finally getting the stage to show off a skill set that has already

Terry Francona, who guided the Cleveland Indians to their first American League pennant since 1997, was named American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday.Francona wins the award, given by the Baseball Writers Association of America, after guiding the Indians --?beset by injuries and drug suspensions -- to a surprising first-place finish with a 94-67 record. Cleveland also made its first playoff appearance since 2013 and won their first division title since 2007.Im honored, Francona said. ... It also does give me a chance to brag about our guys. If somebody thinks its an individual award, its the furthest thing from the truth. One, its incredible players. Its front office, ownership. The coaches work so hard every day. I wish we could take a bow together.The Indians almost claimed their first World Series title since 1948 before the Chicago Cubs overcame a 3-1 deficit.It was an unbelievably satisfying year, Francona said.Its already been a busy offseason for him, too. The Indians picked up options for his contract in 2019 and 2020, then he had a right hip replacement operation.He received a first-place vote on 22 of the 30 ballots cast and was the only one to be named on every ballot. Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister finished second with four first-place votes, while Buck Showalter of the Baltimore Orioles and John Farrell of the Boston Red Sox had two first-place votes apiece and finished third and fourth, respectively.In Franconas fourth year managing the club, Cleveland overcame significant injuries to star outfielder Michael Brantley, catcher Yan Gomes and starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar to win the AL Central title by eight games and improve its win total by 13 games from a season ago.This is the second time Francona, 57, has been named Manager of the Year, having won the honor in 2013 after his first season with the Indians, and he is the only two-time winner in franchise history. He is now the sixth active manager to win the award multiple times, joining Dusty Baker, Joe Maddon, Bob Melvin, Mike Scioscia and Buck Showalter.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Aaron Sanchez Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Jack Morris Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-roberto-alomar-jersey/ . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. Jack Morris Blue Jays Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Rowdy Tellez Blue Jays Jersey . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. TORONTO -- When he scored it, Nathan MacKinnon thought it was the goal that would advance North America into the World Cup semifinals.You could see it in his face, you could see it in his celebration. His teammates too, they thought this was it. They mobbed MacKinnon with a fervor worthy of a team moving on after beating Team Sweden 4-3 in overtime, with MacKinnon making a series of dazzling moves to beat Henrik Lundqvist.It wasnt until MacKinnon was about to go on TV in a postgame interview immediately after the game that reality hit. Seconds before going on camera, he was told that the Russians still had to lose to Finland on Thursday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN) to keep the kids alive in the World Cup because of North Americas loss to Russia earlier in the World Cup.MacKinnons initial thought? Unprintable.Then he joked with North America teammate Auston Matthews that perhaps he shouldnt have celebrated so hard since they still might be going home.The North Americans need a Finland win to survive in this tournament despite playing the two most entertaining games of the World Cup and despite revealing to the hockey world that the talent coming in this generation is as good as any the sport has seen.This might be it for North America. And its an absolute shame if it is.I think we definitely have turned some heads,?Connor McDavid?said. People didnt know what to expect when we came into?this tournament, but weve beat two good hockey teams, and ultimately maybe even should have beat the Russians. I think weve definitely turned some heads and opened the eyes of everyone what the future of the NHL is like.They have shades of the 1980s Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers in them, a brand of hockey the sport hasnt seen in decades. With the Swedes earning a point by getting to overtime, Sweden and Canada are on a collision course to face each other in the World Cup finals, which is fine. They deserve it. But weve already seen that.Well never see anything quite like what Team North America has produced. McDavid?is a generational talent. Hes the best NHL player to come into the league since Sidney Crosby, and hes playing on a line with the next great star of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Matthews, as if theyve been playing together for years.MacKinnon has re-emerged as one of the great young players in the game. We all knew he could skate like the wind, we had no idea he could be such a force around the net. And that move onn Lundqvist -- unbelievable.dddddddddddd Thats a future Hall of Famer he beat that badly.He had a lot of time. Im just not that patient, said Lundqvist, whose 45-save performance was the only reason the Swedes were in overtime to begin with. I made the first move and I lost.Johnny Gaudreau is a Patrick Kane-esque superstar who is finally getting the stage to show off a skill set that has already won over the city of Calgary.There might be another World Cup. There might even be another Team North America. But there wont be anything quite like this.Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman, who has seen as much great hockey as anyone alive, was watching this game at home in Buffalo and spoke for a legion of hockey fans who have fallen for Team North America.Id like to see them play again, he said during a Wednesday evening phone conversation.We all would.He loved the style of play. North America coach Todd McLellan has let his horses run. He has them playing enough defense and, with assistant coach Dave Tippetts assistance, developed a shut-down penalty kill. Bowman appreciates the tempo in which the kids have played the game in this tournament.The best part of the game is the teams, they dont trap. It looked like an old-time hockey game, Bowman said. Theyre not all trying to block shots back in their own end. Theyre on the fast break. Thats what makes it exciting. Thats why they get breakaways. They were counting on their speed and their defense was holding up.While we were all admiring the move MacKinnon made on Lundqvist to win it, Bowman noticed the play Gaudreau made to chase down a rebound and get the puck to MacKinnon for the winner.Gaudreau really made a great play on that goal, Bowman said.It was like that all game. Matthews was stick-handling from his knees. McDavid was flying at mach speed through the neutral zone. Gaudreau was electric on breakaways.At one point, there was a North American power play and the puck was being moved around between Jack Eichel, McDavid, Matthews, Shayne Gostisbehere and Mark Scheifele -- each an emerging star in their own right.Ten years from now, 20 years from now, hockey fans will remember those moments. That is, unless the kids get a chance to replace them with new ones later on in the World Cup.Finland, you know what you have to do. ' ' '