Crazyrebel(l)s ist umgezogen! » Cincinnati pitching in one season

THEY SAID IT: The huge curve ball in this years finals series is that bye after round 23 ... I dont really know where we want to finish. But all I do know, in history, top four has been the best spot. So thats what were going for. - Hawthorn coach Alastair ClarksonSTAT THAT MATTERS: North Melbournes defeat to Sydney by nine points on Saturday is their eighth successive loss against finals-bound opponents. With a record like that, its almost worth considering a top-seven format for this years finals.MAN OF THE ROUND: Eddie Betts, for better and worse. The Adelaide superstar celebrated his 250th game with a spectacular five-goal effort in a Showdown victory. But the indigenous player unwillingly found himself at the centre of a racism row after a Port Adelaide fan threw a banana at him following his fifth goal. The Power condemned the act and cancelled her membership indefinitely.TALKING POINT: This seasons finals could be about survival of the fittest. Hawthorns first-choice ruck Jonathon Ceglar and West Coast superstar Nic Naitanui suffered season-ending ACL injuries in the same game, and may not play again until 2018. In Hobart on Saturday, Sydneys Lance Franklin played through a hip scare. And just when you thought the Bulldogs injury woes couldnt get any worse, stand-in captain Easton Wood left the ground on crutches after a leg injury. The poor, poor Bulldogs.TRIBUNAL WATCH: Adelaide superstar Rory Sloane is among the players sweating on the match review panels findings after drawing blood when he whacked the face of Port Adelaides Brad Ebert in a clumsy attempt to spoil. An incident involving Hawthorn veteran Jordan Lewis and West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett is also likely to be reviewed.KEY INJURIES: N Naitanui (West Coast, knee), J Ceglar (Hawthorn, knee), S Thompson (North Melbourne, groin), P McCartin (St Kilda, collarbone), D Moore (Collingwood, hamstring), S Lemmens (Gold Coast, concussion), B Smith (Adelaide, concussion), E Curnow (Carlton, knee), E Wood (Western Bulldogs, leg).WHATS NEXT: Adelaide will lock up a top-two spot if they can hold off the fast-finishing West Coast on Friday night. North Melbourne host Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night in what could be a preview of an elimination final, while Sydney will claim the minor premiership. Authentic College Jerseys . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. College Football Jerseys Wholesale . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. http://www.ncaacheapjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-michigan-wolverines-jerseys . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Wholesale College Jerseys China . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. NCAA Jerseys China . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. CINCINNATI -- It looks as if Ben Zobrist might be rounding into postseason form, just in time for the Chicago Cubs.Zobrist homered twice and drove in three runs, helping Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 on Friday night.Im feeling a lot better than I felt in June, July and August, said Zobrist, who helped Kansas City win the World Series last year. Hopefully, that translates into October.The Cubs have the majors best record and clinched the NL Central title with plenty of time to spare, giving Joe Maddon the luxury of resting his regulars. The 35-year-old Zobrist didnt play on Monday or Thursday, and he is 11 for 22 with two homers and eight RBI in his last seven games.Hes rested, Maddon said. With guys like that, thats why you want time off, and (Friday) is what it can look like.Jake Buchanan (1-0) pitched five shutout innings as Chicago improved to 14-3 against Cincinnati this season with two games to play. The right-hander allowed two hits in his first start since 2014 with Houston.Outstanding, wasnt he? Maddon said. He controlled his emotions and threw strikes. He was very efficient. He threw strikes. We caught the ball -- a typical formula for us.It was Buchanans first appearance since he pitched one inning on Sept. 5. He didnt know what to expect when he took the mound.Once I got past the first batter, it felt really good to be back in a ballgame, Buchanan said. I was just hoping to throw strikes and compete.Anthony Rizzo also drove in two runs for Chicago, which was coming off a rare tie in Pittsburgh due to rain.Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the ninth for last-place Cincinnati, which announced before the game that manager Bryan Price would return next season. Josh Smith (3-3) was charged with two runs and three hits in five-plus innings.Price and the Reds agreed to a one-year contract with a team option. The entire coaching staff also has been offered contracts for 2017.There is a mutual desire to stay connected, Price said. For me, its an unbelievable opportunity. It is a storied franchise. I have really enjoyed my coaches and my team.The Cubs, heeaded for the playoffs for the second straight year, announced contract extensions for general manager Jed Hoyer and player development director Jason McLeod.dddddddddddd Their new deals run through the 2021 season, mirroring president of baseball operations Theo Epsteins contract announced on Wednesday.Smith retired his first 12 batters before Zobrist led off the fifth with a drive to right for his first homer since Sept. 12. The All-Star also connected for a two-run shot in Chicagos four-run eighth, No. 17 on the year.It was good, Smith said. I challenged hitters early and got a lot of early contact to pitch pretty deep in the game. The ball to Zobrist, I missed my spot.Chicagos first three batters reached in the sixth, chasing Smith, and Addison Russells RBI double made it 3-1.HISTORIC HOMERSZobrists homers were Chicagos 38th and 39th against the Reds this season, the most by one team against Cincinnati pitching in one season. The 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1957 Milwaukee Braves previously shared the record with 38.FRIENDLY CONFINESKris Bryants eighth-inning single gave him a least one hit in each of Chicagos eight games at Great American Ball Park so far this season.EARLY WARNINGVotto, who left Thursdays game at St. Louis in the eighth inning with a cut on his chin that required seven stitches, texted Price at 3 a.m. Friday saying that he would be ready to play.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: OF Jorge Soler (discomfort on his right side) will be re-evaluated on Saturday, Maddon said.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips, sidelined by soreness in his left wrist and hand, was being examined Friday by members of the Reds medical staff, Price said.UP NEXTCubs: LHP Jon Lester (19-4) seeks his first career 20-win season in his last start. He is 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in four starts against Cincinnati this season.Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (3-4), who set a career high with seven innings in his last start on Monday, will try to close out his season with back-to-back wins. ' ' '