jackky's Blog

quotIt was one of those old-fashioned sl


From Kristie Rieken from the A sociated Pre s:

HOUSTON (AP) The Yankees blew an earlier six-run lead on Saturday from the Astros. Then they put their heads down and got to work.

Brian McCann hit a great slam and Chris Young homered to provide New York an early lead, and Mark Teixeira had a tiebreaking two-run double within the eighth following the Yankees squandered that cushion inside a 9-6 win.

It was one of those old-fashioned slugfests, Teixeira said. Whoever was going to get the succe s after the game would win, so we Philly Brown Jersey did.

McCanns slam arrived the first. A two-run shot by Young, a Houston native, that extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games, in the second off Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer place the Yankees up 6-0.

Oberholtzer was ejected with one out in the second inning for throwing at Alex Rodriguez and also the Astros got going on offense next. Chris Carter and George Springer each drove inside a run within the second before Carter homered in the fourth to chop it to 6-3.

Oberholtzer was optioned to Triple-A Fresno following the game.

Both managers were unhappy with Oberholtzers actions.

I think its a child getting frustrated, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. I definitely think he threw at Alex. You dont need to see that. Weve seen it before and you just move on.

When asked if Oberholtzer was sent down because of the incident, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said it played a job in the move, but that they also needed another arm in the bullpen for Sundays game.

We dont operate that way, we wont operate this way, Hinch said. Its not really a reflection of anybody around here, including Obie.

Oberholtzer denied intentionally throwing at Rodriguez and thinks the problem Jim Kelly Jersey escalated due to his superstar status.

Rookie Carlos Correa hit a two-run homer in the fifth and Jose Altuve connected around the next at-bat to tie up.

Brett Gardner walked to begin the eighth before Young reached on the fielders choice and Gardner advanced to second with an error by Altuve. Houston challenged the call at second, however it was upheld. Teixeira then doubled off Pat Neshek (3-1) with one in the inning to put New York back on the top.

Chasen Shreve (5-1) got the last two outs from the seventh inning for that win and Dellin Betances threw a scorele s ninth for his sixth save.

Chase Headleys solo homer off Tony Sipp within the ninth pushed the lead to 9-6.

Correa, the very best pick within the 2012 draft, had three hits and finished a triple shy from the cycle.

Masahiro Tanaka had another tough start after tying career highs in hits (10) and runs (seven) and allowing a personal-worst three home runs in his last start. On Kolby Listenbee Jersey Saturday, he again gave up three homers while yielding seven hits and six runs in five innings.

I just consider it as a rough start and weve got to iron it out, Girardi said. Well get it fixed. We all know what hes able to do.

Springer walked with no outs in the fifth before Correa hit his fifth homer to obtain Houston to 6-5.

Altuve connected off Tanaka two pitches later, launching an 84 mph slider into the Crawford Boxes in left field to tie up.

Oberholtzers day quickly went wrong. Gardner hit a leadoff double before consecutive walks by Young and Rodriguez loaded the bases. McCanns one-out shot landed in Max Valles Jersey the second deck in right field to really make it 4-0.

Gardner doubled with one out in the second before Youngs 10th homer pushed the lead to 6-0.

Oberholtzers next pitch was inside on Rodriguez on and A-Rod jumped taken care of to avoid being hit. Oberholtzer was immediately ejected as Rodriguez stood at the plate together with his hand on his left hip and Girardi held back pitcher CC Sabathia as he came out of the dugout yelling at Oberholtzer and both dugouts were warned.

Oberholtzer stomped to the dugout where he threw his glove from the wall and knocked over some paper cups in anger. He allowed four hits, six runs and walked three in the shortest start of season.

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: RHP Scott Feldman, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on May 29, faced a few hitters throwing from the mound on Saturday and manager A.J. Hinch said he looked good. Hinch said hell do a more aggre sive live bullpen se sion in a couple of days. OF Colby Rasmus was scratched in the lineup with a skin infection, but Hinch said he should Ikemefuna Enemkpali Jersey return Sunday.

Yankees: CF Jacoby Ellsbury, out since May 19 having a sprained right knee, was at Houston on Saturday to work out therefore the team can gauge wheres hes at in his recovery. Girardi said hell work out on Sunday before they determine if hes ready for a rehabilitation a signment.

UP NEXT

New Yorks Michael Pineda (8-4) looks to bounce back after struggling in the last start when he opposes Collin McHugh (8-3) in the finale from the series. Pineda allowed 11 hits and eight runs both career highs in a lo s to Philadelphia on Monday. McHugh has won two consecutively.

A sociated Pre s photos


Watch Kevin Harvick punches Jimmie Johns


Clearly, Kevin Harvick wasn't happy about his 42nd-place finish in Sunday's Sprint Cup race in Chicagoland, and yes Travaris Cadet Jersey it had also been pretty obvious thathe blamedsix-time Cup championJimmie Johnson correctly.

When Johnson attended Harvicks motorhome Sunday to talk against each other, he been for a while getting punched from the chest.

MORE: Must-see photos from Chicago | Hamlin wins| Earnhardt frustrated with start

Moments before their confrontation, Harvick, who began the pole,had climbed from his damaged car the results of contact by Johnson with a restart with 130 laps to travel andstopped briefly to resolve a few from reporters (via USA Today).

I just held my line and the 48 just slammed towards the side of my door, Harvick said within the controversial restart. That was mostly it.

Further down pit road, though, Johnson said he was shoved by JoeyLogano and had to travel to the actual in avoiding Harvick and was needed to get back together by means of the track.

He didnt leave me any space. He was pinning me down, plus i wanted Kenny Stills Jersey to get back via the track," Johnson said. "I wouldnt mention that what he did was different than other situations Ive visited individuals.When Jairus Byrd Jersey about his position, you would want to discover the inside car within a bad angle so they really need to lift. I got fine with lifting, however been required to return to the race track, and so i worked my sources that are on the track.

NASCAR Executive V . p . Steve ODonnell said Monday morning that Harvick might not be penalized for your incident.

That is emotion appearing if your stakes really are good for the Chase, ODonnell said on Sirius/XM's "Morning Drive" show.Weve have a reigning champion who finds himself inside of a tough spot really trying to win (to transfer), to make sure you see the frustration. You dont enjoy visiting how it happened, but in our standpoint thats just pure emotion in the event the stakes are high and learning important it is to get out and win a championship.

Harvick, the defending champion,dropped 11 spots to last (16th) while in the Vonn Bell Jersey Chase standings and really should produce strong finishes over the following two races to safely move to your second round of this Chase.Johnson finished 11th in the race and is particularly seventh within Don Jones Jersey the standings.

Denny Hamlinpa sedKurt Buschwith five laps pay a visit to win themyAFibRisk400.com, the outlet race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Johnson finished 11th.

NowHarvick has two races to recoup a puncher's chancein the Chase. His goal? "Win," he explained.

Harvick's wife, DeLana, summed up the emotions of her husband and the team inside of a tweet Monday morning.


Rick Ankiel8217s Epic Contact Problems


Rick Ankiels season began in about the perfect fashion. With the Astros keeping a 4-2 add Opening Day, Ankiel was sent as much as hit for Brandon Barnes towards the bottom of the sixth inning. Derek Lowe threw him a meatball, and he responded by hitting said meatball 373 feet, adequate for a three run homer that would e sentially place the game away. Its difficult to do a lot better than that in your first at-bat of the season.

Since that at-bat, though, things haven Arie Kouandjio Jersey t gone very well. Heres Ankiels play log for that 2013 season.

DatePitcherInn.Play31-MarD Lowe6-BRick Ankiel homered (Fly). Justin Maxwell scored. Matt Dominguez scored.31-MarJ Ortiz8-BRick Ankiel struck out swinging.2-AprY Darvish2-BRick Ankiel struck out swinging.2-AprY Darvish5-BRick Ankiel lined to first (Liner).2-AprY Darvish8-BRick Ankiel struck out looking.3-AprA Ogando2-BRick Ankiel struck out swinging.3-AprA Ogando5-BRick Ankiel struck out looking.5-AprD Straily2-BRick Ankiel struck out swinging.5-AprD Straily5-BRick Ankiel struck out swinging.5-AprD Straily7-BRick Ankiel struck out swinging.5-AprE Scribner9-BRick Ankiel struck out looking.7-AprE Scribner9-BRick Ankiel struck out swinging.8-AprJ Saunders6-TRick Ankiel struck out swinging.8-AprC Furbush8-TRick Ankiel struck out swinging.

Yes, thats 12 strikeouts in 14 plate appearances, including each of his last 10. But, as Jeff noted this morning, a strikeout isnt always the batters fault. Maybe Ankiel just gotten screwed by Robert Griffin III Jersey an epic collusion of bad calls and/or amazing framing?

Via TexasLeaguers PITCHF/x tool, here are the pitches Ankiel has taken for strikes this season:

Well, there's one which he looks like they got jobbed on the bit. Obviously, theres also one that looks more within the zone than out that got called a ball, so no, theres no umpires or catchers responsible here. Instead, the culprit lies solely with Ankiel.

For the season, Rick Ankiel has made contact with just 35.5% from the pitches he's swung at, which isn't surprisingly the worst mark in baseball. But, thats not the astounding number here. The shocking number is Ankiels contact rate on pitches in the strike zone, which currently stands at just 37.5%. How low is the fact that? Well, heres a plot of each and every hitter with at least 10 plate appearances in 2013, and their respective Z-Contact%. See if you're able to spot the outlier.

Even in a sample, multiplication between your best and worst (non-Ankiel division) hitters on in-zone contact is pretty small, because this is the skill that Major League position players are e sentially selected on. Or, at least, in zone contact rate is a pretty good proxy for your skill. Theres some variation allowed for power, Logan Paulsen Jersey and that's why the thing is guys like Mark Reynolds down at 66%, but Major League hitters are expected to hit pitches within the strike zone more often than they mi s them. Actually, theyre expected to hit them a great majority of the time.

The lowest Z-Contact% of 2012 among batters who were permitted to hit even 100 times was 71%, owned by Brett Jackson from the Cubs. Hes starting the season back in Triple-A, incidentally. The second lowest belonged to Jim Thome, at 72% hes involuntarily unemployed, as no team saw fit to give him a roster spot again. We must see the third lowest Z-Contact% of 2012 before we discover a person who is actually within the big leagues now, and thats Chris Carter at 75%. Needle s to say, theres a lower bound at which teams will no longer accept further contact i sues, even in an effort to get additional power.

You will have to double Ankiels current Z-Contact% in order to get him near that lower bound.

How astonishingly bad has this stretch been? Well, to put it in context, I made a decision to check out the Z-Contact% for every season since 2008, only for pitchers. This may be the cla s of Major League players that aren't selected for his or her hitting skills. How have they done swinging at strikes?

Since 2008, there have been 611 pitcher hitting seasons of at least 10 plate appearances. Heres the graph of the Z-Contact% for those 611 data points, along with Ankiels 2013 season to date.

Even in tiny sample sizes, even among a category of players who are chosen for skills other than hitting a baseball, Ankiels numbers stand out. Actually, just one of those 611 pitcher hitting seasons led to a le ser in-zone contact rate than Ankiels current 37.5%. His savior? Jo-Jo Reyes, back in 2009. In 11 plate appearances, he made contact on just 30.8% from the strikes he swung at. Which is incredible, because in 2008, Reyes made contact on 96.0% from the strikes he swung Jerrell Powe Jersey at, in 34 plate appearances. While his 2009 months are the worst Z-Contact% of any pitcher hitting season since 2008, his 2008 season was actually the 23rd best. So, yeah, Jo-Jo Reyes, reminder of methods much numbers even highly stable ones can fluctuate in samples of a dozen plate appearances.

Given time, Ankiels contact rate will regre s to the mean. His career mark is 82%, and he came in at 77% last year, just clearing the bar for minimally acceptable rate of contact on strikes. I wonder, though, whether Ankiel is ever going to have that time. The Rangers need to make a decision on Julio Borbons roster spot today, and also the Mariners have until tomorrow to determine how to handle Casper Wells after they DFAd him prior Nate Sudfeld Jersey to the season started. Its not hard to determine either or both Wells and Borbon ending up in Houston, and Ankiels brutal start to the season could put him in front from the line for cuts should they decide they need a roster destination to new outfielder.

Given that hes now 33, would be a replacement level outfielder last year, and any scout who has watched him during the first week of the season is going to have filed a really negative set of his current skills, this might be the final we ever see of Rick Ankiel. If it's, at least hes going out with a bang.


CHONE 038 Marcel Projections


Both Tom Tango and Chone Smith were both kind enough to let me post their 2007 player projections.

The Marcel (the Monkey Brian Randolph Jersey ) Forecasts are the minimum level of competence that you should expect from any forecaster. You can see exactly how theyre computed here: Marcel Methodology.

Chone Smith, however, has place a considerable time and effort into his CHONE Projections. You can see much more about his projection system and efforts here: Chone Projections.

There are two a few things Bryce Hager Jersey i should write down: I have used the FanGraphs positions for filtering by position where we have the player within our database. There exist several minor league players Rodger Saffold Jersey in CHONE that arent in our database (yet) and for their positions we use those supplied in CHONEs original file. And for that Marcels, Isaiah Johnson Jersey we took the typical of projected earned runs and base runs-earned runs and used that to display ER. This was how ERA was calculated within the original file anyway.

While Im in internet marketing, there have been a few excellent discu sions of projection systems recently:

The Hardball Times David Ga sko did five part, Projection Roundtable, II, III, IV, V.

And Tom Tango recently asked Whos Smarter Than the usual Monkey? followed by an insightful discu sion in Marqui Christian Jersey the comments.


More than solely the motor car needs wor


NASCAR hopes to finally hop on track Wednesday to finalize its 2014 Sprint Cup Series rules package, one manufactured to create better racing on intermediate tracks.

Nothing gets using the skin of NASCAR bra s beyond the concept of boring racing and rightfully so. Although they are not every race can be dramatic, nothing is wrong with wishing to use the most suitable show per week.

The top priority for the company have to be its product, so your fact NASCAR is attempting to better its strategy is certainly what's right to carry out. But better racing on intermediate tracks is only 1 area that NASCAR really should improve for pick up. NASCAR officials realise that as they definitely pursue to work to fulfill their "industry method," created to generate new tips to improve the sport.

Heres a review five key areas NASCAR should concentrate on over the next 365 days:

Sponsor retention and engagement

The teams rely upon sponsorship in order to race. So creating value for sponsors important ingredient to a Leroy Kelly Jersey succe sful NASCAR.

NASCAR is required to still find tips on how to make sponsors want to be portion of the sport. Creating new and cost-effective strategies to sponsors to activate at NASCAR events is e sential. Sponsorship isnt as important to NASCAR Steve Williams Jersey as it is often with the tracks especially on the race teams, so anything NASCAR is capable of to fund research that shows motorola roi (the ultra-modern engagement center is an effective start) could be worthwhile. Furthermore, it must avoid duplicate courting of sponsors that seem to be picked up teams and manage the tracks and avoid any hurdles in activation by sponsors thanks to a conflict using a NASCAR or track sponsor.

NASCAR need to evaluate new venues, including street courses, which will generate excitement plus the younger following that advertisers covet.

WiFi connectivity

Both International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc. have mentioned increasing wirele s connectivity.

Anything NASCAR are capable of doing to push that along quicker has to be huge gain. NASCAR should even consider giving tracks a sanction fee discount a suming they reach a threshold of digital capability.

The experience for race fans is extremely enhanced with tweeting and texting and putting photos on Facebook and Instagram, that good WiFi will a sist your entire industry. The more often engaged the fans are, the greater invested they are simply inside sport.

That also returns to sponsor value. In cases where a sponsor did a campaign and fans can tweet or post photos regarding it, the better the sponsor will see the quality. In case fans cant use their mobile phone devices as a result of connectivity i sues, that opportunity to make the most of the second sheds.

More SAFER Barriers

NASCAR and then the tracks did what's right when John Urschel Jersey tracks began installing SAFER Barriers A decade ago. Installed them with the most needed spots the turns at all the tracks.

With the charges involved (approximately $500 12 inches), it made sense to do a component to every track, covering the highest variety of accidents.

But then tracks didnt carry the the second step. Many were reactive in lieu of proactive, just putting new barriers constantly in place after accidents determined these were nece sary.

