me of Europes leading clubs, represented by the European Clubs Association, want a new format to increase revenues and make the competition more exciting. Chelsea won the

SEATTLE -- The Seattle bullpen had been an Achilles heel this season, but a series of changes and the emergence of rookie closer Edwin Diaz seem to have shored up that part of the Mariners. Michael Cage Jersey .Diaz, 22, has earned four saves on five nights and probably wont be available when the Mariners (56-53) host the Los Angeles Angels in the finale of a three-game series at Safeco Field on Sunday. Even without Diaz, the Seattle bullpen has been pretty strong as of late, particularly during the teams four wins over its past five games.That hasnt stopped the Mariners from making moves to address the bullpen. Seattle added two more relievers in right-hander Arquimedes Caminero and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte on Saturday.Were kind of piecing it together down there, manager Scott Servais said after the Mariners second consecutive comeback win Saturday night. ... Our bullpen kept us right there (Saturday) when it could have gotten away from us.The Angels (49-61) have their own set of problems in the bullpen, and they cropped up again Saturday night as Los Angeles squandered another early lead. Jose Valdez, called up from Triple-A before the game, walked three of the four batters he faced and ended up taking the loss on a night when the Angels held leads of 3-0 and 6-2.Its been an ongoing problem for a Los Angeles team that has been ravaged by injuries to its starting rotation.Everything thats happened in our bullpen is directly connected to our rotation, manager Mike Scioscia said.The bullpen woes have overshadowed a Los Angeles offense that has been performing well lately. Part of the Angels recent success has to do with reliable center fielder Mike Trout. He went 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple and four RBI on Saturday night and is 10-for-21 in his last seven games since July 30. Trout celebrates his 25th birthday Sunday while enjoying another impressive season from an individual standpoint. Hes among the American League leaders in batting average, hits, doubles, RBI, on-base percentage and OPS. He ranked among the top 10 in major league history in home runs (160), runs scored (565), extra-base hits (363) and walks (436) before the age of 25.Trout and the Angels face a Sunday starter whos coming off one of his best outings of the season. Seattle left-hander James Paxton allowed just one run over eight innings his last time out.The bigger question is who will finish the game for the Mariners. Diaz has gotten plenty of work since supplanting struggling veteran Steve Cishek as closer, and Seattle also had to use former closers Tom Wilhelmsen and Drew Storen on Saturday.The Angels plan to start right-hander Matt Shoemaker (6-11, 4.08 ERA). After that, the Los Angeles rotation is in a state of flux with veteran Tim Lincecum being designated for assignment before Saturdays game.Where Tim is now, Scioscia said, and where he needs to be, theres a big gap there.Lincecum, who was trying to make a comeback at age 32, had a 9.16 ERA after nine starts with the Angels. Tommy Burleson Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Avery Johnson Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/930s-...upersonics.html . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle.UEFA is in talks with clubs to change the format of the Champions League from 2018. One of the proposals under discussion is an expanded knockout round followed by a group stage made up of eight teams in two groups.If the proposal were to be adopted there would be more games between the so-called big clubs. Each team in the group stage would be guaranteed a total of 14 matches home and away. CL changes Q&A SSNHQs Anton Toloui explains the proposed changes The format would also allow more clubs from Europes biggest leagues to qualify for the competition. AC Milan, who have won the European Cup seven times, have not played in the Champions League since 2014 and current Premier League champions Chelsea are likely to miss out next season.A new format is being discussed to head off the threat of a breakaway Super League. Some of Europes leading clubs, represented by the European Clubs Association, want a new format to increase revenues and make the competition more exciting. Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012 but are unlikely to qualify this year No changes can be made until the 2018-19 season due to TV and marketing rights to the competition, which are sold in three-year cycles. Xavier McDaniel Jersey. The 2015-16 season is the first year of a three-year period.The process for selling the next set of rights will start at the end of this year and any new format would need to be agreed by then.A UEFA spokesman said: UEFA is in constant contact with all stakeholders, including the clubs, on all football matters.Therefore, any plans to evolve the format of our club competitions would be coordinated and negotiated together with them.There are currently no concrete proposals on the table since we are at the beginning of a new cycle of our club competitions. Also See: Leicester to be top seed in CL? Rooney v Ibrahimovic Fourth may not secure CL spot Henry on Champions League draw ' ' '