Plauderecke » Tampa Bay, they managed just one touchdown on five trips in

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have placed third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the disabled list due to a broken left rib that will likely keep him out at least a month.Plouffe was hit by a pitch Wednesday at Chicago and played the next two games, even going 3 for 4 with a home run Friday against Texas. The pain flared up over the weekend, though, and he was scratched from the lineup Sunday.The move was made Monday before the Twins hosted Oakland, and first baseman Kennys Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill in.Another tough blow for Trevor, manager Paul Molitor said. Hes had a frustrating year in terms of getting hurt, getting healthy, getting hurt.Plouffe had a DL stint earlier this season for a strained muscle on his right side. He missed two games last week because of a strained right groin muscle.Just kind of battling throughout the year, playing at 65 to 70 percent, just trying to get through it, Plouffe said. And I would love to continue to do that, man, but this is a little bit too much.Plouffe was told hell probably need four weeks before he can swing again.I feel like I could probably beat that, Plouffe said. I typically come back quicker than they predict, so well see.At least the rest of his body ought to be able to fully heal while hes resting the rib.Got to find a silver lining, man, he said.The silver lining for the Twins is making it easy for Molitor to put Miguel Sano at third base every day, rather than move him to designated hitter when Plouffe was in the field. Vargas, who hit .235 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in 82 games for the Red Wings, will see some action at DH in the meantime.The Twins kept the arbitration-eligible Plouffe for $7.25 million, after he batted .244 with 22 home runs, 35 doubles and a career-high 86 RBI last season. That prompted them to play Sano out of position in right field, an experiment that recently ended when he returned from the DL.Given their majors-worst 27-54 record at the 81-game midpoint of the schedule, the Twins are certain to try to trade some of their veterans this month before the non-waiver deadline. The injury to Plouffe has reduced his value, though.I dont know whats going to happen with that now, Plouffe said. I guess I never knew. Avisail Garcia Jersey . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Joey Wendle Rays Jersey . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/1096i-blake-snell-jersey-rays.html . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Nick Anderson Rays Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Wade Boggs Rays Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It seems that nobody is quite certain of the etymology of the term red zone, though many give credit to former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs for coining the term for the area inside an opponents 20-yard line.The Chiefs probably have their own choice words for it.Many of them unsuitable for print.For all the warts that dot their inconsistent offense, their baffling inability to score touchdowns when they get into the red zone may be the ugliest. And it is even more pronounced when stacked up next to Tennessee, which visits Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, and just happens to be one of the best teams in the league at converting those opportunities into seven points.Everyone from Chiefs coach Andy Reid to quarterback Alex Smith has tried to pinpoint the trouble, and they generally agree that its a combination of play-calling, execution and simple unluckiness.Weve been very good in the red zone at times, too, Reid insisted, almost as if he was trying to convince himself along with everyone else. Theyre all different. Everything is different down there, from the defenses that are played to each situation where you havent had success.So you go back and evaluate it, Reid said, and you come back again and give it your best shot.There are inherent difficulties in scoring touchdowns in the red zone.For one thing, everything gets compressed inside the 20. The field cant be stretched vertically, and that makes it easier to cover pass routes underneath, or stack up the line of scrimmage against the run.Defenses also tend to sharpen their focus, knowing their backs are against the wall. Or at least the goal line. And that makes everything from blocking to catching require just a bit more precision.Everything has to be on point, Reid said, and its got to be a little faster in there. We need to do a better job there, and I need to do a better job of putting guys in position.The Chiefs are scoring touchdowns on just 46.3 percent of trips inside the 20, which is tied for 27th in the NFL. By comparison, the Titans lead the league with a 71.4 percent conversion rate.While Reid seemingly has been trying in vain to find the source of the Chiefs red-zone ills, Titans coach Mike Mulaarkey knows exactly where to give credit for Tennessees success.ddddddddddddI think it starts with Marcus, Mularkey said, referring to second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has thrown 32 touchdown passes without a red-zone interception in his career.I think a lot of it is because of his thought process, how quickly he thinks down there, Mularkey continued. He has a very quick release and theres not a lot of room for error down there, a lot of tight windows, and I think hes been very good with that.Mularkey also credited offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and his other assistants for dreaming up a set of plays that always seem to work in those high-pressure, razor-thin confines.Theyve taken a lot of time and spent a lot of energy on those areas, he said.Now, it would be foolish to think the Chiefs dont put similar emphasis on those scoring situations, especially given their struggles early in the season. During one two-week stretch, which included a brutal 19-17 loss to Tampa Bay, they managed just one touchdown on five trips inside the 20.The low point may have come when Smith tossed an interception in the end zone against the Buccaneers, and Jameis Winston and Co. marched the length of the field for a touchdown that sealed the outcome.Especially down the stretch, I think those things only become more magnified, Smith said. They become more important as the games get bigger and bigger. No question.Hard for games to get any bigger these days.The Chiefs are 10-3 and tied atop the AFC West with Oakland, but have the tiebreaker thanks to their two wins over the Raiders. Winning out would ensure Kansas City a first-round bye in the playoffs, and at least some level of homefield advantage for the playoffs.You know, its always tough though too this late in the season with the work week and stuff, Smith said. You only get so many opportunities. Obviously, youre trying to take care of guys bodies and get guys back out there, but no question. Its a huge priority.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '