A quarter after Brandon Meriweather concussed Packers running back Eddie Lacy with a helmet-to-helmet hit, the Redskins safety was involved in another helmet-to-helmet collision. Eli Manning Authentic Jersey, Hakeem Nicks Elite Jersey, Jason Pierre-Paul Elite Jersey, This time, Meriweather caught the worst of it from Packers running back James Starks, while trying to make a tackle along the sidelines. Meriweather, who has appeared in just one of 17 games since arriving in Washington prior to the 2012 season, immediately went to the ground. He stayed there for several minutes before walking off the field under his own power.
Redskins' safety Brandon Meriweather really likes hitting people with his head. pic.twitter.com/fyEllO2TaE — ryan wilson (@ryanwilson_07) September 15, 2013
Meriweather battled multiple knee injures last season, and a groin injury forced him to miss the Week 1 loss to the Eagles. Redskins' safeties Bacarri Rambo and E.J. Biggers were summarily abused by Philly and Michael Vick.
With Meriweather out, the 'Skins opted to keep Biggers on the bench and go with Reed Doughty. Early in the second quarter, Green Bay leads Washington, 17-0.
The Angels are the next closest team at 9 1/2 games back, so this is a five-horse race. There's plenty of time for any of those four teams to catch the Rays (or the Rangers, for that matter) and sneak into the postseason. Two and a half games is nothing. You can make that up in a weekend. In fact, this weekend figures to play a huge role in the wild-card race. Look at this schedule:
?Rays: Three games against Twins in Target Field. ?Yankees: Three games against Red Sox in Fenway Park. ?Indians: Four games against White Sox in US Cellular Field (starting Thursday). ?Orioles: Three games against Blue Jays in Rogers Centre. ?Royals: Three games against Tigers in Comerica Park. Jason Pierre-Paul Limited Jersey, Ramses Barden Authentic Jersey, , The Yankees and Royals draw first place teams while the Rays, Indians and Orioles draw last place teams. Well, the Twins technically aren't a last place team (thanks White Sox!), but Minnesota has the third worst record in the AL at 63-82. They're a fourth place team playing like a last place team, for all intents and purposes.
Tampa Bay has struggled of late -- they've won just five of their last 18 games -- but they do have both Matt Moore and David Price going this weekend. That's a prime opportunity to get back on track and maintain the wild-card lead (if not increase it). The Indians and Orioles have similar opportunities to bludgeon a weak opponent these next few days, though they are playing catch-up. That's not easy to do.
The Yankees, meanwhile, will have to fend off a powerhouse Red Sox team that went to Yankee Stadium and decimated New York's pitching staff en route to winning three of four games last weekend. The Tigers haven't played all that well lately but they're dominant at home, with a 44-27 record and a +87 run differential. James Shields isn't scheduled to pitch this weekend either, so the Royals will have their hands full.
If things play out as expected, the Rays will maintain their lead while the Indians and Orioles take advantage of their schedules and leap over the Yankees and Royals. Things almost never play out as expected though, which is why this wild-card race is so fascinating. On paper, this looks like a crucial weekend that could dramatically impact the postseason race. In all likelihood, something completely surprising will happen and unexpectedly change the wild-card landscape.
Memo to Bobby Valentine: Step away from the microphone. Seriously, please just stop talking. You can't make this any better for yourself. It can only get worse.
What am I talking about?
Well, remember the comments former Mets manager Bobby Valentine made Wednesday -- the 12-year anniversary of 9/11 -- in which he wanted to make sure everyone knew the Mets did more to help the community than the Yankees in the aftermath?
Yeah, he's digging in his heels.
"It was an emotional day," Valentine told Erik Kuselias on the NBC Radio Network (via larrybrownsports.com). "I don't know if I was trying to take credit for the team. I was trying to make a fact. After 12 years of hearing what was done and hearing it reported incorrectly, I just thought I'd state for the record that there weren't any Yankees out there that week."
Here's the problem, though: It doesn't matter. It really, really doesn't matter if the Mets or Yankees did more for the community in the aftermath of the tragedy. You know who did a helluva lot more than the Mets, Bobby? The public employees -- both those who survived and those who gave their lives on 9/11 and in the aftermath. That is what matters.