A plan need to be put in place to include SAFER (Steel-and-foam energy reduction) Barriers from the remaining parts Ronnie Hillman Jersey of tracks. It seemed a bit short-sighted that Daytona didnt add them whenever they did the repaving, which could appear to have been a main opportunity.

Driver development

Incentive programs for sponsors to partner with younger talent in the development series should really be considered lots of potential Cup drivers dont grab the funding to show themselves.

NASCAR might also want to limit the influence of Cup drivers and Cup teams over the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. A motorist in Nationwide who finishes fifth through 10th every week behind the Cup-loaded teams likely wont receive the funding required to continue up via the ladder.

NASCAR has an incredible amount of talent surfacing but arent winning enough within the Nationwide level build awarene s. Just getting there where sponsorship definitely seems to be as a minimum $5 million for your full, solid Nationwide ride is difficult.

The sanctioning system is doing a good job reading good of the top stars ready for the spotlight through its NASCAR Next Reggie Wayne Jersey program plus in seeking to have those drivers relate to younger viewers, neverthele s the bottom line is the funding due to these young drivers is amazingly limited.

Monitor impact of Fox Sports 2

NASCAR ought to guarantee its fans have acce s to on-track activity. It becomes nice if everything is usually streamed online however it is not.

With a significant portion of practice and qualifying on Fox Sports 2, a channel that fewer people get as opposed to former Speed Channel, NASCAR must have to guarantee its avid fans are being serviced on a weekly basis.

If NASCAR would keep having programming with a network that's area of or even a sports tier that costs even more than basic cable, it runs raise the risk alienating its core group of fans.


Manny Pacquiao Floyd Mayweather break ca


Perform Media gathers the daily headlines and updates fromManny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. given that the fightersprepare because of their super bout on Saturday in Sin city. Formal ceremonies are scheduled for Tuesday beforethe boxers meet face-to-face with the formal mediaconference Wednesday at4 p.m. The weigh-in is established for3 p.m. Friday. The pay-per-view broadcast begins at 9 p.m. Saturday aided by the top level expected would Chris Ivory Jersey need . 11 p.m.

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. happen to be education in Chicago for the last month and a half, courting celebrities, conducting interviews and promoting their super fight scheduled Darryl Roberts Jersey for Saturday. On Monday, both Pacquiao and Mayweather underwent a last walkthrough before breaking down camp and beginning the 270-mile or sotrek to Las vegas nevada.

MORE: Fight information| Five best Pacquiao fights | Fighters to 'beat' Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather

Monday for Mayweatherstarted if we do teaser and ended ina visit fromGladys Knight. Around, he took toMayweather Boxing Club environmentally friendly . here we are at any workout before commencing his tripto Vegas.

Before leaving, Pacquiaoand trainer Freddie Roachaddre sed reporters by using an update on his strategy for taking onMayweather.

"I'm probably not wanting a knock-out,"Pacquiao said. Bilal Powell Jersey "We're not looking for only a knock-out, except for throwing a whole lot of punches, and as well ensuring every round, we're ahead on points."

"Manny is punching real hard," Roach said, "but I'd prefer him to outscore (Mayweather) in each round. I do think we're able to win Tim Tebow Jersey a 12-round decision. You should throw a plethora of punches. ...I think Mayweather may come following us. Hopefully he does. We're ready."

ARUM: 'Joke' to match Mayweather with Ali

Though he probably will not present for the MGM Grand reception,Pacquiao willhost afree fan rallyat his hotel further to the Vegas strip. The big event will comprise of Pacquiao, Roach, promoter Bob Arum, adviser Michael Koncz and a sistant trainer Buboy Fernandez.

"Instead, we'll have a big ballroom, all roped off," Arum said of this event."We'll all be there and we'll po se s the rally and afterwards we'll go along with selected pre s to remain with us and answer their questions. ...We'll have Filipino music and entertainment. Manny will be to view Ben Ijalana Jersey the fans. It will likely be pleasant extremely organized."


Philadelphia newspaper calls for popes h


The Eagles have stumbled a powerful 0-2 start regarding who the winner, after Sundays ugly 20-10 lo s at-home Reggie Gilbert Jersey on the Cowboys, every Philly fan thinks they've already the reply to the teams woes. Fire Chip Kelly. Run DeMarco Murray more.

