SINGAPORE -- For every grand prix this season, the only question before the race has been which of the two Mercedes drivers would win.At this weekends Singapore GP, there is a refreshing prospect of a genuine challenge in the night race to the Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg duopoly.Having won all but one race this season -- the Spanish GP where the two rivals collided on the first lap -- Mercedes will start favorites again this weekend, but not by much.The tight, twisty and bumpy nature of the Marina Bay street circuit largely cancels out Mercedes speed advantage over chief rivals Red Bull and Ferrari, and recent history indicates those F1 rivals should thrive this weekend.On the similar Monaco circuit earlier this year, Red Bull had Mercedes measure and probably would have won if not for its pit-stop farce. Daniel Ricciardo came in for fresh tires before the pit crew was in position, so he had to drive back out and come in again next time around.And last years Singapore race proved a difficult one for Mercedes in qualifying on the third row of the grid and unable to mount any challenge. Ferraris Sebastian Vettel took a comfortable victory.Ricciardo was bullish about Red Bulls prospects this weekend, given the strong parallels with Monaco.We look at it as a good chance to get the victory Ive been after this season, Ricciardo said Thursday. Im not going to put too much pressure on myself or them (the team) for this weekend but deep down, we want to win. We are a group of winners, so if there is pressure on us to get it done this weekend, we will thrive on that.His young teammate Max Verstappen, who took the only non-Mercedes victory this year in Spain, was cautiously optimistic, saying Fridays practice sessions will shed more light on whether Mercedes is vulnerable.We know we have a very good chance to score some good points here, Verstappen said. Its difficult for me to say now that we will be the No. 1 team this weekend, because we havent had a chance to race here yet.For Ferrari, this race represents the best victory chance of the season. Fail to win here, and the Italian team will be staring at the very real prospect of another winless season to match 2014.Im full of optimism, it should be a good place for us, said Vettel, who has been the most successful driver in Singapore, winning half of the previous eight editions. This track was very good for us last year and we have improved the car since then, so it could be a reasonable track for us again.Mercedes had an off year last year but you cant guarantee that will happen again.Mercedes has closely investigated what went wrong here, and it would be a surprise if it was as far off the pace in 2016 as it was in 2015.Last year we were blown away by the fact that we somehow got it wrong, Hamilton said to the local press. But a lot of work went into understanding that.I definitely think were not going to have as many problems as we had last year. But if we do, weve got the tools to correct it.Hamiltons lead over Rosberg in the drivers championship has been cut to two points after back-to-back victories by the German at the Belgian and Italian races. Rosberg has never won in Singapore, and his best race performance dates back to 2008 when he finished second for Williams. MLB Jerseys From China . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. MLB Jerseys 2020 . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. https://www.mlbjerseys2020.com/ . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Cheap MLB Jerseys From China . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. ATLANTA -- Brian Snitker finally was given his most-cherished prize for four decades of service to the Atlanta Braves.Snitker was hired by the Braves as their full-time manager on Tuesday, rewarded for helping reverse the teams direction in his interim role this season.The Braves finished last in the NL East but won 20 of their final 30 games under Snitker, who became interim manager on May 17 after Fredi Gonzalez was fired. Snitker had a 59-65 record, including 37-35 after the All-Star break.Despite the strong finish under Snitker, the Braves also interviewed former managers Bud Black and Ron Washington.Snitker, who turns 61 next week, was hired for the 2017 season with a club option for 2018. He said the contract wont be a problem.No, I trust everybody, Snitker told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from the teams organizational meetings in Orlando, Florida.I understand how all this works. Im good with it. Would I like a five-year deal? Absolutely, but Im good. Im going to go do the best job I can regardless of the contract situation. Its something I dont think will ever be a stickler for me at this point.The Braves also announced Snitkers staff.Washington became the third-base coach and Chuck Hernandez is the new pitching coach. Theres also bench coach Terry Pendleton, first base coach Eddie Perez, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, assistant hitting coach Jose Castro and bullpen coach Marty Reed.Snitker has been with the Braves since joining the organization as a player in 1977. He served as Atlantas third base coach from 2006-13 but spent most of his four decades with the organization as a minor league manager. He had been the manager at Triple-A Gwinnett before replacing Gonzalez on an interim basis.He said his long service with the organization made Tuesdays news especially satisfying.It makes you feel good, he said. It validates all the hard work.When Sniitker was named Atlantas interim manager, it was widely thought the team would look outside the organization for a new skipper to take the team into its first season in new SunTrust Park.ddddddddddddInstead, Snitker won over the players and front office. Atlanta was 9-28 when Gonzalez was fired and appeared bound for 100 losses at 18-46 before it began a dramatic turnaround under Snitker.Brian earned this opportunity through his dedication to the Braves and to our players, general manager John Coppolella said in a statement. We are excited for the energy and momentum he will bring into SunTrust Park next season.Atlantas strong finish under Snitker, bolstered by the additions of rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson and veteran left fielder Matt Kemp, boosted expectations for next season.Braves president John Hart said last week the season had been spiraling out of control before Snitker restored order.Snitker gave credit to his players.These guys never quit, he said. When I got there they had been beat over the head pretty good with the record and all.Hernandez, 55, was the Braves minor league pitching coordinator this season, his 31st as a coach. He was the Marlins pitching coach from 2013-15. The Marlins 3.71 ERA in 2013 and 3.78 in 2014 were the two best in franchise history.He spent the 2016 season working closely with many of our young, talented pitchers who will be such an important part of our future, Coppolella said.Washington, 64, spent the last two seasons on Oaklands coaching staff after managing the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014.Coppolella said Washingtons experience as a manager will be an asset to everyone on the club. His tireless work ethic, up-beat attitude and tremendously high baseball IQ will benefit our players and our staff. ' ' '