Dateien für Forum » how fashioned this season is by Oh Wicked One, Im

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Timbers season-opening draw with Philadelphia left them wondering what they could have done to pull out the win. "I think every single guy, if they look at that game, theyll say Yes, I could have done more. We have to fix that," captain Will Johnson said. Newcomer Gaston Fernandez scored on a header in stoppage time to give the Timbers the 1-all draw against the re-tooled Union on Saturday night. The goal in the 93rd minute got past goalkeeper Zac MacMath in driving rain, and the Timbers stole three points from the Union, who got a goal in the 64th minute from Jack McInerney. The Timbers went 14-15-5 last season to finish atop the Western Conference. Portland advanced to the conference finals in the playoffs, losing to Real Salt Lake. First-year coach Caleb Porter was named MLS Coach of the Year for guiding his team to a 23-game turnaround from the previous season. "The coach in me is always looking down the road and how we can get better," Porter said after the opener. "But I am happy we pulled out the point." Portlands 15 draws last season were the most in the league since 2011. The Union went 12-12-10 last season, finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. But Philadelphia looked like a new team in the opener, pressuring the Timbers from the start. After a scoreless first half, McInerney, with help from newcomer Maurice Edu, headed the ball past Ricketts off a corner from Cristian Maidana in the 64th minute. It was the 25th goal of McInerneys career. He had 12 goals last season for the Union. "To give one up in injury time is a tough way to lose a couple of points, but Portlands a really good team, so youve got to think theres a lot to build on from that game," Union coach John Hackworth said. Philadelphias off-season moves were headlined by the addition of Edu, acquired from English Premier League side Stoke City in late January. The Union also added Maidana and traded for Austin Berry. Unlike the Union, the nucleus of the Timber remained largely intact, including Goalkeeper of the Year Donavan Ricketts, top scorer and Newcomer of the Year Diego Valeri and All-Star Will Johnson, the teams captain. Portland added Fernandez and defender Norberto Paparatto, both of Argentina. Porter called Fernandezs goal in the opener important for his acclimation to the team. "Its big. I think part of scoring goals is confidence," Porter said. "Hopefully it gets him rolling." Ricketts had to dive to fend off Maidanas shot in the 20th minute as the rain swirled in the gusty wind. Portland appeared tentative until late in the first half, but a rally fell short when Valeris hard shot from out in front of the box sailed just wide. The Timbers looked to have a chance to even it in the 71st minute, but Valeri was called for a hand ball and the whistle blew before his shot hit the back of the net. Philadelphia played without midfielder Conor Casey, who also missed the preseason with a calf strain. Portland pulled defender Pa-Modou Kah in the 34th minute when he went down behind the play. Kah was replaced by Futty Danso. The Timbers inducted Mick Hoban, the teams first contracted player before their inaugural 1975 NASL season, into the teams Ring of Honor. Following his retirement from the game in 1978, Hoban was hired by Blue Ribbon Sports -- which later became Nike -- to help develop the shoemakers soccer business. He has remained one of Portlands most dedicated soccer ambassadors. Nike Vapormax Dk . Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. Vapormax Herre Udsalg . The eighth-year point guard played in his 500th career game on Sunday, a 98-93 win over the Orlando Magic. Does he feel like hes played in that many games? "No," he said initially, before reconsidering. http://www.vapormaxdanmark.com/ . Its the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule. Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan. Nike Joyride Run Danmark . Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. Vapormax Herre Danmark . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video.I told him the Jays were a desperate bunch, which is cheddar cheese to a puppy dog in devil-speak. I gave him my hard sell. Cmon, buddy. Cmon, Sweet Lu. Our All Star-shortstop Jose Reyes, finally healthy, literally leads off the season by taking his first at bat, popping out, then proceeding to walk off the field and on to the disabled list. Maybe hes out for two weeks, maybe four months, maybe hes taking up painting. The team, left with a defence only Abbott and Costello could love, is even more desperate than when it was just known for jettisoning its best young talent for knuckleballers pushing 40 - he stopped me right there. He smiled deep and wide, his horns dewy with anticipation. He was ready to make a deal.Fine, I said. I will bypass my desires for fame or fortune or a game of wall ball with Lloyd Moseby and put my deal making skills to work for our boys in royal blue. So, fellow fan, you are welcome. Allow me to outline the exact details of how this season is going to go down (as hashed out between me and Mr. Three Prong, Son of Perdition).