Stars und Sternchen! » AL Cy Young Award

With the Flat season over a month old, it might have escaped the attention of some that the Stobart-sponsored race to be champion jockey actually gets under way this weekend at Newmarket. With the Flat season over a month old, it might have escaped the attention of some that the Stobart-sponsored race to be champion jockey actually gets under way this weekend at Newmarket.Defending champion Silvestre de Sousa is as short as even-money favourite with a couple of bookmakers to retain his crown - but the Brazilian insists he will not be chasing it, believing that if he happens to be in a healthy position later in the season, it will come to him, as it did last year. But whatever happens, having been crowned once, it is something that can never be taken away.I dont think Ive got a point to prove - if it happens again it will happen, Im not going to go chasing it, De Sousa said.I wasnt really chasing it last year. It wasnt until halfway through the season that I realised I stood a chance. You cant say this early you are going to go for it, my main aim at the minute is to stay injury free all season. Ill just see how the first few weeks go and take it from there. The season is shorter now so that might change things, you might get people who wouldnt usually be interested giving it a real go.De Sousa rode nearly 40 more winners than his nearest pursuer last year, but only four of his 132 successes came in Group company and two of those were on the same horse, David Elsworths Arabian Queen.She caused one of the shocks of the season when beating Horse of the Year Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International at York.My main aim for the season is to pick up a few Group winners along the way, said De Sousa.The highlight last year was Arabian Queen, without a doubt. The Juddmonte is such a high-profile race and even if Golden Horn wasnt in it, there were still horses like The Grey Gatsby in there. To beat Golden Horn, who had already won a Derby and Eclipse and then went on to win an Arc, was a huge thrill.I dont think she has anything to prove, shes a very nice filly and definitely deserves another year, she was only three last year. David thinks shell be at her best over 10 furlongs or a mile and a half. Her dam (Barshiba) was very good and shes by Dubawi and his just get better with age.Other than her, Ill just be picking up bits and pieces along the way, Ive no outstanding horses to look forward to.It is well known that a weighing room is not a place to be big headed - you would soon be brought back down to earth with a bump - but De Sousa certainly does not strike as someone who would let success alter him.Ive not noticed a difference with the way the lads treat me in the weighing room and I wouldnt expect them to, they certainly wouldnt let it go to my head, he says.If anything, Im finding it harder than ever to pick up the rides, Im certainly not getting special treatment. Having been away in the winter, Im having to build up all my contacts again.Its so competitive out there, but having had a retainer and been freelance, I can say its easier with a retainer - you have a commitment and you are guaranteed rides. As a freelance you are left picking up the pieces.I have a commitment to Mick Channon and hes started the season in flying form, which is nice. After that, I just get whats left, being champion certainly isnt getting me more rides.Its nice to be champion, dont get me wrong, but it certainly hasnt changed anything - I still have to get up early in the morning and go to work. When I first came over to Europe from Brazil, I hadnt even dreamt about being champion, my first aim was just to get a few rides.When I then moved from Ireland to the north of England things began to pick up. I had a good relationship with David OMeara before he was the David OMeara we know he is today. I had two very good seasons with him.I then had a lot of support from Mark Johnston and I think hes been the biggest influence on my career. Despite having a lot of other jockeys to use, including the Godolphin boys, he still uses me when he can.It may not feel like spring given the snow this week, but the first Classics of the season really signal the beginning of the Flat campaign in earnest and although De Sousa is without a mount in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, he feels his ride in the fillies equivalent, William Knights Robanne, is not without each-way claims.I ride Robanne and shes not without a chance, said De Sousa.She ran really well in the Nell Gwyn and shes entitled to improve a lot for that, not much went right for her but she flew home. I think she deserves her place in the field, a mile should suit and Id be disappointed if she doesnt go close. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports Ethan Ampadu Jersey .J. -- Tom Coughlin doesnt have many options at halfback for the winless New York Giants. Blank Jersey .Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Willy-Caballero-Jersey/ . The Padres made the moves before Fridays game at Washington. They promoted infielder Jace Peterson from Double-A San Antonio and right-hander Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso. Michy Batshuayi Jersey . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Latvia won a four-man World Cup bobsled race Sunday, while the U. Eden Hazard Jersey . - PGA Tour rookie Tony Finau shot a 9-under 63 at Del Monte and had a two-stroke lead over Billy Andrade and Lee Janzen of the Champions Tour after Thursdays opening round of the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - There is no worse month on the baseball calendar than January. Yes, the Hall of Fame announcement comes and that is always good for some debate, but other than that ... nothing. And thats probably a good thing because with the newly formed College Football Playoff and the NFL postseason in full swing, baseball is really on the back burner in the sports pantheon. More so than usual, anyway. Regardless, it certainly makes for a boring time of the year if you are covering the sport. And while we still may be less than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, there are still some big questions that need to be answered. For instance ... WHERE IS MAX SCHERZER GOING TO WIND UP? This may have been the biggest question heading into the offseason and here we are on Jan. 14 and still have no idea how this is going to play out. The process was likely slowed by the notion floated from Scherzers agent, Scott Boras, that it could take up to $200 million to land the former AL Cy Young Award winner. Still and all, its probably the same teams you initially thought would be in the mix for Scherzer that are still in the running, despite statements from both the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers that they were no longer interested. Given Boras past relationship with the Washington Nationals, youd have to think they could be a factor. I thought all along he would wind up in the Bronx, but now I am not so sure. However, it is starting to sound like the Tigers could once again be a factor, which could then lead them to move David Price. And if that happens, it could be a wild few weeks. One team that may be laying in the weeds, though, is the St. Louis Cardinals. They normally dont delve into this type of contract, but it does make some sense. Scherzer is from St. Louis and the Cards have a ton of injury concerns in that rotation. Plus Jon Lester going to Chicago may have upped the ante for the Cardinals. WILL THE RED SOX ADD ANOTHER STARTER? Speaking of Lester, the Red Sox failed to re-sign him and have never really addressed the top of their rotation. And if they werent willing to go over $130 million or so for Lester, it makes zero sense to think theyd do it for Scherzer. Now the Red Sox added some depth to their rotation this winter, bringing in the likes of Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson. Its a nice group of No. 3 pitchers, but theres no real ace in the mix. Should Scherzer find his way back to Detroit, dont be surprised to see the Red Sox get involved in a potential Price blockbuster. Righty James Shields is still out there, too, and likely biding his time to offer his services to the losers of the Scherzer sweepstakes. WHO IS GOING TO PLAY SHORTSTOP FOR THE METS? Since the final game of the 2014 season, the New York Mets have been linked to almost every shortstop in the league. Yet here we are almost a month away from spring training and the odds-on favorite to be the teams Opening Day shortstop is once again either Wilmer Floores or Ruben Tejada.dddddddddddd A Troy Tulowitzki deal was probably always a pipe dream, but the Mets failed to land a Jed Lowrie or Asdrubal Cabrera. The fact they were in on Ben Zobrist last week tells you, though, that they are looking to fill that spot. There are some options left for them. Rafael Furcal is still available, but at age 37, is he any better an option than what the Mets have in-house? If the Mets do truly want a shortstop, why not just give the Toronto Blue Jays a call and ask about Jose Reyes? The wear and tear from that turf is robbing him of the thing that once made him so electric. The Mets have the pieces to get a deal done. Isnt it something to explore at least? Or maybe they do actually believe in Flores? ARE THE PHILLIES DONE WHEELING AND DEALING? One of the busier teams this offseason has been the Philadelphia Phillies. They finally cut ties with longtime shortstop Jimmy Rollins and may be ready to do the same with both Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard, especially the latter. Finding a taker for Hamels shouldnt be that hard, even with the $90 million- plus still owed to him. Hamels is an ace. Any team would want him. For the Phils, its a matter of what you are getting back. Like we mentioned earlier, the Red Sox are a team that could make a move, as well as a team like San Diego. Hamels is from San Diego and despite all the other moves they have made this offseason, the Padres probably still arent a playoff team in the NL. Getting Hamels would change that. Now the Phillies unloading Howard and his $50 million is a different story. The former NL MVP may not be as feared as he once was, but he still slugged 23 home runs and drove in 95 runs last year. However, he only hit .223 and struck out 190 times. Still, there could be a market for him, provided the Phils eat a ton of that salary. IS THE GAME GOING TO SPEED UP? The owners meetings are taking place this week in Arizona, the final ones presided over by outgoing commissioner Bud Selig, and the biggest topic on the agenda is the effort to speed up these games. Its probably unlikely that a pitch clock is going to be implemented anytime soon, but there could be some tweaks to speed up the game, particularly in regards to the replay process. Far too often last season, managers would take a nice little stroll out to an umpire and stay there until he got word from his dugout if he should challenge a play. One of the changes that could be made is that once a manager leaves the dugout, that automatically triggers his challenge. Another pace of play discussion will center around the experiment MLB used in the Arizona Fall League. A hitter was required to keep one foot in the batters box at all times with exceptions for foul balls, wild pitches and timeouts. With no current major league rule to deter hitters from stepping out of the box, they are free to stroll away after every pitch. With this rule, if a player leaves the box completely, he can be penalized with a strike. Ugh. Spring training cant come soon enough. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '