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Опубликовано 07 Декабря 2016, 14:02:02
There werent too many, if any prognosticators, who picked the Baltimore Orioles to win the American League East. Pat Sims Bengals Jersey . But the last two-and-a-half months of the season, they have been far and away the best team in the division, if not the entire American League, and have built the largest division lead of any team in baseball at 14 games over the New York Yankees. The Os arent really an overnight success. Buck Showalter took over as manager about two-thirds of the way through the 2010 season replacing the fired Dave Trembley. They showed signs of a turnaround going 34-24 under their new skipper, but the next year, 2011, they tumbled to a 69-93 mark and were starting to look like a team trapped in its own mediocrity. Enter Dan Duquette who was hired in early November of 2011 to take over as general manager. Buck Showalter was actually part of the committee that chose him. But Duquette wasnt necessarily their first choice. Toronto Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava reportedly turned them down and three other current general managers, Andrew Friedman (Tampa Bay Rays)Jerry DiPoto (Los Angeles Angels) and Rick Hahn (Chicago White Sox) were at least approached. All were said to questionthe commitment to spending what it took to win of the sometimes tempestuous owner, Peter Angelos. Under the Duquette-Showalter combo, the Orioles made a 24-game improvement from 2011 to 2012, finishing that 2012 season at 93-69 and earning a Wild Card berth to end a string of 14-straight losing season. There was a bit of a slip back in 2013 to 85-77 and the team missed the playoffs. Then came the big breakthrough this year with 92 wins, and still 10 games to go, and the second-highest victory total in the MLB to the Angels 95. So, how was this team put together? Well, lets stress off the top that a number of key pieces were in place before Duquette and Showalter even arrived, but the Orioles have crafted meticulously with a combination of top draft picks, sharp trades, international signings and even Rule 5 draft picks. The Os, at my count, have five of their own first-round picks either on their roster or on the DL right now, includingright-hander Kevin Gausman (fourth overall in 2012,) lefty reliever Brian Matusz (the fourth-overall pick in 2008,) long-time right fielder Nick Markakis (seventh overall in 2003,) injured third baseman Manny Machado (third overall in 2010) and catcher Matt Wieters (the fifth-overall pick in 2007), who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Thats quality drafting, but expected of a team that finished so low in the standings for so long. They also have former first-round picks aquired from other organizations, such as utility man Kelly Johnson, infielder Ryan Flaherty and journeyman outfielder Delmon Young, who went first overall to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003 On the international front, the Os signed 22-year-old second baseman Jonathan Schoop out of Curacao as a free agent in 2008. They landed right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who was pitching in Mexico, in March of 2012 as a free agent. Then, the best international signing of the bunch, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, a 16-game-winner this season, who came over Taiwan later in 2012. Reliever T.J. McFarland was a Rule 5 draft pick-up from the Cleveland Indians in 2012 and the aforementioned Flaherty was a Rule 5 claim from the Cubs in 2011. Steve Pearce, who destroyed the Blue Jays in two games this week, was a waiver claim from the New York Yankees in 2012. Relievers Evan Meek and Ryan Webb were both unsung free agent pick-ups over the past two off-seasons. Then, there are the key trades. In February of 2008, the Os shipped Canadian-born lefty Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for a package of five players, that included Adam Jones, whos blossomed into a star centrefielder, and right-hander Chris Tillman, whos done a stellar job in the Orioles rotation this year. That deal was a steal and easily one of the worst in Mariners history. Last year at the July 31st deadline, they picked up right-hander Bud Norris from the Houston Astros for two prospects and a competitive balance draft pick. Norris, who looked like a back of the rotation pitcher with the Astros, has won 14 this season at Baltimore. Then there was this one - in late July 2011, the Os sent lefty closer Koji Uehara to the Texas Rangers for now suspendedslugger Chris Davis and reliever and sometimes closer Tommy Hunter. There have been other lesser deals including picking up outfielders David Lough and Alejandro De Aza and reliever Brad Brach and then things like having a third-round draft pick from 2006, Zach Britton, turn into a top-notch closer this season. Finally, we come to the two big free agents signing the Os made back in the spring. Sure, signing veteran right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (5-9) looks like a horrible decision now, but Baltimore more than made up for that by signing OF/DH Nelson Cruz to a one-year, $8 million pact. He should be right in the running with the Angels Mike Trout for the American League MVP. When you boil all of this down and throw in that Showalter wins wherever he goes and Duquettes teamshave made the post-season five of the 11 years, maybe we shouldnt be asking why the Orioles won the East. But why not? Showalter is a solid choice for American League Manager of the Year for a third time and Duquette could well be Executive of the Year, an award he also won in 1992 with the Montreal Expos and in 1995 with the Boston Red Sox. - The Angels have to be holding their breath over the condition of rookie right-hander Matt Shoemaker. He has an oblique strain and having already lost righty Garrett Richards for the season, losing Shoemaker could seriously damage their World Series hopes. Interesting that the plug in guy in the rotation right now for skipper Mike Scioscia is Colby Rasmuss brother, Cory. - The other night, the Kansas City Royals played the longest nine-inning game in franchise history at four hours and 16 minutes, losing 7-5 to the White Sox, ut the amazing thing about that game was two of KCs flame-throwing relievers, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis, both had lengthy scoreless innings streaks broken. Herrera had gone 31 innings without giving up a run and Davis was at 31-2/3 innings. That bullpen, anchored by closer Greg Holland, is a big part of the reason why the Royals are now holding the first Wild Card slot in the American League, a half-game up on the crumbling Oakland As. The Royals, of course, have the longest post-season drought in the MLB, not having made it since they beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Ser Michael Johnson Bengals Jersey .com) - Former foes from the Mountain West Conference battle in the 23rd annual Las Vegas Bowl, as the 23rd-ranked Utah Utes clash with the Colorado State Rams at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday. Ryan Hewitt Bengals Jersey . With the suspension, Nigeria is unable to take part in any kind of international fixtures. FIFA had issued a warning to the NFF last week after the federation was served with court proceedings from the government that prevented the NFFs president from running the NFFs day-to-day affairs. http://www.officialbengalsprofanatics.com/Black-Friday-Kevin-Huber-Jersey/ . "Yes, Id like to get them in," Detroits rookie manager said. "Mother Natures going to have a say in that." Sure enough, the Tigers had their game against the Kansas City Royals postponed because of rain on Thursday. FORTALEZA, Brazil -- Miroslav Klose rescued a point for Germany, and equaled the World Cup scoring record in the process. Germany was held to an entertaining 2-2 draw by Ghana on Saturday and needed Kloses second-half equalizer to avoid another second-game letdown that has plagued the team in recent tournaments. Klose now has 15 career World Cup goals, equaling the mark set by former Brazil star Ronaldo. He celebrated the goal with his trademark somersault. "It wasnt perfect, but I cant remember the last time I did it," Klose said. "Still, 15 goals in 20 matches, thats not bad." Just like in 2010, Germany won its opening game of the World Cup 4-0 but struggled in its second game. Four years ago, it was beaten 1-0 by Serbia, and the Germans were on the verge of losing again on Saturday. The draw was good news for the United States, however, as the Americans would advance from the group if they beats Portugal on Sunday. "Ghana really threw everything they had at us. It was a very animated match. Both teams had many chances, and many counterattacks," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "Thats not how the match was planned, but thats how it turned out." Klose scored the equalizer in the 71st minute, less than two minutes after coming on as a substitute, when a corner by Toni Kroos was flicked to the far post by Benedikt Hoewedes and the striker slid in to knock the ball into the roof of the net. Ronaldo reacted with a tweet: "Welcome to the club (hashtag)klose. I can imagine your happiness!!!! What a great Cup!!!?" Mario Goetze had put Germany ahead in the 51st, but Ghana equalized three minutes later through Andre Ayew. Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan then put the Africans ahead in the 63rd, only to see Klose cancel out his goal. The 36-year-old Klose is in his fourth World Cup and had been level with former Germany striker Gerd Mueller on 14 goals. Ronaldo also scored his 15th against Ghana, in a 3-0 win in 2006 in Germany. With coach Joachim Loew preferring to play with a "false nine" system without a striker, Klose sat out Germanys opening 4-0 rout of Portugal. But with Ghana threatening to put a damper on Germanys hope of winning the group, Loew turned to his veteran, who delivered again. "I am very happy for Klose. He was on the pitch for two minutes and he scored. Its sensational for his career," Loew said. "He is a player who can come on and have a decisive impact. Thats great for me, for the team, and for him." Still, the result revived Ghanas hopes of progressing aftter its opening 2-1 loss to the United States. Dre Kirkpatrick Bengals Jersey. "It was a good competitive game. We did our best and we had many other chances that could have produced goals," Ghana coach James Appiah said. "Ghanaians have a strong mentality when it comes to football, to fight to the end to matter what is happening. Playing against Germany is difficult especially when you are a goal down. So you have to have the right players with the right mentality on the pitch." Germany took the lead when Thomas Mueller sent a dipping cross toward Goetze, who attempted a header but the ball bounced off his left knee into the net. Germanys lead lasted only three minutes. Ayew rose between Per Mertesacker and Shkodran Mustafi to head the equalizer inside the far post from a cross from Harrison Affu. With the non-German side of crowd loudly behind the Ghana team, the African side kept putting pressure on the favoured Germans. Gyan beat an offside trap by Mats Hummels and Mertesacker in the 63rd, ran into space and fired the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into the far corner to raise Ghanas hopes of an upset. In between the first two goals, a fan ran onto the pitch waving his shirt. He did not threaten any players but shook hands with Ghanas Sully Muntari, who escorted him off the field before he was picked up by a security official. Ushers then moved to block stairwells leading to the pitch. Both teams had late chances to grab the winner but Neuer and his Ghana counterpart Fatawu Dauda produced good saves. Muntari picked up a late yellow card late in the match for his second booking and will miss his teams final group game against Portugal. Schalke forward Kevin-Prince Boateng played from the start for Ghana, pitting him against half-brother Jerome Boateng, a Germany defender. There was little contact between the two and Jerome was substituted at halftime with a hip injury. Mueller, who scored a hat trick against Portugal, had to be helped off the pitch after the match with a bloodied face after colliding with John Boye. -------- Lineups: Germany: Manuel Neuer; Jerome Boateng (Shkodran Mustafi, 46th), Per Mertesacker, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes; Sami Khedira (Bastian Schweinsteiger, 70th), Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil; Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze (Miroslav Klose, 69th). Ghana: Fatau Dauda; Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah; Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari, Mohammed Rabiu (Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, 78th), Christian Atsu (Mubarak Wakaso, 72nd), Andre Ayew; Kevin-Prince Boateng (Jordan Ayew, 52nd), Asamoah Gyan. NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
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