SAN FRANCISCO -- Mark Melancon sat patiently as his name circulated in rumors leading up to the trade deadline.Ive been through it before, so I realize that until it happens its not a big deal, Melancon said. I just waited until I got the phone call.The call finally came on Saturday, and he was no longer the closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Instead, the All-Star was joining the NL East-leading Washington Nationals.By Sunday, Melancon had joined his new team for a game in San Francisco.A lot of different emotions going on just because Ive been with the Pirates for a while, said Melancon, who was in his fourth year with Pittsburgh. Its a little sad to leave those guys, but at the same time Im really excited to be here on a first-place club.Washington sent reliever Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn to the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire Melancon, who supplants the struggling Jonathan Papelbon as Washingtons closer.Melancon exchanged text messages with Papelbon on Saturday while he was between flights.Papelbon is 2-4 with a 4.41 ERA and has allowed eight runs and seven hits in his past three outings.Hes been awesome about it, Melancon said. Its a tough situation, so I understand . Like he said, were here to win a championship, whatever it takes.The deal reunites Melancon with his Team USA teammate Max Scherzer. He also works out with Anthony Rendon in the offseason.The 31-year-old right-hander goes from the fringe of the wild-card race to a team thats building a nice lead in its division.It gives you a nice little boost, I know that, Melancon said. For me it was really exciting. Whirlwind of a day yesterday, but Im here and everythings great.Melancon has converted 30 of 33 saves with a 1.51 ERA this season. He joins his fifth organization in eight years.He is making $9.65 million and is eligible for free agency after the World Series; as part of the swap, the Pirates will pay Washington $500,000 on Sept. 1.Melancon broke into the majors in 2009 with the Yankees, where he was considered a possible successor to Mariano Rivera. He also pitched for Houston, Boston and the Yankees.He credits the famed Yankees closer with helping him develop the cut fastball that he considers his best pitch.I got to watch that a lot from (Rivera), Melancon said. Just sit behind the plate, sit behind him pitching. Not only did I notice how important the cutter and the movement, when to throw it in and back door and all that stuff but just his location and how important that was. With him only having one pitch it meant a lot that he hit his spots, so I picked up a lot on those subtleties. Nike React On Sale . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Nike React Sale .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.nikereactcheap.com/ . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Nike React Clearance . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Nike React Shoes Online . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ryan Mitchell reached out to buddy Michael Doran a few days back to find out his finals schedule at Saint Marys College. If they were both all clear from exams Tuesday, there would be no missing the first office hours hosted by new Oakland Athletics President Dave Kaval.The two 19-year-olds left campus in the East Bay hills and picked up food from McDonalds before arriving 75 minutes early. They found themselves first in line for Kavals time.We were expecting a big crowd. I was overly excited and then I got Michael excited about coming, too, Mitchell said. That was cool.Im not going to say no to meeting the As president, Doran added.They heard about plans for an intimate new ballpark and how it would benefit payroll, revenue, keeping star players, and Kaval told them to reach out with any ideas, even at 2 a.m.One of the most intriguing sessions was near the beginning with structural and earthquake engineer Ibbi Almufti, who offered a detailed presentation on his laptop featuring plans and the benefits of a floating ballpark five feet deep in the water- yes, thats right, in the water with the ability to move it around the bay while dealing with almost no earthquake risks.We dont want to capsize this thing, Kaval quipped, and then thanked Almufti with, Its a fascinating way to think outside the box.He offered up any help needed from his company, engineering, architecture and design giant ARUP. It is responsible for some of the worlds most famous buildings, and Almufti pointed to a photo of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Birds Nest stadium.Almufti works in San Francisco and has a 3-year-old son, but I dont want him to grow up as a Giants fan, he said. Thats too easy.The college students and Almufti were among approximately 100 As fans to show up at the Oakland Coliseum as Kaval reached out with an open invitation as he tries to gather ideas for a proposed new ballpark and also improve the fan experience at the clubs current, rundown venue, through thoughtful communication and open dialogue on anyy and all issues -- good and bad.dddddddddddd Bathrooms in the Bar & Grille are need of changing tables, pointed out Shaun Aguilar, who drove in from the Central Valley city of Modesto and attends about 15 games a year now that he has two sons ages 3 and 2.Id love to have you at a game, Kaval said, handing the sales manager two hats for his boys while inviting him to offer more insight along the way.With a stack of pages of typed notes, Aguilar appreciated his brief time with Kaval, offering, I love the As, theyre second in my life after my family.Kaval opened shop at 3 p.m. and met with fans for 5 1/2 hours through dinnertime. People were invited on a first-come, first-served basis for short meetings with him in a suite overlooking the field -- currently rocking a Raiders logo for the AFC leaders. Peanuts, pretzels, popcorn and hot dogs with all the trimmings were provided, along with water, coffee and cocoa on a blustery December day.Hired last month in a restructuring of the As top ownership and management team, Kaval holds the same position with the MLS San Jose Earthquakes. There, he pulled off the building of the Quakes second-year, state-of-the art Avaya Stadium, which boasts the largest outdoor bar in North America.The As, with input from a variety of community leaders, are in the process of evaluating several Oakland sites with consideration to transit, parking, environment and surrounding opportunities for businesses and housing.At the end of each meeting, lasting up to about 10 minutes, Kaval handed out a postcard-sized note thanking fans for attending while providing his email address and Twitter handle for further communication. He will hold further office hours every Tuesday by appointment only.Its like a whole new image for the As starting when he came, said Mitchell, a sports management major who plays pitcher and third base on the universitys club team. New hope. ' ' '