PEORIA Andrew Benintendi Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — hat and slipped a crisp No. 13 Padres jersey over his broad shoulders.“It’s finally over,” Machado said with a grin.Finally, indeed.Machado joined his new team on Friday, a day after finalizing a $300 million, 10-deal contract that signals the Padres think their loaded farm system is just about ready to help the club return to playoff contention. The blockbuster deal with spring training already in full swing is the highest ever for a free agent and second only to Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million, 13-year agreement.After months of speculation that roped in Machado’s family and friends and tested the patience of fans in several cities, the All-Star slugger is headed for the sunshine and beaches of San Diego.“With the players, coaching staff and front office, you know it was just like a perfect fit for us,” Machado said.San Diego had just 66 wins last year in its eighth consecutive losing season. The Padres have never won the World Series, but they have a group of highly regarded prospects on the brink of the majors — led by shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and left-hander MacKenzie Gore.Making room for Tatis Luis Tiant Jersey , the 26-year-old Machado will play third in an infield that also includes first baseman Eric Hosmer, who agreed to a $144 million, seven-year contract last February.Bryce Harper, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel remain on the free-agent market, and general manager A.J. Preller isn’t ruling out another big addition.“We’re always open-minded to looking at improving our club,” Preller said. “We understand we want to be at the top part of the standings. We have a lot of work to do from that standpoint.”Machado hit .297 last year and set career bests with 37 homers and 107 RBIs. A four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, he has a .282 career average with 175 homers and 513 RBIs in seven big league seasons.Machado was traded from Baltimore to Los Angeles in July and helped the Dodgers to their second straight World Series appearance — and loss. But he caused a stir during the NL Championship Series when he failed to run out a grounder and later said: “Obviously I’m not going to change, I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle’ and run down the line and slide to first base.”Asked if his comments were brought up during free agency, Machado said it was the kind of stuff “you leave in the past.”“You address it at the moment and you just move forward from it,” he said.Machado shifted from third base to shortstop at the start of last season and had expressed a preference to stay at that position. But he maintained it was only one factor of his decision-making process.“Shortstop was a big key, but at the end of the day it’s always a matter of what team http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-dustin-pedroia-jersey , what position, how would it be?” he said. “I’ve played third base my entire life, moved over obviously because I’ve always wanted to, the spot was open, but coming here to come play third base, I saw a great opportunity to help out other guys, help out young guys, help out Tatis.”The Padres had been searching for a third baseman all offseason. Preller had been in contact with Machado’s camp, but the team got more serious in its pursuit about six weeks ago.The deal was finalized after team chairman Ron Fowler and general partner Peter Seidler had a two-hour lunch with Machado on Wednesday in San Diego.“They knew about the organization. They knew what our priorities were with family and I think that helped us sign them,” Fowler said. “Obviously 300 million didn’t hurt, but I think this is where they wanted to be.”Machado also was hotly pursued by the Chicago White Sox Tony Conigliaro Jersey , another struggling club looking to add a marquee player to its strong farm system. Chicago’s offer was worth $250 million over eight years, with the potential to go even higher with options years that could become guaranteed. The White Sox also traded for Yonder Alonso, Machado’s brother-in-law, and signed outfielder Jon Jay, one of Machado’s close friends.But Alonso and Jay also spent time in San Diego earlier in their careers, and Machado said they enjoyed the experience.“They talk great about San Diego. They never stop talking about it,” he said. “Yonder loves it, Jon Jay as well. So they’re just happy for me, for my family and for our situation.”The Padres took out insurance to cover the entirety of Machado’s deal, but Fowler declined to say how much it cost. He didn’t seem to mind the extra cash too much, either.“I guess my state would be I’m much happier as to where we are now than where the White Sox are http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-dustin-pedroia-jersey ,” Fowler said. Los Angeles Dodgersoutfielder Yasiel Puig has recently had his home burglarized a number of times and had an intruder on his property this week, though police in the area are ramping up their efforts, according to TMZ Sports.Per that report, "Cops have significantly increased their presence in the San Fernando Valley area where Puig's home ave been hit by thieves.Puig's fourth burglary he last one was this week s the catalyst for law enforcement to kick things up to nab some of these bad guys."According toTMZ, authorities believe the same three men had broken intoPuig's home once before.Theyreportedlydid around $10,000 worth of damage to hishome in their latest break-in.Per that report, "Puighas a Ring security system set up at his home to get alerts for any visitors, but so far it hasn't been enough to keep thieves away."Puig's home has now been burglarized four times: last season's spring training, last year's World Series and twice since Aug. 30.According toTMZ, musicianWizKhalifaandactress ChristinaMilianhave recently had their homes burglarized as well in theSan Fernando Valley ofLos Angeles.
Sharp action has hit five games on tonight's MLB slate Adam Duvall Jersey , including Giants-Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET.Tuesday was not the low-scoring evening the sharps were expecting. They were all over four of last night’s unders, but came out with only one win of the bunch.Tonight, sharp action has moved lines in five different games, with four of the line moves coming on a side, and only one on a total.Wiseguys Moving Falcons-Eagles Line Away From PhiladelphiaRead nowBetting Terms to KnowSteam Move: Sudden Michael Lorenzen Jersey , drastic and uniform line movement across the market caused by an overload of sharp action from respected players.Reverse Line Movement: When the betting line moves in the opposite direction of the betting percentages. It a top smart money indicator.Line Freeze: When one side is getting heavy betting, but the line won budge, indicating sharp liability on the other side.Juice: The tax or commission that bettors must pay sportsbooks in order for them to accept your wager. A -115 juice means a bettor would have to wager $115 to win $100.Full Sports Betting Glossary>> All odds as of 4:40 p.m. ET. Download The Action Network App to get real-time MLB odds and track your bets.Get The EdgeLIMITED TIME OFFER - 60% OFFUnlock this article + all the EDGE benefitsTRY EDGE TODAYNow accepting&Already an EDGE member? Sign In A look at what’s happening around the majors today:LET’S BE FRIENDSStill in contention for a postseason spot, the Seattle Mariners seem to have some internal issues that need sorting out. A brawl broke out in the team’s clubhouse Tuesday several hours before a game against Baltimore at Safeco Field. Mariners shortstop Jean Segura and teammate Dee Gordon apparently tangled, while catcher Mike Zunino and other players tried to break up the skirmish. Moments after Gordon politely asked reporters to leave the locker room http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey , the double doors burst open with players shoving and shouting. Segura was on the ground in the fracas. “Our guys are working through it and talking through it,” manager Scott Servais said. “It happens a lot more than you know. Almost every year you see it. Sometimes it brings teams together. … Things reach a boiling point and you have to get it off your chest.”FOOT BALLFirst baseman Anthony Rizzo said he plans to play as the Cubs try to avoid a three-game sweep in Milwaukee. Rizzo left Tuesday night’s 11-1 loss with a bruised right foot but said he was OK. The injury occurred when Rizzo fouled a ball off his foot in the third inning. He was replaced in the sixth, and the team said X-rays were negative. Rizzo entered the game hitting .284 with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs. Jose Quintana (11-9) pitches for the NL Central leaders against Jhoulys Chacin (14-5) and the second-place Brewers, who trail Chicago by three games.HOLE IN THE LINEUPDodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is set to finish serving his two-game suspension when Los Angeles hosts the New York Mets. Puig lost his appeal and began sitting out Tuesday night. He was involved in an altercation with San Francisco’s Nick Hundley during an Aug. 14 game, taking an open-handed swipe at the catcher’s mask. Puig is eligible to return for Friday’s series opener at Colorado. The Dodgers also were awaiting word from team doctors on whether closer Kenley Jansen will return for the weekend series. After Jansen was at altitude in Denver last month Scott Feldman Jersey , he went on the disabled list due to an irregular heartbeat that was shocked back into rhythm. Jansen has experienced two separate atrial fibrillation episodes while in Denver with the Dodgers, who are locked in a tight race with the Rockies and Diamondbacks for the NL West title.BAD TIMINGWith the Phillies trying to stay close in the playoff chase, third baseman Maikel Franco has reported worsening soreness in his right wrist. He planned to return to Philadelphia for evaluation by a specialist. Earlier X-rays were negative, but Franco missed his second game in a row Tuesday night in Miami, and he was expected to undergo an MRI. He’s batting .267 with 22 homers and 66 RBIs.BART’S BACKBartolo Colon is expected to pitch for Texas in his first game since going on the disabled list. The 45-year-old Colon was hit hard by Oakland on Aug. 20 in his last outing http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey , then was sidelined by back stiffness. Colon (7-11, 5.45 ERA) is set to start at home against the Angels. He has 247 career wins.
NEW YORK (AP) — Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has undergone heel surgery http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-j.j.-hardy-jersey , the second of two foot operations the team hopes will enable him to return at some point next year. North Carolina. Dr. Robert Anderson also operated on Cespedes’ right heel Aug. 2.The 33-year-old slugger was limited to 38 games this year and hit .262 with nine homers and 29 RBIs. He missed two months after a May 13 game at Philadelphia with what the Mets said was a strained right hip flexor. He homered at the New York Yankees in his return July 20, then surprised the Mets after that game by revealing the foot issues.Five days later, the Mets said Cespedes was going to have surgery on both feet. Assistant general manager John Ricco said then that Cespedes was likely to need eight to 10 months to recover.Cespedes’ latest operation came one day after the Mets announced minor league right-hander Franklyn Kilome had Tommy John surgery Wednesday in New York performed by the club’s medical director, Dr. David Altchek.The 23-year-old Kilome, rated the organization’s fifth-best prospect, went 4-9 with a 4.18 ERA this season in 26 combined starts between Double-A Reading and Double-A Binghamton of the Eastern League. He was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 27 for veteran infielder Asdrubal Cabrera.In addition, Tampa Bay Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom had a second interview with the Mets this week to become their general manager. Bloom met Wednesday with owner Fred Wilpon and his son, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon.In a brief statement released by the Mets on his behalf Adam Jones Jersey , Bloom said it was “a productive meeting.” He is a finalist for the job along with agent Brodie Van Wagenen, who represents Cespedes and several other high-profile Mets players.Doug Melvin also had a second interview with the Wilpons this week but the former Texas and Milwaukee general manager is no longer in the running for the position, according to multiple reports.Sandy Alderson was hired as Mets general manager in October 2010 but took a leave of absence in late June after he had a recurrence of cancer. He said the team’s poor record did not merit him returning.The club’s baseball decisions have since been made by the trio of assistant general manager John Ricco and special assistants Omar Minaya and J.P. Ricciardi, all reporting to the Wilpons. WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals were expected to be in the midst of a pennant race as August wound down. Instead it is the Milwaukee Brewers who are in the running for a playoff spot.More Brewers coverageBrewers Final Pitch: Chacin dominates mound in Game 3 of NLCSChacin, Brewers blank Dodgers to take 2-1 lead in NLCSDespite struggles, No. 23 Badgers still have hope in Big TenStrong winds could be factor for Brewers, Dodgers in NLCS Game 3Photos of the Week: 10/7/18 – 10/13/18Milwaukee comes to Washington for three games beginning Friday after beating the Cincinnati Reds for the second straight day on Thursday.The Brewers (75-60) got a Lorenzo Cain homer in the 11th inning for a 2-1 win that left them a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the top wild-card spot in the National League. Milwaukee is five games behind first-place Chicago in the National League Central.Thursday’s win followed Milwaukee’s 13-12 victory in a 10-inning slugfest on Wednesday night.“I think the offense looked tired,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell told mlb.com after Thursday’s win, “but you grind through it and you play good defense. We made pitches and Lo Cain got the big hit.”Washington (67-67) begins a 10-game homestand against NL Central entries Milwaukee Manny Machado Jersey , St. Louis and Chicago while trying to remain in the playoff hunt coming off a 3-3 road trip. The Nationals are 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Braves in the NL East and nearly as far back in the wild-card race with four teams ahead of them for the No. 2 spot.Brewers right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (13-5, 3.61 ERA) opposes right-hander Tanner Roark (8-13, 3.95) in Friday’s opener.Roark has been a different pitcher since the All-Star break, stepping up when the Nationals needed someone to back up ace Max Scherzer. Roark is 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his last seven starts. During that stretch, he has struck out 37 batters and walked five.“You really just feel unhittable,” a grinning Roark recently told the Washington Post. “You feel like each pitch that you’re about to throw is untouchable, and that’s what you want as a pitcher.”He started that streak in Milwaukee when he blanked the Brewers for eight innings in a July 25 win. Roark struck out 11 and walked only one.Last time out he was an unlucky loser against the Mets, allowing one run and four hits in six innings of a 3-0 Mets win.Roark entered the All-Star break 3-12 — winless since June 6 — with a 4.87 ERA.“It’s been awesome,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told the Post regarding Roark’s sharp turnaround. “Every time he goes out there we have a chance to win ballgames.”Roark is 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) in his career versus the Brewers.Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich is 9-for-36 (.250) against Roark. Jonathan Schoop is 2-for-4 and both hits are homers.Chacin has also enjoyed a strong August. After allowing eight earned runs to the Dodgers on Aug. 2 Chris Davis Jersey , he has surrendered just six earned runs while going 3-1 over his last four starts.“We talked in spring training that once Yelich and Cain came aboard, we kind of forgot about Chac , and how important he can be,” Counsell told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s ended up being really important.”The Brewers are 19-9 in games Chacin has started. He’s coming off a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he gave up three earned runs in six innings.Chacin beat the Nationals on July 23. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing a run and two hits while striking out nine without a walk. In his career, he’s 4-2 with a 3.06 ERA in nine starts against Washington.Anthony Rendon is 4-for-14 (.286) versus Chacin, and Adam Eaton is 3-or-11 (.273) and Bryce Harper 0-for-6.
