One of the great misnomers in baseball is the offseason, because there is no offseason. Baseball has become a 12-month sport, the late fall and winter being a time for trades, free agent signings, GM meetings, winter meetings, arbitration, labor negotiations, hirings and firings.Here are 10 storylines to watch for this offseason.10. The award winnersSome choices will be easy. Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is likely going to be the unanimous choice for the National League Rookie of the Year, but the voting for many awards will be close, if not contentious, most notably the American League MVP.By most statistical measures, especially the advanced metrics, Mike Trout was the ALs best player this year, but he played for an Angels team that won 74 games and never contended. Only five times has a player won an MVP for a sub-.500 team, but this could be the sixth time. There are other quality candidates who played for playoff teams or contenders, including Bostons Mookie Betts and David Ortiz, Torontos Josh Donaldson, Houstons Jose Altuve and Baltimores Manny Machado. But it appears there has been a slight shift in the thinking of the voters, a subtle move toward voting for the best player as opposed to the best player on a contender. So Trout has a chance to win his second MVP award to go with his three second-place finishes. He is 25 years old.9. Hall of FameThree players with first-ballot credentials will be up for voting for the first time this year: Manny Ramirez, Ivan Pudge Rodriguez and Vladimir Guerrero. The first two have varying connections to PEDs. Ramirez served two suspensions for violations of baseballs drug policy (2009 and 2011). Rodriguez was never suspended or caught taking anything, but he was mentioned in Jose Cansecos book Juiced.?Ramirezs is likely in the category with Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who are at 44.3 percent and 45.2 percent of the vote, respectively, after four years on the ballot, and might not ever get enough support to in. Pudge would seem to have a better chance of eventually getting in even if he doesnt make it this year.Jeff Bagwell?(71.6 percent last year), Tim Raines (69.8) and Trevor Hoffman?(67.3) have the best shot at election. Its Raines 10th and final year on the ballot. The voting will take place in December, and will be announced in January. At the winter meetings in December, a special committee will consider another list of names from Todays Game Era (1988-present), which includes players that were previously on the ballot for the Baseball Writers Association of America (Mark McGwire, Harold Baines, Albert Belle, Orel Hershiser, Will Clark, among others), as well as managers (Davey Johnson and Lou Piniella) and executives (George Steinbrenner and John Schuerholz). Someone, maybe more than one, is going to the Hall of Fame from this group.8. ManagersTwo teams, the Diamondbacks and Rockies, are looking for a manager. The Rockies have talked to, among others, Brad Mills and Glenallen Hill. The Diamondbacks have considered Phil Nevin, Alex Cora and Don Wakamatsu, but appear to be zeroing in on Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, who did a nice job filling in for ailing John Farrell with the Red Sox for the final 58 games (28-20) of the 2015 season. Lovullo is 51 and an old-school guy in many respects. Hes the best sign-stealer in the major leagues, but he also embraces the new analytics age in the game. In the previous two years under Tony LaRussa and Dave Stewart, the D-backs attempted to run their team in a pure baseball fashion, without much help from advanced metrics. But that way didnt work. Their failure is another sign that teams are being run more differently than ever. Teams are now run by young, exceptionally bright GMs who sometimes value data over the eyes, ears and feel of veteran baseball men. Consequently, the D-backs hired Mike Hazen of the Red Sox to run their team, and chances are hell hire Lovullo to manage it.7. Speed-up rulesThere is nothing wrong with the game. The game on the field is still great, but executives, led by commissioner Rob Manfred, are determined to speed things up, especially after the average time of game went from 2 hours, 56 minutes in 2015 to 3:01. Dont look for a rule that limits the number of relievers a manager can use in a game, but look for changes, including limiting trips to the mound by a catcher or an infielder or maybe even the pitching coach. In the postseason, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras went to the mound far too often, making the game drag. The intentional walk rule might be altered; the manager would just put up four fingers, and the batter would be sent to first base without four pitches being thrown. And baseball will continue to try to keep hitters in the batters box between pitches, and make pitchers deliver the ball in a timelier manner.The game likely wont adopt a strict pitch clock in 2017, but after watching Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez (hes not the only one) take 30-35 seconds between pitches, bringing the game to a grinding halt, something has to be done. Here are the times of game for the seven games in the 1948 World