Pirate Galaxy » after he was spiked by Gregory Polanco

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The horn ending practice had sounded long ago, and Mike Wallace was still hard at work.Moving to his left, shifting to his right, Wallace stood in front of the machine as it spit out footballs. Catching with two hands, then with his left hand and the right, Wallace worked at his craft Wednesday until finally -- as always -- he was the last man off the field.Wallace signed with Baltimore as a free agent in March looking to revive a career that stalled last year in Minnesota. Two weeks into the season, the move has worked for both the Ravens and the 30-year-old receiver.Baltimore (2-0) has scored three touchdowns, all of them by Wallace. He caught a 66-yarder in a 13-7 win over Buffalo, then scored on passes of 7 and 17 yards to help the Ravens overcome a 20-point deficit and beat Cleveland 25-20.They arent calling him Mr. Touchdown in the locker room heading into this weeks game at the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Wallace certainly has received a hearty welcome from a team he despised when playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.Mike has been everything we expected and hoped for, coach John Harbaugh said. He just works really hard.Wallace knows all too well that fame can be fleeting. He enjoyed four solid seasons with the Steelers, performed well in relative obscurity with Miami in 2013 and 2014, then scored only two touchdowns last year with the Vikings.Hes already surpassed that in two starts with Baltimore, which is why Wallace attracted a crowd of reporters and cameramen at his locker on Wednesday.Ive seen the highs, Ive seen the lows, Ive seen how fast things can change on you, he said. So just like youre all sitting here talking to me, I dont buy into none of this. Next week you could be gone.Thats been the pattern in the eight years since he starred at Mississippi.I came in third-round pick, not much. I got a lot of love once I started making plays, Wallace said. But you dont make a couple plays, it all turns around on you.Wallace has seven catches for 132 yards. Every one of his receptions has produced a first down or a touchdown. Although quarterback Joe Flacco has a variety of targets, including tight end Dennis Pitta and Steve Smith, none of them have been more productive than Wallace.I know hes very confident and we want to keep him that way, Flacco said. We want to keep him juiced up and keep feeding him the ball. The more he continues to feel like that, the better its going to be for our team.During his days with the Steelers, Wallace and the Ravens had little love for each other. There were hard hits and trash-talking, boasts and taunts, leaving open the question of whether he could get along with his former enemy.Its football. You leave it on the field unless its too serious, he said. When I got here, I had no doubt it would be a great fit. I knew from afar it was a great organization. It was easy for me to come here and just go with the flow.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLDiscount Shoes Ireland . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Wholesale Shoes Ireland . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. https://www.shoesirelandsale.com/ . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. Shoes Ireland Free Shipping . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Shoes Ireland From China . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months.MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins entered this weekend with a potent lineup, a solid bullpen, a 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets in the battle for the National League wild-card playoff race and a very shaky rotation once you get past All-Star Jose Fernandez.On Sunday, that rotation issue became much worse, and Miamis lead shrunk to a half-game over the Mets as a result of a 3-0 loss to New York.Next up for the Marlins (53-45) is a visit from the Philadelphia Phillies, but Miami will have to take them on without starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen.After Sundays game, the Marlins announced that Chen, who they signed to an extravagant, five-year, $80 million contract in the offseason, was going on the disabled list due to an elbow injury.There are rumors that Chen could be done for the season and may need Tommy John surgery. But, as of now, thats not what the Marlins are saying.(Chen) came in after his last start a little bit tender in the elbow, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. Weve got to be cautious with him. We dont feel like its anything crazy (such as surgery), but we also want to be careful.Chen, who is 5-4 with a 4.99 ERA, has been a major disappointment for Miami. In fact, he hasnt been anywhere near the solid pitcher he had been during his four-year career with the Baltimore Orioles. Chen was 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA with the Orioles, which is how he got the big contract from Miami.Unfortunately for the Marlins, Mattingly has no other good choice. He is about to replace one disappointing pitcher with another.Jarred Cosart is expected to join the rotation in time to start Monday against the Phillies. Cosart, who started the season with the Marlins, was quickly demoted after he went 0-1 with a 7.98 ERA in three starts.He has been mediocre at Triple-A New Orleans, posting a 3-4 record, a 4.09 ERA, a .158 WHIP and .279 batting average allowed.This will be Cosarts first major league start since April 22, when the Marlins finally gave up on a pitcher who walked 15 batters in his first 14 2/3 innings this season.Now, though, they need Cosart again.(Cosart) is the guy, Mattingly said. He is throwing the ball the best down there (in New Orleans) rightt now.ddddddddddddThats not exactly a strong endorsement, but what else can Mattingly say?The fact remains that the Marlins are one of several teams fighting -- at least for the moment -- for two wild-card spots. That list includes the Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers. And dont forget the Pittsburgh Pirates -- they are just two games behind Miami.Meanwhile, the rebuilding Phillies (45-55) are realistically out of the playoff racePhiladelphia, which lost to the Pirates 5-4 on Sunday, has dropped seven of 10 games since the All-Star Game. There is speculation that it wont be long before the organization calls up two top prospects -- 21-year-old shortstop J.P. Crawford and 22-year-old left fielder Nick Williams.Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis, who is batting just .232, could move to second base or to a utility role once Crawford arrives. Crawford, who is in his first year at Triple-A, is batting .317 with a .381 on-base percentage.The Phillies on Monday will likely place infielder Andres Blanco on the disabled list after he was spiked by Gregory Polanco of the Pirates. Blancos absence could open up a spot for Crawford.Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco, who missed Saturdays game after getting hit by a pitch on his wrist, returned on Sunday.The big need is for an upgrade at shortstop, which Crawford could address if he is ready.The Phillies started Cody Asche in left field on Sunday, but he is hitless in his past 21 at-bats, including 10 strikeouts.The solution could be Aaron Altherr, who was expected to be the Phillies starter in right field this season before he needed wrist surgery. The Phillies could also turn to reserves Tyler Goeddel or Jimmy Paredes.Williams, who draws precious few walks, is another possibility, but he could probably benefit from remaining at Triple-A to hone his plate discipline.On Monday night, Philadelphia will throw right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 3.84 ERA) against Cosart, a matchup the Phillies no doubt love.After all, Hellickson beat the Marlins 4-1 on Wednesday. ' ' '