Scales and bird? - 5 ways you can minimize dander birds in your home

In captivity, the bird dander invisible enemy to birds and humans. These tiny flakes of dead skin gives way to new, healthier skin. And if one in the photo, it's good for your bird. But constantly sending a large number of particles in the air can football jerseys
cause ill air. can Here are 5 things you do to minimize the film and keep the air healthy.
Birdbaths offer --- I once met a lady who is like a bird bath, a little water thrown into the air and is described in this title. Although there is a fairly accurate description of what to give your pet your birds a chance to be cleaned with warm water seems, is one of the best ways to shed to get rid of before floating in the air. Some like to put a bowl of hot water in the cage for the bathrooms. Others may enjoy in the shower with the air of a shower hanger. The water pressure must be placed in the fog, not to scare or hurt their wings. You are the best judge of your feathered friend enjoy the process better. Bathing should be done early in the day, appear to complete drying before the lower temperatures at night. This avoids the risk of shivering. Ask your veterinarian for the healthiest of the frequency.
Wipe clean the cage --- A thorough cleaning at least once a month actually help the air. The particles may stick the bars of the cage from the roof of the cage, perches and other toys. Remove the outdoor cage for cleaning and disinfection of New Orleans Saints jersey
particles that are invisible to the eye.
Disinfect the cage to kill bacteria and viruses that often attach to particles, and are often easy to kill inhaled.
Check your numbers and make a wise choice ---- If we take a small room space for birds, keep the number adopt a child. Too many in a crowded apartment, it is almost impossible to stay healthy. One or two birds make an intelligent decision. And create all the birds dander, is dust from birds such as cockatoos, African gray parrots and nymphs within a white powder, too. If you want are still in the process of decision, think carefully if you add a cleaning with a bird flies generated dust and dandruff.
Smart Clean --- The idea here is to catch pollutants in place in the air. This means, rakes and cleaning of surfaces, not sweeping or dusting. empty, always with a vacuum cleaner that traps contaminants safely without escaping it. Equip your room with ease for cleaning surfaces such as tile, wood floors, shutters and easy to clean fabrics and furnishings to support.
Air Filter --- If you remove an active San Francisco 49ers jersey
particulate matter, pollutants will continue to build in the air and to breathe the air thick for you and your bird. For your pet, it can mean obstruction of the airways, often lead to diseases and infections hard to reverse. For humans, the increase causes the particles in the air cause outbreaks of allergies and asthma and respiratory symptoms begin.

Still Confident Jones: Buehler Has "A Lot of Rope" At Kicker

IRVING, Texas - Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones badly wanted those three points before David Buehler missed a 34-yard field goal attempt in last Sunday's 13-7 loss to the Washington Redskins.
But he doesn't want a new kicker.
Jones said Monday that Buehler's job security has "a lot of nfl jersey
rope" as he enters the second regular-season place-kicking duties of his career Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The NFL's touchback leader last year as a rookie kickoff specialist, Buehler earned the full-time kicking job by making 10 of 11 preseason attempts, including 4-of-4 and the winning 31-yarder in the exhibition finale against the Miami Dolphins.

"The promise of what he can do for us," Jones said, "and the fact that Cowboys jersey
we've got (kicking consultant) Chris (Bonior) and (special teams coordinator) Joe (Decimally) and they're so much on the same page with him and like the way his fundamentals, strikes the ball, his makeup, everything about him, he's a ball player. When I think of all that, I'd say there's a lot of rope."
Buehler's lone attempt against Washington went wide right, his first in-game miss since the Aug. 8 preseason opener in Canton, Ohio.
This week, the second-year veteran is relying on Bonior’s "one-for-one" philosophy: forget about the previous kick, good or bad.
"Coming up, everybody says kickers have to have a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
short memory, and that's true," Buehler said. "You can't dwell on your misses and you've just got to learn from them and go on."

Bailey on mend as Manning, Colts loom this weekend

Bronco’s cornerback Champ Bailey hobbled around the room, barely allowing his sore right heel to strike the ground.
And this is improvement for the perennial Pro Bowler who walked out of the stadium on crutches last Sunday following a win over Seattle.
This isn't the best of weeks for the Broncos secondary to be nfl jerseys
banged up with Peyton Manning and the high-powered Indianapolis Colts offense coming to Investor Field on Sunday.
Not only is Bailey bothered by a foot injury, but fellow cornerback Andre' Goodman has a thigh ailment. They both missed another day of practice Thursday.
''They're doing better,'' Broncos coach Josh McDaniel’s said. ''We're definitely hopeful that they'll continue to get better in the next couple of days. We're certainly not ruling anybody out of the game.''
If veterans Bailey and Goodman can't go, Manning will see some combination of rookies Perish Cox, Cassius Vaughn and Syd'Quan Thompson, maybe the more experienced Ante Jones as well.
''I don't plan on letting them play in my spot,'' Bailey said, grinning. ''It's always good to get some experience regardless of who you play.
''But you want to have a lot more when you play a guy like Peyton.''
Manning has been able to pick apart whomever lines up in Denver's defensive backfield the last several years, especially when the team plays a young cornerback.
In a 2004 AFC wild-card playoff game, Roc Alexander was picked on often as Manning threw for 458 yards and four Tads during the 49-24 win.
Not that these rookies are shying away from the challenge.
''He's a great quarterback. You can't take anything from that - just watching him as I was growing up, while I was in college and everything - he's a great player,'' said Cox, a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma State. ''I've just got to be ready for everything.''
Bailey's motivation to get back is rooted more in manning the corner than facing Manning.
''My pride makes me want to get out there anyway, I don't care who we're playing,'' Bailey said. ''Everybody wants to say that Peyton makes you want to play, but it's not about him; it's just about me - my pride.''
Should his heel be ready, Bailey may be Buffalo Bills jersey
covering Reggie Wayne, who has more catches (546) and yards receiving (7,689) than any other receiver in the league since 2004.
It's a potential match up that Bailey is relishing.
''That's one thing that doesn't get all the credit - the receivers that he has,'' Bailey said. They all run great routes; they're all on the same page all the time. You can give a little bit of that credit to Peyton for getting them ready, but those guys are hungry and Reggie Wayne is definitely one of the best out there. It's going to be a workload for us.''
Defensive coordinator Don ''Wink'' Martindale has been ardently scheming this week, attempting to uncover what so many of his colleagues have failed to find in the past: A way to slow down Manning.
Asked tongue-in-cheek if this was an easy week for him, Martindale replied: ''Are you serious?''
''When you play Peyton Manning, the stress level goes up in every situation because he's so good at what he does,'' Martindale said. ''It's almost like you have to hurry up and get in the locker room at halftime, because he's going to hurry up and come back out after halftime.''
Martindale's approach won't be to trip up Manning with different looks or throw gimmicky formations at him.
Manning is immune to that.
''I think you're being a gimmick to yourself if you think you can gimmick him, because he'll find it,'' Martindale said. ''The challenge of it is playing with discipline and knowing that there are no gimmicks that are going to beat him.''
The Broncos had moderate success last December in corralling Manning during a 28-16 loss.
That is, after he threw three quick TD passes in jumping out to a 21-0 lead.
He did throw three interceptions, with Brian Dawkins picking off two.
''You have to be on your Ps and Qs regardless, because he's, if not the best, one of the best to have ever played the game,'' Dawkins said. ''Every professional athlete should enjoy going against the best.''
Martindale certainly is, even if it's producing stressful days.
''I don't want to play against him 16 straight Steelers jersey
games,'' he said. ''But everybody that's a competitor likes to be in these situations.''
Notes: The Broncos are hoping to have the right side of their offensive line back Sunday. But tackle Ryan Harris (ankle) didn't practice Thursday and guard Chris Kipper (knee) participated only on a limited basis. ... LB Wesley Woodard (hamstring) went through practice on a limited basis.

24 sep 10 McCoy rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries against the Lions

By leading the Philadelphia Eagles to victory in Week 2, Michael Vick(notes) has earned himself the starting job - although he had to wait an extra day to be sure.
Philadelphia travels to EverBank Field to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on nfl jersey
Sunday, looking for its first win in four all-time meetings.
Making his first start since 2006, Vick led the Eagles (1-1) to a 35-32 win at Detroit last Sunday, going 21 of 34 for 284 yards and two touchdowns while adding 37 rushing yards.
On Tuesday, coach Andy Reid announced that Vick would be the starter - one day after stating that he would go back to Kevin Kolb(notes).
“Michael did an exceptional job and my job is to evaluate the players,” Reid said. “It’s my obligation to make the proper decision.”
Vick has the fourth-highest quarterback rating in the league at 105.5 and ranks first at the position with 140 rushing yards. He leads the NFL with 7.8 yards per rushing attempt.
“When someone is playing at the level Michael Vick is playing, you have to give him an opportunity,” Reid said. “This isn’t about Kevin Kolb’s play. You’re talking about Michael Vick as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now.”
The Jaguars (1-1) won’t be able to focus solely on stopping Vick, as they also need to be concerned about running back LeSean McCoy(notes), who is coming off a career-best performance.
McCoy rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries against the Lions, and has matched his TD total from last season with four. Behind him and Vick, the Eagles are second in the league with 155.5 rushing yards per contest after they averaged 102.3 last season.
“He’s going out and he’s running more physical,” Reid said of McCoy. “He’s more deliberate and accurate with his cuts, seeing the daylight and getting north and south, which you have to do in this league.”
Kolb was unavailable last Sunday due to a concussion suffered in a season-opening 27-20 loss to Green Bay. Reid says Kolb is healthy and the injury has nothing to do with him being relegated to a backup role.
Starting linebacker Stewart Bradley(notes), who also suffered a Bills jersey
concussion in Week 1, has been declared symptom free and will return to action as Philadelphia looks to slow down Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew(notes). The Eagles have had a hard time stopping the run, allowing 123.5 yards a game on the ground.
Jones-Drew has been held in check so far in 2010, accumulating 129 rushing yards and no touchdowns in the first two games.
“Teams have been doing a lot of good things against us by stacking the box,” he said. “We’ve been close a couple of times, but we’re just going to keep working at it.”

One week after posting the best rating of his career at 138.2, David Garrard(notes) struggled badly against San Diego, throwing a career high-tying four interceptions. He was replaced by Luke McCown(notes) in the fourth quarter of a 38-13 loss.
McCown was lost for the season with a torn ACL, and Garrard will be back under center as he looks to rebound.
Coach Jack Del Rio knows his team likely needs a bounce-back performance from its quarterback if it’s going to beat the Eagles.
“There’s no way he can say enough things or I can sit here and convince you of it having a chance to go that way by having some eloquent speech prepared,” he said. “It’s going to have to be proven on the field. We’re going to have to see it.
“Believe me, I would love for that to be the case, for him to take a major step forward for himself and for our football team ‘cause we need that.”
The Jaguars signed Todd Bouman(notes) on Tuesday to back up 49ers jersey
Garrard. The 38-year-old Bouman has played in 42 games with six starts for Minnesota and New Orleans. He spent four weeks on Jacksonville’s roster in 2007 and spent time with the club during training camp in 2008 and 2009.
Garrard helped lead Jacksonville to a 13-6 win in its only visit to Lincoln Financial Field in 2006, going 10 of 17 for 87 yards. The clubs also met in 2002 and 1997, both times at Jacksonville.

Singletary says he's coming off great week

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Just when you're ready to write off Mike Singletary as too emotional for this head coaching stuff -- think last week -- the San Francisco 49ers' coach comes through with a level of introspection suggesting capacity for growth.
Singletary's contentious interview with the 49ers' broadcast nfl jerseys
partner Thursday made national news.
"Should I have reined myself in? Probably so," Singletary said. "Um, but sometimes when ... "
Singletary stopped himself.
"You know what," he said. "I'll leave that there. Probably so."
During the TV interview Thursday, Singletary went from appearing irritated over recurring questions about play-calling problems in Week 1 to all but guaranteeing victory over the New Orleans Saints. In retrospect, Singletary said it's important for him to be himself without losing control.
"I have to be smarter in that situation," he said. "But other than that, the biggest thing that I've learned is, it is important to look at how you are wired and you have to go with that until the day I die. I have to continue to learn wisdom in certain instances and learn what do you stand for and what not to get upset about and last week was tremendous for me. As a matter of fact, it was tremendous for our staff."
The 49ers appeared unusually unsettled following a regular-season opener. Singletary ripped into the team after the game, then felt compelled to clarify his remarks by calling another meeting once the team plane landed in San Francisco. Quarterback Alex Smith was complaining about play-calling protocol. San Diego Chargers jersey
Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was under fire. The Singletary television interview only seemed to confirm that the coach was losing his grip.
"Sometimes when you think you have figured things out, you don't know," Singletary said. "But last week was really good for me and I think it was good for me in the sense that it happened early, the media and all the stuff and all that was written and the thing that I am going to do is I am going to be more analytical with you guys when I am answering questions and just make sure I am going in the right direction and not leave anything out there for guys to take and write another story about."
Singletary, frustrated by what he described as an inability to get officials' attention when calling timeouts, infused some humor into his news conference when a reporter asked if the NFL should use an electronic contraption to alert the referee.
"Maybe I could shock them or something," Singletary said. "I'd like that."
"Yes," he said flatly.
Players and coaches expressed concern for Singletary when they saw him withholding rants from officials on the sideline at Seattle in Week 1.
"I was wrestling with myself not to say this, not to say that," Singletary said. "There were a couple of bad calls, as there are going to be in a game, but I realized that I do have to be who I am. I think my players and my coaches have grown to know me and to want me to be who I am and, 'Don't change on Chicago Bears jersey
us. The person that you have been, we have grown to trust that person. So just stay true to that.'
"And so the thing that I did say," Singletary said, "is I will do my best not to be on the field as I was last year a couple of times, wanting to choke somebody."

McDaniels: 'Not going to be a normal week'

Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels knows this will be a difficult week for his team as it prepares to host Indianapolis on Sunday.
An emotional McDaniels addressed the media Tuesday, a day after cheap nfl jerseys
second-year receiver Kenny McKinley died in an apparent suicide. McKinley, 23, was on the injured reserve. He was a fifth-round pick in 2009. McDaniels declined to discuss the circumstances or details of the death. Yet, he was very open about his feelings toward McKinley and how it will weigh on the team.
“You know, it’s not going to be a normal week,” McDaniels said. “We are not going to try and pretend that it’s a normal week. We are going to do our work and get ready to go and like I said, I think really respect everybody’s ability to go through this differently. We are not going to ask everybody to be the same, and we are 49ers jersey
not all going to be the same. I think the players will understand that the week is going to go forward and we are going to have to handle that as well as get ready for the Colts and
McDaniels called a team meeting for Tuesday morning, which was the team’s day off. McDaniels updated the players on the situation and grief counselors addressed the team as well.
The Broncos are experienced with dealing with tragedy. Hours after the 2006 season ended, popular right cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Denver. Fifty-five days later, reserve running back Damien Nash died of a heart attack after hosting a charity basketball game. Williams and Nash were both 24.
This situation is somewhat different, because Denver has to play a game in the days after the death of a teammate.
McDaniels said there will be a moment of silence prior to Sunday’s game and Saints jersey
players will wear a decal with McKinley’s No. 11 on it. The team has also decided to keep McKinley’s locker intact for the rest of the season. McDaniels said the team is in the progress of working on the details of a memorial service with McKinley’s family.

NFL fines Jacobs $10,000 for helmet toss

New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for tossing his helmet into the stands during the third quarter of Sunday's 38-14 loss to the Colts. Jacobs issued another apology for the incident and said he met with both general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom football jersey
Coughlin on Monday. The running back made it clear he did not request a trade.
"I want to apologize one more time for accidentally tossing my helmet in the stands," Jacobs said in a statement issued by the team. "It was something that happened because I was frustrated with the game, and I had no business tossing my helmet in the first place, and I am thankful that nobody was hurt."
Jacobs is fortunate the fine was only $10,000. If he'd drawn blood, I think a suspension and a $50,000 fine would've been in order. But the Giants will hope that Jacobs is finished whining. I'm not so sure.
"I talked to Jerry and Coach Coughlin yesterday," he added. "Both of Bears jersey
them asked to speak with me, I didn't request a meeting with them. I have not demanded a trade and have no plans to demand a trade. The only demand I am making right now is of myself, to be the best player I can be and to help this team win."
New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for tossing his helmet into the stands during the third quarter of Sunday's 38-14 loss to the Colts. Jacobs issued another apology for the incident and said he met with both general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin on Monday. The running back made it clear he did not request a trade.
"I want to apologize one more time for accidentally tossing my helmet in the stands," Jacobs said in a statement issued by the team. "It was something that happened because I was frustrated with the game, and I had no business tossing my helmet in the first place, and I am thankful that nobody was hurt."
Jacobs is fortunate the fine was only $10,000. If he'd drawn blood, I think a suspension and a $50,000 fine would've been in order. But the Giants will hope that Jacobs is finished whining. I'm not so sure.
"I talked to Jerry and Coach Coughlin yesterday," he added. Bills jersey
"Both of them asked to speak with me, I didn't request a meeting with them. I have not demanded a trade and have no plans to demand a trade. The only demand I am making right now is of myself, to be the best player I can be and to help this team win."

