CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Pitching coach Bryan Price was first on the Reds list of manager candidates.
Jiri
Hudler Flames Jersey . Three hours of answering every question tossed his
way ended their search rather quickly. After one interview, it was over. The
Reds stayed in-house for their next manager, giving Price a three-year deal
Tuesday that came with expectations that hell take them deep into the playoffs
right away. "Bryan is exceptional," owner Bob Castellini said. "Weve been
fortunate to be with him long enough to know how exceptional he is. "I cant tell
you how well this has fit in for us. We did not have to go out and do a search,"
he said. "We had the person we felt could take this team deep into the
post-season and then some." Dusty Baker led the Reds to three 90-win seasons and
three playoff appearances in the last four years, their best stretch of success
since Sparky Anderson managed the Big Red Machine in the 1970s. But Cincinnati
got knocked out in the first round of the post-season each time. The Reds fired
Baker with a year left on his two-year deal after a final-week fade that
included an implosion by the pitching staff. Cincinnati lost its last six games,
including a 6-2 defeat at PNC Park in the wild-card playoff against the Pirates.
General manager Walt Jocketty said the closing slump was a major factor in the
decision to make a change. Jocketty considered two in-house candidates: Price
and Triple-A manager Jim Riggleman. Price got the first interview and impressed
everyone so much that Jocketty didnt interview anyone else. "I was convinced
that Bryan was our guy just because of the past association weve had with him,"
Jocketty said. "I think that to bring other people in just for the process of
going through an interview -- to me, I wouldnt want that." The job carries
enormous expectations for the 51-year-old Price, who has been one of the most
successful pitching coaches in the majors but has never managed at any level. He
interviewed for the Marlins job last year, which got him thinking that hed like
to be a manager some day. Given his four successful seasons in Cincinnati, he
wanted to stay if possible. "Its a team thats capable of doing even more," Price
said. "I think we certainly should talk very optimistically about the three
playoff appearances in the last four years, which were maybe somewhat
discredited because we hadnt gotten past the first round. "Considering the 15
years prior, it was definitely a huge step in the right direction," Price added.
"But we all have expectations of getting beyond that." Price was a left-handed
pitcher for six years in the minors, his career scuttled by elbow surgery. He
started his coaching career in Seattles farm system and was the Mariners
pitching coach from 2000-05. He moved to Arizona as pitching coach from 2006-09,
resigning there after Bob Melvin was replaced. Jocketty hired him to replace
Dick Pole in Cincinnati, where he helped the Reds staff develop into one of the
NLs best during his four seasons working with Baker. Now, Jocketty has several
important lineup decisions to make to try to keep the Reds competitive in the NL
Central, which sent three teams to the playoffs. Division champion St. Louis
opens the World Series against Boston on Wednesday. The Pirates passed the Reds
for second place and home-field advantage for the wild-card playoff during the
final week of the season. The pitching staff will have some changes, with
starter Bronson Arroyo eligible for free agency. Left-hander Tony Cingrani made
his debut last season and showed he could win in the majors, but was sidelined
by back problems in September. Ace Johnny Cueto missed most of the season with
shoulder problems. The Reds have to decide whether to keep left-hander Aroldis
Chapman as their closer or move him into a starting role. Price would have
preferred making him a starter. If he gets moved into the rotation, the Reds
dont have anyone with appreciable experience at closing games. He and Jocketty
said they hadnt made any decisions on the pitching staff or the everyday lineup.
The offence struggled last season with no consistent right-handed hitter.
Cleanup hitter Ryan Ludwick tore cartilage in his right shoulder on a slide on
opening day and missed most of the season. He returned in mid-August and hit
only two homers with the shoulder still bothering him. Joey Votto and leadoff
hitter Shin-Soo Choo led the NL in on-base percentage, but Choo is a free agent.
Billy Hamilton created a sensation with his speed when he was called up in
September, but struggled to get on base consistently in Triple-A before his
first promotion to the majors.
Mike
Vernon Flames Jersey . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and
a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest
serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the
organization.
Dennis
Wideman Flames Jersey . Dane Dobbie had four goals and two assists, Karsen
Leung had two goals and two assists, and Matthew Dinsdale scored two and helped
on another for Calgary (6-3). Shawn Evans and Jeff Shattler had eight-point
games with a goal and seven assists apiece, and Jon Harnett and Geoff Snider
also scored.
http://www.jerseyofficialhockeyflames.com/mikael-backlund-hockey-jersey/ . – Team Canadas Brooke Henderson carded a 4-under 67 at Craigowan Golf and
Country Club to jump into the lead at the Canadian Womens Amateur Championship
on Wednesday. TORONTO -- All coach Randy Carlyle wanted his Toronto Maple Leafs
to do was breathe. "Thats been our catchphrase now, because you cant do anything
if you dont breathe," he said. Breathe despite seeing an eight-game losing
streak all but ruin their playoff chances. Breathe despite blowing a two-goal,
third-period lead to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at Air Canada Centre.
