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2B Daily News – Friday, October 5, 2012 NHL Lockout forces canceled games through Oct. 24 NEW YORK (AP) — What seemed inevitable for the NHL has become reali- ty. The league canceled the first two weeks of the regu- lar season on Thursday, the second time games have been lost because of a lock- out in seven years. The announcement was made in a two-paragraph statement. It isn't clear if those games will be made up, allowing for a complete 82-game regular season, if a deal can be struck soon with the locked-out play- ers. Unable to work out how to split up $3 billion in hockey-related revenues with the players' associa- tion, the NHL wiped out 82 games from Oct. 11-24 — beginning with four next Thursday, which would have been the league's opening night. ''We were extremely disappointed to have to make today's announce- ment,'' NHL Deputy Com- missioner Bill Daly said in a statement. ''The game deserves better, the fans deserve better, and the peo- ple who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better. ''We remain committed to doing everything in our power to forge an agree- ment that is fair to the play- ers, fair to the teams, and good for our fans. This is not about 'winning' or 'los- ing' a negotiation. This is about finding a solution that preserves the long- term health and stability of the league and the game. We are committed to get- ting this done.'' The union countered Thursday by saying the NHL forced the lockout onto the players instead of letting the season go on as planned. ''The decision to cancel would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue. ''A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort,'' he added. ''For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock out the players in an effort to secure massive conces- sions. Nevertheless, the players remain committed to playing hockey while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating part- ner.'' the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilater- al choice of the NHL own- ers,'' NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr said in a statement. ''If the own- ers truly cared about the game and the fans, they been negotiations between the league and players in recent days — unlike a three-month break at the start of the 2004-05 lockout that forced the cancellation of the entire season — the two sides haven't gotten any closer to a deal on core economic issues. ''Obviously, (cancella- tions) might have been expected but it's also disap- Although there have pointing because we set out to negotiate,'' New York Rangers goalie Martin Biron said in a telephone interview. ''We wanted to get a deal and wanted to avoid a work stoppage or any cancellations. ''We're still working hard to find a solution and find a way to get the core economic stuff figured out with the league and getting a deal that is fair for every- body and lasts.'' In the previous lockout, the NHL and the union did- n't get together between early September and early December. words in the negotiations were salary cap, linkage and cost certainty. Com- missioner Gary Bettman and the owners were com- mitted to getting a deal that linked team costs to rev- enues, so each club would know exactly how much it had to spend on payroll and what number it couldn't exceed. Back then, the key 49ers' offense offers tricks if not trick plays — Greg Roman is giving the rest of the NFL something extra to think about it when it's time to play the San Francisco 49ers. Roman doesn't like to call them trick plays, but the offen- sive coordinator's creative play selection last week sparked the 49ers to their most productive performance of the season during a 34-0 rout of the New York Jets. Mixing in a collection of well- SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) working in Kaepernick and get- ting others involved last week. Nine different San Francisco players had at least one carry as the 49ers gained a season-high 379 yards while rushing for 245 — their highest total in coach Jim Harbaugh's two seasons with the team. ''The more guys we can get Roman did a pretty good job timed reverses and option plays and unveiling backup quarter- back Colin Kaepernick as a new weapon, Roman kept the New York defense off balance as San Francisco set season highs in several offensive categories. It also served notice that more new wrinkles could be coming as the 49ers look to expand their offense. contributors