all, who at 24 is on his fourth MLS team. Both Toronto and New

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Left-hander Rich Hill will try to pick up where he left off when he makes his first start for the Oakland As in more than a month Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Oakland Coliseum.Hill is 8-3 with a 2.25 ERA and has a five-game winning streak, but he hasnt started since May 29 against the Detroit Tigers, when he sustained a groin injury that sent him to the disabled list.Despite his long layoff, Hill said his game plan wont change.I think just the same thing I was doing before, which was staying in the moment, Hill said Friday before the As fell 7-3 to the Pirates in the opener of a three-game series. Thats really the biggest thing is focusing in on the task at hand, and that doesnt change at any stage of the game. Thats what I did in my rehab outing, thats what Ive done in my bullpens. I think for me thats the most beneficial way to go about my business.Hill went 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA in four September starts for the Boston Red Sox last year -- his first major league starts since 2009 -- and he parlayed that performance into a one-year, $6 million contract with the As and a spot in their rotation.Hill has gone 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA over his past eight starts, relying heavily on a nasty curveball.I think its always been something Ive been able to throw, Hill said. Ive had it my whole life. To be able to have that in conjunction with my fastball has been great. Theyve been working well this year.Hill threw 66 pitches for Class A Stockton in his lone rehab start, and he likely will be on a pitch count Saturday.It will be a little more mindful than just sending him out there on a regular start, As manager Bob Melvin said. Youre probably not going to see him throw 110 pitches.The Pirates will send rookie right-hander Chad Kuhl to the mound for his second career major league start. Kuhl made his debut Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw at PNC Park and got the win in a 4-3 victory. He allowed three runs on four hits over five innings.Just a lot of excitement, a lot of emotion, Kuhl said of his debut. I had a bunch of family there. It was just a really special time and experience.I tried to get out there a little extra early. I got out there, took it in. I stretched earlier, I threw earlier. I allowed myself time to walk in from the bullpen, look around. Even before first pitch, just really take it in and get acclimated. And when it was time to play, just went after it.Kuhl, 23, said he expects to be more relaxed as he progresses.When I went out for my second inning, I thought to myself, All right, its not your first time anymore, Kuhl said. So the second inning obviously went a lot smoother than my first inning. It definitely helps.The Pirates drafted Kuhl in the ninth round in 2013, and he made a quick trip to the major leagues. Last year, he went 11-5 with a 2.48 ERA for Double-A Altoona. This year, he was 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA for Triple-A Indianapolis, earning a promotion.Starting his major league career with a victory against Kershaw and the Dodgers was very sweet, Kuhl said.You get called up, thats the one thing on your mind, you want to get up here, you want to help win ballgames. Thats why Im here. Cheap Air Max 95 . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Cheap Air Max 2018 Shoes . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. http://www.airmaxshoescheaponline.com/ . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Max 95 Sale China . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Cheap Air Max Shoes . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. TORONTO -- As anyone who has ever tried cleaning a basement or garage filled with junk knows, things get worse before they get better. Toronto FC is at that messy stage of the clean-up. A year ago at this time, the perennial MLS underachiever was 1-10-0 in the league basement and had just fired manager Aron Winter. Today the club sports a new president, manager, chief scout, two new assistant coaches and has brought in 19 new players since the end of last season. The team is 1-6-4, proving that progress can be painfully slow. It stands 18th in the 19-team league, is winless in nine league games and has lost four straight. Toronto has shot itself in the foot, failing to take its chances while dropping nine points from six games by conceding late goals (in stoppage-time on three of those occasions). On the plus side, all six league losses have been by just one goal. "Every league game this season, you can make an argument that we could have won," said manager Ryan Nelsen. "As Ive been saying all the time, were probably the only team in the league that hasnt been beaten by two or three goals in a game yet." Some might say a loss is a loss is a loss. But hope springs eternal for Nelsen as Toronto heads to Boston for a Saturday night game with the New England Revolution (3-4-4). Count New England coach Jay Heaps in the Nelsen camp. He too sees beyond the standings when it comes to Toronto. "Torontos a good team," he told local reporters this week. The makeover has only just begun in Toronto. Nelsen all but salivates at the thought of the summer transfer window opening July 9. Currently 11 points out of a playoff place, Nelsens goal is not to lose any more ground in June until he can make more changes. "Even if thats 10 points off the playoffs come the window, Id be more than confident well have a very good chance getting in (the post-season)," he said. Asked for the reason for that confidence, Nelsen smiled and said: "Because I like the window. Its a nice time." Citing conversations with such noted managers as Sir Alex Ferguson, Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp, he said: "They tell me it takes three windows minimum to even get a team to where you want it to be. "And weve only had really half of one -- or one really. Were starting to get competitive and when this window comes, I think it will be a wee bit different." As a former well-respected player, Nelsen has plenty of ties in Britain. You can bet he is twisting as many arms as he can. As seems to be Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainments way (remember the 1,300-pound boulder in the Raptors dressing room and Toronto FCs "Burn the Boats" locker-room slogan), Toronto FC chose a new symbol this year for the franchise. For the most part, it seems to have been ignored in the disappointing weeks since. But new president Kevin Payne, an American, proudly pointed to the Inukshuk when he met media during the pre-season. Ignoring the Inukshuks original Inuit intent as a land marker, Toronto FC actually chose the more modern inunnguaq (or imitation of a person).dddddddddddd TFC says the Inukshuk "symbolizes co-operation, balance and unselfishness." "Each stone is a separate entity, yet each supports and is supported by the one above and the one below it. No one piece is any more or any less important than the other. Its strength lies in its unity. Its significance comes from its meaning as a whole," read a TFC handout Be that as it may, come the opening of the transfer window, Nelsen is looking to collect some better rocks. Of the 19 new faces to date, four -- Julio Cesar, Ashton Bennett, Taylor Morgan and John Bostock -- have already been cast aside. Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim never made it here although Nelsen says talks continue with his former teammate. Attacking midfielder Hogan Ephraim is slated to return to Queens Park Rangers. Veteran defender Danny Califf, brought in for his experience and savvy, has fallen so far down the depth chart youd need a dredger to find him. Califfs crime? He missed a game due to a stomach virus, never got his spot back and has dropped to the back of the bus since. He has become a US$165,000-a-year bench player, seemingly for no fault of his own. Goalie Stefan Frei, who lost his job through injury and Joe Bendiks acrobatics in his absence, is a $200,000 observer come game-time. Young Canadian international Ashtone Morgan, a holdover, is also watching from the bench these days. Jeremy Hall, who has flourished in the midfield this season after shifting from fullback, says change is part of pro soccer. "Our job is to win games and we havent won so the coaching staff and Kevin are trying to do whatever it takes to bring a winning team here," said Hall, who at 24 is on his fourth MLS team. Both Toronto and New England have injury concerns. Nelsen says his injured list includes Justin Braun, Califf, Bobby Convey, Richard Eckersley, Stefan Frei and Darel Russell. Captain Darren ODea may remain at left back, with Steven Caldwell and Doneil Henry at centre back. Ephraim is healthy and could sub for Braun. Star striker Danny Koevermans is ready to play after a 10-month absence due to a knee injury but is being held out of the game because the artificial turf at New England is where he ripped up his knee last July in a 1-0 Toronto victory. TFC has not managed a league win on the road since. Koevermans is expected to make his return next week at home to the Philadelphia Union. New England defender Ryan Guy and midfielder Stephen McCarthy will miss the game through injury while forward Dimitry Imbongo is suspended after being red-carded last week. Defender A.J. Soares (hamstring) is close to returning and Heaps can also count on 20-year-old striker Juan Agudelo who made his debut for New England last week New England is coming off a big 2-0 win in Houston. The Revolution have only scored eight goals this season, but have conceded just nine at the other end. ' ' '