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DENVER -- Once he hit the ball down the left-field line, Kyle Blanks began talking to it in an attempt to keep it fair. Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys . On the mound and watching the ball soar toward the stands, Jeff Francis started leaning in an effort to push it foul. "I think I mightve been talking louder than he was leaning," Blanks said. Blanks hit a two-run homer that caromed off the foul screen and Eric Stults tossed seven solid innings, helping the San Diego Padres to a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night. For Blanks, this was another memorable night at Coors Field. The powerful first baseman is having quite a series, going 6 for 11 with two homers and five RBIs. And to think he almost didnt make the trip to the Mile High City. He was headed for the minors before the Padres had a late change of plans when infielder Yonder Alonso went on the disabled list. "Getting good pitches to hit. Havent been missing too many," Blanks said of his recent success. "Thats typically how anyone gets quite a few hits." For Francis (2-4), that misplaced changeup may end up costing him more than a game. The soft-tossing lefty is auditioning to keep his spot in the rotation, especially with veteran Roy Oswalt throwing well for Double-A Tulsa. This didnt exactly cement Francis place. "Im not sitting here talking about whats going to happen next week," manager Walt Weiss said when asked about Francis remaining in the rotation. "Well see what happens." Francis struggled in his first start since coming off the disabled list with a strained left groin. He allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. "I dont think I was rusty," Francis said. Everth Cabrera had three hits, including a bloop RBI double, and stole two more bases, running his season total to a major league-leading 28. Stults (5-5) never really ran into trouble against his former team, giving up seven hits and two runs (one earned) for his first win in four starts. Dale Thayer pitched out of a jam in the eighth and Luke Gregerson closed out the ninth for his second save in three chances. It was far from a routine save, though, as Gregerson had runners on second and third with one out, only to get Tyler Colvin to line out to second and then struck out Dexter Fowler to end the game. "That line drive? That will make your heart stop for a second," Gregerson said. "Once we had two outs, I went right after Fowler with a healthy dose of sliders." The Rockies were 0 for 15 with runners in scoring position. That kind of futility doesnt happen all too often to one of the top-hitting teams in the NL. "You cant expect to win when you leave so many guys on base," said Carlos Gonzalez, who was hitless in four at-bats and struck out twice. "Tonight was just a bad game. You have to forget about it." Up 4-2 in the ninth, the Padres had a chance to pad their lead when they loaded the bases with two outs. But Nolan Arenado made a magnificent play at third base, snaring Cameron Maybins slow roller with his bare hand and throwing him out at first base. The Rockies couldnt carry over the momentum. "We just didnt get the big hit tonight," Weiss said. "They did a pretty good job of getting through some things." One of the Rockies runs came courtesy of a throwing error and the other when Colvin grounded out in the seventh following D.J. LeMahieus one-out triple. Colvin was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier in the day and entered the game as part of a double-switch. Stults nearly escaped a jam in the third when the Rockies had runners at first and third with one out. He struck out Gonzalez, but catcher Yasmani Grandal overthrew second with Eric Young Jr. stealing, allowing Fowler to trot home. He was pretty much in control the rest of the way. "Ive been feeling pretty good on the mound," said Stults, who briefly pitched for the Rockies in 2011. "Just like a hitter, you kind of get a groove going. The last few starts, I feel like I have a good tempo. Ive felt good about the way Ive been throwing the ball." San Diego scored a run in the first when Chase Headley singled in Cabrera, who walked and stole second. Headley was back in the lineup after leaving the game Friday with tightness in his right calf after being hit by a pitch. Michael Cuddyer missed his second straight game with sore ribs. The outfielder is hoping he will be healed in a few days and wont have to go on the disabled list for a second time this season. NOTES: The Padres recalled RHP Burch Smith from Triple-A Tucson and optioned RHP Brad Boxberger. ... The Rockies drafted SS Brody Weiss, the son of manager Walt Weiss, in the 22nd round. Brody Weiss is committed to play next year at UC Santa Barbara. "Guess Ill have to negotiate with the Rockies in the next couple of weeks here," Walt Weiss said, smiling. ... Rockies closer Rex Brothers had his brother Hunter, a right-hander out of Lipscomb University in Tennessee, drafted by Colorado in the 24th round. ... To make room for Francis, the team designated RHP Jon Garland for assignment. ... The Rockies wore camouflage caps for Military Appreciation Day. Wholesale China Jerseys .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Wholesale Jerseys USA . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. http://www.cheapcnjerseystousa.com/ ;. For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. In the early 2000s, the rules of the fantasy league between Green Bay Packers?front-office executives and scouts were straightforward: No money was involved. Coaches were not allowed to play, and you could not draft any Packers.Still, despite the seemingly harmless nature of the league, a team executive was a little bit concerned and thought he should call the NFL office. I knew [the NFL] had this mantra of gambling affects the integrity of the game, recalled Andrew Brandt, then a vice president for the Packers. Back then, I didnt know if fantasy was gambling. I didnt know how they would view it.The response I got was either We didnt have this conversation or Just do it and dont tell anyone that youre doing it.A decade later, Brandt, now a columnist for TheMMQB.com on Sports Illustrated, has a better understanding of the NFLs stance on fantasy sports and gambling. But, as discussions heat up about expanding legal sports betting in the U.S., he believes the league needs to be more proactive on the issue. Brandt, ESPN NFL Business Analyst, visited with Chalk about the leagues stance on sports betting as part of our series on the future of sports betting in the U.S.Q: How well do you think the NFLs gambling policy was understood back then, and how well is it understood now?A: People understand the general concept that gambling flies in the face of integrity in [the] sense that it has associations with fixing games. It has associations with casinos. It has an association with a negative element that goes against this mantra of competitive balance and integrity. But drilling down, I think its not that deep of [an] understanding, because there are some contradictions, and there are some questions as to how things apply.Q: How would you characterize the divide among NFL owners when it comes to the leagues opposition to expanding legal sports betting?A: I think the stance generally is more evolved. I say that because we havent had owners standing up on the table beating the drum against the possible relocation (of the Oakland Raiders) to Las Vegas. But even before we get to Vegas, I think theres a more evolved view. I cant name names, because I dont know which is which, but I do think there is an old guard that continues to hold up their hands in a stop sign to anything associated with gambling. But theres a newer version of ownership thats much more flexible when it comes to that.Q: What is the biggest concern from those who oppose sports betting?A: I think theres always the concern of competitive balance. It drives everything the league does. In my expertise, it drives the reason for restrictions on free agency. It drives the reason for a salary cap. It drives the reason for a draft in inverse order. And you can apply it to gambling. There is a concern that, if we allow [gambling] in, players, coaches, referees, executives will be subject to potential influence that could influence the outcome of these games. Every time Roger Goodell speaks about fantasy, the clear distinction is outcome of games versus outcomes of player performance. Thats the fear: that [gambling] could affect the competitive balance of the league. It could affect outcomes of games.Q: Why doess the NFL believe the current environment, where the majority of bets are placed in an illegal, unregulated market, better protects the integrity of the game than a legal market overseen by licensed officials?A: Its a fair question. China Jerseys Authentic. I think its the fear of the unknown. Its stepping into new territory, and again, I think the NFL isnt the most progressive sports league and not the one that you would see jumping into previously taboo areas. You have (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver writing an op-ed in the New York Times about exactly what you said in terms of bringing gambling out in the light. You have the NHL all-in, moving a team to Las Vegas. So before the NFL dips [its] toes in the water, I think they want to see it happen in other leagues. They dont move as nimbly as others.Q: Youve written about the need for the league to be proactive on sports gambling and possibly hiring a new executive position, a gambling czar. What would that positions responsibilities be, in your opinion?A: I do think that its a position that makes sense. It sort of follows the path of concussions and brain health. Because whats happened over the years is a positive trajectory toward concussions, a better understanding, better science, better rules, better governance and the hiring of a chief medical officer. I think that is a good path for the gambling issue. As they understand fantasy, as they understand the issues with Las Vegas, as they look into consequences for gambling, why not have the same strategy in hiring a chief gambling officer, what Ive called a gambling czar? So in this area that is incredibly changing and moving quickly, lot of legislation, lot of issues, lot of litigation and a potentially lucrative revenue source, which will get their attention as much as anything, why not hire this person?This person would have two primary responsibilities. One is regulation and enforcement, which is upholding the integrity of the game. First of all youd create the rules that prohibit players, coaches, referees, team personnel from placing bets in any way on any aspect of the game. The czar would be the clearinghouse that Ive talked about in terms of Can we do this? Why cant we do this? What are the limitations to play fantasy football? What are our limitations on aligning with a casino, whether sponsorship, advertising or marketing, etc.?Then I think there would also be the investigatory process that we hear so much about, with Roger Goodell and player conduct. There would be the same kind of policy, discipline, procedure and regulations in this area. Now, would Goodell want overarching authority? Thats another issue. But this czar would be the one deciding, notifying, investigating all these issues within this area.Q: The czar would have been the person you would have called regarding the Packers fantasy league? A: Absolutely. It would have been this person, and the answer would have been clear, concise. A general lawyer, who was the person that I called, is working on 50 different things, and gambling was probably not even on his radar. 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