Die Macht » I was the biggest Sidney Crosby fan growing up.

BOSTON -- Drew Smyly has a chance to break a team record Wednesday when he closes the Tampa Bay Rays three-game series with the Red Sox at Fenway Park.The left-hander, who faces Steven Wright as he tries to help his team win the three-game series in the rubber game, has thrown 20 1/3 straight scoreless innings -- eight this season -- against the Red Sox. The Rays record is the 25 1/3 straight spun by Matt Garza against the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008.Smyly, who pitched eight innings of one-hit ball with 11 strikeouts against Boston in April, comes into this start 6-11 on the season. But he is 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA in his last seven, lowering his season ERA from 5.64 to 4.80, and going at least six innings in all seven starts.Smyly shook off a shaky first inning that saw him throw 34 pitches, and needed only 55 more to get through the next five in his last start, a no-decision against the Houston Astros.I guess I was just nibbling a little bit in the first couple of innings, Smyly said after that game. Just missing. Got behind in the count. Made it hard on myself. But I was happy to get out of the first with just two runs. My pitch count was up, so in my head I was just thinking attack, go right at them and see how long you can last.The last-place Rays lost that game.Smyly is 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA in nine games -- seven starts -- against the Red Sox lifetime, 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA in four appearances at Fenway.Only two of Bostons better hitters have done well against Smyly -- David Ortiz 5-for-14 and Mookie Betts 5-for-15. Dustin Pedroia is 2-for-16, Xander Bogaerts 3-for-15, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Travis Shaw both 1-for-9 and Brock Holt 1-for-7.Wright makes his second start since coming back from a shoulder injury suffered diving back into second base as a pinch runner in Los Angeles, gave up five runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out one, against the Kansas City Royals in his return last Friday night.He struggled with his delivery early in that game but was, like Smyly, better as the game went on.It was fair to say that the first inning or two ... he was trying to establish a release point after some down time, manager John Farrell said before Tuesday nights game. He really settled in after that and was, I think, very sharp the final four innings, with the normal action and violence to his knuckleball.Wright, one of the pleasant surprises that have helped the Red Sox back into contention after another last-place finish, is 13-6 with a 3.18 ERA -- 9-2, 3.62 in his last 14 starts.This will be the first time hes faced the Rays, but comes in 6-3 with a 1.89 ERA in nine career starts against the American League East. Felix Heredia Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Sandy Alcantara Jersey . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/1461r-kirt-ojala-jersey-marlins.html .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Kyle Keller Jersey .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Garrett Cooper Jersey . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. This weeks Big Question: Who is the best player in the league?Wayne Gretzky: Sid is still the best player in hockey. Thats a mantle you earn over time. Its one of those things where you earn that right to have that title, until somebody takes it away from you. Is?Connor [McDavid] a great player? Absolutely. Does Connor have an opportunity to be the next [Sidney] Crosby? Absolutely. Right now, Sidney deserves to be known as the best player in the game. Hes been the best player consistently in his career. Hes won Stanley Cups and hes won gold medals. Until somebody takes that mantle away from him, hes still going to hold the crown.Joe Thornton, C, San Jose Sharks: Oh, Sidney Crosby. Im a Sidney Crosby fan. Hes ultracompetitive. Great speed, great shot, great passer. Just has a lot of the attributes youd want to start a hockey team with.Zach Parise, C, Minnesota Wild: Sid is playing great, but man, Connor McDavid is good, oh my God. But I still think today. ... Ive got to say I still think Sid. Its tough but I really do.Eastern Conference coach: Best player in the NHL right now would be?Carey Price?and Sidney Crosby. No. You know what? Sorry. I think its Connor McDavid and Carey Price, and Sid would be my third.Ben Bishop, G, Tampa Bay Lightning: I think you look at the way Sidney Crosbys playing right now, its hard to argue that theres anybody playing much better than him. What is he turning, 30 this year? Hes still pretty young. I know the leagues changed, kind of to the teens and young 20s, but, no, I think hes still right in his prime. He looks better than he has in years past. Hes got that fire, hes on a different level right now. Its fun to watch. Not so much fun to play against.Shane Doan, C, Arizona Coyotes: I think Sidney Crosby has established himself with what hes doing right now. Its amazing to see how he just does whatever he needs to do.Cam Fowler, D, Anaheim Ducks: Whew. I think its got to be Connor McDavid right now. Just his combination of speed and skill and being able to do things at a high pace is incredible. We dont get to see Sid that often, but the year that hes having with the injuries too, you can pretty much go eitther way with that one.ddddddddddddAaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers: Its got to be Sid, right? Hes consistently amazing. There are obviously a lot of great players that do a lot of great things on different nights, guys like him, and [Patrick] Kane, and [Jonathan] Toews, they are consistently amazing -- not good -- amazing every single night they step on the ice.Jarome Iginla, RW, Colorado Avalanche: McDavid has been very impressive, and playing against him you see what he can do and how he can control a game, but its hard to go against Sid. I think coming off a Stanley Cup, what he did at the World Cup, what hes doing already at the start of the season since hes been back [from a concussion], so I would still, personally right now, go with Sid. Ask me in another couple of years, maybe it changes, but right now Id probably say Sid.Nazem Kadri, C, Toronto Maple Leafs: Id have to go with Sid, with what hes doing this year and how hes putting that team on his shoulders, Id have to go with him for sure. Because hes just so dangerous.Jakob Chychrun, D, Arizona Coyotes:?100 percent [Sidney Crosby]. I was the biggest Sidney Crosby fan growing up. I grew up playing center and playing forward. He was my idol growing up. When I was a kid, all my friends, it was the stage between Ovi and Sid, that was the big argument when I was younger -- still is, but it was huge back then. All my teammates gave me heck, and said Ovi is way better. I stood by Sids side through it all. I would argue with everybody. I still believe that. For sure.Eastern Conference scout: Oh, man, thats tough. I think it comes down to McDavid or Crosby. McDavid is carrying that team. If you take him out of the lineup, theyre nowhere close to where they are today. McDavid hasnt done it long enough and hes still very young, still learning. I would say Crosby is the best in the league. He can do everything and anything he wants to do if he sets his mind to it. Thats what I love about Sids game.-- Joe McDonald, Pierre LeBrun, Craig Custance, Scott Burnside ' ' '