Terry Francona, who guided the Cleveland Indians to their first American League pennant since 1997, was named American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday.Francona wins the award, given by the Baseball Writers Association of America, after guiding the Indians --?beset by injuries and drug suspensions -- to a surprising first-place finish with a 94-67 record. Cleveland also made its first playoff appearance since 2013 and won their first division title since 2007.Im honored, Francona said. ... It also does give me a chance to brag about our guys. If somebody thinks its an individual award, its the furthest thing from the truth. One, its incredible players. Its front office, ownership. The coaches work so hard every day. I wish we could take a bow together.The Indians almost claimed their first World Series title since 1948 before the Chicago Cubs overcame a 3-1 deficit.It was an unbelievably satisfying year, Francona said.Its already been a busy offseason for him, too. The Indians picked up options for his contract in 2019 and 2020, then he had a right hip replacement operation.He received a first-place vote on 22 of the 30 ballots cast and was the only one to be named on every ballot. Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister finished second with four first-place votes, while Buck Showalter of the Baltimore Orioles and John Farrell of the Boston Red Sox had two first-place votes apiece and finished third and fourth, respectively.In Franconas fourth year managing the club, Cleveland overcame significant injuries to star outfielder Michael Brantley, catcher Yan Gomes and starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar to win the AL Central title by eight games and improve its win total by 13 games from a season ago.This is the second time Francona, 57, has been named Manager of the Year, having won the honor in 2013 after his first season with the Indians, and he is the only two-time winner in franchise history. He is now the sixth active manager to win the award multiple times, joining Dusty Baker, Joe Maddon, Bob Melvin, Mike Scioscia and Buck Showalter.The Associated Press contributed to this report. NFL Store Online .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Jerseys China . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. http://www.cheapnfljerseyswholesale.com/ . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Stitched Jerseys Wholesale . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Football Jerseys Outlet . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Fast bowler Kesrick Williams, allrounder Rovman Powell and wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran, the uncapped players in West Indies T20 squad for the three-match series against Pakistan in the UAE, have spoken of their desire to make their mark in international cricket.It is really fantastic to be called up for the West Indies team; something every young man would dream about, to play international cricket, Williams said on the eve of the first T20I. The determination is there, I am just ready to go, execute, and put my name out there in international cricket.Pooran was excited at the prospect of playing with World T20 winners such as his captain Carlos Brathwaite. Its a dream come true, he said. I always thought I will play for West Indies when I was 21. I am 20 at the moment. While I was a youngster, I watched these guys win two World Cups. Its an amazing achievement for me. Just trying to take the opportunity and make the full use of it.Powell also said representing West Indies was a dream. Getting the call from Courtney Browne was one of the happiest days of my life, he said. Representing West Indies at any level is something that I dream about. The dream has come to a reality.While Williams did not bat or bowl in the warm-up match against an Emirates Cricket Board XI on Tuesday, Powell and Pooran staked their claim for spots in the opening T20I. They oveercame a top-order wobble with a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket at a run rate of 10.dddddddddddd0. Pooran was the leader, scoring seven boundaries, of which two sailed out of the ground.That innings was needed by me for my self-confidence and for the team, Pooran said. It [The sixes] was satisfying. I am a bit disappointed that I didnt get more. I will take it at the end of the day.Powell said that having clarity was key to that stand. The thought process was simple, just get used to the conditions in Dubai, he said. I just stuck to the basics, when the ball comes in my area, I get a start and expand my range.Pooran had come into the spotlight when he played the innings of the Under-19 World Cup at the same venue in 2014. He struck 143 off 160 balls, which lifted West Indies 70 for 8 to 208. Of the 23 boundaries in West Indies innings, Pooran hit 20.I have good memories of Dubai. I expect to do something special again here. I am looking forward to the challenge, he said.Powell, who has also been selected in the West Indies A squad for the List A matches in Sri Lanka, was wary of high expectations. When you set targets and set expectations, sometimes you set up for failures, he said. What I do is try to play the conditions. ' ' '