Offtopic/fun » finale when Wells laced an R

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have made some changes, significant and subtle, under first-year general manager Bob Quinn.Were starting to act like a winning organization that brings in millions and billions of dollars, receiver Golden Tate said.You would think we would have the top of the line of everything. Im not going to say this is why were going to win games, but we all notice it and appreciate it and those little things add up.When youre taking care of your body, I think it helps, but well see.The Lions hired strength and conditioning coach, Harold Nash Jr., away from the New England Patriots and revamped the space he trains players. They added a dietitian, Sarah Snyder, and seem to be serving up more quality in the cafeteria.The food is a lot better, Tate said. There are more choices, especially in camp. If youre trying to gain weight, theres a way. Sarah displays a `lean plate, and a `gain plate, showing what to eat if youre trying to do one or the other.Tate said when he wanted a massage last season, he usually had to leave team headquarters and pay for the service to soothe his aches and pains.Not anymore.Massages, for free, are made available for players who want them.The Lions have new carpet in their locker room, some new lockers to help them spread out along with added decorative touches toward the ceiling. And when their cleats and gloves are soaked with sweat, a drying system airs them out.Visitors to the facility used to be able to walk through the lobby and down a hallway alongside the indoor practice field and catch a glimpse of a workout or practice.Not anymore.The windows have been mostly filled with decals and tinting, making it almost impossible to see anything.When reporters have access to a limited part of practice, they are required to sit or stand in bleachers instead of being able to roam around the field.Whatever information you dont have to give, you dont give it up, safety Tavon Wilson, who played for the Patriots the previous four years, said Wednesday.The Lions are coming off a 7-9 season, their 13th losing record in 15 years, and Quinn hopes the changes will encourage players to work harder and longer to help the team win.They made their biggest move in the offseason, hiring Quinn, hoping he could bring some of what he learned with the Patriots.He was New Englands director of pro scouting for four seasons after serving as assistant director of pro personnel for two years.He was part of the franchises personnel department for 16 years, working as a national, regional and pro scout and player personnel assistant as the Patriots won four Super Bowls under Bill Belichick.We had a good talk on the phone when I got here, said receiver and returner Jeremy Kerley, who signed with the Quinn-led Lions after playing for the New York Jets.He has been around a winning program in New England, so he knows what he is doing. His style is very strategic and he puts guys in the right place to be successful.Lions coach Jim Caldwell, who was retained by Quinn in his first major decision, said the improvements with the strength and conditioning program can make an instant impact. The tweaks to the nutrition program, meanwhile, he believes will be a benefit in the near future.It takes a little bit of time for you to really assess the positive nature of it, but certainly we understand it and know that its scientific, Caldwell said. Its a fact that it will help you and I think most of our guys are buying into it, which is good.---Online:AP NFL websites: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLPittsburgh Pirates Store .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Stitched Pirates Jerseys . 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DENVER -- CC Sabathia was rolling along until rain ruined his day. The New York Yankees lefty had his good stuff going on this dreary afternoon. But the weather did what the Rockies couldnt -- knock him out of the game. No matter, his bullpen filled in just fine. Sabathia and five relievers held Colorado to four hits, Robinson Cano cracked a solo homer and the Yankees beat the Rockies 3-1 on Thursday in a game that was delayed more than two hours by rain. "I was just disappointed," Sabathia said. That he didnt pitch more than four innings because of the weather? "That I didnt get any more at-bats," said Sabathia, who was 0 for 2 at the plate with two strikeouts. "Horrible. Im sure my son will be all over me. Im scared to go home." Sabathia tried everything to stay loose during a delay that lasted 1:59, just in case the storm clouds quickly moved out of the area. He even made some tosses in the batting cage. Eventually, the storm did pass, but it was too long a layoff to send him back out to the mound. The first pitch also was delayed by wet weather, for 8 minutes. Sabathia was just finding his stride when the skies opened up, too. Mixing in a 91 mph four-seam fastball with a stealthy slider, he retired 11 straight after giving up a single to Troy Tulowitzki in the first inning. A stream of relievers picked up where Sabathia left off. Adam Warren (1-0) earned his first big league win by getting five big outs after the rain delay. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth to remain perfect in 13 save chances. Now, if only Warren could locate that final baseball. It would make a nice memento. "Working on that," he said. "Its pretty neat." This was a series dominated by pitching, a departure from the reputation Coors Field has earned over the years. The Yankees outscored the Rockies 6-5 -- pretty much a typical one-game score in this park -- as they took two of three. "Its crazy," Sabathia said. "Its just good pitching. Just one of those things." Cano had a memorable afternoon that included an infield single in the third for his 1,500th hit. He also hit the 186th homer of his career, moving past Paul ONeill for sole possession of 17th place on the franchise list. "The biggest thing today was the win," Cano said. "You want to win games and be able to help the team, get on base, and it was just a good win." Jeff Francis (1-3) threw four innings and gave up two runs before rain forced the umpires to signal for the tarp. The lefty didnt return when play resumed. "Its hard to get frustrated with the weather. You just have no control over that," Francis said. "Its the same for both teams. Something happens and you try to make thhe best of it.dddddddddddd "Theyre a good team, but we expected more out of ourselves this series." Vernon Wells had an RBI single in the first for New York and Chris Stewart drove in another run on a sacrifice fly. Tulowitzki was back in the lineup after missing the previous two days with soreness in his legs. He wasnt in his customary cleanup spot but hit No. 3 in the order as manager Walt Weiss elected to flip-flop the All-Star shortstop and Carlos Gonzalez against the left-handed Sabathia. Tulowitzki was 1 for 3 with a walk, while Gonzalez wound up 0 for 3 and struck out twice. Gonzalez drove in the Rockies lone run with a sacrifice fly in the first. "Our pitching was outstanding. Offense was definitely subpar," Weiss said. "Not acceptable." New York took the lead for good in the fourth when Stewarts sac fly brought home Chris Nelson, the former Rockies infielder who led off the inning with a double. Cano added his team-high ninth homer an inning later. Colorado tied it in the second when Dexter Fowler beat the throw home on Gonzalezs sacrifice fly to left. Fowler eluded Stewarts tag just long enough to reach his hand around the catchers shin guards and touch home plate. Stewart was a little upset over the call, thinking he applied the tag in time. Yankees manager Joe Girardi came out of the dugout to briefly argue with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi. Cuzzi also was involved in a close play at first base in the ninth inning Wednesday, when he ruled Brennan Boesch safe on an infield single that brought in the go-ahead run during the Yankees 3-2 win. New York jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the series finale when Wells laced an RBI single to right. Wells also had a productive game the night before when he hit a two-run homer, scored the go-ahead run in the ninth and then filled in at third base for the first time in his big league career. Rest assured, Wells isnt planning a position change after playing flawless third base. But if the occasion should arise again, he would gladly take over at the hot corner. "I take ground balls everywhere, so Im ready for anything," Wells said. NOTES: New York SS Eduardo Nunez (left ribcage tightness) said he hopes to play on Friday. ... Yankees OF Curtis Granderson (broken right wrist) was to begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... Sabathia threw 51 pitches, breaking a string of 13 straight starts in which he reached the 100-pitch mark. ... Weiss was asked if he thought Riveras strike zone seemed to expand in the ninth Wednesday. "Im not allowed to comment on those things, am I?" he said. "Im a little green in this position, but Im smart enough to know that one." ' ' '