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BROOKLYN – Kevin Garnett is very excited to see what the crowd will be like at the Barclays Center on Friday. Buccaneers Josh McCown Two Tone Jersey . Just ask him. "Very eager," Garnett said after the Brooklyn Nets practice on Thursday. "Very eager, very eager to see how they respond to the F Brooklyn [comment]. Very, very eager to see how they respond to those kids sitting in our arena. I dont know if thats going to be … Well see. Put it like that. Well see." Garnett is, of course, referencing the slur directed at Brooklyn by Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri at a pep rally moments before Game 1 tipped on Saturday. So, what does Garnett expect from the Nets faithful in Game 3 as the series shifts south? "I dont know. I dont know. Ive never had a series in Brooklyn before. I never said, F Brooklyn, before so were about to see what thats like." Indeed we will. And the sense from some Nets players is the inexperienced Raptors, who have shown some nerves early in the series turning the ball over 40 times, may have trouble weathering the storm. Alan Anderson, who played for the Raptors the last two seasons before signing with the Nets in the summer, believes the fans in Brooklyn are more intense than those who fill the Air Canada Centre. "Theyre more rowdy," said Anderson with a big grin. "Yeah, definitely, theyre way more rowdy. Youre going to see. Its Brooklyn ... New Yorkers. They come in and theyre going to think theyre in the game like theyre playing so were going to have some fun. "I think its going to be great, especially with the little chitter chatter going on. I know our fans are listening and Im looking forward to it. "Brooklyn, man, fans are rowdy already without help." That help came from Ujiri, whose comment earned him a fine from the NBA. Nets players expect their fans to weigh in with their own brand of justice. "Im sure they will be [riled up]," said Deron Williams. "They will be. Theyre ready. Theyre ready for the playoffs no matter what. That may have given them a little more incentive and hopefully theyll bring a little extra noise and rowdiness." "Im sure it will play a factor," said Joe Johnson. "I dont know if their GM is going to be here or not, but Im sure Brooklyns looking forward to it." For the record: Ujiri is expected to be in attendance. "Im expecting the crowd to be very, very into it, uh, Brooklyn style," said Garnett. "Im looking forward to us taking care of home." When the Nets players and head coach Jason Kidd werent being peppered with questions about what the crowd may be like, they spoke about the need to tighten up defensively and find a way to rebound better. So its not like the home-court advantage will be decisive in and of itself. And Johnson did strike a cautionary note amidst all the barbs. "We understand that this is not going to be easy by any means. Its going to be tough, I mean, just look around throughout the league, the playoffs, a lot of teams have been losing at home so we want to be very conscious of that and really come out and try and set the tone early." Buccaneers Clinton McDonald Black Jersey . - Lengthy games dont bother Tony Sanchez. http://www.buccaneersstore.us.com/90-nike-elite-michael-johnson-womens-jersey-nfl-tampa-bay-buccaneers-road-white.html . And the Ottawa Redblacks linebacker wanted to be sure his words delivered their full effect. "Its an insult," he said over the phone Wednesday after the CFL Players Association lifted its media ban, giving its members the ability to speak openly about stalling collective bargaining talks.DUNEDIN, Florida – For a guy with an uncertain future and a history of self doubt, Colby Rasmus has arrived for his third spring training with the Blue Jays a relaxed and confident ballplayer. He eagerly relives the thrill of the Iron Bowl football victory in November, in which his beloved Auburn Tigers defeated the two-time defending NCAA champion Alabama Crimson Tide on a last second missed field goal returned for a touchdown. In the next breath, he laments Auburns loss to Florida State in the BCS title game. “Too many mistakes,” he said. Rasmus isnt a fan of American Idol. He watches only when his wife, Megan, has it on TV and admits to only passing interest in the success on the show of Dexter Roberts, a singer whos made it into this seasons final 13 contestants and who, through friends, performed at Rasmus New Years Eve bash. “I dont really know him. I only met him once,” he said. When it gets down to the business of baseball, Rasmus will attempt to control only what he can – his performance on the field. Signed for this year at $7-million, Rasmus will become a free agent for the first time in his career if he and the Blue Jays dont reach a contract extension before the end of the season. Hes not bothered that general manager Alex Anthopoulos hasnt approached him about a long-term deal, preferring instead to wait and, as Anthopooulos put it in December, “gather more information.” “Im given a chance to play again another year,” said Rasmus. “They didnt see fit to hold me for a long time and I have had some ups and downs and I get that. Im not really worried about it. Ive been given a chance to play another year so Im going to go out and play and let it all hang out and leave it all out there on the field.” Rasmus enjoyed a bounce back season in 2013. Limited to 118 games thanks to oblique and facial injuries, he authored a .276/.338/.501 slash line. His OPS of .840 looked more like the number in his 2010 breakout season in St. Louis (.859) than in either 2011 (.688) or 2012 (.689.) Despite missing 44 games, Rasmus hit 22 home runs, one off his career high. Prorate that number over a full season and he hits 30-plus home runs for the first time. At 27, Rasmus is entering his prime years. Hes maturing with time. “I guess everybody always said it comes with age or whatever,” said Rasmus. “I mean now that Ive got some time under my belt it definitely is easier. Looking back on how it was when I was younger I understand I had hard times with the older guys. I get it. But now, to be where Im at, Im just happy to be here and I look at it like that.” His manager sees all-star potential in Rasmus. “Last year was a big year for him,” said John Gibbons. “I think as the season went on he got much better. A lot of strikeouts early but he made some adjustments and when he puts the ball in play consistently, the ball goes a long way. Hes got a chance to be one of the premier power hitters in the league. He can do a lot of things.” Rasmus had a strong relationship with former hitting coach Chad Mottola. The two formed a quick bond, Mottola helping Rasmus with his mental approach to hitting. Now, as Rasmus gets to know his third hitting coach in as many seasons, hes willing to be patient as he adjusts to Kevin Seitzer. “Im not putting a rush on it,” said Rasmus. “Weve got a lot of time here in spring. I just try to get my thoughts together on what I think would help me and help him to make it a good flow and a good mix of what Im trying to do and what I need him to look for in me. Buccaneers Tim Wright Youth Jersey. ” Seitzer knows Rasmus is a pull hitter who loves his fastballs – Rasmus believes hes evolved from being a dead pull hitter to someone willing to use all fields – and hes not coming in to overhaul the centerfielders swing. “Hitters have to be able to make adjustments from week to week, game to game, pitcher to pitcher, depending on the stuff theyre going to attack with,” said Seitzer. “Hes been around a long time and hes a smart hitter and hes very talented. You cant teach hand speed and hes got a lot of that. Well see how the process unfolds. “Youve got to be able to get in their head quick and find out how they tick and where their insecurities are, their points of concern in their swing with their mindset and all of that,” said Seitzer. “I get to know them pretty quick.” CECIL AND DELABAR ADJUST Brett Cecil and Steve Delabar were two important pieces of the Blue Jays stellar bullpen last season. Both missed time due to injury and while heavy workload would seem to be the obvious reason why, Delabar identified a different reason: He made a mechanical change to his delivery before the All-Star break, which led to shoulder inflammation and a month on the disabled list in August. “It caused me to put some stress in unneeded areas,” said Delabar. Delabar changed the positioning of his feet in an effort to be, as he describes it, more directional rather than rotational toward home plate. He was falling away on his pitches down and away to right-handed batters, likening the problem to a hitter with a persistently open stance who cant get to outside pitches. “I thought it would get me straight on line,” said Delabar. “It felt good to do it so I started playing catch with it, messing around with it and I got in a game and did it and I was like, ‘Hey, it feels pretty good. I just kept doing it, kept going with it and I didnt realize it was putting stress on my shoulder.” When Delabar returned from injury on September 2, he continued with his new delivery and with such little time left in the season, he didnt experience any more significant trouble. The plan is to use the adjusted delivery this season. Cecil appeared in 60 games in his first season as a full-time reliever. Not a lock to make the club out of spring training, Cecil took the ball whenever he was asked and was eager to put in extra work to prove he belonged. He was shut down on September 13 with elbow pain after only three appearances that month. With his role in the bullpen now firmly established, Cecil will focus on better monitoring his own workload this season. “Casey (Janssen) and Darren (Oliver) have been in this situation a lot longer than I have and they were telling me in April, you know, save your bullets. You may not feel like you need a day but if you pitch one day then use your better judgment,” said Cecil. “I told them in August, you guys were right, man. I was starting to feel like I was breaking down a little bit … Thats why you never stopped learning.” Cecil will better communicate with the training staff if hes not feeling 100 percent, but wants something in return – that the training staff doesnt raise any unnecessary red flags if he describes only simple soreness. Hes already adjusting. Cecil was given a 25-pitch cap for his bullpen session on Friday. He chose to throw only 20 pitches. ' ' ' |
