ehab game as soon as this weekend. Perez required surgery and has been out since May 1.UP NEXTIndians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 2.73) will make his 10th start of the season as Cleve

The decision to downgrade the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Wood Memorial to Grade 2 status in 2017, which was announced Friday by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, has elicited a visceral reaction in some quarters.Right here, I think its important to note that these adjustments, and the downgrading of the Mother Goose from Grade 1 to Grade 2 and the upgrading of the Pennsylvania Derby from Grade 2 to Grade 1, are not part of a larger reset by the AGSC. There will be 464 graded stakes races in 2017, the same number as this year. And the 107 Grade 1 races in 2017 represent a net loss of only two.Clearly, these Grade 1 stakes adjustments for 2017 were the result of a judgment call on the part of the AGSC.I understand the inclination to rail against authority. I am part of a generation that made an art form of it. So while Im naturally predisposed to protest moves like this, in the case of the downgrading of the Blue Grass and Wood Memorial, I cant. I agree with these races being downgraded.When you consider that the main function of the Blue Grass and Wood Memorial is to serve as prep races for the Kentucky Derby, it is impossible to avoid this fact: These two races have significantly underperformed over an extended period of time in comparison with the other major final Kentucky Derby preps -- the Florida, Santa Anita, and Arkansas Derbies -- which were left untouched by the UGSC.Street Sense (2007), Thunder Gulch (1995), and Sea Hero (1993) emerged from losses in the Blue Grass to win the Kentucky Derby. However, the last actual winner of the Blue Grass to win the Derby was Strike the Gold all the way back in 1991. Moreover, the last winner of the Blue Grass to win any Triple Crown race was Prairie Bayou, winner of the Preakness back in 1993.The Wood Memorial has performed only slightly better than the Blue Grass. While Funny Cide (2003) and Monarchos (2001) emerged from losses in the Wood to win the Derby (Funny Cide, of course, also won the Preakness), the last actual winner of the Wood to win the Derby was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. And the last winner of the Wood to win any Triple Crown race was Empire Maker, who won the 2003 Belmont Stakes.So to be crystal clear here, the last winner of the Blue Grass to win the Derby came 25 years ago, and the last winner of the Wood to win the Derby came 16 years ago. Thats simply too long when you see how the other major final Kentucky Derby preps have performed.Two Arkansas Derby winners who went on to do more than just win the Kentucky Derby -- American Pharoah (2015) and Smarty Jones (2004) -- won the Kentucky Derby since the last winner of the Wood also won the Derby, or since the last winner of the Blue Grass won the Derby. Also, Super Saver (2010) emerged from a loss in the Arkansas Derby to win the Kentucky Derby.Two of the last five Santa Anita Derby winners went on to win the Kentucky Derby -- California Chrome in 2014 and Ill Have Another in 2012 (they both also went on to win the Preakness) -- and Giacomo (2005) won the Kentucky Derby after a loss in the Santa Anita Derby.Four of the last 11 Florida Derby winners won the Kentucky Derby -- Nyquist (this year), Orb (2013), Big Brown (2008), and Barbaro (2006).To put it another way, between the Wood and Blue Grass, the Wood was the last of the two to produce a winner in the Kentucky Derby. Since that Wood-Kentucky Derby winner, the Florida, Santa Anita, and Arkansas Derbies have had a combined eight winners go on to win the Kentucky Derby.There isnt much room for debate here. The Blue Grass and Wood Memorial are races with histories, but when compared with analogous races such as the Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, and Arkansas Derby, they have not kept step for many years. It might hurt proponents of the Blue Grass and Wood, but these downgrades make sense.So does the upgrade of the Pennsylvania Derby. It is important here to understand the distinction between a race like the Pennsylvania Derby, and races like the Blue Grass and Wood. The Blue Grass and Wood are out-and-out prep races, and their worth can really only be measured by how their winners go on to perform in the race (the Kentucky Derby) they serve.The Pennsylvania Derby is much more of a standalone event. Sure, its a serviceable springboard to the Breeders Cup Classic. A cynic would also say its a means for horsemen to avoid meeting older horses with their 3-year-olds for one more time. But the Pennsylvania Derby is in no way a pure prep in the sense the Blue Grass and Wood are. And with such horses as Will Take Charge, Bayern, California Chrome, and Frosted (a winner of the Wood, by the way) having competed in it in recent years, and with the first two finishers this year (Connect and Gun Runner) having very recently won Grade 1 races over older horses, it would have been an injustice if the Pennsylvania Derby was not elevated to Grade 1 status.The ironic thing about the agonizing over the downgrading of the Blue Grass and Wood is that hardly a word has been mentioned about the downgrading of the Mother Goose, which, in my view, was totally unwarranted, and a complete mistake.Not that anything can be done about it now, but heres why I forcefully oppose the downgrading of the Mother Goose: Counting Songbird as champion 3-year-old filly this year (daring, I know), three of the last 12 3-year-old filly champions won the Mother Goose -- Smuggler in 2005, Rachel Alexandra in 2009, and Untapable only two years ago!The Mother Goose has operated at a high level for not only a long time, but also, as noted, in very recent years, too. Lowering it to a Grade 2 appears arbitrary, capricious, and I frankly see no justification for it. Zach Parise Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Wholesale Team USA Hockey Olympic Jerseys . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.cheapteamusahockeyjerseys.com/justin-faulk-jersey/ . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Brandon Dubinsky Jersey . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. Derek Stepan Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. ATLANTA -- Danny Salazar didnt want to be the pitcher who couldnt keep the Cleveland Indians winning streak alive.In the process, the right-hander extended his personal win streak.Salazar threw seven innings, Lonnie Chisenhall hit his second homer of the series and Cleveland stretched its winning streak to 12 games by beating the Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Wednesday night.Cleveland swept its fourth straight series to extend the majors longest winning streak this season. The Indians began the day leading second-place Kansas City by six games in the AL Central.Salazar (10-3) was dominant, allowing five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. He lowered the ALs second-best ERA to 2.22 while winning his sixth straight start and keeping the Indians on their roll.Of course I want to keep going with the streak and that was my main goal today, to try to get a win for the team, and I got it, Salazar said.The Indians need one more win to match the longest winning streaks in franchise history. They won 13 straight in 1942 and 1951. They had another 12-game streak in 1922.Jason Kipnis broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the fifth.Cody Allen gave up a leadoff single to Nick Markakis in the ninth and walked Erick Aybar with two outs before ending the game on Emilio Bonifacios grounder to second for his 16th save.Salazar acknowledged he struggled early to adjust to the Atlanta heat, even though the first-pitch temperature of 88 degrees was moderate for recent weeks.I thought early it didnt look like he had the energy in his body, manager Terry Francona said.Even when you think hes not as sharp, he can put up zeroes.Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said Salazar was Just like advertised. He was real tough.Braves right-hander Joel De La Cruz (0-1), recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett for his major league debut, allowed three runs in six innings.Chisenhalls high homer landed midway up the lower level of the seats in right in the sixth.Atlantas Jace Peterson had two doubles to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games.Braves center ffielder Ender Inciarte made a leaping catch of Mike Napolis drive at the wall in the seventh.ddddddddddddLAME THE BATRight-hander Brian Shaw struck out Freddie Freeman to close the eighth with runners on first and second. It was the third strikeout of the game for Freeman, who shattered his bat as he slammed it to the ground in frustration. Freeman also bounced his helmet off ground.Braves batters were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position, continuing their season-long struggles.SOUVENIRDe La Cruz singled in his first at-bat in the third inning for his first major league hit. The ball was tossed into the Braves dugout on the first-base line to be saved. With De La Cruz standing nearby on first base, a laughing Aybar pretended to throw the ball over the dugout roof into the stands.INTRODUCTIONSThe Indians first glimpse of De La Cruz came a day before the game. Francona said he saw the right-hander after De La Cruz, carrying Braves luggage, checked in at the Indians hotel on Wednesday night.Asked if he knew anything about De La Cruz, Francona said Well, I rode the elevator with him last night. I was going to my room and I saw this kid with a bag. I said, `You must be De La Cruz. He laughed. We havent seen him pitch. But Ive shaken his hand.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: C Roberto Perez (broken right thumb) is moving closer to game action. Francona said Perez might play as a DH in a minor league rehab game as soon as this weekend. Perez required surgery and has been out since May 1.UP NEXTIndians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 2.73) will make his 10th start of the season as Cleveland opens a series at Toronto on Thursday night.Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (sore right elbow) will come off the 15-day DL to start in Thursday nights series opener against Miami instead of making a second rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett. RHP Julio Teherans scheduled start was pushed back one day to Friday to give him extra days rest. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping China NFL Gear Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Jerseys Jerseys From China ' ' '