I wasn't in the media back then, so it's not like Valentine is personally offending me on that level, but I have a serious problem with this situation. If this isn't about "credit," there is zero reason to say anything. "I was trying to make a fact," he says. OK, but why? So you and your team get credit. That's it. Otherwise, again, there's no reason to say anything.
Further, if people do charity or volunteer work for credit, doesn't that negate the good-hearted nature of help and instead make it selfish instead of selfless? At that point, it's no longer, "Hey, I just want to do whatever I can to help" and has morphed into, "Make sure you report that I was here so everyone knows how good and nice I am!"
To reiterate, the focus on 9/11 should have been on the victims and the heroes of the tragedy that took place 12 years ago, not Valentine's seemingly fragile sensibilities. It's too bad he can't see that.
For those prospects in the complex and rookie leagues, the season actually has been over for about a week. Meanwhile, the postseason schedules for the Short Season, Low- and High-A leagues have either already concluded or are entering the final round.
As for the Double- and Triple-A levels, well, each league’s respective championship round is set to unfold over the upcoming week and will inevitably feature standout performances from some of the game’s best young talent.
So, with an emphasis on prospects who took the bump during the minor league playoffs, here’s a look at the hottest and coldest pitching prospects at every level.
And two days after some had them as favorites for one of the two American League wild-card spots, they're back to looking like the longest of longshots.
Two crushing losses to the Red Sox have been accompanied by two days of bad news for a bullpen that has been a Yankee strength. Right after Friday's 12-8 loss to the Red Sox (in a game the Yankees led 8-3), manager Joe Girardi announced that setup man David Robertson has a sore shoulder that will keep him out at least the next 5-6 days.
Also, Boone Logan, the Yankees' top left-handed reliever, complained of a sore biceps and will have an MRI on Saturday. Logan said he was hurt just before giving up Mike Napoli's game-tying grand slam in the seventh inning Friday.
"These are relievers that have pitched a lot for us," Girardi said.
The Yankees are also without middle reliever Shawn Kelley, who has a triceps problem.
None of this would be as big a deal if Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes could be relied on. But Hughes, in his first relief appearance since being pulled from the rotation, retired just one of the five batters he faced in the seventh inning Friday. Chamberlain, who lost Thursday's game in the 10th inning, retired just two of the six batters he faced in the eighth inning Friday.
Friday's loss dropped the Yankees behind the Orioles and Indians in the race for the final wild-card spot. The Yankees began the night trailing the Rays by 2 1/2 games.
The Cup takes place in early October when the United States will compete against golfers from non-European countries in a Ryder Cup-style event.
The problem Couples is facing is how many truly great golfers he's trying to pick from. Do you go with the classic pick of Jim Furyk? The hot pick of Jordan Spieth? The people's choice of Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler?
The Couples dilemma. Which 2 would you pick? Simpson D Johnson Furyk Bubba Rickie Weekley Spieth — Luke Kerr-Dineen (@LukeKerrDineen) September 3, 2013
Who he should pick
I think Spieth is a no-brainer. He's been absurdly good this year and his youth would be a nice injection into the sometimes-drab personalities of Tiger Woods, Jason Dufner, etc. I think the other pick should be Dustin Johnson. He went 3-0-0 last year at the Ryder Cup and has two top 10 finishes in his last last five events (including the PGA Championship).
On the season's first Shakeout Saturday, we learned these truths ...
?There are some third graders who have yet to read the following sentence: It was not particularly a good day for the SEC. Will Muschamp has to get the offense fixed. Florida tumbled eight spots in the latest Power Poll after losing/giving a game away to Miami.
In the second week of September, the top three teams in the East (including Georgia and South Carolina) each have a loss. Samford led Arkansas in the third quarter.
It's not time to jump off the bandwagon just yet. Something called Alabama-Texas A&M this week should get the nation's attention transfixed again on the Strength Everywhere Conference.
?Flaws and all, Michigan, No. 11 in the Power Poll, seems to be the favorite in the Big Ten's Legends Division. You know what that means. Devin Gardner is a Heisman candidate. The same goes for Jeremy Gallon and the Biletnikoff Award. Taylor Lewman already was an Outland candidate. If this team ever lives up to AD Dave Brandon's marketing of it, a Big Ten championship game may be in its future. At least.
?The ACC is at least resurgent, if not back. Yes, that's three teams in the top 12 of the Power Poll. Florida State and Clemson are championship contenders. Miami just had its biggest win in years. Holy Swofford, Maryland and Duke are both 2-0 too Hakeem Nicks Jersey, Eli Manning Authentic Jersey,
?We have our first hot seat coaches of the season. Actually, they're not much different from the hot seat coaches before the season.
They were booing USC's Lane Kiffin at the Coliseum in a depressing 10-7 loss to Washington State. BYU ran for the most yards in its history at the same time Texas gave up the most rushing yards in its history. Things don't look rosy for Mack Brown with -- in order -- Ole Miss, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma and TCU coming up.
?The nation's seventh-leading rusher is a quarterback, BYU's Taysom Hill. That's nothing. The nation's leading rusher is a Carrier -- New Mexico's Kasey Carrier.
Onto the season's second Power Poll ...
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warning - Fellow 12’s, this post contains a lot of personal information and very little football so – be aware and continue at your own discretion.
It was the end of summer, 1979, I was 22y.o., have just finished my military service and it was time to put on a backpack and spend half a year traveling the world before I start my first term at the university. This is an old Israeli custom – use half the money you saved during your service to travel the world and half to keep you afloat on your first year in school.
My destination was the US. About a month after arriving I was staying on the weekend with some remote family friends in New Jersey. We went out Saturday night and got home late "under the influence". I woke up on Sunday around noon went downstairs and asked if anybody would like to jump to the mall with me in an hour or two to get some stuff. They stared back at me with a bewildered look – "But its Sunday, football starts in an hour".
I stared back. What do Americans know about football?
What followed was a quick course about soccer/football. An hour later I was sitting facing the TV with my jaw hanging on my chest. I have never seen a sport so intense and captivating even when most of the time it was a bunch of guys in different uniforms facing each other and then forming a big heap of bodies in the middle. Slowly they started teaching me the game, it’s objectives, scoring system and basic rules.
2 weeks later they took me to the park to play some friendly football at 10 in the morning. I was staring at those "less then fit guys" drinking beer on the way to the game and felt this can’t be too hard. Remember, I was 22 just out of 4 years of combat service. They asked me to play on the line and prevent this chubby guy from getting to the QB. I smiled; this was going to be fun. Over the next half hour that guy blew past me like I wasn't even there. I was running 5 miles at night 3 times a week to keep in shape. I was doing 100 pushups with the last 20 clapping hands and this chubby beer drinker was blowing me away. The guys started telling me stuff like – you have to bend over, get under him, don’t let him do this or do that. Slowly I was getting better. After an hour it started to be a fair fight. On the next move the guy managed to get to my throat and push me back. The guys told me that wasn't allowed by the rules they play and it was a dirty trick. They seemed upset and wanted to ask a penalty. I said it’s fine. I didn't know how to play football but I sure as hell know who to do dirty. On the next play I let him blow full speed on my right side. I move to my right too late and doing so my knee made "accidental" contact with his thigh. He was holding it on the ground looking up at me like he was ready to jump up and hit me but something made him think it over. The game ended shortly afterwards but I got some respect back from the guys. I also gained a lot of respect to what it takes to play football. It’s not a game of who is stronger(but it helps), it takes a lot of knowhow and skill to do it right and it never hurts if the other guy is scared of you.
A few weeks later I was watching a football game and this time it seemed much clearer. There was this team who kept throwing the ball to this guy who kept catching it. It was much clearer than all those running plays. Also, this team was a new team, they were not a top team and that appealed to my love of the underdog in sports. By the end of the game they were officially and formally MY TEAM. I was a fan of Jim Zorn, Steve Largent and the Seattle Seahawks.
When I returned to Israel there was no football to be found. No TV games, no internet and nothing in the papers. From time to time I would find something in a foreign newspaper but other than that – Nothing. A few years later one of the major hotels in Tel Aviv would dedicate its main event hall to arrange a broadcast of the Super Bowl for Americans living in Israel. I was watching football again. As years went by one tv channel located in Lebanon started broadcasting Monday night games on Tuesday. And finally internet was there and I had football.
20 years ago when my son was in kinder garden he made a friend leaving 5 minutes from my home. They arranged to meet and play together in the afternoon. I was in charge of picking him afterwards. When I arrived the dad open the door, he spoke bad Hebrew with a hard American accent. It took us 3 minutes to establish the following facts:
I have no problems talking in English, he met an Israeli girl in the US fell in love got married and move to Israel a few months earlier and he is a season ticket holder Giants fan.
I got home almost 2 hours late and smiling. Now I had someone to talk football with.
Big jump to midseason 2011. I kept track over my Seahawks over the years, we now have 4-5 games broadcasted live here by fox and espn and life is good. If there is a hawks game I watch it, if not I make sure to read about it afterwards and move on till next week.
As the 2nd half of 2011 is being played out I found myself drawn to it more and more. I read more about the team and something inside me was falling in love with it. When the season was over I told my friend – on the next trip to vegas place a bet for me – the Seahawks will win the SB on 2013. He laughs and says why not the 2012 season? – I said they need one more year to be ready.
I followed the 2012 draft and preseason closely. I didn't know RW before the draft but a week afterwards I told my wife – my football team found its future leader. She smiled and said "ohh really I’m glad for you". I deserved that for coming to her about it.
It’s now 2 weeks before the 2013 season. I've been spending an hour or two daily reading everything Seahawks for almost a year. (not easy when you have to manage your own company etc.)
My wife is still smiling and glad for me but she does mention my latest football addiction repeatedly.
I’m not smiling anymore. I have become an obsessed pain in the ass grumpy fan worried about every little thing I see that may derail the amazing wonder this team is. Being always a fan of the underdog it’s not easy to see your team turn into this incredible creation and have such high hopes for it. It has been building for a year and a half for me and this season is about to start. I feel like two weeks before my first son was born.
I’m an old and savvy dog. I commanded men in war when I was 21 and ran my own companies for 3 decades. I’m a known skeptic, I always look sideways and backwards, I check myself constantly and never buy into hype.
And I’m here, excited like a schoolboy before his first date, believing that I am about to experience something very very special.
Don’t ask me to explain what is it that makes a very good football team special. I have no idea. I just know they are. Win the SB or not – they are.
I believe that this team will be studied in the future. Its name will be known. Teams will try to unveil what was it that made it special and try to implement it.
Now, it is time for those 2013 seahawks to get ready for their last dress rehearsal in Green bay. Don't miss a minute of it. You'd want to tell your children about that Seahawks team in a decade or two.
I’m done. My wife is laughing when she sees me typing fan posts. She never thought I'd ever be that guy. It took a very very special team to make me one. My Seahawks.
According to Oklahoma City police, Thunder guard DeAndre Liggins was arrested Saturday on charges of domestic abuse.
Liggins is being held on complaints of domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon as well as domestic abuse in the presence of a minor, an official said.
Liggins, 25, is on a non-guaranteed contract and averaged 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds last season in 39 games with the Thunder.
Via KOCO-TV, general manager Sam Presti released this statement:
Reds prospect Billy Hamilton has been one of the best base-stealers in minor-league history since being drafted out of high school in 2009. A September callup this season, Hamilton made his Major League Baseball debut Tuesday night.
It gets better, though. Hamilton -- a pinch-runner -- stole second on Yadier Molina and then scored on a Todd Frazier double. The Reds went on to win, 1-0, and creep to within 1.5 games of the Cardinals for the top wild card spot. www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-DBRICKASHAW-FERGUSON-JERSEY.html, Now, obviously nearly all players would have scored from second on that hit, but the steal was a big deal. Pitchers work batters differently in different situations and Hamilton got himself into scoring position late in a tie game. Molina entered the game as one of the best catchers in baseball in terms of throwing out opposing would-be base-stealers, too.
It would be stupid to suggest Hamilton single-handedly won the game. He needed a Ryan Ludwick single to get on base and then Frazier to drive him home. The Reds also got oustanding pitching, specifically from starter Homer Bailey and Aroldis Chapman was destroying the radar gun.
