Reiseberichte » hard hit from the Coyotes Jamie McGinn at the 15-minute

CHICAGO -- Before the Chicago Cubs completed a trade for Aroldis Chapman, owner Tom Ricketts and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein decided they had to hear from the closer himself about a domestic violence allegation in the offseason.So Ricketts and Epstein asked Major League Baseball for a window to speak with the left-hander, and they got him on the phone Monday. When the conversation was over, the blockbuster deal was on.Chasing their first World Series title since 1908, the Cubs addressed one of their few weaknesses by sending a pricey package of four players to the New York Yankees for Chapman, one of the most dominant relievers in the game, but one who also comes with some risk for a franchise riding a positive wave.This is a game-changer. Aroldis Chapman is a game-changing-type pitcher in the postseason, Epstein said. As you sit around and game plan how youre going to win a big game or how youre going to win a postseason game, it makes it look a lot easier when you see him there on your lineup card.Chapman is expected to join the Cubs for Tuesday nights game at the crosstown White Sox.For the Yankees, it was a rare July trade that saw the best player in the deal leaving New York. But Chapman is eligible for free agency after this season, New York also has All-Stars Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances in the bullpen, and its haul included top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, versatile pitcher Adam Warren and minor league outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.This was an easy call, and this was the right call, general manager Brian Cashman said. Easy because we traded from an area of strength and we are excited about the players that weve received for someone that obviously was only under control for two more months.The Yankees had won six of eight heading into Monday nights game at Houston, but they still face long odds of getting to the playoffs. They made the decision to trade Chapman after his agents said he would not agree to a new contract that would start in 2017, a person familiar with the talks said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no public statement on those talks was authorized.If New York slips back any further, it could engage in a rare sell-off for the franchise. Miller, signed through 2018, also could be traded. All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran, first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitcher Ivan Nova are eligible for free agency after the season and could be sought by contenders.I think that when the right buy-or-sell circumstance presents itself, then this department will be making recommendations to ownership and then they will direct me on what they want, Cashman said.The 28-year-old Chapman went 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 20 saves in 31 games for New York. He threw a 105.1 mph fastball to Baltimores J.J. Hardy last week, matching the fastest since Major League Baseball began tracking speeds in 2008.With lefty-batting sluggers Bryce Harper of Washington and Brandon Belt of San Francisco possibly looming in the playoffs, the addition of Chapman gives Cubs manager Joe Maddon one of the majors top assets when in need of a late strikeout.The Cubs have been playing really good baseball, Chapman said through a translator before he left Houston to travel to Chicago. I think theyre probably one of the better teams in both leagues right now. They have a good rhythm right now. Theyre fighting to get that ring, so it might be a good experience for me to be there.Chapman, who threw the 62 fastest pitches in the majors last season, was traded from Cincinnati to New York last December after a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers fell through when it was learned Florida police investigated an accusation of domestic violence involving the Cuban pitcher.Prosecutors declined to file charges, citing conflicting accounts, and Chapman was suspended for the first 29 games of the season, losing $1,856,557 of his $11,325,000 salary. He was the first player penalized a finite number of games under Major League Baseballs domestic violence policy.I regret that I did not exercise better judgment and for that I am truly sorry, Chapman said Monday in a statement released by the NL Central-leading Cubs. Looking back, I feel I have learned from this matter and have grown as a person. My girlfriend and I have worked hard to strengthen our relationship, to raise our daughter together, and would appreciate the opportunity to move forward without revisiting an event we consider part of our past.Epstein said the club thoroughly investigated the situation. But it wasnt until they spoke with Chapman on Monday that they were ready to complete the deal.There was genuine sorrow, regret, Epstein said. Hes open about the fact that hes learned from the incident and that he feels hes grown as a person and will continue to grow as a person and that was important to us.Asked if the Cubs spoke with Chapmans girlfriend or someone close to her, Epstein said they took efforts to make sure they looked at the issue from every possible side.Warren was drafted by New York and made his major league debut with the Yankees in 2012. He was traded to Chicago in the December deal that moved infielder Starlin Castro from the Cubs to the Yankees.But the centerpiece of the Yankees package is the 19-year-old Torres, one of the top infield prospects in baseball.Were disappointed we swung and missed in our efforts to sign him as an international free agent back in the 2013 class, but certainly you keep your eyes on players youve liked in the past and he was definitely a target for us, Cashman said.---AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York and AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Dale Hawerchuk Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Teppo Numminen Jets Jersey http://www.jetsauthentic.com/authentic-josh-morrissey-jets-jersey/ . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Blake Wheeler Jets Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Jack Roslovic Jets Jersey . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Radim Vrbata has a move he likes to use in shootouts, and it worked again for a goal that helped the Arizona Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Thursday night.The 35-year-old forward also tied Frans Nielsen of the Detroit Red Wings for the most shootout goals in NHL history with 42.With this move, I think if you do it right, you can freeze the goalie where he has to respect the shot and then its effective, Vrbata said.Louis Domingue stopped 35 shots for the Coyotes and hung on in the shootout despite some hip pain. Anthony Duclair also scored in the shootout for Arizona.Duclair had a goal in regulation as well, his first of the season, and rookie Christian Dvorak also scored for the Coyotes, who won for the third time in four games after a 1-5 start.Matt Irwin and Craig Smith had the goals for Nashville.Domingue stopped shootout attempts by Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen to seal the win.Its never going to be the prettiest game, but were going to find ways, Domingue said.The Predators lost four of five games on a West Coast road trip that ended in Arizona, though they earned two overtime points.Duclair tied it 2-all at 5:48 of the third period. He scored 20 goals in a breakout 2015-2016 season, but took 10 games to get his first of 2016-17.It was bound to happen, Duclair said. Its been a bit of a challenge but at the same time Ive been embracing it.The game went to overtime and Domingue was busy, stopping six shots while the Coyotes did not manage one.The last 2 minutes of overtime saw the Predators on their seventh power play, and the action was halted momentarily while Domingue was examined by a trainer.I was cramping a lot in the hip section, he said.Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said he hadnt decided if Domingue will play Friday night at Anaheim.Nashville finished 1 for 7 on the power play.Dvorak, recalled from the clubs AHL affiliate in Tucson three days after being sent down, scored his first NHL goal at 9:17 of the first period. He took a pass from Ryan White, then displayed some nifty stick-handling to free himself for a backhand that went off Pekka Rinnes pads.ddddddddddddThe goal gave Arizona a 1-0 lead. Dvorak became the third Coyotes player to score his first career goal this season.The Predators got on the board with Irwins wrister from left of the net, which zipped through traffic and was close to being deflected. Irwins goal, at 17:55 of the first, was his second in two games.The Predators outshot the Coyotes 18-6 in the first period but went 0 for 3 on power plays in the first 20 minutes.We let a game get away, coach Peter Laviolette said. They picked up their game in the second and third and we didnt respond to it.The Predators failed to convert on their first four power plays of the game, but the fifth one produced Smiths team-leading fifth goal of the season. Smith fired in a shot off a pass from P.K. Subban at 16:35 of the second period to give Nashville a 2-1 lead.Irwin took a hard hit from the Coyotes Jamie McGinn at the 15-minute mark, and the resulting boarding penalty led to Smiths power-play goal.Arizona went 0 for 3 with the man advantage and has gone four games and 12 power plays without converting.Game notes Arizonas Martin Hanzal missed the game with a lower-body injury sustained in Tuesdays win over San Jose. D Michael Stone also sat out with an upper-body injury, his third straight game missed. ... F Tobias Rieder was also scratched. He is dealing with a lower-body injury from the teams previous game, and his streak of consecutive games played ended at 163. ... Nashville captain Mike Fisher did not play due to an upper-body injury and is day to day. ... D Matt Carle and F Harry Zolnierczyk were also scratched for Nashville. ... Rinne celebrated his 34th birthday. ... Mike Ribeiro was repeatedly booed when he touched the puck or had his name announced. He was unpopular with fans during his brief time with the Coyotes.UP NEXTPredators: Host Carolina on Saturday night, the start of a four-game homestand.Coyotes: At Anaheim on Friday night. ' ' '