Despite changes, ‘Canes roster has familiar feel

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)—Turns out two of the newest Carolina Hurricanes aren’t really all that new.
Former Hurricanes Joe Corvo(notes) and Anton Babchuk(notes) are nfl jersey
back with the team after spending some time with other clubs.
And while two of Carolina’s most recognizable names may be gone—now that Rod Brind’Amour(notes) retired and Ray Whitney(notes) left via free agency—a pair of re-acquisitions certainly will provide a dose of familiarity around the RBC Center.
“It was just a no-brainer to come here,” Corvo said Wednesday, “and just make it feel like it was no time missed at all.”
The Hurricanes are relying on Corvo’s comfort level—and his sudden status as the team’s elder statesman—to help fill the inevitable leadership void that accompanied the departures of their two most experienced players.
With the 40-year-old Brind’Amour and the 38-year-old Whitney no longer around, the vibe in the Hurricanes’ dressing room can’t help but skew younger. Brind’Amour ended a two-decade playing career on the last day of June, and Whitney signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes one day later.
That leaves the 33-year-old Corvo as the oldest player on the roster. Only three others will be in their 30s this season, and the next oldest after that is forward Chad LaRose(notes), who’s 28.
All-Star Eric Staal(notes), who inherited the team captaincy from Indianapolis Colts jersey
Brind’Amour midway through last season, turns 26 in October.
“I always liked to poke fun with Rod about stuff, and have fun with him. A lot of guys didn’t do that,” LaRose said. “It’ll be a little different, I think, because it’ll be such a young locker room. The presence of Brind’Amour around is definitely something that you can’t replace. He’s an irreplaceable guy. But we know that Staal’s a great leader. … He’s going to fill in just fine for us.”
The Hurricanes can only hope their two not-so-new additions can mesh back with their teammates with minimal effort.
Babchuk was a key defenseman with a hard slap shot, scoring four game-winning goals for the Hurricanes in 2009 when they reached the Eastern Conference final. He played last season in Russia but agreed to a one-year deal with Carolina in July.
“That’s all we can ask, is to bring his big shot and solid defense, and we’ll be good,” LaRose said.
Corvo, also a critical component of that team, came back after he was traded to Washington at the deadline during a roster purge.
When his contract ran out after the season, the offensive-minded defenseman and power-play presence made an easy decision to return to Carolina. He signed a two-year deal worth $4.5 million in mid-July.
“For players my age, in particular, things weren’t that easy this summer. Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
No one’s throwing money or long-term deals at guys like me,” Corvo said. “In the end, it was about keeping my family happy and in a comfortable situation where I didn’t have to move, didn’t have to buy a new house somewhere in a city and get adjusted.
“Really, the whole Washington situation was such a short period of time where it almost feels like I was never there,” he added. “Easy room (in Carolina), easy guys to get along with. It should make for a better start of the season.”

With Lowe’s permission, Oilers’ Taylor Hall gets No. 4

No. 1 overall pick Taylor Hall(notes) will begin his NHL career while wearing No. 4 this season—thanks to Edmonton Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe, who the Edmonton Journal reports gave his OK to take the number off the nfl jerseys
shelf.
The number was not retired, but no Oilers player has worn it since Lowe's last game in 1997-98. Hall wore No. 4 when he starred for OHL Windsor. With Lowe's permission, he will wear it again.
The decision "wasn't difficult by any stretch," Minnesota Vikings jersey
said Lowe, a former defenseman. "I know I'm excited to see No. 4 back out on the ice again. The first time I saw him play, I just thought, ‘Wow, it's odd that a forward looks good in 4.' It was really as simple as that."
Hall, who had said he would not ask for the number out of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
respect for his boss, was No. 19 at the Oilers' development camp in July.
"I knew a week ago. I finally had a chance to talk to Kevin about it," Hall told the newspaper. "He seemed pretty adamant about passing on the torch. It's pretty prestigious."
________________________________________

