Johnson: Zimmermann's 'dead arm' not a concern

 

VIERA, Fla. -- After watching his team fall to the Cardinals, 16-10, on Friday afternoon, Nationals manager Davey Johnson revealed that right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has a dead arm. However, Johnson is not showing any concern.

"About this time of spring, the pitchers are going through a little dead arm. Arizona Diamondbacks I think [Zimmermann] had a little dead arm," Johnson said. "He got some treatment. There is nothing to be worried about."

Zimmermann pitched three innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits. He threw 61 pitches, 39 for strikes. St. Louis went to work on Zimmermann in the second, scoring two runs. David Freese scored on a groundout by Rob Johnson, while Shane Robinson scored on a single by Ronny Cedeno to make it 2-0.

The Cardinals sent 10 hitters to the plate in the third and scored six runs off Zimmermann. Johnson and Greg Garcia highlighted the scoring with two-run hits.

Zimmermann didn't give any excuses for his disappointing outing. He never talked about having a dead arm and said he felt fine. He did acknowledge, however, that he felt tired in the third.

"I just threw some fastballs up in the zone," Zimmermann said. "Obviously, they are a good hitting team. When I did make some good pitches today, they put some good wood on it and hit a few down the line."

Zimmermann is part of a formidable rotation that includes Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Dan Haren and Ross Detwiler. The rotation is expected to help the Nationals attempt to win their second straight National League East title.

Last year was Zimmermann's best as he went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA in 32 starts. He wants to improve upon that and pitch at least 200 innings. He was 4 1/3 innings off the mark last year.

"I have to go deep in the ballgame," Zimmermann said. "I think last year, Brixton Snapbacks I averaged about six innings a game, so if I can average seven innings, you could get it easily. Thirty starts and seven innings is 210 innings. If I could average seven innings, I should be able to make it."

He is developing a changeup that he feels comfortable throwing at any count. He used the pitch four times against the Cardinals.

"I finally got to the point where I feel comfortable throwing the changeup at any time," Zimmermann said. "I'm able to control it, keep it down in the zone. The velocity is good. I think it's going to be a big pitch for me."

Zimmermann is also showing how successful he could be after having Tommy John surgery in August 2009. By last year, he was third on the team in wins.

"It's a tough process when you first find out about [the surgery], but the success rate is so good, most guys come back to their normal selves or even a little better," Zimmermann said. "When I first had it, I told myself I was going to come back in 12 months. I put in all the work I possibly could to get better every day and build the arm strength up. It feels good every day."

Asked if he is a better pitcher today after having the surgery, Zimmermann said, "I think I've learned a lot more. My arm is about the same. I learned how to pitch more. I was more of a thrower before Tommy John surgery. I'm learning what pitch to throw in what count. I'm setting guys up and New York Jets I wasn't doing that before."

Baylor QB Petty confident Bears 'can win the Big

At the time, Nick Florence seemed a little nuts.

This was last spring, when Florence told Sporting News that Baylor—Kids Snapback Hats without Robert Griffin III—had the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and was bound for another outstanding season. That was news to many fans out there, some of whom may have been under the impression that Bears football would simply fold up shop post-RG3.

A joke, that last part, but who among us wasn’t surprised by how ridiculously good the Bears were by the end of 2012? A little over a month after humiliating unbeaten Kansas State by four touchdowns, they made a mockery of UCLA’s resurgence in a 49-26 Holiday Bowl rout. Baylor finished with eight wins, the nation’s No. 2-ranked offense and a fifth-year senior QB who looked really smart.

Which brings us to another thing Florence said last offseason: that both he and RG3 believe Bryce Petty has Heisman Trophy potential.

Wait a minute. Bryce who?

Petty is next man up for Art Briles’ Bears. Although Briles and his BOY Snapbacks staff are making Petty earn the starting job—spring ball in Waco began last Friday—the writing has been on the wall for a while now.

“He’s got a great arm,” offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery says. “Physically, he’s a big ol’ strong kid—he’s all rocked up. He can run around a little bit. He has all the physical traits.”

The 6-3, 235-pounder—much bigger than Florence or Griffin—has two seasons of eligibility remaining, and that might be plenty of time to be a part of Baylor’s first Big 12 championship and its first conference title since 1980, when it was a Southwest Conference school.

“We think we certainly have the potential to win the Big 12 championship—without question,” Briles says.

Oh, is that nuts, too? It has become so much harder, Baltimore Orioles though, to doubt the Bears.

Patrick Kaleta suspended five games for hit on B

Buffalo Sabres winger Patrick Kaleta has been suspended five games for his hit on New York Rangers center Brad Richards.

Kaleta had his disciplinary hearing Monday afternoon, Snapback Hats and the Sabres tough guy received the maximum suspension he could have in a telephone hearing.

In his video ruling on the decision, NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan said that “in spite of the fact that Kaleta does not shove Richards with great force, he does so at an extremely dangerous distance from the boards. Kaleta is in full control of this play and has ample opportunity to make a better decision.”

Shanahan also notes that Richards did not turn his back at the last minute and did nothing to contribute to being hit in that manner. Shanahan also cited Kaleta's history as a repeat offender.

Kaleta will forfeit $76,219.25 in salary during his five-game suspension to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Kaleta was given a five-minute major and a game Element Snapbacks misconduct for the hit, which took place in the third period at Madison Square Garden with the Sabres leading 1-0. The Rangers went on to win the game in a shootout, 3-2, but the win did little to temper the team's outrage.

"It's probably one of the most dangerous hits I've ever seen," Rangers coach John Tortorella told reporters after the game. "It's ridiculous."

Richards stayed on the ice for several minutes before slowly skating off, later returning to the game.

Kaleta admitted Monday that he felt like a "bag of garbage" for putting his team in a bad spot, but he was not willing to accept the accusations that he can't be an honest player. In fact, Kaleta feels he has made significant progress.

“I have changed my game. I know I have,” said Kaleta, according to Pro Hockey Talk, “and I know players have seen that, and even referees have come up and said, ‘Hey, I respect what you’ve done so far, and as long as you keep showing that respect towards us, then we’ll respect you.’ I loved hearing that, Seattle Seahawks knowing that they’ve seen a change in my game. So I know I’ve changed my game.”

Asian Champions League kicks-off, Thais under fi

The Asian Champions League kicks-off on Tuesday with the dark cloud of match-fixing hanging over one of the 32 teams involved in the continent's premier club competition.

Thailand's Buriram United, who travel to face JapaneseCheap Beanie Hats side Vegalta Sendai in Group E, are still waiting for the result of a Thai Football Association (FAT) investigation into claims match-fixers tried to rig the result of their FA Cup final against Army United in November.

FAT head and FIFA executive committee member Worawi Makudi said last week that the Japanese official in charge of the final, which Buriram won 2-1, had reported to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that he had been offered money to help rig the result.

However, the AFC told Reuters on Monday that they had not received a report from Toshimitsu Yoshida so there was nothing for them to investigate.

Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob vehemently denied the accusationsYMCMB Snapback Hats surrounding the victory that booked them a place in the ACL and criticized Worawi for hiring foreign officials.

"Both sides have spent huge sums to create their teams and we are not crazy enough to do such a thing," Newin told the Bangkok Post.

"Worawi should be the first person to take the blame because he hired foreign referees to officiate the match.

"They come and return home and do not have to shoulder responsibility. On the other hand, if Thai referees make an error, they could be punished."

Worawi had said he would report the issues to the AFC and FIFA at an INTERPOL conference into matchfixing in Kuala Lumpur last week.

The accusations of attempted match-fixing were Cheap Hats Saleanother blow to Asian soccer which has been forced to deal with the problem recently in China, South Korea and Malaysia.

Azarenka could regain top spot from Williams

Victoria Azarenka revels in her rivalry with Serena Williams and she could recapture the world No 1 ranking from the 15-time Grand Slam winner at the Dubai WTA Open this week.

The Belarussian scored a rare victory on Monday Cheap New Era Snapback Hats over the American, who nevertheless took away her world No 1 ranking 24 hours later, a rather contradictory setback for Azarenka that has not prevented her celebrating their relationship on and off court.

"Any tournament I'm happy to play against Serena, I feel like we're pushing each other to go to the limit every time, to step up, to improve, and that's tremendous motivation to have," Azarenka said.

Azarenka has further motivation that she can regain the top spot if she wins the title here. She can even do so if she only reaches the final, provided Williams does not.

"You know (with Serena) you always know that somebody's out there wants to push you," Azarenka said. "For me, it's an incredible privilege to be in that position."

The two are seeded to meet again in Saturday's final, DGK Snapbacks ith the likelihood of a very different psychology from last week's if they do.

Azarenka now knows that after nine successive losses to Williams, she is good enough to win, thanks to improvements to her net game, her tactical variety and her mental stability.

Williams, on the other hand, knows she is physically stronger after the back and ankle injuries that were exacerbated at the Australian Open last month, and the heavy cold she suffered last week.

Azarenka said she is also friends with the player she would most like to beat, and that the two of them appreciate their off-court exchanges from time to time.

"I mean, we chat about something that had nothing to do with tennis," she said of her most recent dialogues with Williams.

Asked what that was, Azarenka said: "Oscar parties," adding "and that's it - I mean, we always had a good relationship off court. So, you know, at the US Open final we did not have the same Snapback Hats On Sale conversations but we had the same chemistry there. (And yet) I feel like we are big competitors on the court."

NFL Combine 2013: Eagles' Kelly offer little sup

The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to part ways with New Era Snapback Hats fading veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who is set to cost them $15 million in salary for the 2013 NFL season. First-year coach Chip Kelly, speaking to reporters Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, didn't offer much of an endorsement to keep him.

When asked about what Asomugha can still offer the Eagles, Kelly delivered a most awkward answer.

The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to part ways with fading veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who is set to cost them $15 million in salary for the 2013 NFL season. First-year coach Chip Kelly, speaking to reporters Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, didn't offer much of an endorsement to keep him.

When asked about what Asomugha can still offer the Eagles, DGK Snapbacks Kelly delivered a most awkward answer.

In two seasons with Eagles, Asomugha has four total interceptions but has mostly struggled to make plays in coverage that he used to make as a Pro Bowler with the Oakland Raiders. He will turn 32 in June, and there is no doubt his skills are diminishing. Team officials should be ready to move on and accept the fact the five-year, $60 million deal they gave him in 2011 was a mistake.

The Eagles should have a keen eye on scouting cornerbacks at the Combine, given that they also are not expected to re-sign pending free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The names of other players with uncertain futures in Philadelphia also came up during Kelly’s interview session, most notably Nick Foles. The second-year quarterback has been the subject of trade rumors, but Kelly said that he was looking forward to coaching him. If Foles stays, he would need to competeSnapback Hats On Sale with Michael Vick and Dennis Dixon for the starting job.

Rite of spring: Rebuilt Marquette again surprise

 

By this stage in his Marquette career, redshirt junior Jamil Wilson is familiar with the typical preseason talk surrounding his team. The refrain rarely changes.

“The first year when I got here when I sat out, Cheap New Era Snapback Hats I heard all the stuff about how they were losing Lazar (Hayward) and Mo (Maurice Acker) and how they weren’t going to be good,” Wilson told Sporting News on Thursday. “And then, Jimmy (Butler), Dwight (Buycks) and DJO (Darius Johnson-Odom), those guys made it work. And the year after that, I heard all about losing Jimmy and this and that, and Jae (Crowder) and DJO stepped up. And, of course, this year, I heard, ‘Oh, you guys are losing Jae and you’re losing DJ, those are your best two players.’ "

They were, no doubt. Crowder, the Big East Player of the Year, averaged 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Johnson-Odom averaged 18.3 points for a team that finished second in the Big East with a 14-4 record and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Crowder and DJO were the only players to average double figures in scoring.

They’re gone, but here’s Marquette, back in a familiar position at 19-6 overall, ranked No. 17 in the country and tied atop the Big East standings with a 10-3 record. The Golden Eagles are 14th in the RPI and 21st in the Pomeroy rankings. By any definition, they’ve weathered the storm of losing their two best players.

“This year, other guys have stepped up, and we’ve been maintaining just the way we have in the past,” Wilson said.

The Golden Eagles are heading into their toughest NBA Snapbacks three-game stretch of the season—at Villanova on Saturday, at home against Syracuse on Monday and at home against Notre Dame on March 2.

A few things that make this Marquette team special:

From a statistical standpoint, Blue has filled the biggest void created by the departures of Crowder and Johnson-Odom. A highly recruited prep star from Madison, Wis., who originally committee to Wisconsin before choosing to play for Buzz Williams at Marquette, Blue is having a breakthrough season as a junior.

The 6-4 shooting guard is averaging 15.0 points per game, way up from 5.1 as a freshman and 8.4 as a sophomore. His production isn’t just a matter of dedicated film study of opponents, learning to be a better defender or a summer spent working on getting to the basket consistently—and scoring with either hand once there—though those factors certainly helped.

“I don’t think you can make the jump that he’s made, in regards to his role, in regards to the production from his role, unless it’s a lot of little things added up,” Williams said Thursday. “Vander has really matured as a person, and I’ve always believed that, as guys mature as people, it typically mirrors their maturation as a player.”

Wilson, another prep product from Wisconsin who has known Blue for a long time, agrees.

“He’s always been a hard worker. He’s always been one to be in the gym,” he said. “His habits have changed, off the court, just taking care of himself, watching more film and New Era Hats Cheap the small things that no one really pays attention to. His habits of being better at things like that have made him better as a player.”

Daytona 500: Drivers find that they can play har

Drivers expect an easier time passing when they have a full field of 43 cars Sunday for the Daytona 500.

But that doesn’t mean passing will be easy.

The Budweiser Duel qualifying races Thursday Cheap New Era Snapback Hats featured few passes for the lead, with the top groove typically the beneficial line.

Kevin Harvick led the final 23 laps of the first race and Kyle Busch led 19 of the final 20 laps of the second race at Daytona International Speedway.

“It’s just a matter of whoever gets out front, to be honest with you,” Busch said. “I hate to say that. These cars so far have shown it’s a little bit harder to pass the leader, especially if you’re the guy (leading) that’s on the top side.”

Busch won a race that ran caution-free. Jeff Gordon, the class of the field early in the race but then stymied by a pit-road speeding penalty, felt that if there were more cars instead of six in the lead draft, the outcome could have been more dicey.

“You’re going to have somebody go with you, you’re not going to be able to do it by yourself, but you can get a run, definitely, no doubt about it,” Gordon said.

“I know Kasey (Kahne) was sitting back there behind me just waiting for the right moment and opportunity late in this race.”

Gordon said that in the closing laps of a fuel run, more things will happen as more handling comes into play.

“This is a real thinking race now,” Gordon said. “It comes down the way it used to. You get yourself in position.

“Everybody rides and thinks about what they have. NFL Snapbacks You’ve got to have your car handling pretty good, which is tough to do further back in traffic.”

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, said he liked what he saw, which many drivers compared to the type of racing that took place 10 to 15 years ago at the track.

“It looked like you have to be calculated, it looks like you have to work on it, it looks like you have to learn the draft,” Pemberton said. “It looks like you have to be careful and get very organized if you lose the draft. … You’re still only at half the cars (in the Thursday races).”

Pemberton said he did not anticipate any rules changes, and Clint Bowyer, who couldn’t make a move late in the second race, agreed that no changes were necessary.

“We still haven’t had the big, big pack,” Bowyer said. “I learned a little bit, but without help, I couldn’t complete passes.

“I think when we get in the big pack, you’re going to have that help behind you and you’re going to be able to make some more moves and get bigger runs on people. That’s when the excitement will go up.”

Bowyer said the current nature of the racing is such that if a driver makes the move, he will need help or will get shuffled to the pack. He noted that because of a lack of cautions, some drivers who were slow on pit stops never got back up into the lead draft, creating a difficult situation for those behind Busch in the final laps.

“We didn’t have enough cars,” Bowyer said. “There were only six cars out there. There was two of us trying to make a run on another two and it just wasn’t the right situation.”

Harvick said he could see a difference between the races Thursday and the preseason Sprint Unlimited that he won last Saturday night.

“The good thing about today compared to the other night is that (on the) bottom, once you get four or five cars, it can seem to make (up) some ground on the cars on the top, even if they're lined up,” Harvick said.

“As that pack gets bigger, I think that's going to get even better.”

It’s going to need to be if they hope to make the pass.

“They really stall easy,” Biffle said about the cars. “They won't suck up to the guy in front of you.”

The guy who won the Daytona 500 last year was in position to possibly make a move late in the second race. Instead, Matt Kenseth got hung out to dry as his teammate Busch went to block the rest of the field and Kenseth went to the back of the lead pack.

“It’s going to be tough, a lot like it was today,” Kenseth said. “It just depends on where everybody is. … Everybody is trying, everybody wants to win, it’s just when the cars get in a certain situation, Snapback Hats On Sale it makes it kind of difficult to make some moves.”