s 3-1. ... The Clippers 14 first-quarter | Forum

There are just 17 days left in the Major League season, yet nine of the 15 teams in the American League are still alive for possible postseason berths. Aaron Ekblad Panthers Jersey . Of those nine, Boston and Detroit are the only ones that appear to be locks, with the division leads they have in the East and the Central. At this moment, the two coldest teams in the A.L. are holding the two Wild Card slots. Texas holds the first sitting two games up on Tampa Bay. Then you have four teams bunched within two and a half games of the Rays and that second Wild Card position. Texas has dropped four series in a row though, and opens a criticial three-game set at home on Friday night against an Oakland As team that they trail by three and a half games in the West. The Yanks for all their injuries, are just one game back of the Rays heading into a gigantic series at Fenway Park in Boston against the East-leading Red Sox. Its the final series between these two teams this season. Cleveland is just one-and-a-half back of the Rays as they continue their four-game set against the lowly White Sox at Chicago. Kansas City and Baltimore are in a more precarious position, tied two-and-a-half games back of Tampa Bay. The Royals are at Detroit for three this week, while the Orioles are visiting the Blue Jays. The Rays have dropped 13 of their last 18, but after a dramatic 4-3 win at home against the Red Sox Thursday night, they have a chance to build some momentum and breathing room with a three-game set at Minnesota this weekend. Still, its not beyond the realm of possibility that both Texas and Tampa might let those Wild Card spots slip away, or have them taken away. The team to watch is Cleveland. Yes, their ace right hander Justin Masterson is still recovering from a strained left oblique muscle, and there is no definitive word on when he is going to return. Having said that, Cleveland is already 7-4 in September and has the most inviting schedule of any of the teams still in the race. 13 of their remaining 16 games are against teams with sub-.500 records including six against the White Sox. The "Tribe" has already gone 12-2 this season against Chicago. The only contender Cleveland plays is Kansas City in a three-game road set next week. The Royals schedule isnt nearly as kind. In addition to Cleveland, they have three with Detroit and three with Texas. They also close out the season with seven straight on the road, albeit against Seattle and the White Sox. Baltimore has the most difficult schedule down the stretch. All 16 of its games are against the East, including six against Boston and four with Tampa Bay. The Blue Jays could figure in here as well since they have six left against the Os. The Yankees schedule at least gives them a chance, if they dont get wiped out in Boston this weekend or stumble at home in the final week against the Rays. They have a three-game set at Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays next week and then follow that up with a three-game home set against the San Francisco Giants. The Yanks close out the campaign on the road with a soft touch four games at Houston. Bottom line, if Texas and Tammpa Bay continue to falter, my picks to get in are the Yankees and Cleveland. The Yanks have yet another major injury concern though. Brett Gardner, their table-setting, speedy leadoff hitter strained an oblique muscle on a checked swing Thursday night in Baltimore. If hes out any length of time, the Yanks offence could start to sputter. If Cleveland can somehow get in and get by the sudden-death Wild Card match-up, they would face Boston in the ALDS, which would pit Terry Francona, the former Red Sox manager who led them to two World Series victories, going up against his old pitching coach and the man who replaced him, former Jays skipper John Farrell. What a series that would be! Remember back in 1992, when Dave Winfield encouraged Jays fans to be more boisterous, and the "Winfield wants Noise" mantra was born? Well something similar happened in Cleveland this week. Michael Bourn was quoted in the Cleveland Plain Dealer as asking for more fan support, period. Said Bourn, "wed like to be supported a little bit more, if we could." Who could blame him for the impassioned plea? Cleveland is coming off a 5-4 homestand and had the two smallest September crowds ever at Progressive Field - 9,794 and 9,962. Their largest crowd of the homestand was just 21,453. On the season, Cleveland has only drawn 1,426,120 or 19,536 per game. Thats pretty sad for a team that could be going to the Playoffs. Only Houston and Tampa Bay have drawn less, and the Rays are further disgraced by having the lowest attendance of all in the Majors. On Thursday night at Tropicana Field with a top notch match-up with the Red Sox and so much at stake, the Rays only drew 20,360. Its no wonder there are rumblings of relocating the Rays, maybe even to Montreal. But thats a story for another day. Shawn Thornton Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Jonathan Huberdeau Panthers Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. http://www.panthersfansstore.com/Dave-Bolland-Jersey/ . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. PORTLAND, Ore. -- LaMarcus Aldridge wasnt even sure he was going to play against the Clippers. Portlands top scorer and rebounder had his wisdom teeth removed on Sunday. So on Thursday night he was still in some pain. Worse, he hadnt had much to eat. But Aldridge came out and had 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers in a 116-112 overtime victory over the Clippers. "Ive had nothing but soup for the last four days," he lamented. "So I was a little worried about my energy levels." In the end, he didnt even have a turnover as the surprising Blazers upped their record to an NBA-best 24-5. Portland has won seven of their last eight games, and theyve dropped just two at home this season. The Clippers, playing the second of a back-to-back, mounted a challenge after trailing by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter. Blake Griffin had 35 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Paul finished with 34 points and 16 assists. Aldridge hit a fadeaway with 39 seconds left in overtime and Portland went ahead 110-109. Griffin missed a layup on the other end before Nicolas Batum made a pair of free throws to make it 112-109 with 26.5 seconds to go. After Griffin dunked to narrow it again, Damian Lillard made two free throws for Portland. Portland clung to a 114-112 lead with 13.4 seconds left and padded it with Wesley Matthews foul shots. Paul missed a 3-point attempt as time ran out. Aldridge scored all of Portlands field goals in overtime, and finished with his ninth game this season with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds, second only to Minnesotas Kevin Love. As for his teeth? "Its a little bit throbbing," he shrugged. It was the second of back-to-back losses for the Clippers. Earlier Thursday, the NBA said its referees made a mistake when they ejected Griffin in the teams 105-103 loss to the Warriors on Wednesday night. Griffin got his second technical with 10:43 left after scuffling with Andrew Bogut, following Warriors forward Draymond Green to the showers after they got into it at the end of the third. "A common foul should have been called on Griffin for initially attempting to dislodge the Warriors Andrew Bogut and a technical foul should have been asssessed to Bogut for grabbing Griffin by the shirt and wrestling with him," Rod Thorn, the NBAs president of basketball operations, said in a statement. Reilly Smith Jersey. Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he thought Griffin handled the situation well. "Everyone is a target at some point in their career," Rivers said. "You just have to play through it." It was the second ejection for the Clippers in as many games. Forward Matt Barnes was ejected with 56 seconds left in the third quarter of a 120-116 OT win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. Barnes fouled Love. "Its a long season. Were in a bad ejection rut right now," Rivers said. "Well get out of it." No one got tossed on Thursday. Mo Williams made back-to-back 3s to give Portland a 34-22 in the first half. The Clippers responded with a 9-0 run to close to 34-31, but Aldridge scored six straight points in an 8-2 run and Portland stretched the margin to 42-33. Pauls 3-pointer closed the Clippers to within 47-46 at the intermission. Dorell Wright hit a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers an 84-75 lead early in the fourth quarter. But the Clippers clawed back in, and Pauls pull-up jumper made it 97-96 for Los Angeles first lead of the second half. After Aldridges tip-in, Paul added another jumper to give the Clippers a 99-98 lead then nailed a step-back 21-footer from the corner with 9.3 seconds left. Undaunted, Batum hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 101 with 5.3 seconds to go. Paul missed a 17-footer to send the game into overtime. "I got right where I wanted to -- I probably tricked myself too much, I dont even know if they had a foul to give," Paul said. "And with five seconds left I think I went a little too quick because I thought they were going to try and use one of their fouls. I didnt think I would end up as wide open as I was -- Ive got to make that shot. " Notes: The game was the first of three meetings between the two teams this season. The Clippers claimed last seasons series 3-1. ... The Clippers 14 first-quarter points are the fewest theyve scored in the first quarter. ... DeAndre Jordan finished with 19 rebounds before fouling out in overtime. ... Barnes also fouled out in OT. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Auston Matthews Jersey ' ' '