BRADENTON, Fla. - Coming off their first playoff appearance in 21 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates were eager to start spring training. Several players have been training regularly at the Pirate City complex since early January. When 36 pitchers and catchers held their first official workout on Thursday, a half-dozen position players were there, too. The Pirates won 94 games last season and advanced to the NL division series, their first post-season berth since 1992. They were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in the decisive Game 5. "Were still hungry," catcher Russell Martin said. "We did some special things last year, but everybody was disappointed with how it finished. I dont know what all the experts are saying, but I consider myself an expert and I think were going to do better than we did last year." They will have to do it without veteran right-hander A.J. Burnett, who has agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Burnett made 61 starts and won 26 games over the past two seasons with the Pirates. After hearing that Burnett chose not to return to Pittsburgh, Martin sent a text message to his former teammate. "I wished him well," Martin said. "I hope he stays healthy and has a good season ... and, hopefully, well meet him in the playoffs and beat him." Many players admitted they were surprised and disappointed about Burnetts departure. Others preferred to look ahead. "Weve got to move on," reliever Mark Melancon said. "You cant live in the past. This is a new year and anything can happen." Even without Burnett, the Pirates have the makings of a solid starting rotation. Left-hander Francisco Liriano, who went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA, is the likely opening day starter. Gerrit Cole (10-7, 3.22) and Charlie Morton (7-4, 3.26) also return. Wandy Rodriguez missed most of last season due to a sore left forearm. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday and is expected to be ready for the start of the season. "Physically, hes coming along very well," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Were going to take it slow with him this spring, so hes kind of on a different program than the other guys. But, hes healthy and feels good." New arrival Edinson Volquez, who signed a $5 million deal in December, and Jeff Locke could battle for the No. 5 job. The 26-year-old Locke won eight straight starts in the first half of the season and made the NL All-Star team. However, he went 2-5 with a 6.12 ERA over his final 12 starts and was shut down in September. "Making the playoffs last year meant a lot to us," Locke said. "The fans in Pittsburgh and the rest of the baseball world hadnt seen it in a while, but I know the 25 guys in our clubhouse knew it was something we could do. Were not under anybodys radar anymore, but I think the 25 guys this year will be up to the challenge." NOTES: The Pirates signed LHP Yao-Hsun Yang to a minor league contract, which includes an invitation to spring training. Yang, 31, made nine outings last year in the minor leagues in Japan. . When New Zealand finally held on for an 8-7 win, France No. 8 Imanol Harinordoquy collapsed to the ground, having given every drop of energy he could muster, and lay prone as All Blacks danced around him in celebration. Few critics had given France any chance, but coach Marc Lievremonts team rallied from 8-0 down and came within one kick of taking the lead with 15 minutes remaining, only for flyhalf Francois Trinh-Ducs 49-meter effort to drift wide. . Eller scored the midway through the third period after Dallas scored twice to tie it, leading Canadiens to a 6-4 win over the Stars on Thursday night.
http://www.cheapnhlkingsjerseysauthentic.com/.Tatjana Haenni, FIFAs head of womens competitions, told a FIFA Live Your Goals Tour news conference Friday that the artificial turf is being tested to make sure it meets standards. . Dillon Brooks scored 26 points on 9-17 shooting for Canada while pulling down six rebounds and picking up six steals. Teammate Chris Egi had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. . -- Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Buffalo quarterback EJ Manuel welcomed the opportunity to watch Ben Roethlisberger practice this week, certain he could glean something from the way Pittsburgh star goes about his job. Apparently, theres still much to learn. For Manuel and his rebuilding club both, particularly if they have to carry on without Sammy Watkins. Manuel passed for 148 yards in a half of work but failed to lead the Bills to the end zone yet again in a 19-16 loss to the Steelers on Saturday night. Watkins, the fourth overall pick in the draft, left in the first quarter with a rib contusion and did not return. Buffalo coach Doug Marrone declined to elaborate on the former Clemson players status. The Bills (1-2) host Tampa Bay next Saturday. "Theyre going to run tests and everything and well see how he is," Marrone said. With Watkins sidelined, the Bills were given a somewhat sobering glimpse of what they might look like without the fourth overall pick in the draft. Manuel completed 17 of 27 passes with an interception as Buffalos first-string offence continued to have trouble turning yards into points. Four times the Bills drove into Pittsburgh territory in the first half only to come away with a pair of Dan Carpenter field goals and two failed fourth-down attempts. "The whole night I thought we were moving," Manuel said. "We had long drives, 86-yard drives. We just didnt capitalize in the red zone." Something thats become an alarming trend with the preseason more than half over. Marrone abandoned his original game plan in hopes of getting something going. He kept the starters in the entire first half looking for a spark. Hes still waiting. So are his players. "We just have to finish," tight end Scott Chandler said. "We have to get in the end zone." Manuel played well during a pair of joint practices with the Steelers this week and some of it carried over under the lights. Buffalo (1-2) moved the ball with relative ease during a half in which the first-string offence racked up 212 total yards. All those first downs, however, translated into just six points. "In the two games that weve lost this year, weve had a lot of opportunities," Marrone said. "We have to be able to scoore more and not give up the big plays early on.dddddddddddd" Roethlisberger, working with an offence he insists can be one of the more explosive in the league, threw a pair of touchdowns in just over a quarter of play. He hit Brown in stride on Pittsburghs second play from scrimmage and the Pro Bowl receiver ran away from a pair of defenders on his way to a 76-yard score. "It was a great read by Ben," Brown said. "The defensive back got caught up with another guy. Ben hit me in the spot and I was able to get up to speed and turn the corner." The Steelers (1-1) got the ball back moments later when rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier — who missed the preseason opener with a right knee injury coach Mike Tomlin called a "boo boo" — showcased why Pittsburgh took him with the 15th pick in the first round. Shazier stepped in front of Manuels pass intended for Chandler and returned it 27 yards to the Buffalo 37. The play highlighted a breakout night for Shazier, who finished with 11 total tackles in addition to his pick. Working almost exclusively out of the no huddle, the Steelers took advantage. Facing third-and-11 at the Buffalo 16, Roethlisberger waited for Wheaton to beat Stephon Gilmore to the left corner. Wheatons hauled it in before tumbling out of bounds to make it 13-3. Roethlisberger played one more series before giving way to the backups. "The communication was what I wanted to work on, and we didnt have mental errors of what I saw so far," Roethlisberger said. "It was a good start to the no huddle." The Bills operated at nearly the same pace, just without the same result. Twice Marrone had his starters go for it on fourth down in Pittsburgh territory in the first half. And twice they came up short. Manuels pass to T.J. Graham on fourth-and-1 at the Pittsburgh 21 was knocked down by defensive lineman Cam Heyward. Manuel returned for one final drive at the end of the half and moved the ball to the Pittsburgh 3 only to see his fourth-down throw to Chandler batted away by Robert Golden. "It would have been good if we would have finished with a touchdown on one of those drives," Chandler said. "Wish we would have made it on that last one." ' ' '
