Talk » Newgarden also should be given strong consideratio

LOS ANGELES -- The call that Jose De Leon has been waiting for all season finally came.The 24-year-old pitcher will make his big-league debut on Sunday for the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres.De Leon was 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City while limiting opposing batters to a .194 average. He struck out 111 batters against just 20 walks this season.After getting the news, De Leon shared it with his parents, who quickly made plans to arrive in Los Angeles on Saturday night.They were really happy, he said. They were crying and jumping all over the place. It still hasnt hit me.With the Dodgers rotation plagued by injuries, De Leon couldnt help but wonder when his turn would come to join the big-league club. He watched as four other rookies were brought up, including Julio Urias who proved reliable in the Dodgers fight to protect their slim division lead over San Francisco.I needed to be here in Los Angeles this year, De Leon said, because I wanted Vin Scully to call my game.Scully, the 88-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster, is retiring at seasons end after a record 67 years in the Dodgers booth.The team hasnt indicated how long De Leon might stick around, although the right-hander has extra innings to spare after missing most of April and May with an ankle injury and shoulder inflammation.Ive been throwing strikes and attacking the zone. Every night I go out I just try to improve something, he said. Keep it simple and not try to do too much, I think thats the key.De Leon was taken 24th in the 2013 draft out of Southern University. His first season in Rookie ball was a harsh introduction, with De Leon posting a 6.96 ERA. The following year, he improved enough to break Clayton Kershaws low Class-A Great Lakes single-game strikeout record with 14. He was promoted to Class-AA Tulsa last year.He looks like hes in great shape, and hes on a roll right now, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Just to see that youthful enthusiasm that weve seen from a lot of our guys this year is pretty cool.De Leon last pitched on Aug. 28 for Oklahoma City against Colorado Springs, allowing four hits in 7 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out a season-high 13 and had no walks. Before being promoted, he hadnt allowed a run in 17 2/3 innings and had 10 or more strikeouts in his last three starts.He began the season ranked as the 24th overall prospect in the majors by MLB.com and the Dodgers No. 3 prospect.Roberts was asked who his favorite Puerto Rican player is.Well, if he throws well ..., the manager said, smiling and his voice trailing off.De Leon typically goes to the movies on days he pitches as way to combat nerves. With Sundays day game, he wont get that chance.Its going to be my dream, he said. Ive had this dream since I was a kid. Its going to be really emotional, I know that, but Ill just try to keep focused and enjoy the ride. Adidas Jerseys . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Soccer Jerseys . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Jerseys .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Stitched Jerseys .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. NEWTON, Iowa -- You dont often see a superior performance like the one Josef Newgarden and Ed Carpenter Racing put on in the Iowa Corn 300.?Whether you were sitting in the grandstands on a beautiful afternoon at Iowa Speedway or following the action on television or the internet from home, Newgardens dominance over the Verizon IndyCar Series field was obvious.?The No. 21 ECR Chevrolet led an IndyCar record 282 of 300 laps, losing the top spot only during green-flag pit stops. At one point before halfway, Newgarden and pole winner Simon Pagenaud had lapped the rest of the 23-car field.?The combined might of Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing was unable to overcome the flying 25-year-old from Nashville, who won by 4.28 seconds over Penskes Will Power and Ganassis Scott Dixon, with IndyCar Series championship leader Pagenaud dropping to fourth.?It was Newgardens first win of the 2016 season and the third of his IndyCar career. More importantly, it moves him up to second place in the season standings, 73 points behind Pagenaud.?His accomplishment Sunday was made even more impressive when you realize that, just four weeks ago, Newgarden broke his clavicle and right wrist in a jarring accident at Texas Motor Speedway.?It was a lot of fun; the car was amazing, Newgarden remarked after his latest win. Some stints it was like a video game. You put on new tires, catch people at the right point, and you could just slice and dice. Thats a lot of credit for what weve built at this team with Ed Carpenter Racing.?We had a good car here last year, he added. We had a good shot at winning it then. We had a great race, but we were disappointed we couldnt get it done last year. We really wanted to get it done this year, and we finally got it done.?Newgarden led more than 100 laps at Iowa in 2015 but had to settle for second place in the race.?This year, with a helping hand from part-time IndyCar driver J.R. Hildebrand, Newgarden and ECR were able to be in front at the finish after running pretty much unchallenged all day.?Newgarden gave credit to Hildebrand, who stepped in after Newgardens Texas crash to run the No. 21 car in tests at Road America and Iowa. At Road America, less than two weeks after screws and plates were installed to repair the fractured clavicle, Newgarden drove from the back of the grid to an eighth-place finish.?At Iowa, he was in a league of his own.?I dont think we realize how lucky we are to have someone like him at our disposal whenever we need it, Newgarden said of Hildebrand. He put some extra spice in the setup, and we took what I think was a race-winning car last year; he made it better with his input.?Weve got a great crew and great people, he added. Im happy to get my first oval win for the team.?Remarkably, he did it while driving injured at what most drivers believe is the most physical oval on the IndyCar Series schedule. The 0.875-mile Iowa track gives drivers almost no time to rest because there really isnt much of a straight to speak of.?Newgarden admitted that he knew before the staart that he might not last the 300-lap distance.dddddddddddd Instead, he stayed in front for more than 90 percent of the laps and rarely had to extend himself.?I was really nervous coming into the race, but I didnt want to tell anybody that, he said. I cant express to you how physical this place is.?Having a great car made it easier, he continued. Man, I was surprised I could hold on. But in the first stint, I was like, This car is so good, we can clearly win it with this car. Im going to feel like an idiot if I dont get to the end. That was enough motivation for me just to get through it.?The car was so good that I couldnt let my guys down. I just tried to focus on gritting it out and getting the most out of the thing.?Dixon and Power, with five IndyCar Series championships between them, were impressed with what they saw Sunday.?I dont think anybody really had anything for Josef today, Dixon said. Huge credit to that team. They did a hell of a job. Josef deserved that big-time. Good to see him get a win.?He was on his own on another planet, Power added. They just nailed it absolutely.?Theyre a top-class team. They generally do a really good job with their resources, so full credit to them, and when you have a shunt like he had, to come back from injuries, to a physical place like this and win, full credit. He didnt test here, either.?Questions about Newgardens future have been whirling around for the past couple of years, and it seems inevitable that, at some point, Penske or Ganassi will come calling for his services.?Whether he actually will be or not, Newgarden also should be given strong consideration for a role with the Haas F1 team. Although Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi already has some limited F1 experience, Newgarden -- who also spent time racing junior formula cars in Europe -- looks like a better bet for the long term.?Jumping to a superteam such as Penske or Ganassi seems like a logical career move, but Newgarden has shown that he is capable of winning races with the tight-knit team run by owner-driver Carpenter. Newgardens belief in whether ECR can carry him to IndyCar championships likely will be a key factor in deciding his future.?Although he is well placed in the title contest this year, Newgarden knows he is likely to lose significant ground when the IndyCar Series returns to Texas on Aug. 27 to complete the race he crashed out of.?Im kind of bummed about Texas, he said. We know its coming. Thats going to push us down, and its going to be tough to swallow when we get there because thats really the only one that Im prepared that were going to lose a lot of points.?Im not too concerned about it yet, he added. Its all about making hay when you can. You have to win races. Thats the only way were going to challenge Simon, and at the end of the day well see where were at. Hopefully were close enough at Sonoma that we can challenge for a championship. ' ' '