They took it to us, obviously and beat us. And we didnt respond

ATLANTA -- Fredi Gonzalez sat down and started writing out projected lineups last week as soon as he heard the Braves had traded for Justin Upton. nike Free Online Schweiz. It didnt take long. The manager says making out lineups just got easier. Gonzalez used 107 lineups last year, sometimes adjusting due to the opposing pitcher. He said his juggling days are over. He says Justin Upton will be the No. 3 hitter. Older brother B.J. Upton, who signed with Atlanta in November, and catcher Brian McCann, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, will follow in the middle of the lineup. "When you have B.J. and Justin and a healthy McCann, thats the middle of your lineup," Gonzalez said. "It doesnt matter who is pitching against you that night. Those are your three. Having those three there, its going to be a little easier." McCann may miss the first two weeks of the season. Gerald Laird, McCanns new backup, had his first workouts in the teams voluntary pitching camp on Tuesday. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons is the new leadoff hitter. Jason Heyward is expected to hit second. First baseman Freddie Freeman, second baseman Dan Uggla and one of two third basemen, Chris Johnson and Juan Francisco, complete the lineup. Justin Upton, acquired with Johnson from Arizona in a seven-player trade on Thursday, had his first news conference on Tuesday. B.J. was in the audience with the brothers beaming parents, Manny and Yvonne. The Upton brothers dreamed of playing together in the same outfield but assumed their best chance would come later in their careers. "No, I didnt think it would happen this year," said Justin Upton. "You dont get that lucky." As he tried on his new No. 8 Braves jersey, Justin said it was "a special day for my family." The Uptons parents already have their season tickets -- close enough to the field for the brothers to know they are there. "B.J. got seats. He was nice to us," said Manny Upton. "So were right where Mom can holler at him when hes on deck. And she will holler at him." Said Yvonne: "Now I get to see two for one." B.J., 28, signed a five-year, $75.25 million contract to be the Braves centerfielder. Manny Upton said the talk of the brothers playing together took a more serious tone in recent years. "For it to happen right now is just unbelievable," said Manny Upton. "To play on a team that has a legitimate chance to go to the World Series and at a young age, thats marvelous." The brothers said they will have to establish boundaries with the Braves. Justin smiled when asked if he expected to have a locker next to his brother in the Braves clubhouse. "It might start out with us near each other but by the end of it maybe switching," Justin said with a laugh. "You never know." Justin had a quick answer when asked if he planned to live with B.J. "No!" he said before the question could be completed. "Well see each other plenty at the field. Obviously well ride to the field together some. We both live on our own. We both need our space." Added B.J.: "We still butt heads. We do all the things that brothers do." Manny Upton said he expected his sons to get along just like when they were kids. "I think it will be like the backyard," said the elder Upton. "They are competitive but not to the point where its bad. Theyll get after it. Like Justin said, they may sit together at the beginning but by the end they might be separated." The Uptons will join Heyward, who won his first Gold Glove in right field last season, to form one of baseballs best outfields. Justin, who played right field in Arizona, said he agreed to move to left field because Heyward "has the hardware." "I havent played left at all," Justin said. "The more reps I can get from the left side of the field is going to be key in spring training. It should be a pretty smooth transition. Obviously its a change so its going to take some time but I think I can get used to it." Justin, an All-Star in 2009 and 2011, has averaged 23 homers, 78 RBIs and 19 stolen bases the last four seasons. He finished fourth in the MVP voting in 2011 when he hit .289 with 31 homers, 88 RBIs and 21 steals. He hit a career-high .300 in 2009. "We think he gives us one of the most dynamic outfields in all of baseball," Wren said. "We think it really improves what weve been looking to do over last few years, to get younger and more athletic and have that kind of offence that can be explosive." The Braves gave up former All-Star infielder Martin Prado, one of their top pitching prospects, Randall Delgado, and three minor leaguers in the deal with Arizona. Atlanta also will have to adjust to the retirement of third baseman Chipper Jones and the exit of centerfielder and leadoff hitter Michael Bourn, who was not re-signed. Wren said the 2013 Braves lineup will be "much improved from a year ago." Added Justin Upton: "We want to win a World Series and on paper I think were good enough to do it. We have the players to do it." Nike Free 3.0 Amphibious Laufschuhe Lila. LOUIS -- The NHL board of governors has approved the sale of the St. Nike Free 3.0 Run+ 2S Laufschuhe. With the winning run at second and two outs in the bottom of the 12th at soggy PNC Park, Harrison didnt pass up a first-pitch fastball from Fernando Rodriguez. http://www.nikefreeschweiz.ch/nike-free-3-0-v3-ad-17/. Wades 36 miserable hours of migraine headaches had passed, his head was clear and his game, well, hed prove his game was back in championship form. Nike Free 3.0 V3 Laufschuhe Blau Dunkel Blau Weiß. With the Chiefs up 2-1, Everett goalie Kent Simpson dropped his stick on an innocent play behind the net late in the second period. Marek Kalus got the puck along the right wall and fired a shot at Simpson, who stopped the puck but couldnt keep Mike Aviani from banging in the rebound. Nike Free Schweiz. The Italian Football Federation announced early Friday morning that Di Vaio had been acquitted on all charges against him in a match-fixing case in his native Italy. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ron Washingtons reigning AL champions are on quite a roll, finding ways to win the tough ones -- and the strange ones -- exactly when they want to be playing their best. They held on through all kinds of interesting circumstances Sunday. David Murphy hit a tiebreaking RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning, and Texas survived after blowing a six-run lead to beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 and complete a three-game series sweep. Mike Adams (1-1) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth for the victory, then Neftali Feliz finished for his 23rd save in 29 chances as the Rangers won their fourth straight road game heading into a key four-game series with the Angels in Anaheim. "Were excited about it," slugger Josh Hamilton said of his teams recent run of success. "I dont want to say it relaxes us, but it makes us want to get after it more and send a message. A month and a half to go, all the rest of the series with them are very important." Mitch Moreland hit a sacrifice fly, Michael Young and Mike Napoli each drew bases-loaded walks against former Ranger Rich Harden and first-place Texas extended its winning streak in the rivalry to eight games. The Rangers (69-52) also moved a season-best 17 games over .500. Andrew Bailey (0-3) issued a one-out walk to Moreland in the ninth. Craig Gentry came in to run for Moreland and stole second on a 1-2 count to put himself in good position on Murphys single to centre. "I cant put a guy on in that situation," Bailey said. This marks the As longest skid against the Rangers since dropping nine in a row from June 19-Sept. 30, 1986. Texas outscored Oakland 23-8 in the series -- and did so without a single home run. The Rangers left a man on base every inning Sunday. Oaklands Hideki Matsui hit a tying RBI single in the sixth after he was brushed back twice by reliever Darren Oliver, once even going to the ground to get out of the way. A day after the As committed four errors, they had another blunder. Right-fielder David DeJesus dropped a routine fly ball by Ian Kinsler in the fifth, allowing two runs to score. In the bottom half, Kinsler misplayed a bouncing grounder to second that went under his glove and brought home Oaklands first two runs. The game had a little bit of everything: an Oakland comeback that fell short, a hit batter and wild pitch that scored Texas initial run, the two defensive mistakes and a balk. Rangers starter Matt Harrison even turned his attention for a brief moment to the folkloric dancers who performed on "Fiesta Day" right behind home plate as he warmed up in the middle of the sixth. Harrisons concern was hitting someone if the ball got past his catcher. "You dont see that every day," Washington said. "It sort of distracted Harrison -- not because he couldnt get in rhythm but because he didnt want to let one get away. That had nothing to do with how the sixth inning unfolded. They swung the bats." Harriison was done that inning. Nike Free 6.0 Laufschuhe Rosa Blau Weiß He allowed Scott Sizemores leadoff double, an RBI single to Kurt Suzuki one out later and then Brandon Allens RBI double. No. 9 hitter Cliff Pennington walked and Washington turned to Oliver. Late lineup addition and newcomer Allen provided the highlights for Oakland, which lost its third straight on the heels of a 4-2 road trip. The finale was considered an improvement, though, after the As lost 9-1 on Friday and 7-1 on Saturday. "In our dugout, the feeling was that we were going to win that game, no question, once we tied it up," manager Bob Melvin said. "So the mojo kind of turned for us a bit. ... They took it to us, obviously and beat us. And we didnt respond very well during those (first two) games. To be able to come back and do what we did today kind of in the face of all of what Ive been talking about was a good sign." Allen singled leading off the third for his first hit since joining the As, then produced another base hit to start the fifth. He also had the double in the sixth. Allen, acquired in last months trade with Arizona that sent reliever Brad Ziegler to the Diamondbacks, was called up from triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Harrison received a mound visit from pitching coach Mike Maddux after loading the bases with one out in the third. He calmly got out of it unscathed, retiring Matsui on a flyout and cleanup hitter Josh Willingham on a swinging strikeout. Harden fell behind right away against his former team. He hit leadoff man Kinsler with a pitch, then got Elvis Andrus on a flyout before four straight Rangers reached base. Texas first run scored on a wild pitch, then Napoli drew a bases-loaded walk and Moreland added his sacrifice fly. Harden walked in another run in the fourth when Young drew a free pass. Harden wound up with a season-high five walks over four innings. The right-hander hadnt issued five walks since last Aug. 23 while with Texas. The reigning AL champion Rangers released Harden after the 2010 regular season, in which he struggled with injuries and control. Harden received a $1.5 million, one-year contract in December to rejoin Oakland, his original team. NOTES: Rangers DH Yorvit Torrealba extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a leadoff single in the fourth. Youngs hitting streak ended at 12 games. ... Oakland scratched 1B Conor Jackson from the lineup because of neck tightness. Allen took his place. ... As CF Coco Crisp returned to the lineup after missing six games with a strained right calf. ... Texas has won 17 of 21 vs. the AL West since May 15. ... LHP Gio Gonzalez (9-10) pitches Mondays series opener for the As against Baltimore trying to end a four-start losing streak. Gonzalez is 0-5 with a 5.82 ERA in six starts against AL East clubs this year. ... RHP Alexi Ogando (11-5) takes the ball in Texas opener with the Angels. Ogando, 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA lifetime vs. Los Angeles, looks to take over the team lead in victories. ' ' '

Posted by iertioy on Sun, 10/13/2013 - 5:42pm