Die Serie » red to be blocked by Kinsler and shortstop

TORONTO -- With a salary of US$6.5 million, Michael Bradley can afford a fine. And the Toronto FC star midfielder will likely be digging into his wallet after Saturdays 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City. "Its by no means an excuse, it was the same for both teams, but the referee was absolutely awful," Bradley said after carefully choosing his words. "The people at the MLS (head) office in New York, when they talk about wanting to improve the league, the first thing that needs to be improved is the refereeing, bottom line. "That shouldnt come across as sour grapes because thats just the reality. And it was bad for both teams and Im sure theyre sitting in their locker-room saying the same thing to themselves but theyve got three points with them and that certainly makes it a little easier to swallow." Referee Ted Unkel issued eight yellow cards, including five to Toronto. Kansas City was reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when captain/defender Matt Besler got a second yellow. Despite that, substitute Jacob Petersons goal five minutes later completed the comeback for the MLS champions. Bradleys criticism will not go unnoticed at Major League Soccers head office. He is one of U.S. Soccers glamour boys and is no whiner. Foremost on Torontos list of complaints was a no-call in the 23rd minute when Unkel waved play on after Kansas City defender Aurelien Collin, chasing Brazilian striker Gilberto after a deft through ball from Bradley, appeared to clip the Brazilians leg. Gilberto, who had a clear path on goal, went down and Bradley went after the referee imploring for a call, which should have garnered Collin a red card. The French defender went unpunished and Toronto got the first four yellows of the night. Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen, who would have taken off if he had flapped his arms any harder on the sideline, was appalled by the no-call. "Collin should have been sent off. I mean an under-12 ref can pick that one," Nelsen said with disgust. "Thats pretty basic." Nelsen said he was left wondering what was going on with the referee, whose decisions he said had mystified his players. "You tell them to forget about all the decisions that went against you, forget about all that, forget about the ridiculous yellow cards that we got and they got nothing. Just try and focus on the game. But theyre human." Kansas City coach Peter Vermes had a different view of the officiating. "I thought the referee did a good job tonight, that is my personal opinion," he said. "I dont think it was an easy game to ref. "I really liked his management of the game, the things that you can control the ball going out of bounds and the guy trying to steal 15 yards. Those are the things that drive us nuts as coaches, the little calls you might miss or might get, but those things he did a good job of and kept the game going on both sides. But Gilberto, who normally glides through life with a huge smile, was stony-faced after the game. Goals have been hard to come by for the Brazilian, who is being paid handsomely (US$1.25 million) to find the net. He has just two goals and was clearly irked at not getting any action from the referee when he was denied a shot at his third. Quizzed by reporters, he launched into a lengthy diatribe in Portuguese. He wondered if MLS officials were trying to force him "to learn how to play in the MLS." "I want them (the referees) to know that Im not just going to roll over, that Im going to play my game and Im going to play strong and Im going to play hard," he said through an interpreter. "Im not somebody thats going to be a pushover. I want to be treated fairly, just like any other player." A reporter remarked it was the most the 25-year-old Gilberto had ever said to reporters. Was he angry? "Yes, Im a little upset," he said, his face drawn. "Im going to have a play a little harder then," he added. "Im going to show people I came here to play." An upset Nelsen, frustrated for his team, lamented the loss of points at home before a tough four-game road trip with games against D.C. United, Montreal, Columbus and Kansas City. And while saying his team was clearly the better outfit on the night, he rued missed chances. Despite a good run of late, Toronto has conceded soft goals and Saturday night was no exception. "We were spectators. In a time where we had to be urgent and our intensity had to be focused, we just hoped that somebody would do their job. And that was unfortunate." Nelsen was left wondering what pieces are needed for the team to regain its hard edge. "We havent got our balance right yet in that midfield," he said. Peterson, a former Toronto midfielder, took advantage of the home sides inability to clear a deflected cross and poked the ball past goalie Joe Bendik for the winner. Graham Zusi had tied the game for the defending MLS champions in the 48th minute. Toronto (7-6-5) saw its three-game unbeaten streak snapped. Kansas City (11-5-5) has won four straight, is unbeaten in seven league games (6-0-1) and has gone 6-1-3 since back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Chicago in May. The defending champions also extended their club-record win streak on the road to five games. The seven-game unbeaten streak is its longest since the clubs 12-game unbeaten streak to end the 2012 regular season. Jackson scored for Toronto and could have had a hat trick on the night if his finishing had been better before the BMO Field sellout crowd of 22,591. Oduro, who set up the Jackson goal, terrorized the left side of the Kansas City defence for much of the night. Bradley was also influential in the middle of the park, carving open the K.C. defence with his passes. Toronto was without star striker Jermain Defoe, who was sitting out a one-match ban due to an accumulation of yellows. Captain Steven Caldwell (quad) and fellow defender Mark Bloom (knee) were also out. The home sides injury concerns on defence were not helped by a yellow card in first-half stoppage time to Doneil Henry, who will miss the next game as a result. Kansas City was missing goalie Erik Kronberg (hand) and midfielder Paulo Nagamura (ankle). Oduro made the opening goal, retrieving the ball from an errant K.C. header and beating Besler before slicing open the defence with a pass to Jackson. The Brazilian winger rounded goalie Andy Gruenebaum and scored his third of the season into the empty net. Nick Hagglund and Oduro both hit the goalpost in the first half. The tying goal came early in the second half after a pinball-like scramble in front of Bendik saw four Kansas City players try to get to the ball. It came back to Zusi at the edge of the box and he curled the ball into the top right corner with Bendik out of position in the 48th minute. 