So we’re about at the midpoint of the 2018 college football season and therefore halfway through the last season for the class coming into the 2019 NFL Draft.This week Rodger Saffold Color Rush Jersey , let’s look at things position-by-position and how the Los Angeles Rams could be looking at things.QBSo with Jared Goff, obviously a QB is off the table until Day 3. How early is too early for a backup QB? Bear in mind, current backup QB Sean Mannion was a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Would a third-round pick next year be too expensive? Perhaps for some, not so for others... That being said, take the top prospects out of the billing for the Rams. They’ll be positioned as potential starters for QB1-needy teams and then situational QB2s for teams with a less solid QB1 situation as the Rams’.So while people will be looking at the big game between #7 Washington and #17 Oregon with UW QB Jake Browning and UO QB Justin Herbert headlining things, take them out of the running for the Rams.Instead, look at someone like Michigan St. QB Brian Lewerke in action against the #8 Penn St. Nittany Lions in the midday goings with PSU QB Trace McSorley an even deeper option. Another fun scout watch? Iowa St. QB Kyle Kempt hosting the #6 West Virginia Mountaineers and QB Will Grier.Hipsterwatch? Boise St. QB Brett Rypien, the nephew of former NFL QB Mark Rypien, among the final slate of games playing in Reno against Nevada.RBCan we just stop for a bit?The Rams have taken six running backs in the last seven drafts. We have Todd Gurley. We have John Kelly who despite looking very strong in the preseason has been relegated to the deep backend of the 53-man roster. So now that we’ve locked up JTG for the long-term future, can we uh...just skip this?If I had to throw a name out there, check out Memphis Tigers RB Darrell Henderson on ESPN2/ABC against the UCF Knights in a rematch of last year’s INCREDIBLE American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game that ended 62-55 in double OT. Henderson is a Zac Stacy clone https://www.ramsfanstore.com/Brian-Allen-Jersey , so he’s destined to be a Day 3 pick that makes some fanbase happy providing capable talent on the cheap.WRWhile a bit different of a situation than running back for its low position value, the Rams are still operating with a full cupboard at WR. Day 3 options then?Could the Rams be interested in smaller options for situational usage? Ohio State Buckeyes WR Johnnie Dixon would be a fair candidate as tOSU hosts Minnesota. Maybe check back later in the season when Urban Meyer’s guys have some tougher competition.Otherwise, this seems like deep roster prodding. Maybe MSU WR Felton Davis III if you’re checking out that Big Ten matchup.TEI dunno what to make of the tight end position as a draft need. The Rams have second-year, second-round 2017 NFL Draft pick Gerald Everett and 2016 NFL Draft fourth-round pick Tyler Higbee manning things.Should we consider a first-round pick to be in play late in the round? Perhaps, right?It’s the tight end position, so it’s not going to offer a ton of talent into Round 1. Iowa TE Noah Fant is probably the top prospect and maybe carrying stock into the non-playoff picks. After that...take your pick. In fact, let’s table this and re-visit it in a couple of weeks.OLGo to town. You could scout any position with sincerity outside of right tackle.I’ll just point to the evening game between the #15 Wisconsin Badgers and #12 Michigan Wolverines. Scout both lines. And if you’re getting wacky, get a look at both QBs too. Yes, Michigan QB Shea Patterson carries more hype, but Alex Hornibrook would be a low buy option that could bring just as much as Mannion to the table for way less.DLThis one’s a little hard to parse. Rams Defensive Coordinator likes to move his linemen all over the place (Oh look, there’s Ndamukong Suh playing right next to a cornerback!). And with Suh gone next year and Michael Brockers perhaps moving on after next year Jacob McQuaide Color Rush Jersey , some Day 3 action could be in order. Of course, the Rams began prepping for that adding John Franklin-Myers and Sebastian Joseph-Day , so perhaps we’re good here for a season.Obviously we’re not angling for Houston Cougars DL Ed Oliver or anything at the top of the draft, but maybe Rams GM Les Snead plays BPA for someone on Day 3. I mentioned the Wisconsin game. Maybe get a look at Olive Sagapolu? He’s a big, big dude with strange, strange agility for his size:EDGENow we’re talking.This is another one we should probably table until we can do a deep dive on its own especially because some clear Round 1 options aren’t in action.Both Mississippi St. Bulldogs EDGE Montez Sweat and Florida St. Seminoles EDGE Brian Burns are on bye weeks.At this point, I’ll leave it to a scouting question for us to check out tonight. Is Oregon EDGE Jalen Jelks a prospect who will be gone before the third round? I don’t mean to ask that for reactions to his game tonight. A three-sack game doesn’t make him a first-round prospect nor does a bad game relegate him to deep Day 3 status. I just wonder if he’s the kind of guy who could be in play for the Rams as a rookie starting Week 1 next year.ILBUgh. Give me #13 LSU LB Devin White and be done with it.He’ll be gone before we pick, so please just put him outside the NFC West. Get a look in at him as the Tigers host the #2 Georgia Bulldogs in a wonderful SEC contest today.Outside of Devin...nope. Can’t do it. Not yet.Miss you already, Dev.CBFun consideration here. The Marcus Peters-Aqib Talib pairing expires after next season as things stand.Think about it like this.If Georgia CB Deandre Baker is there when the Rams pick in Round 1, he has to be an option. And if that’s the case, the door’s open for the CB depth chart at any point.Let’s throw a bone to the USC Trojans fans with CB Iman Marshall going up against #19 Colorado in the Coliseum tonight.Need an early watch? Check out Snead’s alma mater as #21 Auburn hosts Tennessee early on; Auburn CB Jamel Dean looks a player.SThis certainly is in the works with Lamarcus Joyner’s franchise tag expiring.I’m inclined to throw this in with ILB and EDGE for deeper observation (and perhaps with CB and TE too).USC fans will stan for Marvell Tell III and rightfully so.Want a fun combo today? Check out Missouri Tigers TE Al Okwuegbunam try to get free past #1 Alabama Crimson Tide S Deionte Thompson.Washington S Taylor Rapp is legit too.Here’s an early-late duo for the safety fans. #14 Florida Gators S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson against Vanderbilt to start the day; Wyoming Cowboys S Andrew Wingard at Fresno St. to close things out.Here’s your watch guide with full schedule Johnny Hekker Jersey , TV listing and stream options. Whitworth the wordsmithI Fox SportsColin Cowherd hasRams’ left tackle Andrew Whitworth on his show for a lengthy talk about the state of the Rams, Sean McVay, Jared Goff, and more. It’s definitely a nice glimpse behind the blue and yellow curtain. All the Rams needed was some Vitamin Fowler I NBC SportsSo far, Dante Fowler has provided the Rams defense some semblance of pressure off the edge, and has been a high-energy presence. We’ll see if Fowler’s short-term contributions, earn him a spot on the team beyond this season, but so far, as the performance artist known as Borat once (or much more than once) said, “great success!”Five things observed through the stylish spectacles of Myles Simmons I Rams Official SiteMyles Simmons sees things, five things Lamarcus Joyner Color Rush Jersey , Blythish things鈥nd more! Respect we seek, I guess. This week’s rankings. I USA TodayShabba Ranks. Cutty Ranks. Gappy Ranks.The USA Today ranks the Rams where?The clutchest sack master in the game I Rams Official SiteThe radio voice of the LA Rams, J.B. Long dissects Aaron Donald’s 16.5 sacks to reveal the impact and timing of Donald’s conquests. It seems that Aaron Donald is the Robert Horry of quarterback killers. Good stuff J.B!Viva Grand Master Sack! The Rams design plays, Myles Simmons explains them I Rams Official Site Watch how the Rams got were able to build a delightful corridor for Todd Gurley to turn a short screen pass into a 19-yard reception against the Detroit Lions, brought to you by the mind of McVay!A double team isn’t enough. In fact, that’s disrespectful! I NFL Network MVP candidate Aaron Donald’s work seems to be really capturing the imagination of media lately. The NFL Network’s Nate Burleson explains why double teaming Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald is simply not enough. Donald and Khalil Mack will be on the same field in five nights from now, and bad men from Clubber Lang to Charles Oakley will be gleefully tuning in.The Rams won’t be racking up much frequent flyer miles after this weekI NFL NetworkPeter Schrager explains how after this week’s game in Chicago, the Rams will play all their games in warm weather for the next couple months, should they make a playoff run.

Chargers tight end Hunter Henry played 14 snaps Sunday. They were the only 14 snaps he played this season.He was hoping for more.鈥淚t was definitely just good to be able to get back out there Craig Mager Color Rush Jersey ,鈥?Henry said, via Ricky Henne of the team website. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 huge for going into next year. It鈥檚 huge. . . .I worked hard to get back to that moment and so, I鈥檓 ready to work extra hard this offseason to get ready to go for next year.鈥滺enry tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on the first day of organized team activities in May. He spent the regular season on injured reserve while rehabbing. Henry said the most encouraging part of Sunday was that his knee held up well.鈥淚 felt good,鈥?Henry said. 鈥淚 felt really good actually. I mean, I wasn鈥檛 my full self probably, to where I would like to be Jason Verrett Color Rush Jersey , but I still felt good enough and felt real good out there. It was good to be back out there rolling.鈥 COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Joey Bosa remains sidelined with a foot injury but the Los Angeles Chargers defensive end is hopeful he can return in early November.Bosa addressed his injury for the first time Wednesday as the Chargers (1-2) began preparations for Sunday’s matchup against San Francisco (1-2).“There is a little instability in the tendon, but there’s a good chance I won’t have surgery,” Bosa said. “I’m trying to be as safe as possible. If I try to rush back now it wouldn’t be good.”Bosa has a bone bruise to his left foot. He first injured it during training camp on Aug. 7 and didn’t play in any of the four preseason games. Bosa acknowledged he should have been cautious for another week or two instead of trying to rush back for the regular-season opener against Kansas City. He reinjured the foot on Sept. 5 and has been sidelined since then.After Bosa re-aggravated the injury, he visited Dr. Robert Anderson, who is a foot specialist based in Green Bay. Bosa’s foot was put in a cast for two weeks and he had it taken off earlier this week.Now that he is back in a walking boot Denzel Perryman Color Rush Jersey , Bosa is hoping to resume running in a couple weeks. His latest goal — provided there are no setbacks — is to return for the final nine games of the season. That would be Nov. 4 at Seattle and follows the Chargers’ bye week.“I could have prevented this if I wasn’t so set on pushing to be back (for the regular season). It has been a huge learning experience,” Bosa said. “It’s a tough injury to deal with but when the time comes I will be 100 percent ready.”Bosa, who has 23 sacks in his first two NFL seasons, isn’t the only player in his family who is dealing with an injury. Younger brother Nick, who is a junior All-American defensive end at Ohio State, is likely out until November due to a lower abdominal muscle injury.The two talk every day and the older Bosa joked that his brother “is enjoying all the best food he’s ever eaten” while rehabbing in Philadelphia.“I asked him how he felt and he said he’s ‘ready to take down a small village’ so he must be feeling real good Antonio Gates Color Rush Jersey ,” he said. “It (stinks) for my dad and the family right now but we’re both looking ahead.”Bosa’s absence has definitely had an impact as two of the Chargers’ starters on the defensive line are out. Defensive tackle Corey Liuget is eligible to return Monday when his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances ends.Without Bosa and Liuget, the Chargers are ranked in the middle of the league in sacks with seven. They are tied for 22nd in the league in quarterback pressures after being tied for 10th last season. They are also blitzing on only 22.1 percent of pass plays, which is below the league average of 25 percent.It also means that defensive end Melvin Ingram has seen more double teams and been held to 1.5 sacks.“We need more pressure. We’re going to be one-on-one on the backside since they are sliding protection toward Mel and we have to win. Somebody has to win,” coach Anthony Lynn said.San Francisco, which will have C.J. Beathard starting at quarterback following a season-ending knee injury to Jimmy Garoppolo, has allowed 14 sacks Derwin James Color Rush Jersey , which is tied for fourth-most in the league.Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said the Chargers’ scheme reminds him a lot of San Francisco’s.“I’m sure there’ll be some new things that they’re going to game plan against us that you’ve got to be prepared for,” Shanahan said. “Obviously, having gone against a defense like that helps, but you can never count on it, what they’re doing. There’s always something different.”

Barcelona signed promising 21-year-old Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Ajax for 75 million euros ($85.5 million) on Wednesday Cheap Portugal Soccer Shirts , although he won’t start playing for the Spanish champions until next season.The deal could reach 86 million euros ($98 million) including possible add-ons depending on the youngster’s and the team’s performances during the five-year contract, which starts in July.The transfer was finalized by Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu in Amsterdam.“It’s an exciting signing for the club,” coach Ernesto Valverde said. “For now and for years to come. He is a player with a great future ahead of him.”De Jong’s poise on the ball and eye for a pass has drawn comparisons to Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, who flourished with Barcelona as a player and as a coach.Barcelona calls De Jong “one of Europe’s most promising midfield talents.” It says he has “an excellent reading of the game and ability to provide the killer pass.”The Catalan club says the “versatile” De Jong is “strong in the one-on-one” and can play either as a defensive or attacking midfielder.“His wonderful vision and natural ability to find the right pass mean he is the perfect choice as a central playmaker,” the club said.De Jong rocketed to fame this season with standout performances for Ajax and the resurgent Dutch national team, prompting his name to be linked with top clubs including Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.Widely considered a future star for the Dutch national team, De Jong joined Ajax from Willem II in Tilburg. He played 65 matches for Ajax’s first team Cheap Russia Soccer Jerseys , scoring five goals.De Jong is the third signing by Barcelona in the winter transfer window, along with forward Kevin-Prince Boateng and defender Jeison Murillo.He arrives to a team with midfielders that include Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Arturo Vidal and Arthur.De Jong will continue a tradition of Dutch players who have played for Barcelona, including Cruyff, Ronald Koeman, Marc Overmars replica football jerseys from China , Patrick Kluivert and Franck de Boer. Current reserve goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen also is from the Netherlands. Chelsea was well on its way to its biggest Premier League loss in 23 years when a chorus of “You don’t know what you’re doing” rang out from the supporters.It was directed at Maurizio Sarri, perhaps the first audible sign of disgruntlement toward the Chelsea manager six months into his tenure.The thing is, Sarri might not have many arguments with the fans.In his latest dreary post-match post-mortem, Sarri acknowledged after a humiliating 4-0 loss at Bournemouth on Wednesday that he couldn’t explain how his players had performed so poorly. He kept his players in the locker room at Vitality Stadium for more than an hour, demanding answers, but he didn’t get what he wanted.“I spoke with the players immediately after the match but it is also difficult for them to say why,” Sarri said. “I have to try again tomorrow because I need to understand why, because I need to solve this problem.”In an alarming remark moments later www.thetopsoccer.com/spain , Sarri said he was frustrated because he “didn’t see the sign of my work.”If that really is the case after half a year in charge and as Chelsea heads into a pivotal stage of the season, he must be wondering if his ideas — the so-called “Sarri-ball” approach — will get through.What is becoming increasingly apparent is that, as a collective, Chelsea’s squad might be the hardest to manage in England, frustrating one coach after another with their inconsistency.There were echoes in Sarri’s comment of something Jose Mourinho said a few days after he was fired by Chelsea in December 2015.“I feel my work is betrayed,” Mourinho said after a 2-0 loss at Leicester, before questioning his players’ “pride” and “self-esteem.”Antonio Conte, Sarri’s predecessor Cheap Sweden Soccer Shirts , also publicly questioned his players in his second season at Stamford Bridge.Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and Willian are the senior squad members who have been at Chelsea over the last five years with Mourinho, Conte and now Sarri, making them the most influential voices in the locker room.So it was telling that in a recent interview with France Football magazine, Hazard was quoted as saying: “In my career I have frustrated all of my trainers. Now here I am frustrating Sarri. They think I need to mark more, do more here, more than I am doing. And the next coach I have, I will also frustrate him!”No wonder Sarri said recently www.thetopsoccer.com/switzerland , after a 2-0 loss at Arsenal, that Hazard is not a natural leader. The Belgium winger has also gone missing when Sarri has needed him most the last few weeks, scoring once in the last eight games.Azpilicueta spoke after the Bournemouth game about how “angry” he and his teammates were at their display, which saw Chelsea concede all four goals in the second half. It was Chelsea’s worst defeat in all competitions in 17 years.“It is unacceptable for Chelsea,” Azpilicueta said, “and we have to find the solutions.”With Chelsea now out of the top four — below Arsenal on goals scored — in the race for Champions League qualification, there’s even the danger Sarri’s job could be at risk if the team loses to last-place Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.Huddersfield is without a win since November and is 12 points from safety.

