Subject :ust 6.8 points per game -- his lowest average in 11 years -- and struggli
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Reds closer Aroldis Chapman threw 25 pitches during batting practice on Tuesday, passing the final test before he can begin a rehabilitation stint in the minors. Mike Schmidt Phillies Jersey . Chapman likely will pitch at Class A Dayton on Thursday in his first time in a game since suffering a head injury. Hes hoping to be activated after four or five appearances in the minors. "It went very good," Chapman said, with trainer Tomas Vera translating. "All my pitches were the way I wanted." The left-hander was hit on the forehead by a line drive during a spring training game in Arizona on March 19. He had a plate inserted above his left eye and nose to help fractures heal. Chapman was one of eight Reds who opened the season on the disabled list, the most in the majors. Jonathan Broxton is closing games in his absence. Chapman has thrown batting practice without a protective screen. He said theres no concern when he sees a batter hit one of his pitches. "I feel normal," he said. "I feel the way I was before I got hit with the ball." Manager Bryan Price thinks Chapman needs only a few games in the minors to get ready for his return. Chapman suggested four or five would be sufficient. Chapman threw the equivalent of one inning to Reds hitters, working more on his changeup and slider. "I know I have the fastball," he said. "Im feeling I have the fastball. Im working with the breaking pitches." Outfielder Roger Bernadina saw a couple of fastballs at the outset from Chapman and couldnt connect. "I didnt see the first two," Bernadina said. Tug McGraw Phillies Jersey . The Blue Jackets entered this series against the Metropolitan Division champions as heavy underdogs, but they sit tied with the Penguins at two wins apiece. Columbus has arrived at this point with a pair of overtime victories, including a 4-3 triumph in Wednesdays Game 4 clash at Nationwide Arena that gave the franchise its first home playoff win. Roy Halladay Phillies Jersey . Stairs, who holds the major-league record with 23 pinch-hit home runs, was a disappointment for the Nationals. The 43-year-old batted just .154 with two RBIs in 56 games. He was 6 for 39 as a pinch hitter. EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Derek Fisher works his way around the perimeter, hoisting jumpers in a solitary shooting drill at the Los Angeles Lakers quiet training complex. Ah, the joys of a simple day job. The NBA players union president is out of his suits and back in shorts after the leagues brutal labour negotiations, focusing on another season with the Lakers. "Im grateful for the experience, but hopefully next week well be back to basketball," Fisher said Friday during a pause in his workout. "It was an exhausting ordeal, but Im still in a good space and looking forward to working with Coach Brown." That would be new Lakers coach Mike Brown, who finally can make some concrete plans more than six months after succeeding 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson. General manager Mitch Kupchak also is back at work on the truncated off-season, trying to find any way to cram additional depth into the NBAs largest payroll. The Lakers are in transition after getting swept out of the second round of last years playoffs by the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks, abruptly ending Los Angeles quest for a threepeat. Yet theres also ample continuity around Kobe Bryant: Almost every significant player on last seasons roster is returning, and the Lakers dont have room to add much more, with Kupchak saying theyll be "very limited" in free agency. "We believe this team, as structured, can contend," Kupchak said. "And on the flip side, well continue to look at all opportunities to improve the team. That could be very minor ... but who knows what the future will hold?" Brown realizes hell have almost no time to install his new systems with the Lakers before they open the season on Christmas against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. He gave a DVD to all of his players with a detailed explanation of his defensive strategies before the lockout, but knows theyll need time to grasp its intricacies. "I enjoy practice. I like to practice a lot, and long," Brown said. "We wont have a lot of days, but everybody is going to have the same amount of days. We have to make sure we dont overdo it. ... Ive just got to make sure I dont blow my head off my shoulders with excitement and anticipation about going on the floor." The longtime Cleveland Cavaliers coach developed his philosophy as an assistant under Rick Carlisle at Indiana and Gregg Popovich at San Antonio, so it wont be entirely foreign to his players -- particularly Metta World Peace, who was Ron Artest when he played for Brown with the Pacers. Cliff Lee Phillies Jersey. Theres another question for the season: What should Brown call the erstwhile Artest, who changed his name in September? "I might call him Metta, or just Met," Brown said with a laugh. "You definitely dont want to call him Peace, because he might think thats grounds to leave practice." Kupchak said he would like to keep backup shooting guard Shannon Brown, but realizes Brown could get a larger, longer contract with another team as a free agent. The GM will search for another ball-handling guard to take Browns spot, hoping to find a talented veteran who will accept a modest contract for a shot at a ring. "When your payroll is as high as ours, its not like you can snap your fingers and reduce it quickly," said Kupchak, who already had US$85 million committed to eight players for this season before the labour woes. "We dont feel like anybody on our team is dramatically overpaid ... but were going to be very limited in what we can do with this team in free agency." The Lakers will start trickling into the gym over the next week while teams wait for permission to start training camp on Dec. 9. Darius Morris, the rookie second-round draft pick out of Michigan, also was at the Lakers complex with Fisher on Friday. After months of working out "any time I could, in just about any gym that was available," Fisher realizes hes not leaving behind tension by returning to the Lakers from his union duties. The 37-year-old point guard was unexceptional on both ends of the court last season, scoring just 6.8 points per game -- his lowest average in 11 years -- and struggling with perimeter defence. Fisher has started every game in each of his last four seasons since returning to the Lakers, but when Brown was asked Friday if Fisher is his starting point guard, the coach replied: "Possibly." Kupchak still admires Fishers tenacity with the union. "Im not sure many past players association presidents have gone through what hes been through," Kupchak said. "I think it might set him up for something beyond basketball. Ten or 15 years from now, my guess is hell look back on it as a great experience. ... I dont think hes ever going to be out of shape. I think mentally, hes relieved and in a better frame of mind." cheap jerseys from china cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
