A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
STEPPING DOWN
The Mets march on in their difficult season a day after learning general manager Sandy Alderson had effectively stepped down because his cancer has returned. Officially [url=http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/c.j.-mosley-jersey-authentic]Youth C.J. Mosley Jersey[/url] , Alderson will take a leave of absence, but he said Tuesday that he was essentially ending his tenure both for his health and because he doesn’t think he’s been successful enough to continue. Assistant general manager John Ricco and special assistants J.P. Ricciardi and Omar Minaya will run the club’s baseball operations in Alderson’s absence. Minaya preceded Alderson as Mets general manager, and Ricciardi was GM of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2001-09.
CAIN NOT ABLE
Lorenzo Cain is missing the chance to face his former teammates this week due to a left groin strain. The Brewers center fielder was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, just as Milwaukee opened a series against Kansas City. Cain left the Royals last offseason for an $80 million, five-year deal with the Brewers, and he’s batting .291 with eight homers, 48 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and an .832 OPS for the NL Central leaders.
MADBUM MATH
Madison Bumgarner is one strikeout shy of 1,500 for his career going into a start against Colorado. The Giants ace will appear in his 239th game, making him the fourth-fastest left-hander to reach 1,500 Ks in the live-ball era, according to stats. This will be Bumgarner’s fifth start this season [url=http://www.officialblues.com/authentic-adidas-dmitrij-jaskin-jersey]http://www.officialblues.com/authentic-adidas-dmitrij-jaskin-jersey[/url] , and he’s 1-2 with a 3.20 ERA.
MAKING BELIEBERS
Indians rookie Shane Bieber is off to a strong start and gets his first interleague test in a game against St. Louis. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA through three starts, including seven scoreless innings against Detroit last time out. Bieber has 22 strikeouts and three walks in 18 1/3 innings after walking just 18 batters in 274 career minor league innings. The Cardinals will counter with another promising young righty, Jack Flaherty (3-2, 2.50).
HEATING UP
Dallas Keuchel (4-8, 3.90) has been the weakest link in Houston’s rotation – which says more about the Astros than Keuchel – but he’s been sharp of late. Over his past two starts, he’s thrown 12 innings without allowing an earned run, and now he’ll face a Toronto team that struck out 13 times against Charlie Morton in a 7-0 loss Tuesday to Houston.
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At the start of some practices, Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks calls out the name of one defensive player and one offensive player to go at it one-on-one in front of everyone else.
Once it was left tackle D.J. Humphries against defensive end Chandler Jones. Another time defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche took on right guard Justin Pugh.
”I like it a lot,” Humphries said. ”It’s like old school, Pop Warner stuff.”
A week into Wilks’ first training camp as an NFL head coach, an overriding theme has been tough, physical play [url=http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/ryan-groy-jersey]http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/ryan-groy-jersey[/url] , especially on the offensive line.
”Really it comes back to my defensive background,” Wilks said before the team took the field for another practice in pads Thursday. ”There’s nothing more demoralizing than having an offense just run the ball. Coming off the ball up front, being physical, it just really takes the air out of you.”
While most of the training camp takes place in the air-conditioned comfort of University of Phoenix Stadium – the Cardinals’ regular- season home – Wilks moved the team outside into the desert heat for practice on Tuesday. They’ll be outdoors again Friday.
”Hopefully it’s a little hot out there so we can make sure we’re locked in and focused,” he said.
Wilks believes battling the heat helps build mental toughness.
”It’s all about mental with me. These guys have the skill set. They’re physical. They work out all the time. They train their bodies. It’s about this here,” he said, pointing to his head, ”and being outside creates that element, particularly in the heat.”
Wilks has spent his NFL coaching career on defense, with stints as secondary coach for the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers. Last year, he was promoted to defensive coordinator in Carolina and [url=http://www.officialavalanche.com/authentic-adidas-semyon-varlamov-jersey]Semyon Varlamov Jersey[/url] , after just one season, was hired to replace the retired Bruce Arians in Arizona.
Arians was all about offense, the big-play ”no risk it, no biscuit” approach. Wilks, by contrast, wants a team that runs the ball with authority and a defense that just as naturally stops the run up front.
”We get pretty physical out there,” Humphries said. ”Our defensive line, both of us know what we’re trying to do, what we’re trying to get done. It’s something that’s being preached to us and it’s something that we’re soaking up and buying into for sure. Most of us it’s second nature. We don’t have no softies on the O-line. Most of us, it ain’t hard to get us going, so it’s good fun.”
Defensive players appreciate a coach with roots on that side of the ball.
”It’s great,” said safety Antoine Bethea [url=http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/tyron-smith-jersey]http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/tyron-smith-jersey[/url] , a 13-year NFL veteran. ”He gets it. Not saying other coaches don’t, but him being on the defensive side of the ball the majority of his career, he just gets what it means to be a defensive player, coming downhill, attacking.”
But it’s the offensive line that’s been singled out for praise by Wilks for its physical approach early in camp.
And the line loves the idea of blowing open holes for David Johnson, one of the NFL’s best running backs who returns after missing virtually all of last season with a fractured wrist.
Offensive linemen, in general, love to run block.
”It’s different when you’re locking a guy up in pass (blocking). You get them frustrated,” Humphries said. ”But when you block a dude, you pound on him during the run game, you demoralize them. You take their heart. `’