3rd and 14. The Dallas Cowboys are at the Seattle Seahawks 17-yard line with 2:34 left on the clock in a Wild Card playoff game. Dallas clings to a three-point lead Jourdan Lewis Jersey Stitched , 17-14, and look destined to kick a field goal to go up 20-14. That would have perfectly set up Russell Wilson to drive the field and break the hearts of Cowboys fans everywhere with a last-second, game-winning touchdown. There aren’t a lot of good plays to convert a 3rd and 14. I can guarantee you almost no one thought a quarterback draw would be a good call. A fade to the end zone maybe. Perhaps some kind of screen. Flood a zone on a roll out is a possibility. So many options that involve passing, but not a lot of chance at success. Scott Linehan shocked us all with a quarterback draw. And Dak Prescott made it happen. He ran for 16 yards to convert the first down and set the Cowboys up for an easy touchdown one play later. End result, Cowboys Nation thrills to Dak Prescott’s conversion, and Linehan’s call is not pilloried.But, imagine if Prescott was unable to pull off those heroics and the Cowboys failed to convert. Linehan would be facing the slings and arrows of the rowdy Cowboys fanbase. They would say the Cowboys just gave up on the play. That the Cowboys didn’t even give themselves a chance by slinging the ball into the end zone. Maybe make a miraculous reception or pick up a defensive penalty to convert the first down. And that rowdy fanbase would be within their rights to howl and scream over a quarterback draw on 3rd and 14. Of all the low percentage plays there, quarterback draw is probably among the lowest.But when it works, when you catch the defense by surprise, and when your quarterback breaks a tackle and goes airborne to get the the first down - the play-call is golden, gutsy, a gem. Sometimes the difference between a bad play-call, and a gutsy one, is execution.Congrats to Dak Prescott, no one owes you more than Scott Linehan. It is a bold strategy, Cotton. The Dallas Cowboys have, by all indications, decided to promote Kellen Moore to the offensive coordinator position after amassing an impressive r茅sum茅 of (checks notes) six seasons in the NFL as a backup quarterback with a whole three games of playing experience, followed by an entire year as a quarterbacks coach, working under the man he is replacing. If this blows up for Dallas, there aren’t going to be enough fingers in the Metroplex to handle all the resulting pointing. When the rumors first surfaced that the Cowboys (meaning Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Jason Garrett) were leaning towards replacing Scott Linehan from within, and that the leading candidate was the very young and inexperienced Moore, there was a lot of dismay in social and traditional media. But now that it is creeping slowly toward being a done deal, the mood seems to have changed. While there are still many who expect for this to not work at all, a lot of people, including many who have built some real credibility reporting about this team, are seeing some possible upside. (I am of that opinion myself, while leaving my credibility for you to judge.) Some of that may spring from the intense disfavor Linehan fell into over the past year or so. But there is also a belief that the team was sorely in need of a different approach to the offense, particularly the play calling. In a league where the top four scoring offenses made it to the conference championships, the Cowboys certainly looked out of date and out of step. While Dallas still faces having Garrett in overall charge of the offense (perhaps even more directly involved than he has been the past few seasons), getting some minds involved that may be more open to things like increased pre-snap motion and not bunching up the formation in short yardage situation may be sufficient. That adds Doug Nussmeier and new addition Jon Kitna to the equation, with indications already coming that the OC job is going to have a more collaborative nature. There is something else that is a cause for optimism, and it goes beyond the world of football. In the world of management and productivity, there is a thing called the Hawthorne effect. It is based on a study done way back in the 1920s and 30s in a factory located in the Hawthorne Works, an electrical manufacturing facility near Chicago. In the study, management told the workers they were going to make changes in the levels of lighting to try and see what would increase productivity, and then record the results. An interesting thing happened. The changes did increase production. All of them. No matter what they were. Use brighter lights Youth Xavier Woods Jersey , production increased. Turn the lights down, ditto. Even when the lighting was reduced to the bare minimum for the workers to safely do their jobs, they still kept doing more and more.The theory is that the very act of being observed led the workers to put more effort into what they do. It was the motivation of the workers who responded positively to the scrutiny that really mattered.The NFL, and the Cowboys in particular, are observed by millions every time a game is played. The local and national media then dissect their performance to the smallest detail. The players themselves are generally highly motivated and very proud individuals with remarkable skills and talent. Now Dallas has undertaken a coaching experiment, if you will, that is being covered extensively and followed by countless fans. Need proof? You are reading this, aren’t you?So the very fact a change occurred that many have been hoping for and insisting had to happen has set the stage, and that in itself may spur an improved performance. Perhaps significantly improved.Fortunately, there is some substance to the change as well. Moore has long had a reputation among his teammates, fellow coaches, and many reporters for having an outstanding offensive coaching mind, even long before he left the playing field for the sidelines. He has even been credited by one of the best of his teammates, All Pro center Travis Frederick, for designing a very successful play long before he became a coach.He played at Boise State, where he set the FBS record for wins as a quarterback in their high-powered offense, so he knows some of those college concepts that are also the rage in the NFL today. And the addition of Kitna reaches even deeper in looking for innovative ideas to add to the mix. Kitna was a successful high school coach, and high school football, particularly in the white-hot environment of Texas where he spent several years, is a true breeding ground for innovation, as David Helman noted in an article on Kitna at DallasCowboy.com. So even though Garrett will still be the head coach and have a huge level of input and influence on what the team does, the chance for real and meaningful change is suddenly significant. And Garrett has shown in his career that he can employ an effective, high-scoring passing attack. It was not the path the team took in recent years, and it is certainly a valid argument that Linehan was far too unwilling to change his approach. The success or failure of this move, which is a unique combination of boldness in going with some very inexperienced and, in Moore’s case especially, young coaches who also represent a conservative facet in being very familiar to the organization will depend a great deal on just how much of the problem Linehan was the past couple of seasons. The idea that he was too reluctant to change from what he did in 2016, when Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott were new and unfamiliar elements in the league, does have some merit. So the fact the Cowboys were finally willing to make a change, perhaps long overdue, may be enough to move the team in the right direction. The fresh ideas that Moore and Kitna, along with Nussmeier, who seems to also be a part of the newly constituted offensive brain trust, should get the chance to prove themselves. Under the million-watt spotlight that shines on Dallas, the players have plenty of reasons to want to show the world what they can do. Change is here. We are hoping, with good reason to, that it will work. Custom Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys

This season was a blast to be a Colts fan Tarell Basham Jersey 2019 , taking us on a ride down the stretch that most could not have expected. In many ways, good coaching and game planning alleviated the need to have top talent in many areas, and allowed the Colts to succeed despite some holes in the roster. With the offseason at hand, it is time for the team to begin the postmortem of this season, looking deeply at all the places they failed or performed below expectations. The front office will then set to work identifying ways to improve on their areas of need both in free agency and the draft. With the right additions, this team could be really good in the coming season.Here are the top team needs for the 2019 season: Wide ReceiverPhoto by Tim Warner/Getty ImagesThe Colts got the opportunity to see first-hand how big an impact an elite group of skill position players can make an offense in their road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. While they have a top receiving threat in T.Y. Hilton, they really have very little behind him both in terms of talent, and also in general in terms of bodies under contract. Ryan Grant and Dontrelle Inman will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, and I would expect to see Grant walk after a disappointing season. With Deon Cain set to return from an ACL tear, there is hope that he could step into a role as the number 2 wide receiver to T.Y. Hilton, but it would be foolish to assume that he can. While he looked incredible during training camp, he didn’t see real game action outside of his brief preseason play before injury, and he’ll be coming back from a significant injury which will likely hamper him to some degree. The Colts will be likely to address the receiver position both in free agency and the draft. It would also make sense for them to attempt to re-sign Dontrelle Inman Youth Darius Leonard Jersey , who really came on late in the season as a reliable weapon. If they manage to hit on a pickup and have Cain be as good as he looked to start the offseason last year, all the better.Defensive LinePhoto by Bob Levey/Getty ImagesWhile the Colts had a stout front seven against the run, they’ll be losing a couple key players and will need to look at replacements. Both Margus Hunt and Al Woods will be free agents this offseason, and with both men at 32 years old, it is tough to see Chris Ballard re-signing them. If there is one thing you can count on, it is that Ballard will continue to invest in the defensive and offensive lines, as he has repeatedly talked about the importance of winning in the trenches. There is always speculation about getting someone like DeMarcus Lawrence through free agency, but in a league where pass rush is at a premium, it is tough to see Dallas letting him go. Much of the rest of the free agent class of defensive linemen are on the back end of their career, meaning that Ballard will likely look to the draft to replenish talent while possibly signing another Denico Autry, a role player who is a good fit for the Colts’ scheme. Additionally, Jihad Ward, who played 6 games for the Colts before heading to IR Darius Leonard Jersey Stitched , is a free agent and it would not be surprising to see the Colts re-sign him.We should expect both the edge rusher and interior defensive linemen to be a major draft priority for the Colts this offseason.SafetyPhoto by David Eulitt/Getty ImagesMalik Hooker, George Odum, and Ahmad Thomas are the Colts’ only safeties who will be under contract to start the 2019 season at present. That means there are going to be some tough decisions ahead for them. Clayton Geathers and Matthias Farley are strong locker room leaders and are still relatively young, both are 27, but neither is a standout safety. There are some intriguing prospects on the market in free agency at the safety position, including Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, and most notably, Landon Collins. It is my opinion that if Landon Collins actually hits free agency, the Colts should do whatever they can to bring him in. Pairing Collins and Hooker in the Colts safety room would make it one of the nastiest safety tandems in the NFL. Were I Chris Ballard, I would then go ahead and re-sign Geathers and Farley to be an incredibly talented backup duo. It wouldn’t surprise me to see a player picked up in the middle rounds of the draft to fill a safety position either.CornerbackPhoto by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesAt the beginning of the 2018 season, many might have put this position at the very top of the list as the Colts’ most prominent need. While it is still definitely a position in need of significant upgrade, the breakout season for Kenny Moore and an incredible back half of the season for Pierre Desir has alleviated the pressure to upgrade immediately at corner. Additionally Youth Braden Smith Jersey , Quincy Wilson came on as the season progressed, and showed that there might yet be hope for him as a starter in this defense. Having said all that, there is certainly a need to add blue chip talent to this cornerback group. Pierre Desir will be a free agent, and while they’d like to retain him, at 28, they need to be considering adding new young players who can grow and develop in this system. There isn’t really an all-star cornerback who will be a big draw in free agency, so I’d look for them to re-sign Desir and invest in a player through the draft to fill out this room in the long term. Tight EndPhoto by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesSeeing the tight end group listed here might be a bit of a surprise. Jack Doyle will likely return healthy, and Eric Ebron had a career year. Mo-Alie Cox really came on as a blocker toward the end of the season and is still a very raw prospect as well. The position looks like a relative strength for the team. However, Jack Doyle will be entering a contract year, and will be 29 to start the season. He very well could be re-signed and play for several more years, but the Colts would be wise to be looking for his long-term replacement. Eric Ebron proved that while he is a deadly red zone weapon, he simply will never be a dominant tight end in the way that someone like Travis Kelce or Rob Gronkowski are able to be. Getting Doyle back to pair with Eric Ebron will make this group a dynamic one, but given Frank Reich’s tendency to use lots of heavy packages and multiple tight ends Braden Smith Jersey Stitched , it would be almost surprising not to see the team draft one. ConclusionThe good news for the Colts is that their areas of need line up really well with strengths of this year’s draft class. That is GM Chris Ballard’s preferred means of roster replenishment, and it seems as though the talent is going to be there for him to pull from. In fact, according to The Draft Network, interior defensive line, edge defender, and wide receiver are the deepest positions in this draft. That is great news for the Colts, and if they can have another draft class like the one they had in 2018, we can expect another really fun year.Colts vs Ravens: Preseason week one snap counts We’re two games in and it is again time to take a look at the snap counts to see what we might be able to learn. The Colts are really trying to figure out their final depth chart as the preseason hits the midpoint, and there are a few interesting things of note in the details here. Let’s jump inffense#PlayerPositionOffensive SnapsPercentDefensive SnapsPercentSpecial Teams SnapsPercent#PlayerPositionOffensive SnapsPercentDefensive SnapsPercentSpecial Teams SnapsPercentNotesJacoby Brissett saw a lot more time this week than last, going from 16 snaps in week one to 44. That’s a lot of film out there for any teams who might be interested in making a trade. Not sure the Colts are selling, but if they want to drive up the price, giving Brissett more time on the field makes sense.The competition at wide receiver is still raging. The absence of several guys with injury meant more snaps for some of the depth players. Notably, Reece Fountain and Steve Ishmael had fewer snaps than the rest of the group.Injuries have kept the offensive line playing a heavy number of snaps. They need the work to build some cohesion Youth Kemoko Turay Jersey , but can’t risk any of these guys getting hurt. Playing just 5 snaps, it is tough to imagine running back Josh Ferguson making this roster.Defense#PlayerPositionOffensive SnapsPercentDefensive SnapsPercentSpecial Teams SnapsPercent#PlayerPositionOffensive SnapsPercentDefensive SnapsPercentSpecial Teams SnapsPercentNotesHassan Ridgeway saw an increase in snaps this week, perhaps to see if he could offer an encore performance of his week one effort. He rose to the occasion nicely and could see his role increase if he keeps it up.John Simon saw just 9 snaps last week and 29 this week. They had him on the field late in the game, which was somewhat perplexing. He has been a playmaker so far this offseason, but they are clearly trying to figure out how best to use him.Antonio Morrison had just 11 snaps in this game. Whatever Chris Ballard says about him, he is looking less and less like a guy who can make this team.Signed just two days prior, S Robenson Therezie was still given a chance to play and was in on 11 snaps.Clayton Geathers was given 20 snaps, offering solid contribution. He came out midway through a drive, which indicates the team had him on a pitch count as he comes back from his minor offseason knee surgery.Special Teams#First NameLast NamePosition#First NameLast NamePosition