Derby David Ross Jersey , New York, and not move production to a nonunionized facility in Florida.New Era Cap Co. said in November it was planning to shut the site in March and reached a closing agreement with the union last month. New Era has been Major League Baseball’s cap supplier since 1993.MLB caps are less than 2 percent of New Era’s production total. The company said it will move production to Hialeah, Florida, and its non-MLB production “would be absorbed by our existing global supply network.”The Major League Baseball Players Association said Thursday the decision will “cause economic harm” to the workers and Derby, which is about 20 miles (32.19 kilometers) south of Buffalo.New Era said it made the decision to “more closely align its business model with its competitors in the global sports, lifestyle and apparel industry” and said it was among the last companies in the industry to own its plants.The company said the move is “not about chasing lower, ‘non-union’ wages, as has been erroneously reported.”“Given that New Era will continue to adhere to all aspects of our contract, is making a strategic shift in its operating model based on the company’s assessment of its industry and has already signed an agreement with the union, MLB is not in a position to change the outcome of this circumstance,” MLB said in a statement. “We recognize these challenging set of circumstances for those affected.” CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The biggest play from the Phillies‘ spring training game Thursday: great communication behind the home dugout.Philadelphia fans with an eye on their smartphones cried out when reports emerged that Bryce Harper had agreed to a deal with the Phillies, breaking the news to manager Gabe Kapler and his players during a 5-5 split-squad tie with the Orioles. Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year deal with the club, the largest contract in baseball history. Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, said the deal was agreed to shortly before noon http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , subject to a successful physical.“If the reports are true, it’s a huge moment for our baseball team,” Kapler said. “Certainly I think that the city of Philadelphia would embrace Bryce Harper. I think he would be very happy in this city because our fans care deeply about winning.”A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire big league career with the Washington Nationals, Harper topped the $325 million, 13-year agreement outfielder Giancarlo Stanton reached before the 2015 season with the Miami Marlins.Harper has a .279 career average with 184 homers and 521 RBIs, including a .268 average with 14 homers, 32 RBIs and a .930 OPS in 47 games at Citizens Bank Park. He likely would hit third or fourth, according to Kapler.“We get a whole lot better on the field,” Kapler said. “Bryce Harper is a sensational teammate.”Jean Segura had a hit and scored a run for Philadelphia, and Baltimore’s top prospect Yusniel Diaz had three hits with two doubles, driving in a run. Dylan Bundy made his first start for the Orioles, yielding one run on four hits in two innings. Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Boston Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, went hitless in two trips.AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESRED SOX 13, NATIONALS 5Blake Swihart had an RBI single a day after the death of his 23-year-old brother, Romell Jordan. Swihart was pulled following his hit in the fourth and was greeted by a big hug from manager Alex Cora in the dugout.Jackie Bradley Jr. had three hits, driving in a run and scoring another for Boston. Brock Holt hit his first home run of the spring Drew Smyly Jersey , a three-run shot, and Xander Bogaerts added an RBI double and a single.Matt Adams picked up his first spring double and home run for Washington. Max Scherzer made his second start, giving up one hit in three shutout innings with four strikeouts.PHILLIES (SS) 11, BLUE JAYS 5Scott Kingery had a double and a single, stealing a base and scoring a run for the Phillies. Aaron Altherr walked three times and scored twice.Top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had his first spring double for Toronto. Randal Grichuk hit a three-run home run.YANKEES 8, PIRATES 6Troy Tulowitzki hit a three-run home run for New York. J.A. Happ made his first start, allowing three runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. Aaron Judge doubled and scored.Jung Ho Kang had a hit, an RBI and scored twice, raising his average to .429 this spring with a 2.214 OPS in three games.METS 3, CARDINALS 2Michael Conforto got his first two hits of the spring and stole a base for New York. Top prospect Pete Alonso had two hits and two RBIs, and Jason Vargas allowed only Matt Carpenter’s leadoff home run, pitching two innings and striking out three in his first start.Miles Mikolas made his second start for St. Louis, allowing five hits and a walk in three shutout innings.TIGERS 7, BRAVES 6JaCoby Jones had his first spring hit, singling and scoring a run for Detroit. Matt Moore made his second start for the Tigers, surrendering two runs and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.Ozzie Albies had two hits for Atlanta. Touki Toussaint was rocked in his second start, allowing five runs Brandon Morrow Jersey , four hits and a walk in one inning.ASTROS 7, MARLINS 5Carlos Correa had an RBI double for Houston. Robinson Chirinos had a single and a run-scoring double. Jose Altuve went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts at designated hitter and is expected to play second base next in his third game following offseason knee surgery.Brian Anderson hit a two-run home run for Miami. Sandy Alcantara made his second start, allowing two runs, two hits and three walks in two innings.BREWERS (SS) 10, REDS 8Mike Moustakas had a solo home run and Jesus Aguilar drilled a three-run double for Milwaukee. Brandon Woodruff made his first start, pitching one inning. He walked the bases loaded with one out but got out of the jam unscathed.Matt Kemp drove in two runs with two doubles, and Yasiel Puig hit his first home run for Cincinnati, a two-run shot.GIANTS 6, BREWERS (SS) 2Chris Stratton made his second start for San Francisco, striking out three in three shutout innings. Drew Ferguson, in a battle with Austin Slater for the starting job in right field, notched his first hit of the spring with a two-run single. Slater tripled and scored.Lorenzo Cain singled and walked for Milwaukee. Christian Yelich was hitless in two at-bats in his spring debut.DIAMONDBACKS 10, INDIANS 7Rule 5 draft pick Nick Green pitched three scoreless innings and got the win in a promising spring debut. Abraham Almonte had three hits and two RBIs, and Steven Souza Jr. added a run-scoring double. Merrill Kelly, trying to win a spot at the back of the rotation, retired just one batter and yielded three runs, three hits and a walk.Jose Ramirez had an RBI single and a three-run home run for Cleveland. Newcomer Kevin Plawecki had two doubles and an RBI.ROYALS 3 http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , PADRES 2Billy Hamilton had a single for his first hit with Kansas City. Jorge Lopez, slated as the Royals’ No. 4 starter, made his first start. He yielded a hit and a walk over two scoreless innings.Top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. had his first spring double and walked for San Diego, and fellow youngster Luis Urias hit a two-run homer, his first long ball of the spring.ATHLETICS 10, CUBS 3Franklin Barreto and Ramon Laureano hit solo home runs and Josh Phegley had three hits and an RBI for Oakland. Brett Anderson, vying for a rotation spot in his return to the Athletics, allowed two hits and a walk in his first start, pitching three shutout innings.Kyle Schwarber had his first double for Chicago. Anthony Rizzo went 0 for 2, striking out twice. Kyle Hendricks pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut, allowing two hits.ROCKIES 7, DODGERS 7Ian Desmond hit a solo home run and Daniel Murphy had a single for his first hit with Colorado. David Dahl had a double and an RBI, and infield prospect Colton Welker hit his second homer of the spring. Chad Bettis made his second start, pitching three innings and allowing two runs and three hits.Justin Turner singled and doubled for Los Angeles. Cody Bellinger had a two-run home run, and Rich Hill allowed two unearned runs in his second start, pitching 2 1/3 innings.MARINERS 8, WHITE SOX 3Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger each had a double for Seattle. Jay Bruce drove in his first run as a Mariner with a groundout. Dustin Ackley drove in two runs. Ackley http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , Seattle’s No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, is trying to grab a roster spot after being traded away to the Yankees in 2015. Felix Hernandez made his second start, allowing two runs in three innings while striking out four.Chicago ace Lucas Giolito made his first start, pitching two innings and allowing three runs — one earned — and three hits. Tim Anderson hit his first spring home run, a two-run shot.RANGERS 10, ANGELS 6Ronald Guzman hit two solo homers, giving him three homers this spring for Texas. Matt Davidson hit his second home run and Joey Gallo added an RBI double. Drew Smyly, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2016 with Tampa Bay and was on the disabled list for Seattle all last season, pitched a perfect inning in his spring debut.Mike Trout went 0 for 3 leading off for Los Angeles. Tyler Skaggs was tagged in his first start, surrendering four runs, two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.RAYS 1, TWINS 0Blake Snell made his spring debut and opened Tampa Bay’s two-hit victory with one strong inning, and Oliver Drake, Ryan Yarbrough and Colin Poche helped closed it out. Promising youngsters Austin Meadows and Lucius Fox each had two hits, and Fox had the only RBI.Adalberto Mejia pitched two scoreless innings for the Twins.
SURPRISE Nolan Ryan Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — after the Texas Rangers ended last season, with the then-rotund outfielder visiting some of his favorite restaurants at home in California and enjoying late-night snacks.After that planned indulgence, Calhoun spent the rest of his offseason in the Dallas area focused on changing his body.“I told myself going into this offseason that I wanted to better myself as an overall person, not just as a baseball player, just as a person in general,” the 24-year-old said. “So I just wanted to take ahold of my life, really. I got tired of looking in the mirror every day and seeing myself with a stomach.”A slimmer Calhoun showed up at spring training after losing 24 pounds and dropping to 199.The 5-foot-8 Calhoun, the prized hitting prospect Texas got when Yu Darvish was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers two summers ago http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , changed his eating habits and committed to his fitness routine.“I really just want to take the next step in my career,” he said. “I just feel like right now is the time where I can elevate and hopefully reach my potential.”There was no more fast food, and nothing to eat after 7:30 p.m. He hired a chef to prepare meals.Primarily a second baseman in the Dodgers organization, Calhoun made his big league debut as an outfielder at the end of the 2017 season when he got an RBI single in his first at-bat and played 13 games. He didn’t get called up last year until late July and got sent back to the minors before returning in September. The left-handed hitter had a .222 average with two homers in 35 games for the Rangers.“This is the best of my 24 years of my life I’ve ever been, just because last year was kind of like a reality check, and really humbled me,” he said. “I told myself I never wanted to go back to where I was mentally there. … Looking back at last year, not wanting to go back to that mental state of mind Carlos Lee Jersey , really motivated me this offseason.”Calhoun is hoping to earn a spot on the opening-day roster, likely as a fourth outfielder since the Rangers appear set with Joey Gallo, Delino DeShields and Nomar Mazara as starters. There are two other veterans, likely designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo and three-time All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence, who is in camp on a minor league deal.New manager Chris Woodward is familiar with Calhoun from his days in Los Angeles, where he was the third-base coach and an infielder instructor the past three years. Woodward has noticed the obvious change in the player’s approach and appearance, and seen his daily commitment both physically and mentally.“He’s in a better place because he’s not worried about . like in the past it was always am I too heavy, there was always this kind of way about him that he felt like he wasn’t good enough. And now it’s like that’s wiped out http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , he’s put in the work,” Woodward said. “‘Now it’s time to play baseball, he’s excited about that.” PHOENIX (AP) — Reliever Greg Holland and the Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized their $3.25 million, one-year contract.A 33-year-old right-hander, Holland was 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA with St. Louis and Washington last season, when he earned $14 million. He has a 2.83 ERA in eight major league seasons.He can earn an additional $3.5 million in performance bonuses: $1 million for games and $2.5 million for games finished.Holland would get $50,000 each for 15, 20 Jose Altuve Jersey , 25 and 30 games; $100,000 apiece for 35, 40, 45 and 50; and $200,000 each for 55 and 60. He would earn $50,000 each for 15 and 20 games finished; $150,000 apiece for 25, 30 http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , 35 and 40; $300,000 each for 45 and 50; and $600,000 apiece for 55 and 60.Arizona announced the agreement Thursday. To clear a roster spot, right-hander Jake Barrett was designated for assignment.Holland was an outstanding closer with Kansas City, where he had a 1.80 ERA in 2011, a 1.21 ERA and 47 saves in 2013 and a 1.44 ERA with 46 saves in 2014.An elbow injury that required surgery in 2015 affected his velocity, but he has remained mostly effective.Holland pitched one season for Colorado before going to St. Louis last year. Holland was released by the Cardinals after going 0-2 with a 7.92 ERA in 32 games. He signed with Washington and was 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA in 24 games for the Nationals.