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Cheap Hydro Flask Water Bottle . Wiggins, who had been seen as a contender for a podium finish in Paris, was one of about 20 riders caught near the back of the peloton with 38 kilometres to go in the 218-km flat stage from Le Mans to Chateauroux. DETROIT -- Less than two years after boldly signing Prince Fielder to a $214 million contract, the Detroit Tigers traded the slugging first baseman to Texas in another blockbuster move. Fielder was dealt to the Rangers on Wednesday night for second baseman Ian Kinsler. The Tigers agreed to pay the Rangers $30 million as part of the swap, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the amount of money exchanged was not revealed when the teams announced the trade. The $30 million is payable from 2016-20. "Obviously, a very exciting trade for us in adding Prince Fielder to the organization," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "Also a tough trade to make in that Ian Kinslers been with the organization since he was drafted in 03, and weve signed him here a couple of times. Been here, a catalyst for our World Series clubs, and a huge part of this. A winning guy, a heart-and-soul guy, and Detroit got a tremendous player and person." Its the first headline-grabbing move of baseballs off-season, and it involves two of the American Leagues top teams. Detroit has won three consecutive AL Central titles and reached the World Series in 2012, while Texas won the AL pennant in 2010 and 2011. Fielder, a five-time All-Star, had to consent to the trade before it could be completed. The big first baseman signed a $214 million, nine-year contract with the Tigers before the 2012 season that includes a limited no-trade provision. "Were thankful for what he did for us," Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "Itll be a bat that we miss at times -- theres no doubt about it." Kinsler just finished the first season of a $75 million, five-year contract. With stars like Fielder, Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Anibal Sanchez in the fold, Detroits payroll had become one of the games biggest. And although Fielder hit 55 home runs over the last two years for the Tigers, his numbers dipped this season and he struggled in the playoffs when Detroit lost to Boston in the AL championship series. Fielder hit .279 with 25 homers this year. He drove in 106 runs, but it was his lowest home run total over a full season. He did not have a single RBI in the 2013 post-season and hit .182 in the ALCS. Daniels said the trade came together quickly -- the first discussions took place Tuesday. The Rangers will welcome the durable Fielder, who has played 162 games in four of the last five seasons. Texas was interested in Fielder when he signed with Detroit as a free agent. "Our offer was well below what it ended up being, so we werent that close," Daniels said. "I thought he was a genuine guy that really loved the game, really loved playing the game, loved his boys, his sons." Kinsler batted .277 with 13 homers this year. The a three-time All-Star was limited to 136 games because of injuries to his ribs and right side. Kinsler stole 15 bases in 2013 -- not a high total by his standards but more than any player on the Detroit team he is joining. The trade could save the Tigers more than $75 million in the long run, giving them more financial flexibility with Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer a year from free agency. Fielder is still only 29, and the Rangers are set to add a big bat to the middle of their lineup while also resolving a logjam in the middle of their infield. Jurickson Profar, a highlly touted 20-year-old prospect, appeared to be blocked by Kinsler and shortstop Elvis Andrus.dddddddddddd Now, Profar should have a chance to play regularly. The Tigers signed Fielder to a huge contract shortly before spring training in 2012 -- after designated hitter Victor Martinez injured his knee. Martinez came back in 2013. With Fielder gone, Cabrera may move from third base back to first. "Im really not sure what were going to do as we sit here now today," Dombrowski said. "Eventually, we see him as a first baseman. Will it happen this year or not? Im not sure." The 31-year-old Kinsler fills a need at second base for Detroit after Omar Infante became a free agent. Fielder is due $168 million through 2020, a salary of $24 million per season. Under his no-trade clause, he submits a list of 10 teams each year that he can be traded to without his approval. Texas was not on that list this year, but Fielder agreed to accept the trade and instructed agent Scott Boras to approve the deal. "If he was coming off the best year of his career, hes not available," Daniels said. "I think thats kind of the whole idea of this deal -- if anybody feels like thats a sign of things to come, that hes slipping, you may not like the deal. We dont feel that way. We dont feel that way at all." Kinsler is guaranteed $62 million through 2017: $16 million in each of the next two seasons, $14 million in 2016, $11 million in 2017 and a $5 million buyout of a $10 million option. Its already been an unpredictable off-season for the Tigers. Manager Jim Leyland stepped down after the season and was replaced by Brad Ausmus. Detroit could have come back with a similar roster and probably been favoured to win the division again, but now more changes seem possible. "If you put Kinslers bat at the top of the lineup, thats an instant threat," Ausmus said. "It changes the dynamic, but it doesnt mean its any less potent." If Cabrera moves back to first base, prospect Nick Castellanos might replace him at third. Previously, it appeared Castellanos would have to play the outfield if both Cabrera and Fielder were still on the team. Andy Dirks is still available to play left field, but thats a spot the Tigers could still try to upgrade. They also have six capable starting pitchers -- Drew Smyly was used in the bullpen this year -- so thats a surplus that could come in handy in a possible trade. Detroits bullpen will likely undergo a makeover after struggling last season. The Rangers lost slugging outfielder Nelson Cruz to a late-season suspension as a result of MLBs investigation in the Biogenesis case. Hes now a free agent, and if Texas loses him, Fielder, who hit 50 homers in 2007 for Milwaukee at 23, should help replace his production. "A huge focus for us this winter was finding some kind of middle-of-the-order presence and power, and at 29 years old, I still think theres still a lot of big run production and years ahead of him," Daniels said. Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios are among the dangerous hitters under contract next season in Texas. Beltre had an AL-high 199 hits and Rios, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in August after Cruz was suspended, has a year left on his deal. The Rangers lost a one-game tiebreaker to Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card this year. The trade agreement was first reported by CBSSports.com. ' ' '