Vergeltung » ing and bringing the blitz and we got some hits

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Reds closer Aroldis Chapman threw 25 pitches during batting practice on Tuesday, passing the final test before he can begin a rehabilitation stint in the minors. Chapman likely will pitch at Class A Dayton on Thursday in his first time in a game since suffering a head injury. Hes hoping to be activated after four or five appearances in the minors. "It went very good," Chapman said, with trainer Tomas Vera translating. "All my pitches were the way I wanted." The left-hander was hit on the forehead by a line drive during a spring training game in Arizona on March 19. He had a plate inserted above his left eye and nose to help fractures heal. Chapman was one of eight Reds who opened the season on the disabled list, the most in the majors. Jonathan Broxton is closing games in his absence. Chapman has thrown batting practice without a protective screen. He said theres no concern when he sees a batter hit one of his pitches. "I feel normal," he said. "I feel the way I was before I got hit with the ball." Manager Bryan Price thinks Chapman needs only a few games in the minors to get ready for his return. Chapman suggested four or five would be sufficient. Chapman threw the equivalent of one inning to Reds hitters, working more on his changeup and slider. "I know I have the fastball," he said. "Im feeling I have the fastball. Im working with the breaking pitches." Outfielder Roger Bernadina saw a couple of fastballs at the outset from Chapman and couldnt connect. "I didnt see the first two," Bernadina said. Cheap Walt Weiss Jersey . – Team Canadas Brooke Henderson carded a 4-under 67 at Craigowan Golf and Country Club to jump into the lead at the Canadian Womens Amateur Championship on Wednesday. Cheap Oakland Athletics Jerseys . Hes had three top-10 results this season and feels ready to put it all together and finally hoist a trophy at the top level. http://www.cheapathleticsjerseys.com/. According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt. Cheap Athletics Jerseys Authentic . JOHNS, N. Cheap Joe Morgan Jersey . -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are tightening the race for second place in the Atlantic Division.LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears said Monday that defensive tackle Henry Melton will miss the rest of the season with knee injury. Melton suffered a season-ending torn left anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday nights 40-23 win at Pittsburgh and will have surgery in a few weeks. "We lost a very good player," coach Marc Trestman said. "Unfortunately, its a next-man-up situation where the next guy has got to come up and be ready to play and help our football team. Were not happy about it, but this is the downside of the National Football League, is players are going to get hurt and the teams got to respond." Melton last year had six sacks, third most by a defensive tackle in the NFL. He was designated Chicagos franchise free agent after contract negotiations with his agent broke down, and received $8 million for this season. He will be a free agent next season. "Its sad," wide receiver Earl Bennett said. "I mean any time you see a player go down its sad because you dont know the extent of the injury. And when youre one of those guys whos been working hard all off-season, its just sad to see him go down." Melton had been off to a slow start without a sack, possibly due to another injury. He suffered a concussion on the first play of preseason and did not return until the start of the regular season. Now the Bears defence, which has produced 11 turnovers in three games to go with three touchdown returns, is looking for a tackle to line up alongside Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers. Former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Nate Collins, who was once a practice squad player for the New York Giants, gets a chance to start at Detroit on Sunday. Last year Collins made 23 tackles in seven contest, but had no sacks. He had half a sack with the Jaguars in 2011. "Hes an active player, hes got a good motor, hell mix it up in there, hes a finisher," Trestman said of Collins. &quuot;So were lucky to have Nate right now.dddddddddddd And well continue to try to piece together our front with the guys we have and well decide that over the next 24 hours and decide where were going to go for next week." Another player who could get playing time is Zach Minter, an undrafted free agent from Montana State who stood out in a couple of preseason games. Even with Melton healthy, the Bears front four had struggled getting to quarterbacks without blitzing. Last year Chicago was eighth in the league with 41 sacks. The pass rush stepped up against Pittsburgh, but it came about largely due to blitzes. Middle linebacker D.J. Williams had two sacks against the Steelers and linebacker Lance Briggs one. In 2012, the Bears had three sacks total for the season from the linebackers. "Weve been blitzing about a quarter of the time," Trestman said. "We probably picked it up a notch, a little more toward a third. Our guys did a good job of disguising and bringing the blitz and we got some hits on Ben (Roethlisberger) with those blitzes and some sacks." They also gave up plenty of yardage despite coming up with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Roethlisberger threw for 406 yards, most by a quarterback against Chicago since 2008. The pass defence will be challenged in Detroit by quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. It cant help the Bears that cornerback Charles Tillman left Sundays game with groin tightness. Tillman had been out of practice prior to the Steelers game due to knee soreness, but made it through his playing time with no knee problems. "Were going to be very cautious with him this week," Trestman said. "Hell probably be out on Wednesday and well go through the same progression. But he just tightened up. He was in early this morning, he worked out and got treatment, so were optimistic that hell be ready to go on Sunday." ' ' '