Dylan Buell/Getty ImagesOne week remains in the 2018 MLB regular season Jack Morris Jersey , and the playoff picture is finally starting to take shape.So far, five teams have clinched a spot in the postseason. secured their respective divisions, the Houston Astros have sealed a spot andhave a lead in theirdivision race, and the New York Yankees will be one of the participants in the AL Wild Card Game.What remains is essentially six teams fighting for five spots, with three division titles still to be decided.An updated look at thepostseason bracket is available at MLB.com.Below are the AL and NL wild-card standings, along with each team's odds of reaching the postseason following Sunday's action, according to FanGraphs.American Leaguex-New York Yankees,95-60 (WC1); 100.0 percent playoff oddsOakland Athletics,94-62 (WC2); 100.0 percent playoff oddsTampa Bay Rays, 87-68 (6.5 GB); 0.0 percent playoff oddsSeattle Mariners, 85-70 (8.5 GB); eliminated from playoffsNational LeagueMilwaukee Brewers, 89-67 (WC1); 99.0 percent playoff oddsSt. Louis Cardinals, 87-69 (WC2); 79.6 percent playoff oddsColorado Rockies,85-70 (1.5 GB); 27.4 percent playoff oddsArizona Diamondbacks, 79-77 (8.0 GB); eliminated from playoffs OutlookThearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesThe American League side of things is all but decided, as the Rays' elimination number stands at one heading into the week. That means that the next win by Oakland or loss by Tampa Bay will officially clinch a spot for the A's.The AL Wild Card Game will be played on October 3and can be seen on TBS.The National League side is a bit more cluttered.The Chicago Cubs hold a 2.5-game lead over the Brewers in the NL Central standings http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-curtis-granderson-jersey , with the Cardinals at 4.5 games back, so there's still a chance for both of those teams to seize the division title.The same goes for the Rockies, who trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 1.5 games in the NL West standings.So let's take a closer look at the remaining schedules for each of those five teams:CHC:vs. PIT (4), vs. STL (3)MIL:at STL (3), vs. DET (3)STL:vs. MIL (3), at CHC (3)LAD:at ARI (3), at SF (3)COL:vs. PHI (4), vs. WAS (3)And here's a look at how each team has performed in September, to give an idea of their momentum:CHC:12-9 (+5 RD)MIL:13-7 (+43 RD)STL:11-10 (+8 RD)LAD:14-7 (+47 RD)COL:13-8 (+22 RD)The Cardinals have the toughest road ahead as they face off against the Cubs and Brewers. That also means they control their own destiny to some degree, as a big final week could vault them into the division lead.The Rockies might actually have the most favorable remaining schedule with series against a pair of non-contenders at home, but they're at an obvious disadvantage with a 1.5-game deficit to bridge in both the wild-card race and the NL West standings.The NL Wild Card Game will be played on October 2, and ESPN will have the broadcast. DENVER (AP) — Denver native Kyle Freeland wears the affection for his city on his right arm: Tattoos of the area code (303), the elevation (5,280) and a silhouette of the Rocky Mountains.With his left, there’s the ability to carry the Colorado Rockies to even greater heights.Since it’s the team he grew up rooting for, Freeland takes immense satisfaction in the Rockies’ recent run of success. The homegrown hurler hopes to deliver something else this season along the way to what would be a third straight postseason appearance: Colorado’s first NL West title. The left-hander will try to begin the season on the right foot as the opening day starter Thursday in Miami.“I take a ton of pride of being a part of this team, that is winning and that is trending up Aaron Loup Jersey ,” Freeland said . “I take pride in being from Colorado, being a product of the school system in Denver and everything that my life has been leading up to these past couple of years. It’s just pure pride. I love the state, love the city, and I can’t imagine growing up anywhere else.”Freeland is coming off a strong season in which he finished 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA. He wound up fourth in the NL Cy Young voting in part because of a 2.40 ERA at Coors Field, which was the lowest home mark in team history.So much for being rattled by the hitter friendly park. Then again, he went to high school in the area and became accustomed to pitching at altitude.“It’s kind of nice to shove it back in some people’s faces who doubt the pitching at Coors Field or pitching for the Rockies,” Freeland said. “We’re starting to show people it doesn’t matter if you’re high altitude or sea level, if you can pitch you can pitch.”As a kid, Freeland watched this team go through numerous valleys with an occasional peak (like 2007, when the Rockies made their only World Series appearance). That’s why last season was so special, with Colorado in the NL West chase all the way to the end, before the team lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a tiebreaking game.Freeland got the call to start the postseason. He tossed 6 2/3 masterful innings on short rest in a 2-1, 13-inning win over the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild-card game. That was his final start of the season as the Rockies were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series. German Marquez, another bright spot in the rotation, made Colorado’s lone start at home.The season was another step in the right direction for the Rockies, who made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history.“You start getting addicted to that feeling. You want more. You want to get deeper into the playoffs,” Freeland said .Given his heavy workload — a career-high 202 1/3 innings — he really didn’t start throwing until January. Other than that Matt Adams Jersey , he kept his offseason routine pretty much the same.“You can always improve,” said Freeland, who turns 26 on May 14. “Because if you’re not looking to improve yourself in this game at this level, that you’ve figured it out, you’re wrong and you’re going to get hit in the mouth pretty hard the following season.”Freeland was originally drafted in the 35th round out of Thomas Jefferson High School by Philadelphia. Instead of signing, he went to the University of Evansville, where he posted a 1.90 ERA his final season. He was taken by Colorado with the No. 8 overall pick in 2014.He made the squad in 2017 and went on to win 11 games during his rookie season. His most notable start that season was against the Chicago White Sox when he came within two outs of the first no-hitter by a Rockies pitcher at Coors before surrendering a crisp single to Melky Cabrera.Freeland was the model of consistency last season with 24 quality starts.“With Kyle, there’s always a desire to get better,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s talented and he has a good head on his shoulders.”As for having his name mentioned alongside the likes of New York’s Jacob deGrom, Washington’s Max Scherzer and Philly’s Aaron Nola — the trio who finished ahead of him in last year’s NL Cy Young vote — now that was humbling.“It shows you that you belong there and you can compete,” Freeland said. “I’m excited to see where it takes me.”About those tattoos along his right arm — simply his pride showing through.“I love pitching here, love having the support group I have from friends, family and the entire fan base,” Freeland said. “Being a hometown kid, this is great. It would be a little weird to be somewhere else.”
ST. PETERSBURG Orlando Cepeda Jersey , Fla. (AP) Out by out, the Tampa Bay Rays are revamping the roles of major league pitchers. style and buying into baseball’s analytical movement to transform themselves from perennial losers to playoff contenders, the budget-minded franchise is trying to reinvent itself through unconventional means.Welcome to the dawn of the ”opener” and ”bullpen days,” which the Rays have used to overcome a dearth of starting pitching to rebound from the worst 17-game stretch to begin a season in team history.It’s a world where long-time relievers Sergio Romo and Jonny Venters made the first starts of their major league careers, and the Rays used 30 different pitchers – seven of them rookies who combined for 39 starts – through their first 106 games.”It’s still early, but I think we found out that it does benefit some pitchers,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Depending on matchup, the Rays may use an ”opener” to face three to six batters to begin a game.A ”bullpen day” starter, by comparison, generally pitches deeper into games though usually no more than twice through an opposing team’s lineup.”I think some of our young starters have been benefited by not having to face that first four or five hitters in the lineup,” Cash said. ”I give a lot of credit to those guys for buying into a unique approach that’s been talked about a lot,” Cash said. ”It’s nice that they have come together, embraced it, and I think enjoyed it to some extent. When it goes well, it’s a lot of fun.”The ”opener” debuted May 19, when Romo made the first start of an 11-year big league career after 588 relief appearances. Since then, the Rays have the major leagues’ second-best ERA.In all, they’ve used an ”opener” 24 times, going 11-13 in those games. Additionally, there have been 19 ”bullpen days” in which the team has gone 9-10.Tampa Bay is averaging 4.3 innings per starter, by far the fewest in the major leagues, according to Baseball Info Solutions. Toronto is 29th at 5.27 innings.”It definitely is different. It definitely is outside the box. But the way it’s all been pieced together, it’s almost turning into our normal,” said Romo, who more recently has re-settled into a more customary role as a closer http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-keith-hernandez-jersey ,Rookie Ryne Stanek, for the most part, has flourished as an opener, holding opponents scoreless in 12 of 15 starts, including four in which he didn’t allow a hit. Venters, who made 244 appearances as a reliever before making his first major league start in early June, did not fare as well in his only outing as an opener. The 33-year-old was traded last week to Atlanta.”Ryne Stanek definitely has benefited from that role,” Cash said. ”It’s amazing every day how much buy-in we get. We know we’re doing some unique things. and some questionable things that people scratch their head at, but these pitchers do a tremendous job of buying in.”Good, young starting pitching was among the keys to a stretch of four postseason appearances over six years under Maddon, including two AL East titles and an improbable run to the 2008 World Series.This season’s unorthodox approach to dividing the workload was born of necessity.Cash expected to break spring training with a four-man rotation of Chris Archer, Blake Snell, Nathan Eovaldi and Jake Faria, while using the bullpen to cover days that would require a fifth starter.The ”opener” was added to the mix help the manager cope with injuries that at times left the Rays with three – and sometimes just two – healthy starters.”I get it. It makes some sense, especially when they have some starters down. … A little unconventional, and I don’t think necessarily ideal, but I certainly get it,” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.”You do what gives you the best chance to win, regardless,” Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter echoed. ”They’re doing it because they don’t have any starting pitchers.”While Cash concedes it’s still too early to draw any conclusions about the potential effectiveness long-term – or whether other clubs will be intrigued enough to follow Tampa Bay’s lead – the strategy nevertheless has helped the Rays stay afloat following a 4-13 start.The team is 49-40 in 89 games since April 18 and 53-53 overall entering a nine-game homestand that begins Tuesday.That’s despite using 30 pitchers season, tying a franchise single-season record.And, with 14 different starting pitchers – six more than all of last year – the Rays have matched the number the club had the previous three seasons combined.”I can be completely candid and honest. When it works, it feels pretty good when it’s happening. But when it doesn’t, it’s pretty gut-wrenching,” Cash said after one game in which the results were not pretty.The Rays have had enough success that they’ve begun experimenting with openers in the minor leagues.Could others in the majors be open to trying it Bob Gibson Jersey , too?”Baseball is kind of a copycat game. It depends on how it all plays out,” Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. ”I don’t like (using relievers that way). But everybody’s got to do what they got to do with what they have, and what they want to do.”The Rays, meanwhile, are focusing on themselves.”We’re not necessarily looking to get credit. We probably don’t want to get bashed, either, for it,” Cash said.”But every decision we make, there’s a lot of thought that goes into it. We’re not throwing something up against the wall,” the manager added. ”This is an opportunity that presented itself with so many young pitchers, and it is nice to see it play out when we have success.”