Boardregeln » Lynch had 37 yards at

Thursday night, the Blue Jays not only dropped out of first place in the American League East, they also fell below the threshold of qualifying for either of the two Wild Card spots in the American League. Their 4-1 loss at Oakland to kick off the 10-game road trip coupled with Baltimores 5-2 win at home over Texas put the Jays in secondnd place place in the East, one percentage point back of the Orioles. It also dropped them behind the second and third place teams in the West, the Angels and the Mariners, who now hold those Wild Card slots. With 75 games still to play, its really too early to stress over that, but it did get me thinking about the West. Major League Baseball didnt come to the left coast until 1958 when the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers moved there in tandem to cash in on a new and expanding market. The American League didnt get a west coast club until the league expanded in 1961 adding the Los Angeles Angels and the new Washington Senators, essentially replacing the team that moved to Minnesota. There have been 53 seasons where it was possible for two west coast teams to have met in the World Series, from 1961 through 2013. Over that span there have only been four true western World Series. In 1974, the Oakland As won their third Fall Classic in a row, beating the Dodgers 4 games to 1. In 1988, 14 years later, Orel Hershizer, Kirk Gibson and the rest of the Dodgers upset Oakland 4 games to 1. The following year, 1989 in the infamous "Earthquake" series, the As swept the Giants in four-straight. Finally in 2002, the Angels beat Barry Bonds and the Giants in seven games for their one and only World Series title in their 42nd year of existence. Two teams that have never met in the World Series are the Dodgers and the Angels. Could it possibly happen this year? Well, its not so far-fetched. The Dodgers have won seven of their last 10 and have climbed over the Giants into first in the NL West by a half-game. They also have the second-best record in the National League to Milwaukee. The Dodgers hitting stats are pretty impressive. Theyve scored 367 runs, fourth in the Senior Circuit, but second to Milwaukee in terms of teams holding playoff positions, They are third in team batting average in the National at .257 and third in OPS at .729. But its in the pitching department where they really impress. They are second in pitching ERA to Washington at 3.23. Theyve made 57 quality starts and four of their five starters have won at least eight games. The other, Josh Beckett has five wins and a no-hitter to his credit. The leader of the staff, and the best pitcher in the Majors right now, Clayton Kershaw, has nine victories and a no-hitter, in a near perfect game of his own. They have some flaws and a worrisome shoulder issue with shortstop Hanley Ramirez, but right now, the Dodgers look like the best all-around team in the National League with apologies to the Brewers. Over in the American League, the Angels have won eight of their last 11 and have closed to within three-and-a-half games back of Oakland in the West. They have latched on to that first Wild Card slot. The Halos are second in hitting in the American League behind the As. They have scored 408 runs, four more than the Blue Jays with three games in hand. Theyre also tied with Oakland in home runs with 91. They also have a .749 OPS behind only the Tigers and Blue Jays. The Angels pitching staff isnt as deep as the Dodgers, but their top three starters Jared Weaver, C.J Wilson and Garrett Richards have combined for 26 wins. They are fourth in team ERA in the AL at 3.86 and have made 47 quality starts. Their bullpen has been up and down, but skipper Mike Scioscia is hoping Joe Smith and Jason Grilli, who was just picked up from Pittsburgh, can do the job at closing time. The big plus-factor with both the Angels and Dodgers is hungry ownership. Arte Moreno bought the Angels from Disney in 2003, the year after they won that World Series over the Giants, They havent been back to the Fall Classic under his stewardship. The Dodgers ownership group, which includes Magic Johnson, bought the club in 2012 for a record $2 billion. They are determined to win a championship, something the Dodgers havent done since 1988. The Angels, who have played out of Orange County for the bulk of their existence have nearly always played second fiddle to the Dodgers in the L.A. market. The Dodgers hold the single game attendance record of 115,300, when they played their season opener at the old Memorial Coliseum as part of a charity fund-raising event. But the Angels are no slouches in the attendance department either. Last year marked their 11th-straight season of drawing at least 3 million fans. They have also had 30 seasons of drawing 2 million, which is second in Major League history to only the mighty Yankees. We havent had a so-called "Cross-town" World Series since 2000, when the Yankees beat the Mets in the battle of New York. The White Sox and Cubs havent done it since 1906, when the " no-hit wonder " White Sox defeated the Cubs. These kinds of match-ups are few and far between.They used to be commonplace in the early 20s and late 40s and throughout the 50s, when the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants all held sway in New York. Im not saying the Angels and Dodgers are definately going to meet in the World Series, but there is a decent shot, and it would provide some great storylines and some compelling viewing and listening. - The Yankees are a hard team to get a handle on. Theyre sitting at .500 at 42-42 in the A.L. East and theyve lost five more than theyve won at home.Yet for all of that, in Derek Jeters final season, they are still only three-and-a-half games back of the Orioles and Jays in the division. Still, what appears to be the weakest Yankees team in four decades will have to decide soon whether to become a buyer or seller at the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline. The new that C.C Sabathia has been shut down indefinately with a flair up of his swollen knee again, has got to have them thinking about next year and beyond. Still, they are the Yankees and this is Jeters final season. Stay tuned. Fake Balenciaga Cheap . The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. The selection was packaged in the teams deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013. Balenciaga Shoes Sale . The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was still dealing with the right shin he broke in a crash which ended his Tour de France on Stage 10. He hoped to defy his doctors and race in the home Grand Tour he won in 2008 and 2012, but he says there have been complications in his recovery. https://www.fakebalenciaga.com/. Russia has spent about $51 billion to deliver the Sochi Olympics, which run Feb. 7-23, making them the most expensive games ever, even though as a winter event it hosts many fewer athletes than summer games do. Fake Balenciaga From China .A. Happ capped a challenging season with one of his best efforts of the year. Fake Balenciaga For Sale . The triple gold medallist from the 2010 Paralympics tweeted on Tuesday: "Woke up with a virus yesterday. Timing couldnt be much worse. Not the ideal prep for the .SEATTLE - There was no prancing around the field in celebration or loud, passion-filled postgame interview lighting up social media.Richard Sherman slowly jogged off the field with his left arm pinned against his chest, just how it had been for most of the fourth quarter of Sundays NFC championship game.Seattles All-Pro cornerback had his left elbow painfully sandwiched between Green Bays James Starks and pursuing teammate Kam Chancellor on the first play of the fourth quarter.It was a bad hyperextension and Sherman was unable to straighten his arm.We had battled this long. The NFC championship is not the time to go out with an injury, Sherman said. If I can walk and I can still move my feet I think Ill play.Sherman leapt into the spotlight in last seasons NFC championship game against San Francisco, first with his deflected pass that Malcolm Smith intercepted to seal Seattles Super Bowl trip, followed by his loud, shouting TV interview with most of his anger directed at Colin Kaepernick and Michael Crabtree.This NFC title game was far quieter. Sherman intercepted Aaron Rodgers in the end zone on Green Bays opening possession, his second straight post-season game with an interception. But he was mostly silent otherwise, until doubling over in pain after getting the brunt of Chancellors hit on the first play of the fourth quarter.When Seattle was on defence, Sherman played with one arm, using his right hand to still jam and control receivers. Once he got to the sideline, Sherman immediately sat on the bench, head draped, rocking back and forth and seemingly trying to convince himself he could continue.Even Sherman was surprised that Rodgers didnt throw more his direction.I thought once I went down with my elbow the rest of the game I was going to have a lot of action, Sherman said. I think I still had pretty tight coverage on my guy.Only once was Sherman tasked with making an open-field stop. He tackled Jordy Nelson for a 6-yard gain on third down that forced Green Bay to settle for the field goal that forced overtime.Honestly I just kind of threw him around and hoped that I could get enough squeeze to get him down and fortunately my right arm came around. I just wanted to slow him down with my left, Sherman said. It didnt feel great. Im not going to lie.Sherman didnt give any diagnosis, other than to mention ligaments and he was leaving the rest to doctors. But asked about his availability for the Super Bowl, Sherman was certain.I will 100 per cent be able to play, he said.___INJURY WORRIES: Seattle has more injury concerns than just Sherman heading into the Super Bowl. All-Pro safety Earl Thomas suffered a left shoulder injury in the second quarter, but returned before halftime and played the entire second half. Guard J.R. Sweezy also appearred to be slowed by a foot injury in the second half but never left the game.dddddddddddd.Seattle coach Pete Carroll said he expected everyone to be available in two weeks.___QUIET LACY: Packers running back Eddie Lacy was succinct when asked to describe his feelings after the game.Sad, he said.Lacy finished with 21 carries for 73 yards in Green Bays loss. In a crucial possession in the fourth quarter, quarterback Aaron Rodgers handed off to Lacy three straight times, and Green Bay failed to get the first down.The Packers inability to convert a first down in the fourth quarter cost the team in the end. Lacy said he couldnt tell whether Seattle was using a run blitz on him.I was just out there trying to get as many yards as I could, he said.Lacy led the Packers following the regular season with 1,139 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. He ran for 101 yards in Green Bays 26-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys last weekend.Its tough, he said. For some guys, it lasts longer than others. Next year, we just use it as motivation, so when we get to this point again, well remember what happened today, and hopefully that will help us out.___NO. 1 VS. NO. 1: This was the 12th game since the 1970 merger in which the top-ranked scoring offence (Green Bay) played the stingiest scoring defence (Seattle). The defensive team has won seven times, including the past two: the Seahawks win over Denver in last years Super Bowl, and Sundays 28-22 victory for the NFC title.The other top defensive teams to win were the 1976 Steelers over the Colts in a divisional game; the 1978 Steelers over the Cowboys in the 79 Super Bowl; the 1980 Eagles over the Cowboys in the NFC championship; the 1984 49ers in the 85 Super Bowl against the Dolphins; the 1990 Giants vs. the Bills in the 91 Super Bowl; and the 2013 Seahawks over the Broncos in last Februarys Super Bowl.___GAME STATS: Rodgers had a 102.2 passer rating this season, but just a 55.8 Sunday, going 19 of 34 for 178 yards with one TD and two interceptions. He was sacked just once despite his diminished mobility, and also was plagued by several drops by his receivers.Russell Wilson, whose 36 regular-season wins are the most in any quarterbacks first three seasons, went 14 for 29 for 209 yards, with the four interceptions and one TD — which won the game. He was sacked five times.Marshawn Lynch had 37 yards at halftime, then rushed for 120 in the second half and OT.Seahawks All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner was in on 10 tackles, while Morgan Burnett led Green Bay with 10 tackles, including two sacks. Julius Peppers had 1 1/2 sacks for the Packers.___AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '