Reliever Baez may join in Phillies

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. of Phillies said last week that the club probably would sign a reliever in a couple weeks. It is unlikely to be right-handers John Smoltz, Chan Ho Park and Mike MacDougal. The Phillies have some concerns about Smoltz's durability, which might not be an issue except closer Brad Lidge and setup man J.C. Romero are recovering from elbow surgeries. The Phillies have expressed interest in MacDougal, but talks are not believed to be serious.

CSNPhilly.com reported that the Phillies have reached an agreement with a reliever. A good bet is right-hander Danys Baez, who has closing experience. That is something the Phils might need if Lidge and Romero are not ready to start the season. Baez went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 appearances last season in the orioles jersey.

Dickey may sign Minors deal with Mets

According to the Associated Press, the Mets have agreed to terms with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey for a Minor League contract. Dickey appeared in 35 games for the Twins in his twins jersey in 2009, going 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA. He also made five starts for Minnesota's Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, going 2-1 with a 5.13 mark.

In his seven-year career, the right-hander has 22-28 with a 5.43 ERA. Originally a first-round Draft pick by the Rangers in 1996, Dickey has a 6.30 ERA in his career as a starter and a 4.16 mark as a reliever.

Pirates are now negotiating with free agents

The Pirate recently are taking a look at some veteran to fill their ninth-inning vacuum. Attributing a source, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Pirates have had several discussions with free-agent reliever Kevin Gregg. The newspaper disputed the sourced report that an offer was made to Dotel, but said there were discussions.

In 72 games for the Cubs in 2009, Gregg was 5-6 with a 4.72 ERA and 23 saves in his cubs jersey. Also Dotel was 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 62 games for the White Sox last season.

D-backs deal with Bob Howry

According to the Arizona Republic, the D-backs have reached a one-year contract agreement with right-hander Bob Howry. It is reported that Howry has agreed to a one-year deal with an option for 2011. The D-backs declined to comment on the report.

Howry was born in Phoenix and went to Deer Valley High School. Last season, Howry went 2-6 with a 3.39 ERA in 64 appearances for the Giants in giants jersey. He made more 70 appearances than the previous four seasons. The D-backs have pursued a reliever throughout the offseason. They went after LaTroy Hawkins, who signed with the Brewers and Matt Capps, who signed with the Nationals.

Wild's equipment truck was destroyed in fire

An equipment truck carrying some of the Minnesota Wild's gear caught fire in the Scotiabank Place parking lot. Fortunately there is nobody getting hurt in this fire. The members of the Wild's front office staff are currently in the process of determining the damage to the equipment, and the team released the following statement:"There was a fire in an equipment van in the parking lot at Scotiabank Place this afternoon. Some of the Minnesota Wild’s equipment has been damaged. The Wild is in the process of taking inventory to determine the damage to our equipment."

Assistant Equipment Manager Brent Proulx, who travels with the team tonight, is going to board a plane back to Minnesota. Assistant Equipment Manager Matt Benz and Chris Pietrzak-Wegner will gather equipment and load it onto a plane which is bound for Ottawa tomorrow morning.

Padres give invitation to Denorfia

The Padres announced that they signed outfielder Chris Denorfia to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Denorfia has a .279 batting average in 208 Major League at-bats with Cincinnati and Oakland. Last season, Denorfia spent most of the season with the Oakland's Triple-A Sacramento affiliate, hitting .271 with nine home runs and 15 stolen bases. Denorfia got 120 at-bats with the Reds during the 2006 season in the reds jersey.

The Padres like Denorfia's versatility and that he can play all three outfield positions. There will be plenty of competition for jobs in the outfield in Spring Training. If there is nothing else, the addition of Denorfia will give Padres outfield depth in Triple-A Portland.

Nationals term with Olsen to a one-year deal

The Nationals officially announced that the club signed left-hander Scott Olsen to a one-year contract worth $1 million.
Olsen missed most of 2009 season because of a small tear in his left labrum. He was traded from the Marlins to the Nats in a four-player trade last year. "I never felt like I got into a groove like I have in previous years," Olsen said. "But at this point, I'm happy that the shoulder problems are behind me. I'm looking forward to having a banner year. I have something to prove to myself and other people in baseball at this point."

Olsen started feeling pain in his left shoulder on July 10 in a start against the Astros. In that game, Olsen lasted six innings and then gave up four runs. He had missed time earlier in the season because of soreness in the same shoulder.
Now Olsen is expected to be ready for Spring Training. Let's put on the nationals jerseys and support him.

Dodgers talk to Reds about Harang trading

Recently the Dodgers talked to the Reds about trading for pitcher Aaron Harang, who is being considered to fill their vacant fourth starter spot. Harang fits the profile which general manager Ned Colletti is looking for. The Dodgers have financial limitations and Harang is guaranteed at least $15 million over the next year if he is traded. Harang landed a $36.5 million deal in 2006-07 but has regressed since. His 2009 season was cut short by a surgery.

However Harang isn't the only option. Two pitchers the Dodgers acquired during the 2009 season, Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland would also qualify, but both of them are looking for multiyear deals, which the club is going to avoid. Anyway it is a good thing while Harang put on a dodgers jersey.

Flames and Avalanche highlights Sunday schedule

First place in the Northwest Division will be on the line in the NHL as part of its two-game schedule. At 8 p.m. ET, the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche, who are tied for first in the Northwest, will battle with each other at the Pepsi Center. The Flames have picked up points in eight of their last 10 games, while Colorado is coming off a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.

The Lightning are also in action on Sunday, they willl visit the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center at 7 p.m. ET. Chicago is at the top of the Central Division with 41 points, while the Lightning are two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Now put on your own nhl jerseys and support your favorite teams!

