Pitching in front of at least 75 friends and family members, the right-hander tossed seven shutout innings against his hometown team and Jody Mercer homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 victory over the sloppy San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Musgrove (3-3), a 2011 graduate of Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon, was facing the Padres for the first time in his three-year big league career. He allowed seven singles while striking out five and walking two.
He had plenty of support as he got into and out of trouble in the seventh. The Padres had runners on first and third after hitting consecutive singles to open the inning but Musgrove retired the side, including inducing Manuel Margot to hit into an inning-ending double play.
”It was incredible,” Musgrove said. ”They were the ones who really pushed me through that last inning. I got first and third and no one out and all I could think about was all the people that are here watching me and how I’d love to get out of this and put on a little bit of a show for them. It was really cool. It was special.”
Musgrove did his best to not get distracted.
”Out of the gate when I’m out warming up, there’s people screaming right and left and every time I took a step I’m getting called from different directions,” he said. ”I was trying to block it out for the most part but I was also trying to acknowledge the people who were here. Throwing my bullpen there’s 50 of my friends standing right above the catcher hollering and stuff. I’ve always done well in front of my family and friends and that’s something that takes me to that next level.”
He had dinner at his parents’ house on Thursday night and planned to go out with them after the game, as well as have a local beer that’s named after the late Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.
”Tonight was really special for me http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/anthony-zettel-jersey ,” he said. ”It’s a night I’ll never forget.”
Musgrove was relieved by Steven Brault, a 2010 Grossmont grad. Brault had a short night, allowing two runs on two hits while getting just one out in the eighth.
”It was cool,” Brault said. ”Felt good coming in, felt confident. Some things didn’t go my way, and that happens. Overall the experience is something that is priceless. Something I never knew I’d actually get to have.”
Brault said it was ”pretty weird” to have two guys from the same high school pitch consecutively against their hometown team.
”If you told us six years ago, seven years ago, that that would happen, we’d probably both go, `That’s ridiculous http://www.detroitlionsteamonline.com/jahlani-tavai-jersey ,”’ he said. ”Just for it to actually happen, and for us to get a win out of it, and Joe pitched so well tonight, it was just awesome to see. It was cool.”
Felipe Vazquez got the last two outs for his 16th save.
The Pirates won for the third time in nine games and the Padres lost for the 10th time in 12 games.
While Musgrove dominated, the Pirates piled on against rookie lefty Eric Lauer (3-5) and the Padres. The Pirates scored an unearned run in the first inning on two singles and Austin Hedges’ passed ball, and added four runs, including two unearned, in the third. Hedges and shortstop Freddy Galvis each had a throwing error. Gregory Polanco hit a two-run double and was thrown out to end the inning trying to stretch it into a triple. Josh Bell hit an RBI triple and Elias Diaz drove in a run on a fielder’s choice.
Mercer homered to center field leading off the fourth to make it 6-0. It was his fifth.
Lauer allowed six runs, three earned, on nine hits in five innings http://www.houstontexansteamonline.com/kahale-warring-jersey , struck out three and walked none.
Padres manager Andy Green was ejected before the top of the fourth inning by plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Green apparently was unhappy about a balk call against Lauer while trying to pick off Polanco in the second. The Pirates did not score that inning.
”We felt very strongly that it wasn’t,” Green said. ”That was not the story of the baseball game by any stretch. I don’t think we were very clean early in the game. We did what we’ve done very recently which is show a lot of fight late. It was just a little too late.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Placed RHP Chad Kuhl on the 10-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.
Padres: Green said OF Franchy Cordero is leaning toward having surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (6-5, 4.03), a 2010 graduate of San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo High, is scheduled to start the middle game of the series. He’s made one career start against the Padres, giving up four runs in six innings and getting a no-decision in an 8-5 Pirates loss at Pittsburgh on May 20.
Padres: LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-3, 3.57) is scheduled to make his third start since returning from a DL stint that lasted just more than a month.
The stunning turnaround by the Jacksonville Jaguars shows best in the NFL standings – and the All-Pro Team.
Rarely do the Jags have members of the elite All-Pro squad. For 2017, they have two: edge rusher Calais Campbell and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
”It’s huge,” Campbell said. ”That’s a big testament to the work we put in. We don’t just show up and perform. We grind day in and day out to be the best. This defense is very special, so I’m glad to see us get some accolades for our hard work.”
