| Wys³any: 2019-02-12 06:20:32 Temat postu: er teammates contributions go way beyond CLEVELAND -- Jason Giambi pulled the red-and-blue block "C" cap off the hook in his locker, slipped it on and worked the bill, bending it to his exacting standards. Everything had to be just right. "Time to get that first one in," he said. After missing Clevelands first 18 games recovering from broken rib, Giambi was activated from the disabled Monday and was to make his season debut in the opener of a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals. Giambi was batting seventh. Indians manager Terry Francona was thrilled to have him anywhere in his lineup. "Im really glad," Francona said. "He means a lot to what we do. If he wants to hit a homer or two today, thats welcome. But having him back is real good. Hes one of the more special people that weve all been around, so to have him back fighting with us is a good thing." The 43-year-old Giambi is in his second season with the Indians, who werent sure what they were getting when they signed him to a minor league contract before the 2013 season. And although Giambi batted only .183 in 71 games, he provided invaluable leadership in Clevelands clubhouse and produced a few spine-tingling moments, none bigger than a game-ending pinch-homer on Sept. 24 that beat the Chicago White Sox. The win came during a 10-game winning streak that put the Indians in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. "That moment is what keeps me coming back," Giambi said. "You dont forget those. Those are special. What made it great was the time it happened and how hard we worked. And if that game gets away -- ... It was special. It gave everybody a taste of that finish, to go to the playoffs and be a part of it." With Giambi returning, Francona juggled his lineup, giving backup catcher and cleanup hitter Carlos Santana the night off. Lonnie Chisenhall started at third and batted fourth. Francona noticed Santana lunging at pitches Sunday and thought he could use a mental break. "I thought it would be good for him because hes starting to chase some balls out of the zone," he said. "I thought he was getting a little anxious. Hes always had that volatile swing, and he stays in the zone so well, but yesterday I thought he started chasing. So I thought I would give him a night to kind of take it easy." Giambis return gave Francona another offensive weapon, a needed one for a team thats struggled offensively. "Its a big, powerful lefty bat who can change the score with one swing," Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "He just adds a confidence to the rest of the lineup." Giambi has become something of a big-brother figure to many of the younger Indians. After he finished dressing for batting practice, Giambi walked past Kipnis locker and reminded him that time was running short. "You got three minutes, kid," Giambi yelled to Kipnis, who said his older teammates contributions go way beyond hitting home runs. "People just feed off his positive energy and the experience he has," Kipnis said. "He just makes you feel more comfortable. Youre more relaxed knowing hes on your side. You can go to him with anything." Jonathan Allen Redskins Jersey . Louis Blues brought in the premier unrestricted free agent centre, and did it without breaking the bank. Troy Apke Redskins Jersey . The Heat centre scored 10 of his 30 points early in the first quarter to silence the Toronto fans as Miami defeated the Raptors 113-101 on Friday night. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redskins-Pernell-Mcphee-Jersey/. The football club recently announced an increase in season ticket prices in five of the seven categories at Investors Group Field for 2014. While most increases are in the two to three per cent range, the clubs most affordable season tickets will jump from $199 to $250 — a 26 per cent leap. Troy Apke Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released veteran guard Davin Joseph, a mainstay on their offensive line over the past eight seasons. Paul Richardson Jersey . -- Mixed martial arts fighter Cristiane Justino Santos has been suspended and fined for testing positive for steroids.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Los Angeles Angels hope the Jason Grilli theyre getting from the Pittsburgh Pirates is the dominant version of last year rather than the struggling one of this year. The Pirates feel the same way about Ernesto Frieri. The Angels and Pirates made a swap the relievers on Friday night, each team optimistic that a change of scenery will be enough to allow their new arms to revert to their old ways. "Obviously were trying to get a bullpen with some chemistry and upgrade it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, "and I think Jason Grilli is a guy who can hopefully come in and fill a role, and if he pitches as well as he did last year he could be really important to us." The 37-year-old Grilli was struggled with his command this season, and was 0-2 with a 4.87 ERA and 11 saves in 22 appearances. But he was pivotal to the Pirates resurgence last year, when he piled up 33 saves and had a 2.70 ERA in helping the club to a 94-68 record. "Its a difficult trade to make from the standpoint that Jason had a good run here, and did a lot for our franchise both on and off the field," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "Hes loved by a lot of guys in the clubhouse and a lot of fans." Grilli is expected to join the Angels in Kansas City onn Saturday.dddddddddddd. "Much like Ernie, he struggled with some things here and there this year after a terrific year last year," Scioscia said. "Once he gets settled and we can evaluate exactly where he is and where his role is going to be to make us as deep as we can be, well have a better idea." Frieri had a career-best 37 saves for the Angels last year, but the 28-year-old right-hander is just 0-3 with 6.39 ERA and 11 saves in 34 appearances this season. The final straw may have come the previous night in Los Angeles, when he loaded the bases in the ninth inning against Minnesota. Joe Smith relieved him and gave up a bases-clearing double but bounced back to strike out Kendrys Morales to preserve the 6-4 victory. Frieri has allowed at least one run in four of his last five appearances, and while hes thrown six shutout frames in the eighth inning, he has a 7.92 ERA in the ninth inning or later. "Ernesto is a guy weve pursued for a couple of years but havent been about to get," Huntington said. "Hes going through a rough stretch but hes doing things our scouts like and our (statistical) analysts like. Weve had success bringing guys in and having them benefit from a change of scenery, a change of league. Thats what were hoping for here." Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' ' |