Series, the last time the Indians were champions: 1:42, 2:14, 1:36, 1:31, 2:39 and 2:16. What a difference.6. TradesTodays young, relentless, creative GMs find a way to make trades, which is why an offseason thats not strong on free agents could include a bunch of deals. It might all begin with the White Sox, who have had little to no success in the past couple of years after making a number of moves. Will they take the next step and trade left-hander Jose Quintana or ace Chris Sale? Dealing Sale, who is a terrific pitcher with a team-friendly contract, doesnt make sense in a lot of ways, but maybe now is the time for the White Sox to explore what they can get for him. Some teams, including the Red Sox, have a surplus of young players and might be able to swing a deal for Sale, who potentially could turn a noncontender into a contender, and a contender into a champion. Quintana wont bring what Sale could bring, but he has value.The Rays have marketable pitching to deal, led by?Jake Odorizzi, and they have to upgrade their offense. It will be interesting to see if the Dodgers try again to move outfielder Yasiel Puig. He made strides toward becoming a better player and, more importantly, a better teammate after a summer demotion to Triple-A. Will the Reds dangle first baseman Joey Votto, who hit .408 with a 1.158 OPS the second half of the season? If they do, several teams (Toronto? Votto is Canadian) could have interest. But the cost of that contract might be prohibitive.?Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen?will come up in trade rumors, as they often do this time of year, but dont look for either to be traded.5. The Toronto Blue JaysThey have made it to the American League Championship Series each of the past two years but lost to the Royals, then the Indians. The Jays have a tremendous amount of money with which to deal, but there is a question about how much they are willing to spend on their own potential free agents, notably outfielders Jose Bautista and Michael Saunders?and first baseman/DH Edwin Encarnacion.The Jays are being run by club president Mark Shapiro, who comes from small-market roots in Cleveland and has not shown a tendency to spend an enormous amount on everyday players in their 30s -- Bautista is 36, Encarnacion is 33. Bautista is looking for a big payday, and Encarnacion, who hit 42 homers and drove in 127 runs last year, is likely going to get a big payday, maybe from the Red Sox, who need a DH to replace David Ortiz. Its possible that the Jays will lose him and Bautista to free agency and try to build around their young starting pitching, led by Aaron Sanchez.4. Free-agent hittersEncarnacion, Bautista and Saunders are part of a group of free-agent hitters that lacks young, all-round everyday players but still includes some useful options. Outfielder/DH Mark Trumbo led the major leagues in home runs in 2016. One of his teammates with the Orioles, catcher Matt Wieters, is out there. Another catcher, the Nationals Wilson Ramos, is available, but his value might be diminished somewhat by a knee injury that could force him to miss the beginning of the 2017 season. There are other hitters available, from outfielders Josh Reddick, Dexter Fowler, Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday to first basemen Mike Napoli and Mitch Moreland to third baseman Justin Turner.Ian Desmond, who resurrected his career with the Rangers in 2016, has established himself as a major league outfielder, but its still possible that someone could sign him to play his original position, shortstop. The Rangers will make Desmond a qualifying offer ($17.2 million this year), so he could end up back in Texas.The best all-round player on the free agent market might be outfielder?Yoenis Cespedes, who is expected to opt out of his deal with the Mets before Saturday to become a free agent again. The Mets would like to have him back, but there will be competition from several other teams.3. Free-agent starting pitchersIt is a weak group, as weak as any year we can remember. Left-hander Rich Hill, age 36, is probably the best of the bunch (look for the Yankees to be involved for Hill). He has had injury issues the past two years, but starting Sept. 1, 2015, only Clayton Kershaw has a lower ERA than Hill. His curveball, with all its variations, is difficult to hit.After him, theres Andrew Cashner, Ivan Nova, Jeremy Hellickson, R.A. Dickey and a few others, but this free agent group is one reason that teams will try to improve their rotations through trades rather than signings.2. ClosersThis is the strength of the free-agent market. It is led by Aroldis Chapman, who throws 103 mph, is 28 years old and has a strikeout rate unmatched in major league history for anyone with 350 innings. Chapman was suspended 30 games at the beginning of the 2016 season under Major League Baseballs domestic violence policy and there could be some teams not interested because of that. Kenley Jansen might have more value than Chapman because of the way he pitched in the postseason, going more than one inning, entering in the seventh inning, showing flexibility and durability.The way Jansen (and more importantly, Andrew Miller) was used in October will not