Dein erstes Forum » June 2015.The redshirt year was hard, but I got to

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Just about the only thing that Justin Maxwell knew about the Kansas City Royals when he showed up to the ballpark Wednesday was that they were in the playoff hunt. Turns out thats precisely why the Royals wanted him. With an eye on the post-season for the first time in a decade, the Royals traded minor league pitcher Kyle Smith to the Houston Astros to acquire the speedy Maxwell, giving them a right-handed bat to help balance out the lineup for the stretch run. "It was definitely a surprise. I was on my way to the ballpark and (Astros GM) Jeff (Luhnow) gave me a call with the news," Maxwell said. "I dont really know much about Kansas City, but Im excited. Its a team in the wild-card hunt, or at least thats what Ive been told." Maxwell was expected to join the Royals in time for the series finale Thursday in Minnesota. Kansas City will have to make a corresponding roster move then. Kansas City had won seven straight entering Wednesday nights game at Minnesota, climbing above .500 and positioning itself to play meaningful baseball in August for the first time since 2003, when the club finished 83-79 for its only winning season since 1993. Still, the Royals were 7 1/2 games out of first place, so there was just as much speculation that theyd be sellers at the trade deadline as chatter about picking up some help. "I just think everybodys excited with the way theyre playing. I think everybody to a man has confidence in everybody on this team, and a little bit of help helps," Yost said after the deadline passed. "I think they feel as a group what weve got here is enough to compete with." Right-hander Ervin Santana was the name brought up most often in trade rumours. Hes in the final year of his contract and could be too costly for the Royals in free agency, especially after a resurgent season. Santana is 7-6 with a career-best 3.03 ERA. Santana had made it clear that he wanted to remain with the Royals, though, and even counted down the minutes on Twitter until the 4 p.m. EDT trade deadline had passed. "Yessssssss!!!!!!," Santana tweeted afterward. "Lets go get em!!!!!" Well, the Royals will go get em with a new outfielder to help out. They were seeking a right-handed outfielder prior to the non-waiver trade deadline, and at least on paper achieved their goal. Maxwell is hitting just .214 with two homers and eight RBIs in 40 games this season, but hes hitting .302 against left-handed pitchers. Yost said hed play him at any of the outfield spots but mostly off the bench as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement. Maxwell fits the bill for relatively cheap, too: Hes making $492,500 if he spends the entire season in the majors, and the Royals will have him under control through 2016. "I definitely enjoyed my experience here in Houston. It was my first extended time in the big leagues," Maxwell said. "I had a lot of fun this year and last year, met a lot of great guys on this team. I just wish them all the best." In return for Maxwell, the Astros picked up 20-year-old Smith, a fourth-round pick of Kansas City in the 2011 amateur draft. Hes 5-4 with a 2.85 ERA at Class-A Wilmington this season. Maxwells career has so far been filled with more downs than ups. He broke into the big leagues as a 23-year-old with the Nationals in 2007, but only played in 108 games over the next three seasons. He was traded to the Yankees in 2011 and then claimed off waivers by Houston, where hes spent the past two seasons. Maxwell hit 18 homers and 53 RBIS last season, and the Astros were hopeful of a late-career breakout this season. But he broke his hand while getting hit by a pitch in late April, and then sustained a concussion in late June while trying to make a diving catch. "The season didnt go the way I wanted it to," Maxwell said, "but I still have a chance to finish it out strong and thats what Im looking to do now." While hes expected to share time with David Lough in right field, Maxwell could become even more valuable if the Royals are without centre fielder Lorenzo Cain for an extended period of time. Cain hurt his left groin on Saturday. Wholesale NBA Jerseys . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Cheap NBA Jerseys . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. https://www.nbachinajerseys.us/ . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Fake NBA Jerseys . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Clearance NBA Jerseys . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Construction is moving at a feverish pace at the west end of Reser Stadium, where Oregon State is putting the finishing touches on a $42 million remodel prior to the start of the football season.The school is attempting to continue its advancement of the football program. As for the Beavers? Theyre trying to keep from returning to their past struggles, where they once had a streak of 28 consecutive losing seasons.Oregon State kicks off fall practices Friday at Summit High School in Bend, trying to end a slide of two consecutive losing seasons. The most recent time the Beavers posted three straight losing seasons was 1996 to 98.Achieving a winning season in 2016 is expected to be a steep climb, as the Beavers are coming off a 2-10 season, their worst since 1995. Oregon State was picked to finish last in the Pac-12 North in the preseason media poll.Oregon State returns 11 starters, including seven on offense. Among the newcomers looking to make an impact this season is quarterback Darrel Garretson, a junior transfer from Utah State who won the starting job during the spring.Because of the stadium construction, Oregon State is moving the start of fall practice off campus for the first time ever to Bend, located about 125 miles southeast of Corvallis in Central Oregon. The Beavers will hold practice for the first six days in Bend, before returning to OSUs campus Aug. 11.Oregon States second-year coach Gary Andersen hopes to increase the teams unity and chemistry during the week away from Corvallis.I want them to get to know some different people. Well be doing some very different bonding situations in Bend that are a little bit different than what weve done in the past. Does it win you games? No. Do I believe it helps? Yes, Andersen said.Sophomore receiver Seth Collins said players are looking forward to starting fall camp in Bend.Its going to bee a fun thing, but I think its going to be physical.dddddddddddd It just adds to the overall camaraderie, Collins said.This season marks a change for Collins, as he was Oregon States starting quarterback coming out of fall camp last season. Collins started seven games, then after an injury, played at wide receiver during OSUs season finale against Oregon, scoring three rushing touchdowns.Im not really sure what my role will be, but when I touch the ball, I plan on making things happen, Collins said.In Collins place at quarterback is Garretson, who passed for 2,586 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons at Utah State prior to transferring to Oregon State in June 2015.The redshirt year was hard, but I got to work on a lot of stuff, got to work on certain things you normally wouldnt be able to work on during the season. The year off was beneficial, for sure, said the 6-foot, 210-pound Garretson, whose uncle Ron is an NBA referee.Competition figures to be intense during the four weeks of preseason practice. There are at least half the starting jobs up for grabs, and new coordinators to impress in defensive coordinator Kevin Clune and co-offensive coordinators Kevin McGiven and T.J. Woods.Andersens expectations are simple heading into fall camp.My expectations of them is to be a much improved football team. Our goals should be that. Anything past there is flapping your lips, Andersen said.I expect them to carry themselves with belief and a little bit of swagger. Its not deserved swagger at this point, but you have to feel good about your team and where youre headed.The Beavers open the season on the road, playing at Minnesota on Sept. 1. Oregon State has seven home games on its schedule, including the Civil War against Oregon on Nov. 26. ' ' '