ekansekans's blog: "df"

TORONTO -- The planets have yet to align for Toronto FC this season. Andrew Luck White Jersey . News that captain Torsten Frings is ready to return from a hamstring strain was tempered Friday by the sight of Dutch striker Danny Koevermans watching practice from the sidelines. The big Dutch striker is nursing a groin issue that flared up Thursday. It does not seem major but with a record of 0-5-0, outscored 10-2, yet to score at home or even hold a lead, Toronto needs all its offensive weapons as it entertains the Chicago Fire (1-1-2). "I hope (Saturday) he can play, but I think not," said manager Aron Winter. Forward Nick Soolsma, one of Torontos best players this season, also did not train with the team. He worked out on his own, looking to rehab a hamstring issue that kept him out last week. Frings knows the team cant afford to squander any more points. "(Saturday) we need the points, its very important to us," the former German international said in his now weekly meeting with reporters (no video or stills). "This may be the last chance for the playoffs." Thats an ominous note for a franchise that in its sixth year is still looking for its first taste of the post-season. Winter, in his second year at the helm, has essentially staked his reputation on making the playoffs. On the surface, hes not feeling the heat. As composed as ever, Winter predicted the points drought will end this weekend. "We worked hard this week," he told reporters. "Weve got a lot of confidence and faith in a good result (Saturday)." The offensive load will fall on the shoulders of Jamaican international Ryan Johnson, who has suffered a run of bad luck in front of goal. He could have had a hat trick in last weeks 1-0 loss to Chivas USA only to see his efforts stymied by the goalie, goalpost or defender. A talented forward who wears his heart on his sleeve, Johnson has been feeling his recent misses. On his fourth team in his sixth MLS season, he knows that chances need to be taken, or else management will look elsewhere for someone to convert them. Others may shrug off a run of bad luck. Johnson wears it like a prickly wool sweater. He has a backer in Frings, who talks like he plays -- no nonsense and to the point. And he sees goals coming from Johnson. "He scored today in training," Frings said. "He had a good feeling. I think (Saturday) we score some goals." And Winter, the eternal optimist, believes that the next Toronto goal will open the scoring floodgates. "For sure, 100 per cent," he said. For that to happen, Toronto needs to sharpen its skills in front of goal. Toronto is tied for ninth in the league in shots (68) but stands only 17th in shots on goal (17). That may explain why it is 19th -- worst in the league -- in goals scored (2). Winter has his team practise set plays Friday, perhaps with an eye to its inability to produce off them. Toronto is tied for second in the league when it comes to corners (37). In practice Friday, Johnson was flanked by Joao Plata and Reggie Lambe with Erica Avila in the pocket. Frings quarterbacked a three-man backline featuring Adrian Cann and Richard Eckersley in front of Milos Kocic. Terry Dunfield and Julian de Guzman swapped positions in a midfield that also included youngsters Ashtone Morgan and Matt Stinson. Frings will marshall the defence but also plays a role in attack, starting the ball down the other end of the field and from his set play deliveries. "A big boost for the team," Eckersley said of the Germans return to action. "Hes our captain, hes our leader." "An important role model in our team," added Lambe. It speaks volumes about Frings that TFC has been lost without him, even when he was playing out of position when he was on the pitch. "Im a midfield player but I think its what is important for the team ... in this moment, for my opinion, its better if I play in the backline," Frings said. Frings returns one week after Cann, who had been sidelined since last May with a knee injury. "Theyre massive boosts for the team,"said Eckersley. "Its what we needed." Winter said the team missed Frings leadership as much as his "soccer qualities." Eckersley said Frings sets the tone. "I think it helps everyone around him. Hes composed on the ball. If someones composed on the ball next to you, you feel relaxed." Winter acknowledged that he didnt expect the void left by Frings absence to be as big as it was. He had hoped some of his other experience players would have soaked up their time spent with Frings on the pitch and stepped up to take up the slack. "But in the end, it wasnt like this," he said. The whole team has struggled defensively so there are plenty of people to point fingers at. But Winter looked to de Guzman and Dunfield to do the business in Fringss absence. Both have struggled, with their poor interplay leading directly to a goal in the loss in Montreal. So in Torontos marquee designated player ladder, Frings is back in and Koevermans is probably out this week. De Guzman has become a question mark. He did not get off the bench last week, rendering him one of the highest-paid spectators at BMO Field -- next to Frings, put on the bench by Winter to boost the team. De Guzman said all the right things Friday, pulling out a few cliches while calling the Chicago contest "probably the most important game of the season." Still the 31-year-old midfielder seems frustrated and confused at how he has been handled this season. Asked if he knows what his role is with the club these days, he paused and laughed. "Its to be a professional soccer player. And be available as much as possible, to continue to give it my best no matter what the case it, no matter what I get paid, no matter if Im a veteran or not. "It just comes down to being a professional soccer player. Thats my job, thats what I do. Thats what I wake up and enjoy every day of my life." He says he still enjoys the work. Sitting on the bench is clearly not part of his job vision, however. NOTES -- The Fire will be without newly re-acquired striker Chris Rolfe (ankle) ... Frings and Fire defender Arne Friedrich have 181 caps for Germany between them. Andrew Luck Jersey . Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel preserved his sides clean sheet with a leaping catch of a shot by Martin Skrtel in the 54th minute. Brad Jones played the first half in goal for Liverpool and Peter Gulacsi took over after halftime. Andrew Luck Pink Jersey . -- Jamaal Charles took a solid hit to the left knee on his very first carry, then bounced right up and helped the Kansas City Chiefs score touchdowns on their first two possessions en route to a 27-17 preseason victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Friday night. http://www.proshopindianapoliscolts.com/andrew-luck-jersey . Murray, 61, was fired in December by the Los Angeles Kings, who went on to win the Stanley Cup under the direction of Darryl Sutter. Samson Satele Jersey . Hammel pitched eight innings of five-hit ball and had a career high-tying 10 strikeouts to lead the Orioles past the Washington Nationals 2-1 on Friday night. Coming off a one-hit shutout against Atlanta, Hammel (8-2) allowed an unearned run in improving to 5-0 lifetime against Washington. Vick Ballard Jersey .C. -- Sprint Cup points leader Greg Biffle feels hes running like he used to at Darlington Raceway and thats bad news for the rest of the Southern 500 field. DENVER -- Coco Crisp started the rally and Brandon Inge put the finishing touch on it. Inge hit a two-out, two-run double in the ninth after Crisp scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly, sliding into home to avoid a sweeping tag by catcher Wilin Rosario, and the Oakland Athletics rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 10-8 Wednesday night. Todd Helton hit a grand slam and Michael Cuddyer had two homers for the Rockies, who lost their season-high seventh straight. "We battled our way back, close enough to where we had a chance in the ninth," As manager Bob Melvin said. "Coco gets on and creates a little havoc on the bases. Next thing you know, we have a ball in the corner and weve got two more runs." Down 8-7, Crisp singled off Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt (1-2) leading off the ninth. Jemile Woods moved Crisp to second with a sacrifice, and Crisp stole third before scoring the tying run on Collin Cowgills sacrifice fly. He slipped across home plate just ahead of the throw from right-fielder Cuddyer. Seth Smith, a former Rockies player who homered earlier in the game, then hit a two-out double. Josh Reddick, hitting for reliever Jerry Blevins (1-0), was walked intentionally and Inge followed by lashing a double down the left-field line to drop the Rockies to 0-8 in interleague play this season. "Weve got a bunch of grinders," Smith said. "Regardless of where we are, who were playing, were in it till the end." Betancourt, in his first full season as the Rockies closer, blew his second save in 12 chances. "I dont think I made good pitches," Betancourt said. "Ive been through a lot of these games and theres nothing you can do about it. All you can do is come back tomorrow, because Im going to keep pitching, but its not good a feeling." Helton said the loss was a tough one during an especially tough time for the Rockies. "We can react one of two ways," he said. "We can put our heads down and feel sorry for ourselves or we can come out tomorrow ready to play. Hopefully, we do the latter. Its gut-check time, time to see what were made of." Ryan Cook allowed Cuddyers leadoff single -- his fourth hit -- in the bottom of the ninth before getting three outs -- the first two on a double play -- for his second save in three chances. Colorados Marco Scutaro also tied a career bbest with four hits in a game in which the teams combined for 23 hits, including six home runs. T.Y. Hilton Jersey. . Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was back in the lineup for the first time since straining his left hamstring last Thursday against Texas but he apparently aggravated the injury running out a grounder in the top of the first. He played left field in the bottom half of the first before being replaced in the field in the second by Jonny Gomes. Cespedes is considered day to day. Trailing by three, the As narrowed the deficit when Gomes led off the sixth by homering off reliever Adam Ottovino. They pulled within one run in the seventh when Cliff Pennington reached on shortstop Scutaros errant throw to first and came around to score on Cowgills RBI single. Colorado rebuilt its lead to 8-5 in the bottom of the fourth when Cuddyer connected for a second time off Tommy Milone, who moved up a spot in the rotation to pitch in place of injured Brandon McCarthy. The two-run drive gave Cuddyer his first multihomer game since signing with the Rockies in the off-season. The As pulled to 6-5 in the fourth, getting an RBI single from Inge and a two-run drive from Brandon Moss, his third homer in two games. Smith, a former Rockie who was sent to Oakland as part of the off-season trade bringing Josh Outman to Colorado, put the As in front 2-0 in the first when he followed Cowgills single with his sixth homer of a season. The Rockies came right back in the bottom of the first, capped by Heltons seventh career slam and second this season. Cuddyer hit his first homer in the second to give the Rockies a 6-2 lead. NOTES: Milone allowed eight runs on seven hits in four innings. ... Outman went five innings and allowed five runs on six hits. ... Troy Tulowitzkis rehab program was put on hold Wednesday after the Colorado Rockies shortstop aggravated a left groin strain that has sidelined him for the last two weeks. Team officials say no decision has been made on when Tulowitzki will resume his rehab work. ... The Rockies have hit five grand slams this season, tying the New York Yankees for the most in the major leagues. ... Since being recalled by the As from Triple-A Sacramento a week ago, Moss has five hits, four of them home runs. ... Cuddyers multihomer game was the seventh of his career and first since last Aug. 3 against the Los Angeles Angels while with Minnesota. ' ' '