2012 » U.S. womens skeleton racer Annie OShea, who was fourth in the World

HOUSTON -- Alex Rodriguez was out of the lineup for a third straight game Monday night against the Houston Astros as he remains mired in a slump.Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel has been tough on Rodriguez, but the decision was more to keep Carlos Beltran in the lineup. Beltran has hit .305 this season with 21 home runs and 62 RBI entering Monday.Rodriguez came into Monday 4 for 31 with one home run in July and batting .206 this season with nine home runs and 29 RBI. Hes been a regular in the lineup against left-handers and had played more against righties since the All-Star break. He started seven times during New Yorks recent 10-game homestand and hit his 696th career homer in a 2-1 win over Baltimore on July 18.He wants to be in there, Girardi said. I get that. I dont want a player whos content not being in there. His times going to come. Hes going to get more chances.Despite the benching, Rodriguez is optimistic he can turn it around after speaking to members of the Yankees baseball operations department.My job is to work hard and be ready when my number is called, Rodriguez said. I am optimistic about the future. Ive met with our sabermetrics department and a lot of the numbers are trending in the right direction. Theres no question that for the first two months, my mechanics were out of whack. I think I found something, and Im excited to put it into play.Nike Presto Just Do It Noir . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Air Max 1 Just Do It Homme Pas Cher . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.nikejustdoitchaussure.fr/pas-cher-max-1-just-do-it.html . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Nike Just Do It Chaussure . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Air Force One Just Do It Pas Cher . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday.LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Even with temperatures well above freezing, there was enough ice for the U.S. bobsled, skeleton and luge teams to start training Monday on their home track on Mount Van Hoevenberg.Luge Olympian Tucker West took the first official run, with the air temperature around 50 degrees. Forecasts call for highs to reach the 70s in the Adirondack Mountains on Tuesday, though temperatures are expected to return to much more seasonable levels later in the week, with some snow showers possible by the weekend.Like usual, we are at the mercy of upstate New York weather, said Erin Hamlin, the 2014 Olympic womens luge bronze medalist and 2009 world champion. Its always nice to be in familiar territory for a bit.The World Cup sliding seasons are still more than a month away, but its a critical time for all three of the U.S. teams. Bobsled and skeleton national team trials are scheduled to start Saturday, and luges national championships are set to begin Oct. 28.The track is refrigerated, meaaning ice can be maintained when air temperatures are well over freezing.ddddddddddddEveryone is really excited like the first day of every season, said U.S. womens skeleton racer Annie OShea, who was fourth in the World Cup standings last season. The track is in really great condition. We really werent sure we would be able to slide today because its so warm, but of course (track manager) Tony Carlino and his crew got everything ready. We couldnt be happier to be out here again for the start of a new year.Warmer air means softer ice, and softer ice means slower times. But for sliders, it was just good to be back at work.We had some pretty decent times, U.S. bobsled veteran Steven Holcomb said. It feels good to be back on ice. Summer is tough because you cant do any bobsledding -- its just weightlifting and sprinting and training and getting ready for bobsled season. ' ' '