Added Ramsey of The Associated Press All-Pro Team announced Friday:
”I can go on and on about corners I respect and I think are really good in the league. But I think (the voters) realize that I cover No. 1s every week, that I’m still putting up high numbers, still playing very well in my role and doing what I have to do.”
What Campbell and Ramsey did was help the Jaguars rank first in pass defense and second overall, earning their first playoff berth since the 2007 season.
One player, Antonio Brown, was the only unanimous choice for All-Pro. The brilliant wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers drew all 50 ballots from a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league. Brown missed the last two-plus games with an ankle injury.
He was among four players to make a fourth All-Pro squad http://www.thejaguarsfootballauthentic.com/jawaan-taylor-jersey-authentic , joining New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly and Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker.
The repeaters from 2016 were Brown; Rams interior defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who got 49 votes, and punter Hekker; and Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady made his third All-Pro team.
In their own turnaround season, the Rams led the way with six All-Pros, including two more specialists: kicker Greg Zuerlein and kick returner Pharoh Cooper. Running back Todd Gurley and left tackle Andrew Whitworth were honored.
”Dang, that’s crazy. It means a lot, honestly,” said Gurley, who likely would have led the league in rushing had he played in LA’s finale. ”It’s a blessing. I’ve got so much respect for everybody in this league, and to be in this position just means so much to me.
”I’ve been following people around the NFL my whole life, and to be considered as an All-Pro, man, God is good T.J. Hockenson Jersey , honestly. Honestly.”
Three Steelers joined Brown on the roster: Le’Veon Bell as the flex, interior defensive lineman Cam Heyward, and right guard David DeCastro. No other team had more than two All-Pros, with the stronger NFC getting 18 players and the AFC 10.
Two rookies made it: punt returner Jamal Agnew of Detroit and special teamer Budda Baker of Arizona.
Also chosen: Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce; Panthers left guard Andrew Norwell; Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins; Saints edge rusher Cameron Jordan; Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones; Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith; Detroit defensive back Darius Slay; and Titans safety Kevin Byard.
First-timers made an impression on both sides of the ball, with 15 on the team: Byard, Slay, Rhodes, Jones, Jordan, Ramsey, Campbell, Hopkins, Norwell, Kelce Jahlani Tavai Jersey , Johnson, Agnew, Baker, Gurley, and Cooper.
Wagner is on his third All-Pro squad.
”When you get voted for these types of awards,” he said, ”it shows you all the work you do in the offseason, the grinding, all the things you push through … when you get this, when people say this is not AFC, NFC, this is the league, this is who we deem the best at their position in the league, that says a lot. And you see the guys before you Will Harris Jersey , the things they were able to accomplish, you’ve seen those things and you want those things. It’s part of that mindset of wanting to be great and understanding what comes along with that, and wanting that kind of acknowledgment.”
While making All-Pro has become almost natural for Wagner, Jordan finally got there in his seventh pro season.
”I’m definitely trying to push myself to be better than I was the year previous,” he said. ”I think I had a really good year last year. Of course, sack numbers won’t show that, but in terms of playing the run, in terms of getting after the passer I thought last year was one of my better years (7 1-2 sacks, 17 tackles for loss). So what I wanted to do this year is, of course, push myself to be better than last. That probably only poses the problem of where I go next year. Now I’ve got to shoot for more than what I did this year.”
—
AP Sports Writers Mark Long, Tim Booth, Brett Martel and Greg Beacham contributed to this report.
