Pirate Galaxy » return calls from ESPN.T

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals filled the biggest void in their bullpen Monday with Brett Cecil, the only left-handed reliever that piqued their interest on the free-agent market.Cecil was introduced at Busch Stadium after finalizing a $30.5 million, four-year contract. He is expected to provide help in high-leverage situations along with Kevin Siegriest and ahead of closer Seung Hwan Oh, though general manager John Mozeliak said all three are capable of finishing games.Brett was the one person we thought if we were going to make a splash in the bullpen, he was the one we identified, Mozeliak said. There was a lot of demand for him and it was moving.The four-year deal for the 30-year-old Cecil gained attention, but Mozeliak said he was comfortable with the length of the contract because of the interest he was generating.Our offseason plan has been to take steps to try to improve this club and certainly today we feel like we have, Mozeliak said. I think its a way we envision keeping a fresh bullpen.Shoring up the bullpen became one of the Cardinals biggest needs following injuries to Zach Duke and Tyler Lyons. Duke is expected to miss all of next season after Tommy John surgery, while Lyons has had offseason knee surgery that leaves him questionable for the start of the regular season.Cecil had a 3.93 ERA in 36 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays last season. He was slowed by a torn lat muscle but dominated down the stretch, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs.The lat issue, it was kind of an accumulating thing, Cecil said. We tried to rest, tried to let it heal. It wasnt working. I was sidelined for six weeks. I almost had to start spring training over again in the middle of the season. It took me a little bit to get going, and there in August and toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, I was beginning to feel like my old self again.Cecil, who had a 2.90 ERA in four years as a full-time reliever in Toronto, was testing free agency for the first time. He said that he left most of the negotiations up to his agent, but he was happy that a deal got done relatively early in the process.I honestly didnt know when it was going to happen, he said. I do like to get these types of things over and done with as quickly as possible. That way I can get my focus more toward the offseason, to come to spring training ready to go.Under the deal negotiated by agents Sam and Seth Levinson, Cecil gets a $1 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deals approval by Major League Baseball, and salaries of $7.5 million in each of the next three seasons and $7 million in 2020. He also receives a full no-trade provision and award bonuses.Cecil said he doesnt know anybody on the current roster, which is still in need of an outfielder, but that the longtime American League pitcher is ready to take on the National League.Absolutely. This team is rich with baseball history, he said. They have a rich winning tradition. They always have good teams -- good, winning teams. And like I said, for my family and me, this is where we wanted to come. It was the best fit for us.Wholesale Yeezy 350 . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Supreme Black/Red . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/fake-yeezy-350-clay-wholesale.html . 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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.If the Capper fits ... the world according to WizFormer Brisbane Lions marquee player Warwick Capper has a plan to get his struggling club back on track: Bring back tight shorts and cheerleaders.Iconic sharpshooter Capper says a return of yesteryear traditions could help to resurrect the club from its six-year finals drought.I reckon theyve got to start wearing some tight shorts to get some sex appeal back or maybe get some Bear-rettes to get a bit of sex appeal there and get a bit of a circus going at halftime, Capper told ESPN.But first Id change their jumpers. Theyre not the best colours. At least theyre better than the Bears jumpers that I played in that looked like baby spew.The former Brisbane Bears and Sydney Swans full-forward, who kicked 388 goals from 124 games, is rallying support for besieged coach Justin Leppitsch.Capper attributes the clubs form slump as a result of poor recruiting, not coaching.I feel sorry for Leppa [Leppitsch] though. Its not really his fault, he said.They shouldnt have gotten rid of Vossy [Michael Voss] either. That was a big mistake because he was the favourite son and he didnt do anything wrong.It upset the crowds and the members. Theyre starting to realise that now.What they have to fix is their clubrooms to bring them up to AFL level and start recruiting better.When I was there we were wooden spooners. I was their highest-paid player sitting on heads and knocking the crowds back, but we didnt win too many games.Capper continues to host sportsmen and comedy nights across the country, while working in real estate part-time.The leaping goal kicker also plans to open three restaurants in December. He has a five-year plan to open over 140 establishments across the country.Brisbanes blues: AFL ready to draw a lion in the sandThe AFL seems certain to step in and sort out the Brisbane basket case at seasons end, in much the same way it did with Melbourne in 2013.Any help given to the Lions will come with a list of stringent conditions -- and they will include a major review of the clubs coaching staff and administration.It is unlikely Brisbanes request for a priority draft pick will be met -- because of the angst it will cause the other 17 clubs.This time three years ago, the league said it would only offer Melbourne financial assistance if it were effectively allowed to take control of the club.So it installed former Essendon chief Peter Jackson as CEO and then appointed Glen Bartlett as president. Four directors resigned and the revolution was underway.Bartlett, a former managing partner of Clayton Utz in Melbourne, has been notable for his low profile and reluctance to rock the boat at AFL headquarters -- in contrast to predecessors such as Joe Gutnick.While the likes of Liberal Party heavyweights such as Alan Stockdale and Jeff Kennett were keen to come into the club with their own hand-picked boards in 2013, the AFL quickly quashed that idea -- and set about doing the renovation job themselves.And so it will probably be at Brisbane, where triple premiership coach Leigh Matthews rules the roost like a demigod.He is unlikely to be there next year -- if The Ages Caroline Wilson is to be believed -- and neither is Leppitsch. And that will mean some of their mates now employed at the club, such as player retention boss Craig Lambert, will also come under pressure to keep their jobs.Top cop keeps the Saints runningVictoria police Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey has forged a 29-year career chasing criminals.And if hes not piecing together clues at a gruesome crime scene, hes tracking down players butchering the footy.Bailey, you see, doubles as St Kildas runner, a role he has enjoyed since joining the Saints last year.The pressure and atmosphere are intoxicating for Bailey, who now works with the gang-busting group, Echo Taskforce, after three years in the homicide squad.You have to understand the game plan really well, you need to be quite concise with your messages and the playing group needs to understand what youre talking about, Bailey told ESPN.The job isnt without its challenges.?Delivering dozens of urgent messages to star players and running up to 16km per game, Bailey says being caught in the thick of the action - and having free kicks paid against him - is unavoidable.It happens. It such a manic pace out there and the balls flicking all over the place. Its easy to get caught out, he said.You know the cameras going to pan straight in on you, so you try not to smile ... I probably average one a year.Like he has done in the police force, Bailey has risen through the ranks as an AFL runner after beginning at the Heidelberg Football Club under Carlton great David Rhys-Jones.That stint didnt last long, as Bailey became a highly sought fitness advisor and runner.He was snapped up by VFL clubs and worked under former league players such as Paul Spargo, David Flood and Barry Mitchell.Baileys big moment came when legendary Richmond captain Matthew Knights was sensationally dropped to reserves side Coburg in 2002, when Bailey was the runner for his good friend and coach Alan Richardson.Knights said he was so impressed with how professional we, Richo and I, were, he said. I think that probably assisted me when Knights got the job at Essendon.Knights head-hunted Bailey and Richardson when he was appointed senior coach at the Bombers.Bailey spent two years at Windy Hill where he was the runner in some of the biggest games of his 16-year career - Anzac Day and two finals series.He says watching Knights coaching tenure unravel was difficult to endure.I think the club actually made some dividends on the back of some really tough decisions that hhe made in terms of the playing list, Bailey said.ddddddddddddBailey spent a year under James Hird before Brendan McCartney, formerly a senior assistant coach at Essendon, lured Bailey to the kennel when McCartney took charge at the Whitten Oval.He was there for more than two seasons before a homecoming reunion with Richardson at St Kilda opened up.I always wanted to go back with him because it was something I dreamed of doing one day, Bailey, who turns 50 next week, said. I couldnt think of a better place to be. The clubs fantastic and I couldnt be happier.?Richos got the most cohesive and functional coaching group that I have ever seen in football. They get along as any coaching group I have seen in my time. Theyve got the place humming.Could it be bye-bye to the pre-finals bye?The AFL has, for the first time, scheduled a bye for the weekend before the 2016 finals -- a move that is now starting to cause some consternation.It was introduced because some clubs -- notably Fremantle and North Melbourne -- fielded B-Grade teams in the final round of recent home-and-away seasons, when it became clear their final ladder position would not be affected by a win or loss. So they rested their gun players.The bye seems a sensible idea on the surface -- but in practice? The top clubs arent so sure.They fear they might be brought undone by the rules unintended consequences.The two clubs (from the top four) which happen to win their week-one qualifying final, for example, face the prospect of playing just one match in four weeks.Hawthorn, say, might play their Round 23 match on Friday August 26, have the bye week off, play their qualifying final on the weekend of September 9-11 then, if they win, have another weeks rest before tackling their preliminary final on September 23 or 24. So one hit-out in a month.That cant be an ideal preparation heading into the most important fortnight of the season.The top four clubs have other concerns. They wonder whether their advantage in getting the double chance might be eroded by the fact teams finishing from 5th to 8th now get a rest before the finals. So everyone gets a chance to take a breather and regroup after the regular season.As a result, there is growing feeling that, under the new rules this year, the 2016 premiership team could emerge from one of the clubs outside the top four - something that hasnt happened since Adelaide pinched the 1998 flag from fifth.There are other concerns: The sports science, fitness and rehab teams at the top eight clubs are in a bit of quandary as to how to deal with the bye round; do they ease off on the training loads, ramp them up, take the weekend off, or what?Were tipping that the growing commotion surrounding the pre-finals bye will mean that its no monty to be included in the 2017 fixture.Broom set to sweep through AFL VictoriaStand by for a big shake-up at AFL Victoria.ESPN understands several key football-related positions at the organisation are about to be spilled, with those currently filling the positions able to re-apply, but with no guarantees after that.Flush with cash from the new media rights deal, the AFL will plough resources into grassroots football, with the caveat that it helps write the new job descriptions and, if necessary, help fill the positions.As reported, TAC Cup coaches will now become full-time, a move that will be welcomed in AFL coaching circles, given the increased belief among them that drafted players enter the AFL system with only a very basic understanding of the systems, structures of the modern game.The AFL hopes that by making TAC Cup coaching jobs full-time and presumably, paying a bit more than they have in the past, that more recently retired or delisted league footballers might be keen to make a career out of coaching.Before now, the gap between the $300,000 average AFL playing salary and the (perhaps) $50,000 for a TAC Cup coach was too large a cut for retired players to consider.That might change now, particularly with the having coached your own team now seen as a desirable CV item for those aspiring to become AFL senior coaches.Cutting from a cash-strapped clothA natural disaster has sent a clothing manufacturer that produces a third of AFLs club jumpers into a financial whirlwind.A wild hurricane in Fiji damaged the major factory of BLK Sports, also known as Beyond Limits Known,?which meant theyve failed to meet outstanding orders.The sports apparel business has been forced to reimburse lost purchases, apparently leaving it out of pocket thousands of dollars.BLK produces the jerseys for Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs, as well as deals with prominent feeder leagues like the Victorian Amateur Football Association and South Metro Junior Football League.It also supplies the uniform for AFL umpires.BLK did not return calls from ESPN.THIS WEEKS RANDOM STATS:40: Oscar McDonald this week became Melbournes 40th Rising Star nomination since the award began back in 1993, making the Demons the AFLs most prolific producer of good young talent. Brisbane sits second on the Rising Star list with 39 nominations.44.8: Hawthorns average winning margin (in points) the week after theyve suffered a loss this year. Those winning margins in the rounds after their four defeats, culminating in last weeks belting of North Melbourne, are: +46, +46, +48, +39.1908: The year that Richmond last won a match after going scoreless in the last quarter (a feat they somehow managed against a rampant Geelong last weekend). ' ' '