—AP freelance writer Mark Didtler contributed to this report.— TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin picked a great year to have a great year.Corbin will be one of the most coveted free agents in the majors this winter, and entering the market after a career year is never a bad plan.He will bring a 10-5 record and a 3.06 ERA into his 29th start of the season Friday in the second game of a four-game series against Atlanta at Chase Field. The Braves will counter with right-hander Kevin Gausman (9-9, 3.78 ERA).Article continues below ...Atlanta won the series opener, although it was not easy. The Braves took a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning, lost a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth on a Paul Goldschmidt game-tying homer, and rallied for a 7-6, 10-inning victory to avoid a second straight difficult loss. The Braves lost a six-run lead in the eighth and a one-run lead in the ninth in a 9-8 loss to Boston at home on Wednesday.“I tell you what it speaks to, the makeup of that team in there,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said, nodding toward the clubhouse. “The resiliency. The fight. The grit. It speaks volumes. After what we experienced (Wednesday) and to potentially get your heart ripped out again … and those guys pulled off a win.”The Braves increased their NL East lead to 3 1/2 games while the Diamondbacks fell 2 1/2 games behind NL West-leading Colorado. The Diamondbacks have lost five of six and will look to Corbin to turn it around.Corbin, 29, is third in the NL with a career-high 214 strikeouts, trailing only Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. Corbin is averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, second in the NL http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-willie-mcgee-jersey , and his 5.2-to-1 ratio of strikeouts to walks is third.About all he has lacked this season is consistent run support.Those numbers probably would have translated into more victories had he received more than an average of 4.04 runs per start. Corbin has turned it up down the stretch, having given up as many as four runs only twice in his last 13 starts. Nine of those were quality starts.Corbin was chosen to make his first Opening Day start this season, threw a one-hit shutout in his fourth start and kept rolling. He recently tied Miguel Batista’s team record for starters by going 11 consecutive starts without giving up a home run. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said he was impressed by the offseason commitment Corbin showed after going 14-13 with 4.03 ERA in 2017.“It’s not a surprise to me — it is what he had in him,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said of Corbin’s year.“The type of offseason, work-wise, that he had was leading me to believe he was prepared physically for the season. Emotionally is always a wild card. You just don’t know where they are going from a mindset standpoint. But fundamentally I knew that he was going to be locked in.“It was a big year for him personally for a lot of different reasons. I know he wanted to contribute to this team the best that he could. My conversations with him, they seemed very directed and pointed toward a healthy year. When he was named the Opening Day starter, I think it took him emotionally to a whole new level.”Gausman, the fourth player taken in the 2012 draft, has pitched like it since joining the Braves in a July 31 deadline deal with Baltimore, a trade that also brought reliever Darren O’Day in exchange for a package of four minor league players and international bonus pool money.After a few minor tweaks to his approach, Gausman has posted a 4-1 record and a 1.66 ERA is six starts for Atlanta, including four quality starts. He has given up as many as three earned runs only once. In 38 innings, he has given up 26 hits and has 26 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .190 batting average.“They’ve made some adjustments,” Snitker said. “I think they did something with the delivery. Our system, the game-planning, has benefited him. He’s another one who has really fit in great here. He’s been really, really good for us.”Gausman was 5-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 21 starts with the Orioles, where he spent his previous five seasons.The Braves control him for one more year before possible free agency.Gausman has never faced the Diamondbacks.Corbin has made five quality starts in his last six appearances, and he threw five scoreless innings against the Dodgers in the one game he did not, receiving a no-decision in a 3-2 loss last Saturday in Los Angeles. He had 48 strikeouts against four walks in that span.Corbin faced Atlanta in their first series this season, giving up six hits and four runs in six innings of a 5-1 loss on July 15, the final game before the All-Star break. Corbin was named to the NL All-Star team but did not pitch in the game. He is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against Atlanta. That is Corbin’s lowest ERA against any opponent he has faced more than once.
Brewers http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-christian-arroyo-jersey , the Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League pennant and clinched their place in the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.Boston, which will represent the American League, previously earned its spot after knocking out the defending champion Houston Astros in five games.The World Series will pit a pair of dynamic offenses against two excellent pitching staffs. During the regular season, both squads held top-10 rankings in runs scored and team ERA.No matter the result, this should be a gripping series to watch.How They Got HereBoston Red SoxALDS (best-of-five): Red Sox 3, New York Yankees 1ALCS (best-of-seven): Red Sox 4, Astros 1 Los Angeles DodgersNLDS (best-of-five): Dodgers 3, Atlanta Braves 1NLCS (best-of-seven): Dodgers 4, Brewers 32018 World Series ScheduleBillie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty ImagesGame 1, Oct. 23: Dodgers at Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 2, Oct. 24: Dodgers at Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 3 http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-nathan-eovaldi-jersey , Oct. 26: Red Sox at Dodgers, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 4, Oct. 27: Red Sox at Dodgers, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 5, Oct. 28*: Red Sox at Dodgers, 8:15 p.m. ETGame 6, Oct. 30*: Dodgers at Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 7, Oct. 31*: Dodgers at Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETNote: *if necessary. All matchups will be televised on Fox.Players to WatchMookie Betts, RF, Boston Red SoxThe potential American League MVP, Mookie Betts posted a .346 batting average with 84 extra-base hit I during the regular season.Betts' scorching year at the plate hasn't continued in the playoffs. So far http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-daniel-robertson-jersey , he's mustered only eight hits in 39 total at-bats with three doubles, zero homers and three RBI.However, that doesn't mean he's not making an impact. Even excluding the controversial non-home run from Game 4 of the ALCS, Betts made several outstanding defensive plays. His most notable happened in Game 5, robbing Astros star Alex Bregman of extra bases.Despite only having eight hits and four walks, Betts has scored eight runs this postseason. If his excellence at the plate returns, Betts might add World Series MVP to an expanding trophy case. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles DodgersKevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesClayton Kershaw is working toward becoming one of the greatest pitchers in major league history. Anyone who still disagrees, though, will quickly point out his minimal postseason success.Since 2013, the southpaw has opened 20 playoff game of which are considered quality starts (six-plus innings, three runs or fewer). Compared to his regular-season dominance Matt Andriese Jersey , that 55 percent rate is quite disappointing.Put simply, Kershaw's 9-8 overall record and ERA above 4.00 is disappointing.In Game 2 of the NLDS, he dominated the Braves with eight scoreless innings. Milwaukee pounced on Kershaw for five runs (four earned) during Game 2 of the NLCS, but he responded in Game 5 and allowed only one run over seven innings of work.Kershaw will likely start two World Series tilts, potentially being available in relief for Game 6 or 7, if needed. If he can finally thrive on the biggest stage, any doubts about his legacy will be eliminated.Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter Kenyon19_BR. Dustin Bradford/Getty ImagesIf the Los Angeles Dodgers are indeed interested in Bryce Harper and willing to offer him a long-term contract, it might be lights out for any other team's pursuit of the star outfielder, including the Philadelphia Phillies.According to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, "SomePhillies officials have grown concerned Harper will sign with the Dodgers if they make an offer that comes close to Philly's. The ability to play close to home and train in Arizona both appeal to Harper, who is a Los Angeles Lakers fan."Morosi also reported the Dodgers may be willing to dedicate more money to Harper following Nolan Arenado's reported eight-year, $260 million contract extension with the Colorado Rockies hat includes a player opt-out after three years, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic Tuesday:Jon Morosi jonmorosiMore on #Dodgers as possible Bryce Harper destination: As a wise baseball friend reminded me http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-c.-j.-cron-jersey , the Dodger front office was known to admire Nolan Arenado, who as of today is no longer an option. Suddenly, there is more room in the team future budget. MLB MLBNetworkWhile the Phillies have long been the favorites in the Harper sweepstakes, given their apparent willingness to spend as much money as it would take on a star this offseason, the tide appears to be shifting toward the Dodgers.The team even moved to the top of the odds to land him:B/R Betting br_bettingUpdated odds on Bryce Harper next teamDodgers: -150Phillies: +125Cubs: +4000Giants: +4500Braves: +5000Brewers: +5000Rockies: +5000Cardinals: +6500Nationals: +7500(via Bookmaker) pEIcCKyZFEJon Heyman of the MLB Network, meanwhile, has tweeted regularly about Harper's free agency and the Dodgers recent foray into the mix:Jon Heyman JonHeymanPhillies have offered Bryce Harper over $300M but word is others are over $300M, too. they believe they may have high bid but their confidence to win was dented a tad by emergence of LA (a desired Harper spot). Philly has to decide whether to keep faith or dip into the stupid $Jon Heyman JonHeymantheres been serious action among calfiornia teams lately. word is the padres checked back in on Bryce following news of LAs surprise emergence. the giants are also in, and one wonders whether even logical LAs renewed interest was triggered a bit by SF (amp;amp; their former gm Zaidi)Jon Heyman JonHeymanearlier, dodgers were only interested in short-term deal. is it possible they were granted meeting w/o long-term commitment due to desired locale/stage? possible. but as likely LA re-evaluated. short-term deal with certain super high AAV would also be worse for tax in near term.And MLB analystJim Bowdenbelieves the Dodgers should make a push for Harper, tweeting that the team "must realize with Arenado now not a free agent option...and the industry believing [Paul] Goldschmidt will eventually be extended by the St. Louis Cardinals and with no middle of the order bats in their system coming and [Clayton] Kershaw's shoulder barking...they need to pivot and make a strong run at Harper."From an offensive standpoint, Harper would, in essence Jesus Sucre Jersey , replace the departed Manny Machado, who signed with the San Diego Padres this offseason. In Philadelphia, meanwhile, he'd be a major upgrade in the outfield and pair with J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins, Jean Segura and Andrew McCutchen to give the team a fearsome lineup.With the multitude of reports suggesting Harper would prefer the Dodgers, however, the Phillies may need to seriously top any potential offer Los Angeles is willing to make. Or that's simply what agent Scott Boras wants Philly to believe and the Phillies are the only team even in the ballpark of what Boras and Harper are hoping to get in this contract.That's the situation the Phillies find themselves in. Are the Dodgers a legitimate threat, or are the Phillies simply bidding against themselves out of fear that another team is lurking?It's high-stakes poker, and it threatens to last into March, much to the chagrin of baseball fans.
