ying in the past two World Series, will start Edinson Volquez on Saturday. He is 0-1 with a 7.77 ERA and opponents are hitting .324 off him in five September starts. He gave up 12 doubles and four home runs

CROMWELL, Conn. -- Charley Hoffman couldnt help but think about last year as he stood on the 17th tee Thursday at the Travelers Championship. A year ago, Hoffman hit a similar tee shot right and into the water, staring at a double-bogey, bogey slide on the final two holes of the tournament in which he lost a two-stroke lead and eventually the title. This time, his drive stayed on the fairway. He finished with a par and then a birdie to complete a first-round 61, one shot off the course record. "Believe it or not, I was thinking about it going down 16, 17, 18," he said. "If I could have just gotten those balls in play, I would have been defending champion here. But this year, I got off to a good start and obviously a little more focused on those last two holes. Hopefully Im there again this year." His 28 on the back nine was the lowest nine holes on the PGA Tour this year, and puts him one shot up on Hunter Mahan, who posted an early 62. Bubba Watson was two strokes back. Hoffman said he thought he might have a chance to go even lower, and was flirting with 59 after making eagle on 10 and 12, and going to 8-under par with a birdie on 16. "I knew I had some chances coming in," he said. "But when its said and done, as I displayed last year, 16, 17 and 18 arent an easy test. So I was just trying to make some pars coming in." Hoffman, Mahan and Watson all have interesting histories in Connecticut. Mahan is the 2007 champion and has two second-place finishes in his 11 previous starts at the TPC River Highlands. "I think this is the most comfortable course on Tour for me," he said. He is also coming off a fourth-place finish after being in the final pair at the U.S. Open, something he said has him playing with confidence. He opened the day by making the first of eight birdies during a bogey-free round. He was also at 8-under with three holes to play before shooting par on the final three holes. "This is a golf course where you can be aggressive off the tee if you want to be, but you can also play it safe," he said. "I choose to be mostly aggressive, and it gives me some short irons. Im happy to take on pins with my short irons. So its a combo of things, but all I know is when I step on that tee, I feel like I can hit any shot out here." Watson finds himself in contention again after winning in 2010 and tying Hoffman as the runner-up a year ago. He said there is a reason so many familiar names are at the top of the leaderboard. "These are guys that love this course, that love this tournament, they love Travelers and how theyve treated us here," he said. "And so, youre always going to see pretty much some of the same guys up there because they enjoy this area and this golf course." Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., is in a group of six golfers four strokes back at 65. Calgarys Stephen Ames, Ottawas Brad Fritsch both opened with an even-par 70. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., shot a 74. The biggest ovation of the day came when Justin Rose was introduced on the first tee as the U.S. Open champion. Rose went on to shoot a 67, leaving him in good shape heading into Friday. "Obviously, Im playing well," he said. "I just knew I had to get through today without too much damage. If you manage to keep it in the mid-60s for most of the week, you should do pretty well." Rose also announced that he is changing management companies, leaving British-based 4Sports & Entertainment for Excel Sports, the same company that represents Tiger Woods. "I just felt with me playing so much here in the States and where I felt my game was going, I just felt it was a decision I wanted to make," he said. The round marked the pro debut of Chris Williams, the top-ranked amateur in the world the past season. The former University of Washington star shot a 1-over 71, with two bogies and a single birdie. "The first tee, I was a little nervous," he said. "But then it was the same old, same old. I didnt play very well, so that was pretty frustrating, but I got it out of the way." Best Fake Air Max 97 . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Fake Air Max 270 Black . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/cheap-paul-george-shoes.html . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Custom Air Max 97 Plus . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. Kobe Shoes China Wholesale . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona is more concerned about how his rotation will line up for the American League Division Series than the Saturday matchup with the Kansas City Royals.Right-hander Trevor Bauer, who starts Saturday, will in all likelihood by the Indians starter for the first postseason game Thursday.Right-hander Carlos Carrasco was placed on the 60-day disabled list Friday, removing him from any postseason appearances.Cy Young candidate Corey Kluber is nursing a quadriceps strain, while All-Star right-hander Danny Salazar has a forearm strain.While Kluber, who is 18-9 with a 3.14 ERA, threw long toss Friday before the game at Kauffman Stadium, he has yet to test his sore leg with a mound session. Salazar could have a simulated game Monday if he feels good the next couple of days.We need to talk through with the staff, and we need to talk to Kluber more, too, cause we want to get a better feel for where he is, too, Francona said. Were not going to know that for a little bit, so thats kind of why were waiting to see whats going on here.Does that mean who would start Game 1 of the ALDS?If and when and why, yeah, Francona said.Bauer has indicated he would be willing to pitch on short rest or be available every day out of the bullpen.I dont doubt that, Francona said. Thats something that, we need to talk through. Weve already talked with him.Bauer is 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 34 games (27 starts) this season. He struck out 159, walked 68 and allowed 173 hits in 184 innings.The Indians are one-half game behind Boston for home-field advantage in their upcoming ALDS.ddddddddddddThe Royals, who wont be in the postseason after playing in the past two World Series, will start Edinson Volquez on Saturday. He is 0-1 with a 7.77 ERA and opponents are hitting .324 off him in five September starts. He gave up 12 doubles and four home runs among 33 hits in 24 1/3 innings.This will be his sixth start against the Indians this year (1-2, 3.73), becoming only the second Kansas City pitcher to make six starts against the same team in a season.Meanwhile, the Royals try to figure out how Yordano Ace Ventura might improve during the offseason. His loss Friday to the Indians left him with a 4.45 ERA, the highest of his career.I just think that hes starting to understand, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Again, obviously, tonight, its still not quite there to be able to take it through six or seven innings, but you see the difference in five innings when hes staying within himself and just dotting that fastball, good curveball, nice changeup and then he starts to fly open a little bit, getting a little bit strong and then leaves pitches up in the zone and they do damage on it.Ventura gave up four runs, all in the third inning, while striking out eight, walking three and hitting a batter.Thank goodness I was able to finish the season healthy and Im going to go back home and start working to prepare myself for spring training next year, Ventura said with catching coach Pedro Grifol acting as his interpreter. ' ' '