andere Teams » r the pitch during a match.Hummels is not the only o

ATLANTA -- The Colorado Rockies optioned Canadian left-hander Jeff Francis to triple-A Colorado Springs to clear a roster spot for right-hander Chad Bettis. Bettis was called up from Double-A Tulsa to start in his major league debut against the Braves on Thursday night. The Rockies are without outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Carlos Gonzalez for Thursday nights game. Manager Walt Weiss says Cuddyer is away on a family emergency and it is not known when he will return. Gonzalez left Wednesday nights game after aggravating his sprained right middle finger. Weiss says Gonzalez will be rested a couple of days to see if the injury improves. Francis, of North Delta, B.C., is 2-5 with a 6.63 ERA in 12 games, including 11 starts. He allowed three hits and two runs in 2 1-3 innings against the Braves on Tuesday. Swell Juomapullo . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Swell Suomi . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. http://www.swellbottlesuomi.com/ .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Swell Juomapullo Hinta . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Swell Jälleenmyyjät . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. FRANKFURT, Germany -- If Mats Hummels, Bayern Munichs experienced defender and World Cup winner, is to be believed, Bundesliga newcomer Leipzig could be a title contender.Bayern has won the last four championships and Leipzig is the promoted team playing in its debut Bundesliga season, but after 10 rounds, Leipzig is undefeated, even on points with Bayern and behind only on goal difference. The two teams are four points clear of the nearest competition, and Leipzig has earned more points away from home than Bayern.Leipzig is riding a five-match winning streak going into Fridays match against Bayer Leverkusen.If we drop points, Leipzig will be a candidate for the title, Hummels said recently. Everything Ive seen from Leipzig has been convincing. They play very attacking football, they defend as a team very well and they have the individual class you need.Hummels said Leipzig reminds him of Borussia Dortmund, which won Bundesliga titles under coach Juergen Klopp in 2011 and 2012 when the Germany central defender still played there.Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl doesnt really believe that his team can emulate the Kaiserslauterns run in 1998, when it swept to the title in its promotion season.In football, nothing is impossible, he said recently in a newspaper interview. You saw what happened in England with the championship for Leicester City. But It would be a miracle in Germany. I am not even thinking about it.Hasenhuettl said he still could not really tell where his team stood.Right now, I dont see a limit for us, and I dont know where it should be, he said. We are basically playing with a second-division squad, a team that finished second in the second division last season.Hasenhuettl left Bundesliga rival Ingolstadt before the season to replace Ralf Rangnick, who became the clubs sports director. Rangnick was the architect of Hoffenheims sensational run in 2008, when it led the championnship halfway into its rookie season.ddddddddddddIncidentally, Hoffenheim is also still undefeated and helped Leipzig pull even with Bayern by holding the champion to a draw before the international break.Leipzig is a project created by the Austrian energy-drink maker Red Bull and its billionaire founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who bought and rebranded a local fifth-tier club in 2009. The booming former East German city had a stadium rebuilt for the World Cup in 2006 but had no team in the major leagues.Rival fans strongly object to Leipzigs links to Red Bull and consider it a test-tube team. The team bus has been stoned and Leipzig players are routinely the subject of derogatory chants, and Earlier this month, a severed bulls head was thrown near the pitch during a match.Hummels is not the only one in Bayern to consider Leipzig a serious rival.Uli Hoeness, who is set to become Bayerns president again after serving a prison term for tax evasion, said in a recent television interview that he found Leipzig very strong.Of course, they have the advantage of being able to lie on the couch during the week while we have to play the Champions League, and if I know Mr. Mateschitz, hell lay out a couple of million more if necessary at Christmas, Hoeness said.Hasenhuettl responded by noting that Bayern was thinking about us.It seems that what weve played so far has been impressive, Hasenhuettl said.The two teams meet on Dec. 21 in the final round before the Christmas break.Leipzig uses a high-pressing style to win the ball and then attacks quickly, often leaving opponents outnumbered in defense.Central midfielder Naby Keita, who arrived from the sister club Red Bull Salzburg, is among Leipzigs key players, as are speedy forwards Timo Werner, Yussuf Poulsen and Emil Forsberg. 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