such as running back Brandon Jacobs, who might play for the first time this season Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. After missing San Francisco's That could include more new involved, the better,'' Roman said Thursday. ''We've had dif- ferent things up every week and chose to use it last week. But I don't look at them as trick plays. They're football plays. The rules are the rules, and we're within the rules. I don't know that we have trick plays.'' first four games with a knee injury, Jacobs is practicing this week without limitations. He's set to make his 49ers debut against the Bills, adding another piece for Roman to work into the NFL's attack. third-ranked rushing MVP (Continued from page 1B) Called up from the minors three weeks into the sea- son, the Los Angeles Angels' rookie quickly became a never-before- seen force prior to his 21st birthday. Possessing a unique combination of skills in the concrete body of a run- ning back, the dynamic kid from New Jersey did it all — hitting home runs and taking them away with highlight-reel catches high above the center-field fence. Trout batted .326, sec- ond to Cabrera, with 30 homers and 83 RBIs. He also led the majors with 49 stolen bases (in 54 attempts) and 129 runs — 20 more than Cabrera in 22 fewer games. The slumping Angels were 6- 14 when they brought up Trout and went 83-59 the rest of the way. The first big league rookie to reach 30 homers and 40 steals in one season and the youngest player with a 30-30 campaign, Trout struck out 41 more times than Cabrera but committed only four errors in the outfield. Cabrera had 13 errors after unselfishly switching back to third base when the Tigers signed first base- effectively during the handful of plays he was on the field in place of starting quarterback Alex Smith. Kaepernick had a 17-yard run and a 7-yard touchdown run out of the shotgun formation on his first two carries, then broke loose for a 30-yard gain on his third carry. The 49ers used Kaepernick to receiver Mario Manningham, nine yards on an option pitch to receiver Kyle Williams and seven yards on a fly sweep by receiver Ted Ginn Jr. ''You've got to keep the defense guessing these days,'' said Manningham, who joined the 49ers this year as a free agent. ''It's good to have every- body get the ball. We're trying to just make stuff happen out there, just execute and get the right play-calling and do what we've got to do with it.'' He also forced the Jets to use a timeout midway through the second quarter when Kaepernick came out of the huddle and lined up wide as a receiver. That was one of several new looks by the 49ers, who also gained 28 yards on a reverse play man Prince Fielder last winter. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ''They both had sensational years.'' That would be too easy. The hard part is making a pick. For anyone who thought winning the Triple Crown would automatical- ly anoint Cabrera the MVP, take note of this: There have been nine Triple Crown seasons since the MVP award was introduced for each league in 1931. Four times, the Triple Crown winner was beaten out for MVP by a player on a pennant win- ner. Chuck Klein of the Philadelphia Phillies lost to New York Giants pitch- er Carl Hubbell in 1933. Yankees slugger Lou Gehrig was topped by Detroit catcher Mickey Cochrane the following year. And then Boston's Ted Williams, unpopular with certain writers, fell short to Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon (1942) and center fielder Joe DiMaggio (1947). argument this year is a modern calculation called WAR (Wins Above Replacement), a figure derived from an assort- ment of other stats. WAR is designed to go deeper At the center of the ''Divide it in half,'' Manningham has gained 57 yards on two reverses this season after finishing with minus-10 yards on two reverses during his first four NFL seasons with the New York Giants. The diverse approach against the Jets seemed to soften the New York defense and breathed some life into a San Francisco offense that had been limited to season-low totals of 280 yards and 13 points the week before during a loss at Minnesota. It also is providing some new headaches for future opponents. ''Yeah, it's a lot,'' Buffalo coach Chan Gailey said when discussing San Francisco's offense. ''That puts a lot of stress on your defense to prepare for that week-in and week-out.'' than the conventional numbers in measuring a player's all-around contri- bution to team success. A worthwhile endeavor for sure, though some think the formula is flawed. Leyland, for example, bemoaned that WAR does- n't emphasize RBIs enough. Others believe it's the most complete and accurate appraisal of a player's true value. WAR number of 10.7, best in the majors, according to baseball-reference.com. Cabrera was at 6.9, fourth in the American League. Trout finished with a The discrepancy is almost ironic, considering how the debate sometimes falls along generational lines. Trout's sizable advantage, of course, is a result of his vastly superi- or defense and baserun- ning — both traditional fundamentals long held in high regard by baseball's old guard. With reporters every- where asking for opinions as Cabrera chased the Triple Crown, it seemed most managers and play- ers favored Cabrera for MVP. Front-office types often pointed to Trout. Tigers teammates wore T- shirts touting their guy. In the end, the only people with the power to decide it are the 28 mem- bers of the Baseball Writ- ers' Association of Ameri- ca who have a vote. And if recent history holds a clue, they might lean toward Cabrera more because he powered the Tigers to an AL Central title than the fact that he ended the longest Triple Crown drought in baseball histo- ry. obviously a historic achievement, but whether Cabrera gets it or not shouldn't impact his standing in the MVP race,'' Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, who has an AL MVP vote, said early this week. ''The Triple Crown is MLB Giants uncertain of postseason rotation SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco man- ager Bruce Bochy plans to start a pair of 16-game win- ners in the first two games of the National League divi- sion series. After that, he says he's not sure what he'll do. Matt Cain will pitch Game 1 against the Cincin- nati Reds on Saturday and left-hander Madison Bum- garner will go in Game 2 on Sunday. The two tied for the team lead in victories and were instrumental down the stretch when San Francisco won the NL West for the second time in three years. Two-time Cy Young loads of merchandise arrived throughout the after- noon and red, white and blue bunting was hung around the waterfront ballpark. Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker was a surprise visitor to the workout. Baker, the former Giants skipper who recently rejoined the Reds after miss- ing 11 games while recover- ing from a mini-stroke and irregular heartbeat, stood behind the batting cage and joked with current San Fran- cisco scout Felipe Alou — who replaced Baker as man- ager. winner Tim Lincecum and 15-game winner Barry Zito have also been key for the Giants. But Bochy said Thursday he's unsure whether he'll use the two in starting roles or out of the bullpen. That goes for Ryan Vogelsong as well. ''More than anything it's really vital for us to have all hands on deck here the first two games,'' Bochy said in explaining his reluctance to name a Game 3 starter. ''If we want to use some guys in the rotation early here, then we'll do that. We wanted to keep our options open.'' The uncertainty over the back end of the rotation might seem strange given that starting pitchers are creatures of habit and gener- ally stay on a carefully mapped out throwing rou- tine in between starts. Zito, who was left off the Giants postseason roster entirely two years ago when the franchise won its first World Series title since 1954, doesn't think that will be an issue. The 34-year-old left-han- der has started 172 games and made six relief appear- ances since signing a $126 million, seven-year contract with San Francisco before the 2007 season. ''I've (come) out of the bullpen many times as a starter here,'' Zito said. ''A lot of the other guys have done that, too. You change your routine going into it. You can't be stupid about it. Other than that, if you're on the mound you're on the mound.'' voluntary workout at AT&T Park and players took bat- ting practice while Bumgar- ner threw a bullpen session as stadium workers hurried to get the stadium ready for Saturday's Game 1. Truck- If Baker hoped to get an insight as to what the Giants plans are for their rotation, he was disappointed. Cain, the NL starter in the All-Star game who earli- er this season pitched the first perfect game in fran- chise history, was an easy call for Game 1. Likewise with Bumgarner, the 23- year-old who was second on the team in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. ''You look at the years that Matt and Madison have had, that's why they're going Game 1 and Game 2,'' Bochy said. ''We feel like these two have earned these starts and that's why they're out there.'' The rest of the rotation is unclear for various reasons. Zito was one of San Francisco's top pitchers down the stretch to finish with his best season yet since the 2002 AL Cy Young Award joined the Giants. He won his last five starts and seven decisions in the regular season, and has- n't lost since Aug. 2. More critically for San Francisco, the Giants went 11-0 after Aug. 6 with Zito on the mound. That's vastly different from 2010 when he won only one game over the final two months. NFL AFC West WL T Pct PF PA San Diego 3 1 0 .750 100 71 Denver 2 2 0 .500 114 83 Kansas City 1 3 0 .250 88 136 RAIDERS 13 0 .25067 125 East WL T Pct PF PA The Giants gathered for a N.Y. Jets 2 2 0 .500 81 109 New Eng. 2 2 0 .500 134 92 Buffalo 2 2 0 .500 115 131 Miami South 1 3 0 .250 86 90 WL T Pct PF PA Houston 4 0 0 1.000126 56 Indianapolis 1 2 0 .333 61 83 Jacksonville 1 3 0 .250 62 97 Tennessee 1 3 0 .250 81 151 North WL T Pct PF PA Baltimore 3 1 0 .750 121 83 Cincinnati 3 1 0 .750 112 112 Pittsburgh 1 2 0 .333 77 75 Cleveland 0 4 0 .000 73 98 Trout for simply playing in a tougher division. That may not matter to voters, though. the Tigers to the postsea- son with a monster Sep- tember should make him a slight favorite over Trout, though Trout will certainly still have plenty of support for his incredible year. I think Detroit's late-season surge will be a bigger fac- tor if Cabrera wins the MVP than his run at the Triple Crown.'' ''The fact that he's led Trout's team made a second-half charge but missed the playoffs and finished third in the AL West. Still, the Angels' final record was one game better than Detroit's. And while Cabrera merits credit for leading his club to the playoffs, it seems unfair to punish Setting aside the strike- shortened season of 1994 when the postseason was canceled, the only time in the last 20 years that the AL MVP didn't come from a playoff team was 2003, when Alex Rodriguez won with the last-place Texas Rangers. The trend hasn't been as consistent in the National League, but the point remains valid. What's most amazing is this: After fans waited 45 years to see a Triple Crown winner, there's a legitimate argument about whether that player deserves the MVP award — even though Cabrera all but carried his team into the playoffs. Never imagined that could happen. That's how good Trout has been. And that's how far sabermetrics have come. ''I don't know, man. It's a good race,'' Cabrera said. Expect him to win when balloting is announced in November. But the pick here is Trout, by a tiny sliver. He does everything well, no flaws in his game. What's more valuable than that? NFC West WL T Pct PF PA Arizona 4 1 0 .800 94 78 49ERS 31 0 .750 104 65 St. Louis 3 2 0 .600 96 94 Seattle 2 2 0 .500 70 58 East Philadelphia 3 1 0 .750 66 83 Dallas WL T Pct PF PA 2 2 0 .500 65 88 Washington 2 2 0 .500 123 123 N.Y. Giants 2 2 0 .500 111 84 South WL T Pct PF PA Atlanta 4 0 0 1.000124 76 Tampa Bay 1 3 0 .250 82 91 Carolina 1 3 0 .250 80 109 New Orleans0 4 0 .000 110 130 North WL T Pct PF PA Minnesota 3 1 0 .750 90 72 Chicago 3 1 0 .750 108 68 Green Bay 2 2 0 .500 85 81 Detroit Week 4 results Thursday's games Baltimore 23, Cleveland 16 Sunday's games Houston 38, Tennessee 14 San Diego 37, Kansas City 20 St. Louis 19, Seattle 13 New England 52, Buffalo 28 Minnesota 20, Detroit 13 Atlanta 30, Carolina 28 San Francisco 34, N.Y. Jets 0 Arizona 24, Miami 21, OT Denver 37, Oakland 6 Cincinnati 27, Jacksonville 10 Green Bay 28, New Orleans 27 Washington 24, Tampa Bay 22 Philadelphia 19, N.Y. Giants 17 Open: Indianapolis, Pittsburgh Monday's game Chicago 34, Dallas 18 Week 5 Schedule Thursday's game St. Louis 19, Arizona 13 Sunday games Baltimore at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Atlanta at Washington, 10 a.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m. Green Bay at Indianapolis, 10 a.m. Cleveland at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m. Miami at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Seattle at Carolina, 1:05 p.m. Chicago at Jacksonville, 1:05 p.m. Buffalo at San Francisco, 1:25 p.m. Tennessee at Minnesota, 1:25 p.m. Denver at New England, 1:25 p.m. San Diego at New Orleans, 5:20 p.m. Open: Dallas, Detroit, Oakland, Tampa Bay Monday's game Houston at N.Y. Jets, 5:30 p.m. 1 3 0 .250 100 114 ——————————————————