change the way teams use their closers in the regular season, not with 162 games and so few off days. But Jansen (and Miller) might make teams a little less rigid about how they use their closer. There are other closers out there in free agency, including Mark Melancon. Even teams with a top-shelf closer, such as the Red Sox, might try to add another late-inning guy to simulate what the Indians had with Miller and closer Cody Allen.The Giants are one team that badly needs a closer (30 blown saves in 2016).1. LaborThe collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. Twenty years ago, that would mean potentially really bad news, and perhaps a lockout or a strike. But the two sides -- the owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association -- are so much less contentious than they were in the early 1980s and the mid-90s when the game nearly imploded. And Manfred overseeing the process after being so closely involved in the past bodes well for a resolution without a work stoppage. Still, there are significant, complicated issues to study and discuss, led by strengthening the polices on domestic violence, performance-enhancing drugs, tobacco, etc. In the past year, many players, including stars such as Justin Verlander, have asked for stronger testing and punishment for PEDs.?Some other issues likely to come up:? Then there is the issue of the schedule being shortened from 162 to 154 games. That still remains unlikely because fewer games would mean less money for the owners.? There will be a huge discussion on roster size -- should teams be able to have 35-40 players active in September, or will teams be able to activate only 30 players each night?? The union is expected to fight to abolish the qualifying offer, which acts, in a way, like the franchise tag in football. It can limit the movement of players due to the attachment of a draft choice, and it can delay the signing of a player deep into January.? There could be major changes with the international draft, with a soft slotting system that simply didnt work over the past few years. An international draft is possible, but more likely there will be a more stringent slotting system with penalties that could cost teams players, roster spots or draft picks.? There will be the usual debates on the minimum salary (currently $507,500) and the luxury tax ($189 million) as well as the future of the DH. It is ridiculous that the game has two sets of rules. Executives, players and managers from the National League mostly believe that the game is better without the DH, but the union isnt going to allow for the dumping of the DH because it often is a high-paying job. So, the status quo likely will remain. Nike Shoes Wholesale Free Shipping . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Nike Shoes Cheap China . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.shoesnikecheap.com/ . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Nike Shoes Cheap Online . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. Wholesale Nike Shoes China . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. The $1 million TVG Pacific Classic features a showdown between Dubai World Cup and Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, three-time champion Beholder and multiple Grade 1 winner Dortmund with a spot in the Breeders Cup Classic on the line. With just a few days to go until the signature race of Del Mars storied summer race meet, take a look at the stats and numbers surrounding Saturdays Pacific Classic.1: The number of times a filly or mare has won the Pacific Classic from five attempts. Beholder could make this year her second such win.1-1/4 miles: The distance of the race.1:59.11: Record time the race has been completed in on a dirt surface, when Candy Ride won in 2003.$3.00: The lowest winning payout on the race, when Gentlemen won in 1997.2: The number of times in the last decade that fewer than 10 horses competed in the race. The overall average field size is 8.72.3: The number of times Lava Man went off as the favorite in the Pacific Classic (2005, 2006, 2007). He has a win and a third-place finish in the race to his credit.4: The smallest field to compete in the race, in 2003.4: Record number of wins in the race by jockeys Mike Smith and Garrett Gomez.6: The number of Pacific Classic winners bred in California. California Chrome could add to that total this year. Kentucky has the most winners, with 13 bred there.dddddddddddd7: The number of times the betting favorite has won the race. Just one favorite won in the first 13 editions of the race, but six of the last 12 favorites emerged victorious including 2013 (Game On Dude), 2014 (Shared Belief) and 2015 (Beholder).8-1/2 lengths: Largest margin of victory in the race, when Game On Dude won in 2013.10: The number of horses to win the race at age 5. Two horses won at age 6, seven at age 4 and five at age 3.26: This year will be the 26th running of the race.26: Total number of graded stakes wins by the top three choices in this years race: Beholder, California Chrome and LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Steve Evans had 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as NAIAs Louisiana College shocked McNeese State for the second year in a row, knocking off the Cowboys 85-75 on Tuesday night.Last year, Louisiana College battled back from a double-digit deficit to beat the Cowboys 73-70. It was a different story this time as the Wildcats jumped out to a 41-22 lead at the break and then held off McNeese States second half charge. McNeese (0-2) won the second half 53-44 but could not catch the Wildcats.Kevin Cottonham was 10 of 11 from the free throw line for 15 points, John Parker hit 6 of 8 from the floor to total 13 points and Taylan Grogan chipped in 12 for Louisiana. The Wildcats won the rebound battle 42-29 and hit 53.1 percent of their field goals while holding McNeese to 27 of 70 shooting.Jamaya Burr led the Cowboys with 19 points. Wholesale Saucony Shoes .