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KISSIMMEE, Fla. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . - Major league teams will each have at least five games this spring where managers can challenge plays as part of the major expansion of instant replay which begins this season. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez is looking forward to getting acquainted with it. "Those five games that we have the actual television, Im challenging everything just to get a feel for it," he said. "Im sure that the umpires will appreciate that." Gonzalez, Houston manager Bo Porter, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and Nationals manager Matt Williams met with MLB executives Joe Torre and Tony La Russa for almost three hours Friday to go over the replay rules. The new rules allow each manager to challenge one call a game. If he wins the first one, hell earn another challenge. The crew chief can request a review after the seventh inning if the manager has used his challenges. Baseball has been reluctant to use replay and became the last major professional sport in North America to implement it late in the 2008 season. But it was very narrowly used — only close home runs could be reviewed. Now almost every call can be contested, with the exception of ball-and-strikes and checked swings. They also wont allow reviews of what is known as the "neighbourhood play" at second base on potential double plays. Gonzalez and Porter both acknowledged that the meeting was rather long, but they didnt mind. "Its historic for our sport," Gonzalez said. "Its never been done so we want to do it right." Porter agreed and said he left the meeting feeling very comfortable with the rules. "It was necessary," he said. "I thought that they did a tremendous job of putting the information together and giving us scenarios. It was long, but it was very much needed and very beneficial at the same time." The reviews during the regular season will be done by current MLB umpires at the replay centre in MLB.coms office in New York. Gonzalez said there will be eight umpires who will each be responsible for two games at a time. And as for people who worry that this will further slow a game that some people complain already takes too long, Gonzalez doesnt believe that will be the case. "As soon as they see something going on, they can go right to that play," he said. "They feel like theyll have an answer when the umpire comes to the headphones ... and theres no delay." Concerns about managers using replay challenges to buy time to warm-up a pitcher are probably unwarranted, Ausmus said. "It doesnt sound like theres going to be a lot of time," he said. The manager or other team officials in the dugout can talk with someone in the clubhouse watching a live feed of the game with replays available to help determine if the manager should challenge a call. Porter said he and his staff will work on how theyll decide whether to challenge plays all spring, not just in the games where instant replay is used. "Its more of getting into the practice and getting into the language you want to have transmitted during a close play and I think we can simulate it this spring," he said. Though hes certainly going to prepare to use instant replay, Gonzalez is not too sure how much hell actually use it in the season. "If you believe the numbers that they throw at you, we may go four or five games without even throwing a challenge," he said. "I believe, without having any kind of numbers behind it that this is going to show how good our major league umpires are." Wholesale Jerseys . Ekblad led all defencemen with 23 goals and finished tied for fifth in scoring among blue-liners with 53 points in 58. Cheap NFL Jerseys .Y. -- The NFL says the number of concussions in practices and games in the preseason and regular season dropped 13 per cent from 2012 to 2013.The 2014 NBA Draft will be a historic one for Canadian basketball, with as many as seven players from Canada - three of them as high as the first round - possibly selected. In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Watch the 2014 NBA Draft on TSN, Thursday at 7pm et/4pm pt. Name: Tyler EnnisFrom: Brampton, OntarioPlayed: Syracuse University Height: 62Weight: 180 Position: Point Guard2013-2014 Stats: 12.9 points, 5.5 assists, 2.1 steals Breakout Game: 14 points, 9 assists in win vs. Duke Feb 1st.Accolades: 2013 - 14 All-ACC Defensive team, Second team All-ACC, finished amongst 10 finalists for Naismith Player of the Year voting. Draft Projection: Mid-late first round.Comparable NBA player: Jrue Holiday While all attention was focused on the impact Andrew Wiggins would make in his first season as a one-and-done player, Tyler Ennis quietly and confidently did the same. Maturity and poise are two things consistently said about Ennis, and with good reason. As a freshman the 62 Brampton, Ontario native expertly and efficiently lead the Orange to a 28-6 record and a No. 1 ranking in the country. The only person who wasnt surprised by Ennis breakout season was Ennis. It wasnt a case of over confidence, but merely confidence. His assuredness in his abilities and talents is what kept him cool in late game situations, where he able to make clutch plays or scoring game-winning baskets. A point guard in everyy sense of the term, he looks for his teammates first and creates opportunities for them - yet is still able to find his own shot when necessary, keeping defenses honest. Cheap Jerseys. For a 19-year-old, he plays a very cerebral game. Taking care of the basketball, he averaged a miserly 1.7 turnovers, reads the floor very well and knows when to pass or make the play himself. Ennis doesnt shy away from the moment, and has a quick enough first step to get to the basket and possess a reliable jumper with good range. He is a legitimate triple threat with a competitive spirit. His strength and explosiveness are questionable, yet strength is always a concern for many collegians moving to the next level. He isnt the quickest point guard, but makes up for lack of speed in a number of different areas. Defensively, he will have to grow as he has had the luxury of sitting in Jim Boeheims zone defense, picking passing lanes and not facing one-on-one match-ups, that he will see in the pros. Ennis has slipped out of the lottery, yet is still the best point guard in the draft. He has the poise and skill set to step into a starting situation right now in the NBA and run an offense, not just getting by on his physical gifts. Ennis again is seemingly flying under the radar, with the entire attention on other one-and-done prospects, with good reason. There is no doubt or wonder in what you will get, which is why he will make the jump to the next level. For Ennis, the belief in himself wouldnt let him do otherwise. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
