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CHICAGO -- Los Angeles Angels ace Garrett Richards hopes to be cleared to throw next week as he seeks to avoid Tommy John surgery.Richards last pitched on May 1 and was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament five days later. He wont pitch again this season, but hes been undergoing stem-cell treatments in hopes of avoiding surgery that would sideline him through the 2017 season.Richards was optimistic after a workout at Wrigley Field on Wednesday before the Angels faced the Cubs. Hes been lifting and doing exercises with a weighted ball to stimulate the throwing motion.I literally feel like my arm is refreshed, Richards said. Everything feels great. My shoulder feels nice and loose. I feel zero discomfort in my arm. Nothing even close to what I was feeling when I was put on the (disabled list) or anything.The next step is an imaging scan Monday.If everything looks the same as it did a couple weeks ago or better than we start throwing an actual baseball on an actual field and doing actual baseball things, Richards said. That would be cool.Richards would first start throwing at 45 feet. He said the true test will be when he stretches out to 120 feet. If that goes well, it could to bullpen sessions next month and then a stint in the instructional or fall league.Ive got to be able to go out and do my pregame routine, throw out of the bullpen and throw in a game a couple innings to simulate what it would be like in a game, Richards said. I think once I accomplish that a couple times I think Ill have enough peace of mind to move into the offseason and continue with my offseason workouts and hopefully roll into next year fresh and ready to go.The 28-year-old Richards was 1/3 with a 2.34 ERA in six starts this season before getting hurt. His enthusiasm was noted by Angels manager Mike Scioscia.If youre within an earshot of him hes very excited, Scioscia said. Hes been talking about this day for a couple weeks since he had the other checkup. If hes cleared to start throwing, were trying to dissuade him from making his first pitch a slider. Custom Senators T-shirts . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Cheap Custom Senators Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. http://www.customsenatorsjersey.com/custom-frank-finnigan-jersey-large-70t.html . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. Custom Frank Finnigan Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Custom Senators T-shirts .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. Minutes after the College Football Playoff matchups were announced Sunday afternoon, Las Vegas sportsbook operator CG Technology installed Alabama as an 11-point favorite over Washington.By the time the initial rush of money slowed, the Crimson Tide were a 14.5-point favorite. Of the first $12,000 bet on the game Sunday, approximately $11,000 of it was on Alabama, according to CG Technology vice president Jason Simbal.At MGMs sportsbook, seven of the first nine bets on the national semifinal were on the Crimson Tide, with an average bet size of $1,800.I think its an indication of what the public is going to do, Jay Rood, vice president of MGM race and sports books, said of the early wagering.The line for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (3 p.m. ET, Dec. 31, ESPN) got to as high as Alabama minus-15 on Sunday at the MGM before settling at minus-14.5. It could be found as high as Alabama minus-16.5 in the offshore market and is the largest line of any College Footbball Playoff matchup to date.ddddddddddddAlabama has been favored in 95 of its past 96 games.Ohio State opened as a 3-point favorite over Clemson in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl?(7 p.m. ET, Dec. 31, ESPN). That line was holding steady as of Monday morning.The Buckeyes winning the national title is the worst-case scenario for some Las Vegas sportsbooks. William Hill took two $25,000 bets on Ohio State to win the championship at 4-1 odds. Each would net $100,000 if the Buckeyes win their second national title in the past three years.William Hill also accepted a $6,400 national championship bet on Washington at 15-1, which would net $96,000, and a $10,000 bet on Clemson at 9-1 that would produce a $90,000 profit. The largest bet on Alabama was $5,000 at 11-2, which would pay $27,500 if the Crimson Tide repeat as national champions. ' ' '