groundsman Mark Perham. Conversely, India only scored 62 runs fr

WASHINGTON -- The NL Division Series between Dusty Bakers Washington Nationals and Dave Roberts Los Angeles Dodgers is the first postseason matchup in major league history involving two black managers.It gives us some pride, in being African-American, to show people that not only can we do the job, but we can do the job better than most. Especially this year, Baker said Thursday. Hopefully, it motivates other organizations to get some African-American managers, also to motivate other players that are playing now, and former players that have managerial aspirations. It probably brings a lot of pride across America -- and not only African-American people, but everybody.When Baker was hired last November, baseball avoided what could have been its first start to a season since 1988 with zero black managers. Roberts got his job later that month.In April, a study overseen by Richard Lapchick of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida gave baseball teams a grade of C-plus for racial hiring practices for managers.Asked about the bit of history he and Baker will make when the NLDS opens Friday in Washington, Roberts said: Its important, and it doesnt go unnoticed or underappreciated, I think, speaking for Dusty, myself, what it means to the game of baseball, to society.Roberts recently spoke about Baker as a friend, a role model and said its a lot to try to follow what hes done.While this is Roberts postseason debut as a skipper, Baker is participating in the playoffs for the eighth time in 21 seasons with four clubs as a manager. Baker ranks 17th in major league history in managerial wins and said this week he aims to become the first black manager in the sports Hall of Fame.On Thursday, Baker recalled playing under manager Tommy Lasorda with the Los Angeles Dodgers more than 30 years ago -- and hearing Lasorda brag about how many Italian skippers there were in the majors at the time.He says, `Were taking over.I said, `What do you mean, youre taking over?According to Baker, Lasorda then began listing managers he said were Italian. When Lasorda mentioned Billy Martin, Baker responded that he wasnt Italian. But, Baker said, Lasorda retorted that Martins mother was Italian. Then, Baker continued, Lasorda mentioned Chuck Tanner, drawing another objection. And again, according to Baker, Lasorda said Tanners mother was Italian. And the discussion continued in that vein, Baker said.So we went on and on and on. There was some racial pride in him. And he always was talking about being Italian. He even told me to tell some of his friends I was Italian, Baker recounted with a wide smile. And he says, `If he asks you, you tell them youre from Abruzzo, an Italian province.---AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichAuthentic Shoes Wholesale . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Shoes From China Wholesale . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. http://www.cheapshoes.us.org/ . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Authentic Shoes For Cheap . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Cheap Fake Shoes Online . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34.West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite said the support given to him by senior players was a major factor in achieving victory on his captaincy debut. No one was more pivotal than allrounder Dwayne Bravo, whose nerveless final over clinched a one-run win over India in a run fest at the Central Broward Regional Park in Florida.I just want to publicly say thanks to all the senior guys for the help and support they give me on the field throughout the 20 overs, Brathwaite said after the win. Everyone always has suggestions and it kind of eased my role as captain, as a new captain as well, to have such maturity and such experience on the field always lending a helping hand.Before the final ball, we were just fiddling with fields and wondering if to double-bluff or just try to stop the two. So Bravo finally decided and I asked him, Whats your plan? He said, A slower ball. I didnt believe hed bowl a slower ball but I told him, Im backing you. Execute. Express yourself. I know he came out trumps for us once again and for how many ever years hes been doing it in T20 cricket for West Indies, once again he bowled a champion over, stuck to his guns and bowled a very, very top last delivery to one of the best finishers in world cricket.Outside of the final over, Brathwaite said the game as a whole was one of the most memorable T20 affairs hed been a part of, made even more special by the fact that it ended with a victory, in his first match leading the side.Its a relief. I always wanted to get that first one, that first win as captain, Brathwaite said. I know it was a fantastic team effort by the boys. I think that was one of the better T20 games Ive ever been a part of and it was a fantastic spectacle and Im just happy that my first game could be memorable but most importantly that we came out on top.Brathwaite was playing in the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill for the first time, having been with the West Indies Test squad throughout the four-Test series earlier in Indias tour. But with the exception of Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels, the other nine members of the West Indies XI on Saturday had all recently pllayed at the stadium last month, when the Caribbean Premier League held a six-match leg at the facility, while Samuels had also played for West Indies at the ground in 2012.ddddddddddddhe West Indies squads familiarity with the nuances of the venue proved vital at the start of the match, in particular for Evin Lewis and Johnson Charles. One aspect of the ground is the deceptive wind patterns. From field level, the breeze is only faintly detectable. However, standing at the top of the grandstand one will notice the jet stream that cuts through the roof of the stands and blows from elevation northwest above the ground. All thats required is to get underneath the ball and mother nature does most of the work carrying it over the ropes for six.Charles utilised this jet stream to score brisk half-centuries for St Lucia Zouks against Jamaica Tallawahs in both innings he played at the venue last month while Lewis made 79 for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots against Trinbago Knight Riders. On Saturday, West Indies reached 164 for 1 after 11 overs, and 109 of those runs came in the six overs batting from the Pavilion End, hitting with the jet stream.The last over in that stretch was Lewis 32-run 11th over which began with five sixes off Stuart Binny. In all, 16 of the record 21 sixes hit by West Indies on the day came batting from the Pavilion End, making a mockery of the 73-yard boundary measured off by groundsman Mark Perham. Conversely, India only scored 62 runs from their first six overs batting from the Pavilion End.Lewis, who was Man of the Match for his maiden hundred in just his second T20I for West Indies, said afterward that having the experience of playing in the ground recently as part of the CPL was a definite advantage over India at the start of the game.It had a big impact obviously, Lewis said. I played two games on the wicket. Kudos to the groundsman. Hes been doing an extremely good job. I just went out there and backed myself, hit the balls in my scoring areas and put them away. ' ' '