Crosby homers as Penguins take batting practice

PITTSBURGH (AP)—If the Pittsburgh Pirates need an answer to their power-hitting problems, maybe they can find it across town in Penguins star Sidney Crosby(notes).
The former NHL MVP homered into PNC Park’s right-field seats nfl jersey
while taking batting practice Wednesday with Indianapolis Colts jersey
eight Penguins teammates. Crosby, who played youth baseball in Canada until he was 13, was the only one of the group to reach the seats.
The session was arranged by former first baseman Sean Casey, who recently toured Haiti with Penguins forwards Max Talbot(notes) and Mike Rupp.
Crosby missed by several feet of homering during his first round of Dallas Cowboys jersey
batting practice before going deep on the 15th swing of his second round.

Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln to employees: "We're doing everything we can to win on the field"

Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln rarely speaks outside of press conferences and when he does, people tend to pay close attention since he is the top-ranking team official outside of Japan-based owner Hiroshi Yamauchi. Nearly two weeks ago, on Aug. 27, Lincoln sent out an e-mail to team employees.
Some context: the e-mail was sent out four days after I football jerseys
interviewed Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and general manager Jack Zduriencik about their handling of the Josh Lueke trade. At the time, both were made aware we were planning on running a story about Lueke's court case and their actions before and since the deal. That story did appear last Thursday, six days after Lincoln's e-mail went out to team employees.
Top team officials, including Armstrong and Zduriencik, have not spoken in public to reporters since our story came out last week. Many of you have asked me what Lincoln thinks about how things have gone this season, and I can honestly tell you that I do not know for certain.
But this e-mail, obtained by us this week, does offer a glimpse at what he's telling his own employees about his feelings. It was written, let's remember, less than three weeks after manager Don Wakamatsu and three coaches were fired. The title of the e-mail is "Media Attacks" but the content of it goes deeper than complaining about the media and offers, I think, insight into how he views the team and where it's at.
Here is the e-mail in full:
"If it seems to you like the local media is going out of its way to trash the Mariners, well, you're right, they are! And you can expect this to continue as the season winds down. We're getting hit like never before--or at least never before in recent memory! Indeed, if you read between the lines, you get the clear impression that at least one beat reporter would love nothing better than to step right in and run the Mariners. (Don't worry, that's not going to happen!)
None of us likes to read about our organization being "dysfunctional" or inPittsburgh Steelers jersey
"panic" or that we fire employees without good cause or that we'd be much better off if a few heads at the top were lopped off. All of us know that this is a fine organization with dedicated and hard working employees and that we're doing everything we can to win on the field and to provide our fans with a first class entertainment experience at Safeco Field.
I want you to know that Chuck, Jack and I have very thick skins and that nothing said by the folks in the media or, for that matter, the bloggers, is going to distract us from continuing to do our jobs to the best of our ability, with the goal of giving our fans a championship team. In due course, we will let our fans know of our plans for the future and of our commitment to them. And we look forward to working with you as we put these plans together.
"I recently read a blog from Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks in which he explained his reasons for attempting to acquire the Texas Rangers. He had something to say about the media that for me, really rang true. Here is what he said:
"What I have learned in 11 years in the sports business is that the dumbest guys in the room are always the media guys. Some do a decent job of reporting, most just spew opinions. And those opinions change more often than they brush their teeth. So what the media was saying (about his effort to acquire the Rangers) was of zero impact or influence on what I was doing. Listening to the media only increases your odds of failing at whatever you are doing. So I ignore them."
I hope each of you take Mark Cuban's remarks to heart. Don't Dallas Cowboys jersey
pay attention to what the local media is saying. Keep doing your job. And keep your heads up. You have every right to be very proud of this organization and for what it stands for."