Simmonds is out due to lower body injury

Unfortunately already without three forwards, the Kings will be without second-year forward Wayne Simmonds for an unknown length of time due to a lower body injury. He is out for at least tonight's Pacific Division play with the Dallas Stars.
Brad Richardson will replace Simmonds, who has never missed a game in 115-game career in his los angeles kings jersey.

"You know what, we really don’t know what happened," head coach Terry Murray said. "It did not happen in the game, no specific time or situation, he's just got a lower body injury. He is going to be out for a while. He is going to see our doctors tonight at the game and we will take it from there."

GM Maloney will appear on NHL Live!

Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney will be among the guests on NHL Live!, scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com. The Coyotes are the biggest surprise far of the 2009-10 season, as they sit in sixth place in the Western Conference at 19-11-2.

Also scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Don La Greca and E.J. Hradek are NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, TSN analyst Bob McKenzie and Los Angeles Kings announcer Nick Nickson.

Bennett is honored as top Midwest scout

During the Winter Meetings, Bennett was presented with the Midwest Scout of the Year honors as part of the Scout of the Year Awards. Bennett is in his 58th year in the Reds organization, the only team he has ever been with since 1952. "That's a long time. I've signed a lot of good players," said Bennett, who received his award on Wednesday. "It's about the only award I haven't won yet. You're always excited to get them. It came from all the people in the country that you work with. It's all about what you've done and the players you've signed." Reds general manager Walt Jocketty introduced and presented the award to Bennett.

The winner of the East Coast Scout of the Year was Alex Cosmidis of the White Sox and the West Coast recipient was the Cubs' Gary Hughes. Both of the them have previously worked for the Reds.

Veteran infielder comes back to Arizona

The D-backs agreed to terms with arbitration-eligible Augie Ojeda on a one-year contract. The 34-year-old batted .246 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 103 games with Arizona in his diamondbacks jersey last season. He also established career highs in at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples and walks. The versatile infielder also appeared in 35 games at second base, 34 games at shortstop and 28 games at third. He hasn't committed an error in his last 115 games, which is the longest active streak among second baseman.

The eight-year veteran has also played with the Cubs and Twins and has a career .238 batting average with seven home runs and 129 runs scored in 443 games.

Brewers agree to deal with Counsell

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last weekend that he had reached a tentative agreement with infielder Craig Counsell on a 2010 return. Melvin told the media that the contract will be finalized on Monday.

Counsell appeared in 130 games last season in his brewers jersey and batted .285. The deal will probably be a one-year compact, but it's still unclear whether the Brewers offered an option for a second season, he would be an important role behind second baseman Rickie Weeks, shortstop Alcides Escobar and third baseman Casey McGehee or Mat Gamel.

Upshall and Downie will appear on NHL Live!

Phoenix Coyotes forward Scottie Upshall will be among the guests on NHL Live!, scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com. Upshall has 7 goals, 5 assists and 30 penalty minutes in 27 games in coyotes jersey this season. He has 118 points in 257 NHL games.

Also speaking with hosts Rob Simpson and Stan Fischler are Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Downie, as well as Kevin Allen of USA Today and Washington Capitals/Versus announcer Joe Beninati. NHL Live! is broadcast from the NHL Store Powered By Reebok in Manhattan.

Ovechkin becomes the model of January Men's Journal

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin models some of the season's best accessories and answers some questions about hockey in the December/January issue of Men's Journal.

Men's Journal is a general interest, active lifestyle monthly magazine that focuses on adventure, travel, equipment, sports, fitness, health, style and ideas. The issue, Men's Journal, featuring the six-page "Here's The Key to Your Suite, Mr. Ovechkin" spread, is currently on sold locally. It seems that he looks much more charming in fashion suits than in his capitals jersey.

Witt feels good after car accident

According to a report, New York Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt was struck by a car in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning and was not injured. At that time Witt was crossing Arch Street when a car made an illegal turn and struck the defenseman. According to the report, Witt told passersby he was all right and continued on his way.

"I'm OK," Witt said, according to Newsday. "I've got to go play some hockey. I'm a hockey player. I'm OK. No big deal."
"I just got lucky," Witt said. "Fortunately nothing bad happened. I'm just a little sore." He didn't file an accident report and was now at the team's morning skate at the Wachovia Center. It seems that he can continue playing on the ice in his islanders jersey.

Rays has offered Shouse and Zaun arbitration

The Rays have offered arbitration to two of their three Type B free agents, left-hander Brian Shouse and catcher Gregg Zaun were both offered salary arbitration, but the team did not offer arbitration to right-hander Russ Springer. Springer declared himself a free agent shortly after MLB's free-agency period began following the World Series. After deliberating until late Tuesday night, the Rays decided not to offer arbitration to the veteran right-hander.

By offering arbitration to Shouse and Zaun, the Rays have qualified themselves to receive draft-pick compensation if either of them signs with another team. However, they also run the risk of the player accepting arbitration by Monday's deadline, which would ensure the player returning in 2010 on a one-year contract.

The Rays also have three non-ranked free agents who are covered by Tuesday's deadline, right-handers Chad Bradford, Jason Isringhausen and Troy Percival. However, since there is no compensation for them signing with another team, there is no reason to offer arbitration to other players.

Four Minor Leaguers receive suspension

Major League Baseball officially announced last week that a players and two Minor Leaguers from the Dominican Summer League have received 50-game suspensions for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Pitcher Daniel Vazquez, who pitched for Double-A Mobile in the D-backs organization last season, will start the 2010 season under suspension after testing positive for metabolites of a performance-enhancing substance. Free-agent catcher Matt Tupman, who recently played for Mobile as well, has been suspended a second time for a drug of abuse and will serve his suspension upon signing with a Major League organization. In addition, Jefferson Segundo of the Cardinals will be suspended for testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, and Joel Tamares of the Marlins organization will be suspended for testing positive as well. It seems that they have to take off their mlb jerseys for a period.

Cooke receives two-game suspension

It is announced that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke has been suspended for two games without pay, as the result of a deliberate check to the New York Rangers forward Artem Anisimov. Cooke delivered the hit during the third period at Mellon Arena. He was then assessed a minor penalty for interference. Cooke later fought with the Rangers' Ryan Callahan, and each player receiving a 10-minute misconduct in addition to the five-minute majors.

Cooke will miss the following game on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche before he is eligible to return for a game against Chicago Blackhawks. Luckily fans will see him playing in his pittsburgh penguisn jersey again after two games.

Sharks acquired Leach from Canadiens

San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced that the team has added defenseman Jay Leach from the Montreal Canadiens. "Jay adds depth to our organization's defensive core and we are pleased that we were able to acquire him," Wilson said.

Leach has played in seven games with Montreal this season, posting five penalty minutes and an even rating. Leach also played 12 games with the Lowell Devils in the American Hockey League, posting three points and 10 penalty minutes. Leach also played in 24 games with New Jersey in 2008-09. In 35 career NHL games with Montreal, New Jersey, Tampa Bay and Boston, Leach has one assist and 33 penalty minutes. Now fans are looking forward to seeing him wearing a san jose sharks jersey.

A fatastic game will show up tomorrow

Hockey fans know that the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets will take center stage with opening faceoff set for 7:30 p.m. from the Bell Centre. Blue Jackets is coming off a terrible performance on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Steve Mason, who was the last season's Calder Trophy winner, allowed four goals while captain Rick Nash was a minus-4.

Montreal Canadiens acquired Benoit Pouliot from the Minnesota Wild on Monday in exchange for Guillaume Latendresse, is coming off a loss to Detroit on Saturday. The game can be seen both on TSN and RDS in Canada. Put on your favourite NHL jersey and appear in the hockey stadium!

Smoltz didn't attract Astros yet

It is said that Smoltz have drawn interest of several teams including the Astros according to a report. But the Astros have kicked out dozens of names from the list of free agents. It seems that Smoltz is in the list. Astros general manager Ed Wade said last week that he wasn't going to comment on Smoltz.

Astros Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins are both free agents, and Houston would be forced to find a closer if both of them leave. According to the report, the Cardinals, Dodgers, Mets and Mariners are among the teams which have expressed interest in Smoltz.

Cubs may continue to sign Grabow

The Cubs are going to sign a two-year contract with left-handed John Grabow, in order to keep a key player in the bullpen. Grabow, one of five free agents in the team, was originally expected to end his deal on Thursday. He had filed for free agency on the 12th day. The team acquired Grabow on July 30 from Pittsburgh, along with Tom Gorzelanny, and he appeared in 30 games. Grabow set a career high in 2009, pitching in 75 games in the cubs jersey.

Gregg is also a free agent and was not expected to be a re-signed player by the Cubs. The other free agents in the team include Rich Harden, Chad Fox and Reed Johnson.

Blue Jackets sent Filatov to KHL

General Manager Scott Howson of the Columbus Blue Jackets announced on November 17.that the tema have sent forward Nikita Filatov to CSKA of the Kontinental Hockey League for the rest of the 2009-10 season. Filatov has appeared in 13 games with the Blue Jackets this season, scoring two goals and adding eight penalty minutes. He has got eight penalty minutes in 21 NHL games over the past two seasons.

"Nikita is a top prospect in our organization and we believe it is in the best interest of his development to play more and in all situations in the KHL," said Howson. "We have agreed to his request to be assigned to CSKA and this should afford him the opportunity to continue to work and develop his game in his hometown of Moscow." Fans will not see him playing in columbus blue jackets jersey for a while.

Crosby carries Olympic torch in Nova Scotia

Yesterday thousands of people got together in a downtown street in Halifax to watch Pittsburgh Penguins captain and Nova Scotia native Sidney Crosby carry the Olympic torch. Crosby wore an official torchbearer's uniform (not pittsburgh penguins jersey), which features a green-and-blue Vancouver Olympics logo on one side. He ran about 300 yards, carrying the torch in his right hand before passing the torch to snowboarder Sarah Conrad.

Crosby is one of 12,000 torchbearers who will carry the flame across Canada which began in Victoria last month. The relay will reach every Canadian province and territory leading up to the Winter Games in Vancouver in February. He flew to Ottawa for the game against the Senators last night.

Red Wings' General Manager and Capitals Knuble will be on NHL Live!

Today's NHL Live! show includes four-time Stanley Cup winning general manager Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble, who has 5 goals and 10 assists in 18 games this season. Holland will talk to hosts E.J. Hradek and Deb Placey about the NHL General Managers Meeting in Toronto and the recent play of his Red Wings team. Knuble, whose team beat the Islanders in an 11-round shootout, will be happy to discuss his No. 6 ranking in the League in his capitals jersey.


The show will be on air from 1 to 2 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche's new third jersey is unveiled

Yesterday the Colorado Avalanche unveiled their new third avalanche jersey officially, which will be worn for the first time on Nov. 14, at that time the Avalanche will host the Vancouver Canucks at Pepsi Center. They will wear the third sweater 12 times throughout the 2009-10 nhl season. The third jersey is designed by the Avalanche, including Kroenke Sports Enterprises Creative Imaging and the NHL and Reebok. The jersey has a blue color scheme with a diagonal "Colorado" type, laces at the neckline and stripes on the sleeves.

The Avalanches will also wear their third jerseys on Nov. 25 in the game against Predators; Dec. 11 vs. Tampa Bay; Dec. 15 vs. Washington; Dec. 22 vs. Anaheim; Jan. 6 vs. the New York Islanders; Jan. 16 vs. New Jersey, etc.