Spring training opens in a few days.It won’t seem quite the same without T-bone.Tommy Giordano is dying.Yet Andy Pettitte Jersey , do not let your heart grow heavy.He’s going out like he lived for more than 93 years — surrounded by family and friends, accompanied by overwhelming love and stories that will endure long after he’s gone.“It’s like we’re doing the funeral, the celebration of his life, a little bit early,” said his daughter, Gail Przeclawski, when reached by phone Monday morning at the family home where Giordano was spending his final days, “and he got to enjoy every moment of it.”Giordano spent nearly all of his full life as a baseball man. He was a major league player (for 11 games with the late, great Philadelphia Athletics), a minor-league manager, a front-office executive. More than anything, he was a scout, one of those guys who combed the backwoods and backwaters searching for the game’s next big star.It was a job he loved Jose Cruz Jr. Jersey , a job he was good at, a job he held with the Atlanta Braves right up until what would be the very last year of his life.“I’m going to do this until I die,” Giordano told me back in 2016, when I first met him at the Braves’ spring training complex, located within the confines of Disney World. “I can’t wait to get up in the morning and go to the ballpark.”T-bone (a nickname that goes back to his days growing up in New Jersey, when his father would always make him a steak as a pregame meal) had every intention of coming back for his 72nd season — staked out behind home plate, a stopwatch in one hand, a lineup card in his lap, the games unfolding before his eyes as he gleaned those tell-tale signs of a player’s strengths and weaknesses.Can’t hit a curve ball. Great speed from first to third. Gets a poor jump on the ball. Strong throwing arm. .Then, the blood infection struck out of nowhere.Not long after climbing three flights of stairs during a family vacation to the beach, Giordano started feeling poorly. He came down with a 102-degree fever. The doctors weren’t sure what caused the infection.Giordano spent nearly three weeks in the hospital. It looked as though he would survive.Unfortunately, the infection returned. The doctors knew he wasn’t nearly strong enough to ward it off like he did the first time. He might live a bit longer, but his quality of life would be greatly diminished. No one wanted that http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-nolan-ryan-jersey , so he was sent home to die.That’s where this sad story takes a beautiful turn.These last few days in Orlando have given so many people a chance to show how much Giordano was loved.Everyone from Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson to longtime baseball executive John Hart to an Uber driver who hauled T-bone around to the owner of a local Italian restaurant that Giordano frequented for a good bowl of pasta have called or stopped by to say farewell.They’ve been able to reminisce. They’ve been able to swap stories told a thousand times. They’ve laughed. They’ve cried. They’ve celebrated an amazing man.Przeclawski has watched it all with pride.“I’m still learning things about my dad that I never knew,” she told me in that phone call, her voice both sad and joyful.For the record, here’s a highlight reel, gleaned from my 2016 interview with T-Bone:— Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, he played on the high school team but fibbed to his parents about his reason for staying late after school. His father, who owned a grocery store, believed young Tommy should focus on his schoolwork and devote any free time to working at the family business. “I used to hide my spikes,” Giordano told me. “Well, my dad got hold of them and put them on the butcher block. He cut them up. He cut everything up. My bat, my glove, everything.”— Giordano was called up to the majors by the Athletics toward the end of the 1953 season http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-yuli-gurriel-jersey , giving him a chance to meet one of the game’s most towering figures, Connie Mack. In his very first game with Philadelphia, the slick-fielding shortstop homered off the facade of old Shibe Park, going deep against 20-game winner Virgil Trucks of the Chicago White Sox.— Also in 1953, while playing with Class A Savannah, Giordano took the infield alongside a 19-year-old second baseman on his way up, a guy named Henry Aaron. The future home run king led the league in virtually every offensive category except one. Aaron hit 22 homers — two less than Giordano.— After his playing days, Giordano was responsible for the Baltimore Orioles drafting Cal Ripken Jr. During a stint in Cleveland, T-bone signed off on the Indians picking Manny Ramirez. His scouting mantra was “get in the house,” which gave him a chance to check out a prospect’s family and any off-the-field red flags. “I love doing that kind of work,” he said.Now, everyone is getting a chance to return the love.His daughter set out a book for visitors to sign. As I was speaking to her, someone arrived at the door. She instructed them to turn to the fourth page of the book. The first three pages were already filled up.“He’s gotten to attend his own funeral service the last four days http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-jake-marisnick-jersey ,” Przeclawski said. “He’s had a blast.”But the end is drawing near. T-bone lost the ability to speak and swallow Sunday night.Her voice choked with emotion, Przeclawski noted that Wednesday would’ve been her mother’s birthday. She died less than a year ago. She and T-bone were married for 70 years.“I think they’re going to be celebrating her birthday in heaven,” their daughter said.Giordano will be buried just outside the family home, with a view of a lake.His daughter issued an invitation to come by and visit the next time I’m in Orlando.“We’ll tell some great stories about my dad,” she said.I can’t wait. SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals agreed with reliever Drew Storen on a minor league contract Friday that includes an invitation to big league spring training.Storen would have a $1.25 million salary in the major leagues if he is added to the 40-man roster, and he would have the chance to earn additional performance bonuses.The right-hander missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery in December 2017, but he’d been effective throughout his career. The 31-year-old is 29-18 with a 3.45 ERA over 470 appearances with the Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds.His best season came in 2011, when he was 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA and 43 saves for Washington. Storen was 4-2 with a 4.45 ERA in 58 appearances for Cincinnati during the 2017 season.The Royals have been stockpiling low-risk, high-reward relievers as they attempt to rebuild one of the majors’ worst bullpens. They also signed left-hander Jake Diekman this week.

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty ImagesMLB teams can find themselves desperate prior to the non-waiver trade deadline for numerous reasons.Perhaps a contending team is in the midst of a slump and needs someone to fill a gap. Or maybe a rebuilding team must trade coveted players to the highest bidders before the clock strikes 4 p.m. ET on July 31.A third category relates to keeping up with the Joneses: For example http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-ryan-mcmahon-jersey , National League teams may be more pressed to make a move with former Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado now a Los Angeles Dodger.All three groups are represented on the following list of six teams. All statistics accurate through Sunday and via FanGraphs and Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.Milwaukee Brewers1 of 5Dylan Buell/Getty ImagesAfter a 1-8 stretch capped by an 11-2 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, the Milwaukee Brewers' season is on the brink. Granted, the Brew Crew occupy one of the two National League wild-card spots, but that could change quickly.First, the NL is jam-packed. Through Sunday, eight teams were within 5.5 games of each other for the league's two play-in berths.Second, the Brewers' schedule is brutal from late July through mid-August, starting with an eight-game West Coast swing to the first-place Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, who are 31-19 at home.Milwaukee also has road series versus the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs, both of whom are in the thick of the playoff race.The Brewers need to make a move if they want to stay afloat. Of note, Milwaukee may want to upgrade at second base: Four Brewers have played at least 12 games there this year, and none of them are managing better than a .693 OPS (per Baseball Prospectus, the average OPS at second base is .715).Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and The Athletic connected the Brewers with the Minnesota Twins' Brian Dozier (16 home runs, .724 OPS), and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported they are in on the New York Mets' Asdrubal Cabrera (17 home runs, .820 OPS). Either player would add pop to the lineup.The question is which players the Brewers could make available in a deal for a veteran. Per Brad Ford of Brew Crew Ball, a group of second-tier prospects are "most likely to headline a trade for any plus rental or mid-grade player with control. Prospects falling into this category include Lucas Erceg, Luis Ortiz, Brett Phillips, Tristen Lutz, Corey Ray and Jacob Nottingham."Dozier and Cabrera would be rentals (both are free agents after this season), and Minnesota or New York could get a great return if a few of the prospects in that aforementioned group are made available. Of note, third baseman Erceg is the third-ranked prospect in the Brewers' system, per MLB.com, and has a stellar 70 arm grade. Ortiz is a 22-year-old right-hander with 58 strikeouts in 57 innings in Double-A, and the 19-year-old Lutz has a .763 OPS in Single-A.New York Yankees2 of 5Elsa/Getty ImagesIt may seem odd to place the New York Yankees here, especially considering they had the game's second-best win-loss record entering Monday.However http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , the Boston Red Sox reside in the same division, and they've won 14 of their last 16 games and 42 of their last 59 for a majors-best 70-31 mark. The Sox don't look like they will slow down any time soon.That leaves the Yankees in a bind, as it's conceivable an excellent regular season will result in a one-game wild-card playoff. New York wants to avoid that situation, but if the Yanks can't find any starting pitching at the deadline, it seems inevitable.Luis Severino has been the only consistent Yankees starter this year. CC Sabathia has a 3.51 ERA, but FanGraphs notes he has a 4.52 xFIP, which means regression could be on the way.Promising southpaw Jordan Montgomery is out for the season after Tommy John surgery, Domingo German was sent back to Triple-A after struggling, Masahiro Tanaka is giving up too many home runs (18 in 83.1 innings), and Sonny Gray simply hasn't gotten it done (5.34 ERA in 19 starts).Those aforementioned pitchers can be lights-out if they're in top form, but that hasn't been the case for anyone listed minus Severino. Simply put, the Yankees need to add a starter to shore up the rotation.While Jack Curry of YES Network reported New York's elite prospects (e.g., left-handed starting pitcher Justus Sheffield and outfielder Clint Frazier) are untouchable, its farm system is stacked with talent. Other teams could tap into that depth.Of note, 15 of the Yankees' 20 top prospects are right-handed pitchers, so perhaps they will be willing to part with some of that talent to obtain a major league-ready starter.Right-handed pitcher Chance Adams is arguably the best of the bunch. He has a plus fastball and slider and ranks as the fourth-best prospect in the Yankees' system, per MLB.com. Though his 4.89 ERA in Triple-A isn't ideal, he's struck out 87 batters in 84.2 innings. Outfielder Billy McKinney, who has a .796 OPS in Triple-A, could also be involved in a trade.New York Mets3 of 5Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesThough the New York Mets aren't the worst team in baseball, they may be in the worst spot.Unlike more than half of MLB's 30 teams, they aren't within striking distance of the postseason. If their farm system was stacked with top talent and the team was a few years from contending, that would be fine, but that isn't the case. Of note, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com ranked the Mets' farm system 26th prior to the season.It also doesn't help that the Mets reside in a city with a media market that will treat you like a king if you're great but kick you when you're down. Also, the fanbase has become somewhat apathetic, as the team ranks ninth out of the 15 NL teams in average attendance.The Mets are desperate in the sense that it seems like they have to do something given the circumstances. The trade of closer Jeurys Familia to the Oakland Athletics seems like a move the Mets felt they had to make Miguel Cabrera Jersey , and the A's pulled off a heist.Familia is a proven closer with 17 saves and a 2.74 ERA this year. In return, New York received Will Toffey, a 23-year-old third baseman who is hitting .244 in High-A, and Bobby Wahl, a 26-year-old reliever who has made just seven relief appearances in the bigs (4.70 ERA in 2017). Oakland also gave the Mets international bonus pool money.Toffey and Wahl could be late bloomers who play key roles for the Mets someday, but on the surface, the A's won the deal. Could another team take New York for a ride? That seems like a possibility given the Familia return, and it wouldn't be surprising if another team offered less-than-equal value in exchange for another Mets veteran.Baltimore Orioles4 of 5Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesThe Orioles' season has been a disaster, as the team sports an MLB-worst 28-72 record. The Machado deal kicked off a rebuild, and the O's aren't done.Baltimore needs to trade anyone it can before the deadline. Contending teams are desperate for arms and position players, so the window is now for the Orioles to restock their farm system.They should be able to do so based on recent reports. For example, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com noted at least seven teams are in the mix for left-handed reliever Zach Britton. He also noted the Orioles want to increase the pace of the talks.Elsewhere, Rosenthal reported the Colorado Rockies are looking into Orioles starters Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, and Roch Kubatko of MASN said those pitchers plus second baseman Jonathan Schoop are coveted by at least a couple of teams.Furthermore, Britton will be a free agent this offseason, so the Orioles would risk losing him for nothing if they don't deal him now. Baltimore needs to act fast to secure the best packages.A fire sale seems inevitable, but the issue is the Orioles may not have a ton of leverage outside a potential Britton deal. Teams aren't knocking down the door for Baltimore's other free agents-to-be (e.g., Adam Jones, Brad Brach), and the clock is ticking toward the deadline, so the O's may be forced to sell for less value than they desire.Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks5 of 5Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies are lumped together because they are in similar situations.With Machado a Dodger, L.A. is the clear favorite to win the National League West. FanGraphs gives the Dodgers an 84.5 percent chance to win the division, with the D-backs (9.7 percent) and Rockies (4.3 percent) far behind.All three teams are within two games, but L.A. is in the midst of a 39-18 stretch. Arizona and Colorado need to make moves if they are to have a shot at the division (or even the wild card).The Diamondbacks are 23rd in team OPS (.704), and that's the worst mark of any team with a winning record. They need more pop to contend down the stretch, which is why they are reportedly after Cabrera, per Feinsand.The Rockies need bullpen help Alan Trammell Jersey , as they rank third-worst with a 5.17 relievers' ERA. As noted before, Britton is the most sought-after reliever on the trade market. A lot of teams are inquiring about him, including the Rockies, per Jon Heyman of Fancred, so Colorado may have to go over the top in a Britton deal.The Diamondbacks and Rockies can't afford to stand pat, which is why they may make splashes prior to July 31.Jason Catania of MLB.com noted Arizona prospect Jon Duplantier, a 24-year-old right-hander ranked 59th on MLB.com's top 100 prospects list, could be on the move. He missed nearly two months with biceps tendinitis but made his return Sunday, throwing three shutout innings with five strikeouts in the Arizona League.When healthy, Duplantier has excelled to the tune of a 2.52 ERA in seven starts in Double-A. Jon Morosi of MLB Network and Fox Sports reported the O's were interested in Duplantier, and that could be a starting point in a Britton deal.As for the Rockies, Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post explained why this could be a crucial deadline for the team in a mailbag: "I've believed since early this month that general manager Jeff Bridich has no choice except to be a buyer at the trade deadline, because this could be the last best chance to get [four-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado] to the playoffs and have any chance to convince him Colorado is the place he wants to play long term."The 27-year-old Arenado, who has 25 home runs, 72 RBI and a .985 OPS, will be a free agent in 2020. If Colorado doesn't position itself as a playoff-contending team this year, it may give its star an incentive to find a better chance to win. Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesThe Boston Red Sox still have five games left in the 2018 MLB regular season, yet president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is already lining up the team's starting rotation for the playoffs.Dombrowski said Tuesday on MLB Network Radio that left-hander Chris Sale will start the opening contest of the American League Division Series, which is scheduled for Oct. 5:MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM MLBNetworkRadioDave Dombrowski isnt waiting on an opponent or a press conference to announce Chris Sale as the #RedSox Game 1 starter of the #ALDS#DirtyWater wDKo9kSOl0Sale is the obvious choice to open the playoffs for the Red Sox. He's12-4 with a 2.00 ERA in 26 starts, and his 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings are acareer high.However, persistentshoulder problemslimited Sale to one August start, and he has thrown141 total pitchessince returning to the mound in a 7-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sept. 11.Dombrowski said Tuesday the Red Sox will have Sale start Wednesday's game against the Orioles, and that the seven-time All-Star will"stretch out again to 90ish-type pitches" to help him get readjusted to a full workload.The difference between winning and losing a five-game playoff series can be thin. In 2016, two of the Red Sox's three ALDS playoff defeats were decided by one run.Sale was never a doubt to pitch in the playoffs, but having him in Game 1 of the ALDS will be a nice boost for Boston as it looks to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2013.

As free agency continues to drag into the start of spring training http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-shelby-miller-jersey , St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright thinks Major League Baseball is going to have a significant problem on its hands.Speaking to Tim McKernan of InsideSTL.com (h/t Justin Terranova of theNew York Post), Wainwright suggested the possibility of a midseason walkout by the players:鈥淯nless something changes, there's going to be a strike, 100 percent. I'm just worried people are going to walk out midseason. ...Thirty owners need to be answering that because you have one of the best players in the game that needs a job and no one is signing him.You've got 30 owners who have a sabermetric box that will sign players when they were in that box. They don't take any intangibles or anything else into play and that's a sad thing.Chicago Cubs reliever Brad Brach shared similar comments with reporters Friday, via NBC Sports Chicago's Tony Andracki:"I really don't know [what to make of the state of free agency].We talked to certain teams and they told us, 'We have an algorithm and here's where you fall in that scale.' It's just kinda weird that all offers are the same that come around the same time and everybody tells you there's an algorithm, but you figure teams have different ones Chris Owings Jersey , but I don't know."The state of MLB free agency has become a hot topic as marquee players have waited months into the offseason before signing contracts over the past two years.Yu Darvish, J.D. Martinez and Eric Hosmer went through the winter last year before agreeing to deals in February.With all 30 teams reporting to spring training this week, Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel are among the best free agents still available.Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander vented his frustration at the pace of free agency onTwitterthis week."System is broken," he wrote. "They blame 'rebuilding' but that's BS. You're telling me you couldn't sign Bryce or Manny for 10 years and go from there? Seems like a good place to start a rebuild to me. [Age] 26-36 is a great performance window too."Per ESPN.com'sJeff Passan, 18 out of 30 MLB teams are at least $50 million below the $206 million luxury-tax threshold.There is still time for for players like Harper Archie Bradley Jersey , Machado, Kimbrel and Keuchel to negotiate deals that will make them happy. The regular season doesn't begin until March 28.But the ongoing strife between players and owners could leave MLB at risk of its first work stoppage since the 1994-95 strike. Dilip Vishwanat/Getty ImagesAt least one MLB general manager believes Washington Nationals superstar outfielder Bryce Harper will leave the organization as a free agent this offseason to sign with the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies.On Thursday, Jon Heyman of Fancred reported the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants are among the other clubs linked to Harper, but the unnamed executive is predicting he'll land in Philly."I think Harper winds up with the Phillies," the GM told Heyman.The 25-year-old Las Vegas native Curt Schilling Jersey , who struggled in the months leading up to the All-Star Game, has come alive since the Midsummer Classic. He's posted a .352/.448/.682 triple-slash line with seven home runs in 88 at-bats after winning the Home Run Derby.His track record includes an NL MVP Award for the 2015 season and six All-Star selections, which will make him a coveted commodity this winter.Although Harper hasn't discussed his potential suitors, the slugger acknowledged last month that he could leave the Nats."It's always a possibility. Everyone knew that at the beginning of the year鈥攖his could possibly be my last year in D.C," hetold reporters. "There's no elephant in the room. Everybody knows that's a possibility."Choosing to leave Washington to join Philadelphia, a club the Nationals will likely be battling atop the NL East for the foreseeable future, would be a bold move Luis Gonzalez Jersey , not to mention make him public enemy No. 1 among baseball fans in the nation's capital.The Phillies have turned the corner in their rebuilding efforts on the strength of their pitching staff. Their lineup still needs work, however, as evidenced by ranking 20th in runs scored this season.Harper would provide a major boost should he choose Philly before the 2019 campaign.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — In his first game back from a knee injury Reggie Sanders Jersey , Rene Rivera was big trouble for his old team.Rivera hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning after a long stay on the disabled list, and the Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night.Reinstated from the 60-day DL before the game, Rivera connected for a solo shot into the second deck in left field against San Diego closer Kirby Yates (4-1). The former Padres catcher had missed 76 games with right knee inflammation.“It’s awesome to come back after three months and help the team to win a game,” Rivera said. “First, I’m glad to be back and have an opportunity to play, and winning the game today is great.”Yates, who took over as closer when Brad Hand was traded to Cleveland, had allowed only two earned runs in 21 innings pitched at Petco Park this season.“I just threw a good pitch, and he hit it,” Yates said. “Just come back tomorrow and get back at it.”After the Angels sent starting catcher Martin Maldonado to Houston at the July 31 trade deadline, Rivera will have an opportunity to contribute more.“We just brought him back and knew he had to get his timing down,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “To jump right in like that, that’s a huge home run obviously.”Jose Alvarez (5-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win for the Angels, their seventh in nine games. The sweep was Los Angeles’ sixth of the season.Blake Parker retired the side in the ninth for his 12th save.Cory Spangenberg erased an Angels lead in the seventh with a solo home run that tied the game at 2.Andrelton Simmons singled home David Fletcher in the sixth to put Los Angeles in front 2-1.Both teams scored in the first inning. Albert Pujols drove in Kole Calhoun Johnny Bench Jersey , who led off the game with a single, with a sacrifice fly against Padres lefty Robbie Erlin.San Diego answered with a sacrifice fly from Hunter Renfroe that brought home Travis Jankowski.Felix Pena pitched six solid innings for the Angels, allowing one unearned run on two hits while walking four and striking out seven.“I think Felix did a great job,” Scioscia said. “He kept getting better as the game went on. The only fly in the ointment is four walks, but he stepped up.”Erlin and Pena traded scoreless innings until the sixth, when Simmons broke through for Los Angeles.“He pitched great,” Rivera said of Pena. “He kept the ball down and elevated when he wanted to elevate. He was keeping the hitters off balance and did a good job today.”Shohei Ohtani pinch-hit in the ninth and struck out swinging against Yates.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: Ohtani threw at full strength in his second bullpen session since injuring his right elbow in June. The two-way rookie star from Japan said his arm felt good and he was able to throw all his pitches. “I did throw 100 percent effort, but obviously it is going to be different from a game situation,” Ohtani said through a translator. “I can’t say for sure until I see how my body feels tomorrow.”ROSTER MOVESThe Angels optioned RHP Odrisamer Despaigne and C Jose Briceno to Triple-A Salt Lake, and designated RHP Akeel Morris for assignment.UP NEXTAngels: Open a four-game series in Texas on Thursday. The club had not yet announced a starting pitcher. RHP Ariel Jurado (2-2, 5.66 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers.Padres: RHP Jacob Nix (1-0) makes his second start in the majors Thursday against Arizona, looking to follow up a debut in which he threw six scoreless innings. RHP Clay Buchholz (5-2, 2.67) goes for the Diamondbacks. NEW YORK (AP) — The batting average for the major leagues is on track for its lowest finish in nearly a half-century.This comes despite slightly more robust offense of late — hits topping strikeouts the last two months.According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there were 7 http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-morgan-jersey ,134 hits and 6,818 strikeouts in August. That left the season totals at 34,350 hits and 34,103 strikeouts, the first time this season hits led at the end of a full month.The season’s batting average rose one point during August to .249. Unless it goes up to at least .251 it would be the lowest since .244 in 1972.Strikeouts topped hits in April (6,656 to 6,360) and June (6,776 to 6,640) while hits also exceeded strikeouts in May (7,033 to 6,971) and July (6,546 hits to 6,195). Before this year, the previous low differential for a full month was in April 2017 Dave Concepcion Jersey , when there were 138 more hits than strikeouts.Strikeouts per game averaged 16.47 in August, down from 16.6 in July, 16.9 in June, 16.75 in May and 17.5 in April, which was a record for a full calendar month. Strikeouts project to 40,964, which would be the 11th consecutive season setting a record, toSAN DIEGO (AP) — In his first game back from a knee injury Reggie Sanders Jersey , Rene Rivera was big trouble for his old team.Rivera hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning after a long stay on the disabled list, and the Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night.Reinstated from the 60-day DL before the game, Rivera connected for a solo shot into the second deck in left field against San Diego closer Kirby Yates (4-1). The former Padres catcher had missed 76 games with right knee inflammation.“It’s awesome to come back after three months and help the team to win a game,” Rivera said. “First, I’m glad to be back and have an opportunity to play, and winning the game today is great.”Yates, who took over as closer when Brad Hand was traded to Cleveland, had allowed only two earned runs in 21 innings pitched at Petco Park this season.“I just threw a good pitch, and he hit it,” Yates said. “Just come back tomorrow and get back at it.”After the Angels sent starting catcher Martin Maldonado to Houston at the July 31 trade deadline, Rivera will have an opportunity to contribute more.