e.UP NEXTDodgers: Bud Norris was originally the scheduled starter, but the Dod

Focus on ... the title fightCould this be Nico Rosbergs year? He has never led the drivers standings this late in the season and has rarely been on such convincing form as he was in Singapore. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, has struggled to kick start his season following the summer break following an engine penalty in Spa, a bad start in Monza and set-up issues in Singapore. The records of previous years point toward Hamilton edging Rosberg over the next six races, but the beauty of this sport is that anything can happen. One retirement and the title could swing dramatically one way or the other; one collision and we could be set for all-out war between the Mercedes drivers.This weekends Malaysian Grand Prix will be crucial to the title race. If Rosberg can extend his lead with a win, it will leave him a minimum of 15 points ahead of Hamilton and would mean the reigning world champions has gone two months without a victory. If Hamilton wins and Rosberg finishes second the gap will close to just one point, effectively resetting the championship with five races remaining. Bring it on.In need of a podiumAfter his run of three podiums in four races leading up to the summer break, Max Verstappens record since racing resumed looks rather disappointing. Its far from a crisis, but with Daniel Ricciardo coming within 0.4s of a win in Singapore, a podium ahead of his teammate this weekend would turn attention back to his side of the garage.In need of pointsJolyon Palmer has just six races left to prove he deserves a place on the F1 grid next year after his first 15 have passed without a point. In such a competitive driver market, only a series of points finishes are likely to convince the relevant decision makers that he should be given another chance next year. Kevin Magnussen scored a point in Singapore, but Malaysia is a very different track and only a mixed up race is likely to offer points on Sunday.ESPN predictionAlthough Ferrari won in Malaysia last year, its hard to look past a Mercedes victory this season. Lewis Hamilton has now gone three races without a win and desperately needs to prove that Singapore was just a one off. When Hamilton is fired up it is almost impossible to beat him and if the current situation doesnt motivate him its hard to know what will.WeatherIts easy to predict thunderstorms in Sepang -- they happen pretty much every day -- but its harder to predict exactly when and where they will strike. F1 weather experts at UBIMET say: As forecasting for Malaysia contains a degree of uncertainty, thundery showers cannot be excluded completely from the practice, qualifying or race sessions. Due to this uncertainty, further forecast details will be provided on a regular basis closer to the event.We say: Bring your umbrella.A lap with Romain GrosjeanBig braking into turn one - its very similar to China, both turns one and two. Long right-hand side corner, then a left hairpin. You need good traction. Then you have a long straight line going to turn four. Big braking, 90-degree right-hand side corner going up a crest. Then you have very high-speed corners going through turns five and six, almost flat out.Then its a small brake for the double right-hand turn eight. Its a mid-speed corner with very tricky traction going through to the next turn, another left-hand side hairpin. The right corner is very long. Its quite good fun when the car is well balanced. You then have a bit of straight line going to turns 12 and 13. Flat-out left corner, big braking, with g-forces from taking the corner. Then its a long straight line approaching the final corner. Big braking to carry minimum speed, then its full-throttle as early as you can to finish the lap.TyresAvailable compounds: Hard, Medium, SoftTyre facts, courtesy of Pirelli:?? Track temperatures are nearly always high: its actually possible to fry an egg on the asphalt.? In the past, wear and degradation has been high, making a multi-stop race likely.? Heavy rain has often been a feature of the Malaysian Grand Prix, even causing red flags. It also means that any rubber laid down is washed away, affecting the weekends track evolution.? Thermal degradation is an important factor, again due to high ambient and track temperatures.? Sepang is a varied circuit but there are also some fast corners with high lateral energy loads.? The new surface should mean that the track is a lot less bumpy.? The front-left tyre gets worked hardest, which tends to be the limiting factor in stint lengths.Nike Air Max 90 China Wholesale Paypal . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Cheap Air Max 1 . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/cheap-max-1-shoes.html . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Air Max 270 Black Wholesale .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Cheap Air Max 720 . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca.PHOENIX -- Kenta Maeda wasnt as sharp as he has been during his successful rookie season. But the right-hander from Japan was good enough to beat ace Zack Greinke and the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second time in less than two weeks.Maeda limited the Diamondbacks to a run on three hits over five innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers held on for a 3-2 victory Friday night.Maeda (15-9) struck out six and has seven wins is his last 10 starts. He outdueled Greinke, a former Dodger who allowed only one earned run.My command was off in general today, and I wasnt able to get into my groove, Maeda said through a translator. I put a lot of pressure on the position players to pick up the slack.I just made my adjustments throughout the game.Greinke (12-7) gave up three runs on four hits, struck out four and walked four. The Dodgers lead in the NL West remained four games over second-place San Francisco.The Los Angeles bullpen held the Diamondbacks to three hits over four innings, with six relievers combining for six strikeouts. Closer Kenley Jansen gave up Chris Owings triple and a long sacrifice fly by Paul Goldschmidt in the bottom of the ninth, but got Jake Lamb to ground out into the defensive shift to end the game.Jansen set a career high in saves with his 45th, though his streak of nine straight scoreless outings ended.Reliever Joe Blanton walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, but got pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks Jr. to hit into a force play to end the inning.The Dodgers scored twice off Greinke in the first inning. Chase Utley led off with a double and took third on a wild pitch. With one out, Justin Turner tripled to right field, just beating the relay throw with a slide, and came home on a passed ball.I got into some trouble early in the game, Greinke said. By then it was just about too late. After the first couple of batters I did as well as I could do.Maedas momentary lack of control in the bottom of the second helped the Diamondbacks get a run. Welington Castillo singled and Maeda walked Yasmany Tomas and Brandon Drury with one out. Mitch Hanigers fielders choice drove in Castillo, but Arizona stranded runners at the corners.With Kenta you can tell. When theres a rhyythm, hes getting ahead of guys with his fastball and throwing the slider .dddddddddddd. but hes around the zone and getting strikes, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. He didnt really have it until the fourth inning, so it was a grind for him. But he still found a way like he seemingly always does to give us a chance to win the baseball game.The Dodgers made it 3-1 in the fourth. Adrian Gonzalez scored from second base on a force when Jean Seguras throw to first for a double play got past Goldschmidt for an error. Howie Kendrick reached on the play.You cant make those mistakes in a game like this, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said.The Dodgers escaped with a win despite issuing seven walks. The Diamondbacks left 11 runners on base.The offense was fine, Roberts said. You know Zack was going to bring his best to atone for his last start against us. I thought that we competed very well.Segura made up for his error, at least some, by flagging down a ball hit up the middle by Maeda that looked headed for center field and an RBI. Segura threw out Maeda to end the inning.The Diamondbacks put the first two batters on base in the sixth, but Dodgers reliever Josh Fields pitched out of the jam. Arizonas bullpen held Los Angeles to one hit over three innings, but the Diamondbacks four-game win streak ended.UFC, KNIGHT IN THE HOUSEUFC athletes Forrest Griffin (retired), Cub Swanson, Johnny Case and 2008 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo, who is from Phoenix, took part in the ceremonial first pitch and met with fans before Fridays game.Also, former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight attended, watching the game from a suite.UP NEXTDodgers: Bud Norris was originally the scheduled starter, but the Dodgers will go with rookie RHP Brock Stewart on Saturday. Stewart (1-2) beat the Diamondbacks on Sept. 7 and will be making his fifth start of the season. Norris will be available out of the bullpen.Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller (2-11) faces the Dodgers for the seventh time in his career and the fifth start. He is 1-2 with a 7.02 ERA in his career against L.A. ' ' '