miaowang123: Stanton was fourth among outfielders, trailing th

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PHILADELPHIA -- On the first day of training camp, the Philadelphia Flyers were already a mess. Earl Campbell Womens Jersey . By the end of the preseason, chairman Ed Snider had grave concerns about the team he founded. "I thought our training camp, quite frankly, was one of the worst training camps Ive ever seen," Snider said. "Im not talking about wins or losses. There was nothing exciting. Nobody shined. Nobody looked good. I couldnt point to one thing that I thought was a positive. "Unfortunately, my worries were realized." He only needed three games to make a move. After a winless start, the Flyers fired coach Peter Laviolette on Monday, three seasons after he led them to the Stanley Cup finals. Assistant Craig Berube, in his seventh season coaching within the organization, was promoted to replace Laviolette. He is the 18th coach in franchise history. Despite a preseason vote of confidence from ownership, Laviolette just couldnt overcome a punchless offence, a pair of journeymen in goal and a patchwork defence to jolt the Flyers out of their funk and keep his job. He dealt with rumours of his firing last season, a year in which the Flyers missed the playoffs after the lockout shortened the campaign. It was the only season in which he failed to make the post-season in Philadelphia. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren tried to mould a playoff roster in the off-season, signing forward Vinny Lecavalier, defenceman Mark Streit and goaltender Ray Emery. He also jettisoned overpriced and underperforming veterans, like goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and forward Danny Briere. Holmgren liked his transactions. He just didnt like how Laviolette was putting the pieces together. "I think some of the additions that we made this summer were good additions," Holmgren said. "I think there was some excitement about our team going into training camp. Right from Day 1 of training camp, I was concerned. "But it was more about how we played, and it was unacceptable. We dont look like a team at all." Laviolette is signed through 2014-15. Hes just the second coach in Flyers history to coach parts of five seasons. He was hired early in the 2009 season after John Stevens was fired, and led the Flyers on an improbable run to the 2010 Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to Chicago in six games. Laviolette won the Stanley Cup coaching Carolina in 2006, and previously coached the New York Islanders. Hes still set to serve as an assistant under Pittsburghs Dan Bylsma for the United States in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Snider backed his coach last month and brushed off suggestions that Laviolette was on the hot seat. "As far as Peter is concerned, last year was an anomaly," he said in September. "Hes been a very good coach for us." Just not anymore with the Flyers. Holmgren had a "fleeting thought" of firing Laviolette after last season, but thought the coach deserved one more chance with a full training camp. "They do need a kick in the pants," Holmgren said. Berube had 20 goals and 54 points over parts of seven seasons with the Flyers. He played for four other teams over a 17-year career and his 3,149 penalty minutes are seventh in NHL history. Berube will make his debut Tuesday, when the Flyers play host to Florida. "Just because Ive been in the organization a long time doesnt mean Im going to do the same thing other coaches did," he said. "Im not them. I have my own thoughts. I have my own way of how I want to coach." The Flyers added former forward Ian Laperriere and former Ottawa coach John Paddock as assistants, while Kevin McCarthy, a part of Laviolettes staff, was fired. Snider balked at the suggestion the Flyers should have looked outside the organization to find a coach. The Flyers havent won a Stanley Cup since 1975 and lost their last six trips to the finals. "We dont need a fresh perspective," Snider said. "We have a pretty good culture, and we know who were dealing with." Laviolette led the Flyers to three straight playoff appearances before last season. The Flyers went 23-22-3 and were 10th in the Eastern Conference with 49 points last year. There was no apparent improvement this season. The Flyers lost their opener at home last week to Toronto, then lost games on consecutive days over the weekend to Montreal and Carolina. With captain Claude Giroux without a point, and forwards Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn stagnant, they were outscored 9-3. "I would think guys are probably pretty frustrated," Laviolette said Sunday. "Offensively, if youre not scoring, everythings got to be perfect on the defensive side of things." The Flyers 1-5-1 preseason record was an ominous sign that trouble was ahead. "We all sensed it," Berube said. "We didnt play very well in the preseason. Whether you have a full lineup or not, we just didnt see the competitiveness and team-oriented play thats needed." Snider said Holmgren still has his support even as move after move -- starting with the unexpected dismantling of the young core of the 2010 finals team -- has backfired. "I think Paul did an excellent job over the summer with the three players he brought in," Snider said. "We had extremely high hopes for those three players and we still do. It remains to be seen if we were right or wrong." In a bleak era in city sports, Laviolettes firing means all four Philadelphia teams have changed coaches in the last year. Eagles coach Chip Kelly, hired in January, is now the dean of Philadelphia coaches. "Its kind of the crazy reality of what we deal with, but its unfortunate," Kelly said. "I know Pete a little bit. Hes a good guy. "Tennessee Titans Jerseys . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Earl Campbell Youth Jersey . Pressley missed all of last season with Cincinnati because of a knee injury, but the 5-foot-10, 249-pounder had been expected to fill a need on Clevelands roster.WASHINGTON -- Casey McGehees fourth hit of the game drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, and Reed Johnson doubled home two more as the Miami Marlins defeated the Washington Nationals 8-5 on Wednesday night. Ed Lucas singled off Jerry Blevins (2-2) to open the 10th and Christian Yelich walked. After Derek ietrich bunted the runners over, the Nationals intentionally walked Giancarlo Stanton. McGehee then lined a single off the base of the wall in left, scoring Lucas, while Yelich stopped at third. That became moot when Johnson doubled. Yelich and Stanton scored to make it 7-4, and Donovan Solano singled home the eighth run. Kevin Slowey (1-0) worked one inning for the win and Steve Cishek pitched the 10th, allowing one run. Wilson Ramos, who went 3 for 6, hit a solo homer for Washington to tie the game in the seventh. Nate McLouth tied a career high with four hits. The Nationals, who have lost six of seven, loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, but failed to score. Miami starter Henderson Alvarez blanked Washington for five innings. He led 4-0, but left with elbow stiffness and the Nationals rallied against the Miami bullpen. Alvarez gave up five hits and threw 62 pitches. He was seeking his first win since May 6, and his first road win of the season. Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann struggled for the fourth straight game, allowing four runs -- three earned -- and eight hits over five innings. In his past four starts, he has given up 15 earned runs in 22 2-3 innings and his ERA has risen from 2.92 to 4.07. With Alvarez gone, the Nationals rallied, batting around in the sixth. Singles by Adam LaRoche and Ramos off Chris Hatcher, followed by a walk from Ian esmond, loaded the bases. Hatcher struck out Kevin Frandsen for the second out, but McLouth hit the first pitch he saw for a two-run double. Ryan Tannehill Jersey. Dan Jennings came on to face pinch-hitter Danny Espinosa, who walked. Denard Span then hit a bouncer that could have ended the inning, but first baseman Garrett Jones threw wide of Jennings at first for an error and Desmond scored to make it 4-3. Ramos tied it in the seventh when he sent a 2-0 fastball from A.J. Ramos into the Marlins bullpen for his first home run. Despite two baserunning mistakes, the Marlins built a 4-0 lead. In the first, Yelich doubled to lead off, but broke for third on a grounder to short and was thrown out. The Marlins had first and second with no outs in the fourth after Dietrich singled and Stanton walked. McGehee then grounded a single to left. Third base coach Brett Butler held Dietrich at third, but Stanton rounded second and came halfway to third before realizing it and was tagged out. However, Jones, Marcell Orzuna and Adeiny Hechavarria collected RBI singles, and Orzuna scored on a throwing error by right fielder Jayson Werth to cap the four-run inning. NOTES: Washington 3B Ryan Zimmerman (fractured right thumb) took live batting practice and fielded ground balls Wednesday for the first time since going on the DL April 13. . The first ballot update for the NLs starting lineup in the All-Star game was released on Wednesday and Stanton was fourth among outfielders, trailing third-place Ryan Braun by about 20,500 votes. Washington 2B Anthony Rendon ranks fourth, well-behind leader Chase Utley. . Marlins SS Rafael Furcal (left hamstring strain) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Class A Jupiter (Florida). . Both teams are off Thursday. Miami opens a three-game home series Friday against Atlanta, while Washington hosts the Texas Rangers. ' ' '