Hamilton did, however, have a very memorable debut and impact a huge Reds victory.
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The Nick Marshall era for Auburn football kicked off on Saturday night on the Plains, but it wasn't the start the coaching staff and fans were looking for.
Sure, Auburn beat Washington State 31-24, but junior college quarterback Marshall was far from the dynamic playmaker he was touted to be during fall camp.
Marshall completed 10 of 19 passes for 99 yards in addition to rushing nine times for 27 yards. www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-SHELDON-RICHARDSON-JERSEY.html, The good news is that he didn't throw a pick or fumble, which is a departure from his junior college norm. The bad news is that he didn't find the end zone through the air or on the ground, and was inconsistent in the passing game.
According to Christian Caple of The Spokesman-Review, Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday tabbed Marshall as the problem rather than part of the solution.
Marshall needs to calm down in the pocket. He showed off his big arm early, letting loose a 67-yard bomb with relative ease on the first drive of the game. One problem, though: It was 10 yards past wide receiver Sammie Coates.
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Los New York Jets cerraron con una buena nota una tumultuosa pretemporada al derrotar por 27-20 a los Philadelphia Eagles.
Mark Sánchez lesionado y Geno Smith por decisión técnica no fueron de la partido por los neoyorquinos, mientras que Michael Vick tampoco vio acción por los Eagles.
Matt Simms fue el titular de los Jets y no tuvo un mal partido a pesar de un safety sufrido al principio del partido completó 33 de 44 pases para 285 yardas sin touchdowns ni intercepciones, participó durante todo el encuentro. www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-SHELDON-RICHARDSON-JERSEY.html, Su contraparte fue Nick Foles, segundo quarterback en Philadelphia, quien acertó solo seis de 17 pases para 63 yardas sin anotaciones ni intercepciones.
El estrella del partido fue el corredor de New York, Kahlil Bell, quien anotó dos touchdowns, además se sumar 80 yardas en 21 acarreos.
Con este resultado, los neoyorquinos terminaron con marca de 3-1 la pretemporada, mientras que los Eagles cayeron a 2-2.
The read-option exposed NFL defenses last year due to a lack of game-planning, limited prep time and the failure to carry out basic option responsibilities.
This offseason, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, Grantland’s Chris Brown and Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bedard did an excellent job breaking down some of the techniques that will be used to limit the read-option. Whether that is the “scrape-exchange” technique or the role of the safety entering the run front, defensive coordinators will be more prepared this season versus option quarterbacks in the run game. www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-SHELDON-RICHARDSON-JERSEY.html, However, what about the play-action opportunities created by the read-option scheme that tore up defensive secondaries last season? Is there an answer to defending the middle of the field, and how will teams adjust to the route concepts?
Today, let’s examine why NFL defenses are struggling to defend play action versus option teams, take a look at the All-22 tape and discuss some coverages that can shut down throwing lanes inside of the numbers.
A lot has changed from the start of training camp until now. There have been devastating injuries, guys winning jobs and just overall differences of opinions on certain players. www.officialfootballseahawks.com/Authentic-Zach-Miller-Jersey, Many of you will spend Labor Day weekend doing your draft or getting in your final few hours of preparation for the real thing. With that in mind, here's another 12-team standard mock draft for you to mull over.
This draft was done prior to the final preseason game and reflects the latest news, including Eddie Lacy locking up the Packers' No. 1 running back spot, Ryan Mathews running like we expected last season for the Chargers and Montee Ball looking like the leader in the backfield for the Broncos. www.officialcoltsfootball.com/Authentic-Andrew-Luck-Jersey, As always, we ask you to share your thoughts on this draft. Take advantage of our Fantasy Football Twitter feed (@CBSFantasyFB) and post your comments there, or share your thoughts on our Fantasy Football Facebook page.
In this league, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. There also is one point per reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST and a FLEX (RB/WR/TE). There will also be six reserve spots for a 15-round draft.
Last week CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd reported that a court ruled UCF would have to pay the family of Ereck Plancher $200,000 and that the family would seek to appeal the decision.
