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Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:13 pm
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MINNEAPOLIS – There are 750 active player jobs in Major League Baseball at any one time. Tito Fuentes Jersey . Of those, 68, or nine-percent, were on the active rosters for the 85th edition of the All-Star Game on Tuesday night at Target Field. Blue Jays rightfielder Jose Bautista participated in his fifth Midsummer Classic and fifth in a row. While some players look for ways to excuse themselves from the festivities, choosing instead to take a four-day break from the daily grind of the six-month season, Bautista relishes the opportunity to be front and centre on one of the sports biggest stages. "Nothing gets old, everythings the same, you get to enjoy everything every single time," said Bautista. "Theres always different stuff going on and new and different, exciting players. Im excited to see those new names like Jose Abreu and Mike Trout. I know (Trouts) been here before but hes one of the younger guys that are part of this event so theres always great stuff to see and enjoy so I dont complain whatsoever. Always proud and humbled to be chosen." Bautista, for the second time, was the leading vote-getter, netting almost six million votes. He doesnt take the responsibility lightly. His itinerary in Minneapolis was jam-packed. If he was weary, he wasnt letting on but regardless, there would be hardly any rest. Bautista arrived via private jet on Sunday night, flying in from Tampa Bay, where his Blue Jays had just finished a series with the Rays. He went to his hotel, checked in, took enough time to drop off his belongings in his room and then, in a manner of speaking, went to work. First up was a Sunday night MLB.com party for which Bautista played host. He eventually made it to bed and estimated that he got five hours of sleep. There was more to do – much, much more to do – on Monday. Bautista had breakfast on Monday morning. Then, a charitable endeavour; he went to the Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities to meet some of the programs children and donate shoes. By one oclock in the afternoon central daylight time, Monday, Bautista had arrived at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis. It was media time, including indulging reporters for 45 minutes during the American League players availability, followed by the Home Run Derby press conference. "Basically stressful, Im going to lose a couple of more hairs in this next 48 hours," Bautista told TSN.ca during the availability. "It goes by fast. It feels like right when you get here youre doing one thing after the other. You dont get enough sleep. You always have something to do but you cant help but enjoy it when youre out on the field and playing with stars. I cant complain about it but it is busy." Bautista participated in the Home Run Derby. He was the American Leagues captain. He hit 10 home runs in the first round, received a bye to the semifinals and hit four more. He was defeated by eventual winner, Oaklands Yoenis Cespedes. The Derby behind him, it was back out on the town for a party thrown by Marucci Sports, which has become one of baseballs premier suppliers of equipment like bats, batting gloves, gloves, you name it. Bautista sits on the companys board of directors. The party ended. Bautista estimated he got about six hours of sleep before waking up on Tuesday morning. It was right off to the All-Star parade through downtown Minneapolis and the red carpet which followed. Bautista was in rightfield for five innings, going hitless in two at-bats. He was to fly to Toronto, on a private jet, over the lunch hour on Wednesday. Blue Jays fans concerned Bautista kept too busy in advance of what will be the most important second half of his tenure in Toronto, neednt worry. "I still get two days on Wednesday and Thursday," said Bautista. "Id rather be here then at home relaxing. Its a good signal when you get picked and selected to come here and Im not going to keep complaining. Im going to keep trying to be a contributor to my team and hopefully play good enough to keep getting selected." After all, it wasnt obvious in his early years that Bautista would become the elite player you see today. Hell keep coming to the All-Star Game as long as hes invited. "Maybe if I was somebody like Mike Trout, whos been here since his first year and this would be my 17th year, maybe I wouldnt care about it so much but thats not the case," said Bautista. "I work very hard and somehow manage to be good enough to get selected. I dont think it means that much more but it means about as much as it probably means to every other guy thats here. We value it a lot and its always great to be recognized among the best so Im always humbled and honoured to be here." San Francisco Giants Shirts . Pretty good hitting, too. Dan Haren pitched six innings and sparked the go-ahead rally with a single, leading Los Angeles to another win over the skidding Atlanta Braves, 4-2 on Tuesday night. Gary Lavelle Jersey . -- Ben Brust scored 19 points to lead six Wisconsin players in double figures as the No. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/2056u-mike-mccormick-jersey-giants.html . Hamilton signed offensive linemen Mike Filer, Joel Reinders, Landon Rice and Carson Rockhill.ONTARIO, Calif. - Julius Randle already feels the game slowing down after seven preseason games with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the rookie power forward demonstrated his comfort in an impressive finish to their latest preseason game.Randle scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and Jeremy Lin added 13 points in the Lakers 94-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.Wayne Ellington and Wesley Johnson scored 11 points apiece for the Lakers (3-4), who played a solid defensive game and surged in the fourth quarter despite 18 turnovers. Los Angeles won without Kobe Bryant, who sat out to rest.Randle grabbed eight rebounds and put on an impressive display in the final minutes, hitting mid-range jumpers and aggressively running the court. Although Bryant and coach Byron Scott are constantly critiquing the rookie, they see the results in his play.Every game, I feel more comfortable, Randle said. Its the same looks, the same everything. Im just knocking them down. Obviously Im just taking advantage of opportunities.Randle also attempted several coast-to-coast drives, showing off the hidden ball-handling guard inside the 6-foot-9 teenager.I told my mom at a young age, I dont want to just be a post player, he said. I remember I was always taller than everybody when I was younger, and people were always like, Oh, hes going to be the next Shaq. And Im like, No, I dont want to be the next Shaq. I want to be Kobe.C.J. McCollum scored 17 points and Meyers Leonard added 13 for the Trail Blazers (3-3), who rested four starters as their three-game winning streak ended.Portland centre Chris Kaman scored 10 of his 12 points in the firstt half against his former Lakers teammates. Wholesale Giants Jerseys. With the NBA preseason firmly in its dog days, both teams rested most of their top players in front of a half-full arena in the Inland Empire an hour east of downtown Los Angeles.The Lakers scratched Bryant and Jordan Hill for the second game of a back-to-back set. Bryant was simply resting for the first time in the preseason, but Hill has a sore left shoulder.Damian Lillard had eight points and five turnovers while playing 17 minutes in the first half for the Blazers, who rested their other four regular starters on the second night of a back-to-back set that began in Boulder, Colorado, on Tuesday. Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Robin Lopez and former Lakers guard Steve Blake all sat out.TIP-INSTrail Blazers: Portland hadnt lost a preseason game to the Lakers since 1992, winning four straight. ... Lillard played in his first NBA game in this building, and coach Terry Stotts debuted with the team on the same night in 2012. ... Kaman wore a large bandage over three stitches on the back of his head after a collision with Timofey Mozgovs mouth during Portlands win over Denver on Tuesday.Lakers: Hill joined four Lakers teammates sidelined with injuries: Steve Nash (back), Xavier Henry (right knee), Ryan Kelly (right hamstring) and Nick Young (right thumb). The Lakers lost a league-worst 319 man-games to injuries last season. ... Ed Davis blocked four shots. ... Lin made six turnovers in 25 minutes.UP NEXTThe Blazers finish the preseason Friday at the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Lakers face the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas on Friday in their preseason finale. ' ' ' |
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