasquez told reporters after the game. “It’s a tough lineup to face.”
Saturday’s start will be Velasquez’s sixth in his career against Washington. He is 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in his first five starts. This season, Velasquez held the Nationals to one run on one hit and four walks over five innings in a May 5 start in which he got the win.
Jeremy Hellickson is expected to be activated off the disabled list and make the Saturday start for the Nationals. Hellickson (2-0, 2.28) strained his right hamstring in a June 3 start and has not pitched since.
He made a rehab start for Class A Potomac last Sunday and gave up 11 runs in 4 2/3 innings. But he said he felt healthy after the outing.
“Physically, I felt fine,” Hellickson told the Washington Post last week. “I mean Jermey Parnell Jersey , obviously not how I wanted it to go, but I felt fine. Felt my stuff was pretty good. Just command was a little shaky, but (my) hammy was 100 percent.”
Hellickson was solid before the injury. He posted a 1.30 ERA and .548 opponent OPS in five starts during May, and the Nationals won each of those outings.
Hellickson pitched for the Phillies in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In his only career start against Philadelphia, Hellickson did not allow an earned run in eight innings while with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2015 season.
Seattle Seahawks player Frank Clark has confirmed his father and three other family members have died in a Cleveland house fire.
Clark wrote in a tweet posted Sunday evening that his father Calvin de Haan Jersey Kids , 44-year-old Frank Clark III, died in the fire in the city’s East Side on Jan. 30.
Fire officials have not publicly identified the victims, but Clark’s aunt tells Cleveland.com 46-year-old Alfonso Lathan Jr. Justin Abdelkader Jersey , his 4-year-old son Alfonso Lathan III and 8-year-old granddaughter Niayah were also killed.
Fire officials say Alfonso Lathan’s wife, 44-year-old Gianna Latham, is being treated for severe burns.
Officials say the home’s smoke alarms were not working at the time of the fire. Investigators have not determined what caused the blaze.
The Seattle Seahawks offered condolences to the defensive end’s family in a tweet posted Sunday.
Whenever the Cubs come to town Carlos Dunlap Jerse , their fans fill the stands at Great American Ball Park and their offense usually carries the day. Not so for the last two.
Eugenio Suarez hit a go-ahead homer off Jose Quintana in the fifth inning, and the Cincinnati Reds held on for their fifth straight victory Friday night, 6-3 over the Cubs .
The Reds have won the first two games in the four-game set, a recent rarity in the rivalry. It’s only the second time in the last two years that they’ve won back-to-back games in a series against Chicago. The Cubs are 43-21 against the Reds over the last four seasons.
Cincinnati’s winning streak is one shy of its season high. The Reds are last in the NL Central at 30-45.
”We’re playing really good baseball right now,” Suarez said . ”When you play like that, good things can happen.”
Suarez’s two-run shot in the fifth inning off Quintana (6-6) gave him a team-high 16 homers and put the Reds ahead 4-3. Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto also singled home runs off Quintana, who had allowed only six earned runs in his last four starts combined.
Quintana hung a changeup on his second pitch to Suarez, who has four homers in his last six games.
”I just missed my spot – a bad pitch,” Quintana said through a translator. ”A bad time to have that happen.”
Suarez also singled twice and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games, the longest by a Reds third baseman since Todd Frazier hit in 14 straight in 2014.
Javier Baez drove in a run with a bunt single off Luis Castillo (5-8), and Kyle Schwarber followed with a two-run homer, his third in four games. Castillo went 5 2/3 innings for his first victory since May 24, ending a streak of four straight losses.
Raisel Iglesias retired the side in the ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances.
”That was one of our cleaner ballgames of the season,” interim manager Jim Riggleman said. ”We played a good ballgame – offensively, defensively, ran the bases well, timely hitting.”
Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo went a combined 0 for 8 with three strikeouts as Chicago’s offense struggled again, managing only four hits.
”We’ve played maybe two of our least-impressive games in a month,” manager Joe Maddon said. ”It’s just not been us playing our typical game.”
DUENSING BACK
Left-handed reliever Brian Duensing was activated off the bereavement list before the game. He had been gone for four days to attend his grandfather’s funeral. The Cubs optioned right-hander Justin Hancock to Triple-A Iowa.
GREAT GRAB
Cubs reliever Justin Wilson made a diving grab of Jesse Winker’s bunt in the seventh, landing on his chest while stretching for the ball. He was shaken up for a moment but stayed in the game.
STATS
Each of Schwarber’s last three hits has been a home run. Schwarber grew up in nearby Middletown and attended Reds games at Great American. He’s batted .318 in 30 career games against the Reds with nine homers and 25 RBIs.
TOP PICK, FIRST PITCH
Bengals center Billy Price threw a ceremonial pitch pregame, bouncing it to the plate. Price was the Bengals’ top pick in the draft.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: Yu Darvish could begin a rehab assignment next week. He threw 50 pitches in a simulated game without problem on Wednesday. Darvish has been sidelined since May 23 because of tendinitis in his right triceps.
Reds: Homer Bailey will make a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday, throwing between 75 and 90 pitches. Bailey has been sidelined since June 2 with a sore right knee. He’s 1-7 with a 6.68 ERA.
UP NEXT
Cubs: Luke Farrell (2-2) will make his first start of the season after a dozen relief appearances.
Reds: Anthony DeSclafani makes his fourth start. He was sidelined for the first two months with a strained oblique suffered during spring training. DeSclafani is 2-1 with a 4.60 ERA.
Tyler Anderson got in a groove from the first inning and kept on going.
Anderson tossed a career-high eight scoreless innings Authentic Jalyn Holmes Jersey , Pat Valaika, Nolan Arenado and Chris Iannetta homered, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Friday night.
Anderson (5-3) struck out eight and walked one on 96 pitches. The left-hander retired his first 11 batters before giving up a two-out single to Justin Turner in the fourth. Matt Kemp singled leading off the fifth and Yasiel Puig narrowly beat out the throw on a two-out bunt in the same inning.
”It’s been a while since everything has really been on,” Anderson said. ”My last couple of starts were pretty close, I felt like my command was there I just made a couple mistakes. Tonight I didn’t make those mistakes. It was a total mix of all my pitches.”
Anderson retired five straight batters before allowing a single to Cody Bellinger in the seventh. Anderson improved to 4-0 on the road with a 3.48 ERA while holding hitters to a .216 average. The Rockies have won seven of his last nine starts away from home.
”He kept us off-balance,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ”He has a three, four-pitch mix that we couldn’t get any swings off of.”
Iannetta homered leading off the ninth, extending Colorado’s lead to 3-0.
Arenado hit his team-high 20th homer in the eighth and Valaika homered over the center-field fence for Colorado’s first run in the fifth.
Valaika homered for the first time since last Sept. 24 at San Diego. It was just his second homer ever at Dodger Stadium. His first long ball in the majors came on Sept. 24, 2016, in the same stadium.
”It felt good to put the barrel on the ball in a real game, a big league game,” Valaika said. ”It felt good to get the lead, too.”
The Rockies turned double plays behind Anderson in the fifth and eighth innings.
