导出博客文章CHICAGO -- Terry Francona is on the verge of ending another long World Series
drought.Call him Mgr. October.Clevelands maestro of a manager, who has pushed
all the right buttons this season and especially over the past few weeks, moved
closer to capturing his third Series title as the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs
7-2 in Game 4 on Saturday night to take a 3-1 lead.Francona is the one who
guided the Boston Red Sox around the Curse of the Bambino in 2004, helping them
to their first title in 86 years. He led them to another three years later.And
now hes got the resilient Indians on the edge of taking their first World Series
in 68 years.The 57-year-old would never take any credit for Clevelands success,
but the Indians wouldnt be where they are if not for Francona, who improved to
11-1 in World Series games.The guy everyone calls Tito -- his dads name --
claims he doesnt have a crystal ball. But he certainly seems to have a sixth
sense when it comes to setting his lineup, pulling pitchers at just the right
time and keeping his players focused.Following Clevelands 1-0 victory in Game 3,
a chess match with Chicagos Joe Maddon which he called one of the most agonizing
games of his managerial career, Francona made the difficult decision of not
starting first baseman Mike Napoli in Game 4.Hes like the heart and soul of our
team, Francona said beforehand. It bothers me to sit him, a lot.Francona played
Carlos Santana at first instead, and the move panned out when he homered leading
off the second inning against John Lackey. Francona has been forced to be
creative with his lineup during the three games at Wrigley Field, where the
Indians have had to play by National League rules and couldnt use their
designated hitter.He took a risk by starting Santana in left field for Game 3
even though the former catcher had played just four innings in his career in
left. It worked, though, as Santana caught the only ball hit his way on a night
when the wind was blowing out in Wrigley.That was probably the funnest moment of
the game, Francona said of Santanas catch in the first. I was going crazy in the
dugout. Then I thought I better cool it because there might be another one that
finds him.None did, and Francona made several more astute moves in the first
Series game at Wrigley in 71 years. He pulled starter Josh Tomlin in the fifth
and ace reliever Andrew Miller came in and shut down the Cubs. And when Millers
turn came up to bat, Francona sent in pinch-hitter Coco Crisp, who drove in the
games only run.Of course he did.Francona also got a little lucky.He made so many
double switches that he ran out of position players, and was going to have to
bat Game 4 starter Corey Kluber.He almost used some guys that werent on the
roster, joked Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway. I mean, theres no better
manager in all of baseball than him. He thinks of everything at every moment.
Ive learned so much from him. Its fun to watch him do it during the game. Hes
gonna use everyone in the right situation to have the most success they can
possibly have, and youre seeing the results of it.Francona knew just what to do
with Kluber on Saturday night.Miller was throwing in the bullpen when Anthony
Rizzo doubled leading off the sixth. Miller, who has been virtually unhittable
in the postseason, was ready but Francona stayed with Kluber and he promptly
retired the next three batters.Its been like that all month as the Indians, who
have been overlooked despite running away with the AL Central, swept Boston,
beat Toronto in five games and are now a win away from their first title since
1948.That Cleveland team was managed by Lou Boudreau, who was also the clubs
starting shortstop.Francona laughed before Game 4 when he was asked if he was
ready to play short.Im just trying to handle managing, he said. That will be
enough.Its been more than that.
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Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very
little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see
anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said.
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the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if
any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press
in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be,"
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. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the
Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi,
the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an
offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007.
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Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City
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Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew
Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big
12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents
unscathed. AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas says nothing has been decided on football
coach Charlie Strong.Longhorns athletic director Mike Perrin, in the face of
swirling reports that school officials had decided to fire Strong at the end of
a third bad season, dismissed them as rumors and said the coach would be
evaluated after playing TCU on Friday.Perrin, who has been publicly supportive
of Strong all season, didnt say Strong would return.There are a number of rumors
out there about the status of Coach Strong. Ive said it all along, we will
evaluate the body of work after the regular season. We have a game to get ready
for against TCU on Friday, and I hope our fans will come out and support our
team. Well discuss where things stand after that, Perrin said.That sets up an
awkward Monday for Strong when he addresses reporters on the Big 12 coaches
conference call, and then later at his weekly campus news conference, which is
televised by the Longhorn Network.Texas President Greg Fenves, who has also been
supportive of Strong this season, was silent on the coachs future Sunday.With
top administrative support, Strong appeared relatively safe until Saturdays
24-21 overtime loss at lowly Kansas. Texas (5-6, 3-5 Big 12)) held an 11-point
lead in the fourth quarter.Perrin refused to address reporters after the loss,
and Strong, with his wife weeping outside the team lockerroom, said he didnt
know what the loss would mean for his future.No, I dont. No idea, Strong
said.But Strong was back at work Sunday. A team spokesman said Strong and his
staff kept to their routine of meeting Sunday morning to review game film and
start preparations for the next game.Strong is in the third year of a five-year
contract, but not even a $10 million buyout could be enough to save him. He has
failed to take the program to the same heights he took Louisville. He is 16-20
at Texas and in danger of finishing with his third straight losing season.His
only bowl appearance came in 2014, when the Longhorns lost to Arkansas in the
Texas Bowl.Youre upset. You never want this to happen, said Texas quarterback
Shane Buechele, who threw an interception on the first possession of overtime
that allowed Kansas to kick the winning field goal.dddddddddddd.You have to get
everyone to rally back. Were a family in there, Buechele said, before adding of
Strong: Were going to fight for him this next game.The Longhorns have shown some
fight this season, beating Notre Dame in double overtime to open the season,
ever-so-briefly giving Strong a reprieve from all the critics.But close losses
at California, Oklahoma State and in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma put
an end to any fuzzy feelings. Another close loss to Kansas State a couple of
weeks later combined with last weeks 24-20 loss to West Virginia put his job in
peril.Nothing could be more damaging than a loss to the Jayhawks, though.Kansas
hadnt beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision school since 2014, and hadnt won a
conference game in 19 tries. The Jayhawks only win in nearly two seasons under
coach David Beaty was against lower-level Rhode Island in the season opener, and
the Longhorns had handled them in their last 13 meetings.Yet four turnovers in
the second quarter got the Longhorns in trouble, and more missteps down the
stretch allowed Kansas to overcome a 21-10 deficit and force overtime in the
final seconds of regulation.Matthew Wymans 25-yard field goal sent Strong
striding off the field.This one hurts, Texas wide receiver Jacore Warrick said.
Everyone is disappointed. We wanted to come out. We wanted to play well.
Ultimately, no matter what happens throughout the game, the end result, we want
to be a W. And its not. We could have put the game away early.Asked about his
coachs future, Warrick replied simply: Trying not to think about it.---AP Sports
Writer Dave Skretta in Lawrence, Kansas, contributed to this report.---More AP
college football:
www.collegefootball.ap.org and
https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
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