Now, according to the Orlando Sentinel, the Planchers are beginning that process.
The Plancher family has asked the 5th District Court of Appeal to certify its questions about the ruling. It's the first step in figuring out whether or not the Florida Supreme Court can consider the Plancher family's appeal.
The Plancher family attorney, Steve Yerrid, said the family believes a higher court will decide to reward them the original $10 million awarded them by a jury.
"When they heard about the appeal decision, they said, `We believe in you and we know you're going to continue to act in our best interests. We trust in the system,'" Yerrid told the Orlando Sentinel. "They totally buy into the American system of justice, and they believe, at the end of the day, this will all not be for naught." www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-MARK-SANCHEZ-JERSEY.html, Ereck Plancher, a running back, collapsed during an offseason conditioning drill in March 2008. He later died due to complications from sickle cell trait. A jury then ruled that the University of Central Florida Athletic Association was guilty of negligence in Plancher's death, awarding the family $10 million plus attorney fees in July 2008. www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-SHELDON-RICHARDSON-JERSEY.html,
The goalie mask designs keep coming in as the season is approaching and as usual they are all pretty excellent. It's one of my favorite things about the summer in the NHL.
Usually the masks will be painted with designs as more decoration than anything else. To show things the goalie likes and usually some way that it ties in with their uniform. Avalanche Jean-Sebastien Giguere is going with a slightly different approach; he will wear his like an actual mask. www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-GENO-SMITH-JERSEY.html, Jiggy's new cage is painted to look like the head of Yeti, as if he were simply putting on a big abominable snowman head over his. The bottom of the mask features a jaw line, the top is flowing white/snow-covered hair and on the sides there are ears. Giguere's eyes, nose and mouth obviously serve as the Yeti's eyes, nose and mouth. www.officialfootballseahawks.com/Authentic-Zach-Miller-Jersey, Here is how he explained it to InGoal Magazine (where you can see more photos from different angles of the new mask).
"I am the Yeti," Giguere said. "It's a new design, a new look, and a new painter to go with our third jerseys, so I will wear it in practice and with the third jersey. It's a good look, very simple and I like it. It was my wife's idea."
The new design by Sylvie Poitras should go along well with what his partner in net Semyon Varlamov picked up last year. He too had a mask featuring a Yeti who was having a snow ball battle with a snow man. The Yeti, of course, is associated with the Avs as they have a secondary logo that is simply the foot of a Yeti.
Giguere's mask goes personal on the back with his nickname and the initials of his children, though he forgot his wife.
"Yeah, I probably should have put my wife on there."
It's time yet again to take our bi-weekly snapshot of where the major awards currently stand. An obligatory note before we dive in: These aren't my picks. These aren't predictions. This is an assessment of where we stand right now along with educated estimates of how the voting would shake out. Front-runner www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-DBRICKASHAW-FERGUSON-JERSEY.html, Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: Chris Davis is having an MVP-caliber season and Mike Trout has a decent chunk of the new-age market cornered, but if a vote were held right now, I believe Cabrera wins in blowout fashion. Miggy leads the majors in hits, RBI, total bases and every major rate stat (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+). He leads the AL in runs. He's one of the most clutch hitters in the game, his team is going to cruise to the postseason and he has been playing hurt. Everything merges for one tidy narrative. There's no chance he doesn't win the award if things continue on this path. On his heels
Chris Davis, Orioles: If not for the existence of the ridiculous hitter that is Miggy, Davis would be cruising to an unlikely MVP. He's hitting .306/.383/.688 with 35 doubles, an MLB-best 45 homers and 115 RBI. He's tied with Cabrera in runs and total bases atop the AL, too. Though not currently in playoff position, the Orioles are good enough that it won't disqualify Davis in the minds of the voters who only support players on good teams.