”Andy pitched great. He was spotting up everything, it was pretty easy to play defense,” Valaika said. ”I was thinking it was the third inning and I hadn’t really fielded anything yet.”
Wade Davis worked the ninth to earn his 23rd save in 27 chances.
Rich Hill (1-3) pitched solidly in his third start since coming off the disabled list because of a finger blister. Only one of his six hits was for extra bases, a double by Trevor Story in the sixth.
”The ball came out of my hand the way I wanted it to,” Hill said. ”Everything was really came together.”
Hill struck out a season-high 10 and didn’t walk anyone while allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings. His 110 pitches were a season high and the most he’s thrown since May 13, 2016, at Tampa Bay.
But the Dodgers’ bullpen struggled for the second straight game. Scott Alexander gave up Arenado’s homer and Yimi Garcia allowed Iannetta’s shot.
A day earlier, Walker Buehler was rocked for five runs and five hits in one-plus innings of an 11-5 loss to the Cubs.
Turner’s two-out shot in the ninth gave the Dodgers a franchise-record and major league-leading 54 homers in June with one day left.
”This team has set the record for the most home runs in the month for them, so clearly they’re trying to put the ball in the air,” Anderson said. ”Tonight when they did it they were just underneath a lot of things.”
The Rockies began the month getting swept by the Dodgers in a three-game series, with Los Angeles scoring 33 runs in those games. Colorado improved to 5-2 against Los Angeles this season.
PITCHER CAN HIT
Anderson collected a career high-tying two hits with singles in the third and seventh. Hill had an 0-2 count against him in the third and appeared annoyed when Anderson made contact. ”He’s a good hitting pitcher,” Hill said.
SLUMP BUSTED
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp singled in the fifth, snapping an 0-for-15 skid. In his last 23 games against the Rockies since Sept. 20, 2015, Kemp has hit .389.
UP NEXT
RHP German Marquez (5-8, 5.53 ERA) starts for Colorado, which has won four of his seven road starts this season. He has a 3.07 ERA away from home compared to 7.93 in Denver. RHP Kenta Maeda (5-4, 3.44) goes for the Dodgers. In eight career games, including six starts, Maeda is 5-2 with a 2.11 ERA to go with 48 strikeouts and nine walks.
Edwin Jackson is set to play for his 13th team in the majors Jamie Benn Jersey , matching the most by any big leaguer. The injury-depleted Athletics are promoting him from Triple-A to start at Detroit. The 34-year-old righty will tie the clubs mark held by former reliever Octavio Dotel. Jackson made his debut in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and later pitched for Tampa Bay, Detroit, Arizona, the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis, Washington, the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta, Miami, San Diego and Baltimore.
Jackson and Dotel, who finished up in 2013, were teammates just once in their overlapping careers. They were part of the same three-team trade in July 2011 that sent them to St. Louis, and pitched in the World Series for the champion Cardinals.
AILING
Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is likely headed to the disabled after pulling up while running out a double-play grounder Sunday at Tampa Bay. Manager Aaron Boone said Sanchez hurt his right groin/hip abductor and ”it’s probably going to be a DL situation.” He will have an MRI.
Sanchez is hitting only .190 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs Authentic Derek Forbort Jersey Kids , a season after he made the AL All-Star team while batting .278 with 33 homers and 90 RBIs.
BUCKEYE BROOMS
The AL Central-leading Indians and the NL Central cellar-dwelling Reds each have seven-game winning streaks. Both teams finished up sweeps in Ohio over the weekend and now hit the road – Mike Clevinger (6-2, 3.00 ERA) starts for Cleveland in St. Louis, and Tyler Mahle (6-6, 3.89) pitches for Cincinnati in Atlanta.
REST UP
Cubs star Kris Bryant is day to day with a sore left shoulder. The third baseman missed his second straight start Sunday at Cincinnati, but doesn’t expect to be out much longer. Bryant is hitting .280 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 66 games. The Cubs next open a series at Dodger Stadium.
HE’S O-K
Astros ace Justin Verlander leads the majors with a 1.60 ERA and is among the league leaders in strikeouts. He’s fanned at least 10 three times this season – Houston is 0-3 in those games, totaling just two runs. Verlander (9-2) and J.A. Happ (9-3) both try to reach double digits in wins when Toronto visits Minute Maid Park.
GETTING CLOSER
Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish is ready to make a rehab start for Class A South Bend in the Midwest League. He’s been out since May 20 because of triceps tendinitis. He’s expected to throw around 75 pitches, and hopes to be back in the majors after that outing. Darvish is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts since signing a $126 million, six-year deal with Chicago as a free agent.
TAKE A BREAK
Mets shortstop Amed Rosario is being held out of the starting lineup as part of a mental break over the next couple of days. The 22-year-old is hitting just .249 and has struggled this month.
”We brought him in and talked to him, sat him down and we’re going to make sure that we take these next couple of days to work on some things in his overall game,” manager Mickey Callaway said. ”This young kid is still trying to develop at the major league level and these couple of days will allow him to get some work done in the cage, some work done in the field tomorrow taking groundballs and things like that. So we thought this would be really good for him.”
The Mets have lost six straight. They’ve also dropped 13 of 14 at Citi Field heading into a home series against Pittsburgh.
That’s good news for the New Orleans Pelicans Womens Alexander Steen Jersey , not so much for the Portland Trail Blazers. When Rondo is locked in during the postseason, the 6-foot-1 guard who won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics has shown he can be a tough out.
Over the course of his career, Rondo has averaged 10.5 points, 8.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Comparatively in the playoffs, he has averaged 14.3 points, 9.2 assists and six rebounds per game.
Not that he is buying into the Playoff Rondo hype, however.
”There’s a lot of factors into that. I don’t think you can break it down as simple as one or two things,” Rondo said after practice Monday. ”The interview would probably be too long for me to break it down completely. It’s a matter of me being healthy, minutes, my teammates trusting me, my coaching staff trusting me.
”I think we, as a team, we’re playing pretty good under pressure.”
They are indeed.
Rondo dished out 17 assists in Game 1 of the series, helping the Pelicans take a 1-0 series lead.
”You know, he’s one of the smartest players in the league Joel Eriksson Ek Jersey ,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. ”He can really orchestrate an offense. He makes his teammates better because he can find them. Defensively, he’s really smart: He can sniff things out on the defensive end.”
This was the Rondo that New Orleans hoped it would see in the postseason when the Pelicans signed him to a one-year deal.
Rondo has a reputation as a mercurial player – at times locked in and controlling games, at others seemingly disinterested. A big reason for his success in New Orleans is he’s healthy. After missing the first 13 games with a core muscle injury, Rondo played in 65 regular-season games, starting 63.
And he thrives under the playoff lights.
New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry mused about Rondo’s playoff aptitude before Game 1.
”I think that anyone, if you go back to last year and you watched the Chicago team, what he meant to that team, they went in there and won two games in Boston when Boston was really good,” Gentry said. ”And I think there is a sense of confidence that he has, especially this time of the year.”
