about 20 miles from the Rangers ballpark, Cashne

The race is on to catch Sydney FC at the top of the A-League table, but the biggest battle in domestic football this season isnt to win the league - its to join it.FFAs decision to begin a formal process early in the new year for teams to enter the A-League has set the pulses racing.As many as a dozen expansion markets exist around Australia and New Zealand, contending for what are likely to be two vacancies.Brisbane, southern Sydney, Tasmania, Auckland, South Melbourne, Canberra and Wollongong are all candidates, among others.And why wouldnt they be interested?Crowds are up, broadcast audiences are up and playing standards are up.Since the admission of the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012, football dreamers have looked forward to the next entry to boost the 10-team competition.FFA bosses have opted for consolidation over the past five years, only toying with the idea of changing the line-up at crisis moments with existing teams; most notably in October last year at Wellingtons expense.But with the Phoenixs investors backing the New Zealand side for at least another three seasons after this one, the focus now is on expansion and not replacement.A-League chief Greg ORourke gave a timetable for possibly two new teams in the 2018/19 competition in a statement last week.A framework for expansion will be completed early next year which will allow (interested consortia) to submit expressions of interest in a framework which focuses on the viability of the the proposed franchise and its ability to provide benefits to the A-League and the game, it read.In other words, its game on.As it stands right now, the A-League aspirants are at varying states of preparedness.A well-financed Tasmanian bid, which has already met with FFA, believe it just needs the tick-off from head office to start investing and hit the ground running.National Soccer League powerhouses South Melbourne have a champion second-tier team, a boutique stadium and a burning desire to be back among the big boys.In Queensland, former Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg believes fellow NSL winners Brisbane Strikers could be a viable force in the A-League, and is working with investors to plot a pathway into the top tier.Further afield, Oceania powerhouses Auckland City are beginning an exploratory process that could lead to a bid.Chairman Ivan Vuksich told AAP the club was in the very early days of looking at raising the capital.Wed obviously like to be involved, he said.Weve made some tentative enquiries but its very preliminary.Had the Phoenix not continued in the competition, FFA was ready to introduce a third Sydney team encompassing the Sutherland, St George and Illawarra regions.Despite Sydney FCs opposition, it remains a favoured option for the governing body - but its unlikely FFA will drive the concept this time around, meaning external investors will be required.All three associations are still keen to come together and former A-League chief Lyall Gorman, now the chairman on NRL club Cronulla, is eager to accommodate a team at Southern Cross Group Stadium.Its expected any southern Sydney franchise would also play games at WIN Stadium but the Wollongong Wolves, back-to-back NSL champions in 2000 and 2001, believe the South Coast should have its own team and will consider putting forward a bid once FFA releases its criteria.If guidelines come out in January or February, of course were going to look at those guidelines very, very closely, new Wolves CEO Chris Papakosmas told AAP.We have some very, very significant contacts and connections within corporate Australia, right across the country, and we intend to leverage those when its most appropriate and suits everyone involved.The choices for FFA extend further afield, with Geelong presenting a regional alternative for another Victorian franchise, while second teams in Adelaide or Perth are long-shot contenders.No bids are expected from the Gold Coast or North Queensland, two regions burned badly by the A-Leagues disastrous first attempt at expansion in 2009. Stitched Mets Jerseys . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. New York Mets Shirts . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/ . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. New York Mets Gear . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Mets Jerseys 2019 . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Right-hander Andrew Cashner is going home for a spot in the Texas Rangers rotation.A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Friday that the free agent pitcher and the team had reached an agreement on a $10 million, one-year deal. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and wasnt finalized, and the AL West champions had not made an official announcement.Cashner, a Texas native who was a first-round draft pick out of TCU in 2008, finished last season with the Miami Marlins after the San Diego Padres traded him July 29. He was 5-11 with a 5.25 ERA in 28 games last season.Texas had inquired about Cashner before the non-waiver trading deadline last summer, and had previously been interested in him.The 30-year-old Cashner will join a Rangers rotation thats led by aces Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish, and includes Martin Perez.After a standout career at TCU, about 20 miles from the Rangers ballpark, Cashner was drafted 19th overall by the Cubs in 2008. He made his major league debut two years later with 53 appearances for Chicago. The Cubs traded him to San Diego after the 2011 season, in the deal that sent first baseman Anthony Rizzo to Chicago, and Cashneer eventually became a starter for the Padres.ddddddddddddCashner has a 31-53 record with a 3.89 ERA in 202 career games. He has started 103 of his last 104 games since making five relief appearances for San Diego the first month of the 2013 season.Texas earlier this month declined its $11 million option for left-handed starter Derek Holland, instead electing a $1.5 million buyout and making him a free agent. The 30-year-old Holland was part of Texas only two World Series teams in 2010 and 2011, but missed significant time because of injuries the past three seasons.Game notes The Rangers received RHP Tyler Wagner on waiver claim from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 25-year-old Wagner spent most of the 2016 season on the disabled list at Triple-A Reno with a strained right lat muscle. He made three relief appearances for Arizona in April. ... Texas purchased the contract of 1B Ronald Guzman from Triple-A Round Rock, a move that protects him from the Rule 5 draft during the winter meetings next month. ... Right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson was assigned outright to Double-A Round Rock. ' ' '