Rookie quarterback Will Grier got in his first work with the Carolina

CHARLOTTE Zach Gentry Jersey , N.C. (AP) — while Cam Newton continued to be limited — even on the kickball field.Grier, the team’s rookie third-round draft pick, threw for the first time with his new NFL team as the Panthers opened rookie minicamp on a practice field outside of Bank of America stadium.Newton, who is coming off shoulder surgery, spent his day inside the stadium hosting his fifth annual “Kicking it with Cam” celebrity kickball tournament to benefit youth in the areas of education, diversity and inclusion, and wellness. In the past Newton has participated in the event, but he did not Friday.“It’s all right, it’s getting there Chris Lindstrom Jersey ,” Newton said about his surgically repaired right shoulder.Newton underwent an arthroscopic procedure on Jan. 24, but has not thrown a football yet. When asked if he knows when he will be cleared to throw, Newton shook his head no.When Newton does return, he said he won’t change how he approaches the game, which means more running for the former No. 1 overall pick.“I’m not changing. I’m too old to change,” Newton said on the eve of his 30th birthday. “But I can get better. That is one thing I can do. At this point the things that make me (who I am) are instilled and cemented in. It’s just up to me to take my game to the next level and get better.”Instead of playing his normal role as a kickball pitcher, Newton mingled with some of celebrities on hand, including boxer Evander Holyfield — whose son, running back Elijah Holyfield, recently signed as an undrafted free agent — former NFL player Terrell Owens and several current Panthers teammates including Christian McCaffrey and Kawann Short. He also did some dancing http://www.falconscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-kaleb-mcgary-jersey , too.Grier was hoping to attend the kickball event, too, but was a little busy learning his new job.Grier, who grew up in the Charlotte area, was with Carolina’s other rookies going through two short practices and spending most of the day in the classroom with coaches learning plays.He said his primary goal this weekend is to show coaches that he’s willing to work hard and that he’s coachable.“I think that is important,” Grier said. “Just fitting into the system and doing whatever it takes to help the Panthers win.”Newton said he is looking forward to helping Grier develop as a QB.The Panthers selected Grier with the 100th overall pick two weeks ago with the idea that he could come in and backup Newton — and perhaps develop into a starting quarterback down the road.“I have to be ready to play,” Grier said. “So that is my kind of goal, and my role, right now. All of the twos (backups) need to act like ones (starters) and that just means you have to be ready to play when your number is called.”Grier and Newton have met in the past.When Grier took the practice field Friday, he was in a familiar place. Several years ago he led Davidson Day High School to a championship in a 7-on-7 football tournament sponsored by the Cam Newton Foundation.He got to meet Newton at the time.Now Kendall Sheffield Jersey , as surreal as he said it feels, he’s in the same quarterback room with the 2015 league MVP playing in the NFL.“I don’t remember if we took pictures,” Grier said recalling the 7-on-7 tournament. “But I remember Cam telling us to keep the energy up.”
OAKLAND, Calif. — Two teams reeling after getting swept by clubs ahead of them in the American League West look to get things going in a positive direction at the other’s expense when the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics open a three-game series Friday night.

The Angels won five of seven from the A’s in March and April, including three of four in Oakland to start the season.

Left-hander Tyler Skaggs (5-4, 3.08 ERA), who contributed to the Angels’ early run against the A’s with an impressive outing in the second game of the season, will get the call in the series opener against Oakland right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-1, 1.29).

The Angels have lost four in a row, the last three in Seattle http://www.falconscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-john-cominsky-jersey , since Skaggs last pitched on Saturday at Minnesota. The 26-year-old won that game 2-1, giving him consecutive victories in which he allowed just one run in 13 innings.

He’s gone just 1-4 with a 5.08 ERA in six career starts against the A’s.

The Angels limp into Oakland at the end of a nine-game trip on which they’ve gone 2-4 so far. They are currently without shortstop Andrelton Simmons, third baseman Zack Cozart, outfielder Kole Calhoun and outfielder/pitcher Shohei Ohtani.

The club promoted David Fletcher from Triple-A to replace Simmons, and the 24-year-old banged out three hits in his major-league debut Wednesday at Seattle.

But with Cozart, who had moved to shortstop while Fletcher manned third base, having injured his shoulder in the game, it’s possible the rookie will find himself at shortstop at some point in this series.

It’s not exactly the way Angels manager Mike Scioscia had envisioned using the young player upon his initial call-up.

“It’s not ideal to have young players who aren’t out there hitting every day,” Scioscia said of Fletcher’s current status. “But there is still a role for them to help us win games.”

The A’s enter the series relatively healthy, but a bit shaken emotionally after getting shellacked three straight at home by Houston. Oakland had won three of four from Kansas City to begin a 10-game homestand.

Bassitt will look to end the losing streak with a performance similar to the one he put forth Saturday upon being called up from Triple-A.

In his first major-league game since 2016 Qadree Ollison Jersey , he limited Kansas City to one run and three hits in seven innings in a 2-0 loss.

The 29-year-old hasn’t seen the Angels since 2015, when he faced them twice, including a September start in which he yielded six runs in 3 2/3 innings in an 8-1 loss.

Bassitt logged an 0-1 record and 9.53 ERA in those two appearances.

The A’s were outscored 26-11 in the Houston series, with Khris Davis accounting for a majority of the offense with three home runs among five hits. He scored five times and drove in three.

Davis’ home run Thursday was his 20th of the season, giving this series two of the AL’s four sluggers with 20 or more homers. The Angels’ Mike Trout leads the league with 23.

Oakland’s Matt Chapman left Thursday’s 7-3 loss with a sore right hand. The A’s were awaiting the results of an MRI before determining his status for the Angels series.