Rondo played a major role in the Pelicans’ 97-95 victory in Portland on Saturday night. He tied a franchise record with 17 assists, grabbed eight rebounds and stymied Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum with his defense.
Anthony Davis, who was on the receiving end of many of those assists and finished with 35 points in the game, said Rondo took charge of the game.
”He’s just in a different mode,” Davis said.
The Trail Blazers certainly noticed that.
Rondo was in Chicago last year when Playoff Rondo emerged. After an up-and-down season, he played well in the first game of the team’s opening series against the Celtics. But he was particularly good in Game 2 Roberto Luongo Jersey , just missing a triple-double with 11 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds as the Bulls put Boston in an 0-2 hole. Just as important was his defense on Celtics star Isaiah Thomas.
But he broke his thumb in that second game and was ruled out indefinitely before Game 3. Chicago went on to drop the series to the Celtics.
The Pelicans brought Rondo in hoping he would run the offense and boost Jrue Holiday in the shooting guard position. In the process, Rondo has developed extraordinary chemistry with Davis – and Holiday has had one of the best seasons of his career.
After DeMarcus Cousins injured his Achilles on Jan. 26, New Orleans shifted to more of an up-tempo offense and the change suited Rondo’s ability to push the pace. He had 13 of his double-digit assist games in the 31 games he played after Cousins went out.
Rondo averaged 8.2 points and 8.2 assists this year and finished the regular season with 15 double-doubles and two triple-doubles.
Gentry has been impressed with what he’s seen.
”He’s a really bright player. One of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around,” the coach said. ”I had the opportunity to coach Steph, Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Grant Hill. When you start talking about the extremely smart players, he’s one of those guys. I also think he has a way of giving confidence to the other guys. He makes them believe in themselves.”
After helping Davis notch his first playoff career victory, Rondo has the Pelicans believing there is more where that one came from.
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The Atlanta Hawks are using a high-tech virtual tour to give current and potential season ticket holders a glimpse of their renovated arena.
With Philips Arena currently undergoing major renovations, the Hawks recently launched ”The Preview,” an interactive tour of the transformed arena in downtown Atlanta located between Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park. The tour was opened about a month ago while the arena is currently in the final phase of its $192.5 million renovation.
Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said there is no other experience like the preview center in the NBA.
Thousands of potential suite and seat buyers have already taken the tour held in a 2,500-square-foot space, which is located on CNN Center property. The tour is promoting the revamped arena on several large 70-inch screens as a premiere entertainment venue for basketball games, concerts and events.
Ticket holders in the suites http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/erik-swoope-jersey , cabanas or verandas don’t just use them for Hawks games, the tickets are good for all events at Philips Arena – with food and beverages all included. But the Hawks home games are the primary hook.
”It’s going to be a social place unlike anywhere else in the NBA,” Koonin said. ”All of our research told us that people don’t want to sit down in a chair eating a hot dog out of aluminum foil and watch a game. They want a great night out. … Think Vegas pool meets sporting event.”
”The Preview” offers a before-and-after look at the various amenities from the 360-degree concourse, rapper Killer Mike’s barber shop, Zac Brown’s BBQ restaurant, fantasy golf area, club lounge and premium seating areas with couches and cabanas. The tour, which the Hawks dub as somewhat of a ”Disney ride,” also provides a look at the new state-of-the-art video board system, which is three times larger than the current one.
The Hawks will continue to operate it once the arena renovations are complete, they have three-year lease for the space.
Koonin said team officials know they have much work to do.
Despite the Hawks’ on-the-court struggles this past season, the franchise hopes to claim some victory off it. The team went 24-58 and missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons.
Koonin said they are taking a new business approach to enhance the fan experience beyond any game or event. The courtside club featuring the Hawks Bar in the premium seating area several rows behind the basketball goal was a part of the arena’s phase one transformation.
”I love that they’re not letting it sit around,” said Atlanta-based attorney Randy Kessler, who has been a Hawks season-ticket holder since the arena opened in 1999. He hasn’t been on ”The Preview” tour, but he’s seen images of the new arena.
”I love that they are not just thinking of on-the-court experience Reggie White Jersey , but off it,” Kessler added. ”You should feel special once you walk in, and I did. I thought last year’s improvements were good. Even though the team was terrible, the experience was still great. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.”
Koonin said the Hawks realize with their recent on-court performance they have to continue to work in order to win over fans.
He said the team spent millions of dollars to build the preview center and partnered with a Seattle-based design firm Hornall Anderson to create the virtual tour.
Philips Area is expected to reopen in October, but Koonin said the team will keep the tour going on for the next couple years. The arena might be one of the smallest-capacity NBA venues with 17,600 seats.
Sales centers are not unique to the NBA and several teams with new arenas have given fans an insight to what they can expect in the new facilities, including Sacramento, Milwaukee and Golden State.
Koonin said Hawks officials visited other arena preview centers including Sacramento and the NFL stadium in Minnesota. He said there is no other experience like ”The Preview” in the NBA, but the Hawks are still missing one thing – championships.
Golden State ”has one thing that’s very powerful that I wish we had: A bunch of recent Larry O’Brien trophies and rings,” he said. ”We have to work a little harder.”
The Browns made safety Jabrill Peppers a first-round pick last year in a bid to add a playmaker to the back end of their defense John Miller Jersey , but his impact was muted during his rookie season.
Peppers had 57 tackles and an interception in 13 games and part of the reason he didn’t produce as hoped was because the Browns put him all the way at the back end of the defense. Lining up so far behind the line of scrimmage became fodder for jokes, which Peppers heard but he doesn’t put all the blame on defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ alignment.
Peppers said there “wouldn鈥檛 be jokes if I was making the plays I was supposed to make” and believes that he’ll start doing so this year thanks to the experience he gained in 2017.
“It allows you to play faster,” Peppers said, via Ohio.com. “You know what other guys are supposed to do as well. It allows you to help other guys play to your level Colin Kaepernick Jersey , disguise certain things and make it look like a different scheme, things like that. It definitely helps having a year under my belt going through the offseason process with the guys, the whole offseason process, just relearning certain things Anthony Beauvillier Jersey , learning new techniques and how to play different schemes. It鈥檚 definitely going to be a tremendous help. I鈥檓 just looking forward to go out there, learn from my mistakes, playing that much faster, being in better shape now that I鈥檝e got a year of conditioning with the guys under my belt Quenton Nelson Jersey , just going out there doing what I love to do and what I know how to do best.”
A year of experience isn’t all that will be different for Peppers. The Browns traded for Damarious Randall and his presence is expected to put Peppers closer to the line this time around. If the combination leads to more production for Peppers, it should brighten the outlook on defense in Cleveland.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.
The 49ers announced Tuesday that Armstead is week-to-week because of the injury. The team also said tight end Cole Hikutini will miss practice this week with a groin injury and right guard Joshua Garnett is day to day with a knee injury.
The Niners were able to activate five players who hadn’t practiced since the start of camp last week. Receiver Trent Taylor (back), linebacker Dekoda Watson (calf) and guard Jonathan Cooper (knee) were taken off the physically unable to perform list. Linebacker Malcolm Smith (lower leg) and defensive back Marcell Harris (Achilles) were activated from the non-football injury list.
San Francisco also signed tight end Wes Saxton to a one-year deal and waived cornerback C.J. Goodwin.
It’s been three years since the New Orleans Pelicans made the postseason Authentic Joe Pavelski Jersey , and they’re trying to enjoy the playoff chase during crunch time in the hotly contested Western Conference.
”To be back in that situation is good for us, but we’re going to enjoy it and have fun with it,” Anthony Davis said.
Nikola Mirotic scored a season-high 31 points and tied a season best with 16 rebounds, and Davis had 33 points and 11 boards in the Pelicans’122-103 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
”The coaches did a great job trying to find me, to get some plays for me,” Mirotic said. ”I felt very confident, especially with my defense, and I think when I feel that confident defensively, my offense comes.”
Jrue Holiday added 22 points and 10 assists to help the Pelicans move into a tie for the West’s fifth seed with idle San Antonio and Oklahoma City. New Orleans (45-34) won its second straight after losing four in a row.
”More fun than anything. It’s why we play the game Taylor Gabriel Jersey ,” Holiday said of the playoff run.
The Pelicans led by double digits throughout the entire fourth quarter.
Marquese Chriss led Phoenix with 23 points and rookie Josh Jackson added 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Suns have lost 16 of 17 and are closer to clinching the NBA’s worst record.
”Just wanting to learn every game,” Jackson said. ”I’ve come a long way, I think, and I just owe it to being a student of the game and wanting to become better.”
Davis had 13 points and six rebounds in the first quarter alone, and Mirotic scored 15 points in the period. The Pelicans attempted 18 3-pointers in the first and made eight, building a 39-21 lead after 12 minutes.
The Suns cut the Pelicans’ lead to 11 in the second quarter, but couldn’t get closer in the first half.
Jackson took a forceful elbow from Holiday to his jaw and hit the floor on a drive with 3:20 to go. Jackson was called for a foul, and the Suns bench protested vehemently enough that veteran Jared Dudley was ejected seven seconds later.
Davis scored 14 points in the second quarter, 10 over the final 1:38 before halftime, and New Orleans led 63-46.
The Pelicans scored only four points in the first six minutes of the third quarter to help the Suns cut the lead to 71-62 on the second of back-to-back 3s from Dragan Bender. The Pelicans finished the quarter on a 15-8 run to lead 86-70.
TIP-INS
PELICANS: Davis reached 30 points for the 31st time this season, second-most in the NBA behind LeBron James’ 32. … G Jordan Crawford, re-signed on Thursday, scored 13 points in nine minutes of action. … G Ian Clark missed the game with an illness and sprained right ankle.
SUNS: Guard Danuel House made his first career NBA start. He replaced injured guard Troy Daniels, who sprained his right ankle in Tuesday’s win over Sacramento. … Also out Friday for the Suns: G Devin Booker (right hand), and G Elfrid Payton Chase Roullier Jersey , F T.J. Warren and F Alan Williams, all with knee injuries, forcing the Suns to use their 33rd different starting lineup of the season. … Jackson, before leaving the game late when he took a knee to his upper leg, reached at least 15 points for the 12th straight game.
BOOK(ED) FOR USA BASKETBALL
Booker was among 35 players named to the 2018-20 USA men’s national team roster who are expected to attend its minicamp in Las Vegas in July. Players from that group are expected to form the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympic teams.
Pelicans stars Davis and DeMarcus Cousins were also named to the player pool.
DUNK CONTEST
Both teams dunked on each other in successive possessions late in the third quarter. Jackson elevated for a jam off a pass from Alex Len for Phoenix, then Davis threw down a lob from Rajon Rondo eight seconds later.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Saturday at Golden State.
Suns: Host Golden State Sunday in their home finale.
The Seahawks are giving rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin every opportunity to prove himself in the preseason.
Griffin, the fifth-round draft pick whose left hand was amputated at age 4, played 49 snaps in Saturday night’s preseason game, 37 on defense and 12 on special teams. That total of 49 plays was tied for the most of any player on the Seahawks last night. (Guard Jordan Roos also played 49 snaps.)
It was an up-and-down night for Griffin: He had an outstanding tackle in punt coverage Youth Sebastian Aho Jersey , but he also got called for holding on a punt return. He was in on three tackles on defense after coming in with the second-string defense.
Griffin appears set to make the 53-player roster, although how much playing time he’ll get when the regular season starts remains to be seen. He may see the field more on special teams than on defense, at least at first. The Seahawks’ coaches have spoken positively about Griffin’s work in practice, and he’s doing work in the games as well.
EAGAN Michael Hutchinson Jersey , Minn. (AP) — The end of an NFL player’s career can be a difficult adjustment with, to start, the sudden dip in adrenaline, camaraderie and competition.
Terence Newman was hardly at risk for a bad experience.
He was able to stay on the field until just three days remained before his 40th birthday, but he never had a serious injury. After the Minnesota Vikings announced his retirement, well, he didn’t even have to leave the building. Newman immediately joined the coaching staff and started analyzing film for head coach Mike Zimmer before he could even indulge in a moment of nostalgia.
“I was definitely cool with it. It was something I wanted to try eventually,” said Newman, whose title is nickel/defensive backs coach. “I figured, ‘When’s the best time but now?’ I’ve been in this defense. I know the players. Pretty simple.”
As he discussed his decision in front of reporters at team headquarters Monday, two days after the surprise news emerged with the roster cuts to reach the 53-player limit for the regular season Jacoby Brissett Jersey , Newman at one point started to cry before recomposing himself after a few seconds. Fifteen years in the league is a long time, after all, and even the steeliest of personalities can be softened by a sentimental cocktail of joy, sadness and pride.
Make no mistake, though: Newman will not be wishing this season he still had a helmet.
“I’ve thought about what it’s going to be like on the sideline and not have to hit 300-pound men,” he said. “It’s probably going to be different the first time, not having done it before, probably one of those things where you have to really experience it to be able to talk about it.”
Though Zimmer approached Newman with the idea, the Vikings were prepared to keep him on the roster. His willingness to become an assistant, thus, allowed them to keep a younger player Doug Williams Jersey , like undrafted rookie cornerback Holton Hill for example, who might have otherwise had to hit the waiver wire.
“My body felt good, but I realized that it was time for me to step away,’ Newman said. “I wanted to be done and not have to worry about, ‘What if I ever start a family? Will I be able to walk and play with my kids and stuff like that?'”
In an interview with The Associated Press last week, before he knew what was coming, Newman said he wasn’t spending any extra time this summer savoring his NFL status given that this was already likely going to be his final season as a player. He wasn’t anxious about the end coming, either.
“If you respect yourself as a person and don’t want to be objectified as just a football player, I feel like you have a much easier transition once you’re done because you already understand, hey, you’re a person Authentic Randall Cobb Jersey ,” Newman said. “Football has helped me tremendously and I’ve enjoyed it, but I’m not a football player. I’m a human being. I’m Terence Newman first and foremost, but I happen to play football.”
If an injury were to leave the Vikings short-handed at cornerback, NFL rules would prohibit them from signing Newman. No person employed by a club in any capacity other than as a player may play for any club in that same season unless he’s counted on the active list at the time of the roster reduction to 53 players.
Newman’s primary proteges are Mackensie Alexander, who was listed as doubtful on the injury report on Friday to play in the opener on Sunday against San Francisco, and Mike Hughes, the team’s first-round draft pick.
“I know him on a personal level, so it’s kind of him giving me the gems,” Alexander said. “His coaching expertise is a little different than a normal coach would have, but it works and I’m loving the opportunity to be coached by him.”
The sight of Newman on the practice fields, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt rather than his purple No. 23 jersey Mark Giordano Jersey , was an odd sight. Newman said hearing his now-former teammates call him “Coach” has been strange. His status as an advice dispenser, though, has remained unchanged.
“He’s a guy I went to a lot last year and will continue to go to to ask, ‘What is this corner thinking in this technique? What is he trying to take away? Where is he trying to make you go?'” wide receiver Adam Thielen said. “He’s just a tremendous asset to this team, and I’m glad he’s here.”
Defensive tackle Akeem Spence has been acquired by the Miami Dolphins from the Detroit Lions for a late-round draft pick in 2019.
The Dolphins swung the deal announced Thursday to plug a hole created when they released five-time Pro Bowl tackle Ndamukong Suh for salary cap reasons. Spence will join a rotation at tackle that also includes Jordan Phillips, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor.
Spence has 41 starts in a five-year NFL career. He was with Tampa Bay in 2013-16, and started 11 games for the Lions last year. His career totals include 8 sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
Spence was a fourth-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2013. He grew up in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The rival Koreas moved toward easing their bitter animosity during rare talks Womens James Conner Jersey , with North Korea agreeing to take part in next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. The countries also agreed to hold more discussions on reducing tension along their border and to reopen a military hotline.
The first meeting of its kind between the nations in about two years was arranged after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made an abrupt push for improved ties with South Korea following a year of escalating tensions with the outside world over his expanding nuclear and missile programs. Critics say Kim may be trying to divide Seoul and Washington in a bid to weaken international pressure and sanctions on the North.
In comments that appeared to back up those critical views, chief North Korean delegate Ri Son Gwon said his country’s nuclear weapons are aimed at the United States, not South Korea. He made the comments while complaining about what he called inaccurate South Korean media reports that he said Tuesday’s talks dealt with North Korea’s nuclear disarmament.
TOKYO (AP) – It’s still unclear how many Russian athletes will compete next month in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, but a few things seem certain.
Athletes from winter powers like Germany and Norway could pick up unexpected medals with some top Russians absent because a massive doping scheme four years ago at the Sochi Games.
One medal forecast for Pyeongchang, compiled by Gracenote Sports, which refers to itself as a ”sports and entertainment provider Golden Tate Jersey White ,” shows the impact if Russian athletes are missing.
Gracenote released its medal-table projection on Wednesday, this time removing all Russians from the calculation. The U.S.-based company said it would release a final prediction just before the Olympics open on Feb. 9, this time including Russians who are known to be eligible and who will compete under the name ”Olympic Athlete from Russia” or OAR.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
ATLANTA (AP) – The national championship showdown between Alabama and Georgia drew 28.443 million viewers for ESPN, making it the second-most watched title game in the four years of the College Football Playoff format.
Alabama beat Georgia in overtime , rallying from 13 points down in the second half before winning with a game-ending touchdown pass . Viewership for the all-Southeastern Conference matchup on Monday night in Atlanta was up 13 percent from last season’s Clemson-Alabama rematch from the season before, ESPN said Tuesday.
ESPN said the audience peaked late in the first half at around 30 million viewers and more than 28.4 million were watching when the winning touchdown was scored.
SPORTS BETTING
ATLANTIC CITY Bill Bates Jersey , N.J. (AP) – A new report predicts 18 states will introduce bills to regulate sports betting this year, with 11 having a good chance of passing legislation.
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, which tracks gambling legislation nationwide, says that’s just the minimum; the firm predicts more than 30 states could introduce sports betting bills.
The U.S. Supreme Court this year will decide a case brought by New Jersey that seeks to overturn a ban on sports betting in all but four states: Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. A favorable ruling in that case could open the floodgates in terms of states adopting a new form of gambling.
PRO FOOTBALL
ALAMEDA Youth T. J. Watt Jersey , Calif. (AP) – Jon Gruden finally decided the time was right to finish what he nearly achieved in his first stint in Oakland and deliver another Super Bowl title to the Raiders.
Nearly 16 years after he was traded to Tampa Bay following a crushing loss in the ”Tuck Rule” game in New England and after a six-year courtship by Raiders owner Mark Davis, Gruden is officially back in Oakland where he started his head coaching career 20 years ago.
Gruden was introduced in front of a large crowd that included nearly 50 former Raiders and nine Pro Football Hall of Famers as the coach Davis believes can carry Derek Carr and the Raiders back to the top.
The Raiders nearly got there in Gruden’s first stint from 1998-2001 but the team lost to Baltimore in the 2000 AFC title game and followed that with the memorable loss in the snow against the Patriots that still haunts the franchise.
Gruden was then traded to Tampa Bay the following month for four draft picks and $8 million. He beat Oakland in the Super Bowl the next season but always identified with the Raiders.
”For my career to end that night in New England, it still ticks me off,” Gruden said. ”I’m so thrilled to be back here. I hope people understand the emotion inside. I feel there’s unfinished business. I also feel a lot of loyalty and I feel a lot of responsibility to get the Raiders going again. It’s been a while since we consistently performed at a high level. That’s all I care about.”
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Bills general manager Brandon Beane said there may have been a misunderstanding during an on-field exchange that led to Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue accusing Buffalo guard Richie Incognito of using ”weak racist slurs.”
Beane said the Bills have spoken to Incognito and understand their player’s side of the story of the alleged exchange that occurred during Buffalo’s 10-3 loss to the Jaguars in an AFC wild-card playoff game on Sunday. Beane confirmed some type of exchange happened but declined to get into details.
He added during the team’s end-of-season news conference on Tuesday that the Bills take the allegation ”very seriously,” and are cooperating with the league’s investiga
Washington left tackle Trent Williams said in June that he expected to be ready for camp after having knee problems all of last season that led to offseason surgery and his prediction proved to be correct.
Williams avoided being placed on the physically unable to perform list Deion Sanders Jersey , which means he’s eligible to practice with the team right off the bat in training camp. Running back Chris Thompson said earlier this week that he’d be in the same boat after fracturing his fibula last year and tight end Jordan Reed is also in the cleared to practice after last year’s toe injury.
Coach Jay Gruden said that the team will take things slowly with all three players in the first stages of camp.
“We’ll mainly get them through individual and limited team reps early and slowly adjust their roles as they feel better,” Gruden said, via John Keim of ESPN.com.
Two players will be out of action. Defensive lineman Stacy McGee is on the PUP list and cornerback Josh Hosley is out after injuring his toe when a table fell on it. Hosley may miss regular season time as a result of the injury.