Boston Bruins sign goaltender Tuukka Rask

General Manager Peter Chiarelli of Boston Bruins announced that they have signed backup goaltender Tuukka Rask to a two-year contract extension through the 2011-12 season. The 22-year-old Finn has appeared in nine NHL games in his career all with Boston, including a 2-0 victory over Edmonton last Saturday. Now He has played in four games this season.

Rask beat Toronto Maple leafs in his NHL debut for the Bruins on Nov. 20, 2007. He spent most seasons in the AHL with the Providence Bruins where he had five shutouts in 102 appearances. He opened the season on an NHL roster for the first time in his career in 2009-10. Rask was acquired by the Bruins from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Andrew Raycroft on June 24, 2006. He was originally drafted by Toronto in the first round of the 2005 Entry Draft. Hope to see him playing on the ice in the boston bruins jersey.

Catcher Phillips, left-handers Romero and Murphy were sent to Las Vegas

According to the report, the Blue Jays adjusted their players' roster on Friday by getting rid of catcher Kyle Phillips and left-handers Davis Romero and Bill Murphy to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Phillips, who is an eight-year Minor League veteran, broke into the Major League for the first time this year with Toronto in the blue jays jersey. He went two RBIs following a .300 in 76 games at Las Vegas, where he hit eight home runs with 29 RBIs. Murphy posted four hits and eight walks allowed over 11 1/3 innings for the Jays. Romero didn't succeed in Toronto, but went a 5.98 ERA in 93 1/3 innings. Thus This moves leave two spots open on Toronto's roster.

Defenseman Del Zotto becomes October's top rookie

New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto was named the NHL's Rookie of October after posting 12 points in 14 games. Del Zotto scored 4 goals and had 8 assists to lead all rookies in scoring for the first month in the new york rangers jersey. He was selected by the Rangers with the 20th pick in the 2008 Entry Draft, scoring his first goal in only his second game. He added a goal and an assist two days later.

"Forget about his skill and all the points he's put on the board, but it's the way he handles himself," Rangers coach John Tortorella said. "I don't think he's afraid to make mistakes so it allows him to try to make a difference. That's pretty unique for a 19-year-old guy playing the toughest position in the game."

Vancouver Canucks' Grabner is out of games for 6 weeks

It is reported that Grabner has injured his ankle during a pre-game soccer warm-up last Sunday and is expected to be out for about six weeks. This Austria native has collected two goals and three assists in nine games with the Canucks this season.

"Obviously, it's challenging for everyone but injuries are a part of the game," said Alex Burrows. "There's a lot of injuries around the league and we’re no different. Hopefully we'll get those guys back soon." Roberto Luongo, also out with a hairline fracture to his rib, is expected to make the teams upcoming road trip. When will Canucks fans see those injured players skating on the ice in the canucks jerseys again?

Shane Victorino meets RBI champions

It is reported that Phillies' Shane Victorino says to a group of girls from Hawaii before Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday. He will greet a team of kids from the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island which won the girls softball champion in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities version of the World Series in his phillies jersey. The girls attended Game 4 as guests of Major League Baseball.

The RBI program gives kids an opportunity to play baseball and softball and also teaches them life skills. The Big Island team beat a squad from Cleveland in the RBI Softball World Series in August.

Flyers’ Gagne is put on the long-term injury list

Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren told to the media that Simon Gagne will have long-term injury. He said the Flyers also have placed defenseman Randy Jones on re-entry waivers. "When we loaned Randy, it was a cap issue and with Simon going on long-term, we don’t have as many cap issues," Holmgren said. Jones has been playing with the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms so the Flyers could add James van Riemsdyk, Mike Pyorala and Blair Betts to their roster.

Holmgren said the club still will likely not know until Thursday whether Gagne needs surgery or not. He will miss no less than 10 games and 24 days by being placed on long-term injury. "We have not sat down with everyone yet," Holmgren. "There are other things we have to discuss so I don't know if we will have an answer until Thursday." Hope he can return to the team in his flyers jersey as soon as possible.

Flyers and Capitals will meet on Tuesday night

Two powerhouses in the Eastern Conference begin to do battle on Tuesday night as part of a schedule in the NHL. The Philadelphia Flyers, who are consistently one of the top teams in the Atlantic Division, will get the action started at 7 p.m. against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center. Washington, led by Alex Ovechkin in capitals jersey, have built a five-point lead in the Southeast Division. The game can be seen in America on Versus and TSN and RDS in Canada.

In the final game of the night, the Detroit Red Wings will look to get back on track against the Vancouver Canucks at G.M. Place. The Canucks are leading a 2-0 win against Edmonton on Sunday night that lifted them above .500 for the first time this season.

Blues' general manager’s wife comes back to the ice

The wife of Blues General Manager Larry Pleau -- Wendy, felt some pain in her back and assumed she had a kidney stone in 2006. Doctors then discovered a tumor and diagnosed her with Burkitt’s, a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Over the next several months, Wendy would endure four sequences of chemotherapy, which was an aggressive form of treatment for aggressive type of cancer.

"Larry compared it to the Stanley Cup playoffs," Wendy said. "He kept me battling, along with friends, family, alumni, the fans, the team, just everybody. It was just amazing." The chemotherapy was a success, and Wendy was presented with a cardboard cutout of the Stanley Cup for emerging victorious in her battle with serious illness.

MLB LCS viewership is up to 20 percent

The first four League Championship Series games have averaged 7.49 million viewers, which is a 20 percent increase over the first four LCS games last year. Saturday night's instant classic at Yankee Stadium on FOX, a 4-3, 13-inning win by the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALCS, drew 9.38 million viewers. That total was 87 percent more than Game 2 of last year's NLCS on FOX and became the most viewers for a non-elimination LCS game on Saturday since 2004.

