NEU » rd work is just starting to pay

Last Friday, the Texas Rangers squeaked by the Twins 3-2 in 10 innings. A first-place team (in the AL West) beating a last-place team (in the AL Central) is not particularly interesting. The interesting part is the how the Rangers won. The game was knotted at 2-2 in the top of the 10th when Ian Desmond led off with a solo homer just to the right of dead center field. That proved to be the difference and was just the latest example of Desmond coming up big when the Rangers have been in a difficult spot.One plate appearance doesnt define a season. For any player, a season consists of many hundreds of plate appearances, and you must be careful not to exaggerate when telling a story. Ian Desmond isnt the current American League MVP because he hit one home run. He certainly is not because he hit one home run against the Minnesota Twins.Yet, for me, Desmond is the current AL MVP because of plate appearances like his homer against the Twins. Cheap New Jersey Devils Jerseys . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Cheap Devils Jerseys Authentic . Tracey comes to the Blue Bombers after spending over a decade with Queens University. Most recently he was the schools assistant football coach. http://www.cheapdevilsjerseys.com/ . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. Cheap Devils Jerseys China .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Cheap Adidas Devils Jerseys . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. ATHENS, Ga. -- Auburn is hoping to have its best running back healthy when the No. 8 Tigers visit Georgia on Saturday hoping to continue their run for a Southeastern Conference championship.The status of Kamryn Pettway, the SECs leading rusher, has been uncertain all week. The 240-pound Pettway hurt his left leg on a long run in last weeks 23-16 win over Vanderbilt .Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Pettway, the nations No. 4 rusher, will make the trip.Hes healing, so well see, Malzahn said. Were a run, play-action team so no matter who our running back is we need to be successful.Auburn (7-2, 5-1 SEC, No. 9 CFP) controls its destiny in the Western Division and still has another conference game remaining against No. 1 Alabama. Georgia (5-4, 3-4) is trying to become bowl eligible following an encouraging 27-24 win at Kentucky last week.Backup Kerryon Johnson has two 100-yard games this season. Converted wide receiver Stanton Truitt and freshman Kam Martin could get some carries, too. Ditto for backup quarterback John Franklin III.Obviously were going to need to continue to run the ball, Auburn right tackle Robert Leff said. Who knows what the running back situation will be like, but I dont think it will really matter as long as we make holes for them.Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who recruited Pettway as Alabamas defensive coordinator, said Auburn will bring a strong running game to Athens, no matter who starts at running back.We have to prepare as if hes going to be there, Smart said. If hes there or not, theyre going to be able to run the ball, trust me. They did it at the beginning of the year sometimes without him.---Some other things to watch in No. 8 Auburns visit to Georgia:WHITE RETURNS: Malzahn said quarterback Sean White will start after playing in a reserve role last week due to an undisclosed injury. With Franklin at quarterback, Auburn trailed Vanderbilt 113-10 at halftime.ddddddddddddUNDERGROUND RAILROAD: There is a long history of close ties in the rivalry. Former longtime Georgia coach Vince Dooley was an Auburn graduate. Former longtime Auburn coach Pat Dye played at Georgia. Smart has seen the rivalry up close as a player at Georgia. He said Georgia-Auburn is one of greatest rivalries in college football, in part because the series, which began in 1892 and the Bulldogs lead 56-55-8, has great balance. Its always heated, Smart said. It never ends because it goes on recruiting trail. Both schools recruit the same area primarily.NEW GO-TO RECEIVER: Javon Wims, a junior college transfer, has emerged as a new favorite target for Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason . Wims set career highs with five catches for 90 yards in last weeks 27-24 win at Kentucky. It felt good, Wims said. It just confirmed that my hard work is just starting to pay off. Ive just got to continue to work hard. Wims (6-4, 215) has excellent size.HOLSEYS CLUTCH PICKS: Cornerback Josh Holsey leads the SEC with 10 pass breakups. He has three interceptions, including a late theft in Auburn territory that helped save last weeks 23-16 win over Vanderbilt. On Oct. 29, Holsey had an interception in the fourth quarter to set up the Tigers final touchdown in their 40-29 win over Mississippi.SAME DEFENSE, DIFFERENT RIVALRY: Malzahn and Auburn are very familiar with Smarts defenses from his time at Alabama. We know each other very well, have a lot of history, Malzahn said. Weve been against each other a lot. In fact, Smart also interviewed with Auburn before Malzahns hiring in 2013.---AP Sports Writer John Zenor contributed to this report.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '