ed a little bit as expected as it is our first playoff game," Toro

New hitting coach Kevin Seitzer said hell bring an up-the-middle philosophy to an Atlanta Braves team which flopped at the plate this season.The Braves hired Seitzer from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday to replace Greg Walker. Atlanta also named Jose Castro as assistant hitting coach.Seitzer said one of his most important lessons will be convincing hitters they make themselves vulnerable by attempting to pull balls with a turn-and-burn approach.Its not impossible, and I kind of feel like thats one of my big strengths, the expertise of being able to show guys how to hit the ball the other way, Seitzer said in a telephone interview.Seitzer, 52, was the hitting coach for Arizona during part of the 2007 season, for Kansas City from 2009-12 and for the Blue Jays this past season. The Blue Jays ranked fourth in the American League in runs scored and third in home runs.Im a big fan of the homer, too, maybe the biggest fan on the planet, Seitzer said, adding home runs come when hitters try to hit balls up the middle and to the opposite field.Walker was assisted by Scott Fletcher this season as the Braves finished a disappointing 79-83.Walker resigned after the Braves finished 14th in runs scored among National League teams, ahead of only San Diego. Fletcher and third base coach Doug Dascenzo also are not returning.The Braves led the National League with 181 homers in 2013 but fell to 11th with 123 in 2014.A key project for Seitzer will be B.J. Upton, who hit .208 with 12 homers this season after hitting .184 with nine homers in 2013.Ive worked with a lot of guys who have been in the game a long time, and it seems the more guys have struggled later in their careers the more open they are to suggestions, Seitzer said.I feel like God gave me a gift to be a hitting coach more than He gave me a gift to be a player, he said.A former All-Star third baseman, Seitzer hit .295 in 12 major league seasons with the Royals, Milwaukee, Oakland and Cleveland.Seitzer said he didnt receive a 2015 contract offer from the Blue Jays until maybe a week ago. He said he received permission to call the Braves when he couldnt reach a financial agreement with Toronto.Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he hopes to utilize Chipper Jones as a hitting consultant. Jones, who retired after the 2012 season, said he wasnt ready to take on a full-time coaching job when approached by the Braves.Its something that Kevin and Jose are going to have to talk to Chipper about, but I want to see Chipper around this ballpark a lot more than we saw the last two years, Gonzalez said.Castro, 52, was the Cubs quality assurance coach this season. He was Seattles interim hitting coach in 2008 and has worked as a minor league hitting co-ordinator and coach in the Montreal, Florida, San Diego and Seattle organizations. Fake Marlins Jerseys . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Wholesale Marlins Jerseys .com) - Rakeem Christmas scored 21 points, B. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ .Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday it is inevitable that the league will one day take after European sports and have sponsor names on team jerseys. Marlins Jerseys 2019 . It was a loss. But it was also a learning experience. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson had 24 points each to lift Brooklyn to a 94-87 win over the Raptors, making their first playoff appearance since 08. "I thought we played a little bit as expected as it is our first playoff game," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. Custom Miami Marlins Jerseys . The Canadians led for much of the game before Argentina forced overtime in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter. Canada weathered the storm after squandering a lead with a series of made shots. "Its a fantastic win for our country with 11 first-time Canadian national team members," said head coach Roy Rana.New York, NY - Goaltenders Jaroslav Halak of the New York Islanders and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins have been named as injury replacements for next weekends All-Star Game. Nashvilles Pekka Rinne and Detroits Jimmy Howard were originally selected as All-Stars, but will be unable to participate. Rinne has a sprained knee and Howard is battling a groin injury.dddddddddddd Halak, who will be making his first All-Star appearance, is 23-8-0 with a 2.22 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and four shutouts. Fleury, who will be an All-Star for the second time, is 22-7-4 with a 2.16 GAA, .926 save percentage and a league-leading six shutouts. The All-Star Game is set for Jan. 25 in Columbus. ' ' '