Masai Ujiri believes Dwane Casey deserves to be recognized as the best coach in the NBA Antwaun Woods Jersey , but the Toronto president doesn’t think Casey should be leading the Raptors.
So the Raptors fired Casey, praising him on his way out the door.
Hours after the Raptors announced they were parting ways with Casey on Friday – days after the team was swept in the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second straight season – Ujiri said he doesn’t think he will ever work with a better person.
”Nothing in particular that coach Casey did wrong, but I think it was time for this to happen,” he said.
Casey led the Raptors to a franchise-record 59 wins this season as Toronto earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time. He posted a 320-238 record in seven seasons and is the franchise’s winningest coach.
”I hope coach Casey gets coach of the year, because he deserves it,” Ujiri said. ”I saw everything he did here. I saw the job he did this year. He deserves it.”
But that wasn’t enough for Casey to keep his job.
James and Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said it was disappointing to hear that Casey had been fired, especially after the year the Raptors had.
”Probably within the last five years, I bet they’ve improved in winning percentage every single year,” James said. ”But I guess their front office wants playoff success. That’s what it boils down to.”
On Tuesday, Casey was named coach of the year by the National Basketball Coaches Association http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/rod-smith-jersey , an award voted on by NBA head coaches. A media panel voted separately for the NBA’s coach of the year award, which will be announced June 25.
Under Casey, the Raptors won four Atlantic Division titles and advanced to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. But Toronto couldn’t get past Cleveland, losing to LeBron James and the Cavs in each of the past three playoffs.
Ujiri said he spent ”countless hours” evaluating the team in the days following this year’s defeat before deciding to fire Casey. It was the first time he’d had to fire a coach in more than a decade as an NBA executive.
”It’s the hardest thing I’ve done in my life,” Ujiri said. ”In terms of collaboration, I don’t think I’ll work with a better person. Maybe my dad. This guy is phenomenal. A listener, a learner, a performer and a real person.”
Ujiri had little to say about who his next head coach might be, but said he would be ”open” to considering a wide range of potential candidates.
”We’ll start that process right after I finish here,” Ujiri said. ”We’ll look everywhere. I’m not ruling out anything. We’ll do a thorough job.”
Toronto’s assistant coaches remain in their roles, Ujiri said.
”All of them are with us for now,” Ujiri said. ”Obviously some of them will get interviews. We’re going to go through that.”
After Toronto’s playoff exit last spring, Ujiri demanded a ”culture reset,” leading a greater emphasis on ball movement, depth, and 3-point shooting. On Friday, Ujiri said he wants his new coach to continue that style moving forward.
”I hope we can because you try to get those kind of players to fit that mode,” Ujiri said. ”Hopefully there’s a smooth transition but a new coach is going to have his style Colin Kaepernick Jersey , he’s going to have his voice.”
Earlier this week, as they cleaned out their lockers, All-Star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan spoke positively about Casey.
DeRozan credited Casey with all of his success while Lowry called Casey ”one of the best coaches out there.”
Still, Lowry was dejected by the team’s playoff performance, calling it a ”wasted year” after a third straight elimination at the hands of James and the Cavs.
”We felt like we could possibly make the NBA Finals,” Lowry said. ”That was our goal.”
On Wednesday, Casey insisted ”the gap is closing” between the Raptors and Cavaliers.
”A lot of folks have run up against Cleveland in the last few years and had the same challenge and it went down the same way,” he said. ”That’s the mountain this organization has to climb.”
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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.
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Tuesday was a big day for Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
He signed a five-year, $72 million contract heading into the fourth season of an NFL career that started as a fifth-round pick in 2015 and has seen him outperform plenty of players who were selected earlier in the process. In addition to the deal giving Diggs job security and locking up another core Vikings player, it also allowed Diggs to fulfill a request his father made shortly before dying of congestive heart failure in 2008.
“It means a lot to me because my dad sat me down a couple months before he passed away http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/matthew-ioannidis-jersey ,” Diggs said, via the Pioneer Press. “He just told me, ‘Look after your brothers. Look after your mom. Look after your family.’ That meant a lot to me. With this day coming forward, it just came full circle. I have a lot of emotions.”
Diggs’ emotions may have been mixed on such a momentous day, but the other reactions around the Vikings were likely a simpler mix of happiness and excitement about having Diggs in the fold for years to come.
A woman frantically asks an emergency dispatcher to coach her on how to perform CPR during a 911 call as she and others desperately struggle in vain to save the life of Olympic skier Bode Miller’s daughter after the toddler fell into a swimming pool.
”Yes Jeremy Kerley Jersey , hurry. HURRY,” the woman shouts at the beginning of the call released Tuesday.
Asked by a male dispatcher what the emergency is, she tells him a 19-month-old girl fell into a backyard pool, is not breathing and has no pulse.
”We don’t know,” the woman, who sounds near tears, replies when asked how long the girl was in the water.
”Are you doing CPR or do you need me to coach you through it?,” he asks.
”Coach me through it, please,” she replies.
Neither her voice nor others heard on the call are identified.
”I have a small pulse. I have a small pulse,” a man says urgently at one point.
”I need an oxygen machine here. Like now,” he adds.
”Ok. They’re coming as fast as they can,” the dispatcher replies as he continues to give instructions.
”Come on, Emmy. Come on baby girl Dean Lowry Jersey ,” the woman pleads.
As the minutes tick off, the man swears as he asks where the ambulance is.
”They’re on their way. They’ve been on their way for several minutes. Ok? They’re just about there, they’ right there on the street,” he says shortly before emergency sirens are heard.
Paramedics continued to try to revive the girl as they rushed her to the hospital, said Capt. Tony Bommarito of the Orange County Fire Authority, which released the 911 call.
There have been 13 drownings in Orange County so far this year, according to statistics released Tuesday by the agency. Three involved children under 5 while other victims were 15 or older.
The fire authority reposted its rules for staying safe in the water on its Facebook page Tuesday. Among them are always having adult supervision at pools where children are present, keeping pools behind a barricade that includes a locked gate and knowing CPR.
Miller, who lives in Coto de Caza, is the most decorated male U.S. skier with 33 World Cup wins, two overall titles, four world championships and six Olympic medals, including gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games in the super-combined. At the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia Devin Shore Jersey , he was the oldest alpine skier – at age 36 – to win a medal.
It was at his fifth and final Olympics in Sochi that Miller was brought to tears as he reminisced about his younger brother, Chelone, a promising snowboarder who died at age 29 after a seizure the year before.
Since retiring from skiing he’s worked as an NBC sports analyst. His wife, Morgan, is a professional volleyball player.
On Tuesday Miller posted a recent photograph of himself holding his blonde-haired daughter, along with the message, ”Thank you for all the love and support.”
In a previous post he said, ”Never in a million years did we think we would experience a pain like this,” adding that Emeline’s love and spirit would never be forgotten.
Miller and his wife have three older children.
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Associated Press Writer Brian Melley contributed to this story.
Lou Lamoriello is taking over the New York Islanders.
All the questions belong to him now.