Pirates pitcher Gallagher relishes winter ball experience

Before Pirates reliever Sean Gallagher went to play winter league ball in Venezuela last year, the only time he'd ever left the country was on a cruise to Belize and Cozumel.
"And those were just tourist spots," said Gallagher, 24, who nfl throwback jerseys
played for Magallanes. "(Venezuela) was just a totally different world. We take a lot for granted that down there they just don't have."
Adjusting to the lifestyle was one thing, but Gallagher quickly learned that even the baseball is different in Venezuela.
"The atmosphere down there is like nothing you've ever seen before," Gallagher said. "A lot of places you hear about in South America are soccer countries. Not there. In Venezuela it's baseball, baseball, baseball. They absolutely get into the game."
Gallagher wants to play winter ball again, either in Venezuela or the Dominican Republic, although he says he's getting mixed messages from the Pirates. A week ago, manager John Russell said that both Gallagher and catcher Jason Jaramillo, currently with Triple-A Indianapolis, had committed to winter ball, but as of Friday, general manager Neal Huntington said they are still working through the permission process and until that is settled, there is nothing to report.
So for now, Gallagher will just hope that things will work out. He'd like to go make four or five starts, get stretched out and be able to compete for a job in the starting rotation next spring.
Last year he went because he was coming off knee surgery and wanted to Saints jersey
see how he would respond to throwing multiple innings — up to 100 pitches. He accomplished that goal, but also saw a side of the sport he'd never seen before.
"The big rivalry for Magallanes is Caracas, and that rivalry is bigger than the Yankees-Red Sox," Gallagher said. "I've been to Red Sox-Yankees games before and that doesn't hold anything to this.
"It's incredible. I've seen fights during games, everything. My first week there, opening day, it was Magallanes playing Caracas and it was standing room only, jam packed like you'd never, ever see in a stadium here because of public safety.
"First inning we scored, and I happened to look up in right field. There were 50 people in this giant circle, then you just see haymakers flying. You hit a home run, you'd better cover your head because there's beer flying everywhere. They love their baseball. It's insane."
It's that atmosphere that Huntington said he wants his players to experience.
"I don't think we can have enough guys go to winter ball," he said a week ago. "It's almost like every night down there is a playoff race in terms of fans and enthusiasm and intensity and atmosphere. Talk to the players who, back in the day, had to go play because they needed the money and they'll tell you the San Diego Chargers jersey
experience they gained in Latin America was tremendous, and we're missing that.
"We're missing a big part of that with our guys today because they don't want to go. It's unfortunate, but it's something we're trying to work through."

Michael Cuddyer works to find his pitch in Twins' 4-0 win over Angels

Michael Cuddyer knew his plan against Angels starter Jered Weaver in the fifth inning was transparent and, really, not without its flaws.
"I think it was apparent from the get-go I was in football jerseys
swing mode," Cuddyer said. "He probably could have rolled it up there and I would have struck out. Fortunately, he didn't. I was just fighting."
Fighting no matter the pitch, no matter its location.
Cuddyer struck out looking in his first at-bat, popped out in his second and now here he was in the fifth inning, 2 for 17 in his career against Weaver, combating an assortment of fastballs and sliders. He reached out for pitches down and away, grabbing just enough of the ball with his bat. He lined high fastballs into the stands, lunging to make contact with yet another foul ball to stay locked in a perpetual 1-2 count.
So when Angels catcher Jeff Mathis jogged to the mound eight pitches into what was by then an epochal at-bat, Cuddyer wasn't shy about what was going on. He turned to home plate umpire Mike Winters and said, "How many times have I walked already?"
Winters laughed, Mathis returned and, finally, Weaver threw Cuddyer a strike -- a hanging slider that the slugger laced into left-center field, clearing the bases with a double that put the Twins up 4-0, the game's eventual final score.
Cuddyer didn't start the game with that swing-or-die approach. It evolved after his first two at-bats. In each of those, Weaver threw a first-pitch ball that Cuddyer took. After that, though, "I didn't see another ball," Cuddyer said. So he shifted his thought process.
"A guy like Weaver, he's so deceptive, and I've had quite a few at-bats where I'm 0-2 right off the get-go," said Cuddyer, who has four strikeouts in 18 at-bats against Weaver. "So I figured just (swing)."
Still, Cuddyer refrained on the first pitch he saw in the fifth. Considering Weaver elected to throw him fastballs on all but one of the 10 pitches Cuddyer saw in his first two at-bats combined, the first baseman expected to see a first-pitch fastball again his third time up. Instead, he got a slider and took it for ball one. He didn't take another pitch in the at-bat.
Three fastballs followed, all high, one away. He swung through one and fouled Bills jersey
off two. Pitch No. 5 was a slider and Cuddyer was out in front of it. He fouled it back to continue his 1-2 count.
Next was a fastball, then another slider, down and away, the kind of pitch that often sends Cuddyer back to the dugout. He lunged at it, another foul. Then came another fastball, another high-and-away offering that Cuddyer fouled off.
It was after that pitch Mathis made his mound visit, perhaps to give an exasperated and exhausted Weaver time to relax, to catch his breath.
It did little good.
Finally, on Weaver's ninth pitch of the at-bat and 32nd of the inning, the right-hander faltered, hanging a slider that Cuddyer jumped on.
"I think Cuddy saw about everything but the kitchen sink and finally put one in the gap, and that's all we needed tonight," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said after his team took a five-game lead in the American League Central, thanks to the Chicago White Sox's loss to the Kansas City Royals.
"He battled and battled, and I think swung at, I don't know, 10 balls that were balls -- outside, over his head -- and he kept fouling them off and finally the guy made a mistake and got one over the plate, and he whacked it. That's just the way he is. He grinds it out. He does it every day, and when he's up there, you think good things are going to happen."
Cuddyer has earned ample praise this season, and deservedly so, for his willingness and ease in taking over first base for the second straight season when the Twins lost Justin Morneau to an injury, but those good things Gardenhire spoke of haven't happened as frequently this season for the right fielder turned first baseman. After hitting a career-high 32 homers and driving in 94 runs in 2009, Cuddyer is on pace for 14 homers and 80 runs batted in this season.
None of that was on Cuddyer's mind Sunday night. All he was thinking about -- and he'd say all he's ever thinking about -- was winning a ballgame, and to do that he had to beat Weaver, any way he could.
"He's been tough on me my whole career," Cuddyer said. "Obviously, I knew I didn't have 49ers jersey
much success off him just because you know that you don't have many off of a guy, but you don't go up there being like, 'Ah, I'm already out because I don't have a good history.' You just try to do what you can because they can always throw you a strike that you can hit."

FRUSTRATING OPENER

Carl Crawford was scratched from the lineup for Friday's opener of the big series with the Red Sox due to a stomach virus. By the end of the night, he wasn't the only one leaving the Trop with a sick feeling.
It wasn't just that the Rays lost to the Red Sox 3-1 and allowed them to get within 4-1/2 games in an Aug. 27 meeting that had a September feel and ramifications, but how bad they looked in doing so.
"Tonight is definitely a night I want to forget nfl jerseys
quick," third baseman Evan Longoria said. "I think it was a frustrating night for all of us. We're all antsy to get this stretch under way and to play well and push our way into the playoffs. And tonight was not a good start."
The breakdowns were many:
David Price allowing a career-high matching 10 hits, including a pair of two-out solo home runs to Victor Martinez and a two-out RBI single to Jed Lowrie.
Longoria failing to deliver with two men on in each of his first three at-bats and finishing with his first three-strikeout game of the season.
B.J. Upton getting thrown out as the potential tying run in the sixth after a bad break off second and an admitted "bad send" by third-base coach Tom Foley.
And those - along with catcher Kelly Shoppach nearly nailing Price on a throw to Chargers jersey
second - were just the lowlights as the Rays were held to three singles, their major-league most 11th game with three or fewer hits.
Plus, they extended their freaky Friday failures to 3-17 and failed to sell out with the usual bipartisan blue-and-red crowd of 29,461 accompanied by about 7,000 empty seats.
The Rays (78-50) said all the expected things about it being just one game and pointed to the good news of the Yankees losing to the White Sox, which kept the Rays tied for the top spot in the American League East.
There was a different perspective, obviously, in the Boston clubhouse.
"We definitely classified this as a big game," first baseman Mike Lowell said. "It's obviously a big series. This could be a significant turning point for us."
With Price making his mistakes and Boston starter Jon Lester dominating with less than his usual overpowering stuff (and despite five walks and three wild pitches), the turning point of the game came in the sixth.
The Rays were down 2-1 and threatening to tie, with Upton on second after a walk and a steal, when Jason Bartlett hit a line drive single to center.
Manager Joe Maddon said that's where the problems started, that Upton "kind of hesitated a bit" and didn't get a good jump.
"I think that's really where the play was lost, on the original first step," he said.
Foley and Upton said the breakdown occurred later as Foley made what he said was a bad decision. That his decision seemed to come late and that Upton appeared to slow down then reaccelerate, leading to an unusually wide turn, didn't help.
"Hindsight? Bad send," Foley said. "I knew it was going to be close if it was a good throw, and (centerfielder Darnell McDonald) put it right on the money. In that situation, nobody out, pretty much got to be sure he's going to score the run."
"It's just a tough decision to make for Fo all around," Upton said. "I wouldn't have done Bears jersey
anything different. He went with his gut instinct. ... That's a chance you take, and sometimes, they don't work out."
That's kind of how Price felt, allowing as many as 10 hits for just the second time in his 49-start career, extending his winless streak to three and seeing his ERA go above 3.00 for the first time since his season debut.

