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LONDON - Major League Soccer expected the alliance between Manchester City and the New York Yankees to elevate the league to new heights.MLS Commissioner Don Garbers forecast at the 2013 launch now seems extremely optimistic and premature.Any lift to MLS domestic standing or global credibility is being eroded by the uncertainty and lack of clarity over the status of New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard and his prolonged stay in England.More than five months after Lampard was paraded in Manhattan, the 36-year-old midfielder is integral to the City squad — the one in England. And when the MLS expansion franchise plays its first competitive game in March, the former Chelsea star will be on the other side of the Atlantic helping City defend its Premier League title.Just when the new team is trying to gain fans trust and loyalty, they are revolting. Without even a result to complain about yet, some supporters want season ticket refunds.How did it come to this? It depends on who you listen to.NYCFCS website seemed clear on July 24: New York City FC signs Frank Lampard to a Designated Player contract ... a two-year contract which starts August 1st. Fans of a team without 11 players were urged to buy Lampard jerseys and tickets for the 2015 season.Lampard then went on the YES Network — part owned by the New York Yankees, an NYCFC minority owner — to stress he joined MLS because he couldnt play against Chelsea after 13 years in west London.I didnt want to play anywhere else in England because I had been so affiliated with one club, Lampard said on July 27. So it made sense for me to move.By Aug. 6, it didnt. City confirmed what had been anticipated, tweeting: FRANK LAMPARD: Midfielder joins #mcfc on loan.Later in England, Lampard explained the move: I got the call to come back here.MLS now says that Lampard was in fact was signed last July by City Football Group, the umbrella company for the portfolio of clubs owned by Sheikh Mansour in Manchester, Melbourne and New York, to play in MLS in 2015 and 2016. The intention, MLS confirmed, was always for Lampard join up with Man City until the end of 2014 before joining NYCFC, although he was expected back by the start of 2015.He was scheduled to train with the (Manchester) team and possibly play in some matches that would help him prepare for the start of the New York City FC season, Garber said Sunday in an MLS statement to The Associated Press.Although City described Lampards arrival as a loan on Aug. 6, that online announcement has been removed and the term loan not used by the club again, although Lampard has referenced loan in media interviews.City has not responded to detailed questions about Lampards contractual status. But deep in Citys 2013-14 accounts is a declaration that the football registrations ... acquired since May 31 was Lampards.Announcing Lampard would not be returning for the MLS season opener, City said on Dec. 31 that Lampards contract had been extended.Its an uncomfortable situation for MLS. Lampard stretching out his career in England beyond his planned farewell shows that the Premier League outranks NYCFCs debut for the Abu Dhabi ownership.When he initially joined Manchester City, none of us envisioned Frank would play such a prominent role in the clubs season, Garber said.But with seven goals, Lampard has defied his years by showing he can still cut it at the highest level. Now Lampard is staying at City until May, and his MLS career is due to finally start halfway through the regular season in July.This is an extremely unusual set of circumstances, as Frank has become a one of the most important players in Manchester Citys season — scoring critical goals to put them in a tie for first place in the Premier League, Garber said.But it has created an American backlash, highlighted by the responses to NYCFC tweeting Lampards latest City goal on Jan. 1. Even NYCFCs website, in newly-posted comments below the July signing announcement, includes accusations fans were misled.Alexis Lalas, the former Los Angeles player turned Fox Sports commentator, characterized Lampards prolonged stay in Manchester as: The mother ship has spoken.Cynics have suggested that the establishment of a portfolio of clubs is a mechanism to help City comply with UEFA Financial Fair Play rules (which the club denies). Originally intended to curb debt, FFP instead targets losses and restricts even wealthy owners like Sheikh Mansour from unrestricted investment in European clubs, thus Citys need to show it is generating cash.But MLS embraces the injection of wealth from Abu Dhabi.I have had numerous discussions with ownership, Garber said. New York City FC is working hard at signing additional players for the clubs inaugural season.But Lampards contractual confusion validates perceptions that MLS is where stars to go into semi-retirement for a final pay day.Steven Gerrard is leaving Liverpool for MLS later this year because the 34-year-old captain is no longer guaranteed playing time.Only when players like Gerrard and Lampard come to the U.S. in their prime — and resist the chance to jump back to Europe — will MLS have come of age.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris Astros Jose Altuve Jersey . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Astros Brad Peacock Jersey . -- Blake Griffin scored 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds, DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 22 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers outlasted the Golden State Warriors 98-96 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. http://www.cheapastrosjerseysauthentic.com/ ." One game is checked off, 15 remain and the next one to get crossed out could come Tuesday night when the defending champion Heat host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. Astros Craig Biggio Jersey . - Doug Kalitta led Top Fuel qualifying Friday in the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway with a 3. Astros Jose Cruz Jr. Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said.The Kansas City Royals are still a dark horse favourite as far as the World Series goes, but KC is rapidly turning into the peoples choice after beating Oakland 9-8 in that Wild Card game extra-inning thriller and then wiping out the L.A. Angels three straight in their A.L Division series. Going all the way still wont be an easy task. Since the advent of the original Wild Card format, only four teams have gone on to win the World Series from that position. In the American League that would be the Angels in 2002 and Boston in 2007. The Red Sox incidently have made to the postseason through the back door Wild Card route more than any other franchise, seven times in all. The two National League Wild Card World Series winners over that 20-year span were the Florida Marlins in 1997 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. The Rockies and Cards have made it to the Playoffs as Wild Cards most frequently among the Senior Circuit clubs at three times apiece. We talk so much about what pitching means to success, and it certainly does. But the Atlanta Braves are an interesting case. Theyve made it twice to playoffs as a Wild Card team, however they havent won a single playoff series in over a decade. This despite having the second-best ERA in the Majors over the past nine years at 3.75. The Braves pitching coach over those nine years has been Roger McDowell, he of the Magic Loogie Seinfeld episode. Concussions have come to the fore as a major problem in pro and amateur sports over the past few years, Baseball is no exception, but the bulk of concerns in the Majors surrounds one position, catcher. In these playoffs alone, Royals star catcher Salvatore Perez was hit in the head on the follow-through of a Josh Hamilton swing in Game 2 of their series. Perez was left dazed and suffering from concussion-like symptoms, but fortunately is alright. Then Sunday, in Game 3 of the Orioles series, Tigers catcher Alex Avila took a foul ball right off the jaw and had to leave the game. Its not the first time it has happened to Avila and it has caused some to worry about his long-term future in the game. Just doing a rough count, I came up with seven other catchers who have had concussions or at least concussion-like symptoms. The Twins Joe Mauer heads the list.dddddddddddd He has become a 1B/DH type after getting hit in the mask a number of times. He may never catch full-time again. The others on the list include the Blue Jays Dioner Navarro, the Yankees Brian McCann, Bostons David Ross and Oaklands John Jasso in the American League along with the Mets Travis DArnaud, the Phillies Carlos Ruiz and the Giants Hector Sanchez. That was only a quick search - I know there are more. Baseball has already done its best to eliminate home plate collisions, but Im honestly not sure what can be done about foul tips and follow through swings. Being a catcher has always been a hazardous occupation and to a certain degree at least it always will be. The Search is On For the bulk of 30 Major League clubs, the off-season has already begun. Houston has already hired A.J. Hinch as its new manager, and the Astros old skipper Bo Porter has surfaced as the Braves third base coach. Texas and Arizona are still looking for new managers. Of the eight candidates the Rangers are considering and interviewing, two have former ties to the Blue Jays. One is Clevelands bullpen coach and former Jays catcher Kevin Cash, and the other is John Farrells bench coach Torey Lovullo, who was also a coach on Farrells staff with the Blue Jays for two years. The Rangers are also close to adding two assistants to GM Jon Daniels. The first is former Jays third base prospect Michael Young, who went on to star with Texas and the Phillies, and the other is former Jays reliever Darren Oliver. Arizona is also interviewing eight candidates including Don Wakamatsu, who was Farrells bench coach with the Jays, and Diamondbacks hitting coach Turner Ward who came off the bench with the Blue Jays when they won the World Series in 1992 and 1993. Also on the list is Sandy Alomar Jr., Robbies brother, who has been coaching in Cleveland the past few years. Popularity Poll There has never really been a question as to which team is more popular in Chicago. But this point only further serves to drive the point home. The Cubs and White Sox finished with identical records and both missed the Playoffs by a mile yet the North side Cubs drew one million more fans than the South siders. 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