The Islanders announced the hiring of Lamoriello on Tuesday as president of hockey operations, giving the longtime NHL executive the keys to a franchise that has missed the playoffs eight times in the past 12 years with Garth Snow as general manager.
The 75-year-old Lamoriello, who led the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cup titles and helped Toronto become playoff contenders again, is tasked with trying to re-sign star center John Tavares and the future of Snow and coach Doug Weight.
Lamoriello said he had no preconceived notions about the inner workings of the Islanders, and he also wasn’t willing to show his hand on what he might do with the team.
”As I’ve done in the past in a situation like this, I take a step back and see exactly what the people who you have in place have to offer Richard Panik Jersey , what their thoughts are, what their vision is and then make decisions as I go along,” Lamoriello said on a conference call. ”I certainly have thoughts like you think I would have. But rather than express them, I’d rather just keep them to myself and allow the process to take place before making any judgments.”
Those judgments will be his to make. The Islanders said Lamoriello ”will have full authority over all hockey matters with the organization.”
”We are committed to giving Lou every resource and the full support of the entire organization as we pursue our program to compete at the highest level,” co-owner Scott Malkin said.
This move undoubtedly takes power away from Snow, who has four years left on his contract originally signed by previous owner Charles Wang. Lamoriello’s hiring was first reported by The Athletic, which said Snow’s deal has a ”steep buyout.”
But Lamoriello didn’t go to the Islanders to share power. He left New Jersey to become Toronto’s GM in 2015 after he was bumped upstairs and replaced by Ray Shero. The move to the Islanders comes after he was shifted into an advisory role with the Maple Leafs, who promoted Kyle Dubas.
One of Lamoriello’s most pressing issues is Tavares, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. The 27-year-old forward just finished a $33 million, six-year contract. He had 37 goals and 47 assists this season, finishing a goal and an assist shy of the career highs he set in 2014-15.
Lamoriello had nothing but praise for the star center, who will receive a lucrative long-term deal this summer from the Islanders or another team.
”He’s one of the elite players, a gentleman both on and off the ice and he’s just a quality individual as well as a quality player,” Lamoriello said.
Because the Islanders missed the playoffs the past two years Bob Lilly Jersey , hiring Lamoriello is at the very least a sign to Tavares of ownership’s willingness to make improvements. Lamoriello led the Devils’ hockey operations from 1987-2015, reaching the Stanley Cup Final five times and winning in 1995, 2000 and 2003, and is well-respected for his management expertise.
That will be tested in his third stint running a front office, this time for a team that has had son Chris Lamoriello as assistant GM since 2016. He takes over just a month before the draft and five weeks before the clock runs out on re-signing Tavares before he hits the open market, giving him tight deadlines to ”bring the Islanders back where they were” in the 1980s when they won the Cup four times.
”When there is time, you use it. When there isn’t, you make a decision,” Lamoriello said. ”We’ll have to evaluate everything in a short period of time, but not at a rushed pace.”
A Philadelphia Eagles fan accused of punching a police horse and a mounted officer before the Eagles’ NFC championship victory is suing the team and police Tony Jefferson Jersey , claiming he didn’t strike the horse and he was beaten for no reason.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the lawsuit Andrew Tornetta filed Wednesday alleges assault and battery by the police and seeks damages in excess of $50,000.
The 20-year-old Tornetta says as a result of the beating, his ”false” arrest and demonization in the media he has suffered ”physical pain, discomfort, trauma, humiliation, embarrassment Jake Guentzel Jersey Kids , emotional distress” and sleeplessness.
The Eagles and city and state police say they won’t comment on pending legal action.
The Eagles’ 38-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings in January sent them to the Super Bowl, in which they beat the New England Patriots 41-33.
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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, At home, the Vegas Golden Knights have a fortress to protect, a Knight to vanquish opponents and Michael Buffer to introduce the combatants.
On the road, they have hockey.
The Golden Knights are looking for a little road cookin’ as the Stanley Cup Final against the Capitals goes to Washington for Games 3 on Saturday night with the series tied at one game apiece. They’re 6-2 on the road so far in the playoffs.
”I think it’s going to be good we get on the road,” forward Jonathan Marchessault said. ”I think we got comfortable there a little bit. It’s going to be good to just keep it simple and play our game on the road.”
Vegas is plenty comfortable on home ice Womens Kevin White Jersey , 7-2 even after dropping Game 2 Wednesday. That’s a far cry from the Capitals, who are 4-5 at home.
Road success has been a hallmark of each team’s run to the Final. Vegas won two of three games in a tough building in Winnipeg in the Western Conference final and has built plenty of confidence playing away from home.
”We try and play the same game no matter what game we’re playing at, and it worked really well so far in the postseason,” coach Gerard Gallant said Thursday. ”We just try and play the same game – play a quick, fast game, an up-tempo game. Every game’s important in the playoffs, so I really don’t think it matters if you’re playing at home or on the road. Just make sure you’re focused for that game.”
Focus can be hard to keep at an arena on the Las Vegas Strip where the pregame entertainment is the talk of the NHL. The Golden Knights scored the first goal and allowed the next two in each of the first two games this series Youth Matt Nieto Jersey , which isn’t how they got to this point.
After a 3-2 loss, Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt said the message going to his old hometown of Washington is: ”Play more direct. Play to our strengths. Try not to get sucked into the transition game that they want to play.”
His former teammates would be wise to listen. For some reason, the Capitals’ game has been better on the road where they can slow things down and take advantage of odd-man rushes.
Three rounds in, they haven’t quite figured out how to do that at home. But coach Barry Trotz doesn’t think there’s a systemic problem with his team at home.
”I think you try to bring some of the things that you do on the road,” Trotz said. ”We’ll get some energy off our crowd and hopefully you want to get the other team on their heels when you’re at home a little bit just as you do on the road. I just think managing the puck is key for us at home. When we do that well, we do it well and we’re pretty effective.”
Gallant concedes that his top line of Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith will have to play against whoever Trotz wants because the Capitals get the last line change on the road. That’s one big plus for the Capitals Womens Clay Matthews Jersey , who might not have top center Evgeny Kuznetsov after he left Game 3 with an apparent left arm or wrist injury.
”We can get some matchups that we actually prefer,” Trotz said. ”It should be fine. We’re very comfortable at home. Our record over the last four years at home was one of the best in the National Hockey League, so I think that’ll get back to where we want it to be.”
Kellen Winslow II faces a new charge in San Diego Mikkel Boedker Jersey , accused of raping an unconscious 17-year-old girl in 2003, USA Today reports.
The former NFL tight end, now 34, was arraigned on the additional charge Thursday.
“When there is a rape that occurs and the victim is under the age of 18 years old, there is no statutory time [limit] to when that can be charged,” Dan Owens, deputy district attorney in San Diego County, said, via the newspaper.
Earlier Thursday, Winslow was ordered to stand trial on two counts of rape Jimmy Vesey Jersey , two counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape and one count of forcible sodomy. Winslow, who pleaded not guilty to all charges at a preliminary hearing, could face life in prison if convicted on all charges.
His next court hearing is scheduled August 17.