Phillies’ Halladay gets 19th win

* Halladay leads NL with 19 wins
* Phillies beat Marlins sixth straight time
MIAMI, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Roy Halladay(notes) recorded a National League-best 19th victory of the season behind strong offensive support as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 10-5 on Wednesday.
Halladay (19-10) struck out nine but nfl jersey
allowed 10 hits and three runs over six innings.
“It wasn’t the prettiest,” Halladay told reporters. “From my standpoint I expect to do well every time I go out. My approach is the same.”
Having spent the first 12 years of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays before being traded to Philadelphia this past off-season, Halladay has high hopes of reaching the postseason for the first time.
The Phillies (86-61) stretched their NL East lead over the Atlanta Braves to three games with 15 to play.
“We’re not in control of it right now,” Manuel said. “We have a lead. We can definitely control what we’re going to do by winning.”
Winners of eight of their last nine games, the streaking Phillies have also claimed six in a row over Florida (73-72) in a little more than a week.
Philadelphia scored nine runs in the first five innings to take a commanding 9-2 lead and were never threatened.
Raul Ibanez(notes) went 3-for-5 with a two-run double in Indianapolis Colts jersey
the first and Chase Utley(notes) bombed a home run in the third.
Marlins starter Jorge Sosa(notes) lasted just 2 1/3 innings and allowed six runs in the loss.
Florida’s offense pounded out 12 hits but could not capitalise, going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Gaby Sanchez(notes) homered in the sixth and the home side had the bases loaded in the ninth but only earned one run.
DENVER (AP)—The San Diego Padres have claimed right-hander Cesar Carrillo(notes) off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies.
The NL West-leading squad also designated righty Craig Italiano for assignment Wednesday before its game against the Colorado Rockies.
San Diego originally designated Carrillo for assignment Sept. 1, but the Phillies claimed him eight days later. The 26-year-old Carrillo was 5-14 with a 5.60 ERA with Triple-A Portland.
Carrillo made his major-league debut in 2009 for the Padres, going 1-2 with a 13.06 ERA
Update: Bay (concussion) will not officially pronounce himself out Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
for the rest of the season. Still, he sees the Oct. 3 season finale rapidly approaching and has acknowledged it is “highly unlikely” he will return to game action before the season concludes, ESPN New York reports.
Recommendation: Bay suffered a whiplash-induced concussion at Dodger Stadium on July 23. He played the next two games before the symptoms surfaced on a cross-country flight back to New York after the series finale against the Dodgers. The headaches that lasted for a month after the concussion have subsided and Bay has started to do physical activities, but has not attempted to swing a bat.

Longtime scout LaMacchia dies at

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Al LaMacchia, a former executive with the Blue Jays during their World Series championships and a longtime scout for several teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers, died Wednesday. He was 89.
Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch said LaMacchia died at his nfl throwback jerseys
home in San Antonio following a stroke on Sept. 4.
“Al was the epitome of a baseball scout. He loved the game and the people in it,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. “Knowing that Al was always available to help with a player or a thought process was always a comforting combination. I found his wisdom of life and baseball to be rare.”
LaMacchia pitched in 16 games for his hometown St. Louis Browns (1943, 1945-46) and the Washington Senators (1946) after 16 seasons as a pitcher in the minor leagues, including a 15-2 mark for San Antonio in the Texas League in 1942.
He scouted for the Braves organization from 1961-1976, and later for the Devils Rays and finally for the Dodgers, beginning in 2002. He joined the Toronto organization at its inception, in 1977, and was a vice president when the Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993.
LaMacchia was born on July 22, 1921, in St. Louis.
The Dodgers said players he scouted or signed included Dale Minnesota Vikings jersey
Murphy, George Bell, Cito Gaston, Dave Stieb and David Wells. He touted Double-A outfielder Andre Ethier(notes) to Colletti before the Dodgers acquired him from Oakland in 2005.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte(notes) is set to rejoin the rotation on Sunday.
New York manager Joe Girardi announced the plan for Pettitte before Wednesday night’s game against Tampa Bay. Pettitte has been sidelined since June 19 by a strained left groin.
With his return, Javier Vazquez(notes) will shift to a long relief role.
A.J. Burnett(notes) will start the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore on Friday. CC Sabathia(notes) will pitch on Saturday, which also lines up the 19-game winner to face Tampa Bay’s 17-game winner David Price(notes) five days later in the final game of a four-game series with the Rays at Yankee Stadium.
Also, injured outfielders Nick Swisher(notes) (left knee) and Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Brett Gardner(notes) (right wrist) could return to the starting lineup this weekend.
The Yankees signed left-hander Royce Ring(notes) to a major league contract. The left-hander joined the team on Wednesday.

The Saints didn’t commit a turnover

After a hard-fought victory in their opener, the New Orleans Saints have the chance to make franchise history. The San Francisco 49ers are just looking to avoid their worst start in six years following a deflating loss.
The Saints will try to open 2-0 in consecutive seasons for nfl throwback jerseys
the first time when they face the 49ers at Candlestick Park on Monday night.
New Orleans got the defense of its Super Bowl title off to a good start with a 14-9 victory over Minnesota last Thursday, winning a rematch of the NFC title game. The Saints scored their fewest points in a win in Sean Payton’s four-plus seasons, but the coach left satisfied despite a handful of mistakes.
New Orleans finished with 308 yards, well below its league-best average of 403.8 in 2009. Garrett Hartley(notes) missed a pair of field goals and the Saints dropped several Drew Brees(notes) passes, including one by Robert Meachem(notes) in the end zone.
Brees still completed 75 percent of his throws (27 of 36) and opened the scoring with a 29-yard connection to Devery Henderson(notes).
“He was sharp,” Payton said. “There were a few opportunities where you’d normally expect them to make that catch, and Drew does a good job with some of those throws. That’s another area that we’ll continue to get better at. We have a lot of confidence in that group of receivers.”
The Saints didn’t commit a turnover, gave up one sack to the best pass rushing team in the league last season and didn’t allow a point in the second half. That helped New Orleans take the lead for good on Pierre Thomas’(notes) 1-yard run with 6:13 left in the third quarter.
“You go back to finding ways to win,” Payton said. “It’s pleasing when you can win a game like that and finish the way we did.”
Payton’s counterpart in Monday’s game, Mike Indianapolis Colts jersey
Singletary, was far from happy after a 31-6 loss to Seattle last week.
The 49ers were a popular pick as a favorite to win the NFC West after completing their first perfect preseason in 18 years. San Francisco, however, failed to score a touchdown for the first time in 19 games.
San Francisco managed 49 yards rushing, and Alex Smith threw a pair of crucial interceptions during his 225-yard day. The 49ers gave up 28 points over a nearly seven-minute span.
“It doesn’t taste good. It doesn’t feel good,” Smith said. “I think you’ve got to try and make it a positive, but it hurts.”
That performance led to some harsh criticism from Singletary and a meeting when the team returned home that night.
“I said, ‘You know what, we’re going to get together and get this all ironed,’” Singletary said. “‘We can look at the game for what it is as a team and learn from it, put it behind us, and get on to New Orleans.’”
The 49ers, who haven’t started 0-2 since losing their first four games in 2004, have dropped a series-worst five in a row to the Saints, their former NFC West rivals.
Brees threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the teams’ last matchup, a 31-17 New Orleans home win Sept. 28, 2008. He had 336 yards and four TDs in his team’s most recent trip to San Francisco, a 31-10 victory Oct. 28, 2007.
Brees is 4-0 against the 49ers and has 1,221 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in those games.
San Francisco is 22-10-2 at home against New Orleans Dallas Cowboys jersey
but has dropped eight of 10 overall meetings.
Monday’s game is the first for Saints running back Reggie Bush(notes) since he forfeited the Heisman Trophy he won with Southern California in 2005.

Hill to start for Lions at QB in place of Stafford

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)—The Detroit Lions will start Shaun Hill(notes) at quarterback in Sunday’s home opener against Philadelphia as Matthew Stafford(notes) recovers from a shoulder injury.
Coach Jim Schwartz didn’t say Wednesday when Stafford might play again.
“We’re going to start Shaun Hill at quarterback on football jerseys
Sunday, and then after that we’ll see what happens,” Schwartz said.
Stafford was back at practice but stood to the side in his jersey and a baseball cap while Hill and Drew Stanton(notes) participated in drills during the portion of practice open to reporters.
Stafford was knocked out of the season opener when Chicago’s Julius Peppers(notes) sacked him Sunday, putting him on the sideline with a banged-up right shoulder - his third injury in two seasons. Stafford’s father, John Stafford, said his son was going to visit well-known sports Dr. James Andrews this week.
“He’s really frustrated, but still upbeat,” John Stafford told The Associated Press. “I know he’s going to get over this hurdle.”
Stafford missed six games last year after being the No. 1 pick in the draft because of a banged-up left shoulder and right knee. Hill took Stafford’s place during last weekend’s 19-14 loss to the Bears.
“Everybody plays this game to actually play it, not just to practice,” Hill said. “So I’m very excited for the opportunity.”
Schwartz said earlier in the week he didn’t think Stafford would Minnesota Vikings jersey
need surgery. He said Wednesday not much had changed in the last couple days, but wouldn’t go into more detail.
“I’m not going to comment on what our doctors tell a player,” Schwartz said. “I’m not going to comment on what results of an MRI are, or any of those things. That’s just the way it is.”
Last season, the Lions lost all six games when Stafford was out with injuries, struggling with Daunte Culpepper(notes) and Stanton leading the offense. Hill, meanwhile, was making six starts for the 49ers, winning three.
Detroit traded a seventh-round pick to San Francisco in March to acquire the 30-year-old Hill.
“Obviously, the more experience you have in this league, the better off you’re going to be, so that helps,” Hill said.
Hill went 9 for 19 for 88 yards with an interception last weekend. He had a pass to Calvin Johnson(notes) in the end zone ruled incomplete in one of the day’s most controversial decisions - the Lions thought they’d scored a go-ahead touchdown.
“He doesn’t have a long period of Dallas Cowboys jersey
being inactive,” Schwartz said. “He’s a veteran quarterback - he’s been around a long time, he knows how to prepare, he knows how to be ready for those situations, he’s been in that role before.”
The game against the Eagles could be a battle of backups. Philadelphia quarterback Kevin Kolb(notes) is going through concussion testing after getting hurt in a loss to Green Bay last weekend.

Week One, in the rear view

The goal of instant replay was to fix the big mistakes, the real stink-bomb officiating decisions. Now it's an exercise in microsurgery, and all the wacky plays out there are caught on tape and analyzed in slo-mo, and the rules makers get together the following spring nfl jerseys
and drudge up more legislation out of them. Remember the "Tuck Rule" nonsense? John Madden's on-air counter to that one was, "If it looks like a fumble and everybody thinks it's a fumble, then it should be a fumble."
On Sunday in Chicago, Lions WR Calvin Johnson(notes) snagged a pass in the endzone. One foot down, two feet down, backside down … touchdown! Except Johnson, whose hand is broad enough to smother a basketball, slammed the football to the turf as he landed and it popped free. Whoops, said the men in stripes — incomplete! See, it says right here!
Rulebook explanation — "in order for the catch to be completed, the receiver must maintain possession of the ball throughout the entire process of the catch." Something like that. And a likely game-winning score was thus overturned. A victory for legislative overkill, for the offseason microsurgeons.
Suggested amendment — if it looks like a touchdown, and everyone thinks it's a touchdown, then …
Opening-week wreckage survey — Bob Sanders(notes) (elbow, out indefinitely), Kris Jenkins(notes) (knee, out for season), Ryan Grant(notes) (ankle, out for season), Matthew Stafford(notes) (shoulder, out indefinitely), Kevin Boss(notes) (concussion, out indefinitely), Paul Posluszny(notes) (knee, out 2-3 weeks), Kevin Kolb(notes) (concussion, out indefinitely). Those are the A-listers.
Keep bulldogging that 18-game schedule, right commish?
Houston's Arian Foster(notes) slices the Colts to ribbons with 231 yards on the ground, but the opening day rushing garland still hangs on O.J. Simpson. Ah, The Juice … kickstarting his grand march of 1973 with 250 yards of charges into the Patriots' gut.
The Bills won it, and a cheery O.J. let the Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Buffalo game plan slip in his postgame interview. "They wanted to lock down our outside runs," he told reporters, "so we just turned all our plays up the inside and we had great holes. The funny thing is, I was supposed to be the decoy today."
Larry Watkins, a reject from the '73 Eagles camp, was set to handle the heavy lifting that day, a move meant to discourage the constant hounding of Simpson. Such trickery. The Wile E. Coyote playbook. He got 105 yards and two TDs. One time I questioned Chuck Fairbanks, the Pats' rookie coach in '73, what he remembered about that Watkins' stratagem.
"Believe me," Fairbanks said, "we weren't fooled."
Unwelcome words, from coach to player — "Stay in school, son." That was Pete Carroll to Mark Sanchez(notes) on USC's campus two years back.
"Glad to have ya, kid!" That was the Ravens' "D" to Sanchez, Monday night. A 10-for-21 passing night for just 74 yards. The longest Jets drive goes for 35 yards. Just six first downs all night. The Jets needed the kid to be Richard Todd to win that game, a couple big whips of the arm, even for just a drive. Instead, they got Browning Nagle.
Falcons-Steelers game in the flesh. The stadium fills like well-wishers filing past a casket. Whispers and handshakes and moments of reflection. And yes, patches of empty Heinz Field seats. Maybe it's the thrill of Dennis Dixon(notes), a third-stringer opening at quarterback that soaked down the mood. The somberness reminded me of a yarn told by Lindsey "Ball on the 29-yard-line" Nelson, the classy old TV/radio man. He would talk about a day at the Poinsettia Bowl, a military matchup played decades ago.
"They played it at Balboa Stadium in San Diego," he said. "1952, Coast-to-coast on NBC. Bolling Field versus the San Diego Naval Training Center. It rained like crazy and nobody came. So NBC got the Shore Patrol to go to the bars and round up the sailors and bring them to the Dallas Cowboys jersey
game. They got 300 of them and packed them into one section of the stadium.
"When we needed a crowd shot, we put the camera on the 300. The SPs were guarding them so they couldn't get away."
OK, it wasn't quite that bad.

Report: Dolphins DE Odrick out six weeks with broken fibula

After a promising debut against the Bills, Dolphins rookie DE Jared Odrick(notes) will now miss six weeks with a broken right fibula, reported NFL Network's Jason La Canfora.
Odrick, the 28th overall pick in the football jerseys
2010 NFL draft, suffered an injury in the third quarter of Sunday's season-opening victory over the Bills, first reported as a deep thigh bruise. Already expecting him to miss Week Two, the Dolphins will now be without the rookie for six weeks.
Odrick had a tackle for loss in his NFL Indianapolis Colts jersey
debut.
The way we see it
This is a big loss for the Dolphins' defensive line, as the team was counting on Odrick to improve the pass rush. Odrick has been in the starting role since the summer and got into the backfield to record a tackle for loss last Sunday. Earlier Tuesday, the Dolphins re-signed DE Lionel Dotson(notes) as Minnesota Vikings jersey
insurance. Five-year veteran Tony McDaniel(notes) will likely start for Odrick, with Dotson coming into the game as well.

Rockies slugger CarGo gets a rest

DENVER (AP)—Carlos Gonzalez(notes) is out of the Colorado Rockies’ lineup for Saturday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Manager Jim Tracy said Gonzalez’s consecutive football jerseys
0-for-4 performances showed his slugger needed a break after a career-best 16-game hitting streak. The speedy outfielder emerged as a Triple Crown candidate while leading the Rockies back into the thick of the NL West Indianapolis Colts jersey
race.
Tracy said Gonzalez “bruised his (right) hand up a little bit” taking an awkward swing Thursday night, but he held him out mostly just to give him a breather.
Gonzalez is hitting .335 with 32 homers and Dallas Cowboys jersey
100 RBIs. He was available for to pinch hit.

Yeah, everything is fine. Just couldn’t do what I wanted with the ball

With the division title in sight, the Tampa Bay Rays need Jeff Niemann(notes) to get back on track.
The AL wild card-leading Rays seek their first road sweep of nfl jerseys
the Toronto Blue Jays since 2003 as Niemann takes the mound for Sunday’s series finale.
Niemann (10-6, 4.28 ERA) is 0-3 with a 20.70 ERA in three starts since returning from the DL on Aug. 25, and has allowed at least six earned runs in each appearance.
The right-hander was unable to make it out of the second inning Monday, yielding six runs in 1 2-3 innings of work in the Rays’ 12-5 loss to Boston.
“Yeah, everything is fine. Just couldn’t do what I wanted with the ball,” Niemann said after his previous outing. “Command was off big-time and went to a lot of bad counts and they were sitting on some pitches. We’ve been working hard to try and find out what’s going on and we feel great.”
Despite his recent struggles, Niemann is not in danger of losing his rotation spot, as the Rays (86-55) remain optimistic he will regain the form that led him to a 7-2 record with a 2.77 ERA prior to the All Star break.
“He’s just having a hard time commanding his fastball, which truly is his strong point. That is just going to take some time,” Rays’ manager Joe Maddon said. “You do that by just working out in the bullpen and throwing the ball to your spots and when you get in the game, executing your game plan. I would say some of it has to do just between the ears a bit, just getting your confidence back.”
Niemann struggled in his last game Minnesota Vikings jersey
against the Blue Jays, surrendering seven runs and seven hits in five innings during a 13-5 loss Aug. 31.
After pulling to 4-4 on its nine-game road trip, Tampa Bay will try to sweep a three-game series on the road for the first time since May 4-6 against Seattle.
Shaun Marcum(notes) (12-7, 3.55) will take the hill for the Blue Jays (72-70) in search of his career-high 13th win.
He recorded win No. 12 in Toronto’s 8-5 victory over Texas on Tuesday, giving up three runs on six hits over seven innings. Marcum is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA in his last five starts, and will be looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since July 24 and 30.
He is 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season.
Jose Bautista(notes) has a major league-leading 46 home runs, one shy of George Bell’s single-season Blue Jays record set in 1987. Bell won the AL MVP that year, and Bautista’s power numbers are getting him consideration for this year’s award.
“He’s truly been one of the best players in the American League this year and should definitely be considered as an MVP candidate,” Maddon told the Blue Jays’ official website. “The kind of year he’s having is truly spectacular. You talk from an offensive perspective, but look at the plays he’s made on defense. This guy is a really good defender, too. He’s a really good baseball player.”
Bautista, however, has struggled against Dallas Cowboys jersey
Niemann over his career, going 1-for-12 with four strikeouts.
Carl Crawford(notes), who tripled Saturday and is 15 for 32 with nine extra-base hits in his last eight games, is 3 for 17 lifetime against Marcum.

