Die Community » golfs decison-making process, in this case

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Cleveland Indians made their first visit this season to Angel Stadium and found an old friend in the closers role for the other team -- Joe Smith. The right-hander, who spent the previous five seasons with the Indians, got three outs in the ninth inning to preserve a 6-3 victory for Los Angeles on Monday night for his first save with the Angels. His role changed after a series of poor outings by Ernesto Frieri. "I dont think your attitude changes," Smith said. "I mean, if youre coming on in the seventh or eighth inning, the goal is the same: get out of the inning with a zero and hand the ball off to the next guy. Now, the goal is to get out of the inning with a zero and slap hands. It doesnt matter what inning Im throwing. I pitch people the same." Smith retired Carlos Santana on a foul pop behind the plate, then gave up a single to pinch-hitter David Murphy before retiring Michael Brantley on a fielders choice grounder and Asdrubal Cabrera on a line drove to centre field. "When hes on your team, hes easy to root for," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Im one of his biggest fans -- and I only had the opportunity to have him for one year. For the guys who were around him longer than that, I can see why they like him so much. Hes a pros pro. I remember a conversation I had with Smitty when he was going through free agency, and I remember telling him flat out: We want you back so bad. But if we dont get you back, I hope you break the bank." Smith, who signed a three-year, $15.75 million contract in November, was the setup man last year for the Tribe and got three saves along the way. "Joe could be successful anywhere they put him," Francona said. Fernando Salas (2-0) pitched a hitless eighth inning and got credit for the victory after the Angels broke a 3-all tie in the bottom half with an RBI single by Mike Trout and a two-run triple by Raul Ibanez against Justin Masterson (0-1). Masterson gave up six runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings after getting a no-decision in each of his first five starts. The right-hander hasnt posted a victory since beating the Angels 3-1 last Aug. 21 at the "Big A." Nick Swisher misplayed J.B. Shucks leadoff grounder to first base in the eighth for an error, and Erick Aybar bunted Shuck to second before Trout singled to left on a full-count pitch to snap a 3-all tie. Albert Pujols was walked intentionally in front of Ibanez, who capped the scoring with his triple to right-centre on Mastersons 113th and final pitch. Tyler Skaggs allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings and struck out six. The left-hander, staked to a 1-0 lead on Pujols RBI groundout in the first, retired his first 10 batters before giving up a double by Swisher, a walk to Jason Kipnis and Santanas second homer of the season into the left field bullpen. "Tyler hung a curveball to Santana, but other than that, he threw the ball awesome," Smith said. "If our starters go seven and give up three every time, thats great. Keep it rolling. It only makes it easier on us -- especially with this offence." Santana, the Indians switch-hitting third baseman, came in batting .122 over his first 24 games and was 3 for 22 with men in scoring position. But Francona said before the game that he wasnt ready to drop Santana out of the cleanup spot, where he has been in every game hes played. The Angels tied it in the fifth on a two-out, two-run double down the right field line by Aybar after Masterson issued a leadoff walk to Ian Stewart and a single by David Freese. Stewart started at third base while Freese was the designated hitter on his 31st birthday. The Indians, who had just gotten swept in a series at San Francisco, were 2 for 20 with runners in scoring position during that three-game set and totalled just five runs -- while their 4-5-6 hitters were a combined 0 for 29. NOTES: The Angels flight from New York didnt get in until 5:15 a.m. local time after a 3-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on Sunday that ended their 4-5 road trip. "I wish they played 20 innings," Francona said. ... Angels LF Josh Hamilton had his cast taken off Monday and is wearing a splint, the next step toward beginning his strength exercises and resuming baseball activities. Tom Jackson Broncos Jersey .Best moustache: How can we not give this to Lanny McDonald? Check out the duster for yourself. Steve Atwater Womens Jersey . The right-hander pitched into the seventh inning and boosted Cincinnatis struggling offence by hitting a double and scoring as the Reds ended a seven-game losing streak by beating the Atlanta Braves 1-0 Saturday night. http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Karl-Mecklenburg-Broncos-Jerseys/ . The 31-year-old Russian dominated the No. 3-ranked Ferrer throughout, breaking the defending champion and local favourite four times on the indoor hard court. Dalton Risner Youth Jersey . - After a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, Alex Guenette has earned the 2013 rookie of the year award for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 by just one point over Ryley Seibert. John Elway Womens Jersey .com) - Delon Wright made all 12 of his free throws and finished with 21 points and six assists as No.7) Has there ever been a good outcome following a road rage on the highway? No, and the same answer applies to the race track, with sad proof of that more evident than ever.8) Back to the Tigers, sort of. Should we applaud Kate Upton for her honesty in realizing and admitting that Justin Verlanders fans blame her when he pitches poorly? His fantasy owners get so mad they wonder if she should remain in their fantasies of a different kind. So Im told. And no, we wont blame her when her boyfriend suffers an injury.9) Johnny Manziel vs. Brian Hoyer. If that is the extent of your interest in the Cleveland Browns, would you be willing to admit that you once followed the Denver Broncos because of Tim Tebow?10) Shall we make it official? The Montreal Alouettes change coaches more often than Chad Johnson changes names.11) Do you chuckle when you hear what might lie ahead for Rory McIlroy? 15 majors? 20 majors? Seems to me theres a guy stuck at 14 who was supposed to have reached one or both of those marks by now. 12) Who hurts more, the tacklers run over by Rob Gronkowski, or Gronkowski? Never mind his knees and his back, the New England Patriots tight end is trying to come back from four arm surgeries in the past two years. He says it has been miserable. No reason not to believe him.13) Lets lobby for a few changes to the rules of baseball, shall we? The fly ball that is lost in the sun and falls at the outfielders feet should not be a hit.14) From the rubber, the pitcher is not allowed to fake a throw to first base, and the deceptive "third to first" pickoff try has beeen outlawed.ddddddddddddWhy not stop the "turn and look the runner back to second" time-wasting move?15) Bear with me on this one. The closer enters the game in the bottom of the ninth with a one-run lead and blows the save by allowing the tying run. His team goes ahead in the top of the 10th and he pitches the bottom of the 10th and gets the win. That seems more like a second-chance save to me. Doesnt the win more rightly belong to the pitcher who stood to get it in the ninth?16) Meanwhile, back to golfs decison-making process, in this case, the Ryder Cup. USA team captain Tom Watson says hell basically let Tiger Woods decide if hes healthy enough and playing well enough to deserve a spot. What if team member Jordan Spieth told Watson to pick himself, based on the fact Watsons 36-hole score at the PGA was lower than Spieths, and Tigers?17) Is there ever a time when hockey isnt in the news? Thats my only hockey question, so that time is now, apparently.18) Shouldnt the first athlete who ever uttered the apologetic explanation "I never knowingly took a performance-enhancing, drug-banned stimulant" get residuals from all others who claim they were merely careless? Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick is the latest to read from the script.19) Would fans fight any harder for gold bars than they do for baseballs that land near their seats? 20) Do you feel sorry for Andrew Wiggins because he wont get the chance to play in Cleveland? Til now, have you ever felt sorry for an athlete because he didnt get the chance to play in Cleveland? ' ' '