NL All-Star berth nearing a close, Story made his pitch f

[wzh123]

NFL coaches changed their preseason kickoff strategy this summer in response to a rule change that moved touchbacks from the 20- to the 25-yard line. The move could be a preview of a regular-season approach that would subvert the leagues hopes of reducing the number of kickoff returns for safety purposes.Kickoffs reached the end zone 78.5 of the time during the preseason, which ended Thursday night. That was down from 90 percent in the 2015 preseason and 85 percent in 2014. In turn, the return rate actually increased slightly from 54.9 percent of all kickoffs in 2015 to 57.2 in 2016.Those numbers reflect a strategy, promised by some coaches during training camp, to use short mortar kicks that returners would be forced to field rather than take a touchback. As the theory goes, a good cover team will tackle a returner far short of the 25-yard line, providing the kicking team with a valuable gain in field position.The results of that strategy, however, were inconclusive at best. Teams opened their average drive after kickoffs at the 24.4 yard line, according to ESPN Stats & Information, an increase of 3.1 yards over 2015. Had they simply kicked into the end zone at last seasons pace, which would reduce the chances of a long return, the average start of field position wouldnt have been much higher.Those numbers, of course, reflect coverage units staffed mainly by young players who were trying to make the team. The makeup of most special teams groups will change once the regular season begins, as will strategy, and the NFL plans to make no judgment about the new rule any time soon.Preseason kick return numbers do not translate to the regular season, NFL senior vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said on a video distributed Friday morning. Coaches are evaluating players. They want to see their kick return teams. They want to see their cover team. You will see more kick returns in the preseason than you will in the regular season. Mike Richter Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Chris Kreider Jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. http://www.officialrangersproshop.com/Rangers-Ron-Duguay-Adidas-Jersey/ . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. Joe Kocur Jersey . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. Wayne Gretzky Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. DENVER -- Trevor Story broke out of a slump in grand fashion.Story tied an NL rookie record for most home runs before the All-Star break, homering twice and boosting his total to 21 while the Colorado Rockies beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-2 on Thursday night.Story, one of five players on the ballot for the last NL All-Star spot, had a three-run drive in the third and a solo shot in the fifth. He snapped an 0-for-17 skid that accompanied playing through a bruised middle finger and thumb suffered when he was hit in the hand by a pitch June 26 against Arizona.The last couple of nights, I felt good out there, Story said. I just havent had the results. You just simplify, keep working, trust your preparation in the cage and how its going to translate to the field.It translated well enough for Story to join Dave Kingman (1972) and Albert Pujols (2001) as the only NL rookies to hit 21 home runs prior to the break.Any time youre with guys like that, its an honor. To have done what theyve done, its pretty cool, Story said.Rockies manager Walt Weiss saw Story making strides at the plate as his hand injury improved.Its good to see him swinging the bat, Weiss said. I felt like even though he hadnt gotten many hits the last few games, I saw better at-bats. He really hit those two balls tonight. Its been an unbelievable first half, quite a way to start a career.Mark Reynolds also homered and doubled to drive in four runs for the Rockies, helping to back Chad Bettis (7-6), who kept the Phillies in check while pitching into the seventh. DJ LeMahieu added three hits, including an RBI single in the Rockies five-run seventh.Ryan Howard had a home run for the Phillies in the second, his 12th of the season and 369th of his career to tie Ralph Kiner and former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton for 78th place on the career list. Maikel Franco doubled and singled but had his home run streak snapped at four games.The Rockies scored runs in the first three innings, starting with Nolan Arenados RBI double in the first off Adam Morgan (1-7). Morgan allowed six runs on nine hits in five innings and dropped to 0-7 in his last nine starts. After the game, Morgan was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.ddddddddddddYou never like to send anybody out, Phillies manager Peter Mackanin said. He knows what he has to do to improve.Morgan was told of his demotion during a postgame meeting with his manager.It was a good conversation, Morgan said. They shot me straight. Thats all you can ask for as a player. It was good, it was the truth and I needed to hear it. My point of view right now is I can only go up from here.Reynolds led off the second with his ninth home run, and in the third, with LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez aboard, Story drove a 3-2 offering from Morgan into the left-field bleachers for his first homer of the game and a 5-1 Rockies lead.Story put the Rockies up 6-2 in the fifth with his second homer.Reynolds keyed Colorados five-run burst in the seventh with his bases-loaded double.Bettis allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.GET OUT THE VOTEWith fan balloting for the final NL All-Star berth nearing a close, Story made his pitch for last-minute votes with his big night. Story leads all major league rookies in home runs (21) and RBI (55).TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: RHP Andrew Bailey (left hamstring strain) should be activated Saturday when he is eligible to be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list. ... RHP Aaron Nola, who was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday to give him a breather before the All-Star break, was scheduled to throw a two-inning simulated game Saturday.Rockies: With RHP Christian Bergman nearing a return from a strained left oblique that has sidelined him since May 20, team officials are discussing whether to insert him into the rotation or use him in long relief.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Vince Velasquez (7-2) has won his last two starts since being reinstated June 27 from the 15-day disabled list. He spent time on the DL because of a right biceps strain.Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (5-4) is slated to make his seventh start this season at Coors Field, where he has gone 3-0 with a 5.05 ERA.---This story has been corrected to show that Ryan Howard has hit 369 homers, not 370. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '