Dein erstes Forum » Schwarber to get a life.Im like: `Schwarbs

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Kyle Busch is hardly the peoples choice.His championship run last year was overshadowed by Jeff Gordons farewell. His quest to repeat probably ranks behind Tony Stewarts retirement and Jimmie Johnsons shot at making history.Hes overlooked but far from overmatched. Busch might even be the man to beat in the NASCAR finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.I think winning the championship last year definitely impacted us, Busch said. It just gave us a greater sense of belief in ourselves and our team and confidence in being able to go out there and do it again. You know, theres no reason to think that what we accomplished last year is a one-time thing.We feel were just as good last year if not better and performed better throughout this Chase in order to get ourselves in the position were in. There are plenty of reasons as to why we can be beat and plenty of reasons as to why we can beat the rest of them.Buschs championship run last year was something befitting a Hollywood script. He missed the first 11 races of the season after breaking his leg and foot in a hard crash at Daytona International Speedway.He transitioned from comeback kid to championship contender after winning four of five races during a summer hot streak. With a new son, a supportive wife and a newfound maturity, Busch looked like a changed man.He won the finale at Homestead and gave Toyota its first Sprint Cup championship.Now, hes looking to make it two in a row. Standing in his way are Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Johnson, who can tie the NASCAR record held by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.I certainly think that its different from last year for sure, Busch said. Last year, I was just a part-time champion, so this year I hope to become a full-time champion.He wont get any help from Edwards.Team owner Joe Gibbs said Friday that Busch and Edwards will be on their own during practice and once the green flag drops.To be quite truthful, both of them want this in the worst way and theyre going to compete, Gibbs said. Theyre not sharing a lot of stuff. Its going to be up to them individually. ... We kind of felt like obviously theyre going to be kind of individually going for it. Theyll both kind of be on their own here.That was news to Busch and Edwards after qualifying Friday. The two were loose and light and said Gibbs, who earlier in the day said hes so nervous this weekend he accidentally walked into the womens bathroom, was mistaken on the sharing.Joe is not in our meetings. Dont listen to Joe. Were not sharing with him, Busch said. Everything right now is all the same, open notebook. Ive been looking at Carls stuff all day.Working with teammates has been a crucial piece of the success at JGR, and played into Buschs discouragement after last weeks race at Phoenix. Buschs teammate, Matt Kenseth, had the win in hand until a late caution sent the race to extra laps. Although Kenseth cleared traffic on the restart, Busch made contact with Alex Bowman that altered Bowmans racing line. Kenseths spotter told the driver he was clear, but he actually moved down on Bowman and crashed.Busch took much of the blame after the race. But after studying replays, Busch felt he had less to do with the wreck than he initially thought.I was definitely hard on myself, Busch said. If you look at what percentage of blame should be given to everybody, I think we all have a piece, but what exact percentage that is, Im not sure.As for Busch and Kenseth, theyve havent exactly made up.Weve exchanged texts back and forth, Busch said. Its as good as its going to be good right now with him still probably being rightfully upset with how it all went down last week. I mean, man, he was, what, 30, 35 seconds away from taking the white? Thats a pretty bummer situation.Busch surely would be bummed with anything short of another championship.But winning that first one was a career-defining moment.I feel like maybe on the racetrack you get an extra four inches instead of one inch from particular people, but it also depends on what lap its on, Busch said. When it comes down to the end of the race, its pretty much every man for himself all the time. But just having that accolade and being a part of the sport, having recognition from other champions come up to you with the likes of Darrell Waltrip or Dale Jarrett or Rusty Wallace, those guys that come put their arm around you and tell you, `Welcome to the club.He has a chance Sunday to join even more exclusive company.---More AP auto racing: www.racing.ap.orgRyan McDonagh Lightning Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Nikita Kucherov Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/Alex-Killorn-Jersey/ . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Tyler Johnson Lightning Jersey . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Victor Hedman Lightning Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday.CLEVELAND -- The doctors told Kyle Schwarber the day after the Chicago Cubs slugger tore two ligaments in his left knee on April 7 that his season was over.Funny how months of relentless rehab and a chance to play in the World Series can speed up the healing process.Schwarber batted fifth and got his first hit of the season -- a double off the wall in right field in the fourth inning -- for the NL champions in a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 on Tuesday night.The designated hitters lined shot came 201 days after a frightening collision with teammate Dexter Fowler while chasing down a fly ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks.He hardly looked rusty while going 1 for 3, getting his moneys worth in two showdowns against Cleveland uber reliever Andrew Miller with a walk in the seventh then a swinging strikeout in the eighth with two on and two out in a 3-0 game. Schwarbers final at-bat included a massive swing at a meaty 2-1 slider that Miller uncharacteristically left over the plate. Asked if that swing in particular had a little extra on it, Schwarber couldnt suppress a laugh.I mean, thats a normal swing, he said.And precisely why manager Joe Maddon put Schwarber in the lineup in the first place.He definitely passed the eye test for me regarding swinging the bat at the plate, said Maddon, who added Schwarber will absolutely play in Game 2 on Wednesday.Heady territory for a guy who was convinced he wouldnt see a batters box until 2017.I took regular visits to the doctor every month or two, and he kept telling me, `Its going to be spring training, Schwarber said a few hours before Game 1. Then this past doctors visit I had right before we went to LA for the (NLCS) he looked at my knee, hes like: `Man, its great. Youre strong. Im not going to hold you back from doing anything.Certainly not the chance to end Chicagos century-plus championship drought. After two games in the Arizona Fall League, the guy who blasted a club-record five home runs during the 2015 playoffs found himself on the World Series roster, giving the Cubs another powerful left-handed bat and making Chicago reliever Pedro Strops prediction come true.He said all along, `Man, youre going to be back for the World Series, Schwarber said. But the process was a long time. I mean, at first I didnt think I was ever going to have a normal knee again.Schwarber struck out in his first at-bat before doubling off Kluuber.ddddddddddddThe only rust he showed was on the bases, when he sprinted away from second without tagging up on Willson Contreras flyout to center in the seventh -- Rajai Davis threw home with a man on third, giving Schwarber time to get back to the bag.While Schwarber is healthy enough to swing the bat, its unlikely hell have much of a role outside pinch hitting when the series shifts to Chicago for Games 3-5. Schwarber hasnt been cleared to play defense.Regardless of how much you practice and attempt to simulate a game in practice, you cannot, Maddon said. That quick movement, that sudden burst that you derive in a game, you cannot simulate that in practice. Its impossible.Schwarber spent the first six weeks of his rehab off his feet completely, his surgically repaired knee ramrod straight. Then he had to learn to walk again, careful to not push things too hard, too fast. Not exactly an easy thing to do for a 23-year-old desperate to get back and join the summer-long party that ended with the Cubs posting a major league-best 103 wins before rolling through the Giants and the Dodgers on their way to their first World Series appearance since the end of World War II.The easy part, the fun part, came when he was allowed to put a bat in his hands and swing away. The self-proclaimed baseball rat would arrive at the ballpark well before his teammates and spend hours in the cage, to the point where first baseman and good friend Anthony Rizzo jokingly urged Schwarber to get a life.Im like: `Schwarbs what are you doing? Just watch baseball and enjoy it, Rizzo said.No chance. His biggest issue in the final days of his rehab came from the blisters on his hands, collateral damage from working in the cage. He estimated he tracked 1,300 pitches off a machine trying to get his timing back while in Arizona.Unlike many injured players, Schwarber would stick around to watch the games, and sitting through a dream season wasnt easy.Then again, the season isnt over, is it?Game 1 didnt provide a magical finish. Considering the path to this moment, Schwarber is hardly complaining.I could beat myself for not getting that knock against Miller in the eighth with two guys on, he said. But its baseball, whatever. Its going to happen. Weve just got to move on to the next day. ' ' '