By any name, Seahawks' Tyler Polumbus is a candidate to replace Russell Okung

RENTON — "Troy hasn't been with us but a week," coach Pete Carroll said.
Actually, coach, it's Tyler. Tyler Polumbus. He's the offensive tackle the Seahawks acquired in a trade with Detroit on Aug. 31, the one who started eight games for the Broncos last season.
Polumbus is a candidate to start at left tackle Sunday when the Seahawks open nfl jerseys
the season against San Francisco. Rookie Russell Okung is out because of a high ankle sprain. Chester Pitts, who is coming off knee surgery, is the other possibility.
"Whether we go with Chester or whether we go with Troy Polumbus, we'll have to wait and see," Carroll said.
Though Carroll is eight months removed Minnesota Vikings jersey
from USC, it appears he's having a hard time letting go of the men of Troy.
Art Valero, the Seahawks assistant offensive-line coach, acknowledged the difficulty that uncertainty at the left tackle poses.
"We just continue to move on," Valero said. "That's just the thing we have to do. It's not what happens to you that matters, it's what you do about it. Whomever that guy is, whether it's Chester Pitts, whether it's Tyler Polumbus, you've got to go."
This presumably would apply to an offensive lineman named Troy, too. If the Seahawks had one, which they don't.

Mariners fall to Oakland Athletics 4-3

OAKLAND, Calif. — If only the Mariner Moose had finished the job, his ballclub might have gotten theirs done in this series.
It was three years ago last month that the Mariners team mascot, driving an all-terrain vehicle at Safeco Field, barely missed running over Coco Crisp, then of the Boston Red Sox and now residing here with the Oakland Athletics. But Crisp lived to enact some revenge, which cheap nfl jerseys
he took this week by running right over the Mariners, sealing a 4-3 loss for Seattle on Wednesday night by driving in three runs.
Crisp isn't known as much of a power guy, but hit his second homer in three games this series, off Luke French in the third inning, to launch an Oakland comeback from a 3-0 deficit.
"He's done pretty well against me," French said. "It's just a matter of making pitches on him. He's a good hitter and he's not an easy out by any means."
Not this series he wasn't.
Crisp sent 15,180 fans at the Coliseum home happy by driving in the decisive sixth-inning run with a single through the right side after the Mariners failed to turn an inning-ending double play. Mariners shortstop Josh Wilson mishandled the transfer on the double-play attempt, got one out at second, but allowed the tying run to score when he dropped the ball before he could make a throw to first.
The base hit by Crisp came right after that. Seattle had opened the game with a two-run homer from Russell Branyan in the first inning and a solo shot by Matt Tuiasosopo in the second, both off Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez, to take a 3-0 lead.
But Branyan flied out with the bases loaded to end the second inning and Seattle managed just two hits the rest of the game. Gonzalez fanned Branyan with Chone Figgins at second base to end the seventh inning and the Mariners went six up, six down from there off Oakland's bullpen.
Crisp was 2 for 4 with the three runs batted in. He went 5 for 9 with two homers and seven RBI in the series and is 10 for 22 off Seattle pitching this season.
French wasn't in the game by the time Crisp hit the decisive single off Jamey Wright in the sixth. But Crisp was a major reason the night came undone for French in the third.
Crisp's home run was a line drive that landed in a picnic area Dallas Cowboys jersey
beyond the left-field fence known as the BBQ Terrace. A lone fan, dressed head to toe in A's garb, took a flying leap off a picnic table in attempting to catch the scorcher.
Instead, he missed the ball completely and did a belly flop on to the concrete floor in full view of thousands of horrified — and some slightly amused — fans. But, after dusting himself off, the fan got up and walked away seemingly unharmed.
French wasn't nearly as fortunate. He survived jams with two runners on in the fourth and fifth innings, but his pitch count was soaring by the time Mark Ellis doubled off the wall to begin the sixth.
"It was one of those nights, it was a little tough," he said. "I obviously didn't feel like I had the best stuff and struggled a little bit. But I was able to make a few pitches here and there to get out of some jams."
And Wright nearly got him off the hook in that sixth until Wilson couldn't complete the double play. Wilson knew that the batter, Cliff Pennington, gets to first base really quick and he also had a hard slide into second by lead runner Steve Tolleson distracting him as he tried to transfer the ball to his throwing hand.
"He was coming in pretty quick, he was on me," Wilson said of Tolleson. "I think I tried to be too fast, too quick."
Crisp then capped the rally moments later with the kind of clutch hit the Mariners had needed far earlier in the game.
Seattle had plenty of big hits and smaller breaks in scoring seven runs to win the middle game of the series, but none after Tuiasosopo's homer in the second inning this time.
"I keep talking about a big hit that kind of Indianapolis Colts jersey
puts the game away," Mariners manager Daren Brown said. "But we just didn't get it."
Crisp had the only big swings that mattered in this game. And throughout a three-game series in which — unlike the Mariner Moose — he seemed to hit everything in his path.

Tuesday’s National League Capsules

PHILADELPHIA(AP) —Placido Polanco(notes) hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and Philadelphia beat Florida 8-7 on Tuesday night to move into first place in the NL East.
The Phillies moved a half-game ahead of football jersey
Atlanta, which lost 5-0 in Pittsburgh. The two-time defending NL champions hadn’t been in first place since May 30. They are seeking their fourth straight division title.
Ryan Howard(notes), Raul Ibanez(notes) and Shane Victorino(notes) hit solo homers for the Phillies, who were seven games behind the Braves on July 22.
After the Marlins rallied to tie it at 7 in the eighth, the Phillies answered with two outs in the bottom half. Victorino blooped a single to center off Jose Veras(notes) (2-2). He stole second and scored on Polanco’s liner to right.
Ryan Madson(notes) (5-2) got the last four outs to earn the win.
Mike Stanton(notes) homered for the third straight game for Florida.
Brewers 4, Cardinals 2=
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Trevor Hoffman(notes) added another milestone to his illustrious career, earning his 600th save by closing out Milwaukee’s win.
Four people were ejected by plate umpire Bob Davidson, including a fan, on a night that ended with Hoffman being carried off the field by his teammates.
The 42-year-old reliever, baseball’s career saves leader, lost his job as the Brewers’ closer in May after a string of bad outings. But he’s pitched better of late and has been getting ninth-inning work as the team tried to get him to No. 600.
The right-hander entered in the ninth and gave up a bloop single to Colby Rasmus(notes). Pinch-hitter Randy Winn(notes) grounded into a double play. Hoffman got pinch-hitter Aaron Miles(notes) to ground out and raised his arms in triumph as teammates rushed to mob him near the mound.
It was Hoffman’s ninth save in 14 chances this season, and 600th in 676 career chances.
Rockies 4, Reds 3=
DENVER (AP) - Carlos Gonzalez(notes) hit a three-run homer and Jhoulys Chacin(notes) pitched six strong innings in Colorado’s fifth consecutive win.
Gonzalez’s homer in the first inning was his 32nd of the season and gave him 100 RBIs. He’s in prime position to challenge for the NL Triple Crown, leading in average (.340), taking over the top spot in RBIs and vaulting into a third-place tie with Joey Votto(notes) and Mark Reynolds(notes) in homers.
Cincinnati dropped its third straight, but still maintained a six-game lead over St. Louis, which lost to Milwaukee 4-2.
Chacin (8-9) turned in his fourth straight outing in which he has surrendered two earned runs or less. The rookie right-hander allowed two runs and six hits, struck out five and walked one.
Huston Street(notes) worked the ninth for his 16th save.
Johnny Cueto(notes) (12-5) was with the Reds after missing a few days to attend a family emergency in the Dominican Republic. The righty lasted six innings, giving up four runs - three earned - and seven hits.
Padres 2, Dodgers 1=
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Mat Latos(notes) bounced back from stomach flu to strike out 10 for the third time in four starts for NL West-leading San Diego.
Latos held Los Angeles to four hits over seven innings. He set a major league record with his 15th straight start of five or more innings with two or fewer runs allowed. He had been tied with Greg Maddux(notes) (1993-94) and Mike Scott (1986) with 14.
Latos (14-5), who was scratched from his start Monday night due to stomach flu, lowered his major league-leading ERA from 2.25 to 2.21. His 10 strikeouts matched his career high, and his 113 pitches were a career high. He walked none.
Heath Bell(notes) got a five-out save, his 39th in 42 chances this year and his 26th straight.
It was the second straight win for the Padres following their 10-game losing streak. San Diego retained its one-game lead over San Francisco, which won 6-3 at Arizona.
Giants 6, Diamondbacks 3=
PHOENIX (AP) - Tim Lincecum(notes) struck out 11 and San Francisco hit three homers.
The Giants have won four straight and six of Dallas Cowboys jersey
seven.
Lincecum (13-9) allowed one runner, Miguel Montero’s(notes) single, through six innings before the Diamondbacks broke through in the seventh. He left after 6 2-3 innings, giving up three runs and five hits with no walks in 6 2-3 innings.
Aubrey Huff(notes), Freddy Sanchez(notes) and Pat Burrell(notes) homered off Barry Enright(notes) (6-3).Jeremy Affeldt(notes) induced a game-ending double play for a one-pitch save. It was his fourth of the season.
Chris Young homered for the Diamondbacks in a game that took just 2 hours, 16 minutes - Arizona’s shortest of the year.
Pirates 5, Braves 0=
PITTSBURGH (AP) - James McDonald(notes) pitched seven innings, Ronny Cedeno’s(notes) triple keyed a five-run seventh and last-place Pittsburgh beat Atlanta for the second straight day.
The Braves have scored only 12 runs while losing five of six, a slump that followed a five-game winning streak. The Pirates had lost seven of nine and were on pace to lose 109 games before winning the first two games of the three-game series.
Tim Hudson(notes) (15-7) held the Pirates to three hits over six shutout innings, but he retired only one batter during the Pirates’ breakthrough seventh. He was charged with four runs after pitching 28 consecutive innings against Pittsburgh without allowing an earned run.
McDonald (3-5) gave up five hits in seven innings.
Mets 4, Nationals 1=
WASHINGTON (AP) - Dillon Gee(notes) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his major league debut to lead New York.
The 24-year-old right-hander did a masterful job over seven innings. Willie Harris(notes) led off the sixth with a home run to right field, the only run the rookie would allow.
In a rare matchup of pitchers making big league debuts, Gee (1-0) outpitched Yunesky Maya(notes), a 28-year-old Cuban defector. Maya (0-1) allowed a three-run first-inning homer to Ike Davis(notes) and a run in the second before retiring 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.
Gee had an RBI single in his first major league at-bat, a single to right that scored Ruben Tejada(notes). For a while, Gee was the most perfect player in baseball history, sporting a 1.000 batting average and a 0.00 ERA. He spoiled it when he struck out in the fourth.
Astros 7, Cubs 3=
CHICAGO (AP) - Michael Bourn(notes) had three hits and three RBIs and Brett Wallace(notes) hit his first career home run for Houston.
Bourn scored twice for the Astros, who won for the 12th time in 16 games.
Astros starter Nelson Figueroa(notes) (5-2) pitched five innings to earn Minnesota Vikings jersey
the victory. He allowed three runs and six hits. Figueroa was backed by four scoreless innings from the Houston bullpen, which allowed only one hit.
Cubs starter Carlos Silva(notes) (10-6), who made his first start since Aug. 1, was tagged for six runs and nine hits in five innings.
Tyler Colvin(notes) drove in two runs on two hits for the Cubs.