“We just brought him back and knew he had to get his timing down,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “To jump right in like that, that’s a huge home run obviously.”Jose Alvarez (5-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win for the Angels, their seventh in nine games. The sweep was Los Angeles’ sixth of the season.Blake Parker retired the side in the ninth for his 12th save.Cory Spangenberg erased an Angels lead in the seventh with a solo home run that tied the game at 2.Andrelton Simmons singled home David Fletcher in the sixth to put Los Angeles in front 2-1.Both teams scored in the first inning. Albert Pujols drove in Kole Calhoun Johnny Bench Jersey , who led off the game with a single, with a sacrifice fly against Padres lefty Robbie Erlin.San Diego answered with a sacrifice fly from Hunter Renfroe that brought home Travis Jankowski.Felix Pena pitched six solid innings for the Angels, allowing one unearned run on two hits while walking four and striking out seven.“I think Felix did a great job,” Scioscia said. “He kept getting better as the game went on. The only fly in the ointment is four walks, but he stepped up.”Erlin and Pena traded scoreless innings until the sixth, when Simmons broke through for Los Angeles.“He pitched great,” Rivera said of Pena. “He kept the ball down and elevated when he wanted to elevate. He was keeping the hitters off balance and did a good job today.”Shohei Ohtani pinch-hit in the ninth and struck out swinging against Yates.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: Ohtani threw at full strength in his second bullpen session since injuring his right elbow in June. The two-way rookie star from Japan said his arm felt good and he was able to throw all his pitches. “I did throw 100 percent effort, but obviously it is going to be different from a game situation,” Ohtani said through a translator. “I can’t say for sure until I see how my body feels tomorrow.”ROSTER MOVESThe Angels optioned RHP Odrisamer Despaigne and C Jose Briceno to Triple-A Salt Lake, and designated RHP Akeel Morris for assignment.UP NEXTAngels: Open a four-game series in Texas on Thursday. The club had not yet announced a starting pitcher. RHP Ariel Jurado (2-2, 5.66 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers.Padres: RHP Jacob Nix (1-0) makes his second start in the majors Thursday against Arizona, looking to follow up a debut in which he threw six scoreless innings. RHP Clay Buchholz (5-2, 2.67) goes for the Diamondbacks. NEW YORK (AP) — The batting average for the major leagues is on track for its lowest finish in nearly a half-century.This comes despite slightly more robust offense of late — hits topping strikeouts the last two months.According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there were 7 http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-morgan-jersey ,134 hits and 6,818 strikeouts in August. That left the season totals at 34,350 hits and 34,103 strikeouts, the first time this season hits led at the end of a full month.The season’s batting average rose one point during August to .249. Unless it goes up to at least .251 it would be the lowest since .244 in 1972.Strikeouts topped hits in April (6,656 to 6,360) and June (6,776 to 6,640) while hits also exceeded strikeouts in May (7,033 to 6,971) and July (6,546 hits to 6,195). Before this year, the previous low differential for a full month was in April 2017 Dave Concepcion Jersey , when there were 138 more hits than strikeouts.Strikeouts per game averaged 16.47 in August, down from 16.6 in July, 16.9 in June, 16.75 in May and 17.5 in April, which was a record for a full calendar month. Strikeouts project to 40,964, which would be the 11th consecutive season setting a record, topping last year’s 40,104. The total was 32,884 in 2008.There were 989 home runs in 414 games last month, an average of 2.39 that raised the season average to 2.31. The average was 2.54 through August last year, just above the record-setting final figure of 2.51.pping last year’s 40,104. The total was 32,884 in 2008.There were 989 home runs in 414 games last month, an average of 2.39 that raised the season average to 2.31. The average was 2.54 through August last year, just above the record-setting final figure of 2.51.

MILAN (AP) — Juventus is starting to entertain.Often winning by a solitary goal in the first half of the season Cheap Portugal Soccer Shirts , Juventus has now scored three goals in two straight matches.However, there was little sign of the defensive frailties that cost it dearly in last week’s 3-3 draw against Parma as the Bianconeri cruised to a 3-0 win at Sassuolo in Serie A on Sunday.“Getting the win was important after the game against Parma,” midfielder Blaise Matuidi said. “We played well last Saturday, but it was really important to take home the three points today.“We need to continue in this vein right until the end as good performances in Serie A will give us confidence for the Champions League. Physically we’re improving and we’ve been working really hard in training — you could see that today. However, we want to do even more.”Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 34 last week Cheap Russia Soccer Jerseys , had a hand in all three goals. The Portugal forward saw his swerving shot parried by Andrea Consigli in the 23rd minute but Sami Khedira was on hand to fire in the rebound.Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for offside shortly after halftime but he did get on the scoresheet in the 70th when he headed in a corner.It was his 18th league goal, two clear of Atalanta forward Duvan Zapata in the race for the top scorer award.Ronaldo also set up Juve’s third. After some delightful interplay with Paulo Dybala, Ronaldo picked out substitute Emre Can who scored with his first touch.Juventus moved 11 points clear of second-placed Napoli as it continues its seemingly unstoppable march to a record-extending eighth successive Serie A title. In the Champions League, it plays at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the round-of-16 match on Feb. 20.NEW BOYS SHINEAC Milan’s two new signings combined to keep the Rossoneri firmly on track for a Champions League berth.Lucas Paqueta and Krzysztof Piatek, who were signed last month for a combined total of 70 million euros ($79 million), both scored as Milan beat Cagliari 3-0 to move back into fourth spot.It was Piatek’s fourth goal in three starts for the Rossoneri but Paqueta’s first for Milan and he dedicated it to the victims of the fire at the training ground of his former club Flamengo. The fire killed 10 of the Brazilian club’s academy players.“Scoring for Milan is a dream come true replica football jerseys from China , as it was to play for Milan, but I lived at Flamengo for years and that was my home,” Paqueta said.Milan’s opener was an own-goal as Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno parried Suso’s effort and it came off teammate Luca Ceppitelli.Milan is one point above Atalanta, Roma and Lazio. The top four in Serie A qualify for next season’s Champions League.Joao Pedro saw his attempt hit the crossbar for Cagliari after Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had first pulled off a brilliant save to deny the Brazilian. It was the 19-year-old Donnarumma’s 150th competitive appearance for Milan.Cagliari is three points above the relegation zone.OTHER MATCHESDuvan Zapata kept up his scoring streak to help Atalanta come from behind to beat Spal 2-1 and keep up its push for a Champions League place.It was Zapata’s 15th goal in his last 10 Serie A appearances.Udinese is just one point from the drop after it had two goals disallowed, saw a penalty saved, hit the bar and had a player sent off in a dramatic final 20 minutes before losing 1-0 at Torino.Spal slipped to just four points off the drop zone www.thetopsoccer.com/spain , and relegation-threatened Bologna drew against Genoa 1-1.Frosinone pulled off a shock 1-0 win at Sampdoria. MADRID (AP) — Valencia is getting used to some late heroics in the Copa del Rey.After scoring twice in stoppage time to advance from the quarterfinals last week, Valencia salvaged a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the semifinals against Real Betis thanks to an injury-time equalizer.Betis took a 2-0 lead on Thursday with a goal scored directly from a corner kick early in the second half, but Kevin Gameiro’s late strike gave Valencia the slight edge going into the return match at home later this month.In the quarterfinals, Valencia had defeated Getafe 3-1 at its Mestalla Stadium with two goals by Rodrigo in added time to overcome a 1-0 first-leg loss.“It wouldn’t be smart to think that we’ve already done enough to make it to the final,” Valencia coach Marcelino Garcia said. “We have to stay humble and respect our very good opponent.”Betis is hoping to be back for the May 25 final at its Villamarin Stadium in Seville, which saw a record crowd of 57 Cheap Sweden Soccer Shirts ,123 on Thursday. The other semifinal is being played by four-time defending champion Barcelona and Real Madrid, who drew 1-1 in their first leg on Wednesday at Camp Nou.Betis opened the scoring with a goal by Loren Moron just before halftime, and veteran Joaquin Sanchez added to the lead with the rare corner kick goal less than 10 minutes into the second half.The 37-year-old midfielder curled in a mid-height shot from the left corner and Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech couldn’t get back in time to make the save before the ball crossed the goal line. The officiating crew initially let play continue, but a video review quickly confirmed the goal.Russia forward Denis Cheryshev pulled one back for Valencia with a 70th-minute header after Gameiro’s cross, and the French forward evened the match from close range after a well-placed low pass by Rodrigo two minutes into stoppage time.“We can’t be happy after conceding the equalizer like that. We should have closed the match,” Moron said. “It was tough www.thetopsoccer.com/switzerland , but we still have the return match to play and we still have a chance to advance.”Valencia is back in the semifinals for the first time since 2012. It hasn’t made it to the final since it won the last of its seven titles in 2008.Betis hadn’t reached the last four since it won the second of its two Copa titles in 2005.