Mike Trout, Angels: Trout is the best all-around baseball player on the planet. He does absolutely everything well, which is why he leads the majors in WAR (again). Now, time for the kicking and screaming about him playing for a bad team! I'm OK with arguments against Trout, but they need to be something other than him not "leading his team to the playoffs." Otherwise the suggestion is that had he been playing for the Tigers all season with Cabrera on the Angels that the Angels would be awesome and the Tigers would suck (without even mentioning that the Angels had a better record than the Tigers last season). This is ridiculous. Completely and utterly ridiculous. Trout only gets four or five plate appearances per game and can't control how bad the Angels pitching staff is. This is an individual award, so why penalize players for having terrible teammates? I do believe, however, that the BBWAA voting body is more old school than new school and Trout appears headed for a third-place finish. Whether we agree with it or not, the standings play a large part in MVP voting. In the mix
Adrian Beltre, Rangers: Through many offensive issues, the Rangers have endured and sit atop the AL West. Beltre is a huge reason, especially now with Nelson Cruz being suspended. He's also an excellent defender. He finished third in AL MVP voting last season and seems poised for another top-five finish.
Manny Machado, Orioles: Such an amazing talent. He still leads the majors in doubles, too, but he's behind Davis on his own team.
Max Scherzer, Tigers: I hate judging pitchers solely on win-loss record, but many people still do it. Scherzer is 18-1 right now. What if he goes something like 24-1? He may well steal the award from Cabrera if he does. On the periphery www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-DAVID-HARRIS-JERSEY.html, Robinson Cano, Yankees: If the Yankees somehow make the playoffs after so many injury issues on the offensive end this season, serious credit would have to be given to Cano as a steadying presence in the middle of the order. As usual, he has the numbers, too.
Josh Donaldson, Athletics: I would put his chances at winning the award at around nil, but he's having a great season for a playoff-caliber team. He deserves to be mentioned.
Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: Boston appears poised to go from worst-to-first in baseball's toughest division and the Red Sox have a trio of players worthy of consideration. I would probably rank them Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz at this point, but things could change down the stretch.
Felix Hernandez, Mariners: Because he's The King.
Jason Kipnis, Indians: He's emerging as a legitimate star, a true power-speed combo along with good glove work. An Indians playoff push would help boost his candidacy.
Evan Longoria, Rays: As usual, he's one of the most important players on a playoff-caliber team. I feel like the average (.271) would be too low for serious consideration by many voters.
Less than a week after Tom Brady injured his left knee during a joint practice with the Buccaneers, and three days after Brady made easy work of the Bucs defense in a Week 2 preseason game (11 of 12, 107 yards, 1 TD) without the aid of knee brace, the Patriots quarterback was seen sporting -- you guessed it -- a knee brace at Monday's practice.
So what changed?
"Mr. Kraft felt pretty strongly about me wearing it," Brady said while grinning (via ESPNBoston.com). "He said, 'What's the problem?' I said 'I'll wear it, I'll wear it.'"
Brady, who didn't commit to wearing the brace in future practices, added: "Sometimes when you wear the brace a lot, then you get used to wearing the brace. I like to keep a nice strong leg and if it wasn't strong, something bad would have happened." www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-KYLE-WILSON-JERSEY.html,
NFL training camps are in full swing with league-wide preseason action ready to commence later this week. Better still, the official start of the regular season is a little more than a month away, which means this is a perfect time to update Athlon Sports' Fantasy Football 2013
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Big Board.
If there's any early headline for training camp action so far, it's been the number of significant injuries that have already occurred, several of them being season-ending. Injures were already a factor before training camps even began with Michael Crabtree tearing his ACL and Rob Gronkowski undergoing back surgery, and this trend has continued. www.officialnikejetsjerseyshop.com/WOMENS-MARK-SANCHEZ-JERSEY.html, Jeremy Maclin and Dennis Pitta are already lost for the season, while Percy Harvin will miss a significant chunk of it after undergoing hip surgery. Not only do these injuries impact these players' respective offenses, the ripple effect carries over to the fantasy world too.
There also are other early injuries that bear watching, such as Arian Foster's calf and back issues that held the Texans' workhorse out of training camp so far. Neither issue is expected to be serious or linger into the start of the season, which is why Foster remains No. 2 on our big board. Still, this is certainly a situation worth keeping an eye on, as is things like Robert Griffin III's return from his knee injury, Ben Roethlisberger's recovery form offseason knee surgery, Maurice Jones-Drew's comeback from foot surgery, and others.
Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:43 am
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