In addition, the first three games of the LCS on Thursday and Friday was the best two-day average in terms of television viewership since 2006. The NLCS will continue with Game 3 from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday at 8 p.m. on TBS. Game 3 of the ALCS, in which the Yankees have a 2-0 win over the Angels, is Monday in Anaheim at 4:13 p.m. on FOX.

White Sox add Alejandro De Aza to outfield mix

It is reported that Alejandro De Aza became the first offseason addition made by the White Sox, as the left-handed-hitting outfielder was claimed off waivers from the Marlins. Although general manager Ken Williams and his staff still have roster problems, De Aza could serve as an extra outfielder in the defensive-replacement role.

De Aza (in white sox jersey) spent most of the 2009 season with Triple-A New Orleans, hitting .300 with eight home runs in 87 games. He also played in 22 games with the Marlins last season. He has also played games with Florida in 2007 and 2009. He originally signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 2001. Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios remain the only current certainties in the White Sox outfield. The White Sox and veteran Jermaine Dye have a $12 million mutual option with a $1 million buyout for 2010.

Kings recall forward Oscar Moller from AHL

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Saturday that the Los Angeles Kings have recalled forward Oscar Moller (in kings jersey) from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League. Moller has recorded five points, and four penalty minutes in five games with Manchester this season.

He appeared in 40 games for the Kings last season and recorded 15 points. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 11, 2008 and became the 15th youngest player in the Kings. Moller also appeared in eight games with Manchester last season, recording five points.

National Hockey League suspends Artyukhin for three games

Anaheim Ducks forward Evgeny Artyukhin (in ducks jersey) has been suspended for three games without pay by the NHL because of a slew-footing incident against Dallas defenseman Matt Niskanen (in stars jersey). The incident occurred at the second period of the game on Wednesday night.

Artyukhin, who was suspended for two games on Jan. 19, 2009, now is considered to be a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Artyukhin will miss Saturday's game against Toronto and Vancouver. He will return on Oct. 31 at Phoenix.

Vanek may not be out of the game

The Buffalo Sabres( sabres jerseys )Head Coach said Tomas Vanek may only miss a few days, after sustaining an upper body injury in the game against the Red Wings( red wings jerseys ). Vanek left the game following his second goal of the night and did not return to the ice. In his post-game comments, Ruff indicated Vanek could miss a good period of time because of the injury.

"They thought he would feel a lot worse today, but he’s actually feeling a lot better," Ruff said following practice on Wednesday. "He's doing remarkably well which is good.. I wouldn’t even rule him out maybe for a game on the weekend, as well as he's doing today."

MacDougal undergoes hip surgery

Nationals Mike MacDougal had arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on Tuesday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Marc Philippon, the same doctor who performed similar surgery on Yankees( yankees jerseys )third baseman Alex Rodriguez earlier this year.

MacDougal should begin a throwing program in eight weeks and should be fully recovered by Spring Training. MacDougal had problems with his hip since late August, but pitched until the end of the season.

Three NHL games will be on show

The Detroit Red Wings( Red Wings jerseys )aim for their third straight win against the host Buffalo Sabres( Sabres jerseys )at HSBC Arena. The Sabres have scored only four goals in their first three games, yet are off to a 2-0-1 start. Detroit has won two in a row after opening the season with constantly losses to the St. Louis Blues in Sweden.

The Calgary Flames( Flames jerseys )will attempt to clear the cobwebs after losing to the Chicago Blackhawks( Blackhawks jerseys )as they face the Columbus Blue Jackets( blue jackets jerseys )at Nationwide Arena. Calgary scored all five goals in the opening period and Columbus has won three of its first four games.

Lastly, the hottest Colorado Avalanche( avalanche jerseys )will "fight with" Toronto Maple Leafs( maple leafs jerseys )at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto has allowed 24 goals in its first five games on Monday night.

Guzman will undergo shoulder surgery

Nationals' Cristian Guzman will have his right shoulder scoped on Thursday. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Douoguih at The Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. Guzman has been hampered by shoulder problems for over a month. He said the shoulder grew worse when he played against the Dodgers on Sept. 24. Guzman did not play shortstop for the rest of the season after that game. The team believes that he no longer has enough range to play the position.

In other news, catcher Derek Norris broke his left hamate bone while working out in the Instructional League. He will have surgery performed by Dr. Thomas Graham in Baltimore to remove the fractured hamate bone. Norris is expected to be able to resume baseball activities in December. He was the Nationals' Minor League Player of the Year this season.

Weekes and Dreger's debut will be on NHL Network

Kevin Weekes and Darren Dreger will debut on Wednesday night, joining "On The Fly" to provide their insight on the NHL Network. Weekes, who appeared in 348 regular-season games with the Panthers, Canucks, Lightning, Hurricanes, Rangers and Devils, will be a regular analyst, while Dreger will make one appearance a week as an NHL Network insider.

"On The Fly" also will welcome Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who will join the show soon.

Cole Hamels is preparing for Game 5 of NLDS

Cole Hamels' wife, Heidi, gave birth to their first son -- Caleb Michael -- on Friday, so he has been a father for a little more than two days. The game against the Rockies postponed Saturday because of cold weather and snow, Hamels will likely to pitch Game 5 on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. And Hamels is back in Philadelphia, working out on his own while the Phillies play in Denver.

Hamels allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings with the Rockies on Thursday in Game 2, but Manuel said he thought Hamels pitched better than he has imagined. "First of all, his performance the other day was not a bad performance," Manuel said. "We were behind, 4-0, when he left the game. I thought his stuff was pretty good, and actually I liked how he threw."

Penguins claim Chris Bourque off waivers

Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero of the Pittsburgh Penguins said that the team have claimed forward Chris Bourque off waivers. It means Bourque, who is the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, will be added to the Pittsburgh Penguins roster.

Bourque spent the previous five seasons in the Washington Capitals organization after Washington selected him in the second roundof the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 12 games for the Capitals, recording one goal. He has also played four seasons with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, Washington’s top minor-league affiliate.

Montgomery is named chairman of Philadelphia Sports Congress

The Philadelphia Sports Congress (PSC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau announced that Montgomery is named as chairman of the Sports Congress on October 1.
The Sports Congress works to attract major national and international sporting events and conventions to the Philadelphia region and generate economic impact and jobs for the citizens of Philadelphia.

"The Sports Congress has done an outstanding job of showcasing Philadelphia as a preeminent destination for sporting events," Montgomery said. "Personally, it's an honor to follow Bob Levy, who has contributed so much to the Philadelphia sports community. I'm particularly pleased to partner with Tom Lynch as we attempt to build on the success of the Sports Congress under Bob's leadership."

American great players will visit NHL Live

It is said that three excellent players will be guests on NHL Live on Monday, as Pat LaFontaine, Mike Richter and Brian Leetch are all chosen to be on the program. Richter and Leetch were significant components of the Rangers' 1994 run to the Stanley Cup championship. Richter won 301 games in his NHL career and appeared in 76 postseason. Leetch won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1994 as the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

LaFontaine played in the NHL from 1984 to 1998 with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. He had 1,013 points in 865 games. NHL Live is also broadcast live on NHL Network.

Osvaldo Martinez is shot in Puerto Rico

The 21-year-old Marlins Minor Leaguer Osvaldo Martinez, who was shot several times in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, was supposed to be the innocent victim of gangsters battling for control of drug distribution in public housing projects. Police spokeswoman Maria Rivera told the AP that Martinez was driving through his hometown of Carolina, when he was shot three times because it seems that the group of gunmen confused him with another person. According to the report, Martinez was recovering from surgery and now in stable condition.

The Marlins released a statement Wednesday night about the news: "The Florida Marlins are aware of a shooting incident involving Minor Leaguer Osvaldo Martinez in Puerto Rico this morning. At this time, we are trying to get more information. The entire organization's thoughts and prayers are with Osvaldo and his family."

McCabe is named Panthers' captain

Florida Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer announced that Bryan McCabe has been named the club's team captain. Assistant captains will be forwards Cory Stillman and Stephen Weiss. "The selection of Bryan as the captain of our club was something that became obvious to our staff after working with him for the past year," said DeBoer. "He exudes all of the attributes you look for in a leader and will be a natural extension of the coaches and our message into the dressing room."

McCabe previously served as captain of the Islanders during the 1997-98 campaign and also served as an assistant captain with several teams during his 14-year playing career. Totally he has played 986 National Hockey League games, posting 457 points and 1,615 PIM.

Dodgers missed the playoff spot

The Dodgers missed a chance to grasp the playoff spot on Friday because of making some mistakes which has made the team lose to the Pirates. Despite the best record in the National League, the Dodgers couldn't beat the team in the NL Central and had lost six straight and 23 games.

The Dodgers gave away a run in the first inning when Blake DeWitt threw away a possible double-play ball. The Dodgers tied the score in the second inning off Jeff Karstens on two-out doubles by DeWitt and Orlando Hudson.

Devils add center Rob Niedermayer

Devils' President Lou Lamoriello Friday announced that the team have signed free agent center Rob Niedermayer. "I felt that we needed a little size and strength down the middle," Lamoriello said. "Now with Travis and Zubie and Robbie, I think we have three pretty good size, strength center ice men. We know Robbie well, of course. We've played against him enough in the Stanley Cup. He's had tremendous Stanley Cup experience and can be used in different roles."

Niedermayer scored 14 goals and 7 assists with Anaheim Ducks in 2008-09. But he lost to the Devils in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals before achieving the trophy with Ducks in 2007. Niedermayer is expected to join the team by Monday.

Jose Reyes takes batting practice

According to the New York Daily News, Jose Reyes took indoor batting practice before Monday's game against Atlanta and he still hoped to return to the field before the end of the season. Reyes has not played in the game since May 20 and was diagnosed with a complete tear of his right hamstring last month. The Daily News said that he will continue to take batting practice for the rest of the week, and on Friday he will have a significant running session on the field. If the running session goes well, Reyes will tell the media that he will try to play in one or two final games next week.

"What I'd like to know in Spring Training is he's healthy. That's the No. 1 thing for me. Spring Training becomes a very important time for him versus what it has been the last few years." Mets manager Jerry Manuel said on Sunday.Hope he will show up on the field next week with his Mets jersey.

Lopez leads Mariners to win

Jose Lopez hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, leading Seattle past Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Mariners reliever Shawn Kelley replaced starter Ryan and allowed an RBI single by B.J. Upton, but avoided more damage.

Smith pitched well but was worn down by patient Tampa Bay hitting, allowing four walks and six hits in five-plus innings. He also allowed three earned runs, marking his sixth consecutive start. Seattle's offense couldn't get too much going against Rays starter Jeff Niemann, who allowed four hits and three runs.

Johnson returns to Giants in relief

When the public-address announcer introduced Randy Johnson as he entered the stadium in his Giants jersey in Saturday's Giants-Dodgers game in the sixth inning, the audience in the Dodger Stadium applauded respectfully. Having made his first appearance since his left shoulder was injured on July 5, Johnson yielded to Dodgers' Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier. Johnson threw just 14 pitches, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that he had agreed on a light workload upon his return.

The Giants hoped that Johnson could intensify the bullpen during the season's final weeks. Johnson, threw his fastball in the high 80mph range, which was closed to the velocity he displayed before his injury.

Sabres sign forward Tyler Ennis

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced that the team have signed forward Tyler Ennis to a three-year contract on Thursday. Ennis was one of Buffalo's two first-round selections in the 2008 Entry Draft.

The highlight of the season for Ennis was a 6-goal performance on February 27, scoring all of his team's goals. Ennis finished 236 points in 245 career games with Medicine Hat, including a career-high 91 points in 2007-08. He is a native of Edmonton, Alberta, and also a member of Team Canada's at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa.

Leafs host Bruins on NHL Network

There are some exciting preseason action for the NHL season on the NHL Network on Wednesday, for example the Boston Bruins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke has imported free agents Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin, adding them to Tomas Kaberle and last season's rookie Luke Schenn. Now Maple Leaves has a new look.

The Bruins will host the 2010 NHL Winter Classic later this year, they had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, which was led by Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas.

Hampton's surgery is a success

It is reported that Left-hander Mike Hampton will miss the entire 2010 season after undergoing surgery on Tuesday morning to repair his left rotator cuff. Astros general manager Ed Wade received the report on Tuesday morning from Hampton's agent Mark Rodgers. Wade said that Dr. David Altcheck in New York City found a full rotator cuff tear and a "big hole" in Hampton's rotator cuff.

Astros signed Hampton to a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason. Various injuries,especially Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, made the left-hander attending just 25 Major League starts from 2005-08. Recently Hampton said he also wants to have arthroscopic surgery on both knees in the offseason. Wade said Hampton will likely join the team next week in Houston.

Pitcher Steve Blass aces a pair

Steve Blass, the former right-hander whose pitching career ended prematurely once he developed a strange inability to throw strikes, stole the Pirates alumni's annual golf outing by sinking two holes in one in a span of 11 holes at Greensburg Country Club. Ace No. 1 came on the 154-yard and ace No. 2 came with a seven-iron on the 175-yard

Golf numbers-crunchers estimate the odds at 67 million-to-one. In 1972 he had his finest season for the Bucs, with a 19-8 record. That season, he totaled 76 unintentional walks in 2/3 innings. In 1971, Blass picked up two wins as the Pirates took Baltimore in a seven-game series.

Soriano had surgery yesterday

It is reported that Cubs' left fielder Alfonso Soriano had surgery yesterday on his broken left knee and he will miss the rest of the season. Soriano has suffered much in the joint for most of the season. He last played in the match on Sept. 3.

Team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo performed the surgery and before he goes back to the Dominican Republic for the rest of the season, Soriano will then have three weeks to recover with the Cubs' training staff.

Bruce may not come back to Reds

Although Jay Bruce had three hits for Triple-A Louisville last week, Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker is not definitely sure that Bruce is going to join the Reds' lineup again. After breaking his right wrist in New York, Bruce missed two months playing. The outfielder will rejoin the team in Colorado during a four-game series.

Before Bruce was injured, he had suffered a difficult season. He had 18 homers and 41 Run Batted Ins in 83 games, but his batting was just 207. The catcher Ryan Hanigan had three hits and scored twice that day and was 5-for-12 with a double in his first three games. Now Hanigan is eligible to come off the disabled list several days ago, so is Burce. Fans are looking forward to seeing him playing on the field again in his Reds jersey.

Ducks term with veteran defenseman Eminger

It is reported that veteran defenseman Steve Eminger has agreed to a two-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks. He was selected in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He spent five seasons with the Capitals collecting five goals and 26 points in 71 games. "Being only 25 years old, we expect him to continue improving as a player and make a solid contribution this season."said Ducks Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray.

Totally Eminger has 11 goals and 69 points in 283 regular-season games. He also scored a goal for the Capitals during the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. "He's a guy everyone likes and a good player. Any time you have a chance to get a defenseman that's 25 and has played 300 games, you try to get them," said Ducks Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations David McNab.

Nathan McIver will remain in Canucks

The President and General Manager Mike Gillis of Vancouver Canucks announced last month that the team have re-signed defenseman Nathan McIver. McIver splits the 2008-09 season between the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks. In 18 NHL games with Anaheim Ducks, McIver collected 1 assist and 36 penalty minutes. In addition, in other 28 games with the American Hockey League affiliate--Manitoba Moose, McIver also had 2 assists and 59 penalty minutes. This defenseman was originally drafted by the Canucks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

National Hockey League

The league was founded in 1917 in Montreal, Quebec, and its predecessor organization is the National Hockey Association which was founded in 1909. It started with four teams and now composed of 30 teams, 24 of which are located in the United States and 6 in Canada. The NHL attracts many highly skilled players from all over the world. Nowadays the league has a larger number of players from about 20 different countries. Canadians constitut over half of the players because both the sport and the league originated from Canada. Many American and European players have increased in the past 25 years, because the NHL continue to expand into the United States.

Brooks Orpik has donated 15 set of equipment

It is said that defenseman Brooks Orpik of Pittsburgh Penguins has donated 15 sets of hockey equipment to Pittsburgh's "Hockey in the Hood" program.

Each player who has attended the Olympic Men's Hockey Orientation Camp in Woodbridge donated 15 sets of equipment to the youth organization. And the equipment was purchased by the National Hockey League Players Association through the "Goals & Dreams" fund.

Sergei Shirokov joins in Canucks

Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis announced last week that the team has signed right wing Sergei Shirokov. He is a native of Moscow, being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Shirokov recorded 41 points in 56 games with the KHL in 2008. He has also appeared in two World Junior Championships as a member of Russian team in 2005 and 2006. Shirokov registered 13 points in 12 games over two seasons.

Right winger Jannik Hansen remains in Canucks

Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis announced to the media that the Canucks Jannik Hansen will continue to stay in the team. Hansen was originally selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 9th round in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Hansen recorded 21 points in 55 games when he played with the Canucks. He has set 6 goals, 15 assists and 21 points in a single season and ranked 25th among all Rookies in the League.

