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SINGAPORE - The lead-up to Sundays championship match at the WTA Finals suggested Serena Williams would face a major challenge to beat Simona Halep, but then, the No. 1-ranked player has made a career out of performing at her best when it matters most.She did it again in Singapore, dispatching Halep 6-3, 6-0 just four days after a group-stage game between the pair in which the Romanian player dropped only two games and handed Williams her heaviest defeat for 16 years.Coming into the tournament after having to withdraw from the China Open and Wuhan Open with illness and a knee injury, and just a day after a grueling three-set classic against Caroline Wozniacki, there was plenty of reasons to believe the 33-year-old could be vulnerable.The doubts, though, were quickly swept aside as Williams overpowered her opponent in an imperious performance.She won 11 of the last 12 games in the match to join Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf as the only players to have won five titles in the season-ending championships.I just started training, because I had such a bad knee in Beijing I didnt know if Id be able to play here, and now I have won the Billie-Jean King trophy — I am so excited, Williams said.Williams changed her approach from the group-stage contest, attacking Haleps second serve with fierce ground strokes, and regularly rushing the net to cut the points short and prevent her opponent from playing her preferred style.I had to play more Serena-style tennis and just do what I do best, Williams said.I was expecting a much better player than I was in the earlier round. Being ready for that really was able to help me out.Haleps run in this tournament capped a remarkable rise, having gone from No. 64 in the rankings to No.4 in the course of 17 months, with a French Open final appearance along the way.However, her relative lack of experience of big occasions compared to the 18-time Grand Slam champion proved telling.I was nervous before the match that I had to play this big final, Halep said. I couldnt manage very well the situation.I knew that she would be more motivated during this match because we played a few days ago and I won.The irony of Sundays match was that Halep had it within her power to deny Williams a place in the final. Halep went into her final group-stage game knowing that if she lost in straight sets, Ana Ivanovic would go into the semifinals at Williams expense. Instead, Halep lost in three and Williams made it in.I have no regrets because I did my job on court against Ivanovic, Halep said. That was the chance but she deserves to win the title. Shes much better.Williams said she would have done the same thing if in Haleps shoes, namely try to win the group game despite the temptation of knocking out her most dangerous rival.No one on the tour thinks like that, Williams said. She definitely gives her all so I dont think that went through her mind at all.Halep got the first break of the match in the third game and was up 40-0 on serve in the next and looked capable of repeating the surprise 6-0, 6-2 victory over Williams on Wednesday. However, Williams broke back in that fourth game and the course of the match was changed.Halep won only three points fewer than Williams in the opening set but clinched just seven points in the entire second set — including only two on return. The set was over in just 25 minutes.Haleps victory in the group stage ended Williams 16-game winning streak at the WTA Finals, but the American built her career win-loss record in the championships that feature the top eight players to 29 wins and five losses. Williams also retained the season-end top ranking, taking that honour for the fourth time. Roger Clemens Jersey . That further limits the options of Australia coach Ewen McKenzie, who on Monday suspended six players who were involved in a night out in Dublin ahead of the Saturdays 32-15 win over the Irish. The Wallabies play Scotland on Saturday before facing Wales on Nov. Dave Winfield Jersey .C. -- Theyll remember the OT from the first Syracuse-Duke game -- and the Ts that decided Round 2. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-roberto-alomar-jersey/ . DArnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catchers seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth. The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win. George Bell Jersey . Not sure yet. #livetweetingthegreatuntangle — Strombone (@strombone1) April 17, 2014 Stage three, coping: I feel like I could use a cigarette or something. Kevin Pillar Jersey . The agreement comes a little more than one week after the video game manufacturer agreed to a $40 million settlement in a similar but separate case, bringing the total payout planned for athletes to $60 million, said Steve Berman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, and the NCAA.TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips answers several questions each week. This week, topics include fallout from Marcus Stroman throwing at Caleb Joseph, whos primed to bounce back in the AL East in 2015, the Los Angeles Angels emerging as American League favourites and Derek Jeters exit from the game. 1. Did Torontos Marcus Stroman have to throw at Caleb Joseph on Monday after it appeared Jose Reyes overreacted to the play at the plate? And why would he appeal the decision now, when youre out of the race, rather than just get it over with before next year? It is so hard being a major league pitcher, sometimes. Those darn unwritten rules can bite you in the behind. Nobody has to say anything - you just know. When one of your stars has a beef with the other team and he has been attacked, it is up to the pitcher to show he is a good teammate. The way a pitcher shows he is a good teammate is to throw at the individual player involved in the beef or the other teams star. When Jose Reyes believed he was intentionally stomped on when sliding in to the plate, Orioles catcher, Caleb Joseph, suddenly had a target on his back. Fortunately, Marcus Stroman missed his target and the pitch soared past the head of Joseph. That is a no-no. Pitchers should never throw at an opponents head. A beaning can end someones career or even kill them. Based upon the circumstances, I understand why the umpires and Commissioner Bud Selig believe the pitch was intentional and why he was suspended. When there is a bad blood, the primary participants are the focus of the umpires attention and protection. Stroman has remained steadfast in his claim that there was no intent in the pitch that almost domed Joseph. He is appealing because he truly didnt mean to throw at Joseph. It makes no sense otherwise. If he intended to do it, he should just accept the respect of his teammates and his punishment. Missing six games when you have already been eliminated is painless. If you do the crime, you have to serve the time. He will lose his appeal and sit for six games sooner or later. 2. Aside from Baltimore, the entire AL East underperformed this year. Who among the Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox and Rays is best suited to turn it around in 2015? This has been a down year for the AL East. It has long been the best division in basebal,l but not this season. Over the years, the spending and success of the Yankees and Red Sox caused every other AL team, particularly in the AL East, to spend more and add power. For almost two decades, everyone in the AL chased the Yankees and Red Sox. The last time the Yanks and Sox both missed the playoffs in the same season was 1993. The Rays, before this season, have had nice run of competitiveness for a small market team and the Jays have the power bats to slug with anyone. Every team has flaws of some sort. Teams that make the playoffs tend to have fewer flaws or they have enough impact in some areas of the game to compensate for their weakness in another. Of the four AL East non-playoff teams the one with the best chance to sit on top next year is very difficult to predict. It will take good general managing to fix all of these teams. The Rays are going to depend upon the growth and development of their young players. They are hoping for a healthy season for key players like Matt Moore, Wil Myers and Desmond Jennings. They wont have money to spend in the free agent market, so they have to hope Joe Maddon can rebuild the young roster into a competitive one. The Red Sox started the reconstruction process early. The Jon Lester and John Lackey trades brought them Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig that immediately improved an offence that lacked punch from the right side. But by trading Lackey, Lester and Jake Peavy, they left themselves with huge holes in a rotation that already wasnt good enough. I expect the Sox to be players in the free agent market for Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields for sure. The Yankees need an overhaul. Joe Girardi gets as much out of his roster as any manager. The reality is that the Yanks need offence, defence and pitching. They will have gaping holes at second base and shortstop, as well as an aging Mark Teixeira and a returning Alex Rodriguez to third base. The pitching staff has fallen off significantly, as CC Sabbathia is half the pitcher he used to be and Masahiro Tanakas great first half and career is now clouded by a tear in his elbow. The Yanks have money to spend, but too many holes to solve all their needs in one off-season. That leaves the Jays. The Jays are in their window to win. They have a first-place offence and some first-place pitchers. They need an ace, though. They need the guy who will keep them out of the losing streak because he is the stopper. He wins after a loss. That pitcher will cost money and lots of it. It seems remote that the Jays will be big spenders in the free agent market, but if they get an ace they have a legitimate chance to win the division. So, here are my predictions for next year. The team that is closest to being the team to beat next year is the Jays. They have balance and depth in every component of the game, except starting pitching. The Red Sox and Yankees need starters too but they both have other significant offensive needs as well. The one advantage that the Yanks and Sox have is that they have money to get what they need. The Jays most likely do not have money to spend. The Rays will be competitive, but they dont have enough offence to support their good young arms. 3. Since June 6, the Los Angeles Angels have been on fire, posting a 63-29 record (.684 winning percentage) and have skyrocketed to an 11-1/2 game lead in the AL West over the Oakland Athletics. Their overall record of 95-57 is the best in the majors as well. Are the Angels the favourites to win the World Series this year or are they a team who has a lot of success in the regular season and then falters in the playoffs? The Angels had huge expectatiions in 2012 after signing Albert Pujols.dddddddddddd They had even bigger expectations last year when they added Josh Hamilton. But both years, they were dismal failures. This season has been absolutely remarkable. The