s said, I feel like Im ready right now.The only first | Forum

Youve no doubt heard this all-too-common refrain by now: Major League Baseball games drag on and simply last too long. Ryan Tannehill Jersey .MLB appeared to make strides on that front last season when some new pace-of-game measures dropped the average time of a nine-inning contest to 2:56, a six-minute improvement from an all-time high of 3:02 in 2014. But in 2016, the average time has crept back to an even three hours.At a recent owners meeting, commissioner Rob Manfred floated the idea of limiting pitching changes and installing pitch clocks as ways to speed up games and make them more appealing to the newest generation of fans.There has been ample criticism of the usual suspects, whether its a conga line of relievers (especially after September call-ups), too many commercials or lengthy replay reviews; those issues do need to be addressed, as their impact on game times is undeniable. But as drastic moves are pondered, a pleasant trend is bubbling up from within.More up-and-coming pitchers work at a pace that would make legendary quick-pitcher Mark Buehrle proud. Among those leading the way is 25-year-old Mets lefty Steven Matz, who burns just 18.7 seconds between pitches, according to FanGraphs, the third-fastest among pitchers with at least 100 innings (entering play Tuesday). Said Matz to The Wall Street Journal earlier this season: Im definitely a rhythm pitcher. I try to stay in that rhythm and work quickly.Young hurlers like Matz, who had his season ended early by an elbow injury, offer a ray of hope that baseball will be able to lower game times without resorting to drastic measures. Lets take a closer look.Age trends Derrick Henry Jersey . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Jeffery Simmons Youth Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.authentictitanspro.com/Kevin-byard-titans-jersey/ . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. GREEN BAY, Wis. --?Aaron Rodgers preseason debut might not come this week after all.Even though the Green Bay Packers quarterback said during the telecast of Fridays preseason game against the Cleveland Browns that, Im going to play next week and coach Mike McCarthy said after the game that, I think history will tell you hell play next week, it sure didnt look that way based on Sundays practice.Rodgers was at the helm of the scout team, just like last week in advance of the Browns game, when he did not play. With only one more full practice scheduled before Thursdays game against the Oakland Raiders, perhaps McCarthy plans to save Rodgers for one or both of the final two preseason games.The Packers have been cutting back Rodgers preseason work the past several years. But this would be a departure from how theyve done it. Last summer, Rodgers played in the first two preseason games, which amounted to just 47 plays over five series.The previous year, he played in the middle two preseason games (when he played in eight series and a total of 69 snaps). He hasnt quarterbacked in a preseason finale since 2012.Rodgers has participated in every training camp practice this year except for one, on Aug. 4, when he was given the day off for rest.The 32-year-old is entering his ninth season as a starter, his 12th season overall and 11th with McCarthy as hiss head coach. Earl Campbell Jersey. . Last week, he was asked when hell know if hes ready for the season opener at Jacksonville on Sept. 11. Rodgers said, I feel like Im ready right now.The only first-team reps Rodgers took on Sunday came during a simulated 2-minute drill.If Rodgers doesnt play Thursday, expect Brett Hundley to get the start. The presumptive No. 2 quarterback did not play against the Browns because of a sprained left ankle he sustained in practice on Aug. 1, and he would not have played in the Hall of Fame Game had it not been canceled.Undrafted rookies Joe Callahan and Marquise Williams split the quarterback duties against the Browns.Hundley returned to practice Sunday and took most of the first-team reps after Callahan started against Cleveland. Last year as a rookie, Hundley shined in the preseason, leading the NFL in exhibition passing years (630) while completing 69.2 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and one interception. As the No. 3 quarterback last season, he did not play in any games.This is the time Ive been waiting for -- to get back on the field, Hundley said Sunday. Its been a whole year since Ive touched the field and had a chance to play. Im so excited to get out there and play again. ' ' '