Kyle Wellwood remains in Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today the center Kyle Wellwood
would remain in the team. In 263 NHL regular season games with Vancouver and Toronto,
Wellwood has got 135 points and 18 penalty minutes.

Wellwood recorded 27 points in 74 games in 2008-09 with Vancouver. He finished career highs for
18 goals , 10 play goals and 3 goals in a single season. He also added six points in ten playoff
games.

Dan LaCosta's two-way contract with Blue Jackets

General Manager Scott Howson announced Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed goaltender Dan LaCosta to a two-way National Hockey League-American Hockey League contract. As far as I am concernd, NHL jerseys look much more cheerful than AHL jerseys.

LaCosta won the first game of his NHL career against San Jose on February 7. In his second career NHL game, he stopped all 31 shots on February 10. He was around Blue Jackets' fourth pick in the 2004 Entry Draft.

Zajac is happy to remain in Devils

It was announced that Zajac had signed a multi-year contract to continue to stay in New Jersey."I was anxious to see what was going to take place, but I'm happy to be with the Devils. It's an exciting team and I'm happy to be a part of that."Zajac said.

Now he can focus on the season ahead."We wanted something that myself and the organization would be comfortable with, and we were able to come to terms on that," he said. "I think we're both excited for the future here."

Marc Bergevin has been promoted by Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have promoted Marc Bergevin to Director of Player Personnel. Bergevin served as an assistant coach on Joel Quenneville's staff last season, helping the Blackhawks reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time.

According to Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman, Bergevin will help to improve the progress of the organization."We are excited to promote Marc into this role," Bowman said. "We are very confident he will have a successful transition as we continue to strengthen our hockey operations department."

Kotalik will continue to stay in Rangers

According to TSN,New York Rangers have decided to re-sign forward Ales Kotalik. "Ales is a strong, hard-working player with good skating ability and a heavy shot.” Rangers General Manager Glen Sather said. They also think Kotalik will fit well into their system and will provide additional offense.

He had 20 goals and 43 points in 75 games with the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers last season. Kotalik was a sixth-round pick of the Sabres in the 1998 Entry Draft, having 121 goals and 251 points in 445 NHL games.

Lightning add defenseman Ohlund

Tampa Bay Lightning have signed defenseman Mattias Ohlund, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced last month. He is added in order to solidify the team and lead the Lightning's young defensive stuff. "We are thrilled Mattias elected to sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning today," said Lawton.

Ohlund has played in 770 career NHL games with Vancouver. He has got 93 career goals and 325 points. He is the Canucks' leader leading the team during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. He was nominated by the NHL All-Star game in 1998-99 and the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1997-98. He also earned the Canucks' Most Outstanding Defenseman award in 2005-06. In all ohlund has played in 52 career playoff games, recording nine goals and 28 points, ranking 11th among the Vancouver all-time playoff points list.

The game between Sharks and Bruins was watched by most audience in Feb

It was reported by VERSUS that the Sharks/Bruins game was the most-watched regular-season game among households in Feb.It broke the record made by Penguins/Red Wings 2008 Stanley Cup Final game in Nov.VERSUS,which celebrates real game and the cable television home of the NHL,had earned a 5 national HH rating for the telecast.And the network has gained 29-percent increase in household impressions and 30-percent increase in total viewrship.

On the other hand in Boston it had received a 3.1 HH rating and made VERSUS the No.1 cable network in San Francisco,Oakland and San Jose market.

Angelidis and Fitzgerald sign new contracts with NHL

Vice president Jason Karmanos and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes agreed to sign one-year contracts with forward Mike Angelidis and defenseman Zack Fitzgerald for 2009."Mike and Zack each bring tough, gritty play to the Hurricanes organization," said Karmanos. "Mike has been a key member of our AHL team in the past three years, and Zach is a stay-at-home defenseman that adds necessary depth to our defense."

Both of them are 24 years old.Angelidis has played 67 regular-season games in 2008 with Carolina's American Hockey League affiliate,earning 25 points.He will make $500,000 at the NHL level in 2009.After playing the 2008-09 season with Manitoba of the AHL,Fitzgerald joins the Carolina organization.His deal will pay him $500,000 in the NHL or $60,000 in the AHL in 2009-10.

Blackhawks' ticket prices will not increase

Chicago Blackhawks have announced today that season ticket prices for the 2009-10 season will not increase from 2008-09 season ticket package prices."Chicago Blackhawks fans are unique in that they have remained loyal to our team through many seasons of challenge," Blackhawks Chairman W. Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz said.

"We want to be respectful of our fans and their allegiance to the organization with regard to the nature of today's economy," Blackhawks Team President John McDonough said. "We also want to remain consistent with our big picture approach as we attempt to improve all aspects of our franchise."

Ducks welcomes Parros

George Parros from right wing has signed a 3-year contract with Ducks. It means Parros will play till the end of the 2011-12 season. Ducks Executive Vice President Manager Bob Murray annouced that they are happy to sign with Parros for more seasons.

Parros has earned 8 points with 74 penalty minutes in 45 games this year and ranked third in the club. He has also appeared in six career contests and got 14 points with 359 PIM in 146 career regular season games with Anaheim.Originally he was acquired from Colorado and drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 8th round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Parros has earned 19 points a plus-10 rating in 203 career NHL games.

Coaching staff welcome Groulx and Pearn

Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey announced that coach Pierre Groulx and assistant coach Perry Pearn have been added to the team’s coaching staff.They will work alongside head coach Jacques Martin. These nominations also include returning assistant coach Kirk Muller.

In Groulx first two seasons with the Panthers, he worked basically as video coach before adding the job of assistant coach to his resume in 2007.He began his career in Ottawa where he spent five seasons as the Senators video coach. He also worked as a member of the coaching staff for Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships in Austria in April 2005.