Arizona Diamondbacks http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-reggie-jackson-jersey , that was definitely worth the price they paid for.The package that the Cardinals had to put together for Goldschmidt was expensive, but he provides them everything that they have been missing for many seasons. He will provide his new team with qualities they haven't had in a long time.Goldschmidt is the type of player the Cardinals have been missing since former player, Albert Pujols, left the team for a big money contract from the Los Angeles Angles. He supply's them with middle-of-the-order power, and great defense at first base.advertisingPaul Goldschmidt is the sort of middle-of-the-order force the Cardinals have lacked since Albert Pujols left. A momentous trade for them. He's got a year left on his deal, and the Cardinals paid handsomely for him.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2018The six-time All-Star will give the Cardinals a major upgrade just off his offensive capability alone. Last season, Goldschmidt hit 33 home-runs and drove in 83 runs. But that's just the beginning, he also hit for a .290 batting average and a .922 OPS.There's no question that Goldschmidt carried the Diamondbacks offense again for the sixth straight season. Over those six seasons, he has averaged 30 home-runs and 100 RBI's. With his break-out year back in 2013, when he hit for 36 long-balls and 125 RBI's.Goldschmidt will likely be seen carrying the Cardinals offesnse next season as well, which is why he should be hitting in the number three spot in their lineup heading into 2019. Here is what the projected batting lineup will look like for the Cardinals.advertisingMatt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, Paul Goldschmidt, Marcell Ozuna, Paul DeJong, Kolten Wong Andrelton Simmons Jersey , Harrison Bader, Dexter Folwer, and the pitcher's spot.Paul Goldschmidt is 1 of 2 position players and 3 players overall with 4.5+ WAR each season since 2013. The others are Mike Trout and Max Scherzer.— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) December 5, 2018The 31-year-old also provides spectacular defense at the first-base position. He is a Gold Glove award winner and has never made more than seven errors in a season. Which will improve the Cardinals from a season ago, because they made a league-leading 20 errors at first-base last season.Carpenter played the majority of last season at first-base. He committed eight of those 20 total errors, while also creating eight errors at the third-base position as well. He has always been known for making errors聽throughout his entire career. Which is where Goldschmidt will look to help clean up that area.advertisingWith Goldschmidt playing at first-base, Carpenter will be able to return to his regular position at third-base. The rest of the Cardinals defense is projected to look as follows; Molina at catcher, Goldschmidt at first-base, Wong at second-base, DeJong at shortstop, Carpenter at third-base, Ozuna in left-field, Fowler in center-field and Hader in right-field.The #Cardinals get Paul Goldschmidt in a painless fashion. It is not often that a club adds an MVP caliber-player like this without it stinging a bit. The three players may help the #Dbacks and the draft pick helps too but the Cards are protected with their depth.— Steve Phillips (@StevePhillipsGM) December 5, 2018The acquisition of Goldschmidt did cost the Cardinals some very valuable assets. They were forced to give up聽Carson Kelly, Luke Weaver, Andy Young and the club's Compensation Round B selection in the 2019 MLB Draft.Kelly and Weaver are the centerpieces of the return going back to the Diamondbacks. Kelly is a very solid defensive catcher, but where he lacks is in his hitting. He will be able to start in games this season for the Diamondbacks http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-yunel-escobar-jersey , but will likely be hitting at the bottom of the lineup with his .154 batting average in 63 appearances in the MLB.For Weaver, his future as either a starter or a reliever is still undecided. It sounds like the Diamondbacks are going to try him out as a starter heading into next season. Last season, he started 25 games for the Cardinals and also appeared five times from out of the bullpen.The Cardinals were able to include these players because of the depth they have at those two positions. Andrew Knizner is close to as good of a catcher as Kelly is, but he is a way more developed hitter then Kelly as well.They also have Alex Reyes coming back from Tommy John surgery and will likely factor into the role that is left vacant by Weaver next season. Getty ImagesGoldschmidt will only be under contract for this upcoming season. He is scheduled to make $14.5 million for next season. The Cardinals will likely offer him a three or four year extension either before the season or after it.He will only be 32-years-old heading into the 2020 season, so it's very unlikely that he will regress to the point where he is unable to still produce like he is now. Which is why if the Cardinals were able to re-sign him until his mid-to-late 30s, they should be able to still get quality production out of him.The decision to acquire Goldschmidt from the Diamondbacks was definitely the right one for the Cardinals. He is the key piece they have been missing from their lineup. Which is why with the trade now completed, the Cardinals are a team ready to compete for the division next season. CHICAGO (AP) — No team in the National League piled up more victories than the Chicago Cubs through 162 games. That seems like small consolation now.Kyle Hendricks gave up a tiebreaking single to Tony Wolters in the 13th inning, sending the Cubs to a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies in a marathon wild-card game on Tuesday night.Chicago lost two home games with a chance to reach the NL Division Series. The Cubs scored a total of two runs over 22 innings, dropping a tiebreaker to Milwaukee for the NL Central championship and then getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Rockies.They squandered a dominant start by Jon Lester, got shut down by Kyle Freeland and wasted several big scoring opportunities. Hendricks came in to retire the final two batters in the 12th and got the first two in the 13th before running into trouble.Trevor Story grounded a single through the left side and Gerardo Parra lined one to right, putting runners at first and third. Wolters — who came into the game as part of a double switch in the 12th — then drove an RBI single up the middle.In the bottom half, Terrance Gore acted as if he was hit by a tight pitch leading off and ran to first before being ordered back to the box. The Cubs challenged the call to no avail. Gore, Baez and Albert Almora Jr. then struck out, bringing a marathon game and a difficult season to a fitting end.“We have had a lot of things go awry this year and in spite that have still tied for the most wins in the National League in a 162-game season,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Again, that speaks to the quality of the player in the room of the and even though maybe the numbers offensively didn’t matchup, these guys put up 95 wins.”The Cubs had a long line of injuries and didn’t get the contributions they expected from some key players Martin Maldonado Jersey , including Yu Darvish and Kris Bryant. That didn’t stop them from going from 4 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in late May to leading the division by five in early September, only to have the Brewers tie them on the final weekend of the regular season.They got shut down by Jhoulys Chacin in a 3-1 tiebreaker loss to Milwaukee, then had to watch Colorado celebrate after winning the longest win-or-go home game in major league history.“All I can say is I’m extremely proud of how we’ve come together,” Kris Bryant said.It was a bitter end for a team that made the NLCS the previous three years and won a World Series in 2016 that ended a drought dating to 1908. A franchise that for decades was defined by heartache has more wins the past four seasons than any other team.The Cubs beat Pittsburgh in a wild-card game in 2015 after a 97-win breakout regular season that established them championship contenders. But the expectations since then have changed. And this loss stings.“In 2015, we were winning the wild-card game no matter what,” Rizzo said. “In 2018, I’d say fans were (ticked) that we were in the wild-card game. We had a chance to win the division and we didn’t. We’ve really flipped this culture here.”The Cubs — who finished fourth in the NL in runs despite being held to one or zero in 39 regular-season games, one fewer than Baltimore for most in the majors — managed just four hits in 6 2/3 innings against Freeland.Anthony Rizzo grounded into a double-play with two on in the sixth, and they left the bases loaded in the seventh when Jason Heyward struck out.Chicago had another chance in the 11th.Baez walked leading off against Seunghwan Oh and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Almora. Daniel Murphy was intentionally walked and Baez got tagged out by Arenado on Willson Contreras‘ grounder to third.As Arenado applied the tag in the middle of the base path between second and third, Baez wrapped his arms around him. Arenado smiled and patted him rather than try a throw to first.Chris Rusin then retired pinch-hitter Victor Caratini on a grounder to first to end the inning.“At the end of the day, coming down the stretch I felt like we played good baseball,” Lester said. “I mean, it wasn’t like we beat ourselves. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the opponent. You go 13 innings tonight against a really tough team and we come out on the short end of the stick, but I feel like we should have won that game.”
There is a certain swagger required to play cornerback in the NFL www.authenticstampabaybuccaneers.com , a quality Artie Burns picked up long before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2016 draft.And for the first time Burns can remember, that swagger is gone, lost amid a barrage of blown coverages and missed opportunities that have temporarily cost him his starting job. the mild slide Burns experienced in 2017 has extended into something far more troubling three weeks into his third year in the league."I don't feel like I'm really confident now," Burns said. "I've got to get back to the basics and make the plays I know I can make. Nothing spectacular. Just getting roasted every play."Maybe not every play, but it certainly feels like it to Burns, who is currently sharing time with Coty Sensabaugh and Cam Sutton for the Steelers (1-1-1).All three expect to be tested early and often on Sunday night when the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) and revitalized quarterback Joe Flacco visit Heinz Field.And why not?Pittsburgh's pass defense is among the league's worst through three weeks. The Steelers have allowed 15 pass plays of 20 yards or more and their 10 passing touchdowns given up are tied with New Orleans for the most in the NFL.Though there's plenty of blame to go around — from a pass rush that has fluctuated between dominant and nonexistent to veteran cornerback Joe Haden's hamstring injury that forced him to watch Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes carve up the Steelers in Week 2 — Burns' struggles have been perhaps the most visible.The thoughtful, soft-spoken 23-year-old looks tentative at times and overmatched at others.During Monday night's victory over Tampa Bay, he found himself futilely clutching at Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans while Evans hauled in a 51-yard pass.It's those plays — and not the exquisitely timed hit that forced a Tampa Bay fumble during Pittsburgh's game-turning second quarter — that linger with Burns."Every time I expect to make a play on the ball," he said. "I don't care who it is or what the situation is. I'm supposed to make that play. That's the standard they hold me to."A standard Burns knows he is not meeting. Then again, neither are his teammates. Like Burns, Sensabaugh and Sutton have struggled to distinguish themselves and coach Mike Tomlin plans to continue to use all three in a rotation until the steady stream of big plays allowed stops.Sensabaugh, however, is a journeyman of sorts. Pittsburgh is his fourth stop since 2015. Sutton is basically a rookie after injuries limited him to five games last season.Burns by comparison became the first cornerback the Steelers selected in the opening round of the draft in nearly 20 years when they grabbed him with the 25th overall pick in 2016.The early returns were promising. He quickly played his way into the starting lineup and when Pittsburgh traded for Haden at the end of training camp last summer it appeared the Steelers had the kind of fast, physical corners they'd been searching for since Ike Taylor's retirement in the spring 2015.Burns remains plenty fast but admits he's regressed. Haden, who has developed a close friendship with Burns over the past 13 months, said Burns is "doing everything he can" to get it fixed. He's watching tape. He's focusing on the fundamentals. At some point, both Burns and Haden believe that work will translate on the field.Burns is hardly the first player to have playing time taken away early in his career. Taylor already had a Super Bowl ring when he was benched in 2006. Steelers All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown took two-plus years to fully morph from sixth-round project to starter.Yet this is the first time in Burns' football life he can remember being told to take a seat."I'm not used to this Tampa Bay Buccaneers T-Shirt , personally," he said.How long will it last depends on when — or if — Burns can regain his form and his swagger. Haden is eager to do what he can, but understands some lessons need to be learned on their own."He's been playing corner for a long time too," Haden said. "I'll try to help him out with it too. But Artie knows what's up."NOTES: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (abdomen), CB Mike Hilton (elbow) and S Morgan Burnett (groin) were limited in practice on Thursday. ... G David DeCastro was a full participant for the first time since fracturing his right hand in Week 1 against Cleveland. RT Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) and LG Ramon Foster (coach's decision) were also full-go on Thursday. Amid all of the talk about coaching rumors, a quarterback decision and draft positioning, the Buccaneers took the field at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday for the final time in 2018. They welcomed in the Atlanta Falcons, who beat them 34-29 back on Oct. 14. Both teams were wrapping up disappointing seasons, though it’s obvious that the one of the two is in a much more stable position than the other right now. You all know which team that is.The Falcons won the coin toss and deferred, which meant Jameis Winston and the Buccaneer offense would get the first shot in the game. The two teams traded punts on their opening possessions, with the Bucs being pinned at the seven to start their second drive of the day. Peyton Barber started the drive with runs of six and seven yards before Mike Evans hauled in a 19-yard pass from Winston. With that catch, Evans broke Mark Carrier’s franchise record for most receiving yards in a season.Winston got hot from there, finding Adam Humphries for a nine-yard gain up to the 50 and Bobo Wilson for 16 yards to the Atlanta 34-yard line. With the Bucs in Falcons’ territory for the first time, a holding call on Antony Auclair stopped momentum, though only briefly. Humphries caught an eight-yard pass and Chris Godwin made a spectacular sideline catch for nine before Barber picked up a first down at the 21. Two plays later, Winston hit Evans for a 19-yard touchdown to give Tampa Bay a first-quarter lead. The score capped a 12-play, 93-yard drive that lasted 6:28.The Tampa Bay defense kept the momentum going on Atlanta’s next drive, with rookie Jordan Whitehead breaking up a pass on first down and Lavonte David coming up with a stop of Julio Jones on third. The Bucs moved quickly on their next drive Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hats , with a key 15-yard run by Jameis Winston on 3rd & 9 extending the possession. The first quarter came to an end with Tampa Bay at Atlanta’s 45, already leading 7-0.When the second quarter started, the Falcons defense stepped up and got a stop. That prompted a 41-yard punt by Bryan Anger, which was caught at the 13. Ryan and the offense then went three and out once again, with Andrew Adams breaking up a pass on 3rd & 1. Winston got the Bucs rolling again on their next possession, with a big 18-yard pass to Evans on third down after he avoided some pressure. After entering the red zone, Tampa Bay saw its drive killed by a sack. Cairo Santos then came on to drill a 36-yard field goal, which extended the lead to 10-0. Atlanta started its next drive with back-to-back first downs, but was once again hurt by penalties. First, it was a false start. Then, one play after Jason Pierre-Paul sacked Ryan, a personal foul brought it to 3rd & 24. Ryan’s next pass fell incomplete, which gave the ball back to Tampa Bay.After the two teams traded punts again, the Bucs had a chance to add to their lead with under two minutes to go in the half. Starting from their own 30, they went 70 yards in four plays, scoring on a 30-yard pass from Winston to Chris Godwin. It was an excellent throw from Winston and Godwin completed the catch with some nifty footwork to extend the lead to 17-0 with 46 seconds left in the half.With under a minute left in the second quarter, the Atlanta offense finally got something going. Ryan led the offense on a five-play, 75-yard drive in 26 seconds to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 17-7. He found Julio Jones for a 19-yard touchdown to finish off the drive and give the Falcons some life heading into the locker room.The Falcons started the second half by quickly moving down the field again Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hoodie , getting some help from a facemask on Bucs rookie Carlton Davis. Atlanta later got inside the 10 before the Tampa Bay defense forced a third down, but the unit wasn’t ready for the Philly Special. Mohamed Sanu took the reverse and found Matt Ryan for a five-yard score. After a 14-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 6:11, the Falcons were within 17-14.Tampa Bay responded with a scoring drive of its own, with the key play being a 33-yard completion from Winston to Evans. A low throw by Winston was dropped by Cameron Brate on third down a short while later, which led to a 45-yard field goal by Cairo Santos. With 6:39 to go in the third quarter, the Bucs’ lead was at 20-14.Penalty issues returned for the Falcons on their next drive, but they were able to overcome two holding penalties thanks to a 32-yard pass from Ryan to Sanu on 3rd & 17. Tampa Bay stepped up a few plays later to get a stop, but former Buc Matt Bryant connected on a 49-yard field goal to bring the Atlanta deficit to 20-17 late in the third.Momentum stayed with the Falcons from there, as Winston had a pass tipped and intercepted. Three plays later, Tevin Coleman ran for a 23-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 24-20 lead— their first lead of the day. What was once a 17-0 lead for Tampa Bay became a 24-20 deficit heading into the final quarter of the season.A Tampa Bay three and out followed, which set up another Atlanta scoring drive. Ryan found Calvin Ridley wide open for a seven-yard touchdown to put the Falcons up 31-10. It was the end of another 75-yard drive, this one on seven plays in 3:59.Despite the Falcons’ 31-3 run, the Bucs refused to go quietly. Winston kept them in the game with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Evans— their second scoring connection of the day— to bring the deficit back to one score. The two-point conversion failed, but the Bucs trailed by just five with 8:09 to go.Atlanta got the ball back needing to kill some clock and potentially score to ice the game. Instead, Matt Ryan completely flipped the game around. Under pressure from Jason Pierre-Paul, Ryan threw an interception right to Andrew Adams. After a 15-yard pass to Humphries, Winston found Godwin for a 19-yard score— their second touchdown connection of the game— to put the Bucs back on top. The two-point conversion was no good once again Youth Customized Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys , but the home team had a 32-31 lead with 5:10 to go.Of course, the game still wasn’t over. The Falcons took over and moved the ball with ease, killing valuable time the whole way. They got into field goal range with just under three minutes to go, but an unnecessary roughness call on Julio Jones backed them up to the 45 with 2:04 left. In the end, it wouldn’t matter. The Buccaneer defense had the Falcons facing 3rd & 11 with 1:53 left. A stop and a timeout would have given them time to work with after a potential go-ahead field goal, but instead, the unit allowed Ryan to find Jones for the conversion. After a few kneel-downs by Ryan, Matt Bryant lined up and hit a game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired. With that, the Bucs finished 5-11 for the second straight season and will pick in the top five of the 2019 NFL Draft.Quick Stats Jameis Winston finished the first half with 210 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-23 passing. He added 23 yards on two carries in the first 30 minutes. The final 30 minutes were just as good for the 24-year-old, as he finished 22-of-35 for 345 yards and four touchdowns. He was intercepted once on a tipped pass.Mike Evans caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns on the day. In addition to breaking the team’s record for receiving yards in a single season, he also became the youngest player in NFL history to hit 6,000 receiving yards.Chris Godwin had a career day, catching six passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Evans and Godwin combined for a Tampa Bay first— the first time the team has had two receivers go for 100-plus yards and two touchdowns in the same game.Brent Grimes had three passes defended in the first half alone. The Falcons were 0-for-5 on third down in the first half, but finished the day 6-for-13.Tampa Bay outgained Atlanta 270-172 in the first 30 minutes, but was eventually outgained 489-433. The Bucs were only penalized three times for 30 yards, while the Falcons got flagged nine times for 85 yards.Tampa Bay has finished at the bottom of the NFC South seven times in the last eight seasons.
Many teams are currently in attendance at Tropicana Field in Tampa White DeSean Jackson Jersey , scouting all the prospects from the East-West Shrine game. very far to scout these players. Here are a few of the players that Tampa Bay has met with over the last few days down in St. Pete.1. Jordan Brailford (Defensive end) Oklahoma State University. In his three seasons at OSU, Brailford has 90 solo tackles, 45 assisted tackles, 16 sacks including 10 in 2018. He also added 31.5 tackles for loss with 17 of them coming in 2018. With the Buccaneers likely needing help along the defensive line this off-season, Brailford could make sense as a mid-round pick. 2. Derrick Baity (Cornerback) University of Kentucky. Any player the Buccaneers scout in the secondary makes sense. Simply because of need. In his four years at Kentucky, Baity had six career interceptions, 112 tackles and 25 pass defenses. Baity is projected to be selected anywhere from the 4th to 6th round of the 2019 NFL draft.3. Jordan Wyatt (Cornerback) Southern Methodist University. A four year player at SMU, Wyatt established himself as a turnover machine. In his four years White Bryan Anger Jersey , Wyatt recorded 11 interceptions and also forced eight fumbles. He also totaled 116 solo tackles. Again, the Buccaneers continue to scout positions of need at the East-West Shrine game. 4. Brett Rypien (Quarterback) Boise State. With both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ryan Griffin being UFA’s this off-season, this is another meeting that makes sense for the Buccaneers. I fully expect them, at some point to select a quarterback in the later rounds of the NFL draft. In four years at Boise State, Rypien had a 64.0% comp pct, threw for 13,578 yards and 90 touchdowns. Rypien is ranked as a top 10 quarterback in this years draft class. All of this is fluid and many teams have met with the same players, but these are some of the names to keep an eye on throughout the draft process to see if they get an invite to visit One Buc Place. All of these names were provided by Trevor Sikkema twitter handle. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired Bruce Arians as their new head coach, the twelfth in franchise history. The rumors were hot and heavy early on in the process and it seems as though there was never a doubt that Arians was their target. Ian Rapoport was the first on the news.Arians left the Arizona Cardinals following the 2017 season citing health issues. Those issues have since been fixed and when it was time to throw his kangol hat back in the ring Youth O. J. Howard Jersey , the Bucs were the team he was fixated on.His relationship with Jason Licht played a big role as well as his relationship with Jameis Winston. It will be on Arians to help develop Winston to get him to the level many believe he can reach. After working with some incredible quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Andrew Luck, Arians is the man for this job,Arians, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, has been around the league quite a bit. He was the quarterbacks coach for Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, then Offensive Coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Wide Receivers coach and Offensive Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers White Ryan Fitzpatrick Jersey , Offensive Coordinator and interim Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts, then of course Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals. In all, Arians has coached in the NFL for 25 years. As a head coach, he holds a 49-30-1 record.Many believe that former New York Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles will come on as Defensive Coordinator to reunite the band so to speak as his Arizona Cardinals teams saw some success, reaching the NFC Championship in the 2015 season.Deal is set to be for four years with a fifth year option.
Bengals last Sunday and are heading into an unfortunately early bye week with a lot to be happy about.NFL experts are starting to believe this team is pretty good Youth Luke Kuechly Jersey , as evidenced by this week’s power rankings. Following their win over the Bengals, the Panthers find themselves in the top ten of most experts’ lists as they head into their week off.I have to say most because—as always—there has to be one hater in the group:ESPNSure, being No. 11 isn’t that bad, but come on man... can’t we have a clean sweep of the top ten for once? Here are the rankings from the better experts who place the Panthers firmly where they belong...NFL.comUSA TodaySporting NewsBleacher ReportSB NationWhat do you think, Panthers fans? Are the Panthers a top-ten team? Why or why not?Discuss. Bills receiver Kelvin Benjamin was not interested in what Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had to say before Buffalo's preseason game against the Panthers."I'm just moving on from it," Benjamin said repeatedly when asked about a discussion he and Newton had on the field about 90 minutes before kickoff.Asked what Newton was trying to tell him, Benjamin responded: "I wasn't even trying to listen."Newton declined to comment following Carolina's 28-23 win Thursday http://www.authenticscarolinapanthers.com/cheap-graham-gano-jersey , and merely shook his head while walking up the tunnel.Tensions between the former teammates were raised a week ago, when Benjamin criticized Newton's accuracy in an interview with The Athletic. Benjamin, who was traded to Buffalo in October, also questioned why the Panthers ever used a first-round pick to select him in the first round of the 2014 draft, because he thought he wasn't a good fit in the offense.The bad blood wasn't resolved Thursday.The Charlotte Observer posted a video showing Benjamin chatting with Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis when Newton approached the two and attempted to shake Benjamin's hand. Newton waved away Davis, and then had a brief discussion with Benjamin before the receiver began walking away.Newton followed and the two talked again. The discussion ended when Benjamin shrugged and turned to walk away, and Newton waved his hand at the receiver's back."I walked away to allow them an opportunity to talk things out. That's what it was Cheap Trai Turner Jersey ," Davis said."Just brothers having a conversation," he added. "It's one of those things. You go up to a guy. You talk about it. You hash things out or you don't."The discussion didn't affect the two once the game began with Benjamin and Newton playing key roles in touchdown drives in the first quarter.Benjamin caught four passes for 59 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown reception from Nathan Peterman on Buffalo's first possession. Benjamin scored by beating former Bills cornerback Kevon Seymour off the line, and was open when catching the pass at the 2 up the left sideline.Newton responded on the next possession, completing 4 of 5 attempts for 67 yards as part of an 85-yard drive capped by Christian McCaffrey's 2-yard run.Newton finished 6 of 9 for 84 yards in two series. He was nearly intercepted on Carolina's second possession when he overthrew tight end Greg Olsen over the middle. Jordan Poyer got a hand on the ball, but was unable to bring it in to his body.Panthers coach Ron Rivera noted Newton may have been "a little jacked up" with some of the passes he missed, including the one to Olsen.Rivera doubted Newton's over-excitement had anything to do with the pre-game discussion with Benjamin."Cam's always excited when it's football Cheap Donte Jackson Jersey , and he's really one of those emotional guys," Rivera said. "You'd like him just to settle in a little bit, slow down and deliver a good pass."The Panthers overcame a 17-7 first-half deficit and went ahead for good on C.J. Anderson's 4-yard run 2:19 into the fourth quarter. Mose Frazier caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from backup Garrett Gilbert, and Elijah Hood sealed the win with a 21-yard TD reception from Taylor Heinicke with 5:05 left.Stephen Hauschka hit a 26-yard field goal and backup running back Marcus Murphy scored on a 7-yard run in the final minute of the first half.ALLEN'S DEBUTOne of the biggest cheers went up when Buffalo's first-round draft pick Josh Allen took over the offense to open the second half. On his first snap, Allen faked a handoff and then showed off his strong arm by sailing a 50-yard pass intended for Robert Foster that just went out of bounds at the left sideline.Allen finished 9 of 19 for 116 yards, and hit Ray-Ray McCloud III for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:10 left.Buffalo traded up five spots to select the Wyoming product with the No. 7 pick. Still considered raw, Allen is being brought along slowly and has spent a majority of the offseason working with the third-string offense.QB WATCHPanthers: Gilbert went 7 of 12 for 93 yards and a touchdown in four series in the competition to replace Derek Anderson as Newton's backup. Heinicke went 7 of 9 for 121 yards and a touchdown.Bills: Peterman Da'Norris Searcy Jersey , Buffalo's returning backup, went 9 of 10 for 119 yards and an interception over two drives. Free-agent addition A.J. McCarron went 7 of 10 for 116 yards in two drives to close the first half. Peterman and McCarron have split time with the starters all offseason.INJURIESPanthers: S Damian Parms did not return after hurting his shoulder in the second half. CB LaDarius Gunter did not return after being placed in concussion protocol in the third quarter.Bills: DT John Hughes limped off and did not return midway through the fourth quarter.NATIONAL ANTHEMPlayers on both teams stood for the national anthem.UP NEXTPanthers: Host Miami on Aug. 17.Bills: At Cleveland on Aug. 17.
