Dein erstes Forum » with a 122-105 home victory in Game 1.

NEW YORK -- The entire season for the New York Mets boiled down to two dates on the calendar: "Super Tuesday" and panic Monday. Terry Collins is coming back confident better days lie ahead. "Maybe we can finish what we started," he said. The manager received a two-year contract extension Monday with a club option for 2016, a move the Mets announced one day after finishing 74-88 for the second consecutive season. Collins previous deal was about to expire, but it became increasingly clear down the stretch that he likely would return. "In many ways, Terry had an outstanding year," general manager Sandy Alderson said. "The team never quit, continued to play hard, continued to play with the resources it had at hand and finished as well as we could have expected." Fielding an inexperienced lineup ravaged by injuries and trades, the 64-year-old Collins kept New York competitive all summer without many of his top players -- including team captain David Wright, All-Star ace Matt Harvey and closer Bobby Parnell. Still, the rebuilding Mets were unable to overcome a 25-40 start and limped to their fifth straight losing record since moving into Citi Field. They edged Philadelphia for third place in the NL East after coming in fourth the previous four years. "We saw some bright things that happened this year with some of our young players. Obviously, weve got some outstanding young pitching coming," Collins said. "Were going into spring training with very, very high expectations. Its time to put some wins on the board." New York did just that during an encouraging stretch that began June 18, the day touted pitcher Zack Wheeler was called up from the minors and leadoff hitter Eric Young Jr. was obtained from Colorado. In a doubleheader dubbed "Super Tuesday" by a city tabloid, Harvey and Wheeler pitched the Mets to a sweep at NL East champion Atlanta. From there they went 33-26 through Aug. 20, while Youngs much-needed speed sparked a stagnant offence on his way to the National League stolen base crown. But the following Monday, Aug. 26, Harvey was shut down with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow that left his status for next season uncertain. He hopes to avoid Tommy John surgery with a strengthening and throwing program, though the Mets dont sound too optimistic. "Certainly losing Matt was a shock to the system, and I think emotionally weve all had to recover from that a little bit," Alderson said. "Even if Matt doesnt have the surgery, its going to affect our plan." The plan all along was to compete for a playoff spot in 2014. With about $40 million in player salaries coming off the payroll, the Mets expect to be active in free agency. Desperate for productive bats and a steady shortstop, New York could eye outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Nelson Cruz. "Im really excited about what we might be able to do this off-season," Alderson said. "Certainly well have more payroll flexibility than weve had since Ive been here." Alderson, Collins and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon are part of the brain trust headed to Florida to begin organizational meetings Tuesday. Alderson said next years budget will be set early on. The Mets own the 10th selection in the June draft, which means they wouldnt have to forfeit it to sign a top-tier free agent who receives a qualifying offer from his previous club. The top 10 picks are protected, eliminating a significant concern. Eager to upgrade in many areas, the Mets nevertheless will keep in mind the bloated contracts they gave to injury-prone Johan Santana and Jason Bay. "Those are cautionary examples of what can happen," Alderson said. "Its great to say, well, we have financial flexibility and then blow it on players deals that dont work out and put yourself right back in the same situation we were in before. At the same time, at some point youve got to go for it. So, having flexibility is great. But at some point youve got to put yourself on the line. And I think what were going to try to do is balance the level of our commitments with the desire to continue to maintain some flexibility going forward. Not just next year, but years after that." Trading some of their ballyhooed minor league pitching might be one way for the Mets to add offence. But that route can be risky. "I find it tough sometimes to trade young guys. And I think that fans identify with the young guys," Alderson said. "Having said that, were at a point now where we are in a position to make a deal for an established player (by) giving up some resources. But we have to be careful that we dont turn a strength into a weakness. And with Matt out, it makes it a little more difficult to give up the two or three guys that we know are right on the cusp." Alderson was encouraged by New Yorks .500 record over the final 100 games and acknowledged that was a significant factor in the decision to keep Collins, who is 225-261 in three seasons as Mets manager. His entire coaching staff also was retained. "Weve got the base. Now weve just got to make sure guys play up to their potential," Collins said. "We have the players to do it. Theyve got to buy into it." The team went 41-40 on the road this year, but both men were dismayed by a 33-48 mark at home that left the Mets a dubious 103-140 at Citi Field over the past three seasons. "I think part of it is the player mix," Alderson said. "Part of it has got to be something to do with the home environment here, whether thats here at the ballpark, whether its in the clubhouse, whether its on 45th and Sixth Avenue. I dont know. There are a variety of factors that were going to have to look at hard, because we cant allow this to continue." Scarpe Salomon a Poco Prezzo . - Christophe Lalancette scored a third-period goal and added the shootout winner to lead the Drummondville Voltigeurs to a 5-4 win over the Quebec Remparts in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Sunday. Outlet Salomon Online .com) - Coming off a pair of tough losses last week, the Syracuse Orange will try to put an end to their first losing skid of the season when they pay a visit to the Maryland Terrapins at the Comcast Center on Monday night in Atlantic Coast Conference action. http://www.salomonoutlet.it/ . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. Scarpe Salomon Uomo Offerta . Torres scored the first goal by an English team in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season when he met Cezar Azpilicuetas cutback in the ninth minute of their first leg match in the last 16. But Chelsea failed to make the most of its counterattacks and the Turkish champions equalized in the second half after gaining in confidence and cutting out their defensive mistakes. Salomon Scarpe Outlet . Catch all the action on TSN2 and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. San Antonio took the series lead Monday night with a 122-105 home victory in Game 1. The Spurs used a balanced scoring attack and clamped down defensively late in the third quarter to claim the win.GREATER NOIDA, India -- He drives with the poise of a seasoned veteran but Red Bulls Sebastian Vettel says hes still too young to appreciate his fourth straight Formula One championship title. Starting from pole, the 26-year-old Vettel turned in a trademark clinical performance to win the Indian Grand Prix on Sunday and join F1 greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as just the third driver to win four consecutive championships. The only other driver to win four titles was Alain Prost. Vettel is also the youngest four-time world champion by eight years. "Im way too young to understand what it means," he said of his achievement. "I might be 60 one day, maybe then I will understand, but nobody cares anymore. I care. Its difficult to realize something that nobody can take away from you basically." As in the past two years in India, Vettel won from pole position, finishing almost 30 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg in second, with Romain Grosjean taking his second straight third for Lotus after starting from 17th on the grid. "Youve won it in style," an elated Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Vettel over the car radio immediately after the race. "Brilliant stuff. Youve joined the greats." After taking the checkered flag, Vettel performed several donuts on the track before climbing from his car, acknowledging the crowd and kneeling with his head bowed to the track. He then climbed the pit lane fence to embrace members of his team. Vettel was later reprimanded and Red Bull fined 25,000 euros ($34, 500) by race stewards for the display of exuberance and failing to "proceed directly from the circuit to the post-race parc ferme (secure area) without delay." The penalties are unlikely to dampen the celebrations. "Im overwhelmed, dont know what to say," Vettel said immediately after the race. "It is one of the best days of my life. With Vettels win, Red Bull also claimed its fourth straight constructors title, despite losing Mark Webber to mechanical problems while in second place. Ferraris Felipe Massa was fourth with teammate Fernando Alonso finishing a disappointing 11th. "Today is the day to congratulate (Vettel) and for him to enjoy the championship," Alonso said, who is 115 points behind the Red Bull driver in second place in the standings with three rraces remaining.dddddddddddd Vettel has now won 10 races this season, including the last six. A clearly emotional Vettel, taking occasional swigs from his celebratory magnum of champagne, thanked his team and his family in a post-race media conference. He spoke of his respect for the Indian people and rivals including Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Webber. "To win four titles, I dont know, its just a big number you know?" Vettel said. "Fangio put the number of five titles and everybody appreciated him as the best driver in the world. Michael (Schumacher) came along ... its incredible that one guy managed to score more championships (seven) than (Fangio) did." Starting on the quick but fragile soft tires, Vettel lasted just one lap before switching to the medium compounds, emerging from the pit lane in 17th place. Vettel wove his way back toward the front, gradually narrowing the gap and passing McLaren driver Sergio Perez on the 22nd lap to move into second behind Webber. Webber eventually entered the pits for his first tire change to soft tires on the 29th lap and Vettel made his second and last stop three laps later to new medium tires, returning to the track just over eight seconds behind Webber. When Webber switched back to medium tires two laps later, he effectively handed the race to Vettel. Red Bull then ordered a stunned Webber to stop while in second place on the 42nd lap due to a problem with his cars alternator. "Disappointing, but theres not much I can do," Webber said. "There was something wrong with the car, so we had to stop straight away." With the Australian out, the race became a tussle for the lesser podium places, with pacesetting Rosberg passing Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen for second on the closing laps before Grosjean capped a dogged race by defying the odds and reaching the podium after being eliminated in the first qualifying session Saturday. "I would not have bet a penny on me being on the podium today," Grosjean said. "But the car came back. " Vettel meanwhile was struggling to come to terms with the enormity of his achievement. "It was a difficult emotion to cross the line and feel happy all of a sudden because youre in a rhythm, you know what youre doing, you have a routine," he said. "I think it takes time to understand what happened." ' ' '