ROOMMets: Infielder Wilmer Flores missed his second str

James Kelly is that rarest of beasts - an AFL figure whose reputation has grown thanks to the Essendon supplements debacle.The 32-year-old veteran is the first to admit its a selfish observation, but he says Essendons terrible season has been an invaluable experience for him personally.Kelly was a shining light for the Bombers, who lost 12 players to doping suspensions stemming from their supplements debacle and finished last in 2016.The three-time Geelong premiership player had ended his playing career and was starting work in AFL football operations when the Bombers bans in January meant a sudden change.He was among 10 players recruited to top up their list and Kelly revelled in the experience, earning widespread praise for his leadership and finishing joint runner-up in the club best and fairest.Kelly and former Richmond player Matt Dea did so well as replacements, the Bombers have signed them for another season.Whatever happens from here, Kelly will be forever grateful to Essendon for the unlikeliest AFL second chance.In terms of experience, its invaluable really, he said.You end up being a part of a footy club thats going through something unprecedented.To be part of that, selfishly, to learn and be in that environment, it was really good.Maybe the group was in a better position at the end of the year than they were at the start, so I was happy with that.Kelly said it is crucial now that the Bombers dust themselves off, regroup and move ahead.He said the return of the banned players was having an immediate impact.Theyre the 10 most experienced players, so just having that experience straight back into the club is invaluable, Kelly said.Their presence out on the ground, you can see the young blokes are excited that theyre back - that just has a ripple effect right through the whole club.Its just a better place when your senior players are around.Kelly feels for Jobe Watson, who has struggled after the loss of his Brownlow Medal.Everyone is just really excited that hes coming back, he said.Eventually the dust will settle - for me personally, I dont think Jobe needs a Brownlow Medal to be a great player and a great person.One setback for Kelly has been a rearrangement of the player lockers.Kelly wore the No.47 guernsey this year, but was able to have Michael Hibberds No.1 locker.While he is happy to keep 47, he has lost the prime locker position.Im more flat with having to move locker locations, he deadpanned.Its the worst - Im thinking about leaving. Ultra Boost Clearance Sale .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Adidas Ultra Boost Canada Sale . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. http://www.cheapultraboostcanada.com/ .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Adidas Ultra Boost Clearance Canada . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Ultra Boost Canada Restock . PETERSBURG, Fla. WASHINGTON -- The New York Mets starting rotation remains fluid with 18 games remaining in the regular season. But it doesnt appear as though Rafael Montero will be part of it moving forward.He struggled with command for the third straight outing as the Washington Nationals beat the Mets 8-1 on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.Montero walked three Nationals in the first inning, including Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos with the bases loaded. He lasted 1 2/3 innings for the shortest of his 12 career big league starts, allowing five hits and six runs with four walks and two strikeouts.Manager Terry Collins was not sure who would start the next time Monteros turn comes up, but he ruled out giving the right-hander another opportunity.Its pretty frustrating, because he does have good stuff, Collins said. You can see when hes actually throwing strikes, theres not a lot of good swings. But he gets himself in trouble because he gets behind in counts.Over his last three starts, Montero has allowed 14 walks in 11 innings.It doesnt matter where they put me, Montero said. I just have to continue doing my job. I think what I tried to do is just get ahead of hitters, but unfortunately sometimes things dont work out.Collins did not rule out the possibility of Jacob deGrom taking Monteros spot in the rotation, although deGrom may need more time to recover from forearm soreness that has kept him out since Sept.1. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen session at Nationals Park Monday afternoon.Anybody could be in the mix for that spot, Collins said.Mat Latos threw 4 1/3 innings in his first start with the Nationals allowing three hits and one run with three walks and four strikeouts. His first start with the Nationals was cut short due to hamstring tightness. Reynanldo Lopez (3-3) combined with three relievers for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.Montero struggled early Monday walking three Nationals in the first inning, including Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos with the bases loaded.Nationals pitcher Mat Latos led off the second with a solo homer over the left field fence, before Daniel Murphy doubled and Harper was intentionally walked. The move backfired as Rendon then delivered his 18th homer of the season to put the Nationals ahead 6-1.dddddddddddd It was the 60th and final pitch of Monteros outing.Jose Reyes hit a leadoff double in the first and later scored on a Yoenis Cespedes RBI sac fly to give New York a short-lived 1-0 lead.Ramos and Ryan Zimmerman added RBI singles for Washington off Mets reliever Gabriel Ynoa.With the win, the Nationals increased their lead in the National League East to 10 games -- their largest cushion of the season- and reduced their magic number to nine to clinch their third division title in five years.BACKMAN NOT RETURNING:Former Mets infielder Wally Backman will not return as the organizations Triple-A manager in 2017. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters that Backman has decided to move on, after working in New Yorks minor league system since 2010. Backman spent the last four seasons as manager of the Las Vegas 51s.TRAINERS ROOMMets: Infielder Wilmer Flores missed his second straight game with a stiff neck. Manager Terry Collins said that Flores tried to hit Monday afternoon but his neck remained sore. Flores was injured Saturday after a home plate collision with Atlanta Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski.Nationals: Manager Dusty Baker is optimistic that RHP Joe Ross (shoulder inflammation) will soon be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. Ross, who last pitched for the Nationals on July 2, threw a simulated game Saturday after making two rehab starts with Triple-A Syracuse.UP NEXTMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (13-8) looks to snap a personal three-game losing streak against the Nationals as he makes his fifth start of the season against the NL East leaders. Syndergaard threw seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits in a 4-1 loss to Washington Sept.2 at Citi Field.Nationals: RHP A.J. Cole (1-1) will make his fifth start of the season Tuesday and his second against the Mets. Coles best outing came Sept.2 in New York when he allowed one run and three hits over six innings for his first career Major League win. ' ' '