—
When you think of football players Devin Singletary Jersey , certain words come to mind. Tough, physical and athletic just to name a few. these modern gladiators battle it out every week. Decades ago, it was common to see guys walk off the field with bloodied jerseys and bleeding wounds like it was nothing. While the game has shifted more towards a player friendly safe approach, it still maintains – in essence – the physicality it came to be known for all those years ago. At the heart of it all stands the modern NFLer.We know that football players have to hit the gym a few times during the week to stay in shape. It’s part of their job description. You can’t very well move back a 225 pound running back just by relying on technique alone. These guys are strong and they’re big. Some use that to their advantage and others just can’t seem to have it work for them on the field. Regardless Dawson Knox Jersey , it’s a tough sport and these guys need to consistently stay in football shape. That means something different depending on who it is you’re talking about. We’re going to be focusing on the guys who look like gym rats on the street. But don’t get me wrong, these guys can play. Here are the top 15 most jacked NFLers. The Philadelphia Eagles have been entertaining, if not successful, over the past several years. There have been no shortage of storylines from the team in the past decade, including Michael Vick's career revival and electrifying return to football Brian Burns Jersey , a revolving door of talented but controversial skill position players, and the failed Chip Kelly experiment. For all the talent and buzz surrounding the team, the best they've managed in the past five years is one playoff appearance resulting in a wildcard round loss to the New Orleans Saints.The Eagles have had some legendary players in their history, including Reggie White, Brian Dawkins Greg Little Jersey , and Donovan McNabb, resulting in some very competitive seasons and multiple championship appearances, but the franchise's first Super Bowl victory continues to elude them. Since the McNabb era, the team has relied heavily on free agency to build their team, but several big spending sprees and high-profile departures later have left the Eagles still in search of an identity.All the comings and goings have left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths and been a sharp departure from the relative year-to-year consistency Philadelphia fans enjoyed when Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb were in town. With plenty of football history in the City of Brotherly Love Will Grier Jersey , let's dive into 8 players who loved being an Eagle and 7 who hated it.
Teams have made moves that have helped develop the team they have today http://www.thebengalsfootballauthentic.com/drew-sample-jersey-authentic , but they have also made some questionable decisions. Every team makes a bad decision, and over the course of five years, you’re bound to find a pretty big mistake that each team made. Mistakes happen, they are a part of life, but they could have impacted a team tremendously.Think about your favorite team and something you wish they never did. Pretend as if that move never happened, how would it affect your favorite team today? For some teams, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. For other teams Germaine Pratt Jersey , it could mean a lot.Front offices come and go. General managers and other people that are a part of the decision-making process constantly are in and out of offices. And part of that is because some people have different agendas than others. Each team on this list will bring up a scary nightmare that is either ongoing or something that makes you shake your head from the past. Nobody likes hearing about these poor decisions, but sometimes you have to look back at them.We've listed 32 mistakes, one that will affect each and every NFL franchise. Some that are fairly recent, others that go as far back as 2013. So, prepare for the nightmares that hang over your franchise, as we look back at the worst decisions made by each NFL franchise in the past five years. Seeing how this offseason went, we should expect a bunch of star players to leave their teams following this season. It’s become the new norm. If players don’t get the contract they want http://www.thebengalsfootballauthentic.com/ryan-finley-jersey-authentic , they leave. And then there’s the other side of things, where if a team doesn’t want to pay the player, they let them walk in free agency.2019 will be a fun year for free agents. We saw some big name quarterbacks this offseason, but next year we have a whole variety of players that will be free agents. And when it’s like that, it’s a lot of fun. You get to see players in uniforms you would never expect. It adds excitement to the game, even when the games aren’t being played.We saw a lot of offseason drama this year, because of next year’s free agency. Players wanted trades or contract extensions before they became free agents next year Renell Wren Jersey , to secure the money they believe they deserve. So, seeing how the drama unfolded this offseason, shows that next offseason it will be even more interesting. And now we see that there are teams willing to go after big name players.Everyone talks about how exciting the 2019 free agency is, and it will be even more fun when it occurs. Die-hard fans will be heartbroken as their favorite players go and play for new teams. Fans of other teams may be in a treat if they acquire new players. If you enjoyed last offseason, just prepare for the crazy offseason in 2019.
Telesco is thoroughly pleased by his team’s resilience during a tumultuous relocation season that began with a rocky 0-4 start, but ended with the Bolts (9-7) as one of the NFL’s best teams.
The executive wants the Chargers to take the momentum from their 9-3 finish into an offseason in which they can make further strides toward becoming an AFC power.
If they do it, Telesco also believes the Chargers will start to see a true home-field advantage at their temporary stadium in Carson, where they won their final five games.
”I think the longer we’re here, the better we play, the better the atmosphere will be,” Telesco said Thursday. ”I think it’s a pretty neat place to watch a football game. But we’re the new kids on the block, and we’ve got to show what we are Clelin Ferrell Jersey , show that we’re an exciting team to watch, get in the playoffs and get people excited, and there will be more and more Charger fans there.”
The Chargers definitely were exciting, but they weren’t quite a playoff team. They finished one game behind AFC West champion Kansas City, which beat Los Angeles twice. The Bolts then missed out on the AFC’s two wild-card spots in a four-way tiebreaker due to their mediocre conference record.
The Chargers’ 84-mile move up the California coast was just part of a busy year that began with the near-simultaneous announcement of the move and the hiring of coach Anthony Lynn, who received praise from Telesco for instilling ”a high level of grit and determination that we just lacked last year.”
Telesco echoed Lynn’s determination to keep his coaching staff intact aside from assistant offensive line coach James Cregg, who is headed to LSU. In particular, Telesco wants to keep coveted defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who immediately put together a solid unit for a team that finished third in the NFL in points allowed.
Continuity is a major goal for the Chargers after the upheaval of the past year.
”We’ve come a long way in the last 12 months,” Telesco said at the Chargers’ training complex in Orange County. ”Think about where we were last year this time and where we are now. It’s been a lot of change and a lot of challenges, but we’re on the right pace. We’re going in the right direction.”
More things to know about the Chargers’ offseason:
FIND A FOOT: Telesco echoed Lynn’s desire to secure a solid kicker next season after the Chargers used five players at the position and made a league-low 68 percent of their field goal tries this year. The Chargers’ first two losses were decided by late missed field goal attempts http://www.raidersfootballauthentics.com/josh-jacobs-jersey-authentic , and it cost them dearly. ”Obviously our kicking game was not NFL-quality this year,” Telesco said. ”One of my biggest regrets this year (is) I did not do a good enough job addressing that position. I put our head coach, Anthony, in a tough position as far as managing the football game. I’m very confident we’ll be able to get that fixed.” Telesco didn’t say whether he plans to pursue a tested veteran kicker.
OPEN GATES: Telesco praised 37-year-old tight end Antonio Gates as ”one of the greatest Chargers of all-time,” but didn’t unequivocally commit to bringing him back. Gates is a free agent after setting the NFL record for TD catches by a tight end early this season. After serving largely as a backup to Hunter Henry, Gates played extensively the last two games and determined that he wants to keep playing in 2018. ”I don’t have any answers right now moving forward, but we’ll get there,” Telesco said of Gates’ future.
GOT GOALS: Telesco pointed out that the Chargers were successful in two main points of emphasis this season: Cutting down turnovers and protecting Rivers. Los Angeles finished third in the league with a plus-12 turnover ratio after finishing 27th last season with a minus-7, and the Chargers allowed an NFL-low 18 sacks after yielding 36 last season.
RIVERS’ HEIR: The Chargers don’t have a firm timeline for finding a successor to the 36-year-old Rivers, the only quarterback to start a game for the club since the 2006 season opener. After Rivers’ excellent 4,515-yard season Kyler Murray Jersey , Telesco confirmed that the Chargers ”hope he’ll be around for a good amount of years,” and they aren’t headed into the offseason determined to draft a quarterback. ”He played really well for us this year, and I expect him to come back and do the same thing next year,” Telesco added.
STACKED BACK: The Chargers expect former Pro Bowl cornerback Jason Verrett to return at full strength after missing all but five games in the past two seasons with knee injuries. Telesco wants Verrett, fellow cornerback Trevor Williams, current Pro Bowler Casey Hayward and versatile defensive back Desmond King all back on a defense that was the NFL’s third-best against the pass this season, yielding just 197.2 yards per game.
—
Saladino was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in late April and recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on May 9. He appeared in 16 games for the Brewers and was batting .326 in 16 games when he went down with a sprained ankle and landed on the DL on May 30.
His performance allowed the Brewers to send Orlando Arcia to Triple A to work out of an offensive funk. Arcia was brought back up when Saladino was hurt and has since been sent back to Colorado Springs while Brad Miller and Nate Orf shared time at shortstop.
Those two will remain in the mix at short http://www.coltsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-bobby-okereke-jersey , along with Saladino.
”Tyler had played so well, we were starting to give him regular `reps’ at shortstop before the injury,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ”What we were most impressed by is the way he played defense. He played shortstop at a really high level and was making very difficult plays look easy.”
To clear space for Saladino on the active roster, Milwaukee designated infielder Eric Sogard for assignment.
