Best 15 Minutes in Sports–Thursday
….(Baseball)…….
Padres…Hire Aki Otsuka-former major league pitcher-becomes pitching coach at El Paso.
Padres…P-Miguel Diaz-Rule 5-pick-impressive so far-could make team as reliever so they can retain rights for a year.
Padres..P-Luis Perdomo-if does not make starting rotation may be sent to AAA to start season.
Dodgers..P-Julio Urias put on innings cap for season..likely (170inn)…may start year in extended spring training to preserve arm.
Dodgers..P-Brandon McCarthy-impressive lst outing of BP-had control problems last year after elbow surgery.
Dodgers…P-Hyun Jin-Ryu throws 30P-bullpen session Wednesday after live BP-on Monday…no setbacks from shoulder issues of a year ago….Scott Kazmir threw bullpen session also trying to fix mechanics-plagued by neck problems all last year.
Dodgers..1B-Adrian Gonazlez wants to see Dr. Neil El’Attrache to determine if he can start taking batting practice.
Angels..P-Matt Shoemaker throws first BP-since fractured skull from line drive end of last year.
(MLB)
Commissioner Rob Manfred…Invokes rule to bypass 4-pitch intentional walk-signal from dugout to umpire will allow baserunner to go to first.
MLB….Sends letter to Union giving them 1-year’s advance notice that MLB expects to invoke rule changes for 2018..including (:20) pitch clock..(:30) instant replay clock…Change in bottom of strike zone.
Union…Tony Clark says Rule changes must be negotiated per the CBA-cannot be invoked by MLB headquarters.
Union…Tony Clark calls Yankees President Randy Levine “unprofessional” for criticism of P-Dellan Betances after arbitration hearing.
MLB…Announces umpires Bob Davidson, John Hirshbeck, Jim Joyce, Tim Welke are retiring.
Pirates..SS-Juhg Ho-Kan facing 13,000-fine for 3rd DUI arrest in Japan….MLB may still discipline him.
(Camps)
Giants..P-Will Smith-shutdown-elbow issues
Texas..DH-Josh Hamilton leaves camp exam on painful knee joint-has had 3-surgeries.
Orioles..P-Zach Britton-minor oblique strain
Mets..3B-David Wright to throw every other day coming off neck surgery-won’t play till mid-March
(Exhibition Games)
Red Sox..Tigers…Phillies begin spring training games vs college teams today…Red Sox-vs-Northeastern….Tigers-vs-Florida Southern…Phillies-vs-UTampa.
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…….(Basketball)………….
Aztecs-L-Fresno State (63-58)…Setback for San Diego State….Aztecs ice-cold shooting in big segments of first half and 2nd half lead to loss..Deshon Taylor hit 9-straight free throws for Bulldogs to seal win….Aztecs went 6-and-half minutes without a basket-13 possessions without basket in first half…trailed by 11…..cut lead down to 1-midway thru 2nd half…then had 1-basket in 9-possession stretch-fell behind by 11-again….Aztecs shot 34% for game….went just (4-19) on 3’s…..SDSU big men combined (5-26) shooting….State goes from 4th to 6th place in standings because of loss…only 2nd loss in last 7-games but a costly one involving conference tourney pairings.
USD-vs-Gonzaga….Sellout tonite at Pavilion…Zags #1-in national (28-0)
ULCA-at-Arizona State..Bruins (24-3)…Thursday night matchup
#2-Villanova-L-Butler…Wildcats get beat at home-now (26-3)
#6-Oregon-W-Cal…Ducks stave off upset in Berkley
#7-Louisville-L-North Carolina..Heels fan ejected confronting Rick Pitino
#10-Duke-L-Syracuse…Orange get home win at Carrierdome
(NBA)
Lakers..GM-Mitch Kupchack writes letter of thanks to Lakers organization for 36-wonderful years of employment, as player, front office exec, and GM.
Clippers-Golden State….Warriors (47-9) heading into tonight’s game..
Lakers-at-Oklahoma City….LA (I19-39) coming off All Star break.
NBA Trading deadline this evening.
NYKnicks were shopping Carmelo Anthony to Clippers and Derrick Rose to Boston last night.
Clippers-Denver…were discussing last night deal for F-Wilson Chandler-for-Austin Rivers
Houston-Cavaliers..Discussing Pat Beverly for Iman Shumpert trade.
Bulls-Boston..had talks about G-Jimmy Butler.
Indiana-76ers…continued talks about C-Jaleel Okafor.
Dallas-Utah…Jazz trying to reacquire veteran G-Deron Williams.
Cleveland..Works out former Milwuakee #1-pick Larry Saunders.
Atlanta-76ers…Trade-Hawks send F-Tiago Splitter and #2 pick to Sixers for F-Ersan Ilyasova (14PPG).
Washington-Brooklyn..Trade-Wizards send #1 pick and 2-rookies to Nets for F-Bojan Bogdanovich and F-Chris McCullogh.
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………….(Football)…………
Chargers..Bring entire scouting staff into town this week-meetings to talk about free agency…New NFL calendar has the combines next week in Indianapolis…with free agency opening 48-hours after combines conclude-Free Agency starts March 9th.
Chargers…Introduce Anthony Lynn new coaching staff to LA media..highlited by new Def Coor-Gus Bradley….and return Ken Whisenhunt as Off Coor…Lynn says have 2-coordinators who have 11-years experience as head coaches is huge for him in development.
Bears…Hire Brandon Staley-LB-Coach..had been Def Coor at John Carroll University…Hire Zaen Azzanni-WR coach from U-Tennessee.
Tampa Bay..Reaches out of court settlement in 20M-lawsuit filed by former K-Lawrence Tynes-for reported 6M…1-of-3-Bucs players to contract staph infection in training facility….career ending infection.
49ers..Tom Gamble-longtime NFL scout leaving franchise with new GM-John Lynch coming on board.
Ed Garvey…former NFL Union Chief passes away (76)…Fought to break the Rozelle Rule to get players free agency…served as head of Union (1974-thru 1982).
(Roster)
Bears..put QB-Jay Cutler on NFL trade block..is due (12.3M) next year.
49ers..Sign FA-CB-K’Waun Williams-ex Cleveland Browns.
49ers…Coach Kyle Shanahan meets with QB-Colin Kaeperneck-discusses what new offense will look like…Kaeperneck can opt out of contract next week.
Redskins..WR-DeSean Jackson-about to become free agent-interested in talking to Tampa Bay-to play with QB-Jameis Winston and WR-Mike Evans.
(College)
Clemson..QB-DeShaun Watson says he will go thru all throwing workouts at Combine.l
Texas Tech..QB-Pat Mahomes said he filed for draft after being told he might be late 1st or early 2nd round pick in draft.
Washington..Huskies hire Matt Lubick as co-offensive coordinator…had been at Oregon last year…was supposed to go to Baylor but backed out of job.
Vanderbilt..Osia Lewis-LB coach-diagnosed with liver cancer…had served as DL-coach-5Y-San Diego State.
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……….(Hockey)………….
Gulls…Lose top G-Jhonas Enroth-called up by Ducks..Enroth was (10-2) with 1.44-goals against average with Gulls since coming over in Maple Leafs trade
Gulls…LW-Nick Kerdiles called up by Anaheim Ducks…(4G-in-10Games) this year in AHL.
Gulls..Open up 3-game road trip Friday nite in Texas.
Ducks-W-Boston…Rally from behind to tie Boston then get lead..Rikard Rakell 2-goals in win…..Anahiem (6-8) in last 14
Kings-Boston..Thursday night game.
Kings-Vancouver…Trade talks about Canucks G-Ryan Miller.
Kings..Put G-Jeff Zatkoff on waivers..was just (2-7) this year.
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……………(General)…………….
Daytona Twin 150….2-races tonight….Chase Elliott starts on pole in lst race…Dale Earnhardt pole sitter in 2nd race…rest of finishers today determine starting order for Daytona 500.
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