hit a liner right back at Hammel

[jinshuiqian0713]

TORONTO -- The lid has been lifted a little on the cost of Toronto FCs rebirth, with a 2014 player payroll almost quadrupled from last season. Figures released Thursday by the MLS Players Union show that Toronto is home to three of the 12 players in the league making million-dollar-plus salaries in 2014. Seattle Sounders striker Clint Dempsey is the leagues highest-paid player at $6.695 million (all figures U.S.). Two Toronto players are next with U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley at $6.5 million and England striker Jermain Defoe at $6.18 million. Los Angeles Galaxy players ranked fourth and fifth with forward Landon Donovan listed at $4.583 million and Irish striker Robbie Keane at $4.5 million. Two New York Red Bulls are next: French striker Thierry Henry at $4.35 million and Australian midfielder Tim Cahill at $3.625. Montreal forward Marco Di Vaio is the highest-paid Impact player at $2.6 million (eighth in the league) while midfielder Pedro Morales leads the Vancouver Whitecaps at $1.41 million (10th). Torontos Brazilian striker Gilberto earns $1.2 million (12th), making for a total TFC payroll of $16.65 million. That compares to a team total of $4.35 million last season, according to the unions September 2013 numbers. The TFC spending spree is paying dividends with Toronto (3-1-0) currently second in the Eastern Conference standings. The team managed only six wins in 2013 when it went 6-17-11. Tim Leiweke, CEO and president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, has said the soccer club will lose money this season because of the outlay, however. The other million-dollar-plus earners are Seattle forward Obafemi Martins ($1.753 million, ninth) and Los Angeles defender Omar Gonzalez ($125 million, 11th). All 12 are designated players, meaning that only $387,500 of their pay counts against their clubs $3.1-million salary cap. The union figures do not include performance bonuses. Not do they show instances where players are provided accommodations, which an union spokesman said was rare but can happen. And its safe to assume that Julio Cesar, the Brazilian international goalkeeper on loan with Toronto from Queens Park Rangers, is not having to scrape by on a mere $202,000. QPR is no doubt topping up his bank account big-time. Thanks to the leagues complicated rules, player salaries may be larger than listed by the union. Teams can used so-called allocation money to buy down player salaries, including the cap hit of DPs. MLS rules state: "Clubs have the option of buying down the budget charge of a designated player with allocation money. The reduced charge may not be less than $150,000." Still the union salary figures offer a look at a league of haves and have nots. Mark Bloom, a 26-year-old fullback who has played every minute of Torontos first four games, is listed as making $48,825. On the plus side, Blooms salary was $46,500 last season. The extra money will come in handy now that Blooms wife is expecting their first child. To put Bradleys and Defoes $6-million-plus 2014 salaries in perspective, Toronto Maple Leafs stars Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf signed eight-year, $64-million and seven year, $49-million contract extensions, respectively, earlier this season. Phaneuf is making $5.5 million this season while Kessel is getting $5.4 million. Raptors forward Amir Johnson, another member of the MLSE family, reportedly makes the same money as Bradley at $6.5 million. Thats some $6 million more than Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray reportedly will make this season and hes the highest-paid player in the CFL. Veteran Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario, who rejoined Toronto FC during the off-season, is listed at $173,000. Thats down from the $645,333 he got last year with D.C. United. Toronto captain Steven Caldwells listed salary is $364,167 while Vancouver skipper Jay DeMerit is at $2457,500 and Montreal captain Patrice Bernier makes $205,000. Canadian international midfielder Will Johnson, who captains the Portland Timbers, is listed at $325,000. Newly acquired Impact striker Jack McInerney is making $294,167 while Vancouver forward Kenny Miller is at $940,000, down from $1.25 million a year ago. Toronto midfielder Jonathan Osorio got a healthy raise, moving to $142,600 from $46,500. Goalie Joe Bendik went to $147,375 from $46,500, only to lose his starting job to Cesar. U.S. international midfielder Graham Zusi, at $398,250, is the highest-paid member of defending champion Sporting Kansas City. But he is also one of six players making more than $200,000 on the roster. Toronto has five players above $200,000. MLS has a ways to go to catch other leagues. Barcelona pays Argentine star Lionel Messi more than $21 million a year, according to Forbes magazine. The MLS union numbers include the players base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the players contract, including option years. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . -- Houstons All-Star tandem of James Harden and Dwight Howard refused to let the Rockets give in to fatigue. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Chris Heisey followed with a two-run triple and Billy Hamilton added an RBI double, all but sealing Cincinnatis fourth straight victory and seventh in eight games. Brandon Phillips, celebrating his 33rd birthday, hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth for the Reds before pinch-hitter Buster Posey tied it with an RBI double off hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom half. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. -- Coyotes coach Dave Tippett thinks of one thing when he watches Eastern Conference teams struggle against Western opponents before they get to Phoenix: His team must keep pace. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .com) - Jimmy Butler made four key free throws down the stretch to lift the Chicago Bulls over the Boston Celtics, 109-102, on Friday. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Neither side would publicly confirm or deny any discussions were taking place, until the near unexpected happened. On Saturday night sources confirmed to TSN, the league and players agreed to terms on a new, tentative CBA, pending ratification by the unions players. A league source confirmed the CFLs board of governors must also ratify any potential agreement. CHICAGO -- Brandon Cumpton pitched seven scoreless innings, Travis Snider hit a solo homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Sunday. Cumpton (3-2) won his third straight decision as the Pirates won the last two games of the three-game series. Cumpton allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out four. The rookie right-hander retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced. He allowed a walk to Nate Schierholtz in the fifth inning, but rebounded by getting John Baker to hit into an inning-ending double play. Ryan Sweeney reached on a single against Cumpton in the first inning and the other hit was by Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel in the sixth. Pirates closer Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 15 chances. Melancon gave up back-to-back singles to Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro. Melancon then struck out Luis Valbuena and got Schierholtz to hit into a fielders choice as Rizzo scored. Melancon finished the game by getting Junior Lake to fly out. Gregory Polanco had his hitting streak snapped at 11 games. The Pirates rookie leadoff hitter had a hit in his first 11 major league games. He was 0 for 3 with a walk. Hammel (6-5) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one. Hammels first pitch of the third inning was hit over the centre-field wall by Snider. It was Sniders fourth of the season. Later in the inning, Josh Harrison hit a liner right back at Hammel.dddddddddddd The ball ricocheted off Hammels right side and allowed Chris Stewart to score from third. Harrison reached first base without a throw. Hammel was briefly looked at by a team trainer. Pirates reliever Tony Watson pitched out of trouble in the eighth. With runners on second and third with one out, Watson struck out pinch-hitters Welington Castillo and Justin Ruggiano. NOTES: Cubs OF Emilio Bonifacio has yet to return to baseball activities after being placed on the disabled list on June 13 with a rib injury. "Were still in the wait-and-see," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "Hes feeling better, hes not feeling any discomfort anymore." Renteria added that this type of injury can become chronic if not taken care of properly, so the Cubs are being as patient and proactive as possible to make sure Bonifacio is full recovered before returning to the active roster. ... Pirates 2B Neil Walker is expected to join the team in Tampa Bay on Monday. He has been on the DL since June 9 with an appendectomy. He is eligible to be reinstated on Tuesday. ... Pirates OF Starling Marte is expected to rejoin the club in Tampa on Monday. He is attending to a personal matter in the Dominican Republic. ... Before the game, the Cubs activated Castillo off the DL. He missed 18 games with a rib cage injury. ' ' '