Bergbau » hardson rushed for 950 yards last season despite p

PHOENIX -- The additions of pitchers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller had the Arizona Diamondbacks facing upgraded expectations this season.When the team took a step back instead of forward, something had to change.General manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale will not be back. Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa will be, though its unclear in what role.Coming off a second disappointing season, the Diamondbacks parted ways with Stewart and Hale on Monday in the latest shake-up for an organization seeking consistency.We did not see the trend line moving in the right direction, Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick said.The Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001 and had a brief resurgence a decade later by winning the NL West.Arizona has been in a steady decline since then, posting five straight non-winning seasons.The Diamondbacks brought in La Russa in 2014 and among his first moves was bringing in Stewart and Hale, elevating them to positions they had never held at the big-league level before.Arizona went 79-83 last season and was expecting better things after signing former AL Cy Young Award winner Greinke to a $206 million deal and trading for Miller.Instead, the Diamondbacks took a step back. They started slow and never recovered, finishing with a 69-93 record to miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.Now the franchise will be searching for a fifth GM and fifth manager since 2010. The team is deciding on what role La Russa will have, but Kendrick said it will not be manager.We want to have more consistent baseball and championship-caliber baseball, year-in and year-out, Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said.A four-time 20-game winner as a player, Stewart had previously worked in the front offices for Oakland, San Diego and Toronto before landing his first general managers job.Hale played seven major league seasons with Minnesota and the Los Angeles Dodgers before getting into coaching. He worked as Bob Melvins bench coach for three seasons before being hired as a big-league manager for the first time with Arizona. He previously worked nine seasons in Arizonas organization and spent two seasons with the New York Mets.Arizona has made some questionable moves over the past couple of seasons, including an $8.25 million contract with Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez, who has considered leaving the game.The Diamondbacks also were criticized for the deal that brought Miller to the desert, which sent outfielder Ender Inciarte and shortstop Dansby Swanson, Arizonas top draft pick in 2015, to Atlanta. Miller struggled his first season with Arizona, going 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA.Arizona did pull off the most surprising offseason deal prior to the 2016 season, luring Greinke away from top teams that had been pursuing him. Greinke showed flashes of still being one of baseballs best pitchers, but was inconsistent most of the season. He won a team-high 13 games, but also had a 4.37 ERA, second-highest of his career.Arizonas pitching staff struggled as a whole, finishing with a baseball-worst 5.11 ERA. Frank Howard Rangers Jersey .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Jose Trevino Rangers Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/982h-johnny-oates-jersey-rangers.html . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Elvis Andrus Rangers Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. Adrian Beltre Rangers Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself.BEREA, Ohio -- Trent Richardson doesnt have to wait and wonder any longer. The time has come. Hes finally going to play for the Browns in an NFL preseason game. Clevelands second-year star running back, slowed by injuries so far as a pro, was thrilled to find out hell play in Thursday nights preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Richardson was held out of last weeks opener against St. Louis by coach Rob Chudzinski as a precaution because the former first-round pick was still recovering from a shin injury and the Browns didnt want to take any chances of it worsening. But following Tuesdays practice, the Browns final one of training camp open to the public, Richardson was told by reporters that Chudzinski plans to use him for "a couple series." "Oh, he told you Im playing?" Richardson said, surrounded by media members standing near the goal post. "Hey, Im surprised like yall and Im happy and I cant wait to get up out there." Richardson missed the entire preseason as a rookie a year ago while recovering from knee surgery. He had hoped to play in all four games this summer, but the Browns took the safe route last week and rested him against the Rams. Now, its time to turn Richardson loose. He worked extensively with the starters during practice, and afterward Chudzinski announced Richardson will play this week. Not a lot, but some. "I kind of had a feeling he was going to say, Yeah today because he had me going in there with starters today," Richardson said. "It felt good when I was out there and Im happy coach told yall I can play." Richardson had been harping about wanting to play, saying hes healthier than at anny time since he starred at Alabama.dddddddddddd He wasnt going to push Chudzinski to put him on the field and said he would respect whatever decision was made. In the end, he got the one he wanted. Chudzinski appreciates Richardsons desire to never miss a down, but wasnt willing to put his young back in any jeopardy. "You want guys to want to play," he said. "Trent wants to play. At the same time, he trusts us enough that we will make the right decisions of putting him in a position that he will be ready to play opening day." Richardson rushed for 950 yards last season despite playing most of the year with broken ribs. He played 15 games, missing only the finale after rolling his ankle the previous week against Denver. The Browns are eager to see what he can do in their revamped offence, and Richardson said getting on the field during the preseason is vital to his and the teams growth. "I just want to get the timing down with the offensive line, game speed and game conditioning and just being in there with my team and just get back in the groove," he said. "I havent played a game since the Denver Broncos, so its been a while since I played a real football game so I cant wait to just get up out there and get that feeling again." Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden cant wait to see Richardson on the field -- in a game. "Itll be good," Weeden said. "I guess he didnt play in the preseason last year, I completely forgot about that, so itll be nice for him to get out there and have him back in the backfield and do some things. Hes healthy and I think he feels good and Im excited to have him back." ' ' '