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lingzi
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Dec 18 2012, 08:26 AM
Post #1
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LOS ANGELES -- Zack Greinke showed up alone to a mid-November meeting at Dodger Stadium, asking as many questions as he answered. Coby Fleener Womens Jersey . When he left three hours later, the pitcher thought he may have found his new team while the Los Angeles Dodgers brass knew they had to land the top arm on the open market. They did, signing Greinke to a $147 million, six-year deal that is the richest for a right-hander in baseball history. The Dodgers beat out Texas and the rival Los Angeles Angels, for whom Greinke pitched last season. "Hes the one we wanted," said Magic Johnson, a partner in Guggenheim Baseball Management, which bought the team last spring. "A guy of Zacks ability and also his commitment to his craft, they dont come on the market too many times. Were so thrilled to have him. Dodger pride is on the way back." Greinkes introduction on Tuesday culminated a more than $200 million spending spree by the Dodgers in which they also signed South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin, who got a $36 million, six-year deal. The club also spent $25.7 million on a posting fee that gave the Dodgers exclusive negotiating rights with Ryu. "Nobody worried about the Yankees when they were doing this and winning," Johnson said. "Were here to win." The Dodgers havent won the World Series since 1988, but that didnt discourage Greinke. "Besides the money, the No. 1 (reason) was they have a team that could win a World Series for several years," he said. Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner, and Ryu give the Dodgers eight starting pitchers under contract for next season, joining 2011 NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett, Ted Lilly, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang. The Dodgers were eager to bolster their pitching this winter knowing that Billingsley (elbow) and Lilly (shoulder) are coming off operations. "A lot of things have to come together," Greinke said. "You cant just throw names on a team and be good. If everyone comes back healthy it should be a good ride. They could be good for every year of my contract, so there is no rebuilding." With Greinke locked up, the Dodgers plan to discuss a contract extension with Kershaw, who can become a free agent after the 2014 season. Casey Close, Greinkes agent, said Texas was in the hunt for his client until the end. "At one point, I was favouring Texas," Greinke said before the negotiations made him change his mind. The Angels didnt make it that far, according to Greinke, who said his former team "never really got into it when the details came." "Theres a point where every team has to have a stopping point and they obviously reached it," he said. "Im not mad at them. I dont think theyre mad at how I went about things." The 29-year-old righty started last season with Milwaukee and was later traded to the Angels, going a combined 15-5 with a 3.48 ERA. He is 91-78 with a 3.77 ERA in nine seasons with the Brewers, Dodgers and Angels. In 2009, Greinke went 16-8 with a major league-leading 2.16 ERA for Kansas City, and hed like to recapture that form. "I was consistent that whole entire year," he said. "Most years Ill start strong and hit a roadblock." Greinke impressed Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, president and CEO Stan Kasten and manager Don Mattingly simply by showing up alone to their meeting. "He was stunning. It was probably the best free-agent meeting Ive ever had," Colletti said. "I cant remember one that didnt bring an agent or friends. If the questioning got a little tough, they had a fallback." Greinke showed hed done his homework on the Dodgers, discussing younger players in their system, his strategies for retiring everyone in the teams lineup, and what the club would be like in three years. He saw Dodger Stadium as the kind of park that would allow him to be a fly ball pitcher. "This was always a place I wanted to play," he said. "I loved it there (in Anaheim), so I assume this will be just as good." Kasten impressed Greinke with his plans for the organization and what the pitcher said was "his ability to keep so many things under control." "I dont want to make his head too big, but I thought Stan was the smartest person I ever talked to," Greinke said. "With him in charge, I thought they had a chance to keep things going good." Andrew Luck White Jersey .C. United on Thursday. In return, Vancouver received a third-round choice in the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Adam Vinatieri Womens Jersey .H. -- Brad Keselowski slipped in front when Kevin Harvick got into a traffic jam. http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamstore.com/winston-justice-jersey . The Wildcats beat one of the newcomers in their conference. Only a few minutes after No. 1 Alabama lost, Klein threw a 62-yard pass to set up the first of his two touchdown runs and the Wildcats went on to a 23-10 victory Saturday night at TCU. Jerrell Freeman Camo Jersey . After just nine stages and two weeks to go before the peloton reaches Paris, Bradley Wiggins has already stamped his authority on the race and, barring an accident, will become the first British winner of cyclings most prestigious event on July 22. Reggie Wayne Camo Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla.NASHVILLE -- Dean Evason has been named coach of the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators affiliate in the American Hockey League. Predators general manager David Poile announced the hiring on Tuesday, saying Evasons 20 years of playing and coaching in the NHL puts the clubs top prospects into great hands. The 47-year-old Evason spent seveen seasons with the Washington Capitals as an assistant coach. Vick Ballard Jersey. He began his coaching career with the Kamloops Blazers from 1999-2002. Evason, a third-round pick of the Capitals in 1982, had 372 points and 1,002 penalty minutes in 803 career NHL games with Washington, Hartford, San Jose, Dallas and Calgary from 1983-96. ' ' '
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