Dein erstes Forum » of playing five of six games.OUCHAaron raced

CHICAGO -- Playing left in Wrigley Field isnt easy under normal circumstances.Carlos Santana is about to find out what its like -- in Game 3 of the World Series with the wind blowing out to Waveland Avenue, millions watching on TV and well-oiled Cubs fans breathing down his neck.Go get `em, kid.Unable to use Santana as his designated hitter with the World Series switching to the fabled National League ballpark for the next three games, Indians manager Terry Francona is planning to move his DH into left field on Friday night.Its risky, but Francona feels its the right choice for his club. Santana has only played four innings in left during his career, and that was in 2012 during a 14-1 loss.I have anxiety about it, Francona said as he sat on the brick wall near Clevelands dugout Thursday night. I dont know how else to say it, and if he messes a ball up, Ill take responsibility because I dont think its fair to put it on him. But you try to figure out, `OK, whats our best way to win? If we dont play him out there, thats the best way to have nobody second guessing me.Santana took some fly balls during Clevelands workout with bench coach Brad Mills standing nearby and offering him tips on tracking balls into the gap and chasing grounders into the corner, where hell have to deal with the iconic ivy thats fading fast with winter approaching.Francona said there was only one thing that would stop him from making the switch.If he just cant do it. If he looks at me and says, `I dont want to do this or something like that, he said.The Indians could play Coco Crisp or Brandon Guyer in left, but they dont hit like Santana. He hit 34 homers and drove in 87 runs during the regular season, and although hes hitless in six at-bats in the Series and batting just .179 in the postseason, Francona is confident the switch-hitter will warm up.Hes a really good hitter, Francona said, adding he has spoken to Game 3 starter Josh Tomlin about playing Santana in left. You cant run away from your guys at this time of year. If guys go oh-for the first two games, and you sit them, theyll never do well.A former catcher, Santana has also played first and third and the Indians are certain he has the athleticism to handle left. But theres no way of knowing how hell do until they put him out there.Hes quick enough, Mills said. And he can move enough. Weve talked to him about seeing balls off the bat. We might have to play him maybe a little deeper or something along those lines, just to have him come in so reading the ball, he has more time to read the ball that way. Those things. When you havent been out there, keeping that focus on there a lot of times is tough, but at least hes got the wall behind him.Wearing a stocking cap as he sat in the warmth of the Indians dugout on a chilly evening, Santana said hes ready for his new assignment.Ill be fine, he said. Tito, he told me dont put on any pressure, play your game, play hard, stay focused and concentrate, and thats it.The Indians dont have many other options, and first baseman Mike Napoli quickly removed himself from consideration despite playing 11 games in the outfield for Texas.It was a circus last year with me out there, he said, so I wouldnt go out there in this situation. Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Nathan Eovaldi Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. http://www.officialraysgearshop.com/Rays-Matt-Andriese-Kids-Jersey/ . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. Christian Arroyo Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Kevin Kiermaier Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. LOS ANGELES -- Last season, Chimezie Metu got a lot of playing time for Southern California without having much experience.All those minutes are starting to pay off for him as a sophomore.Metu had 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the Trojans rally over the final 8:49 to beat Omaha 82-72 Sunday after trailing most of the game.Im trying to play as hard as possible, Metu said. This year we dont have as many great rebounders on our team as we did last year.Shaqquan Aaron scored 15 points, DeAnthony Melton had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Jordan McLaughlin added 12 points for the Trojans (2-0).We knew it would be a tough second game for us as we adjust to our lineups and rotations, especially with (Bennie) Boatwright being injured, USC coach Andy Enfield said. Our players played an excellent second half defensively that helped us win the game.Marcus Tyus scored a career-high 33 points and TreShawn Thurman had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Mavericks (1-1), who were trying to beat a Pac-12 team for the first time.What we had trouble with was Marcus Tyus, Enfield said. It didnt matter whether we were man or zone, he made shots.The Mavs led by six early in the second half when the Trojans got loose for three consecutive dunks, two by Metu and one from DeAnthony Melton to tie the game 49-all.We were just trying to get on the run and get a lot of stops, Metu said, and it was turning into some points for us. We were just looking for some energy, some kind of spark.Aarons 3-pointer tied the game for the last time at 53-all. From there, USC closed the game on a 31-19 run.BIG PICTUREOmaha: Picked to finish fourth in the Summit League, the Mavs will go ass Tra-Deon Hollins and Thurman go.dddddddddddd Hollins led the nation in steals (127) and steals per game (3.9) as a junior last season, when he averaged 12.5 points. The Mavs have a tough nonconference schedule, with road games at Kansas State, Iowa, No. 24 Iowa State and Pittsburgh.USC: The Trojans protected their home court, where they are in the midst of playing five of six games.OUCHAaron raced in for a fast break layup with 1:33 to go in the first half and went off the back of Omahas Mitch Hahn, sending him crashing to the floor at the base of the basket support. He walked off on his own and had his right wrist wrapped before returning in the second half.If anything it kind of hyped him up even more, Melton said. When he gets mad, he really gets rolling. Its fun watching him play.BACK WITH A BANGTyus played just his second game since Feb. 7, 2015, at Denver, where he sustained a season-ending knee injury. He was 3 of 11 and scored nine points in the Mavs win over UCSB on Saturday.Against the Trojans, he was 11 of 18 from the floor, hit six 3-pointers and went 5 of 7 from the free throw line in 35 minutes.Its an amazing feeling to get a career high, he said. Ive been away for so long. My teammates just kept telling me if youre open, shoot. I got a confidence boost after my first couple of shots went in.UP NEXTOmaha: The Mavs visit Kansas State on Tuesday to finish off three road games in four days to open the season.USC: Visit Texas A&M on Friday in just the teams second-ever meeting. USC won 26-18 on Dec. 18, 1936. ' ' '