MINNEAPOLIS -- The Oakland Athletics brought Jim Johnson into their bullpen when they lost All-Star closer Grant Balfour in free agency. Adidas Adam Henrique Jersey . Two weeks into the season, Johnson is 0-2 with an 18.90 ERA and one blown save in five appearances for the Athletics. Manager Bob Melvin couldnt afford to wait while the former Orioles closer got into a groove, removing him from that role on Thursday. Melvin will proceed with a closer-by-committee approach. "Theres no timetable," Melvin told As beat writers before the team played their series finale against the Minnesota Twins. "Lets just get him straightened out. And we have plenty of options. Thats the good thing about our team, our versatility. Well play it by ear based on how the games going, whos available on that particular day." Hes allowed at least two runs in three of his five appearances, his seven total runs allowed is tied for the most in the AL among relievers. Hes allowed more walks and hits than any other reliever in the league. Its a far cry from the dominant reliever who saved 50 games for the Orioles last season, tied with Atlantas Craig Kimbrel for the most in the majors. The As were in the market when Balfour, who had 38 saves last year to help Oakland win its second straight AL West title, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays over the winter. Johnson is making $10 million and will be a free agent at the end of this season, but the As can take heart that he has recovered from similar funks before to post solid seasons. Last year, he was charged with three losses and four of his nine total blown saves during a tough six-game stretch in the middle of May. He allowed 12 runs over five innings in that stretch, but posted a 1.52 ERA in his other 69 appearances. Oakland will use Dan Otero, Ryan Cook, Luke Gregorson and Sean Doolittle in save situations, depending on the matchup. Adidas Benoit-Olivier Groulx Jersey .L. - Defending womens champion Alberta improved to 3-0 at the Canadian junior curling championships with a 10-3 win over Ontario in Sundays afternoon draw. Adidas Jared Boll Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have promoted Tony Sparano Jr. http://www.cheapducksjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-kevin-bieksa-jersey . By then it was clear: The 76ers were going to win for the first time in two months, and they were going to do it with ease. The 76ers snapped their NBA record-tying, 26-game losing streak, routing the Detroit Pistons 123-98 on Saturday night to avoid establishing the longest skid in U.MIAMI - Erik Spoelstra wanted to get Miamis starters some extra in-game conditioning.Winning was a bonus.Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, including a jumper that made it a two-possession game with 35.8 seconds remaining, and the Heat rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 90-85 in a preseason game Tuesday night.Wade either scored or set up Miamis final five field goals, helping the Heat to their third consecutive exhibition win.We have a lot of work to do with this team and our guys understand that, Spoelstra said.Chris Bosh added 22 points in 35 minutes for the Heat, who went largely with starters against Houston backups in the final minutes. Mario Chalmers finished with 13 for Miami.Dwight Howard had 19 points and nine rebounds in his most extended action of the preseason for the Rockets, while James Harden added 19 points.Howard was 7 for 10 from the floor in 28 minutes. The Rockets led by 13 late in the first half and 11 at halftime, before sputtering offensively in the final two quarters.We had a good first half, Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. The second half we were lethargic. The first group knew they were only going to play five or six minutes in the third quarter and I think they kind of played accordingly.With the game knotted at 79, Wade hit a 3-pointer — the third such attempt by Miami on that particular possession — and the Heat kept the lead the rest of the way.Wade finished 11 for 17 from the floor, plus added six assists.Donatas Motiejunas grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Houston, which finished with a 44-35 edge on the backboards.The Heat were again without forward Josh McRobertss, who is working his way back from a toe injury and hasnt appeared in the preseason. Adidas Jacob Larsson Jersey. Other players with likely rotation spots who were held out included Udonis Haslem, Justin Hamilton and James Ennis.TIP-INSRockets: Howard hadnt logged more than 17 minutes in a preseason game — he had played in only two of Houstons first five — and his exhibition high-point game was 11. He topped those numbers in the first half alone, going into the break with 15 points in 18 minutes.Heat: When Wade was 6 for 6 in the first half, the rest of the Heat were a combined 5 for 19 from the floor. And one of those other five makes was a circus shot from Bosh, who drew a foul from Terrence Jones, shot and watched the ball bounce twice off the top of the backboard before falling.NEW COURTMiami unveiled a new court, with a virtually identical look to its old floor. The unpainted wood is a slightly lighter shade than the previous model, and the basket supports are a bit smaller and placed further from the baselines than before.BIRTHDAY GUESTHeat fan Iluminada Magtotos wish on her 90th birthday was to play basketball with Wade. So after Miamis shootaround on Tuesday, Wade made it happen. The woman who goes by Grandma Nelly took some underhand shots, one of which Wade rebounded and laid back in before telling the beaming woman You throw better lobs than Mario Chalmers. And when one of her shots dropped, the three-time champion rewarded her with a hug.UP NEXTRockets: Houston goes to Orlando on Wednesday, before finishing the preseason at home Friday against San Antonio.Heat: Miamis preseason finale is Friday at Memphis. Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Bucks Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Wizards Jerseys ' ' '