MINNEAPOLIS - Ervin Santanas given name was Johan. This was a fine way to be identified for the right-hander raised in the Dominican Republic and working his way up through the minor leagues.Except there was this other pitcher named Johan Santana who had begun to make a big name for himself with Minnesota.Baseball card after baseball card would come to him from confused autograph seekers, when Santana was just an unproved prospect with the Angels organization. So he decided to make the change in 2003. Enamoured with former NBA star Earvin Johnson and his famous nickname Magic, Santana switched from Johan to Ervin and forever separated himself from the eventual two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.Johan Santana is seven seasons removed from that stellar career with the Twins, so the 32-year-old Ervin Santana wasnt signed to a $55 million, four-year contract to somehow replicate that success. The Twins, in dire need of starting pitching improvement for yet another off-season, would simply welcome more of the steady statistics Ervin Santana has posted over his 10-year major league career.Hes the type of guy that doesnt want to come out of games, general manager Terry Ryan said.Santana has surpassed 200 innings in half of his seasons in the majors, just missing in 2014 with 196 innings for Atlanta. Over the last five years, Santana averaged 12 wins, 207 innings and 164 strikeouts while making 30 or more starts each season. The Twins pursued him a year ago, too, but he held out until March and signed with the Braves for one season and $14.1 million.They had some recruiting advantages, which paid off this time. Right fielder Torii Hunter, who recently returned to his original team, spent five years with Santana with the Angels. He put in a good word. So did a certain former Twins pitcher who lives near Santanas winter home in the Dominican Republic, Francisco Liriano.I always asked him about this team, and he told me a lot of good things about this team. Thats one of the reasons I chose Minnesota, Santana said at his introductory news conference at Target Field on Saturday.Alexi Casilla was another former Twins player and current winter neighbour of Santanas who helped sell him on Minnesota. The Twins didnt need to be sold, particularly with his durability.Work hard. Thats my main thing, Santana said. I always get to the stadium early, work hard and just pitch. I dont try to do too much.Santana will make $13.5 million over each of the next four seasons. The Twins have a 2019 option at $14 million with a $1 million buyout, and that salary for 2019 would become guaranteed if Santana pitches 400 or more innings combined over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, including 200 or more in 2018, and passes a physical exam. The contract also provides for several award bonuses, including $25,000 for an All-Star selection, $50,000 for a Gold Glove and $100,000 for a Cy Young.To make room for Santana on the 40-man roster, first baseman/right fielder Chris Parmelee was designated for assignment.Minnesota gladly made room for Santana in the rotation, too, after ranking next-to-last, last and last in the majors in collective starting pitcher ERA over the last three years.Its obviously a huge upgrade, manager Paul Molitor said. As our interest increased, I got a chance to check out different things about him, his career, his video. Obviously, just tremendous stuff. . Riethers apparent stamp on Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj during Saturdays Premier League match at Craven Cottage was missed by the match officials. A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence. . - Aaron Rodgers makes tough throws that can leave fans of the Green Bay Packers speechless.
http://www.cheapairjordan9.com/. Clevelands manager had just watched his team lose 5-3 to Kansas City, which completed a 2-6 homestand and dropped the Indians 2 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central. . The 30-year-old Moore played in 13 games for the Saints last season, catching 37 balls for 457 yards and two touchdowns. . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. OSLO, Norway -- Italy beat Norway 2-0 in its opening European Championship qualifier on Tuesday as Antonio Conte extended his winning start as coach. Simone Zaza scored his first international goal in the 16th minute as Italy showed little sign of missing suspended striker Mario Balotelli. Strike partner Ciro Immobile was offside and in the goalkeepers line of vision, but the referee waved away Norways protests. Leonardo Bonucci doubled Italys lead shortly after the hour mark. Zaza also hit the crossbar late on and had an effort cleared off the line. "Ive had a dream week," Zaza said. "Now my aim is to remain in this squad and continue doing well." In the other matches in Group H, Bulgaria won 2-1 in Azerbaijan, while Croatia beat 10-man Malta 2-0. It was Contes first competitive match in charge after steering Italy to a 2-0 friendly win over the Netherlands on his debut last week. "It was an important match," Conte said. "It wasnt easy, its been a very long time since we won in Norway. These are three important points. In nine days we have managed to do important things with the lads, now we have to continue, get to know each other better to improve. "But I dont remember (Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi) Buffon getting his gloves dirty, while I remember several good chances for us to round out the scoreline. Its never easy to come here so Im happy. Obviously we need to improve but Im happy with the lads attitude." Conte replaced Cesare Prandelli, who resigned immediately after Italys first-round elimination from the World Cup. The former Juventus manager caused a stir when he left out Balotelli from his first squad -- although the new Liverpool striker was suspended for the qualifier. With Giuseppe Rossi out with kneee problems, Conte started again with Immobile -- last years top scorer in Serie A -- and Zaza.dddddddddddd Zaza, who was the first Sassuolo player to win an Italy cap, looked dangerous early on and he broke the deadlock following a mazy run with a shot from a tight angle which took a slight deflection to wrongfoot Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. Norway almost levelled immediately but Joshua King fired over the bar under pressure from Andrea Ranocchia. Italy went close to doubling its lead when a fierce effort by Emanuele Giaccherini stung Nylands gloves and Immobile couldnt fire home the rebound. The Azzuri did score a second when Bonucci was left unmarked at the far post and headed in a cross from substitute Manuel Pasqual, who had just come off the bench. Zaza almost doubled his tally but saw his fierce effort crash off the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area. The 23-year-old was injured in the move and limped off. However, he was able to come back on after treatment on the sidelines and moments later saw an effort cleared off the line by Vegard Forren. Immobile was stretchered off in stoppage time but team doctor Enrico Castellacci later said it was "nothing to be concerned about." Elswhere, second-half goals from Luka Modric and Andrej Kramaric gave Croatia victory. Malta defender Steve Borg was sent off shortly after the half hour mark for hitting out at Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic. Substitute Ventsislav Hristovs late header saw Bulgaria snatch a 2-1 win in Azerbaijan. Ilian Micanski had scored the opener for Bulgaria before Dimitrij Nazarovs leveler. The top two teams from the nine groups qualify automatically, as does the best third-placed nation. The other eight third-placed teams can qualify through a playoff. ' ' '
