MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers signed free-agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez to a $3. Joc Pederson Jersey .25 million, one-year contract Friday. Rodriguez is 41-36 with a 2.70 ERA and 304 saves in 730 relief appearances with the Angels, Mets, Brewers and Orioles. K-Rod could earn another $550,000 in bonuses. The contract includes a $100,000 bonus for 55 innings pitched and incentives for games finished: $50,000 each for 15 and 20 games; $75,000 for 25 and 30 games; and $100,000 each for 35 and 40 games. Rodriguezs 62 saves with the Angels in 2008 are a single-season record and his 304 career saves are tied for 21st all-time with Jeff Montgomery. He should start the season as a setup man for Jim Henderson. To make room for Rodriguez on the 40-man roster, the Brewers designated right-handed pitcher Donovan Hand for assignment. Brandon McCarthy Jersey . They probably ruined Tim Duncans hopes of a career change, though. Duncan wants to be a point guard, coach Gregg Popovich revealed Saturday, a wish that wont be granted. Sandy Koufax Jersey . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss the NBA of Canada, New York broadcasters, Milwaukee Brewers fans and Johnny Manziel. Bruce Arthur, National Post My thumb is down to the National Basketball League of Canada, a nine-team minor league that is emphasizing the minor league, of late. Before a playoff game 7 this week between the Windsor Express and the London Lightning, Windsor owner and apparent local goofball Darton Willis ejected London Free Press columnist Morris Della Costa because he disapproved of his work, which in this case included tweeting about a Windsor player flipping off some fans. Commissioner Paul Riley cited his own experience as a journalism professor while siding with the owner, which should be taught in introduction to irony 101. If these maroons were trying to get their minor league some attention, ok, it worked. But this is what we learned: if this is how you treat the people who pay attention to you now, why should the rest of us bother? Dave Naylor, TSN My thumb is down to the trio of broadcasters at WFAN in New York, who this week criticized the Mets Daniel Murphy for missing the first two games of the Major League Baseball season so that he could be with his wife for the birth of their son, Noah. First a little perspective here folks; Daniel murphy played 161 games last season for New York, so it doesnt appear as if hes a slacker. Even if you happen to believe that a trio of baseball games is more important that being present for your childs birth - guess what - its a right the players collectively bargained. Can we all just admit that professioonal sports is the only place where anyone can be criticized for missing work to be there for the birth of a child. Yasmani Grandal Jersey. And really, for those of us who love pro sports, thats kind of pathetic. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated My thumb is down to the standing ovation brewers fans gave Ryan Braun at Milwaukees home opener. I get it. Sports, like politics, are local. Hey, Braun might be a drug cheat and liar, but hes our drug cheat and liar. But even after serving his 65-game suspension and kissing up with apologies to season ticket holders, Braun hardly seemed worthy of a love-in. In cowardly fashion, he tried to slough off a positive test on a urine sample collector. He attempted to cover his drug shame by implying he was a victim of anti-Semitism. Fans are free to choose their heroes, Milwaukee should have chosen more wisely. Dave Hodge, TSN My thumb is up to the legend of Johnny Manziel - yes, hes already a legend, perhaps too soon, so Ill stop short of saying thumbs up to Johnny Football himself. Yes, Johnny Football, or J-man or JFF, as he wants to be called if youre buying apparel with those trademarks that hes seeking. J-man, I would have thought Jay Onrait would have beaten him to that, and JFF is either just for fun or Johnny-freaking-football, Im not sure. But we love stories like his in this business, and so we look forward to the NFL draft primarily because of him. The team that picks him suddenly becomes more interesting, no matter how interesting it might be already, and it will have to inform Manziel that hes a rookie and he has veteran teammates, who wont necessarily like him as much as the media does. 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 ' ' '
