Dein erstes Forum » Jim Tomsula clearly is the right man to lead this team

WASHINGTON - Infielder Yunel Escobar is heading to the Nationals, and All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard is going to the Athletics, thanks to the ninth deal between those clubs in a little more than four years. Rickey Henderson Jersey . The swap, announced Wednesday, gives Washington a player who could solve its search for a starting second baseman. Escobar could wind up at shortstop for the Nationals if they wind up trading away — or fail to agree to a new contract with — Ian Desmond, who can become a free agent after next season. The As just picked up Escobar from Tampa Bay, along with Ben Zobrist, in a trade Saturday that sent catcher John Jaso and two minor leaguers to the Rays. Among the players who have been part of the Oakland-Washington pipeline since December 2010 as As general manager Billy Beane and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo strike deal after deal: Gio Gonzalez, Josh Willingham, Kurt Suzuki, Jerry Blevins, Tommy Milone and Derek Norris. Beanes been busy reconfiguring Oaklands roster lately, making eight trades involving more than 20 players since the As lost in the AL wild-card game. The 32-year-old Escobar hit .258 with seven homers and 39 RBIs for Tampa Bay last season. He has played eight years in the majors, including with Atlanta and Toronto, mostly at shortstop. Escobar did start 20 games at second base for the Braves in 2007. Escobar was suspended for three games in 2012 for wearing eye black displaying an anti-gay slur while playing for the Blue Jays. The right-handed Clippard, Washingtons eighth-inning setup man, went 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 75 appearances in 2014. He was an NL All-Star in 2011 and 2014. On Twitter, Clippard wrote: Would love to take this opportunity to thank all the #nats fans. ... I loved every second of my time in DC, through the ups and downs the good and bad, every second was wonderful. Thanks forever Nats Nation! The 29-year-old is 37-25 with a 2.88 ERA and 34 saves in eight big league seasons, one with the New York Yankees and the last seven with the Nationals. He is the only reliever to pitch in more than 70 games each of the past five seasons. The As already have an All-Star closer in left-hander Sean Doolittle, who saved 22 games last season. Adding Clippard fills the void left by the departure of Luke Gregerson, who signed with Houston as a free agent, and gives Oakland a late-inning lefty-righty combination. With Escobar leaving before playing an inning in Oakland, Marcus Semien — acquired in the December deal that sent starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox — probably will take over at shortstop instead of being used in a utility role. The Nationals, meanwhile, will need to figure out who will be their main setup man in place of Clippard, a key cog in their runs to NL East titles in 2012 and 2014. In a swap of minor leaguers earlier Wednesday, the Nationals acquired catcher Dan Butler from the Boston Red Sox for left-hander Danny Rosenbaum, who had Tommy John surgery in May. ___ AP Sports Writers Janie McCauley and Josh Dubow contributed to this report. Brian Downing Jersey .Y. - Alex Rodriguez paid $305,000 for evidence that could be used in the case involving the Biogenesis of America drug clinic, the Daily News reported Saturday. Tommy La Stella Angels Jersey . He is nigh unstoppable against the leagues worst. The 31-year-old dangerman set up two goals and scored two himself as Toronto FC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the slumping Houston Dynamo 4-2 on Saturday night. https://www.cheapangels.com/2033j-matt-thaiss-jersey-angels.html . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51.SAN FRANCISCO - Jim Tomsula made his modest head coaching start in NFL Europe, then landed as the 49ers top man nearly a decade later.San Francisco promoted its longtime defensive line coach to head coach Wednesday, going with a familiar face following a national search that took more than two weeks and ended right in house.The well-liked Tomsula is set to be formally introduced Thursday in a news conference at Levis Stadium.Im a football coach. Im Jim nobody from nowhere, Tomsula said in 2010.Tomsula replaces Jim Harbaugh, who parted ways with the Niners on Dec. 28 in what the team called a mutual decision. Harbaugh was introduced as Michigans new coach two days later following a successful four-year stint during which the 49ers reached three straight NFC championship games and a Super Bowl.After conducting a thorough coaching search, and meeting with a number of outstanding candidates, Jim Tomsula clearly is the right man to lead this team, CEO Jed York said in a statement. Jim is a great teacher and a tremendous mentor who conducts himself with great class and integrity.San Francisco went 8-8 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in four years since Harbaugh arrived in January 2011, and the franchise is turning to a familiar face to get the Niners back on track to chase a sixth championship.York said a day after the season ended he wanted to find a teacher to lead the franchise forward. Certainly a coach familiar with the operation was important as the 49ers build around quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is coming off a disappointing year.I love my guys, Tomsula said in a long sit-down with The Associated Press leading up to last season. I have the best guys. They are just awesome guys from top to bottom.With the 46-year-old Tomsulas hiring, it is expected that defensive co-ordinator Vic Fangio and other coaches will depart given he wasnt chosen for the top job and got leapfrogged by Tomsula.Our organization is excited to have Jim Tomsula leading this football team, general manager Trent Baalke said. We have had the privilege of working alongside Jim for the past eight seasons. He is a proven leader, teacher and mentor, and we look forward to seeing him apply his craft and vision to our team.From one energetic, animated Jim to another leading the way.Extremely happy for Jimmy T! Cant wait to get back at it! safety Eric Reid posted on Twitter.In the early 90s, Tomsula worked as a sales rep for a medical equipment company, then delivered newspapers and worked as a nightt janitor and cut firewood to earn extra cash in his early coaching days with a young family. Los Angeles Angels Pro Shop. .Its a good move. I look forward to fighting for Jim Tomsula, said tight end Vernon Davis, who is a neighbour of Tomsulas — their kids play on the same flag football team. Tomsula, just the energy that he provides during the games and having a relationship with him, I can tell that (for) players, hes one of those coaches players wouldnt mind playing for. Just his spirit. Hes a good guy and a terrific coach. Hell allow you to go out and do whatever you can do. Hell put each and every individual in place to perform at a high level.Tomsula is a perfect 1-0 as a head coach.Serving a single-game stint as interim head coach to end the 2010 season following Mike Singletarys firing, the coach who attended tiny Catawba College in North Carolina chose to start Alex Smith under centre over Troy Smith for a 38-7 win against Arizona in the season finale.Were going to win. Let me make that clear, Tomsula said at the time. That was something we talked about this morning. Jeds made that very clear. Trent Baalkes made it very clear — very, very crystal clear.Harbaugh was hired a couple of weeks later on a $25 million, five-year deal and quickly began a transformation of a team that had gone eight years without a winning record or playoff berth.Now, if anybody might be able to persuade defensive lineman Justin Smith to return for another season after 14 years in the NFL, it might be his old position coach.Tomsula could be a strong influence on running back Frank Gore returning, too.Guiding Kaepernick will be a big part of the process.The 49ers offence was inconsistent behind Kaepernick, who completed a second full season as starter that featured too many mistakes and missed opportunities. Harbaugh promoted him over Alex Smith in November 2012, and the 49ers fell short of a Super Bowl championship after that season, losing by three points to Baltimore.Its up to us to make sure we compete for and win Super Bowls. Thats our only goal, York said. We dont raise division championships banners. We dont raise NFC Championship banners. We raise Super Bowl banners.Tomsula will be challenged to get far more production out of an offence that struggled to score points in the second half last season. San Francisco managed only 37 points after halftime in nine games going into its 20-17 victory in the regular-season finale against Arizona.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '