01-09-2020, 02:22 AM
JUPITER, Fla. China Jerseys Online . -- After spending years trying to find a quality shortstop, the St. Louis Cardinals now appear to have an excess. The Cardinals introduced their newest acquisition, Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz, on Monday. Within the organization, some have compared him to a young Derek Jeter. "He walks like him you can see some of that there," St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said. Diaz liked to heard that. "He thinks Derek Jeter is definitely the model ballplayer that everyone should look up to, that he looked up to in the opportunities that he had in Cuba to watch baseball games," said translator Moise Rodriguez, a team employee. "Hes a world-renowned baseball player that comes across as somebody thats a leader and somebody that everybody should try to be like." The Cardinals signed Diaz to a four-year deal over the weekend only months after signing current shortstop Jhonny Peralta, a two-time All-Star, to a free agent contract of the same length. Having Peralta will allow the Cardinals to take their time with the 23-year-old Diaz, who will begin this season in the minor leagues and likely be given a chance to learn multiple infield positions. "We plan on being patient with him," Mozeliak said. "He hasnt played baseball in, really, over a year and a half competitively. Its not something where were looking to have him put his fingerprints on the major league team tomorrow. We can give him time to develop and let him, from a talent standpoint, take his time to get back to where he was." Diaz defected from Cuba to Mexico in 2012. The Cardinals scouted Diaz in Mexico and worked him out earlier this spring at the Roger Dean Stadium complex. "I thought he did a lot of things well," said St. Louis manager Mike Matheny, who attended the Jupiter workout. "You are just looking at tools at that point. You can see that hes had some repetitions out there. He knows what hes doing. Swinging the bat, the ball jumped off. Just a guy that you could tell hes been around the game a while." Diaz hit .315 with 12 home runs in 270 at-bats during the 2011-12 season in Cuba. Mozeliak expects Diaz to continue to hit for average with gap power as a major leaguer. "Were very confident that he can be an offensive middle infielder, specifically a shortstop," Mozeliak said. Diaz went through practice with his new team before Mondays game against Detroit, but it will be some time before he appears in a major league spring training exhibition. Later this week, he will return to Mexico to finalize his work visa. Until that issue is cleared, Diaz can work out with the big league club but can only play in games on the back fields. "Its always been his dream to try and compete at the highest level in the world," Rodriguez said. "Obviously this represents that. Yeah, there are some challenges and difficulties. But for him, being able to come here and try to compete with the best in the world in the industry is something that hes always looked forward to doing." Don Wells Jersey Store . Called on from the college ranks to replace Andy Reid, Kelly implemented a whole new atmosphere in the City of Brotherly Love and now has the Eagles in the playoffs for the first time since 2010. China Jerseys NFL .com) - The Hatch Attack is back in the Southern Conference. https://www.chinacheapjerseys.net/lamont...sey-store/ . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best. RALEIGH, N.C. -- Ryan Kesler shut off the Carolina Hurricanes onslaught after an early second-period surge and put the Vancouver Canucks back in control. They maintained it for much of the final 40 minutes and skated off with a 3-2 road win on Sunday. Kesler capped a frenetic 37-second stretch early in the second period by scoring his second goal of the game that turned out to be the winner. The Hurricanes scored a pair of goals 10 seconds apart in the first 49 seconds of the second to tie the game. Kesler put the Canucks in front for good at 1:16. "We wanted to gain the momentum back, and theres no better way than scoring a goal," Kesler said. "Im happy that we got one there." Tom Sestito also scored for the Canucks, and Jason Garrison had two assists. Backup goalie Eddie Lack made 29 saves in place of Roberto Luongo to help Vancouver earn just its third win in 11 games. Keslers goal, scored 27 seconds after Carolina tied it, was set up after the Canucks won a number of scrums behind the net. Chris Higgins eventually emerged with the puck, and he shovelled it into the crease. Jannik Hansen deflected it to Kesler, who knocked it just across the goal line. It was only the third time in 11 games that Vancouver scored at least three goals. Jordan Staal and Nathan Gerbe had goals for Carolina. Cam Ward made 27 saves. The Hurricanes, who failed to score on six power plays against the NHLs best penalty-killing unit, have lost six of eight. "When you get a chance, the guys who are out there have to execute," Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. "If they cant execute, I guess weve got to start looking for other guys in our lineup and give them the opportunity. "Everyone runs the same plays. Its a matter of getting the job done, and do it at a higher tempo. . I dont know -- maybe some of our guys cant make the plays." One day after giving up two power-play goals in a 5-2 loss to the Rangers in New York, Vancouver was pleased with its penalty killers. During one stretch Sundaay, Carolina had 5:33 of consecutive time on the power play, including 27 seconds of a two-man advantage. Frank Nesser Jersey Store. "It was God awful yesterday afternoon, and really one of the few times it has been this year," Vancouver coach John Tortorella said. "But tonight it was outstanding." Vancouver rebounded and controlled much of the early play against the Hurricanes. The Canucks scored twice in the first period to build a 2-0 lead. The first goal came after Carolinas Drayson Bowman (boarding) and Mike Komisarek (delay of game) took penalties. Just 11 seconds after Vancouver went on a two-man advantage, Kesler converted on a rebound to Wards right at 3:24. With 4:12 left in the first, Garrison took a shot that Sestito deflected in off the post. Staal started the Hurricanes second-period comeback when he skated into the Vancouver zone and sent a wrist shot that hit Lack in the mask. Several Vancouver and Carolina players converged on the crease, and Staal followed up his rebound and poked the puck into the net at 39 seconds. After the Hurricanes won the ensuing faceoff, Justin Faulk connected with Eric Staal with a nice stretch pass. Lack stopped Staals one-handed backhand attempt, but Gerbe gathered the rebound and slapped the puck under Lack as the goalie fell into the net. It was the first time the Carolina franchise scored two goals in the first minute of a period since Nov. 1, 1987 when they were the Hartford Whalers. Lack relieved Luongo 17 seconds into the second period on Saturday, after Luongo allowed three Rangers goals on only 10 shots, and stopped 12 of 14 New York attempts. NOTES: Hansen left the game in the first period with an apparent right shoulder injury, but he returned in the second period. ... It was the first time Vancouvers Alex Edler and Carolinas Eric Staal played against each other since Edler hurt Staal in the world championships last summer with a knee-on-knee hit. ... Carolina defenceman Andrej Sekera missed the game because of an upper body injury. ' ' '