Sogard, 32, signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal with the team over the winter after batting .273 with a .393 OBP in 94 games for Milwaukee last season. He was never able to get on track in 2018 and was batting just .134 (13-for-97) with a .241 OBP and .165 slugging percentage in 55 games.
”He had some bad luck early in the season and he could never get out of it,” Counsell said. ”As we got healthier Khari Willis Jersey , we ran out of (roster) space. Eric made a huge contribution to us last year. And really, throughout all of this, he was a real pro in how he prepared and provided us with value.”
Sogard accepted an option to Colorado Springs earlier in the season, but by designating him for assignment he’s been removed from the 40-man roster. The Brewers have 10 days to trade him, release him or outright him to the minors.
—
Ozzie Albies turned to teammate Danny Santana in the dugout and told him he was about to end the game with one swing.
”It’s time to go home right now,” Albies said. ”It’s time to go deep. I went up there with one mentality, of hitting a home run.”
Albies hit a tiebreaking homer in the 11th inning off Dylan Floro and the Atlanta Braves snapped the Cincinnati Reds‘ seven-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory on Monday night.
Albies knocked Floro’s first pitch, a changeup Josh Allen Jersey , into the right-field seats. Albies doubled twice before hitting Atlanta’s fifth game-ending homer this season. He’s hitting .455 over his last seven games, and his 17 homers are tied for third-most in the NL.
”I’m just trying to hit the ball where it’s pitched,” he said. ”Put a good swing on it.”
Rain delayed the start of the game by 1 hour, 20 minutes, the 10th delay at SunTrust Park this season and the third in the last four games.
The NL East-leading Braves have won eight of 12. They improved to 2-7 in extra innings.
Luke Jackson (1-0), the seventh Atlanta pitcher, faced four batters in the 11th to earn the win. Floro (0-1) was the Reds’ sixth pitcher.
Braves reliever Lucas Sims blew a two-run lead in the sixth, allowing three straight singles http://www.jaguarsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jawaan-taylor-jersey , issuing a bases-loaded walk and giving up an RBI groundout to pinch-hitter Adam Duvall that made it 3-all.
Scott Schebler doubled to begin the seventh, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and made it 4-3 on Joey Votto’s RBI groundout. The Braves tied it at 4-all in the seventh on Santana’s RBI double.
Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz, reinstated from the disabled list with right triceps tightness, allowed one run, one hit and four walks in five innings. He struck out four while throwing 91 pitches.
Foltynewicz gave up his first hit to Schebler, whose 10th homer cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth. Over his last eight starts, Foltynewicz has a 0.96 ERA.
”He had a really fresh arm and just pounded the zone on us and made us work,” Schebler said. ”We made him work as well. We weren’t going down easy. We were grinding out at-bats and made him get out of the game probably a lot quicker than he wanted to.”
Reds starter Tyler Mahle loaded the bases with no out in the fifth before a groundout put the Braves up 3-1. Mahle gave up hits Josh Oliver Jersey , three runs and four walks with five strikeouts in five innings.
Cincinnati was coming off a four-game home sweep of the Chicago Cubs and had won 10 of 12, but the Reds are still stuck in last place in the NL Central, five games out of fourth place.
”Schebler gave us a chance a couple of times,” interim Reds manager Jim Riggleman said. ”Tough one to lose, but we did a lot of good things again, and if we play like that we’re going to win a lot of ballgames.”
MOVING UP
Markakis, the NL hits leader, singled in the third to reach 100 hits. He leads the league in doubles and multi-hit games and ranks second to Cincinnati’s Scooter Gennett in batting average. Markakis went 2 for 4.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: INF Nick Senzel http://www.jaguarsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-quincy-williams-ii-jersey , the No. 2 overall draft pick of 2016, had season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right index finger. He suffered the injury on Friday with Triple-A Louisville. In 44 games at Triple-A Louisville, Senzel hit .310 with six homers and 25 RBIs.
Braves: LF Ronald Acuna Jr., sidelined since May 28 with a left knee sprain and bruises to his knee and lower back, will move down in the batting order when he returns from a rehab assignment later this week. He batted in the No. 2 hole in 25 of his 29 games before getting hurt. Manager Brian Snitker likes how Inciarte and Albies are complementing each other in the top two spots.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Matt Harvey (2-5, 5.66 ERA) will make his ninth start for Cincinnati since getting traded from the New York Mets on May 8. He is 2-3 with a 4.79 ERA with the Reds and is 3-7 with a 5.27 ERA in 12 career starts and one relief appearance against Atlanta.