Padilla scratched from Sunday start

HOUSTON (AP)—Los Angeles Dodgers right hander Vicente Padilla(notes) will not make his scheduled start against the Houston Astros on Sunday because of a bulging disk in his neck.
Padilla (6-5) allowed three runs in four innings cheap nfl jerseys
Monday against Atlanta, a day after he was activated from the disabled list.
Manager Joe Torre said Saturday “I don’t Dallas Cowboys jersey
see him pitching in the foreseeable future.”
Carlos Monasterios(notes) (3-5) was to make Sunday’s start.

Rockies’ Cook breaks leg, season in doubt

DENVER, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Aaron Cook(notes) has broken his right leg, putting his season in jeopardy, his agent said.
“I would consider it a longshot that he’s back in the regular football jerseys
season,” agent Joe Bick told The Denver Post on Thursday.
Cook fractured his right fibula when he was struck by Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
a ball hit by Cincinnati batter Joey Votto(notes) during Wednesday’s game with the Reds, the Rockies website reported.
Rockies officials were uncertain of Cook’s future this season.
“This may not be a season-ending thing is my Dallas Cowboys jersey
understanding,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy told reporters. “Yet, we have to take it a day at a time and see where it all goes.”

Yankees beat Orioles on Swisher’s HR

NEW YORK (AP)—Nick Swisher(notes) hit a two-run homer off Koji Uehara(notes) in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to give the New York Yankees a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
With the Orioles closing in on their first three-game sweep in the Bronx nfl jerseys
since 1986, Alex Rodriguez(notes) opened the ninth with a single on the first pitch from Uehara (1-1). Robinson Cano(notes) flied out and Swisher drove a 2-0 pitch to the opposite field, into Baltimore’s bullpen in left-center.
It was Swisher’s 26th homer this season and his third career game-ending shot.
Matt Wieters(notes) hit a two-run homer for Baltimore.
Red Sox 11, Rays 5
At Boston, Tim Wakefield(notes) became the oldest pitcher to win for Boston, which backed the 44-year-old knuckleballer with five home runs in a win over Tampa Bay.
Marco Scutaro(notes) hit two homers and Adrian Beltre(notes), David Ortiz(notes) and Victor Martinez(notes) also connected. Four of the homers were off Matt Garza(notes) (14-8).
Wakefield (4-10) surpassed Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, who was 43 when he got his last win for the Red Sox.
The Rays dropped to 2 1/2 games behind the American League East-leading Yankees. Boston is nine games behind New York.
B.J. Upton(notes) hit a three-run homer for Tampa Bay.
Rangers 8, Blue Jays 1
At Toronto, Ian Kinsler(notes) led off the game with a home run and Derek Holland(notes) won for the first time since mid-May as AL West-leading Texas stopped its losing streak at five games.
Nelson Cruz(notes) also homered for Texas, which had lost seven straight to the Blue Jays since a victory on opening day.
Kinsler hit the 13th leadoff home run of his career and first this season. Cruz launched a two-run drive off the center-field restaurant in the ninth, his 17th.
Jeff Francoeur(notes) added three hits for the Rangers.
Twins 4, Royals 3
At Minneapolis, Brian Duensing(notes) allowed one run and struck out seven batters over eight innings as Minnesota continued an impressive run of success against Kansas City pitcher Zack Greinke(notes) to complete a three-game sweep.
Duensing (8-2) allowed six hits and dropped his ERA to 2.02. J.J. Hardy(notes) homered and Denard Span(notes) added a two-run triple for the Twins, who have won six straight games to take a 5 1/2 -game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.
Greinke (8-12) fell to 0-4 with an 8.18 ERA against the Twins this season. He allowed four runs and five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in eight innings.
The Royals scored twice in the ninth off Matt Capps(notes), but he got pinch-hitter Mitch Maier(notes) to fly out for his 11th save.
Tigers 5, White Sox 1
At Detroit, Jeremy Bonderman(notes) pitched Minnesota Vikings jersey
eight strong innings as Detroit downed Chicago.
Chicago entered the game with a seven-game winning streak, but has been outscored 14-2 by the Tigers over the last two nights, including seven unearned runs.
Bonderman retired the first 10 batters of the game before Omar Vizquel(notes) broke the scoreless tie with his second homer of the season.
Detroit responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of third baseman Mark Teahen’s(notes) second error of the game.
Angels 4, Indians 3, 16 innings
At Anaheim, California, Jeff Mathis(notes) drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 16th for Los Angeles, which got home runs from Mike Napoli(notes) and rookie Peter Bourjos(notes) in the longest game of the season for both teams.
Cleveland rookie Hector Ambriz(notes) (0-2), working his fourth inning of relief, gave up a leadoff double to left-center by Torii Hunter(notes) on the 500th pitch of the game. Hunter advanced on a grounder to first and jogged home after Mathis’ flyball to right.
Matt Palmer(notes) (1-1) pitched three innings of two-hit relief for the victory, striking out the side in the 15th.
Athletics 4, Mariners 3
At Oakland, California, Coco Crisp(notes) homered and drove in three runs, including the go-ahead score in the sixth inning, to help Oakland beat Seattle.
Cliff Pennington(notes) also drove in a run for the A’s, who won their fourth in six games.
Gio Gonzalez(notes) (14-8) matched his career-high fourth straight victory after allowing three runs and six hits Indianapolis Colts jersey
over 6 2-3 innings. He walked two and struck out nine.
Russell Branyan(notes) hit a two-run homer and Matt Tuiasosopo(notes) hit a solo shot for the Mariners, who fell to 6-12 since a three-game winning streak Aug. 17-20.

After winning seven in a row to open a 10-game trip

Some poor overall play lately has caused the Chicago White Sox to slip further back in the AL Central race.
With Gavin Floyd(notes) looking for another strong outing against Detroit, the cheap nfl jerseys
White Sox try to avoid a third straight loss to the Tigers on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.
After winning seven in a row to open a 10-game trip, Chicago (77-62) has been outscored 14-2 while losing two straight at Detroit. The second-place White Sox have totaled 10 hits and yielded seven unearned runs over the last two nights to fall 5 1/2 games behind division-leading Minnesota.
“We know that we are better than we’ve played,” Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. “We’ve got to forget about this, because (Thursday) is now a big game.”
Detroit (70-70) took advantage of Mark Teahen’s(notes) second error of the game to score four times in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s 5-1 victory. The White Sox have committed four errors in the series.
“We’re still upbeat, and we still think we’ve got a chance, but we’ve really shot ourselves in the foot over the last two days,” Wednesday’s loser John Danks(notes) said.
Omar Vizquel(notes) had two hits, including his second homer of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
the season for the White Sox. Both of Vizquel’s home runs have come versus Detroit. The 43-year-old infielder is batting .367 with 10 RBIs in 14 games against the Tigers this season.
After being hit on the hand with a pitch Tuesday, Manny Ramirez(notes) went 0 for 2 Wednesday. He is 0 for 4 over the last two games.
The White Sox hope Floyd (10-11, 3.78 ERA) can further improve on his 5-0 record and 3.20 ERA in 13 starts versus Detroit.
Though the right-hander has not received a decision in his last three starts against the Tigers, he has posted a 1.31 ERA. Floyd allowed one run and struck out eight in six innings of a 7-2 loss to Detroit on June 8.
Floyd has a 2.29 ERA while winning two of his last three starts overall. He gave up a run in six innings of a 3-1 win over Boston on Saturday.
While Floyd looks to remain perfect against the Tigers, Detroit’s Rick Porcello(notes) (8-11, 5.20) will again try for his first win versus Chicago.
The right-hander is 0-4 with an 8.67 ERA in five starts against the White Sox, including 0-3 with an 8.72 ERA in four this season. He is 0-3 versus Chicago at Comerica Park.
Porcello, however, is 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA after going 1-7 with a 5.91 ERA during his previous 11 starts. He allowed four runs in seven innings of a 6-4 win at Kansas City on Saturday.
Brandon Inge(notes) and Alex Avila(notes) each drove in two Indianapolis Colts jersey
runs Wednesday for the Tigers, who have won five of seven. Inge is 4 for 11 with five RBIs in the series.
Detroit could be without slugger Miguel Cabrera(notes) for a second straight game after he sat out with tendinitis in his left shoulder and biceps. Cabrera ranks among the AL leaders with a .333 average, 33 home runs and 110 RBIs.

NFL Betting Week 1: Raiders vs Titans - Vegas NFL Predictions

The Oakland Raiders and the Tennessee Titans will both be looking to go 1-0 on the season when they meet at LP Field on Sunday at 1:00pm EST in a game that can be seen on CBS. Online sportsbooks have the Titans listed as 6-point favorites in NFL betting week 1 odds vs football jersey
the Raiders while the game's over/under total has been listed at 40.5. Heading into week 1 of the regular season, the Raider went 5-11 straight up last season and 8-8 against the spread in Vegas NFL predictions while the Titans went 8-8 straight and a miserable 6-10 against the spread. Oakland went 4-6 last season when playing in September, 4-6 when playing on grass, 4-6 after being out-gained by an opponent and 3-7 when playing outside their division.
Oakland did better than expected in NFL odds for the preseason going 3-1 with wins over the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks but feel to the San Francisco 49ers. Kyle Boller threw for 360-yards with two touchdowns in the preseason while backup Jason Campbell threw 23-41 for 312-yards with no touchdowns. Heading into NFL betting week 1 odds, the Raiders have gone 4-2 straight up in their last 6 games when playing Tennessee, 2-5 straight up in their last 7 games on the road and 4-10 straight up in their last 14 games overall while the over/under total has gone OVER in 4 of Oakland's last 6 games when playing the Titans. Bet the Raiders +6 as underdogs on the road in Vegas NFL predictions vs the Titans with up to a $900 bonus and -105 reduced juice on Friday's.
Super Bowl Odds | NFL Predictions | Live NFL Dallas Cowboys jersey
Odds | Free NFL Picks
The Titans are favored by most sportsbooks to win the AFC South and 2011 Super Bowl but only had a decent preseason heading into NFL betting for week 1 with wins over the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints but lost to the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers. Vince Young threw for 278-yards with one touchdown and one interception heading into week 1 while fantasy star running back Chris Johnson saw limited action with 19 carries for 39-yards and two touchdowns. Last year, the Titans went 6-4 in Vegas NFL predictions when playing in September, 7-3 when playing on grass and 6-4 when playing outside their division. Tennessee went 7-1 straight up last year for their last 8 games when Minnesota Vikings jersey
playing at home against Oakland, 5-1 straight up in their last 6 games at home and 8-2 straight up for their last 10 games overall. Bet the Titans -6 as NFL betting favorites in week 1 odds vs the Raiders with up to 45% in total bonuses and the best parlay payouts in the industry.

Fans’ guide to NFL labor battle

Roger Goodell was in the midst of a leisurely training camp tour last month when the NFL commissioner began experiencing severe labor pains.
Goodell, as part of his weeklong bus trip to seven NFL camps with Hall of nfl jersey
Fame coach and broadcasting icon John Madden, initiated locker-room meetings with players at each stop, and the level of interrogation he faced became increasingly charged as players expressed anxiety and anger over a potential lockout next spring.
At one point in the commissioner’s visit with the Cleveland Browns, linebacker Scott Fujita(notes), a member of the NFL Players Association’s executive committee, asked: “What do the owners want? What’s it going to take to get a deal done?”
“I can’t answer that,” Goodell replied.
“You’re the NFL commissioner,” Fujita shot back. “You’re here as the mouthpiece for the owners, and you can’t even tell us what they want? The CBA [collective bargaining agreement] is up in March. Don’t you think you need to start giving us some answers?”
By the end of his visit with the Browns, players were referring to the league’s chief executive as “Roger the Dodger.” It got worse for Goodell during the final visit of his tour, this stop coming at the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp. According to two sources familiar with the meeting, some Colts players admonished Goodell with swear words, to the point where star quarterback Peyton Manning(notes) was embarrassed by their behavior. Veteran center Jeff Saturday(notes), another executive committee member, cut the meeting short to keep the situation from escalating further.
Welcome to the strange world of the 21st-century NFL, a wildly profitable business in uncertain economic times whose proprietors and employees can’t just get along. With the two sides seemingly headed for a rancorous and incongruous labor showdown next spring, America’s most prosperous and popular sporting enterprise could be walking a fine line between hard-fought progress and shameful self-immolation.
Two years ago, when the owners voted unanimously to opt out of Dallas Cowboys jersey
the current collective bargaining agreement following the 2010 season, it set the stage for a confrontation that could well result in the league’s first work stoppage since 1987. As the deadline for striking a new deal nears – things will likely come to a head on or around March 1 of next year – each camp is preparing for battle on numerous fronts. There has been legal wrangling, political maneuvering, spin-doctoring and economic leveraging by both sides … and much of it has been lost on a blissfully oblivious fan base.
Internal NFLPA studies have shown that only 33 to 40 percent of hardcore NFL fans have the impending labor drama on their radar screens. For everyone else, the prospect of football interrupted – and the potential havoc it could wreak upon everything from video games to fantasy drafts – may come as an unwelcome shock.
As we head into a season that could end with an abrupt dose of harsh reality, here’s a fan’s guide to the labor landscape based on exhaustive research and conversations with owners, NFLPA officials, players, agents and other league insiders.
Which side is forcing the issue?
The owners, particularly a faction of aggressive, entrepreneurial Goodell confidants (Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, Pat Bowlen, Jerry Richardson) who want a CBA that accounts for the high-risk investments they’ve made on new stadiums and other capital expenditures. For the most part, the owners are unified in their belief that they agreed to a lousy deal when the current CBA was extended in 2006, and that the players currently receive too great a share of their adjusted gross revenues. At last March’s NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Fla., the Carolina Panthers’ Richardson gave a fiery speech in which he exhorted his peers to “take back our league” by forcing a more favorable deal down the throats of the players. This is likely to be accomplished in the form of a lockout, though it’s possible that the owners could opt for a milder approach: negotiating to impasse and imposing terms of their choosing, which might compel the players to strike. DeMaurice Smith, the NFLPA’s executive director, is convinced that a lockout is coming, and a majority of his constituents – many of whom are more engaged and informed than is commonly perceived – share this belief.
Are the two sides making any progress toward a new deal?
Not really. Though there have been recent reports ofIndianapolis Colts jersey
an improved atmosphere between the NFL’s management council and the players’ union, there has been no substantial movement toward a new CBA. This may be partly due to the desire of some owners to play hardball and lock out the players until they capitulate; it also may simply be a function of timing. Think of it as akin to negotiations between a team and its first-round draft pick. Though the NFL draft is in late April, talks usually don’t begin to heat up until the approach of training camp, and often the contract isn’t signed until deeper into the offseason. In this case, though the CBA expires after the 2010 season, the real deadline isn’t until a year from now, when there’s a risk that games will be lost.

Recently released Nate Davis joins 49ers practice squad

But the point has rarely been illustrated so vividly as it was this week. Consider the case of Nate Davis, 23, who can throw a pigskin to Pleasanton but, with his services available for more than 24 hours, could only inspire yawns from 31 NFL teams.
Davis, the 49ers’ former third-string quarterback who nfl throwback jerseys
was waived by the club Monday, cleared waivers and was signed to the team’s practice squad Wednesday. He can still be signed at any time by a team willing to put him on its active roster. The 49ers released undrafted rookie quarterback Jarrett Brown to make room for Davis on the eight-man practice squad.
The 6-foot-1, 226-pound Davis wowed a segment of the fan base during the preseason with his Howitzer arm. But he underwhelmed coach Mike Singletary with his work ethic and grasp of the offense. In the NFL, those are clearly qualities that can make even the most physically gifted signal-caller practice-squad material.
Even the Seahawks, who have signed or traded for three 49ers this summer, didn’t make a claim for Davis, whose agent, Joel Segal, did not return a phone message Wednesday. Seattle, which has former Niners general manager Scot McCloughan in its front office, has only two quarterbacks on its active roster.
In an effort to find a third-stringer who could push backup David Carr, the 49ers signed four-year veteran Troy Smith on Monday. Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, was released by the Ravens on Saturday.
“It’s fairly simple,” Singletary said Wednesday morning before Davis cleared waivers. “I think right now if we had to go into a game with Nate Davis, right now it would be a difficult situation for us. It would be tough. We do have David Carr, but I wanted the guy who is Minnesota Vikings jersey
the third quarterback, I really wanted him to be able to compete with the number two, and right now that is not the case.
“Hopefully we’re able to keep Nate Davis and he will be our practice-squad quarterback, but if it doesn’t work out, then I feel it was a risk worth taking to get the player we did, so that’s why.”
If Smith, 26, wasn’t already aware of Singletary’s expectations for his quarterbacks, it didn’t take him long to find out.
“(Singletary) made that clear to me as soon as I got here that he wants workers,” said Smith, who played at Ohio State with Niners wide receiver Ted Ginn and offensive tackle Alex Boone. “... There were a couple of different things (he said), but obviously, first and foremost, work hard.”
As for Carr, he earned lukewarm reviews from Singletary during the preseason. And the nine-year veteran wasn’t surprised to learn he’ll face competition to maintain his second-string spot. Carr expressed confidence that he’ll maintain his backup role.
“I look at it this way,” Carr said, “if I perform the way I know I can, if I prepare the way I know I can, I shouldn’t have to worry about any of that stuff. That’s just how I go about it and it’s worked out pretty good.”
Carr, the starter for five years in Houston, knows a little about what it takes to run an NFL offense. He praised Davis’ ability, saying he’s seen quarterbacks with less talent win Super Bowls.
But was he shocked when he learned Davis had been released this week? C’mon, Carr’s smile seemed to suggest, this is the NFL.
“Nothing surprises me any more, honestly,” Carr said before Davis cleared waivers. “I know how they felt about him. I know that they liked him. I know that he had unbelievable talent. It’s just things that each player has to work through. It’s not all about throwing the football. It’s about running the team and getting the guys to believe in you. You’ve got a lot of guys that are depending on you to do well and you want to make sure that you know your stuff.”
EXTRA POINTS
QB Alex Smith was named the team’s newest captain Wednesday. Smith joins holdovers Justin Smith, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes and Eric Heitmann as team captains. Singletary, who had the lone vote in naming Smith a captain, said it was an acknowledgment of the quarterback’s commitment during the offseason. Smith said the new title wouldn’t dramatically alter his status in the locker room.
“It doesn’t necessarily change anything about how Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
guys view you or your role on the team,” he said. “I mean, you get the ‘C’ on your chest.”
LB Diyral Briggs was limited in practice after being diagnosed with a concussion after last week’s final preseason game against San Diego. Briggs was held out of contact drills.
CB Will James (ankle), LB Ahmad Brooks (lacerated kidney), C Eric Heitmann (fibula), WR Kyle Williams (toe) will not play in Sunday’s season opener at Seattle. Singletary said RB Brian Westbrook (hamstring) would play.

Broncos full of questions on offense

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—Josh McDaniels set out to renovate his offensive line and rejuvenate his running backs corps this season.
An injury epidemic at Dove Valley has left both groups in a state of flux.
When the Denver Broncos open their season Sunday at football jerseys
Jacksonville, they could feature three players on the offensive line taking their first NFL snaps while blocking for a backfield of backups.
“Nobody is going to put the season on hold for us until we get ready to go,” McDaniels said Tuesday. “We’ll try to practice as much as we can with the group that’s going to play on Sunday.”
If right tackle Ryan Harris’(notes) sprained left ankle doesn’t heal fast enough, the Broncos’ starting offensive line looks like it will include first-year pro Stanley Daniels(notes), who has been cut four times, at left guard and rookies J.D. Walton(notes) at center and Zane Beadles(notes) at right tackle.
“Those are question marks to people outside the locker room but not concerns for us,” right guard Chris Kuper(notes) insisted. “We have confidence in everybody here.”
Walton shrugged off the notion of having too many green guys getting their first taste of the NFL all at once: “You have to take your first snap sometime,” he said.
Even the veteran O-line starters—Kuper (ankle) and All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady(notes) (knee)—spent much of camp in the trainer’s room. Clady returned to action last week, less than six months after blowing out his left knee.
Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy insisted he won’t be dialing anything back Sunday, though.
“We’ve got a system in place that we’re going to use and a style of Minnesota Vikings jersey
offense that we’re going to run regardless of who’s in the game,” he said.
If Knowshon Moreno(notes) isn’t fully recovered from his right hamstring injury, which he injured Aug. 1, Correll Buckhalter(notes), who carried just three times in the preseason, could get the start.
Newcomer Andre Brown(notes) is down with turf toe and Lance Ball(notes) was absent from the start of practice Tuesday for undisclosed reasons.
“I’ve got to get past that phase where I’m hesitant,” Moreno said before practice. “What I’ve got to do now is test it out and see how it holds up. I’m not going to be hesitant. I’m going to go for it.”
Moreno also missed most of last year’s camp with a knee injury and never seemed to find a rhythm, although McDaniels has pinned the blame for his short-yardage failures on the old offensive line.
Brown, who was awarded to Denver off waivers from the Giants, and tight end Dan Gronkowski(notes), who was acquired from Detroit, practiced with their new teammates for the first time Tuesday.
“I consider myself a pretty intelligent guy but it’s going to take some time no matter what or no matter how smart you are,” Gronkowski said after thumbing through the play book.
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas(notes), the team’s top draft pick, practiced Tuesday for just the second time since injuring his left foot during an Aug. 7 scrimmage, but he said he’s not sure when he’ll be ready to play again.
Against this backdrop of uncertainty, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” was one of the songs that blared over the Broncos’ practice field. Trouble could very well be on the way for the Broncos’ patchwork offense in the form of the Jaguars’ formidable front seven on Sunday.
Notes: The Broncos signed DL Kevin Vickerson(notes) (6-5, 335) and released DL LeKevin Smith. Vickerson spent the last three seasons in Tennessee before being traded to Seattle, which released him over the weekend. … McDaniels said one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make was putting NFL sacks leader Elvis Dumervil(notes) on IR with a torn chest muscle but that it was best for the sackmaster’s career not to hold out hope of a return this season. … Jason Hunter(notes), signed Aug. 19, has won Dallas Cowboys jersey
the starting job at WOLB ahead of Jarvis Moss(notes), although McDaniels said they’ll rotate. … McDaniels said the competition continues between Tim Tebow(notes) and Brady Quinn(notes) to be the No. 2 QB and a decision won’t be made until Sunday “based on how we’re going to play the game” and how they do at practice this week

Houshmandzadeh: Move to Ravens ‘refreshing’

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)—T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes) is embracing his change of scenery with the Baltimore Ravens after officially signing his one-year, $855,000 contract Tuesday.
Cut by the Seattle Seahawks’ new regime led by Pete Carroll nfl jerseys
one year after signing a five-year, $40 million contract, Houshmandzadeh has gone from a rebuilding franchise to a Super Bowl contender.
“It’s refreshing, man, to go from the situation I was in and come here,” Houshmandzadeh said. “It’s hard to explain because you always want to be optimistic and I’m an optimistic person at times, but it’s hard to be optimistic when you know what you’re going against. I’m coming to play with guys that are similar to me emotionally, the way they play the game and how they love the game. That’s where I need to be.”
The Ravens signed the 2007 Pro Bowl selection after trading wide receiver Mark Clayton(notes) to the St. Louis Rams.
Houshmandzadeh, 32, is intent on proving that he has a lot more Indianapolis Colts jersey
football left in him after catching 79 passes last season for 911 yards and three touchdowns.
And he wants to prove the Seahawks made a mistake by releasing him last weekend. Seattle still owes him $7 million in guaranteed money for this year.
“Me not being there, I can promise you had nothing to do with football,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Nobody on that team beat me out. If they’re honest with themselves, they know that. If you watch practice, it’s obvious. For whatever reason, they did what they did. I’m not going to get to throwing rocks because I just don’t want to.”
Houshmandzadeh has caught 586 career passes for 6,693 yards and 40 touchdowns. He ranks third in the NFL in receptions (451), first downs (283) and is tied for ninth in touchdowns (35) and 12th in yards (4,995) since 2005.
“You guys will see what I can do,” Houshmandzadeh said. “I kind of got disappointed with what happened in Seattle for real. I know I can play. I know I can get it done. They know I can get it done. I don’t really want to comment on it because it makes me really upset, but it happened.”
Houshmandzadeh expressed confidence that everyone will remain happy as far as how the workload is distributed between himself and fellow receivers Anquan Boldin(notes) and Derrick Mason(notes).
“As long as you win, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “Do I want the ball? Of Minnesota Vikings jersey
course. And I’m sure they feel the same way. As long as you win games, it doesn’t matter who gets the glory or who’s getting the ball, because at the end of the day, everybody benefits when you win. I’m sure each of us will play a part in different games of playing the hero so to speak.”

Bucs QB Freeman (thumb) expects to start Sunday

The Bucs got good news just five days before their season opener against the Browns. Starting QB Josh Freeman(notes) practiced for the first time since breaking his right (throwing) thumb and expects to play on Sunday.
Freeman, a second-year player out of cheap nfl jerseys
Kansas State, banged his right thumb on the helmet of a pass rusher in a preseason game against the Chiefs on Aug. 21. In practice Tuesday, Freeman did not wear a bandage or protective splint on the thumb.
Freeman doesn't fear reinjuring the hand. "I won't be Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
thinking about it," he said.
This also gives him time to continue acquainting himself with rookie WRs Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn(notes). The Bucs went 3-13 in 2009 and ranked 24th in the league in passing yards per game.