In forecasting offensive success, a key indicator is returning rushing yardage from the previous season. Last year Alabama had 639 runs for 3,675 yards (5.8 yards per carry, 33 touchdowns, and 245.0 yards per game. Take out the rushing yards of men who are not returning and the Crimson Tide returns 96.4 per cent of that rushing yardage, 3,542 yards, and 32 of the 33 rushing touchdowns. The average per rush from those returning is 5.9 yards per carry and 236.1 yards per game. Not all of that came from the tailbacks. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was Bamas second leading rusher with 954 yards. He had the most carries (191) and TDs (13). But the tailbacks did their part. Damien Harris (5-11, 214, Jr) was Alabamas leading rusher with 146 carries for 1,027 yards (7.1 per rush) and had 2 rushing touchdowns; Bo Scarbrough (6-2, 228, Jr) was third with 125 carries for 812 yards (6.5 ypr) and 11 TDs; Josh Jacobs (5-10, 204, So) fourth with 125 for 812 (6.7 ypr) and 4 TDs; and B.J.Emmons (6-0, 206, So) fifth (in just 7 games before being injured) with 325-173 (4.9) and 1 touchdown. Thats a pretty good base at tailback. This is part of a series looking at all Alabama positions prior to the start of spring drills. In addition to those, Bama returns all-around athlete Ronnie Clark (6-2, 215, Jr), who is listed as a tailback but can also play other positions, and walk-on Avery Reid (6-0, 192, So). Moreover, there is much interest in three true freshmen, signees who entered The University this semester and will be taking part in spring practice. Najee Harris, 6-2, 225, was ranked the nations No. 1 overall prospect regardless of position. Brian Robinson, 6-1, 224, was a star at Hillcrest High in Tuscaloosa. Chadarius Townsend, 6-0, 190, is considered an all-round athlete capable of playing several positions, but is expected to start spring with the tailbacks. Under Assistant Coach Burton Burns, Alabama has had excellent success from the tailback position in the Nick Saban Era. Notably, in the past 10 years Bama has had two Heisman Trophy winners in tailbacks Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015). Alabama will have its fifth offensive coordinator (not counting one-gamer Steve Sarkisian) this year as Brian Daboll comes in from the New England Patriots. But as Saban has said in the past, a new coordinator doesnt come in to run his offense; he comes in to run the Alabama offense. That offense has changed in recent years and last year quarterback became a running position with the arrival of Hurts, who returns for his sophomore year. Although Hurts will have competition, the offense is not expected to have significant change. The running backs also benefit from a talented offensive line that returns three starters. There are some injury issues going into the spring. Scarbrough suffered a broken leg in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Although he has had several injuries in his football career, he has also proved to be a fast healer. Emmons missed the last half of the 2016 with a foot injury. Najee Harris played his senior year with a partially torn meniscus and had a procedure to repair it after arriving at Alabama. It remains to be seen how much (if any) these players will be limited in spring practice.

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All Alabama tailbacks return for spring practice along with additions - Scout

Miguel Gonzalez had 12 family members in attendance for his first Cactus League appearance of the year Sunday.

He posed for pictures on the field before the game and even gave his grandfather a tour around the training facility at Camelback Ranch.

"I showed him around a little bit, and he was excited," the White Sox pitcher said. "He was like a little kid when they go in for some candy."

Gonzalez expects many more family and friends to be in attendance when he pitches for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic next month. The games will take place in Estadio Charros de Jalisco, near his hometown of Guadalajara.

"In Mexico, theres going to be a lot more than that, thats for sure," Gonzalez said. "More than anything (Im excited) to get together with the guys I played with in Mexico when I played winter ball down there. Obviously the family, I get to see my family, I dont get to see them all the time."

Sox left-hander Jose Quintana was also tuning up for his start for Colombia against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and so Gonzalez pitched in relief Sunday. He treated his pregame preparation the same way, and finished with two scoreless innings, with one hit and one strikeout.

"Im a little ahead of the game right now," Gonzalez said. "I started a little earlier this year in the offseason to work out, thinking I wanted to go to the WBC and get ready for that, but I think the most important thing right now is getting ready for April 1 with the White Sox."

Gonzalez was pleased to say Sunday that the Sox have become a second home to him.

Last year at this time, Gonzalez was in spring training with the Orioles, but they released him before the season, and he signed with the Sox on a minor-league deal.

Though he had his "ups and downs" in the first half after making his Sox debut April 25, he was happy with how he settled in late in the year. He finished with a 3.73 ERA over 135 innings in 24 appearances, including 23 starts.

"Second half was a better season for me, and you always want to finish strong," Gonzalez said. "Hopefully I can keep that going and minimize damage when I need to."

While plenty of additions went the wrong way for the Sox last year, Gonzalez as a fifth starter was a pleasant development. Manager Rick Renteria said it wasnt necessarily a surprise tothe Sox, however.

"It was probably a surprise (for others) because maybe people just didnt have any expectations," Renteria said. "But when you talk to him and see him prepare and see him pitch, hes pretty focused. He enjoys what he does. Hes very relaxed. But really he has an intent to go out and attack the strike zone.

"Hes a strike thrower, stays down in the zone, mixes his pitches well. Hes a veteran pitcher that has an idea of what he needs to do to get through the ballgame."

ckane@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChiTribKane

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Miguel Gonzalez at home with White Sox after late arrival in 2016 - Chicago Tribune

New York Times

Knicks Get Younger in a Hurry, but Aren't Quick to Abandon Playoff Hopes New York Times All of this came after the Knicks, earlier in the day, waived point guard Brandon Jennings and lost center Joakim Noah to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Just like that, two of their win-now free-agent additions were gone. Jennings is off to ... and more »

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Knicks Get Younger in a Hurry, but Aren't Quick to Abandon Playoff Hopes - New York Times

Sandusky Register

James returns, Cavaliers beat Milwaukee Sandusky Register The three-time All-Star gives Cleveland depth, someone to lead its second unit and a reliable backup for Irving. Williams negotiated a buyout of his contract last week with Dallas before being waived and informing the Cavs he wanted to join them and ... LeBron shakes off strep throat, leads Cavs past Bucks 102-95Charlotte Observer all 537 news articles »

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James returns, Cavaliers beat Milwaukee - Sandusky Register

TORONTO The Toronto Raptors received instant results from their two newest players when they outworked the Boston Celtics 107-97 on Friday.

Serge Ibaka, obtained in a trade with the Orlando Magic on Feb. 14, and P.J. Tucker, acquired in a deal with the Phoenix Suns Thursday, both made big contributions to help offset the loss of All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry to a wrist injury.

Ibaka (15 points, seven rebounds) and Tucker (nine points, 10 rebounds) were making their Raptors debuts on limited practice time with their new team and it led to optimism about how much better they can make the Toronto as they become more familiar with their new surroundings.

The process will continue Sunday when the Raptors (34-24) host the Portland Trail Blazers (24-33) at the Air Canada Centre.

The Trail Blazers also won their first game since the All-Star break with a 112-103 victory over the Orlando Magic as they try to make a run at a playoff spot.

The Raptors hope their new players will help them make an extended playoff run, perhaps even improving on last season when they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Obviously, we havent had a full practice with everybody, not everybody knows the plays, said All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan after he scored a career-best 43 points Friday, 12 in the fourth quarter. Everybody knows how to play basketball. Our main goal was to get stops and we got stops and just played, kept it simple.

Asked about what his new teammates brought, DeRozan said: Little bit of everything, especially in the second half. With Serge spacing out the floor, I felt the lane being a lot more open. The toughness that P.J. brought in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter rebounding and bringing the physicality.

I didnt (take part in the) shootaround, I didnt do anything and to see the chemistry we had, Tucker said. Me and Serge didnt know any plays. We were just kind of playing. I was just kind of a feel and we were working through it and talking. I feel with DeMarre (Carroll) it was amazing; it was really good. It was special and I think we can build something really nice.

We have a lot of potential to a lot of good things this year, Ibaka said. We need a couple more practices together to learn each other and then when Kyle (Lowry) comes back, it is going to be very good.

Lowry injured his wrist in the final game before the All-Star break, a win over the Charlotte Hornets Feb. 15, and played in the All-Star Game. He tried shooting Friday and he was scratched from the game and the injury will be re-evaluated during the weekend.

The Raptors did have Patrick Patterson, who had missed six games with a left-knee contusion, and he scored 11 points off the bench Friday.

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When youre regularly a Stanley Cup contender like the Blackhawks have been, its important to find other ways to maintain your pipeline of talent throughout the system. One way GM Stan Bowman has done that is by striking gold in the KHL, where he uncovered Artemi Panarin and Michal Kempny in back-to-back years.

But theres another area where the Blackhawks have targeted an advantage over their peers, and thats the draft. While the Blackhawks regularly pick near the bottom of the first round, blocking them off from selecting the absolute best prospects available each year, theyve taken a smart alternative by stockpiling picks in general.

As Sportsnets Dimitri Filipovic recently tweeted out, the Blackhawks have had 90 draft picks over the past 10 seasons, more than any other team in the league. Its the same story over the past five years, where the Blackhawks 44 picks is tied for the league high with the Sabres.

The gap is actually rather large, too. While the Blackhawks had 90 picks from 2007-16, the Sabres had the second-most picks with 81. No other team reached 80, which means the Blackhawks had at least nine more prospects in tow than each of the other 29 teams in the past decade.

This is another example of the quiet brilliance of Bowman at work. While hes gotten a lot of credit over the years for his salary cap management and uncovering relatively cheap gems like Panarin, the Blackhawks pipeline easily couldve cratered under the teams now-win strategy.

But rather than eschew the draft simply because top-20 picks were never going to the cards, the Blackhawks decided to double down on their scouting and add more lottery picks in lower rounds. Its a shrewd strategy that helps show why the Blackhawks have been near the top of the NHL for years.

And as we saw with the Tomas Jurco trade over the weekend, theres value to be found in having a stockpile of draft picks. Even after trading their third-rounder to the Red Wings on Friday, the Blackhawks still have nine picks in the upcoming 2017 draft, including their first- and second-round selections.

If the team didnt have so many picks, maybe it would be hesitant to give one up for a flier on a 24-year-old winger. But thanks to the way that management has consistently taken opportunities to keep his supply of draft picks intact, such as trading fringe AHLer Corey Tropp for a seventh-rounder last year, the Blackhawks have had the surplus to make additions like Jurco without ruining their farm system, which has produced key players like Nick Schmaltz, Ryan Hartman, and Vinnie Hinostroza this season.

The Blackhawks deserve credit for managing their assets in a way to allow them to make moves like this. Its one of the biggest reasons theyre still winners a decade into the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane era.

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Blackhawks' draft pick stockpile opens up opportunities like Tomas Jurco trade - Second City Hockey

A wild afternoon for the Padres young arms unfolded at a glacial pace on Sunday. San Diego pitchers issued 14 walks in a 13-2 loss to Seattle at Peoria Stadium.

Michael Kelly and Dinelson Lamet, two right-handers who had never pitched in a big-league spring training game, combined for eight walks without recording an out.

It just got quick for them today, Padres manager Andy Green said.They were kind of flying (open) front-side, leaving the ball up arm-side. Its their first time on a major league spring training field, and you see some jitters. ...I think this is one of those anomaly games that kind of happens to guys.

Padres starter Zach Lee was an early exception to the general lack of control. The righty induced three consecutive grounders in a breezy first inning. In the second, he allowed two hits, including a solo home run by Nelson Cruz, and a walk.

Ideally, thats what I want to do, Lee said of the opening frame. Attack guys early, make guys swing early in counts, keep pitch counts down and keep the ball on the ground. The first inning, everything was down. Obviously, the second inning, I kind of crept up a bit, started pulling some balls, not necessarily executing as well as I want to.

Lee was claimed off waivers from the Mariners in December. He has one career major league appearance, for the Dodgers in 2015.

Like a few other recent additions, Lee does bring some pedigree. The 25-year-old was drafted 28th overall by Los Angeles in 2010. The scouting director at the time was Logan White, now an executive in the Padres front office. For a time, Lee was the Dodgers top prospect.

This is a great opportunity for me, Lee said. Weve got a lot of young guys, which will create a great competition amongst us. And its a real, loose, fun group of guys. I know what I can do, and Im just ready to hopefully get my opportunity to prove it.

Hes got to work his way up the depth chart right now, Green said.I think that goes without saying, where he came from last year. Hes going to have to stack quality outing on quality outing. But hes a competitor. Well see where he ends up.

Padres relievers Craig Stammen and Jose Torres each threw a scoreless inning while notching two strikeouts.

