hands. Nneka doesnt just play in the WNBA, she plays overse

SEATTLE -- Mired in a slump for the past month, the Seattle Mariners optioned first baseman Dae-Ho Lee to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.Seattle recalled Stefan Romero from Tacoma to take Lees spot on the roster and the Mariners put him in the starting lineup for Friday nights series opener with Milwaukee. Seattle also activated reliever Steve Cishek from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Joe Wieland to Tacoma.The move with Lee was not a surprise as the slugger has been unable to shake his recent slide thats seen the South Korean star hit .109 with one home run and four RBI in his last 20 games.Its been a pretty significant slide since the All-Star break and trying to get his timing going, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Confidence-wise hes down. Ive met with him a couple of times. (Hitting coach) Edgar (Martinez) has tried to get some things going, the timing with his swing, just hasnt happened.Lee was a revelation the first half of the season, earning his way into a regular platoon situation at first base as Seattles primary option when facing left-handed pitching. But he injured his hand around the All-Star break and said for a few weeks he was unable to keep up his regular hitting routine outside of games. Servais noted that Lee has been struggling with timing and hoped the decision to send him down will allow Lee the opportunity to rediscover his swing but without the pressure of Seattle being in a playoff race.Lee said his hand is healthy now.It was on and off missing some pitches and a little bit I lost a little confidence of my batting, Lee said through an interpreter.For the season, Lee is batting .246 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI. He has just six hits since the All-Star break and is hitless in his past 14 at-bats.Cishek went on the disabled list on Aug. 4 with a labrum tear in his left hip. The injury did not require surgery and Cishek gives Seattle another right-handed option in the bullpen, but he wont go back to the closer role he had earlier in the year. Cishek was 25 of 31 in save opportunities, but took a blown save and a loss in his last two appearances before landing on the disabled list. Cheap Willie Stargell Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Cheap Pirates Jerseys Authentic . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. http://www.cheappiratesjerseys.com/ . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Cheap Roberto Clemente Jersey . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Cheap Kent Tekulve Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Nneka Ogwumike had a phenomenal season, but I wasnt surprised. Ive seen this for years. Ive always known Nneka was supertalented and that she plays with an unbelievable passion.Its not surprising how well she played, because thats what shes capable of. You know how its the day before a game and theres a ball going out of bounds and you dont dive for it because you have a game tomorrow? Nneka will dive for it. Theres no chill button.In a drill, theres no, You take it easy, Ill take it easy. Theres none of that. And you kind of get to a point where you do what she does. I think everybody kind of took on her identity a little bit.Nneka doesnt get upset when she doesnt get shots. She just goes and gets it. Thats kind of what shes done her whole career, but this year [she was named WNBA most valuable player], we just got her shots. Coach Brian Agler always said that all we needed to do was have practice time together so we could come together and take advantage of our strengths. Thats truly what happened. We got on the court and figured out how to really feature her. [The Sparks won their first WNBA championship since 2002.]Shes always been a good friend and supporter. She helped me understand that its OK to be vulnerable. She often would say, We know you can do everything. Let us help you! If somebody else would say that to me, itd be like, What do you mean? But with Nneka, I knew genuinely that she meant it and its coming from a really good place.I think she understands where I come from and my journey. She kind of bridged the gap between me and the world. I dont really show myself to a lot of people. And she was the one who said, Its OK.dddddddddddd Show yourself.We were in Minnesota when she got elected president of the WNBA players union. I went over to congratulate her and she was like, You know I ran unopposed?I laughed. Thats even more of a congratulations, because nobody else would step forward and do it, I said.She wants to spark change and affect things positively. The WNBA can really grow in the right hands. Nneka doesnt just play in the WNBA, she plays overseas, so shes going to protect the rights of both types of players.There were things that were done in the collective bargaining agreement, before this, that basically swayed it to the advantage of players that only played in the WNBA. We cant ignore the fact that you make your living overseas. I know thats something shes thinking about.She definitely cares about the world. Shes very passionate about making sure things are the right way. Thats her biggest thing: making sure things are fair. Whoever you are, whatever you are, if you work hard, you can get out of it what you put in.More on Nneka Ogwumike? Ogwumike helps power Sparks to WNBA title Story ?? No matter how you look at it, Ogwumike is right pick for MVP Story ?? WNBA players turn to Ogwumike as players union president Story ?? What it feels like to be a WNBA champion Video ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. ' ' '