Braves: RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-1, 2.55 ERA) will face the Reds for the first time since 2015. He is 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts this month.
—
LOS ANGELES — The Pittsburgh Pirates are undecided on a starter for Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and volunteers might be hard to come by.
The Dodgers’ offense is coming off a productive June when they hit 55 home runs, most in a calendar month in franchise history. And at the start of July, they look even better.
First the Dodgers crushed the Pirates on Monday to the tune of 17 runs and 21 hits. On Tuesday it was six home runs, including back-to-back homers from Joc Pederson and Max Muncy to lead off the game. Muncy went deep twice and has 20 on the season.
So with scheduled starter Joe Musgrove headed to the disabled list with a finger infection, the Pirates must send somebody else to the wolves.
Right-hander Clay Holmes (0-0, 2.25 ERA) is expected to make his first start of the season for Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He has pitched in two games for the Pirates this season http://www.steelerscheapauthenticstore.com/benny-snell-jr.-jersey-cheap , and he threw two hitless, scoreless innings in his most recent appearance June 24 against Arizona. He has never faced the Dodgers.
The Dodgers’ Rich Hill (1-3, 4.68) will make his fourth start since coming off the disabled list because of a blister on the middle finger of his left hand.
On Friday, Hill faced the Colorado Rockies and gave up one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts. He threw 110 pitches in that game, validating the series of laser treatments he received while out of action.
“I was really pleased with the consistency of the flight of the ball,” Hill said after his last outing, according to the Los Angeles Times. “The way the curveball came out of my hand, the consistency of that. Everything really came together tonight.”
Hill is 3-2 lifetime against the Pirates with a 3.25 ERA over nine starts, although he is a far different pitcher than the first time he squared off against them in 2006.
Holmes faces a major challenge against the Dodgers’ potent offense. When Matt Kemp went 5-for-5 with a homer on Monday, it gave him a hit in eight consecutive at-bats.
Also homering for the Dodgers on Tuesday were Yasmani Grandal, Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers’ run-scoring onslaught has left the Pirates reeling. Not only did the Pirates’ bullpen absorb five innings Monday Zach Gentry Jersey , it was called on for three more innings Tuesday. Tuesday’s starter, Ivan Nova, allowed seven runs on nine hits in his five-plus innings.
“We’ve been a little short on the front end of things, which has provided some complications on the bullpen,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said, according to mlb.com.
The Dodgers will see their 10-game homestand come to an end Wednesday, but their Southern California stay is just beginning. Next up is a “road trip” to Anaheim and San Diego, before three more home games to close out the first half.
The Pirates are 2-3 on their six-game tour of Southern California, having faced the San Diego Padres before arriving in Los Angeles. They are 4-4 on their nine-game road trip, which also included a stop in New York to face the Mets.
He hung out in NFL locker rooms. He learned the mentality required of a successful offensive lineman. He even began to value the college diploma his father never earned.
Now the massive Oklahoma tackle is about to enter a different universe David Long Jersey , one in which he will be poked and prodded, measured and compared. And he will no doubt hear a litany of questions about his late, great, dear old dad.
”I don’t necessarily model my game after him,” Brown said Thursday at the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis. ”I can’t really study dad because it’s a different game. So much has changed between 1993 and now.”
Make no mistake, the same traits Orlando ”Zeus” Brown used to carve out a more than decade-long career with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens still work.
He was known as a tough, physical blocker who could steamroll anyone in his way.
The second-generation star still relies on power but understands he must be leaner and more athletic to succeed in today’s up-tempo, no-huddle track meets.
Still, he was born into the family business.
”I’ve been fat my whole life,” he said when asked if ever didn’t want to play on the line. ”I wish I was fast. If I was 6-foot-2, I’d probably be playing DB. But God blessed me.”
With dad’s genes.
Brown fins himself in good company this weekend. There are plenty of family ties around Indy.
Some, like Brown and running back Chris Warren III, are now playing their fathers’ positions.
Others have more recent ties – especially among the linemen.
The brother of Michigan State’s Brian Allen, Jack, has played the last two seasons with the New Orleans Saint The brother of UCLA’s Scott Quessenberry, David http://www.losangelesramsteamonline.com/bobby-evans-jersey , suited up for the Houston Texans last December after waging a long battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey even claimed to try catching passes from cousin Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons.
”We went out and he started throwing passes to me and the balls were going over my head every time,” said McGlinchey, a high school tight end at the time. ”I said `What are you doing? He said `That’s where Julio (Jones) usually is. I told him, `Ok, I’m not that guy.”’
Nobody has a bigger legacy to fulfill than Brown.
He described his play that first season in Norman, Oklahoma, as ”really bad.”
Since then, there have been few complaints.
Brown started 40 consecutive games for the Sooners and was twice named an All-American. He insisted he wouldn’t leave school until he had a first-round projection.
At 6-8, 360 pounds, Brown could be one of the biggest players chosen in this class.
The problem: He did only 14 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, the lowest total of any lineman who has lifted at the combine.
Brown knows it’s a problem that must be corrected at his pro day and the stigma could stick with him through the end of April.
”I didn’t stick to my breathing routine,” he said. ”That’s the lowest number I’ve done.”
But Brown has repeatedly demonstrated his strength on and off the field.
When his father died from diabetic ketoacidosis in September 2011, the grieving son’s academics suffered.
Things deteriorated so much the University of Tennessee pulled a scholarship offer.
Then, Brown woke up.
”I made up my mind to not ever let academics be a problem again,” he said.
It hasn’t been.
Yet with so much at stake over the next three months, Brown must show that he’s more than just a big Greg Gaines Jersey , passionate player who enjoys studying the game and the history of it.
He must carve out his own identity in this new football world.
”I think my biggest asset is my football I.Q. I understand the game, I understand the NFL, I understand what it takes,” Brown said. ”I’ve always loved football and the personnel part and I learned a lot by growing up around it.”
Note: Army offensive lineman Brett Toth said he has applied for a waiver to enter the NFL but has not yet been given any assurance it will be granted by draft weekend. ”I hear occasionally they’ve been talking about it. But they have other things far more important than me. They’ve got to worry about the whole Middle East.”
—
The majority of NFL players craft a look and style for themselves that is unassuming, clean-cut, and fairly professional. In their time off the field they don suits, nice shoes, and keep themselves well-groomed. Perhaps one of the most noticeable parts of an athlete’s look is his hair. Yes, while they’re playing, their hair is covered by their helmet for the majority of the time. However, when the helmets come off, an athlete’s hair is there contributing to his look both on the field and off the field.Well-groomed hair doesn’t mean the same thing for every athlete, and there is some room for playing around with your personal style. Many athletes go for close-cropped styles, like all-American blonde bruiser J.J. Watt, while others show a little more flair, such as Richard Sherman’s neat and impeccably styled dreadlocks. Long or short Christian Wilkins Jersey , straight or curly, dreadlocks or flowing locks – the options are endless.Yet somehow, there continues to be athlete after athlete who takes it a bit further, appearing with a hairstyle or haircut that’s just plain weird. The fact that so many NFL players have unusual hairstyles or haircuts is understandable. After all, athletes spend a lot of time in the same few outfits – game attire (uniforms), training attire (athletic gear), and professional pre or post game attire (suits, etc). Athletes may view their hair as one of the places they can stand out in a sea of team mates wearing similar clothing. The athletes on this list have landed upon hairstyles that stand out – however, it’s generally for the wrong reason.Whether they wanted to express their creativity through shaving intricate designs and using vibrant colours, simply got an unfortunate cut from their hairdresser or their team mates during a rookie hazing, or just want to cultivate a look that stands out to the extreme, here are 15 of the weirdest NFL hairstyles.
Two young starters searching for consistency will try to find it Wednesday night in the rubber game of a three-game series between the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Padres left-hander Eric Lauer (2-4 http://www.cardinalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-zach-allen-jersey , 6.64 ERA) is undergoing on-the-job training with mostly painful results, while Cardinals right-hander Luke Weaver (3-5, 4.35) has won once in his last 10 starts, struggling to put hitters away and frequently running up high pitch counts.
The last start for each summarized their seasons. Lauer suffered a 4-0 loss Friday night in Miami, while Weaver was no-decisioned in a 7-6, 10-inning victory that same evening in Cincinnati as each failed to command the strike zone.
Lauer, who is in the majors because Bryan Mitchell (0-3, 7.08) was horribly ineffective, has allowed a whopping 81 baserunners (57 hits Gary Jennings Jr. Jersey , 24 walks) over 39 1/3 innings in nine starts.
Seven of those walks occurred in Miami, where Lauer threw 111 pitches and gave up three runs in a five-inning stint. Lauer at least managed to minimize damage, escaping a bases-loaded spot in the fifth without ceding extra runs.
“It was a good learning experience for me,” Lauer said to MLB.com. “And a good mental sign for me that (manager Andy Green) was comfortable leaving me in in those situations and letting me get that chance to grow. Being able to work through those tough situations is something I need to do.”
Lauer was shelled in a 9-5 loss to St. Louis at Petco Park on May 11, allowing four homers and six runs over 2 1/3 innings before getting hooked.
Weaver, who pitched well over the last two months of the 2017 season, came out of the gate strong in 2018 with two wins in his first three starts. But Weaver has lasted seven innings just two times in his last 10 outings, taxing a bullpen that hasn’t exactly been a model of consistency.
The Reds touched Weaver for seven hits, five walks and four runs in five-plus innings on Friday Phil Haynes Jersey , but only a blown save by Bud Norris in the ninth prevented Weaver from notching a win.
“Today was a tough one with the weather conditions and the rain, with it getting a little muddy,” Weaver said to MLB.com. “It is one of those where you have to put your stuff down and grind through it and make some good pitches.”
Weaver has stumped San Diego (32-37) in both career outings, winning both and not allowing a run over 12 innings.
The Padres evened this series Tuesday night as their bullpen checked the Cardinals (36-29) on five hits in a 4-2 victory. Matt Strahm and submarining right-hander Adam Cimber combined to retire the first 15 St. Louis hitters.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said the difference between Cimber and Strahm, a left-hander who touched 94 mph with his fastball, was difficult for his hitters.
“That was unique stuff from the right side,” Matheny said of Cimber. “Most of the time, he’s using the (arm) angle to hit the top of the zone. It’s certainly like an upshoot.”
When a player gets over 30 Daniel Jones Jersey , many start to look closely at him for signs of wear and tear, for signs that he’s ageing out. If a player is too young, despite having earned a spot on the roster, many think they need experience before they’re able to move from back-up or bench warmer to a consistently active part of the team.Every player who gets drafted into the NFL obviously stunned in college – with countless colleges possessing mammoth rosters, you only get the NFL’s attention if you’re truly a star. Some draft picks turn out to be busts Quincy Williams II Jersey , players who may have peaked in college and find it difficult to play as well at an NFL level. Other players end up surprising everyone – while a large majority of NFL players who end up achieving a lot of success are very early round picks, sometimes someone will surprise you. There was once this small guy picked in the sixth round, Tom Brady? You may have heard of him.Some rookies are forced into the water unexpectedly, moved from back-up to starter because of a team mate’s unforeseen injury. Some just prove themselves in their small windows of playing time so well that they get bumped up in the coach’s opinion and consequently allowed more field time. While there is something to be said for experience, a lot of the young players in the NFL prove that you don’t need to be a veteran to rock the field. Here are 25 NFL players under the age of 23. Throughout the 90s we had seen some terrific quarterbacks in the National Football League like Dan Marino Ryquell Armstead Jersey , Brett Favre, and John Elway. However, there are some names that many football fans might have forgotten simply because they were a total bust in the NFL.In this list I have examined the top 15 most forgettable NFL quarterbacks from the 1990s and where they are today. Many fans might tend to figure out what these players do after they retire from the professional level. Do some players pick a different role in football? Do some going into other areas of interest? Or do some players just sit around blowing all their cash earnings they received from playing in the National Football League?Some of these players might be ones that some fans of a specific team might remember. And surprisingly, there are only four players on this list that are still in football, but in a different role. Some of these players might be big in other industries Gardner Minshew II Jersey , much like Peyton Manning is really involved in Nationwide commercials and the Nationwide jingle.Unlike Manning, what makes all of these players forgettable is that they were a total bust in the NFL and surprisingly one of these players is a Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Miami. Some of these players have some real interesting jobs now that pretty much anyone would want to have.Let’s start with a former quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks that is really interested in the wine industry.