The Philadelphia Daily News thinks Max McCaffrey Jersey big, seeking the help of a greater power. A much higher power.

MORE: John Crockett Jersey Contenders or pretenders? | The genuine causef the Eagles can't run the ball

The paper obviously hopes the top of the company's Monday i sue, and itsplea towards Pope, Dear Francis: Our busine s is clearly needing divine intervention, reaches him before his stay in Philadelphia later this week.

Its not Jhurrell Pressley Jersey the very first time Eagles fans have sought after Pope Francishelp. In August, fans started a petition asking the popeto ble s Jordan Tripp Jersey the knees of oft-injured quarterback Sam Bradford.


The Brewing Dispute over Alex Rodriguez8


When reports emerged in January the Yankees were intending to contest the house run milestone bonus agreement the team entered with Alex Rodriguez in 2007, it was unclear set up matter would ever actually come to a head. Following a season-long suspension for performance enhancing drug use, no one knew without a doubt whether Rodriguez would even result in the Yankees opening day roster, let alone get enough playing time to hit the six home runs nece sary to tie Willie Mays at 660 (triggering the very first of 5 potential $6 million milestone bonuses underneath the 2007 agreement).

Rodriguez, of course, made the team and ended up hitting his 660th career homer on Friday evening in Boston. Consequently, attention has once more focused on whether the Yankees have any realistic hope of escaping the milestone bonus agreement.

As I noted in January, since the bonus agreement has not been released publicly, it is not easy to completely a se s the Yankees likelihood of escaping the $6 Andrew Adams Jersey million payment. However, neverthele s there is still much that we dont know of the contract, recent developments have shed some additional light around the legal arguments the Yankees will likely depend on when attemping to avoiding paying Rodriguez underneath the agreement.

Following Rodriguezs 660th home run on Friday, the Yankees publicly confirmed for the first time the team didn't plan to pay Rodriguez an added bonus for that milestone. Brian Cashman, the Yankees gm, told reporters on Saturday that the team didn't believe it was obligated to pay Rodriguez under the terms of the 2007 agreement.

It appears that the Yankees position is dependant on one provision in the milestone agreement in particular, a clause that was revealed over the past weekend during a game broadcast on the YES network. Specifically, the contract reportedly states that:

It may be the sole discretion of the Ny Yankees to determine whether all these milestones is commercially marketable because the homer chase. The Yankees have the right, although not the duty, to determine whether its a commercially marketable milestone.

In short, the bonus agreement would appear to give the Yankees the authority to decide if you should designate each one of the specified home run thresholds like a milestone. So, from the teams perspective, if the Yankees elect not to declare Rodriguezs 660th home run a milestone, then the team doesn't have to pay him the $6 million bonus.

This revelation certainly strengthens the Yankees case. Whether or not this ultimately turns out to be enough to win a potential grievance, however, remains uncertain.

As a preliminary matter, as the provision does indicate that the Yankees po se s the sole discretion to determine whether to designate a particular home run as a milestone, the clause does not allow the team to apply whatever standard it might choose when creating that call. Instead, as Michael McCann recently noted at SI.com (in a piece that is really worth reading), the phrase commercially marketable is comparatively well defined legally, with courts holding that an opportunity should be thought about commercially marketable if it carries the prospect of considerable sales with the po sibility of an income.

The key question under this provision, then, is if the Yankees could reasonably conclude that the advertising campaign dedicated to Rodriguezs 660th home run wouldn' Devin Unga Jersey t carry the potential of turning a profit. And while the contract provides the team the sole discretion to create this determination, the Yankees must act in good faith when exercising this discretion.

Along these lines, Rodriguez could reason that the Yankees decision to not designate his 660th home run a milestone wasn't made in good faith, but was instead wrongly intended to punish him for his prior conduct (may it be his PED suspension, his decision to sue the teams doctor for malpractice, or something else). Rodriguez could a sert, for example, that the fact that the Yankees have been preparing for months to contest the milestone bonus itself shows that they was acting in bad faith.

If the team was genuinely Corey Webster Jersey trying to decide in good faith whether his 660th homer could be commercially marketable, Rodriguez could contend, then the Yankees might have waited to see how fans taken care of immediately him once he returned to the field. Indeed, considering that Yankees fans gave Rodriguez a comparatively warm reception on opening day as well as the significant media attention the 660th homer generated he is able to plausibly reason that the milestone was more marketable than the Yankees allege.

It is also po sible, obviously, the team revealed a poor faith motive for that decision to not designate the home run as a milestone during a number of its communications with Rodriguez. If so, these statements provides further support to the argument that the team wasn't acting in good faith.

Beyond the i sue of excellent faith, Rodriguez may also a sert that the history of the milestone bonus agreement undercuts the Yankees interpretation from the contract. When Rodriguez would be a free agent back in 2007, he and also the Yankees had originally negotiated some performance bonuses directly a sociated with Rodriguez surpa sing various homer marks.

Major League Baseball refused to approve the agreement, however, citing league rules prohibiting teams from awarding players bonuses for on-field accomplishments (as opposed to MVP awards, etc.). Consequently, the parties instead recharacterized the bonus provisions as a marketing agreement, using the Yankees compensating Rodriguez for the use of his name and image as opposed to the designated home run milestones themselves in any related marketing campaigns.

So Rodriguez may potentially argue that the real intent of the parties was not to give the Yankees the discretion to determine if you should market his 660th homer, but instead only to reward him for reaching each of the designated milestones. And while this sort of negotiating history normally would not trump the plain language of the contract inside a court of law, any dispute in this instance could be resolved by an arbitrator, not a judge. So it is po sible albeit rather unlikely this historical context could persuade an arbitrator to exercise a greater amount of discretion in this instance and rule in Rodriguezs favor.

Even then, though, the Yankees may likely reason that Rodriguez is effectively attempting to transform what has been clearly designated like a marketing agreement into the sort of performance bonuses prohibited by MLB. They would thus contend the arbitrator cannot interpret the agreement in a way that will render it an immediate violation of league rules. This might somewhat be enough to convince the arbitrator to rule in the Yankees favor on the matter.

Finally, it's also entirely po sible that there's other, yet-to-be-disclosed language in the bonus agreement that supports Rodriguezs position. Sources Cole Farrand Jersey within the Major League Baseball Players A sociation have reportedly suggested that such language does in fact exist and helps strengthen Rodriguezs case.

So it is still too early to predict who would win if Rodriguez elects to challenge the Yankees decision. In line with the contractual language released to date, however, it would appear that they has a stronger basis to avoid make payment on milestone bonus than might have initially seemed to be the case.

Moving forward, the bonus agreement reportedly gives the Yankees two weeks following Rodriguezs 660th home run to determine whether or not to officially declare it a milestone. A suming that the team does, actually, elect not to designate the house run as a milestone, Rodriguez and the MLBPA would then have 45 days to file a grievance from the Yankees. At that time, they might have Ten days to review the complaint and notify Rodriguez of the items, if anything, it will do in Romeo Okwara Jersey order to resolve the i sue.

A suming that the Yankees do not reverse course at this time and agree to pay Rodriguez the $6 million he would then have 15 days to file for an appeal with MLBs Labor Relations Department (LRD). The LRD might have 35 days to confer with union representatives in an attempt to settle the situation. A suming the situation cant be resolved at this stage, Rodriguez (or even the MLBPA) would then get 15 days to request that a neutral arbitrator decide the problem. That arbitration would be scheduled sometime over the following year, most likely throughout the off-season.

Rodriguez and the Yankees could, obviously, agree to settle the problem sooner or later during this proce s. But thinking about the acrimonious history between your parties, we're probably unlikely to determine this dispute resolved anytime soon.


To your Memphis Grizzlies Tony Allen les


In pro Marcus Johnson Jersey basketball, it can be difficult to rid yourself of an identity maybe a label. This has been something for Blake Griffin to eliminate the "just a dunker" label he brought to the league. Alternatively, exactly the same went for Stromile Swift this chair was created 2000s.

For both Griffin and Swift, there were fragments of truth to each accusation. In recent times, Griffin added new dimensions to his game and dispelled any misconceptions about his game. Swift wasn't as lucky, and will never fully decipher it.

MORE: Stephen A. Smith responds to Kenny Smith | Kobe, Rondo defintely won't be friends | Worst NBA starts

A similar approach is taken when placing Tony Allen in basketball. When Allen's name is remarked upon, the expre sion "defensive specialist" often pops into their brain therefore should, too.

His role on the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics looked like his position using this year's 15-3 Memphis Grizzlies squad. His minutes (between 20 and 25 per game) and overall output have remained consistent since he first got in the league.

Allen's defensiveabilities are often difficult to quantify. An excellent example is Allen's defense outside of the ball, where he can guard star players like few others. Together with his athleticism and tenacity glow whether his man ends up along with the ball. From the rim or around the Darrell Greene Jersey perimeter, he's tough gain against. Take this reel (brought to life by Hardwood Paroxysm) of his defense on Kevin Durant in last year's playoffs.

Speaking of unquantifiable, his intensity in the gra s undoubtedly separates him utilizing their company defensive specialists from the NBA. Each of these factors made him a mainstay in NBA rotations, especially when you finally consider his reputation on offense.

He's been a concern mark on offense provided he's been a force otherwise. Shooting protection is as a general rule required to shoot and score the ball. Allen cannot shoot, and the makes it better to throw around terms like Stephen Tulloch Jersey "offensive liability" when labeling him. Throughout the years, though, he's taken note of his deficiencies and turned them into positives.

Allen's best skill on offense is his capacity to finish within the rim. Such as a big man, over 80 percent of his shots pretty much every season have already been along at the rim, where he's shooting around Fifty percent.

Allen knows he cannot shoot the ball, and he has work average of 0.5 attempted threes per game to show for Philadelphia Eagles NFL Jersey doing this. To end up being fair, Allen has dealt with Kevin Garnett and Marc Gasol, plus it enables you to become a slashing wing when you enjoy gadget best pa sing big men belonging to the last Two decades. Competent point guards like Rajon Rondo and Mike Conley don't hurt either.

Allen hasn't progre sed much offensively since his rookie year. Sure, he's probably selected a trick or two defensively throughout the years, but rather than taking care of his shooting or ball handling (the Blake Griffin route), he decided i would become capable at what he was already good at. But Allen didn't carry the Swift route either, either.

Instead of shooting his answer of what's perhaps permanent shooting slump, he chosen to limit his outside shots and acquire right. Allen's shooting struggles did not stopped Dave Joerger from keeping Allen on the starting lineup through Memphis' 15-3 learn to the year.

The Grizzlies' busine s card is the defense. Your skin of these defense is Marc Gasol, but Tony Allen is a jaw line. He maintain a pool of defense to communicate and keeps it hungry. It comes from how he plays, how he helped Boston towards a championship in 2008 and in what ways he helped obtain the Grizzlies within Carson Wentz Jersey their current space.


The worst best songs about NHL players


Matt Farley is really a genius. Adairius Barnes Jersey

As detailed at VICE Sports and Deadspin, Farley is a dude who worked out how you can game the Spotifysystem by writing ridiculous songs that men and women might stumble acro s by searching "Lauryn Hill" or "Kurt Vonnegut" or whatever. He's got even more than 14,000 songs to his name that, regardle s of the odd crazy-low feesSpotif pays artists, netted him Clay Harbor Jersey $5,000 just last year on that service alone.

Why could this be strongly related the NHL? Of individuals 14,000-ish songs, a couple hundred have to do with sports. Together with those few hundred, published under names like "The Athletic Sports Band,"a handful have to do with hockey Graham Glasgow Jersey players. These are. You need to focus on them.

On Henrik Lundqvist:What a truly very good hockey player he doesn't have the puck get through him more often then not!

On Phil Ke sel: Hockey legend! Good man! NHL! Scoring defense! Playing defense! Hitting people!

On Steven Stamkos: Oh yeah! They are the guy I Matthew Mulligan Jersey quite like the foremost!

On Henrik and Daniel Sedin:They can communicate simply because they're identical!

On Alex Ovechkin: He's a fairly good athlete! They have big muscles!

On Sidney Crosby: He can be a hockey genius! He has been very good at playin' hockey! Skatin' round, Andrew Turzilli Jersey skatin' so nice.

On Tuukka Rask ... actually, just take note of that a person through.You realize what, achieve that with all them. Thanks for your time, Matt. Many thanks.