After Mark Melancon reached a $62 million, four-year deal

On reaching 10,000 first-class runsAt this point of time I really, really want to cherish this moment. I made my debut when I was 20 back in 2000, and it has been a long journey. But it has all happened so fast, and sometimes it feels like a blur. I have had many failures during these 16 years. I can recall days when I just wanted to leave the game and kill myself. Many times I have thought about getting a nine to five job, but when I look back at all these difficulties, todays success feels sweeter. At this moment I also want to thank my family, my friends, who have had some role to play in shaping my career. I also want to share this moment with all my team-mates over the years.The key milestones before 10,000 runsI cherish my best first-class knock - my 250, which was against Mumbai in Mumbai. As part of the Tamil Nadu team, I reached three finals, and these moments are important to me. Later, I went on to play as a professional for Vidarbha, and in my first year we qualified for the knockouts. It was a new environment, and it was about stepping up as a leader.The first hundredIt came against Karnataka in 2000 at the IIT Chemplast ground in Chennai. It was my second Ranji match, and that hundred made me believe in myself and believe that I belonged to this level. In that match I opened with Rajat Bhatia in both innings. In the first match against Goa I had failed, and the team management asked me if I could open against Karnataka. I was like: Oh my god, I am asked to open in my second match in Ranji. I was scared if I dont open, I may not have a chance of playing in the XI. Hemang [Badani], Robin [Singh], who made a hundred in that match, and S Sharath were all at their best that time.As I went out to bat, I shook everything off and my mind was clear. I was watching the ball well and I was feeling good. As a batsman, I had always dreamed of getting hundreds. Another incident comes to my mind. I was actually saving this for maybe writing in my book. When I was playing a Karnataka offspinner, I went right back on the back foot to play a leg-glance. I just lost the balance and disturbed a stump with my leg. The bail had fallen down, and I simply continued running. I was in the 40s at that time, and Thilak Naidu, the keeper, started appealing. Other Karnataka players joined in the appeal, but the umpire said he did not see it, and gave not out. I knew I had deflected the stumps. I didnt walk, and ended up getting a hundred. I recall it being a very cheeky thing. The most memorable Ranji matchI cant look beyond Tamil Nadu beating Mumbai (draw with first-innings lead) in Mumbai in 2009. The match started at 9am, and by 11am TN were five down for just 50 runs. Mumbai were a champion team, and we went on to get 501. It resulted in one of the sweetest wins for Tamil Nadu. I clearly remember Tamil Nadu were struggling and I went on to hit a double. C Ganapathy, who came in at No. 7, hit a hundred. That was in fact Tamil Nadus first ever Ranji win against Mumbai in Mumbai. First ever. To be part of that was something tremendous.Favourite domestic batsmanI can say two: Wasim Jaffer and [S] Ramesh. Jaffer may not have been at his best last year, but when I was with Tamil Nadu he was at his best. He used to punish the Tamil Nadu seamers and spinners, and although I was in the opposition it was such a pleasure to see him bat. I could describe his batting as smooth as silk. Left-handers are always talked about being elegant. As a right-hander, Jaffer was right there. I was also lucky to share the dressing room with him at Vidarbha.I also adored Ramesh. When he was at his peak, he opened for India. The way he used to leave the ball, and the shot he played off the hips was whoa! The ball used to fly off the bat. I used to wonder how he can flick the ball so gracefully.Most challenging domestic bowlerI have not played a lot of cricket against L Balaji, who was my Tamil Nadu team-mate, but he was among the most difficult bowlers to face. He is also a source of inspiration to me. I played against him mostly in T20s. He was an intelligent bowler, who was always a step ahead of the batsman. He also had a lot of variations and read the mind of the batsman superbly.Pankaj Singh also comes to my mind. He was one bowler who was always at the batsman over after over. He is tall, gets extra bounce, and he bowls long spells. He is more like a bowling machine. I relished batting against these two, though. Cheap Miles Plumlee Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Cheap Mike Bibby Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. http://www.cheaphawksjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-alex-len-jersey . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Cheap Hawks Jerseys Authentic .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Cheap Trae Young Jersey . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. A look at whats happening today at the baseball winter meetings in Oxon Hill, Maryland:---WASHINGTON DAY SALEChicago White Sox ace Chris Sale could have a new place to pitch real soon, and it might be the ballpark right across the Potomac River. The NL East champion Washington Nationals are trying hard to close a deal for the 27-year-old lefty.THE SCHWARBER SITUATIONKyle Schwarber was a huge hit in the World Series, returning from a severe knee injury that cost him nearly the entire regular season and then batting .412 as the Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland.Now, will the converted catcher hurt in an outfield collision ever catch again?There is no question that he will want to do it and can do it, general manager Jed Hoyer told reporters Monday. We just havent had any discussions on how heavy a workload we put on him in that regard.Known way more for his bat than glove, the 23-year-old Schwarber projects to be the Cubs left fielder next season. He wont play winter ball, it was decided, so he can rehab his left knee.Cubs manager Joe Maddon might provide some insight on the sluggers future when he meets with the media in the afternoon.BIG BUCKS BULLPENSAfter Mark Melancon reached a $62 million, four-year deal with San Franccisco that was the richest contract ever for a reliever, its worth wondering whether free-agent closers Aroldis Chapman or Kenley Jansen could command even more.ddddddddddddThe Yankees, with a history of high spending, are interested in both of them.Thats where the market seems to be headed, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said.What it reinforces is the notion that by and large you need to build a bullpen from within, he added.THE NEXT BAMBINO?Get ready to start hearing more about Shohei Otani, the 22-year-old Japanese pitcher who also swings a mean bat.Otani signed Monday to play next year for the Nippon Ham Fighters. He also says he could move to the major leagues after 2017.The right-hander went 10-4 last season while hitting .322 with 22 home runs.We have reports on him, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. Do I think a player could be a two-way player? Yeah, it could happen. Is it very difficult? Yes. But Im not saying that theres not a player out there that cant do that because some of them are rare, rare guys. Babe Ruth could do it. He was pretty good. ' ' '