us to play better at home to where people are excited ab

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The Russian mens quadruple sculls team has been disqualified from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for a doping violation, and will be replaced at the games by New Zealand, world rowings ruling body announced Thursday.The World Rowing Federation says that trimetazidine, a banned substance, was found in a urine sample given by rower Sergei Fedorovtsev in an out-of-competition test on May 17.He competed a week later at the final Olympic qualifying regatta in Switzerland, where Russia finished first to qualify for Rio.As Fedorovtsev, who won a gold medal in quadruple sculls at the 2004 Athens Olympics, had provided a positive doping test, the federation said that the results of all competitions in which the rower participated after 17 May 2016 are therefore automatically disqualified.New Zealand, which finished third behind Russia and Canada in the qualifying event, will replace the Russian crew in Rio. Canada also qualified by finishing second, joining the top eight crews who secured their Olympic places at the 2015 world championships, held in France.The disqualification of the rowers is just the latest doping scandal involving Russia ahead of Rio.Russias track and field athletes have already be banned from competing for their country for a systematic doping system that operated from the top down and tainted the entire team.The IAAF, tracks world governing body, upheld a ban on Russias track and field federation, but left open a tiny crack that would allow any individual Russian athletes who have been untainted by doping and have been subjected to effective testing outside Russia to apply to compete in the games.Russia, along with Kazakhstan and Belarus, also faces a possible one-year suspension from international weightlifting competition following the retesting of samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.The International Weightlifting Federation said the final decisions on whether the countries will be allowed to compete at Rio will be made after the International Olympic Committee makes a definitive ruling on the retests.Russia is one of six countries that have already had some of their quota places for Rio withdrawn by the IWF. Baltimore Orioles Store . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Custom Baltimore Orioles Jerseys . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. https://www.cheaporioles.com/ . 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. Fake Orioles Jerseys . PAUL, Minn. Orioles Jerseys 2020 . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks will enter the All-Star break a major disappointment.A team that many picked to contend in the NL West is mired in a tie with San Diego for last place in the division. At 38-49, the Diamondbacks are 16 games behind first-place San Francisco.Most puzzling is the discrepancy between Arizonas record on the road (23-17) and its dismal performance at home (15-32). In the National League, only Atlanta has a worse home record.Nobody in the organization seems to have a reason for the home woes.If we had the answer, manager Chip Hale said, it wouldnt be happening.The players are stumped. tooWeve all been trying to figure it out, reliever Tyler Clippard said. I was asking some of the guys that have been here in the past `Whats the deal with playing here or being here? and nobody really knows. Its very much a coincidental-type situation. It is what it is. I dont know.Despite the record, the person in charge of the team -- chief baseball officer Tony La Russa -- remains supportive of Hale and his coaching staff.Theyre a competent, talented group, La Russa said.He feels the same about the roster.No matter what the record is, La Russa said, we like our potential, we like our talent.The Diamondbacks surprised the baseball world by signing Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million contract. And they traded outfielder Ender Inciarte and two of their top prospects to Atlanta for Shelby Miller, penciling him in as the No. 2 starter.After a shaky start, Greinke has been the pitcher he was supposed to be, winning seven consecutive starts with a 1.98 ERA in that span. Hes 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA overall but goes into the All-Star break on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique.Miller, though, has been a disaster.He is 2-9 with a 7.14 ERA. Miller went on the disabled list and worked in the minors to find his form. After some progress, Miller had another rough night Wednesday in a 13-6 home loss to San Diego. After blanking the Padres for three innings, he gave up five runs in the fourth when Arizona hhad a 4-0 lead.ddddddddddddThis is an organizational question, Hale said after the game. How are we going to get him better.Besides Greinke, the entire rotation has been underwhelming.Patrick Corbin, expected to be a standout No. 3 pitcher, is 4-6 with a 4.90 ERA.Archie Bradley, taking the place of injured starter Rubby De La Rosa, is 3-4 with a 4.81 ERA.Robbie Ray is 4-7 with a 3.78 ERA.Injuries to outfielders A.J. Pollock and David Peralta have hurt, but La Russa said every team has to deal with injuries.You play with what you have, he said. We have good depth on this team and thats one reason were disappointed our record isnt better, especially at home.Not surprisingly, home attendance has dwindled. The 14,110 for Tuesday nights game against the Padres was the smallest home crowd in franchise history. La Russa isnt surprised.I just think its on us to play better at home to where people are excited about our chance to win, he said. Im not disappointed in the fans. Were motivated to earn them.There have been some bright spots.Third baseman Jake Lamb, in his second full season in the majors, has 20 home runs and is tied for fourth in the NL with 61 RBI. Hes fit in nicely as the No. 4 hitter behind Paul Goldschmidt.Jean Segura, acquired in an offseason trade with Milwaukee, was shifted from shortstop to second base and is one of the top leadoff hitters in the game. Hes hitting .317 and is second in the National League with 108 hits.And, after a slow start, Goldschmidt has been Goldschmidt. Hes hitting .294 with 15 homers and 58 RBI and was selected to the All-Star team for the fourth time.But the team is underachieving.Its kind of funny how baseball is sometimes, Clippard said. You feel like youre so close every single day to getting on a run, making a transition to being the club we think we can be. It just hasnt happened for us yet. Every day you come to the ballpark with that feeling. I know I do. ' ' '