sports brief package
Penguins recall goaltender
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled goaltender Tristan Jarry from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.
Goalie Casey DeSmith has been re-assigned to WBS.
Jarry, 22, has won three straight games for WBS, including 18 saves on 20 shots in a 5-2 win at Bridgeport Saturday night. Jarry has started five games this year, going 3-2 with a 3.18 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage.
Last season, Jarry backstopped WBS to the top regular-season record in the AHL, compiling a 28-15-2 record, three shutouts, a 2.15 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
He and DeSmith combined to win the Harry “Hap” Holmes Award after allowing the fewest goals in the AHL.
Jarry made his NHL debut for Pittsburgh in last year’s regular-season finale at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. He has dressed as the backup goalie in the opening round of the NHL playoffs for the Penguins each of the last two seasons.
Tiger to return
in the Bahamas
Tiger Woods is returning to competition at his holiday tournament in the Bahamas the week after Thanksgiving.
Woods has not played since he withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic on Feb. 3 with back spasms. Two months later, he had his fourth back surgery in just over two years.
Woods will be part of the 18-man field at the Hero World Challenge, which starts Nov. 30 at Albany Golf Club. Woods is eligible as the tournament host.
A year ago, Woods returned at this tournament after 15 months recovering from two back surgeries. He made 24 birdies, but finished 15th out of 18 players.
Ravens’ Flacco has
‘good chance’ to play
Joe Flacco is recovering nicely from the concussion he received last week, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh says “there’s a good chance” the quarterback will play Sunday at Tennessee.
Flacco sustained a concussion and a gash that required stitches after absorbing a late, high hit from Miami linebacker Kiko Alonso in Baltimore’s 40-0 victory Thursday night. Flacco was on the ground at the end of a protective slide when Alonso slammed into him.
The second-quarter tackle caused Flacco to lose his helmet and left him dazed. He was subsequently escorted to the locker room and did not return.
Harbaugh said Monday that “symptoms are zero” for Flacco. But he will remain on concussion protocol at least until Baltimore (4-4) resumes practice on Wednesday, and maybe longer.
If Flacco is cleared by Sunday, however, he will start against the Titans (4-3).
“If he’s ready, he’s playing,” Harbaugh said.
Asked if he expected Flacco to play, the coach responded: “Sure, absolutely. I think there’s a good chance he’ll play.”
Phillies hire Kapler as manager
The Philadelphia Phillies went outside the organization and perhaps outside the box to get a new manager.
Former major league outfielder Gabe Kapler was hired Monday to be Philadelphia’s manager, completing a search that lasted one month.
Kapler has served as director of player development for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2014.
The 42-year-old Kapler replaces Pete Mackanin, who moved into a front-office position.
Kapler batted .268 with 82 homers and 386 RBIs over 12 seasons with six teams between 1998-2010. He had no previous ties to the Phillies.
“Gabe has a track record of leadership, winning, progressive thinking and working with young players, and we fully believe that he is the right person to guide this organization into the future,” general manager Matt Klentak said.
That “progressive” thinking includes a fondness for analytics and sports science. Those are two important areas for Philadelphia’s management group.
Klentak said he wanted a manager with a new voice and new style to lead the Phillies into contention. They finished 66-96, but a talented core of young players improved in the second half and could be ready to compete.
Kapler’s only managerial experience came in 2007 when he took a season off from playing to lead Boston’s Single-A affiliate. He also coached Team Israel during the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifying period.