Angels are playing Angels baseball again. They are fundamentally sound. They take the extra bases. The Angels are the best at going first to third on a single. They score from first on doubles. They are a solid defensive team. They make plays. They have pitched better than expected. I knew Jared Weaver and CJ Wilson would be high quality starters, but there were real questions about the rest of the rotation. Garrett Richards took advantage of the opportunity that he finally got and became the ace of the staff. When Richards went down to injury, Matt Shoemaker emerged and rounded out the rotation. In fact, after the loss of Richards, the Angels played even better than they had already been playing. Mike Scioscia reconfigured and developed his bullpen on the fly during the season and he is one of the best at managing the bullpen. Offensively, the Angels are the highest scoring offence in the AL. They have the AL MVP in Mike Trout and a former MVP in Pujols. They have gotten significant contributions from veteran middle infielders Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar, as well. Sciosca has done a nice job blending in some young players, as well. Youngsters, CJ Cron and Kole Calhoun are important to their line-up as they add length, depth and power. They clearly have a potent offence. The Angels will end up with the best record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That is certainly a big leg up, as they have the best home record in all of baseball. But I do have a concern about the Angels: starting pitching depth. Without Richards and, possibly, his replacement Shoemaker (strained oblique,) Games 3 and 4 of the playoff series will put them at a disadvantage. I believe the Angels will get to the ALCS and lose to the Detroit Tigers. 4. The Blue Jays lost to the Yankees last night 3-2. Both teams are still mathematically alive for a wild card spot, but the odds are remote that either will get there. So, effectively, both teams are just playing out the string. In Thursday nights one-run win, the Yankees got a solo home run from Derek Jeter. In and of itself, not a huge deal, since he has hit 260 in his career, but it does exemplify Jeters career. This is the final road trip of the Jays season or, more appropriately, the final homestand of Derek Jeters career. It is only fitting that he gives Yankee fans something to cheer for. On Wednesday in Tampa, Jeter broke an 0-for-28 slump just in time for his return to New York. He cant finish his final season in pinstripes in a funk. Jeter always seems to get it right and his finishing his career in a flurry sure feels right. Everywhere New York teams go, they are despised by the opposition. They have been the villains in baseball for decades. They win too much or they spend too much or they are too smug or they are just from New York, etc. People found reasons to hate them. Yet the face of baseball has been Derek Jeter over the last two decades. He has endured and been bigger than every distraction. He is bigger than the game. Jeters on-field performance has been remarkable. He has the most hits ever by a Yankee - more than Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. In fact, he has more hits (3,453) than all but five players in the history of the game. He has won five World Series championships. He was the AL Rookie of the Year, All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP. He won the Gold Glove five times and was second in MVP balloting in 2006. Once can make the argument that he was the best shortstop ever. Even for those unwilling to give him that moniker, he is in the top five all-time. He is and always will be a legend in Yankee lore. But Jeters most significant accomplishment is that he has been respected by every teammate and opponent he has ever known. Jeter always did the right thing. He respected the game. He respected umpires and teammates. He respected his closest competitors. He never got caught up in his own hype. He never took the bait to respond inappropriately to any situation. He maintained a respectful and friendly relationship with the media. He has done everything right. There are no perfect people, let alone baseball players, but Jeters career has been perfect. He couldnt have played better. He couldnt have represented the Yankees or the game of baseball better. He is simply amazing. In this day and age of social networking, with Twitter and cameras on phones and all of the other ways that we invade each others privacy, he has never had a misstep. He is always classy and appropriate. He is grateful for what he has and has never taken any aspect of being a big leaguer for granted. Jeter has dated some of the biggest stars and models, yet never a scandal. He treats women with he same respect he treats everyone else. It is not only Yankee fans that will miss Derek Jeter - it is all baseball fans. I will be at Jeters last home game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, September 25. I for one will stand and applaud to show my respect and gratitude for how he played and his success. I will mostly be standing, though, out of gratitude for his representing the game I love with class and dignity. I applaud him for being a role model for so many young kids. We all wish our kids could grow up and be just like him. So please join me in saying, “Thank you, Derek for 20 great seasons. You broke our hearts many times, but we never held it against you because you beat us with grace, class and dignity.” Oh, and by the way, “Good riddance!! 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