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NEW YORK -- The next phase in New York Mets ace Matt Harveys rehabilitation from elbow reconstruction surgery is being pushed back, and the All-Star right-hander is becoming more realistic about his chances of pitching in the major leagues this year. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] . Harvey was supposed to throw off a slope for the first time Tuesday but he was told last week while working out at the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida, that the plan was being scrapped. "A little surprised," Harvey said before the Mets played the Milwaukee Brewers. "We kind of had that plan written up for quite some time and to hear four or five days before Im making a milestone is a little disappointing." New York general manager Sandy Alderson said there is nothing wrong with Harvey. In fact the 25-year-olds recovery might have been going too well. "I think the realization that as we transition from long tossing to throwing off a slope that we were moving sort of inexorably to a conclusion that we wanted to avoid, which is pitching too soon," Alderson said. "After talking with our doctors it made sense to slow him down a little bit." In a season in which Tommy John surgery has become a near epidemic -- 22 pitchers had the operation so far, according to data provided from STATS via writer Jon Roegele -- the Mets are basing their timetable for Harveys return on a growing amount of data that shows pitchers have more success if they dont return before 11 months from the date of surgery. Harvey had his operation on Oct. 22. "Thats about the last week in September," Alderson said of the target date. "Thats a very narrow window to try to hit from our standpoint." Manager Terry Collins, who was given a vote of confidence from Alderson with the Mets on a six-game skid, said he wouldnt expect Harvey to pitch for New York in the final week of the season unless the team was in contention. Harvey had been set on returning this season but understands the decision is out of his hands. "I think Im coming to realize that I cant write myself in the lineup is becoming more realistic," Harvey said. "Im the one throwing the baseball. I havent had one pinch of pain. I can only express how good I feel and how ready I personally feel." Harvey will continue to long toss from 120 feet -- sometimes 150 -- and throw off flat ground for the time being. Alderson said a new plan has not yet been finalized. Alderson, meanwhile, met with Collins after the team returned from an 11-game road trip a season-high seven games under .500 at 28-35 because he felt there was too much talk about Collins status in the media. "Every time we lose a few games in a row, theres speculation about somebody taking a fall and thats simply not the way to approach a long season," Alderson said. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] .com) - Klay Thompson is quickly proving he is worth every penny of his recently signed four-year contract extension. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] . -- Sami Salo joked that as the shootout went on and on, one thing went through his mind: "Youve got to tie up your skates. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] . Sure, Josh Browns 45-yard field goal on the third drive of overtime lifted the New York Giants to a 23-20 win over Detroit on Sunday. But the Lions (7- Cool

dropped themselves out of the NFC North race by losing five of their last six games, blowing fourth-quarter leads in each setback. ROCHE-SUR-YON, France -- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet beat Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 7-5 to give France an unassailable 3-0 lead over Australia and a spot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. Hewitt and Guccione were previously undefeated in the Davis Cup as a doubles team, but Tsonga and Gasquet overpowered them by hitting 21 aces to 4, and 74 winners to 38. The Australians rallied from a 3-0 deficit and won the opening set when Hewitt hit a return winner off Gasquets serve. However, Guccione failed to serve out the second set at 5-3 as the match turned in Frances favour. "If we could have gone up two sets to love, it could have been a different story," Hewitt said. In the tiebreaker, the French team jumpedd to a 6-3 lead after Guccione netted a backhand volley and Tsonga slapped a forehand winner. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. Tsonga fired an ace to level at one set apiece. The French pair did not face any break points in the third and fourth sets. The hosts went a set up when Gasquet whipped a forehand pass down the middle and won the match when Gasquet hit a powerful backhand that Hewitt could not return. "Its a feeling of accomplishment," Tsonga said. "We played three good matches. We played unbelievable again today." On Friday, Tsonga cruised past Hewitt 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (2), and Gasquet routed Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-2. France will face Germany in the quarterfinals while Australia will compete in the playoffs to stay in the World Group. ' ' '