Das Gästebuch » behind Roethlisberger, All-Pro running back LeVeon

NEW YORK -- Starlin Castro gave Mets fans a firsthand tease of the two-way talent that has so many of them eager to see him in a New York uniform. The All-Star shortstop hit a tiebreaking homer on the first pitch of the ninth inning Sunday, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 victory at Citi Field. Castro also started a slick double play to snuff out a rally, showing off the full set of skills that could make him an attractive trade target this winter. Chicago has several touted shortstops rising through its system, while the Mets are searching for a solution at that position. So it seems a possible fit, and plenty of Mets backers have called for the team to pursue the 24-year-old Castro. "Hes having a very good season and were glad to see that," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. Chicago starter Jake Arrieta allowed two hits in seven smooth innings. Featuring a sharp curve, he struck out nine and left with a 1-0 lead following Luis Valbuenas run-scoring single in the fourth. "I just had a good feel for it. Was able to throw it in multiple counts, for a strike, below the zone," Arrieta said. "So it was there for me when I needed it today." Curtis Granderson tied it with a two-out RBI single off winner Pedro Strop (2-4) in the eighth, snapping skids of 0 for 17 and 1 for 29. A diving catch by rookie centre fielder Arismendy Alcantara moments earlier prevented more potential damage. Castro greeted closer Jenrry Mejia (5-6) with his 13th home run, an opposite-field drive that barely cleared the wall near the right-field corner. "Just go up there and be aggressive," Castro said. "Weve played a lot of extra-inning games the last 20, 15 games, whatever." Hector Rondon got three quick outs for his 17th save, finishing a four-hitter that ended Chicagos three-game losing streak. Valbuena returned to the lineup and snapped a 1-for-32 slide with a two-out RBI single off Mets rookie Rafael Montero, still looking for his first win after six major league starts. Montero delivered an encouraging performance, though, going 7 1-3 innings for the longest outing of his career. Arrieta struck out three straight in the second and whiffed the 3-4-5 hitters in the fourth. He started a 1-6-3 double play after a leadoff walk in the seventh and was helped out of his toughest jam by Castro in the third. With runners at the corners, the shortstop made a sharp pickup and a nifty flip to start an inning-ending double play against Juan Lagares. Rookie second baseman Javier Baez got in on the act with a barehanded turn. TRAINERS ROOM Cubs: Prized 3B prospect Kris Bryant, who left Saturdays game with Triple-A Iowa, is day to day with a bruised left foot, the result of a foul ball a few days ago. "All indications are hes OK," Renteria said. Bryant has 40 homers combined at Double-A and Triple-A this season, most in professional baseball, and 103 RBIs. He is not on the 40-man roster, however, and the Cubs are not planning to promote him to the majors this season, even when rosters expand in September. Mets: As expected, 3B David Wright was out of the lineup with a sore left shoulder. Wright left Saturdays game one inning after he was hit by a fastball in the back of the shoulder, aggravating an area thats bothered him all summer. Eric Campbell started at third and went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and a double-play grounder. UP NEXT Cubs rookie Kyle Hendricks (4-1, 1.73 ERA) starts the four-game series finale Monday afternoon against 41-year-old Bartolo Colon (11-10, 3.85), who is 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA in five career starts against Chicago. Valbuena has two homers in five at-bats against Colon. WELCOME TO THE SHOW Chicago outfielder Matt Szczur, just called up from Triple-A Iowa, made his major league debut as a pinch runner in the eighth. He stayed in the game in right field and grounded into a fielders choice one inning later. Szczur said he had around 18 people in his cheering section. He is from Cape May, New Jersey, about 3 hours from Citi Field. Renteria said he expects to give Szczur a start at some point. WALK THIS WAY Baez scored after a leadoff walk in the fourth, his first in 55 major league plate appearances. He walked again in the eighth. Air Max 720 Sortie . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Air Max 270 Bowfin France . But when it was all over they had wasted another lead, seen another pitcher flame out on the mound and lost their fourth straight at home. http://www.nike720pascher.fr/air-max-720-saturn.html. After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Air Max 270 Bowfin Femme . Philippe Desrosiers stopped 42 shots through overtime and three more in the shootout to pick up his third shutout of the season for Rimouski (31-15-7). Zachary Fucale made 28 saves for Halifax (34-17-3) in the loss. Air Vapormax Plus Pas Cher . "Hes over there," the first baseman said. "You dont need to talk to anybody else." Indeed, Peralta did it all as the majors top team won again.