It’s Championship Sunday Youth Trai Turner Jersey , which means we’re one step closer to the Super Bowl. There are only four teams left, and as expected it’s the No. 1 and No. 2 seed in each conference squaring off for a shot at the big one.Below you will find the information you need to watch, stream and/or listen to the games as they happen live. NFC Championship Game New Orleans Saints (1) vs Los Angeles Rams (2)When: Sunday, Superdome (New Orleans Youth Cam Newton Jersey , LA)TV: FOX; Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin AndrewsRadio: SiriusXM 88, SiriusXM 468 (Spanish)Stream: FOX Sports Go*Odds: New Orleans (-3) | o/u: 57(Note: The Weather isn’t a factor for Saints-Rams due to the game being played indoors.)AFC Championship Game Kansas City Chiefs (1) vs New England Patriots (2)When: Sunday http://www.panthersfootballauthentic.com/mike-adams-jersey-authentic , January 20; 6:30 p.m. ETWhere: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)TV: CBS; Jim Nantz, Tony RomoRadio: SiriusXM 88, SiriusXM 468 (Spanish)Stream: CBS All Access**Weather: ly Cloudy / 7 mph SSE wind / 10% precip.Odds: Kansas City (-3.5) | o/u: 56* - Cable/satellite subscription required ** - CBS All Access subscription requiredUp to date odds information can be found hereWho are you rooting for this weekend Womens Torrey Smith Jersey , Panthers fans? Looking ahead to the Super BowlSunday, February 3Chiefs/Patriots vs Saints/Rams; 6 p.m. ET (CBS)Why aren’t more people talking about Dontari Poe? The Charlotte Observer recently had an interview with Panthers defensive tackle Dontari Poe. The interview, in short, was quite amusing. Not because there was any type of breaking news or anything Womens Shaq Thompson Jersey , but because Poe is a man of few words. Poe didn’t need to go into details. He said what he needed to say and I respect that. This man that’s 345 pounds rather use his words on the field. But what I want to know is, why aren’t more people talking about him?The Panthers acquired Poe back in March on a three-year, $28 million deal. Previously, Poe was with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons. He has two Pro Bowls and two fat man touchdowns under his belt (not including a touchdown pass). Although he’s only recorded 15.5 sacks Womens Dontari Poe Jersey , he’s assisted for 61. Poe is arguably the Panthers best pickup in free agency this year. He’s versatile, quick for his size, and physical. Ron Rivera has raved about Poe’s physical ability thus far in training camp. Poe will help fill the void of losing Star Lotulelei in the 2018 free agent market. The Panthers weren’t stellar on the pass rush last season. Poe will only boost that area of need. But I really hope Poe gets another fat man touchdown this season.
The Dolphins will be facing off against the Texans Youth Ryan Tannehill Jersey , tonight on Thursday Night Football. The Dolphins are coming off a tough loss to the Lions while the Texans are on a four game winning streak. Osweiler at quarterback and a banged up receiver room on short week, kudos to Adam Gase and the coaching staff.You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.Dolphins’ Osweiler has chance to prove O’Brien, Texans wrong | Miami HeraldDolphins quarterback Brock Osweiler returns to Houston on Thursday night, two years after his failed season with the Texans.Dolphins at TexansThe Blitz: Headlines Heading Into Dolphins-TexansHeadlines Heading Into Dolphins-TexansNFL changes time of Dolphins-Packers game; decides on date and time for Dolphins-Jaguars matchup - Sun SentinelThe kickoff time for the Miami Dolphins' Nov. 11 road game against the Green Bay Packers is pushed back, and the NFL decides on the date and time for Dolphins' matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.I Said It: Final Prep For Thursday Night FootballSome more comments from the Dolphins as they prepare for the game against the Houston Texans, along with some perspective:Dolphins QuarterbacksBill O’Brien: QB Brock Osweiler ‘doing a good job’ for DolphinsHouston Texans coach Bill O’Brien believes his former starting quarterback, Brock Osweiler White Jesse Davis Jersey , is faring well in relief for the Miami Dolphins.Dolphins Running BacksAC In The AM: Frank Gore's Remarkable Run Continues“I am blessed.”That is how Frank Gore explains it.Phinsider News You May Have MissedThe Splash Zone 10/24/18: Brock Osweiler’s Chance At Revenge - The PhinsiderWelcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.Around SB Nation: What Other NFL Blogs Are Discussing - The PhinsiderWeekly, we take a look around the SB Nation family of NFL blogs. Here are the news stories and analysis they are discussing.Phinsider Radio: Everything you need to know about the Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans - The PhinsiderBrock Osweiler seeks revenge against his former teamOpposing Player Spotlight: Week 8, Houston Texans - The PhinsiderThe Dolphins are heading to Houston to play a primetime game on a short week, and the team will be facing some menacing players on the Texans’ defense.Dolphins at Texans Week 8: Thursday Night Football online stream, TV channel, weather, odds http://www.authenticsmiamidolphins.com/cheap-akeem-spence-jersey , more - The PhinsiderA short week for the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans leads into the opening game of Week 8 for the NFL. The two 4-3 teams will face off, with Miami looking to get themselves back on track after a...Dolphins Drinking Game - G4 DDG@nashmax73Are you ready for this?You SURE?This isn’t “just” another division game.Regardless how players, coaches, media and fans want to tone-down the hype, we’re in a rare position to make this a milestone game.Tired of the Cheatriots?Sick of seeing them seemingly cruise to one AFC East division title after another?Well there’s blood in the water from New England’s early season wounds and it’s time for Miami do their part to keep these guys down.Let’s do this!Sketchy Snacks@nashmax73BACKSTORY & OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER:As a lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins, going all the way back to the Stone Age of the early 1980s, I’ve learned that fandom isn’t always epic highs & euphoria. Hell, if the post-Marino era has taught us anything it’s that we as a franchise & fanbase have been mostly spoiled for the bulk of our existence thanks to the leadership of “The Don” Shula and The Right Arm of God http://www.authenticsmiamidolphins.com/cheap-josh-sitton-jersey , Dan Marino.Since both stepped aside by the spring of 2000, the past 17 years have been about as fun as an involuntary colonoscopy thanks to poor leadership and mismanagement. Sure, we had that epic 2008 season, and a damn fine hot streak in 2016 that got short circuited by a cheap shot, but life as a Dolphins fan has been tough of late. Enter the #DolphinsDrinkingGame. What started as a sarcastic coping mechanism has manifested itself into a fun thing we can all participate in, provided we act like adults.And now comes the part when I implore you to approach this with a sense of humor and that whole “adult responsibility” thing. First, if you’re going to partake with adult beverages, do NOT get behind the wheel. Getting yourself and/or others hurt or killed is never worth it. Call a cab Youth Kenny Stills Jersey , request an UBER or get a designated driver. Second, nobody is saying you have to play along with alcohol. Feel free to use whatever beverage you like - ethically sourced non-GMO coffee, Earl Grey tea or even some dank runoff from Lake OkeechobeeDDG - G4@nashmax73#FinsUp
Miami Dolphins first loss of the season. My typical Monday after losing a game consists of me avoiding social media and all sports related broadcasts. I don’t work in an office setting type of job Cheap Laremy Tunsil Jersey , so I am lucky enough that I can avoid most face to face interactions with people until later in the day. Now, that is just how I am after a regular game loss. You know, when we put up a fight or showed some kind of effort and still lost. That’s an easier loss to swallow. After the display the Dolphins put on yesterday, I’m going to need an extra day or two this week avoiding any football related discussions. What can I say about the Dolphins game yesterday? The loss to the Patriots hurt. It hurt a lot. We were bad. Very bad. It was embarrassing. This is normally where I spend some time raving about a certain player or two and going over the best plays of the game. You typically hope to still have some positive points to discuss from a game, right? Here are my thoughts on it. The GoodWe didn’t get completely shutout. We had one touchdown during the last few minutes of the game thanks to Frank Gore. Oh and that was with the help of our backup quarterback. The BadKilgore and Bobby McCain were taken out of the game because of injuries. Losing like we were was bad enough, but to have injuries added to it was the final nail in the coffin.And The Very http://www.dolphinscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-frank-gore-jersey , Very, Very Embarrassingly UglyOur team did not show up. We were humiliated. It was probably the worst game under Coach Gase and Tannehill. Remember last season’s game against the Ravens? This hurt worse. Oh, and let’s not forget that Monday Night game against the Panthers. I know I won’t, because I was at that game. This was worse. Why? Last year we had Cutler. We went into each week being thankful if we didn’t humiliate ourselves. There wasn’t much hope for our team last season. It was fine. Those type of games, at least I hoped, were in the past. I was wrong. I will admit I came into this week thinking we had our chance. Many of us did. It was our time to finally win in Foxborough. We can show everyone that the Dolphins have changed. We are not the same Miami Dolphins. Well....yeah. We showed we have some work to do.Tannehill looked bad. Our offensive looked bad. Our defense looked bad. The coaching was bad. Our injuries are really bad. Our entire team as unit looked bad. The Patriots outplayed us in every aspect. I really can’t say much else about Sunday. It was rough.Final ThoughtsI posted on Twitter that I was going to take a couple days to be embarrassed and frustrated about that game Ja'Wuan James Jersey , but then it would be time to move on. You know why? We are still leading our division. At least for now. We are 3-1. It’s our first loss. If we’re being honest, I think we all knew it would be a long shot to win four straight games right off the bat. Yeah, we have to listen to Patriot fans and the national media call us a joke all week. It’s cool. Just shake it off. The Dolphins can learn from this game or not. I think they will. It’s one loss. We still have 12 more games. A lot of football is left. Our next game will be tough. We play the Bengals in Cincy. I will be going to the game. Who else is going? I’m meeting up with a bunch of Dolphins friends from all over the country. I’ve been looking forward to this game for months. My dad is joining me and it’s probably the only game he is attending this season. The one game he attended last year was the Falcons game. Remember, we came back from behind and won. Maybe attending games with my dad brings us good luck? Either way, I believe our team can win this one. This is an important game for the Dolphins. Can they prove that yesterday was just a fluke? I hope so. If we can win this upcoming Sunday, it will be the confidence booster our team needs when they head back home the following week to face the Bears. Let’s hope I can write a more positive piece next week. I like writing after a win. We may not have a victory Monday this week Cheap Xavien Howard Jersey , but I’m hopeful we will next week.See you all next Monday. Go Dolphins! The Dolphins will be facing off against the Lions tomorrow at Hard Rock Stadium. But if the Dolphins come away with a victory, I say we rename it to Hard Brock Stadium. If you haven’t heard by now, Ryan Tannehill is out again which means Brock Osweiler will be the starting quarterback for the second straight week. The Lions are coming off a bye, but the Dolphins just beat a team that was also coming off a bye last week.You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.Who has the edge? Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions - Sun SentinelWho has the edge at key matchups in Sunday's game at Hard Rock Stadium? Dolphins or Lions?Lions at DolphinsMatchup Memories | Dolphins vs. LionsFive snapshots from the Dolphins-Lions series.Dolphins Wide ReceiversAC In The AM: What Will Albert Wilson Do Next?It wouldn’t at all be surprising if Albert Wilson proves to be the difference Sunday against the Detroit Lions.Dolphins Offensive LineMiami Dolphins: How Ja'Wuan James and Laremy Tusil dominated Khalil Mack - Sports - The Palm Beach Post - West Palm Beach, FLDAVIE 鈭?Laremy Tunsil and Ja'Wuan James are first-round picks Albert Wilson Jersey , and they looked like it on Sunday.Phinsider News You May Have MissedThe Splash Zone 10/19/18: Injury Roundup From Dolphins Camp - The PhinsiderWelcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.Caption This: Week 7 Vs. Detroit Lions - The PhinsiderOf course a former Patriot knows how to schmooze the zebras. What sweet nothings is Matt Patricia whispering into this ref’s ear?Miami Dolphins fan confidence starts to rebound after win over Chicago Bears - The PhinsiderMiami Dolphins fans hit a season-low in their confidence in the direction of the team after a Week 5 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. How would they react when the Dolphins came away with a Week 6...
However Baltimore Ravens Hats , if he can improve his ball security, Lamar’s ability to keep the offense ahead of the chains likely gives the Ravens their best chance to win in December and January.Five Things We Learned from the Ravens’ 26-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons - Childs WalkerCoordinator Martindale was extremely aggressive in Week 13, both with his coverage calls and pressure packages. He thoroughly out-schemed Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, challenged Matt Ryan with a variety of pre-snap looks and kept attacking until the final whistle.NFL Coaching Hot Seat: Marvin Lewis Baltimore Ravens Hoodie , Todd Bowles Under Pressure After Week 13 Losses - Jonathan JonesHarbaugh may in fact remain the Ravens head coach of the future. This three-game win streak has proven that his coaching staff can foster success using nontraditional game plans. The Ravens’ Impending Lamar Jackson Decision and Week 13’s Game-Changing Plays - Danny KellyA case can be made that the Ravens offense has a higher ceiling and a higher floor with Jackson at quarterback. Connecting on a higher percentage of deep passes is the path to reaching that ceiling.Ravens vs. Rams 2018: Game time, TV schedule, streaming and more After two joint practices between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams, the two face off on Thursday Night. The Ravens are expected to play Joe Flacco and most starters on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.Game InformationDate: August 9 Customized Baltimore Ravens Jerseys , 2018Time: 8:00 p.m. ETLocation: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MarylandTV (courtesy of 506sports.com):WBAL (NBC/11 - Baltimore)WJLA (ABC/7 - Washington)WGAL (NBC/8 - Harrisburg PA)WMDT (CW/47.2 - Salisbury MD)WWCW (CW/21-27 - Roanoke VA) [tape delay]Streaming: NFL GamepassOdds: Ravens -1Suggested reading materialLogan Levy broke down film from the Ravens vs. Bears Hall of Fame Game, which I highly suggest exploring.Ravens defensive film breakdownRavens offensive film breakdownEarly afternoon blues before the game? Listen to Take it to the Bank Authentic Maurice Canady Jersey , featuring discussions with guests Ken McKusick and Michael Crawford!Take it to the BankKyle Barber recently interviewed Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg.Q&A with Jerry RosburgAs always, I do ask for you to please follow and ‘like’ us on various social media outlets.Twitter: @BMoreBeatdownFacebook: Baltimore Beatdown: For Baltimore Ravens fansInstagram: baltimore_beatdown
Th Baltimore Ravens are in the 2018 NFL Playoffs as AFC North Champions as they beat the Cleveland Browns 26-24.MVPsLamar Jackson — 179 passing yards Cheap Mark Andrews Jersey , 90 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The rookie quarterback ends his first regular season 6-1 and atop the AFC North. The fifth quarterback taken off the board in the 2018 NFL Draft is the only one to enter the post-season year one.Jimmy Smith — Two interceptions on Baker Mayfield. What a time to produce your first multi-pick game, Beans. He also ran stride-for-stride with Antonio Callaway down the outside. Fantastic effort by the veteran cornerback.C.J. Mosley — The game-winning interception on 4th & 10 to get the Ravens back into the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season. To finally end the nightmare.Stock-upKenneth Dixon — Just feed this dude the rock. His jump-cut is lethal and his strength continues to gash teams. On 12 carries he found 117 yards, good for 9.8 YPC.Gus Edwards — The rookie also caps off his year with incredible numbers. In the seven games he played with Lamar, Edwards finished with 654 rushing yards. Only once in his Raven career has he lost yardage on a play.Justin Tucker — As per usual, he helped propel this team to a victory. With 13 points, he also eclipsed 140 total points on the year. He’s the first kicker to ever produce three-consecutive 140 point seasons.Mark Andrews — Running around and finding some open space as Lamar was pushed out ofbounds kept the drive alive and helped put another field goal on the board as the touchdowns kept getting called back. He also made a great, tough catch for the first down later in the game. The Salt Bae continues to move the chains.Hayden Hurst — He’s getting more involved every week and you can tell it’s starting to click. He was targeted four times and caught two passes totaling 43 yards, including the 32-yard snag on the RPO.Offensive line — The success of the ground game is not strictly placed upon Dixon, Edwards and Jackson. It comes from the big men up front doing their jobs. From making the critical blocks and timing their efforts to sync with the ball-carriers. From left tackle to right tackle, this unit drastically transformed into the best running unit in the NFL.Anthony Levine Sr. — A great time for a strong pass breakup. Right after the lengthy review on Jarvis Landry’s ‘catch’, he plays perfect defense on David Njoku, who hurt the Ravens repeatedly.Stock down — Let’s be real. This was not a perfect game. There were many mistakes. I don’t really want to come off as ungrateful after such a win but I think I can be fair in my judgments.Marlon Humphrey — His stock has been sky-high for the past two months. He had a bad game. Thankfully http://www.ravenscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-willie-snead-iv-jersey , the Ravens still won and all will be forgotten. He’s going to brush this game off and come out hard against the Chargers.Pass rush — You must finish the play. There wasn’t a single sack on Mayfield and that’s not due to their offensive line stonewalling. It was the bites on the pump-fake(s). In their defense, though, Mayfield is young, fast, agile and a true professional quarterback. He is damn good and I get why it was so difficult to harrass him. Browns fans must be thrilled as this will be their future for the next decade.Lamar Jackson — The fumbling issues continue. If not for a quick-whistling referee, this game ends differently. Please, for the love of the game, hold onto the football.Marty Mornhinweg — The absolutely dominant run game is great, but the option call on 3rd & 5 with the game on the line was ugly. Lamar has known fumbling issues and the best playcall with the division on the line is an option play? No, please, no.Secondary — So many miscommunications left Breshad Perriman and Jarvis Landry streaking down the seam for touchdowns. Thankfully, this is an easy fix as they are the number one defense in the league and they’ll know why the mistakes happened in the film room this week.Ravens WR Willie Snead: “We’re coming out here everyday to get better” Ravens wide receiver Willie Snead IV is now entering his fifth NFL season while also joining a new team. Snead IV was an undrafted rookie in 2014 Cheap Hayden Hurst Jersey , signing with the Cleveland Browns, then the Carolina Panthers and eventually landing with the New Orleans Saints on December 11, 2014. Playing in three seasons with the Saints, Snead provided a strong punch from the slot receiver position, totaling 149 receptions for 1,971 yards and seven touchdowns. With the Arena Football League playing their championship game in Baltimore on Saturday night, Snead IV took in the sights and sounds. The 25-year old receiver was in attendance to watch his childhood friend, Jared Dangerfield, who is a wide receiver for the now-Arena Bowl champion Washington Valor.”The arena game was cool,” Snead IV said after practice on Monday. “My good friend from back when we were jits, Jared Dangerfield, played for DC Valor. So Eric Weddle Jersey , it was good to see them win and see him get them a championship.”After living in New Orleans for three years, Snead IV is now in the Baltimore area during the season. He still hasn’t fully explore the area but does enjoy the scenery in the area. ”It’s been cool,” said Willie, on coming to the Baltimore area. “It really hasn’t been too bad. I’ve really just been sticking to myself, but the city is quiet, which is different than New Orleans, but I’m loving the atmosphere. I’m loving the change of scenery and everything with the forests and the valleys and everything like that. So, it’s been good. I’ve been enjoying myself and I’m just ready to play football here in a little bit.”The former Saint isn’t the only new receiver on the block for the Ravens; joining him in their starting lineup is Michael Crabtree and John Brown, two fellow free agent wide receivers. Each receiver has a different ability in attacking the field. Crabtree is a big, physical receiver that can make catches at the highest point of attack. Brown can blow the top off coverage's and Snead IV makes plays across the middle of the field in the slot. ”It’s been great,” Snead IV said of joining Crabtree and Brown on the Ravens. “We’re coming out here every day to get better. Like you said, we all have different skill sets that make us unique in the offense. So Cheap Za'Darius Smith Jersey , it’s just working those repetitions [working them out] and getting on the same page with Joe [Flacco] in different situations. That’s why we’re coming out here every day. We’re coming out here to get better at different things. You know, we just gotta watch the film and always learn from it and get better from it and it’ll prepare us when we need it the most.” With the chance to have a bounce-back season with Baltimore, Snead IV has worked with Flacco during the offseason along with other wide receivers. The extra time between Willie, his quarterback and the other starting wide-outs has been repeatedly seen during training camp with the trio working with Flacco on the side during team drills.As the quartet continues to build their chemistry, more success has been on display in the passing game. The Ravens ranked 29th in the NFL in passing in 2017 (3,030 passing yards) and although it is just practice, Baltimore can look almost nowhere but up.
Steelers lead the record 6-1. Playing in Heinz Field is never easy. It can be loud and the fans are chaotic. The Steelers may not be hot right now Daryl Williams Jersey , but Mike Tomlin’s teams are notorious for getting better as the season progresses. Defensively, things aren’t clicking yet for Pittsburgh and it’s a liability. However offensively, they’re doing really well. Ben Roethlisberger has shown he is still one of the best in the league. Second year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has really emerged in the last few weeks. Against the Bucs, Smith-Schuster recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard regular season receiving game. In the absence of Le’Veon Bell, James Conner has truly stepped up to the plate. So far, Conner is 1 of 3 NFL players with at least 200 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards Authentic Ian Thomas Jersey , and three touchdowns. The Panthers struggled against the run game against the Falcons. Conner could break out to be one of the best in the NFL and Panthers should keep an eye on him. Cam Newton says he's extremely comfortable playing in new coordinator Norv Turner's scheme and is thrilled with the talent the Panthers have surrounded him with on offense.But the eighth-year quarterback isn't going out on a limb and making predictions on what Carolina might achieve this season."We don't know what we have yet and that is why Sunday is so important for everybody 鈥?because we finally find out," Newton said in preparation for the team's home opener against the Dallas Cowboys.The Panthers added speed at wide receiver 鈥?trading for Torrey Smith, signing free agent Jarius Wright and drafting D.J. Moore from Maryland in the first round. Wide receiver Devin Funchess returns as the No. 1 receiver and three-time Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen is healthy again after missing nine games in 2017 with a foot injury. Second-year running back Christian McCaffrey figures to be a vital part of the offense in the run and pass game, and the Panthers added 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Anderson behind him.That's a lot of different options for Newton 鈥?which coach Ron Rivera said is by design.Rivera wants Newton to get back to what he was doing in 2015 when he spread the ball, completing at least 10 passes to nine different receivers. The formula worked well as Newton threw for a career-high 35 touchdowns and won league MVP honors while leading the Panthers to 15 straight wins and a Super Bowl appearance."I think that plays very to the type of football team that we want to be," Rivera said. "(Defenses) can't key in on one or two guys and they have to play the whole field and that can work to our advantage if we have guys that can make plays."Rivera fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula this past offseason after Newton regressed 鈥?at least statistically 鈥?the past two seasons.Turner Youth Torrey Smith Jersey , who Rivera once worked under in San Diego, was hired to bring a little more creativity to the offense 鈥?and help improve Newton's poor career 58.5 completion percentage. Newton, who played under Turner understudy Rob Chudzinski earlier in his career, said the adjustment to the offense has been smooth.Now he's ready to test the waters."I'm excited to play a full four quarters of football," Newton said. "... Hopefully we can be hitting on all cylinders as far as efficiency and executing."Coach Jason Garrett said stopping Newton on Sunday will be key."He's big, he's strong, he's athletic http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dontari-poe-jersey , he has a great feel for making plays both as a runner and as a passer," Garrett said. "He can play well within their system. He can play well when the play breaks down. He's just a dynamic guy. He's hard to tackle, he's hard to tackle in the pocket, he's hard to tackle when he's out on the run, he's got a big, strong arm and can throw the ball anywhere on the field."Newton enters this season not having to worry about his shoulder being an issue. Rotator cuff surgery last year forced Newton to miss most of OTAs and minicamp and a portion of training camp. He only threw two passes in the 2017 preseason.Newton said he's in the great shape entering the season."A person once told me there are two type of football players in the NFL -- there are football players and professional football players," Newton said. "Football players are those guys that just wake up and think things that happen and professional football players are guys that make things happen."Newton said he certain goals is mind Jarius Wright Jersey , but wasn't ready to share them.The former Heisman Trophy winner said he plans to match all charitable donations to the Cam Newton Foundation and Boys and Girls Clubs of America for every touchdown he scores this season."I'm putting my money where my mouth is," Newton said, added he plans to score "a lot."Just how much, we'll begin to find out on Sunday.
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24.04.2019 05:08