The Leafs did that, then got a chance to exhale with a 4-3 overtime victory
that, if nothing else, keeps their hopes alive for another couple of days. "Were
alive, but theres a lot of things that have to go our way," Carlyle said. "Make
sure that we dont get too far ahead of ourselves. Weve only won two games here."
Nazem Kadris goal 2:51 into overtime was just one of several pieces that must
fall into place for the Leafs to rebound and make the playoffs as a wild card in
the Eastern Conference. They likely need to also win all four of their remaining
games, as they got no help Thursday night from the Columbus Blue Jackets, who
beat the Philadelphia Flyers to remain one point ahead (85 to 84). The Blue
Jackets also have two more games left to play, leaving the Leafs (38-32-8) to
hope for help along the way. They could also have to lean on backup goaltender
James Reimer, after starter Jonathan Bernier left Thursday nights game 7:22 into
the third period with what Carlyle would only say was a lower-body injury.
Bernier, who missed five games with a groin injury last month, was set for an
MRI, according to Carlyle. In stopping 10 of the 11 shots he faced in relief
throughout the remainder of the third and overtime, Reimer picked up his first
victory since March 13. "Worried for Jonathans health, obviously. But its not
worrisome with James coming in," winger Troy Bodie said. "Hes a good goalie, hes
proven himself. He went in there and did a great job." Reimer had to do a great
job because the Bruins (52-18-7) were pushing. They had already cut the Leafs
lead -- which was built on goals by Paul Ranger, Tyler Bozak and
James van Riemsdyk -- to one by the time Bernier was forced to leave. The play
that led to Berniers injury even included a penalty on Ranger, who pushed Bruins
centre Patrice Bergeron into the goaltender. Reimer came in and got the Leafs
through the penalty kill before allowing the tying goal to Bergeron at the 12:51
mark of the third. "It showed some character to be able to come back against a
desperate team like Toronto," said Bruins forward Milan Lucic, who scored
Bostons second goal of the night 5:03 into the third. "These are the type of the
situations you can find yourselves in in the playoffs." The Leafs can still
dream and hope for the playoffs because Reimer stopped the next six shots he
faced, holding on long enough to allow Kadri to eventually be the hero on the
power play in overtime. "I tried to hold the boys in there and keep it close,"
Reimer said. "I had faith in the boys. They pulled it out, and obviously it was
a good feeling." Any other feeling than the thrill of victory on Thursday niight
wouldve almost certainly ended the Leafs chances, especially given the Blue
Jackets win in Philadelphia and their extra games left.
Kris
Versteeg Flames Jersey. Kadri said after the teams morning skate that he
and his teammates were well aware of their spot in the standings, which is much
further down than they were a few weeks ago. They also knew the Bruins were atop
the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division and had all but clinched home
ice throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. In losing back-to-back
games for the first time since Feb. 26 and March 1, Boston mightve picked up a
vital lesson after a month filled with so much winning. "Its adversity that were
going to face in the playoffs," Bergeron said. "Weve got to make sure that we
realize that." Lessons in losing are cheap for the Leafs with time running
short. They have just four games left, beginning Saturday night against the
Winnipeg Jets. Thats their home finale before travelling to face the Tampa Bay
Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators to close out the season. Asked
if he thought his Leafs would have to run the table to make the playoffs,
Carlyle responded simply: "I just worry about the next one." That has been the
mantra dating to Torontos losing streak, which ended Tuesday with a victory over
the Calgary Flames. Now the Leafs are on a winning streak, their first since
March 8 and 10. "Weve won two in a row now, so thats a starting point," Bozak
said. "We have huge games coming up here to end the season. But that was a tough
test for our team tonight, and we were able to come out on top." Just being able
to come out on top against one of the NHLs top teams gave the Leafs a boost of
confidence. But listen to players within the locker-room and there was never any
of that missing. "We always have the confidence in our group no matter what
happens and I think we have a good core group of leadership in here and guys
that are all pulling the rope in the same direction," said van Riemsdyk, who hit
the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. "We stuck with it, even
though things were tough, were going to have to continue to take it one game at
a time, one shift at a time and go from there." NOTES -- Winger Joffrey Lupul
was scratched with a lower-body injury and replaced in the lineup by
Jerry DAmigo. Carlyle did not know for sure but called Lupul "doubtful" for
Saturdays game against Winnipeg. ... First-liner Phil Kessel, who has been
playing with a bruised right foot, had two assists for his first multi-point
game since March 10. ... Bodie played 20:29, by far a career-high. Carlyle
explained that was a product of wanting to create a checking line to open up van
Riemsdyk, Bozak and Kessel for more favourable ice time. ... Former Flames
captain Jarome Iginla returned to the Bruins lineup after missing the Bruins 3-2
loss to the Red Wings with what the team called a lower-body injury. ... Bruins
forward Carl Soderberg returned to Boston for the birth of his child, which
meant Jordan Caron played his second straight game.
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