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Steelers took a calculated risk last spring when they opted not to re-sign quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with two years remaining on his current deal, opting instead to focus on bolstering the roster elsewhere.Its going to cost them, and president Art Rooney II knows it. Then again, there are worse positions than negotiating with a player coming off the best statistical season of an already remarkable career.Ill take that problem, Rooney said with a laugh Wednesday.It may be one of the easiest ones to solve over the next few months for the AFC North champions. Pittsburgh returned to the playoffs in 2014 after a two-year absence, going 11-5 and riding a dynamic offence and a perfect December to its first division title since 2010. While Rooney called it a good season with a lot of positives the Steelers last Super Bowl appearance is becoming an ever smaller speck in the rearview mirror.Obviously we didnt achieve our ultimate goal, Rooney said.Maybe, but Pittsburgh looked closer than in consecutive 8-8 seasons in 2012 and 2013. Rebuilding is nearly complete, at least on offence. The Steelers set franchise records for points and yards behind Roethlisberger, All-Pro running back LeVeon Bell and All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown. Press Rooney on if this means the franchises identity has shifted away from its roots on the other side of the ball and he politely disagrees.Id say we still strive for a team with a strong defence and thats something well always try to have, he said while adding the offence was fun to watch.The goal is to make it just as enjoyable when the defence takes the field. That part might be tricky. The Steelers finished 18th in yards allowed, their worst performance since 1991. Hall of Fame defensive co-ordinator Dick LeBeau resigned earlier this month and the status of longtime fixtures Brett Keisel, Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu and James Harrison is uncertain. Rooney said it will be a few weeks before any decision is made on who to bring back and who to let walk. Keisel and Polamalu both have a year remaining on their current deals while Taylor and Harrison are free agents, though Harrison didnt rule out one more season after occasionally brilliant play at age 36.Whoever returns out of that group would be short-term investments at best, and likely a relativvely inexpensive one.dddddddddddd. Thats not the case with free agent linebacker Jason Worilds. The team placed the transition tag on Worilds last spring, and he responded with 7.5 sacks. With little established depth at outside linebacker — where former first-round pick Jarvis Jones has struggled to stay out of the training room — Worilds provides some stability.To retain him, the Steelers will need to pay him like hes one of the elite at his position even if Worilds has yet to make a Pro Bowl. Rooney declined to put Worilds in any particular category, saying only the team would like to have him return in part because his specialty happens to be the current groups biggest weakness.Weve got to get more sacks and put more pressure on the quarterback and I think in the games we were successful, we were able to do that, Rooney said. Thats a key piece of the puzzle that we have to look at as we build this defence going into next year.While Rooney doesnt believe new defensive co-ordinator Keith Butler — promoted after more than a decade as an assistant — will make drastic changes from the 3-4 scheme favoured by LeBeau, he does expect Butler to offer more than tweaks. Finding new and creative ways to become disruptive in the backfield is a must.It is a challenge now for a defensive co-ordinator to keep up with these high-powered offences, Rooney said.And it will be Butlers responsibility to build around a core that includes defensive end Cam Heyward and linebacker Lawrence Timmons. There is a significant need for help in the secondary, especially if Taylor and Polamalu do not return. Rooney lauded the play of converted special teamers like Antwon Blake but understands defensive back will be a major need when the draft comes. The Steelers havent taken a cornerback in the first round since Chad Scott in 1997.That may have to change if Pittsburgh wants to get serious about returning to leagues upper echelon. Rooney anticipates having a bit of money to spend in free agency, though the team rarely splurges on high-priced veterans.If theres an opportunity to sign somebody like that, well look at it, he said. I wouldnt rule that out at this point but it kind of depends on whats available to us and what were able to do at that point in time.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '