Dein erstes Forum » Ball Park so far this season.EARLY WARN

SAN ANTONIO -- Wearing a black shirt emblazoned with a picture of Tim Duncan with a caption underneath reading Impossible Is Potential, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich waxed poetic for 15 minutes Tuesday about the retirement of arguably the greatest power forward to ever play the game, and plans to make a pitch to Duncan to keep him working with the organization in some capacity in the future.Duncan announced his retirement on Monday, but wasnt present for Tuesdays news conference.Its not a show of humility in any sense or form. People who grew up with me know me, Popovich explained. I would not be standing here if it wasnt for Tim Duncan. Id be in the Budweiser League someplace in America, fat and still trying to play basketball or coach basketball. But hes why Im standing. Hes made livings for hundreds of us, staff and coaches, over the years and never said a word, just came to work every day. Came early, stayed late, was there for every single person, from the top of the roster to the bottom of the roster, because thats who he was, in all those respects.Sources told ESPNs Marc Stein that the Spurs officially waived Duncan on Monday for salary-cap reasons. While the move was a mere formality, the club needed to do it to waive and stretch Duncans $6.4 million salary for the 2016-17 season so that its spread out over three seasons instead of one, which lessens the cap hit the team will take.Duncan exercised his player option for the upcoming season before the June 29 deadline, which means hell receive his full salary for the upcoming season despite retiring. Consider it a parting gift for Duncan, who gave so much for the NBA, the city of San Antonio and the Spurs organization.Hes irreplaceable. It cant happen, Popovich said. Were all unique. I guess each one of us is unique. But hes been so important to so many people, its just mind boggling. To think that hes going to be gone makes it really difficult to imagine walking into practice, going to a game, getting on the bus, taking him a piece of carrot cake -- whatever it might be.You dont see Timmy beating his chest as if he was the first human being to dunk the basketball, as a lot of people do these days. Hes not pointing to the sky. Hes not glamming to the cameras. He just plays, and weve seen it for so long its become almost mundane. But its so special that it has to be remembered.Popovich said Duncan is too smart to try his hand at coaching in retirement, but he plans to reach out to the former Spur to keep him involved in some capacity.I dont think were going to see Timmy going up and down the sidelines much, Popovich said. But I have a notion he will at least listen to being involved, somehow or other, maybe even on a part-time basis. Im certainly going to hit with everything I have to keep him around here as long as I possibly can because he means that much to everyone in the organization.Randal Grichuk Blue Jays Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Clay Buchholz Jersey . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-devon-travis-jersey/ . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Marcus Stroman Blue Jays Jersey . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Ken Giles Blue Jays Jersey . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason.CINCINNATI -- It looks as if Ben Zobrist might be rounding into postseason form, just in time for the Chicago Cubs.Zobrist homered twice and drove in three runs, helping Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 on Friday night.Im feeling a lot better than I felt in June, July and August, said Zobrist, who helped Kansas City win the World Series last year. Hopefully, that translates into October.The Cubs have the majors best record and clinched the NL Central title with plenty of time to spare, giving Joe Maddon the luxury of resting his regulars. The 35-year-old Zobrist didnt play on Monday or Thursday, and he is 11 for 22 with two homers and eight RBI in his last seven games.Hes rested, Maddon said. With guys like that, thats why you want time off, and (Friday) is what it can look like.Jake Buchanan (1-0) pitched five shutout innings as Chicago improved to 14-3 against Cincinnati this season with two games to play. The right-hander allowed two hits in his first start since 2014 with Houston.Outstanding, wasnt he? Maddon said. He controlled his emotions and threw strikes. He was very efficient. He threw strikes. We caught the ball -- a typical formula for us.It was Buchanans first appearance since he pitched one inning on Sept. 5. He didnt know what to expect when he took the mound.Once I got past the first batter, it felt really good to be back in a ballgame, Buchanan said. I was just hoping to throw strikes and compete.Anthony Rizzo also drove in two runs for Chicago, which was coming off a rare tie in Pittsburgh due to rain.Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the ninth for last-place Cincinnati, which announced before the game that manager Bryan Price would return next season. Josh Smith (3-3) was charged with two runs and three hits in five-plus innings.Price and the Reds agreed to a one-year contract with a team option. The entire coaching staff also has been offered contracts for 2017.There is a mutual desire to stay connected, Price said. For me, its an unbelievable opportunity. It is a storied franchise. I have really enjoyed my coaches and my team.The Cubs, heeaded for the playoffs for the second straight year, announced contract extensions for general manager Jed Hoyer and player development director Jason McLeod.dddddddddddd Their new deals run through the 2021 season, mirroring president of baseball operations Theo Epsteins contract announced on Wednesday.Smith retired his first 12 batters before Zobrist led off the fifth with a drive to right for his first homer since Sept. 12. The All-Star also connected for a two-run shot in Chicagos four-run eighth, No. 17 on the year.It was good, Smith said. I challenged hitters early and got a lot of early contact to pitch pretty deep in the game. The ball to Zobrist, I missed my spot.Chicagos first three batters reached in the sixth, chasing Smith, and Addison Russells RBI double made it 3-1.HISTORIC HOMERSZobrists homers were Chicagos 38th and 39th against the Reds this season, the most by one team against Cincinnati pitching in one season. The 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1957 Milwaukee Braves previously shared the record with 38.FRIENDLY CONFINESKris Bryants eighth-inning single gave him a least one hit in each of Chicagos eight games at Great American Ball Park so far this season.EARLY WARNINGVotto, who left Thursdays game at St. Louis in the eighth inning with a cut on his chin that required seven stitches, texted Price at 3 a.m. Friday saying that he would be ready to play.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: OF Jorge Soler (discomfort on his right side) will be re-evaluated on Saturday, Maddon said.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips, sidelined by soreness in his left wrist and hand, was being examined Friday by members of the Reds medical staff, Price said.UP NEXTCubs: LHP Jon Lester (19-4) seeks his first career 20-win season in his last start. He is 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in four starts against Cincinnati this season.Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (3-4), who set a career high with seven innings in his last start on Monday, will try to close out his season with back-to-back wins. ' ' '