Kritik und Lob » Manager Dusty Bake

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings sought an innovative and unique look for their new stadium that could be instantly recognized on national television.To receive public funding, the place needed to be covered, and a retractable roof option was passed over for a translucent cover. Its more cost-efficient and can make the interior almost feel like the outdoors when coupled with the top-to-bottom glass front of the asymmetrical, ship-shaped building.As the construction process unfolded, the Vikings learned that their preferred design came with quite the benefit.Loud noises.The see-through plastic panels that account for 60 percent of the roof, a space-age material called ethylene tetraflouroethylene or ETFE, are considered more acoustically reflective than the Teflon cover over the old Metrodome. The Vikings enjoyed a significant edge during their 32 seasons in that stadium, often thriving off the sounds of an amped-up crowd that reverberated off the ceiling.Now, at U.S. Bank Stadium, the capacity is a bit larger at 66,000 seats. The angle of the roof could also tilt more of the noise toward the visiting team benches. The seats and suites are the closest to the action of any venue in the NFL, at 41 feet and 25 feet from the sidelines, respectively.Id like it to be extremely loud, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. Its always a chance for home-field advantage for us, so thats what Im hoping for.The Vikings will play their first regular-season game on Sunday night against Green Bay. The prime-time contest against the archrival Packers will already have the fans revved up, and the magnitude of the had-to-be-there moment of a stadiums first real game can only enhance the environment. Factor in the aforementioned physics of the building material, and the potential for ringing ears into the next day is clear.Its going to be out of control. Lights out. I expect nothing less, Vikings left guard Alex Boone said. The electricity is probably going to be through the roof.That will certainly be a challenge for the opponent.The Metrodome, as far as the uniqueness of the noise level that youve dealt with over the years, I think has given us a pretty good gauge or standard of what the expectation should be, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.The Packers accused the Vikings in the past of artificially enhancing the Metrodome atmosphere with piped-in noise through the stadium speakers to supplement the actual screaming of the fans. Fair or not, fact or fiction, such a trick was hardly necessary then and especially wont be now.I think early in the game, its going to be tough to hear anything, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. You know on the road we like to use a silent count like all teams do, and you just have to figure out those opportunities when you can use your verbal checks and stuff.After two years outside at the University of Minnesotas TCF Bank Stadium, where the franchise record for the coldest game in Vikings history was set in the playoffs in January with a kickoff temperature of minus-6 degrees, the Vikings will field a team well-suited for the new place. The players, of course, will relish the bells and whistles of the $1.1 billion building to call their own.Their run-oriented offense supported by reigning NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson is the kind of scheme that fits well in the natural elements. A passing attack that has lagged for several years can only benefit from the controlled climate. Kicker Blair Walsh, who missed the last-second 27-yard field goal in a one-point defeat by Seattle on that frigid January day, ought to get a boost from the neutral conditions.Then theres the defense that has been ascending under Zimmer toward one of the stingiest in the league.If youre indoors and its loud, I think thats a big advantage for a pass rush because theyre going on silent cadence and theyre not getting double cadence and all that stuff, Zimmer said.The potential for jet-engine-like decibel levels is high enough that Dr. David Geddes, an audiologist at HealthPartners clinics in the Twin Cities area, wrote tips and warnings for ear protection for fans in an article posted last month on the health care providers website.Force from loud sound vibrations can damage tiny cells inside your ear, Geddes said. Damage to these hair cells cannot be reversed, so the key is to use hearing protection to prevent damage. One-third of permanent hearing loss is preventable.The only damage sought at the stadium by the Vikings, of course, will be to the won-loss record of their opponents.The louder they are, Zimmer said, the more itll help us.That comes with a caveat, though.If we stink, the coach said, then it wont be very loud.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP Jamal Crawford Jersey . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. Quentin Richardson Jersey .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. https://www.cheapclippersonline.com/750h-ken-norman-jersey-clippers.html . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Bill Walton Jersey . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Ernie DiGregorio Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals took a chance signing Mat Latos to a minor league deal in June. The move paid off on a major league mound on Monday.In his first big league start since June 7, Latos threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run with three walks and four strikeouts as the Nationals beat the New York Mets 8-1.Latos also hit a solo home run and Antony Rendon added a three-run shot as the Nationals increased their lead over the Mets to 10 games in the Nationals League East.I was pleased with the fastball command, said Latos. I was able to make some pitches when I needed to. I really had an out pitch where I could put away some hitters.Latos had a solid first start with the Nationals, but left the game with one out in the fifth inning with hamstring tightness. He will be reevaluated Tuesday.Reynaldo Lopez (3-3) was among three relievers to combine for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.Latos signed with Washington in June after the Chicago White Sox released him. He was added to the Nationals 40-man roster earlier this month.Ive told him its a chance to re-establish his value, said manager Dusty Baker, and get back on the board as a big-league pitcher and try to find a home and not go from team to team to team because he has good stuff.For the third straight outing Mets starter Rafael Montero (0-1) struggled with command. Montero walked three Nationals in the first inning, including Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos with the bases loaded.Latos led off the second with a solo homer, before Daniel Murphy doubled and Harper was intentionally walked. The move backfired as Rendon then delivered his 18th homer of the season to put Washington ahead 6-1.Montero allowed five hits and six runs in 1 2/3 innings with four walks and two strikeouts. Over his last three starts, Montero has allowed 14 walks in 11 innings.Manager Terry Collins said Montero will not start again in five days.Its pretty frustrating, because he does have good stuff, Collins said. You can see when hes actually throwing strikes, you know, theres not a lot of good swings. Buut he gets himself in trouble because he gets behind in counts.dddddddddddd.Jose Reyes hit a leadoff double in the first and later scored on a Yoenis Cespedes RBI sac fly to give New York a short-lived 1-0 lead.Ramos and Ryan Zimmerman added RBI singles for Washington.BACKMAN NOT RETURNING:Former Mets infielder Wally Backman will not return as the organizations Triple-A manager in 2017. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters that Backman has decided to move on, after working in New Yorks minor league system since 2010.STREAKING:Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy has a hit in all 17 games against the Mets this season. According to the ELIAS Sports Bureau, that ties the record for the longest hit streak against the Mets in one season (Rennie Stennett in 1974, Luis Castillo in 2002 and Dee Gordon in 2015).TRAINERS ROOMMets: Infielder Wilmer Flores missed his second straight game with a stiff neck. Manager Terry Collins said that Flores tried to hit Monday afternoon but his neck remained sore. Flores was injured Saturday after a home plate collision with Atlanta Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski.Nationals: Manager Dusty Baker is optimistic that RHP Joe Ross (shoulder inflammation) will soon be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. Ross, who last pitched for the Nationals on July 2, threw a simulated game Saturday after making two rehab starts with Triple-A Syracuse.UP NEXTMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (13-8) looks to snap a personal three-game losing streak against the Nationals as he makes his fifth start of the season against the NL East leaders. Syndergaard threw seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits in a 4-1 loss to Washington Sept.2 at Citi Field.Nationals: RHP A.J. Cole (1-1) will make his fifth start of the season Tuesday and his second against the Mets. Coles best outing came Sept.2 in New York when he allowed one run and three hits over six innings for his first career Major League win. ' ' '