Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.
Hunter Strickland Nationals Jersey .com) - After being spurned by Jon Lester the Boston Red Sox continued to bolster their rotation, making an official announcement on Friday of the acquisition of Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Sox gave up right-handers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster along with minor-league infielder Raymel Flores. Miley struggled last season, going 8-12 with a 4.34 earned run average in 33 starts. The former No. 1 pick, though, was a 16-game winner in 2012 and accumulated a 38-35 record with a 3.79 ERA over 106 games (102 starts) for the D-backs. The 28-year-old hurler finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2012 and was also an All-Star that season for Arizona. De La Rosa was 4-8 a year ago for Boston with a 4.43 ERA in 19 games, including a career-high 18 starts. Webster started 11 games for the Red Sox last season and was 5-3 with a 5.03 ERA. De La Rosa and Webster, of course, were the center pieces for the Red Sox in the blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2012 that saw them surrender Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. In a separate transaction between the two franchises, the BoSox snagged right- hander Zeke Spruill from the Diamondbacks for minor league pitcher Myles Smith.
Joe Ross Jersey . Jets head coach Paul Maurice made the announcement Saturday following the morning skate and confirmed Al Montoya will start in goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Sean Doolittle Jersey . The Flames are in the midst of a six-game slide (0-5-1), their longest losing streak since an 0-6-3 skid from Jan. 11-28, 2010. They havent won since Nov. 3 in Chicago and most recently went winless on a three-game homestand.Very nice job, Colts. Sorry we are not more impressed.Yes, Pro Picks has looked down on Indianapolis in these playoffs, twice picking against the Colts and looking foolish.Have we smartened up as Andrew Luck takes the AFC South champions to Foxborough to meet the AFC East winners, the Patriots?Read on.New England (No. 2 in AP Pro32) is a seven-point favourite over Indianapolis (No. 8 in AP Pro32), which seems a bit low. Not only did the Patriots rout the Colts in Indy this season, but other than the Ravens, hardly anyone puts a scare into them at Gillette Stadium.But the oddsmakers have noticed several things about both teams:—Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is playing at a very high level, perhaps the best of his three pro seasons — and that is saying plenty.—Indys defence has shown up bigtime in the post-season, discovering a pass rush, blanketing receivers (cornerback Vontae Davis has been superb) and making big plays.—The offensive line, considered a weak spot for most of 2014, appears to be coming together at just the right time.—Joe Flacco often had his way with New Englands secondary last week.—The Patriots showed plenty of gumption by rallying twice from 14-point holes. But they twice fell into 14-point holes.—New England couldnt run at all against Baltimore and stopped trying.All of that said, we leave the final words on Sundays late game to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, not someone to care about point spreads.I dont take anything for granted from anybody, Belichick says. Its a one-game season. They have a lot of good players; they have a lot of good coaches. Theyre working just as hard as we are. We have to find some way to outperform them. I think thats the message for all of us.Message received.BEST BET: PATRIOTS, 31-21No. 3 Green Bay (plus 7) at No.
Aaron Barrett Jersey. 1 SeattleThe NFC finalists also met during the regular season and it was lopsided, too. Seattle romped 36-16 in the 2014 kickoff game.Both sides went through some trials and tribulations the rest of the way, and not much emphasis should be placed on that opening result. Green Bay, in particular, is a different team, its defence more efficient with an improved pass rush, and its running game well-established after early struggles. Aaron Rodgers has gotten some diversity from his receiving group, especially with the emergence of Davante Adams and Andrew Quarless as a third and fourth target.Most problematic, of course, is All-Pro Rodgers sore calf. He clearly was restricted in the second half against Dallas last weekend — and the Cowboys dont come close to presenting the defensive challenge the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks bring.Indeed, Seattles D is looking just as imposing now as it was a year ago.Were playing for each other, I think thats the biggest thing, All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman says. Guys are playing selfless: There arent any egos, there arent any agendas, and guys just want to do whatever it takes to win. If that means making a tackle, then make the tackle; if that means catching the football, were going to catch the football. Guys are playing for one another, they dont care about stats, nor do they care about anything else.They care about another trip to the big game, and theyll get it.SEAHAWKS, 23-20___2014 RECORD: Against spread: This week (2-2); Season (130-122-5). Straight up: This week (3-1); Season (174-88-1)Best Bet: 7-12 against spread, 11-8 straight up.Upset special: 9-9 against spread, 7-11 straight up.___AP NFL website:
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