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Saucony Shoes From China . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. http://www.cheapsaucony.net/ .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Cheap Saucony .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Saucony Outlet Store . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. AUSTIN, Texas -- Tevin Mack powered over two defenders for a tough layup, hit the floor and picked himself up to flex his muscles and smile.Mack was back and so was No. 23 Texas.The sophomore forward scored 14 points after returning from a one-game suspension, and the Longhorns used a big second half to roll over Louisiana-Monroe 80-59 on Monday night.Im just glad we came back with a win, Mack said. I had a little bit of nerves, but I fought through that real quick.The Longhorns were back to full strength with the return of Mack and guard Kerwin Roach Jr. from one-game suspensions for offseason rules violations, giving Texas (2-0) some of the muscle, speed and depth it lacked in a sloppy season-opening win over Incarnate Word . Neither started Monday night but both were on the court within minutes of the opening tip.Mack made four 3-pointers and Roach had 11 points and two assists.I was excited to be back on the court and not on the bench, Roach said. We want to get out and run.Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) cut Texas lead to 46-40 on a 3-pointer from Jordan Harris before the Longhorns responded with a 16-4 run. Kendal Yancy scored five straight points, made a 3-pointer and threw down a dunk in transition that made it 62-44 with just under 8 minutes left.Texas defense took over from there. Louisiana-Monroe struggled to penetrate and the Longhorns bigger players constantly pushed the Warhawks further out on the edge than they wanted to be.Texas guard Andrew Jones said coach Shaka Smart pushed the Longhorns on defense after their season opener.Coach really encouraged us to be aggressive. Be dogs, Jones said.Yancy finished with 12 points and Jones scored 12 and had a team-high four assists. Texas freshman forward Jarrett Allen followed a double-double in his debut with eight points and three rebounds.Marvin Jean-Pierre scored 13 for Louisiana-Monnroe, which shot just 30 percent.ddddddddddddBIG PICTURELouisiana-Monroe: The Warhawks tried to punch above their weight in the Big 12 but missed their chance at an upset. Early 3-point shooting built a short-lived lead, but Texas size and speed eventually took over.Our program has had length the last two years at our level, and after seeing the Longhorns tonight, I miss it, coach Keith Richard said. They forced us out just a step or two from where we needed to be.Texas: A much smoother performance after the struggle against Incarnate Word. Getting Roach and Mack back in the lineup gave Texas more options to attack both inside and out. Smart even used a four-guard, up-tempo attack that hell want to build on before the start of Big 12 play.POLL IMPLICATIONSTexas slid down two spots in the AP Top 25 after its opener. This one should give voters more confidence.INSIDE THE BOXSCORETexas was shaky from the free throw line (13 of 21) and got outrebounded (43-41). But the Longhorns shot 50 percent, blocked five shots and didnt give the ball away, committing just five turnovers.The addition of Mack and Roach also kept Texas fresh. Four Longhorns played 32 minutes or more in the season opener. No one got more than 24 minutes against Louisiana-Monroe.They were able to get a break. You can play harder that way, Smart said.HE SAID ITSmart on getting players to focus on defense: Its like my (5-year-old) daughter, I tell her its really important you take a bath tonight, and she doesnt think its important.UP NEXTLouisiana-Monroe: The Warhawks road trip takes them to the Pac-12 with Thursdays game at Colorado.Texas: The Longhorns host Eastern Washington on Thursday.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' 'n decided by a head or less, when Acclamation defeated Twirling Candy.44,181: The number of fans who came to see Cigar in the 1996 Pacific Classic, a record.$1,000,000: Total purse of this years race.$19,201,730: Combined career earnings of Beholder, California Chrome and Dortmund.$24,667,351: The record amount bet on Pacific Classic day in 2007.For more stories like this check out Americas Best Racing. ' ' '
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