(Disclaimer: if you are planning to use this remarkably accurate information for gambling, I urge you to keep investing that extra money into lotto scratchers, lest we have a Back To The Future situation on our hands. APRIL (14-13 record, .519)The Jays whimper out of the gate, getting crushed on Opening Day, then lose 7 of 10, doing a bang-on impersonation of the mediocre team we thought they were. Thats when the cauldron bubbles and the thick smoke rolls in and the creepy carnival comes to town. What happens specifically? Maybe the entire Red Sox roster contracts syphilis. Maybe Derek Jeter becomes a clubhouse cancer in his final diva-tirade-filled season. Maybe Camden Yards becomes Marlo Stanfield turf. Maybe Tampa Bay management decides the empty cavern they play in would be better monetized by jai alai tournaments. Listen, I dont ask El Diablo how he gets stuff done, I just sit back and enjoy the results which Im assured come with no consequences. MAY (31-26, .544)Little known fact about devil-dealing: May is Buy One, Get One Free Month! Thats across the board, whether youre looking for life extension or to unravel the happiness of a sworn enemy. Why not do both?Truly, Beelzebub has little to do with the Blue Jay surge of May. The team plays a whopping 18 games at home, and with the city still suffering from an endless winter, the Rogers Centre roof is only opened once all month, a paralyzing condition visiting teams cannot physically handle (the technical term is "depression"). (Sidenote: I apologize for not asking The Crimson Sausage, Enemy Of Christ to improve the weather. The Cable Box on Blue Jay Way is the Bikram Yoga studio of stadiums.*) (*Bikram yoga is also known as hot yoga.**) (**Hot yoga is a thing you do when you are a 22-year-old girl or a thing you do when you are trying to impress a 22-year-old girl).JUNE (48-36, .571)Until mid-June, the league hadnt noticed the Jays ascension to the ranks of the privileged, largely because after twenty years spent ignoring someone, it is perfectly understandable that you might mistakenly walk past them in the hall and fail to notice the shotgun they are holding. But the Jays had now arrived, andd their demands were going to be met, even if Barb in accounting didnt know their goddamn name.dddddddddddd Josh Thole was gonna make sure you remember.We gotta give props to The Author Of All Sin, because he works the impossible this month. Jose Reyes is back in the lineup in time for his birthday (June 11) and his bobblehead day (June 8 for those fair weather fans planning to attend). To think, how many nasty critics said meaningful baseball would never be played in Toronto again in July?JULY (62-48, .564)With just a paltry nine home games on tap, our Blue Man Group must do their damage on the road, visiting Tampa Bay, New York and Boston. In a month-long celebration of Canada Day, our national baseball representatives do just that, proving Canadians to be fearless and capable. (Flipside: After witnessing the condition of our departing players hotel rooms, it is clear we Canucks may lack some respect for the environment. I believe the players call it, "doing it Harper-style").The All-Star break falls in July, an annual tradition typically partaken by Jose Bautista and a middle reliever nobody knew was on the team. 2014 proves to be no different despite being a dozen games over .500 at the break. Respect will have to be earned. FYI, did you wanna know who wins this years All-Star game, giving their respective League home field advantage in the World Series? Answer: NOBODY. Nobody [expletive] wins with a rule that stupid.AUGUST (79-57, .581)On August 11, Colby Rasmus turns 28. That same day, Melky Cabrera turns 30. The Prince Of Darkness promises me these achievements will be met and hes been totally standup so far.Playing every division rival at home this month, The Descendants of Alfredo Griffin enjoy their greatest month this century, forcing Vegas to recognize them as a team and set World Series odds. They are given 60-1 chances, though in metric it works out to a more sensible 18-1.(For those of you uncomfortable with how fashioned this season is by Oh Wicked One, Im not saying you have to worship the Father Of All Lies, Founder Of Murder. Im just saying, if youre a ball fan, you should probably send him a card. Maybe bath salts. Nothing fancy).SEPTEMBER (93-69, .574)A peculiar month of scheduling down the home stretch. Sensibly, the Jays visit every division rivals park. Oddly, they play the Chicago Cubs for an unknown reason my sources tell me may have involved money and bad judgement.2014 ends in a dog fight -- a climax of tension and emotion and games that are still a little too long -- all in the service of the Jays holding on for their first playoff appearance ever (in the lives of the children whose aging fathers drag them to the games). We did it! Were number 4 or 5!And there you have it: 93 wins. 1 wild card spot. 0 logical discrepancies. Is it getting hot in here?Gallays Poll #5Lets say we dont know what we know. With how many wins doth the Blue Jays finish?A) <70 -- I am familiar with the team. The win total will be commensurate with the talent level.B) 70-81 -- I dont pay much attention to the baseballs but have read a few headlines.C) 82-89 -- I rarely hear about the Jays anymore. Is Kelly Gruber still with the team?D) 90+ -- I dont understand how baseball works. ' ' '