Second baseman Carlos Asuaje and shortstop Luis Sardinas each went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

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Young Padres arms wild in loss to Mariners - The San Diego Union-Tribune

May 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake McGee (51) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Giants 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado Rockies: Wrapping Up the First Weekend of Spring Training Games by Kevin Henry

Last season, additions like Tyler Chatwood(returning from his second Tommy John surgery) and Jon Gray(his first full season in the Majors)made the starting rotation much more potent. Gray in particular looks poised to be anace in the near future. In addition, the 4th overall pick in this past years draft was Riley Pint, who throws over 100 miles per hour consistently. There is little doubt that, barring injury, he can one day grow into a key role in the rotation. Given that he is fresh out of high school, he has plenty of time to perfect his skills.

These key players give Rockies fans hope that one day in the very near future, they will have an at-least solid rotation, which is all they need. That could be this season, with young talent like German Marquez and Jeff Hoffman ready to lend their talents.

However, Coloradosrelief pitchers have been an entirely different story.

Last season, the Rockies posted a 75-87 record, 16 games out of a division title. This was also 12 games out of the playoffs. Their closer at the start of the season, Jake McGee, had a 4.17 ERA and posted just15 total saves all season. Their entire bullpen as a whole could only post a 4.91 ERA, much too high for relief pitchers. It can be said that their bullpen was the reason for enough losses to keep them out of the playoffs. With an even decent bullpen, they might have perhaps gotten closer to competing for a playoff spot.

Over this past offseason, the Rockies landed two free agent relief pitchers whowill hope to help Colorados chronic bullpen problem. These players are Greg Holland and Mike Dunn. Holland, in particular, is a large question mark. He was a borderline elite pitcher until undergoingTommy John surgery. How well he plays after such a large surgery is a big question that could change the entire landscape of the Rockies. Its a high-risk, high-reward acquisition that could dramatically change not only Colorados bullpen, but the teams fortune as well.

Regarding the bullpen, the closer position is probably the biggest question heading into the season. McGee was subpar, and likely wont receive that role again. If Greg Holland can reach a spot where he once was, he will definitely be in the running, as will Adam Ottavino, who returned from Tommy John surgery last season to earn seven saves.

Of these two, whoever does not get the closing role will more than likely be slotted at the 8th inning specialty reliever spot.

What do you think? Who earns the closer spot for this season? Who deserves it? Let us know below.

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Colorado Rockies: Looking at the Back End of the 2017 Bullpen - Rox Pile

Lana Sweeten-Shults , Times Record News 1:05 a.m. CT Feb. 26, 2017

Barwise Middle School students race to their classrooms in August 2016. The Wichita Falls ISD carved out $25 million for additions and renovations to Barwise, McNiel and Kirby junior high schools, which have all been converted to middle schools.(Photo: Times Record News file)Buy Photo

In 2014, voters scoffed, decidedly, at a bold plan by the Wichita Falls ISD to fix the old-school-buildings conundrum.

The district, after all, faced a facilities crisis as some campuses reached and surpassed the century mark.

The plan: Go to a two-high school system by building a new mega high school, convert Hirschi High to a second, smaller school and add a career and technical education center.

It was a failed attempt by the district to try to do something about its aging facilities.

Some campuses were filled to capacity while others were woefully underused, in part because families were able to chose the school their children attended.

Just a year later, in May 2015, votersgave the thumbs up to another school bond, a $59.5 million bond that cost less than half the price of the 2014 proposal. The new bond, once again, would take a step toward alleviating the aging schools issue by making better use of the districts facilities.

One of the key bond projects to help accomplish that vision: renovating the junior high schools, a major project for the district in 2016.

It was a fast-track project under the helm of Construction Manager At Risk Anthony Inman with schematic designs approved by the school boardin August 2015 by Perkins+Will.

McNiel Middle School sixth-grade reading teacher Datra Lonon talks to visitors about her classroom Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, during a open house. The Wichita Falls ISD moved all its sixth-graders to the junior highs and converted them to middle schools in 2016. Barwise and McNiel received the most extensive renovations with the addition of sixth-grade wings and expansion of common areas, such as cafeterias, gyms and fine arts spaces.(Photo: Times Record News file)

The district carved out $25 million, a little less than half the bond money, to convert the junior highs to middle schools.

Along with amending the school choice concept - students are now assigned to zoned schools, although they still can apply to attend a noncapacity campus - the plan was to move sixth-graders out of the elementary schools.

The district already had closed several elementary campuses over the past few years, including Alamo and Sam Houston in 2014, and converted Zundelowitz Junior High to an elementary school.

Now it looked to add sixth-grade wings to Barwise and McNiel junior highs, along with expanding common spaces at both those campuses, such as cafeterias, fine arts spaces and locker rooms.

About $22.3 million of renovations went into Barwise and McNiel.

Kirby Middle School would also get renovations, though they would be less extensive.

The Barwise and McNiel additions were completed in less than a year, by the summer of 2016, and in time for the first day of class in August. Those campuses welcomed 700 sixth-graders.

Barwise, which already had a sixth-grade presence as part of its leadership academy format, added about 300 more sixth-graders for a total of 400.

McNiel, meanwhile, welcomed 400 new sixth-graders in its facilities.

The Wichita Falls ISD also renovated classrooms and completed heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work at Kirby, which houses about 200 sixth-graders.

On Sept. 11, 2016, the district slated open houses so the public could see the results of the renovation.

Now that those redos are complete, the districts big-picture vision is coming into focus.

The plan is to funnel students through assigned attendance zones, not just to assure that campuses arent being overused or underused, but to hew to the concept of students in those zones remaining together throughout their public school years.

Also, campuses in the same attendance zone, particularly middle schools and their sister high school campuses, are collaborating more so that middle schoolers can make a smooth transition to high school.

A bearded dragon rests in the new Barwise Middle School sixth-grade science lab in this Sept. 11, 2016, file photograph. Barwise saw the addition of about 300 sixth-graders welcomed about 300 new sixth-graders and McNiel about 400 sixth-graders. A bond project completed in 2016 added accommodations to prepare for the influx.(Photo: Times Record News file)

While the middle schools did go through some growing pains at the beginning of the school year as they adjusted to the influx of hundreds of sixth-graders, everyone is back to school, settled in and back to the daily grind of reading, writing and rithmetic.

McNiel Middle School Principal Tania Rushing said in August 2016, What I see is a lot of excitement this year. You have a big crop of new, excited kids, and they are going to be together for a while. They are on a campus with people they know and a campus they know.

She was excited about new orchestra, band and choir rooms and about the renovated kitchens.

In the Barwise Middle School cafeteria, new and old meet. Beyond the green painted support beams is the new kitchen. Barwise and McNeil middle schools hosted open houses Sept. 11, 2016, so the community could see the changes to the schools paid for by a $59.5 million bond. About $25 million of that money was spent for junior high additions and renovations.(Photo: Lauren Roberts)

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WFISD completed $25M junior high renovations in 2016 - Times Record News

The Arizona Coyotes alreadysent defenseman Michael Stonepacking prior to the March 1 trade deadline for draft picks, and there remains a large possibility thathe wont be the only Coyote on the move.

The most likely remaining candidate to be traded, according to many, is center Martin Hanzal.

According to ESPN writer Pierre LeBrun, Arizona has narrowed its potential trade partners for Hanzal down to a handful of teams.

The Montreal Canadiens remain in the mix, while the Ottawa Senators have recently inquired, as did the Nashville Predators. But name any contender and its likely they have checked in on Hanzal. As Ive said all season long, the slumping Canadiens make so much sense as a destination for Hanzal, whose 6-foot-6 frame and shutdown talents are things the Habs need down the middle.

The 30-year-old Hanzal becomesa free agent after the season and could be deemed expendable by GM John Chayka if he canbe exchanged for future assets.

The Canadiens and Senators are battlingfor the top spot in the Atlantic Division, as Montreal currently leads the division by two points over Ottawa.

The Predators find themselves fighting for a playoff spot in the West, as their 67 points are tied with the St. Louis Blues for seventh in the conference.

The addition of Hanzal would give any of these teams a solid No. 2 or 3 center down the stretch for their playoff push.

Hanzalwas drafted by Coyotes in the first round of the2005 Draft and has already tied his career-high in goals this season with 16.

The 10-year veteran has also added 10 assists and ranks third on the Coyotes with 26 points.

Arizona, whohas the second-fewest points in the NHL with 49, has multiple young prospectsat center, including 21-year-old Christian Dvorak and 19-year-old Dylan Strome, although neither seems ready to take over as the Coyotes top center.

Along with Jordan Martinook filling in from the wing, Peter Holland, Alexander Burmistrov and Josh Jooris are all recent additions to the group of centers in Arizona.

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Report: Canadiens one of 'handful of teams' interested in acquiring Hanzal - Arizona Sports (registration) (blog)