Off Topic » be sound in our execution

SEATTLE -- Josh Hamiltons attempt to beat out an infield grounder with a headfirst slide into first base landed him on the bench for up to two months. The 2010 AL MVP was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the Los Angeles Angels with a torn ligament in his left thumb. He was hurt trying to hustle down the line and beat out a grounder in the seventh inning of Tuesday nights loss to Seattle. Hamilton was thrown out, but the consequences of his decision ended up being far greater. "The news sucks. Anytime you play and youre playing hard and having fun, the last thing you want to do is do something that is going to cause you to miss time and maybe hurt your team in the long run," Hamilton said. "If I could see the future, obviously, I wouldnt do it." Los Angeles said an MRI Wednesday revealed a complete tear of the thumbs ulnar collateral ligament. After initially saying hand and wrist specialist Dr. Steven Shin would operate at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedics in Los Angeles, the Angels said Hamilton will be examined by Shin on Friday to determine whether surgery is needed. Hamilton was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and outfielder J.B. Shuck was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake. Hamilton said he believed it was just a jammed thumb, but when he tried throwing in the outfield between innings he knew something might be wrong. Hamilton told manager Mike Scioscia to have someone pinch hit for him in the ninth. Ian Stewart batted for Hamilton and struck out with the potential tying run on base in a 5-3 loss. "Its definitely unfortunate but I think as a team you have to be able to absorb and be deep enough to absorb injuries to players and Josh is a special talent who is off to a great start for us. Well do our best to fill that void," Scioscia said. "Over the years, weve had a lot of our key players miss significant time, but weve been able to absorb it and move on. Thats what we have to focus on doing now for the next six, eight weeks, whatever the time frame is going to end up being." Scioscia said the Angels lineup could see mixing and matching while Hamilton is out. Collin Cowgill was in the lineup in left field and leading off, with Kole Calhoun dropped to sixth in the order and Howie Kendrick moved up to Hamiltons usual No. 5 slot. A five-time All-Star, Hamilton has struggled since signing a $125 million, five-year contract with the Angels before the 2013 season. He hit a career-low .250 last year with 21 homers and 79 RBIs, his poorest power numbers since 2009. He was batting .207 with 25 RBIs through June 23, then hit .289 with 54 RBIs during the rest of the season. Hamilton strained a calf muscle during a baserunning drill on Feb. 25 and didnt play in his first spring training game until March 17. He is hitting .444 with two homers and six RBIs in 27 at-bats this season. Hamilton believes he can still keep his timing down with his swing even while hes sidelined. "Disappointing in general that youve got to miss some time, because as a player you prepare the whole off-season to come in and do what you can to help contribute to your team winning ballgames," he said. "Thats the most disappointing part of the injury." The injury rekindled the debate about sliding into first base. Hamilton wasnt the only player to make that choice in Tuesdays game. Seattles Michael Saunders had an awkward slide into first base running out a ground ball. "Its just part of who I am. Ive done that a lot," Hamilton said. "Who knows if I will ever do that again?" USA Soccer Pro Shop . 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Stitched USA Soccer Jerseys . -- Aaron Rodgers isnt out for revenge in Green Bays season opener.CINCINNATI - Two big goals are still out there for the Cincinnati Bengals: Shine in prime time, win in the playoffs.The AFC North leaders have a chance to put a dent in the first one on Monday night when they host Denver (11-3), which has already clinched the AFC West. Throughout their history, the Bengals (9-4-1) have been at their worst at nighttime.Cincinnati is 18-41 all-time in prime time, including 10-20 on Monday night. The Bengals have been beaten badly by New England and Cleveland in their two night games this season, reinforcing their reputation as a team that withers under the brightest lights.Its a label theyd love to eliminate.Its annoying and its our job to make it unannoying, safety George Iloka said on Thursday. If we lose this game, the talk will come back again.And if we want to silence the critics, so to say, weve got to put up or shut up. Thats how it goes. It might be annoying, but thats on us.For now, thats how theyre known.A loss at home to San Diego in the first round of the playoffs last season cemented their reputation as a team that cant handle the toughest pressure. Cincinnati has lost in the opening round each of the last three postseasons and hasnt won a playoff game since the 1990 season.And then there are those high-profile games at night.The Bengals went to New England determined to shake their reputation in a Sunday night game, but got pushed around throughout a 43-17 loss. Their next chance in prime time came in a Thursday night game at home against Cleveland, a 24-3 loss that only made matters worse.Defensive end Wallace Gilberry said he has no idea why playing in prime time bothers the teeam.ddddddddddddI guess were afraid of the dark. I have no idea, he said. But I can tell you this: Were going to come out Monday and were going to put our best foot forward.That would be a first. And in order for it to happen, Andy Dalton is going to have to play well.The fourth-year quarterback is 0-3 in the playoffs and 2-6 in prime time games. During the Thursday night loss to Cleveland, he completed only 10 passes, threw three interceptions and finished with a career-low passer rating of 2.0.A lot of it is on the quarterback.Its well documented whatever the record is, 2-6. Ive heard all kinds of stuff. Trust me, I get enough emails, letters, cards, advice, all kinds of stuff, offensive co-ordinator Hue Jackson said. I do understand whats at stake, and I think he does, too.In the big games, Dalton has made the biggest mistakes, losing the ball on fumbles and interceptions. That has to change.We cant make mistakes, we cant turn the ball over, weve got to be sound in our execution, Dalton said. And if we do that, well put ourselves in a lot better position than we did in the other ones.Notes: Receiver A.J. Green did his conference call with media in Denver on Thursday, then was excused from practice because he was sick. ... Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (Achilles tendon) and defensive end Carlos Dunlap (calf) were held out of practice as well. ... Tight end Jermaine Gresham missed a victory over Cleveland on Sunday with a sore toe, but practiced fully on Thursday. So did defensive end Margus Hunt (ankle) and cornerback Terence Newman (ankle).___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '