LOS ANGELES, Calif. - As a baseball fan, Howie Kendrick is impressed and intrigued by the Los Angeles Dodgers off-season overhaul.As the Dodgers new second baseman, Kendrick is grateful he only has to drive a few more miles up the I-5 freeway to be a part of it all.The club welcomed Kendrick to Dodger Stadium on Friday, putting a blue cap on the longtime Angels infielder. Kendrick is just one element of a thorough makeover for the Dodgers under new top executive Andrew Friedman, and the former All-Star second baseman is eager to play a part in Friedmans vision.Theyre always moving forward, trying to get better, Kendrick said. Theres always ways you can get better. Thats been very cool to come into an organization that wants to improve their game. Theyve been division champion (two) years in a row, so hopefully we can win another one.The big-budget Dodgers will have major differences in 2015 from last seasons NL West champions, who won 94 games before flopping in the playoffs amid a handful of glaring weaknesses and perceived chemistry issues in the clubhouse.Since Friedman took over from Ned Colletti, Los Angeles has parted ways with slugger Matt Kemp, speedster Dee Gordon, Hanley Ramirez, Dan Haren and expensive reliever Brian Wilson. The Dodgers have acquired Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, catcher Yasmani Grandal and Brandon McCarthy in their place, stabilizing their defence and addressing several possible problems areas from the plate to the clubhouse.Our overarching goal coming into the off-season was to take a very strong collective of players and do our best to mould them into a highly functioning baseball team, Friedman said in reference to the disparate roster with baseballs highest payroll. We feel like these moves speak to that, and were excited about the way our position group fits together, how they complement one another.Friedman laughed Friday when he was told that Dodgers fans will hate him if the club doesnt win big after deconstructing much of last seasons popular team — and particularly getting rid of Kemp, the popular slugger.Not any more than well hate ourselves, Friedman replied.He was a really popular player because of how gifted he is offensively, Friedman said of Kemp. We get it. I have a lot of respect for what he can do in the batters box. You have to give up talent to get talent, and we felt this put us in a position to be a better baseball team. Nothing weve done in the last two months have we done lightly.The 31-year-old Kendrick is eager to get to work with the 36-year-old Rollins as the Dodgers new double-play combination. Both players are coming from the two longest-tenured double-play combinations in the majors: Rollins and Chase Utley in Philadelphia, and Kendrick with Erick Aybar in Anaheim.The Dodgers got Rollins to waive his no-trade clause to be a part of a run at another World Series championship. Rollins also is looking forward to assuming a leadership role with the Dodgers, whose clubhouse chemistry seemed quite suspect at times last season.Ive had successes, Ive had failures, Rollins said. I have a lot that I can provide. When people have questions, hopefully I can have answers. If things start going a little crazy, I could bring a little stability. ... Thatll probably be my job, to be the glue and make sure everything works.Kendricks excitement about joining the Dodgers was muted by his departure from the Angels, where he had hoped to retire after spending his entire career in Orange County. The Angels traded Kendrick for young pitching prospect Andrew Heaney, who had been acquired from Miami by the Dodgers.Kendricks 5-year-old son, Owen, was disappointed about trading red for blue — until he learned he could get a new jersey.They were trying to free up salary and acquire pitching, so thats one of the reasons Im over here, Kendrick said. It wasnt disappointing to me, because I understand the game. Theres no room to be heartbroken or anything. Russell Westbrook Thunder Jersey .twitter.com/xBTpoAKLJk — Daryl Zerr (@darylzerr) May 29, 2014 @BarDown I give to you the @SquirrelsNCHL aka the Fighting Squirels. Darius Bazley Thunder Jersey . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence. https://www.thunderrookiesshop.com/Dennis-Schroder-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The win gives Canada its fifth title at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge. "Weve got to keep pushing," said Westlake, who led Canada with five goals in the tournament. "The second you let off the pedal, everyone catches up. Kyle Singler Jersey .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams. Danilo Gallinari Thunder Jersey . The 23-year-old Poland international is back as first choice at Arsenal after losing his regular spot in the team on occasions over the last three seasons.Oakland, CA - The Golden State Warriors exercised their fourth-year team contract options on forward Harrison Barnes and center Festus Ezeli for the 2015-16 campaign. Barnes was the seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft, while Ezeli was the final selection in the first round that year. Barnes, 22, has been a key contributor to the Warriors being a perennial playoff contender since his arrival. He has started 106 oof the 160 regular season games he has played and averaged 9.dddddddddddd.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest. Ezeli sat out last season with a knee injury after averaging 2.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and nearly a block per game as a rookie. Golden State also announced it has not picked up the third-year contract option on guard Nemanja Nedovic, who came become a free agent at the end of this season. ' ' '