The Denver Nuggets are playing playoff-caliber basketball. One more win and they’ll be doing it for real.
Facing elimination and an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter Monday night, the Nuggets rallied past the Portland Trail Blazers 88-82 for their sixth consecutive victory.
”That was another playoff game. That was just tough, physical for 48 minutes,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
One more win Wednesday night at Minnesota and the Nuggets will end a five-year playoff drought.
The Trail Blazers have lost four straight but still harbor hopes of clinching the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
”At the end of the day this team is going to make a shot. I’m not worried about that,” said Jusuf Nurkic, who had 20 points and 19 rebounds. ”We have one more at home (against Utah) and it’s probably going to be for the third spot. We’re going to fight for that.”
The Nuggets kept their season alive thanks to Nikola Jokic’s 10th triple-double of the season and a stifling defense on a night their starters made just 22 of 61 shots.
”I told them at halftime, I was honest, I said Youth Terrell Suggs Jersey , `Fellas, if we lose, we’re out.’ I knew some of these other teams had won games. And I felt we played like our lives were on the line,” Malone said. ”It wasn’t pretty, but I thought our defense was phenomenal.”
The Trail Blazers scored 25 points off 18 offensive rebounds but managed only one bucket and two offensive boards in the fourth quarter, when they were held to 13 points.
Jokic scored 15 points, pulled down a season-best 20 rebounds and had 11 assists. Will Barton added 22 points, leading a comeback from an 11-point third-quarter deficit.
”It was a playoff tuneup,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. ”Both teams competed at a high level. I was proud of the way we defended, especially when you’re having trouble making shots. I’m actually encouraged by the way we played Brent Burns Jersey , the way we fought. If we get those looks most of the time we’re going to be in pretty good shape.”
Damian Lillard led Portland with 25 points.
Jokic secured his 16th career triple-double when he fed Devin Harris for a 3-pointer that put the Nuggets ahead 73-71 with eight minutes left, their first lead of the second half.
They didn’t trail again.
The Nuggets’ big win came exactly one year after Russell Westbrook’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave Oklahoma City a 106-105 win at Denver that eliminated the Nuggets from last year’s playoff party.
This time, it was Denver that came up big in the end.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: F Ed Davis returned to action after missing four games with a sprained right ankle, and Stotts said the boost he provided was bigger than his 5.4-point and 7.4-rebound averages. ”What he offers on the court is unique, as far as his rebounding, his screen setting, his finishing around the paint, all those things,” Stotts said. ”His presence in the locker room, his presence on the bench. Just the intangibles. He’s been a very integral part of what we’ve done this year.”
Nuggets: Malone said he decided to bring Gary Harris off the bench rather than start him because he didn’t want to mess with the chemistry the Nuggets had developed while going 7-4 in his absence. … Barton had averaged 18.5 points Brandon Saad Jersey , 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists while starting in Harris’ place the previous 11 games.
TECHNICAL SPARK: Malone drew a technical for arguing a no-foul call when Jamal Murray went down hard with 6:18 left in the third quarter and the Nuggets trailing 62-53.
The Nuggets outscored Portland 35-20 afterward.
”Coaches are funny that way,” Devin Harris said. ”I thought it was the right thing to do. Obviously, I thought Jamal got fouled. But he used it to kind of fire us up and we needed a little bit of an energy pick-up right there and I thought Coach gave it to us.”
NO HELP:
The teams ahead of Denver in the playoff race haven’t done the Nuggets any favors. A loss to Portland would have eliminated the Nuggets from playoff contention because the Spurs, Timberwolves, Thunder and Pelicans all won Monday night.
They won’t be watching the scoreboard Wednesday night, either.
”We can’t anticipate them helping us,” Devin Harris said. ”We dug ourselves into this hole; we’ve got to dig ourselves out.”
”We wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Gary Harris, who returned from an 11-game absence with 12 points. ”If we win we’re in.”
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Play Utah at home Wednesday night in their regular season finale.
Nuggets: Can end their playoff drought with a win at Minnesota on Wednesday night.
C.J. Anderson is leaving Denver with a million memories Dexter Manley Jersey , a Super Bowl ring and no hard feelings.
"It's business, I understand it," Anderson told The Associated Press on Monday after he was released by the Denver Broncos. "I've been here five years and it came to an end. So, I'm excited for the next opportunity."
Where that is, "I don't know," Anderson said. "I have no clue at all."
Possible landing spots include Miami, where Dolphins coach Adam Gase offered him a four-year Alex DeBrincat Jersey , $18 million deal in 2016 that Denver matched, and New England, where Patriots coach Bill Belichick is also a big fan.
Anderson hits free agency at an opportune time.
He's 27, has just 683 career carries and is coming off his best season, one in which he played in all 16 games for the first time and ran for a career-best 1,007 yards .
"I would never say it's a good time to be free," Anderson said. "All I ever tried to do was give my best effort to Denver in every way possible. I did that for five years. Now it's time to go and do that for another team."
Anderson wasn't one of the 23 running backs drafted in 2013 but the Cal alum has put up better career numbers than all of those running backs except for one: Steelers star Le'Veon Bell.
Anderson's resume includes a Pro Bowl Jake Guentzel Jersey Kids , two dozen TDs, a pair of playoff touchdowns and numerous game-sealing runs, none bigger than his TD plunge that capped Denver's 24-10 win over Carolina in the Super Bowl three years ago.
Shortly afterward, Gase, who had been his offensive coordinator in Denver, offered him the big contract that Broncos GM John Elway ultimately matched.
Because there was no dead cap money in 2018 or '19, Anderson knew his release was, if not imminent, a very strong possibility this offseason as the Broncos rebuild an anemic offense following a 5-11 season.
"I knew I could be released or traded at any time," Anderson said.
His release not only clears a combined $9 million off the books for Denver but it opens the way for Devontae Booker, De'Angelo Henderson or maybe even a pick in the upcoming draft to take over as the Broncos' featured back alongside new QB Case Keenum .
"I respect the decision whether it's a money issue or a play issue," Anderson said. "They feel like they can move on from me. I understand that. That's the beauty of our game. Now I get an opportunity to showcase my skills somewhere else."
The Bengals expect Joe Mixon to be their “bell cow” in the backfield in his second season and Mixon’s preparation for that role included cutting some of the weight he carried as a rookie.
Mixon played at 230 pounds last year Womens Dak Prescott Jersey , but is down to 218 pounds with training camp getting underway next week.
“I was working in that heat,” Mixon said, via the team’s website. “I feel like that’s where I play my best. I was trying to get low last year but I wasn’t able to make it. I feel real good. My body feels real good. I feel like I’m in really good shape.”
Mixon ran 178 times for 626 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games during his rookie season. He closed the year with 18 carries for 96 yards in a victory over the Ravens and that’s likely the kind of performance the Bengals hope to see on a regular basis this season.
Regardless of what it says when Mixon steps on the scale, improved offensive line play will be crucial to making that happen. First-round center Billy Price and left tackle Cordy Glenn were brought in to help make that happen and the coming weeks should start to provide some answers about how that attempt will play out.
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16.10.2018 11:00
