Dein erstes Forum » conventionality. We dont always follow a script,

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles bashed their way into first place before the All-Star break, hitting a major league leading 137 homers while averaging more than five runs per game.Baltimore also played exceptionally well defensively and received ample contributions from the back end of the bullpen, most notably All-Star relievers Brad Brach and Zach Britton.The teams strengths were as obvious as its most glaring weakness: the starting rotation.Chris Tillmans 12-2 record was offset by spotty performances from every other starter. Ubaldo Jimenez went 5-9 with a 7.38 ERA, Kevin Gausman was 1-6 and Yovani Gallardo has yet to reach a groove after spending nearly two months on the disabled list. Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson were shuffled back and forth from the minors, doing little to warrant an extended stay in Baltimore.I think I can speak on behalf of all of us -- we can definitely do better, Gausman said.If the Orioles are to complete their run to the AL East title and flourish in the postseason, they can either fix the problem or hope to win in spite of it.Its worked out so far, said Chris Davis, whose 22 homers ranks second on the team behind Mark Trumbos major-league best 28. Obviously at some point you have to start pitching a little bit better out of the starting rotation, but for the most part weve been able to pick them up with our bats.The Orioles have power and an air-tight infield. Britton has converted every one of his 27 save opportunities. But that one missing element could upend Baltimores bid to outlast Boston and Toronto in the talent-laden division.Obviously, the biggest thing for us going forward is pitching, Britton said. Very rarely do teams get through the postseason just on hitting. Were going to have to find a way to pitch a little bit better.Or, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette can hunt down another viable starter before the non-waiver trade deadline.Two years ago, Duquette shored up the bullpen by getting standout reliever Andrew Miller, proving that if a deal needs to be made he wont hesitate to swap potential big leaguers for immediate help.They know what we need and we know what we need. Its just a matter of getting it done, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado said. Ive got faith in the front office. If we need somebody, theyre going to go out and get them.Manager Buck Showalter is willing to move forward without outside assistance.Help is right here this group. We are not coveting other peoples players, Showalter insisted. Every answer we need to have is in here.Baltimore went 51-36 before the break, so maybe Showalter has a point.The bottom line to this whole thing is to score one more run than the other team, even if its 7-6, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Where you might look at their rotation and see guys who may be struggling a little bit, theyre always in a game because of their ability to hit the ball out of the park. And when they do get a lead, theyve got a pen that is even deeper than just the two guys on the back end.The bullpen lacks a proven left-hander, but the relief corps should improve later this month when setup man Darren ODay gets off the disabled list following a right hamstring strain.If Trumbo, Davis, Machado and catcher Matt Wieters continue to whack the ball, the efficiency of the pitching staff might not matter.Not many teams win this way, but the Orioles dont want to hear it.Our guys dont dwell on conventionality. We dont always follow a script, Showalter said. Starters have to go seven innings every night? Who says you do?Baltimore opens the second half Friday night in Tampa Bay before heading to New York for four games against the Yankees. The Orioles were 33-14 at home and 18-22 on the road before the break.Its obvious whats ahead of us, Showalter said. We have a lot of challenges. Cheap Jerseys From China . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Cheap Wholesale Jerseys . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. http://www.wholesalejerseys.info/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Stitched Cheap Jerseys . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Authentic Wholesale Jerseys . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. (STATS) -- Lightning held up the start of North Carolina A&Ts game at Kent State for more than two hours Saturday night, but the biggest strike basically occurred after midnight.N.C. A&T upset Kent State 39-36 in four overtimes -- the Aggies first win over an FBS opponent. Not surprisingly, they climbed in the STATS FCS Top 25 on Monday, moving up five spots to No. 18.This is big for the program, the athletics department and the school as a whole, N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway said after the win. To do it in four overtimes is really something because I thought they would eventually wear us down because of their scholarship advantage.North Dakota State remained No. 1 in the rankings after the five-time reigning FCS champion earned its second straight overtime win to start the season. Richmond was No. 2 and Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State and Illinois State followed in the top five.FCS teams have notched seven wins over FBS teams in the first two full weeks of action. Most have been reserved for the larger FCS conferences, with two teams from both CAA Football and the Missouri Valley claiming wins and the Big Sky and Ohio Valley gaining one each. But N.C. A&T also carved one out for the smaller MEAC, giving it a 2-0 record while the other 10 teams in the conference have combined for only one victory.The Aggies FBS win was more than a bit improbable as Broadway turned to third-string quarterback Oluwafemi Bamiro after replacing his starter and having the backup get injured. In overtime, the fifth-year senior threw two touchdowns and rushed for one. After Kent State kicked a field goal on the opening possession of the fourth OT, A&T ended the game on Bamiros 15-yard TD strike to Denzel Keyes.N.C. A&T, winner of the inaugural Celebration Bowl last year, had lost its three previous games against the FBS by an average of 39.7 points. The Aggies will try to make it two in a row on Saturday when they visit Tulsa of the American Athletic Conference.North Dakota State (2-0) takes a five-game winning streak against the FBS to Iowa on Saaturday.dddddddddddd Coach Chris Kliemans Bison beat Eastern Washington 50-44 in overtime this past weekend. They collected 151 of the 169 first-place votes in the poll.Richmond (2-0), which defeated Norfolk State 34-0, received the other 18 first-place votes. Sam Houston State (1-0) moved up one spot to No. 3 following a bye, Jacksonville State (1-1) also gained a spot after a 34-13 loss to SEC power LSU, and Illinois State (2-0) moved up four spots following its 9-7 upset at Northwestern from the Big Ten.Chattanooga (2-0) remained at No. 6 and was followed in the Top 10 by Montana (2-0), Eastern Washington (1-1), South Dakota State (1-1) and Northern Iowa (1-1).James Madison (2-0), which has scored 135 points in two easy wins, checked in at No. 11, followed by Charleston Southern (1-2), William & Mary (1-1), McNeese (1-1), The Citadel (2-0), Western Illinois (2-0), Coastal Carolina (2-0), N.C. A&T, Portland State (1-1) and Youngstown State (1-1).Rounding out the Top 25 were No. 21 Villanova (1-1), New Hampshire (1-1), Colgate (0-1), Northern Arizona (0-2), and Albany (2-0), which moved into the rankings for the first time since Oct. 27, 2014.Albanys inclusion helped CAA Football join the Missouri Valley with a poll-best six teams each. Nine conferences have at least one ranked team.North Dakota fell out of the Top 25 after suffering its second straight close defeat.A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the STATS FCS Top 25. In the voting, a first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.The Top 25 is released every Monday afternoon during the regular season, except for Sunday morning, Nov. 20, prior to the selection of the 24-team FCS playoff field. A final Top 25 will follow the FCS championship game, which will be held Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. ' ' '