NEU » sed with irritation

BARCELONA, Spain -- Tito Vilanova is stepping down as Barcelonas coach following a recurrence of throat cancer, just a month before Lionel Messi and his teammates begin the defence of their Spanish league title. Club president Sandro Rosell told a hurriedly called news conference at Barcelonas training facility on Friday that Vilanova will "follow a treatment" that will be "incompatible" with staying on as coach. Rosell said that a new head coach would be named next week and that Barcelona was cancelling its first friendly of the preseason, scheduled to be played in Poland on Saturday against Lechia Gdansk. Spanish media was rife with speculation that little-known Joan "Rubi" Ferrer would replace Vilanova. Ferrer was hired on June 28 as Barcelonas new assistant coach after his strong season with Catalan club Girona in the second division. The 44-year-old Vilanova had twice previously had to take a medical break from his duties at Barcelona, once as Pep Guardiolas assistant in the 2011-12 season and again as its manager last season. In his single season in charge he led Barcelona to the Spanish league title with a record-tying point 100 points. "This is a piece of news I would have never in my life wanted to give," Rosell told a packed media room including Barcelonas first team with Messi and captain Carles Puyol. "After evaluating the results of the routine tests and checkups for Tito Vilanova, the option arose of following a treatment that will be incompatible with the development of the responsibilities as the coach of the first team," Rosell said. Vilanova was not in attendance. Vilanova had battled the recurrent tumour in a saliva gland for the past two years, coming back to coach each time. He first fell ill in Nov. 2011 and had to have surgery. He then had a second tumour removed last December and travelled to New York several times to receive further treatment. In his absence last season, assistant Jordi Roura took over. First as Guardiolas assistant, Vilanova provided the tactical know-how that helped his boss forge one of the best teams in the history of the sport -- winning 14 of a possible 19 titles from 2008-2012, including two Champions League trophies. As a young player, Vilanova spent six years at Barcelonas training academy -- from 1984-90 -- but never made it to the topflight team, going on to play for clubs such as Celta Vigo and Mallorca before his playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury. That injury led Vilanova into coaching and to Barcelonas cadets, tutoring current first-team players Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique. Vilanova moved on from Barcelona to work as sport director at third division club Terrassa before answering Guardiolas call to help him take Barca B up from the third division in 2007-08. Cheap Nike Paul George Basketball Shoes China . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Cheap Nike Kobe Bryant Basketball Shoes China . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. http://www.cheapbasketballshoesstore.net/ . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Basketball Shoes Outlet . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Discount Basketball Shoes . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line.TORONTO - It sure is nice, when plans go awry, for the alternative to work out. The Blue Jays, minus injured starters Josh Johnson and J.A. Happ, have twice in five days put their fate in the hands of a 39-year-old pitcher who hasnt held a regular job in the major leagues since 2007. Ortiz has given the team 12 innings in two starts, allowing only two runs. On Wednesday he was brilliant, tossing one run ball over seven innings as Toronto cruised to an 11-3 victory and a sweep of a mini two-game set with the defending world champion San Francisco Giants. "I thank God for the opportunity," said Ortiz, who at one point during spring training had about a half-dozen Spanish-speaking teammates captivated as he preached a sermon at his locker. "He gave it to me to pitch in the major leagues again and Im so happy to be here and pitch in the game. Its a great game tonight. Team play well, hit well, everything good together, so Im very happy." "He probably never envisioned he was going to be in this situation where he would make some starts in the big leagues again," said manager John Gibbons. "He came up earlier in the year; he was kind of a long guy. Hes at that stage of his career where he probably wasnt going to get that opportunity. Now hes getting it and hes taking advantage of it." Ortiz picked up his first win since September 11, 2001, when he pitched for the Cubs. That victory was in relief. Until Wednesday night, Ortiz hadnt won a game he started since April 17, 2007. "Hes done unbelievable," said catcher J.P. Arencibia. "He goes out there, gives up a run and then shuts them down for the rest of the game. Especially after we put some runs on the board, to be able to go back out and shut them down thats huge. He did a great job of just keeping them off balance. We needed that." The Blue Jays have won four in a row for the first time this season and the bats seem to be trying to make up for six weeks of inconsistency all at once. Since being one-hit by Red Sox ace Jon Lester last Friday, Toronto has scored 36 runs on 449 hits.dddddddddddd Under the tutelage of hitting coach Chad Mottola, whos been preaching a "take what the pitcher gives you" approach, the clubs collective plate discipline has improved. "Thats what good hitters do," said manager John Gibbons. "I think early on we were strictly thinking pull, pull, pull, looking for the long ball. I think weve changed that a little bit. Now were using the whole field, taking whatever theyre throwing us. "What I think it does too, it keeps you on the offspeed pitch out over the plate," Gibbons continued. "It also allows you to foul off some tough pitches and stay alive. Were still an aggressive club. Were swinging at our pitches a little bit more now too but you still have to look out over the plate because thats where most of the games pitched." CABRERA HAS MRI Melky Cabrera, bothered by pain in both legs since late March, has been diagnosed with irritation of the right quadriceps and left hamstring. Cabrera hasnt missed a game so far this season and will continue to play as long has it is tolerable to do so. Manager John Gibbons will use Cabrera in left field when the opponent starts a right-handed pitcher. Cabrera will be the designated hitter when the Blue Jays face a left-hander. Heres the reasoning: Gibbons wants both Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind in the lineup when a right-hander is on the mound. One of them plays first base, the other is the DH. Lind wont be in the starting lineup against left-handers, meaning Cabrera can move into the DH spot. Gibbons says hes comfortable putting Emilio Bonifacio in leftfield. SANTOS TO HAVE SURGERY THURSDAY The reliever will pay a visit to the legendary Dr. James Andrews on Thursday for what the Blue Jays call a "minor" procedure on his right elbow. Santos will have bone spurs, which have caused him discomfort, shaved down. Andrews also will remove "loose bodies" from Santos elbow. If the surgery and subsequent rehabilitation go well, Santos could return to the Jays bullpen before the all star break. ' ' '