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OAKLAND -- Oakland As right-hander Kendall Graveman was 12 starts into the season and was searching for answers. He was 2-6 with a 5.28 ERA, and opposing hitters were batting .309 with 11 home runs against him.Thats when pitching coach Curt Young made a suggestion that helped turn Gravemans season around.Curt came up to me and said, You got to find what works for you, what makes you have a chip on your shoulder, whats going to lock you in, Graveman said.Graveman said he remembered how locked in he was in 2014, when he visualized his pitches before every game and rocketed through the Toronto Blue Jays system, earning five promotions and finishing the season in the major leagues.It was something that I just had to get back to, visualize throwing every pitch to both sides of the plate to lefties and righties, Graveman said. Its almost like youre visualizing a pitch that you want to make in a big situation to try to get someone out, but also just visualizing quality pitches.I think for me it sets up nicely because I get to see the movement when I visualize it. Youve seen it so much after you throw it and watching video that I think that just reinforces it. The minds a powerful thing. I think we know that now in the game of baseball. You start really thinking positively before a start, I think positive outcomes will happen.In his past six starts, Graveman has gone 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA, and opposing hitters are batting .232 with two home runs.Graveman will take a career-high five-game winning streak into his start Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Drew Smyly.Smyly has lost a career-high seven straight games and is trying to escape the worst slump of his career. Hes 2-11 with a 5.64 ERA. Smyly, who missed 105 last year because of a left shoulder injury, entered this season with a career record of 24-15 with a 3.24 ERA.Its just been a slump, man, Smyly said. I wish I had an answer but I dont. You just got to keep grinding, keep searching. Im healthy. I feel fine. Every chance I get Im competing my hardest, so hopefully I can get it turned around. It is what it is.Despite Smylys struggles, the Rays have no plans to take him out of the rotation, manager Kevin Cash said.Were very confident he is going to pitch his way out of this, Cash said before the Rays 1-0, 13-inning loss to Oakland. Were looking forward to getting him on the mound (Saturday). I sat down and talked to him casually with him after his start in Colorado. Hes doing all the right things. The results just arent coming. Sometimes youve got to let it kind of work its course and one start, one, two good innings of something clicking can be really beneficial for him.Smyly gave up five runs and needed 100 pitches to get through five innings in a 7-4 loss to the Rockies on Monday at Coors Field.First of all, I believe hes healthy, too, Cash said. Weve talked to Drew. I think its just inconsistencies in his off-speed pitches. He has not gone into a start here recently where hes really had his wipeout cutter or wipeout breaking ball and it becomes difficult. Youre facing some good hitters, good lineups and to go out there with just a fastball -- he tries to get really picky with the fastball knowing that he doesnt have that. I know thats kind of been the focal point for him, to try to get one if not two of those off-sped pitches going for him.Graveman, who relies heavily on a nasty sinker, is 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay. He took the loss on May 14 at Tropicana Field, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-0 defeat.Smyly is 1-2 with a 6.87 ERA in six appearances against the As, including three starts. Austin Dean Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Mark Hutton Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/891r-jay-powell-jersey-marlins.html . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Caleb Smith Jersey . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Josh Booty Jersey . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants must think they have a shot at ending their four-year playoff drought.After bolstering their league-worst defense with the free agent signings of end Olivier Vernon, tackle Damon Snacks Harrison, linebacker Keenan Robinson and cornerback Janoris Jenkins and the re-signing of end Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants dug into their pockets again on Thursday and signed unrestricted free agent cornerback Leon Hall.The signing of Hall a week after players reported to training camp gives new coach Ben McAdoo a veteran who knows how to play in the slot in passing situations.That was one of the big question marks in the revamped defense, while adding depth to the secondary.He is a versatile guy, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Thursday. He is an experienced vet and I think he can bring some things to the package, so we can do some multiple things that maybe we didnt have a chance to do until this point.The Giants have come into camp debating whether to use either Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, rookie Eli Apple or journeyman Trevin Wade in the slot, a position that combines coverage ability with a run-stopping capability.Hall did that in his nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, and was good at it.The Giants now have to get him ready. He had back surgery after last season. He worked out for the Giants on Wednesday, flew home to Cincinnati and returned to sign his new contract. He watched practice from the sideline on Thursday.Talent is definitely there, Hall said of the defense. I know that they expect better and I think that they will be better. This is the first practice Ive seen and they looked pretty good and I know the talent is there.Hall needs to learn the defense, the new terminology and to get used to playing with new teammates.Spagnuolo said that will take a little time. While Hall can play both inside and outside, he envisions that Hall will play inside.Its bitter-sweet, Hall said of leeaving Cincinnati.dddddddddddd It was a tough decision to make. Obviously, my family is back there, so thats number one. Like I said, I felt comfortable here and I felt good about where this team is going. I like Coach McAdoo and really what hes been doing since he got here. Like I said, I just went off my gut instincts and I feel comfortable here.Spagnuolo joked that with all the new additions, he is now under pressure.We are piecing it together, he said. The more talent you can get with really good coaching, the better chance you have of doing good.The defense was not good last season, finishing 32nd in the league. It failed to hold six games either late in the fourth quarter or in overtime.Linebacker Jonathan Casillas felt the defense let former coach Tom Coughlin down in a second consecutive 6-10 season that led to a coaching change.Its tough to swallow when you wear that number on your back, No. 32, Casillas said. Like I said we are all grown men, responsible and hungry human beings and we want to do better, and we will do better.A first-round draft pick of Cincinnati in 2007, Hall played all nine of his seasons with the Bengals, starting 109 of 125 games, including the playoffs. He had two interceptions last season, giving him 26 in his career. The Michigan product had 470 tackles, three interceptions returned for touchdowns, 112 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.To make roster space, the Giants waived cornerback Tramain Jacobs, who had three special teams tackles in five games last season.Game notes PK Josh Brown returned to practice after missing a day for personal reasons. ... WR Odell Beckham Jr. (lower leg) and TE Matt LaCosse (knee) did not practice. ...Rookie Sterling Shepard had a couple of nice catches.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '