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  February 27, 2018 10:04 PM PST

  Liam Ridgewell has been at Portland Timbers for one-and-a-half years - and hes really enjoying life in MLS. John Johnson Jersey . The former Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Brom defender captained Timbers to their first-ever MLS Cup trophy last season, beating Columbus Crew 2-1 in the final.With another 2-1 win against Columbus last weekend to mark the opening game of the season, Portland now make the trip to California to face San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday - live on Sky Sports. Ahead of the game, we asked Ridgewell 10 MLS-related questions. Take a look at what he had to say as he tells us all about his own career and life stateside.What was it like winning the MLS Cup last season? Portland Timbers won MLS Cup in 2015 It was a huge achievement - for the city and for the organisation, it was massive. A lot of people didnt expect us to do it, nobody thought we could get anywhere near it, but we knew of the teams capabilities and we knew we could do it if we performed on the day.How did it compare to winning the League Cup with Birmingham in 2011? Ridgewell won the League Cup with Birmingham in 2011 On the day I was excited and said it was better than winning the League Cup but it is definitely on par with it.It was such a special thing with Birmingham, it might even have been a greater achievement to win the League Cup with them because we were such outsiders going against Arsenal, but winning the MLS Cup was a big achievement.As MLS Cup holders, when do you get to meet President Barack Obama? Winning MLS Cup means the chance to meet Barack Obama We havent been told when we meet him! Id say it will be when we play DC United away so thatll come towards the end of the season.It will be unbelievable to meet him, it will be extra special being the captain and being able to get a couple of minutes with him and to shake his hand. Itll be a massive thing, thats for sure.Whats the aim this season after winning MLS Cup last year? Portland Timbers surprised many by winning MLS Cup last season Its going to be a difficult year for us. Last year people were tipping everyone else. This year the spotlight is going to be on us in every game to keep on winning, so its going to be more difficult.But weve got the capacity in the team to carry on winning and go and do it again. We did it last year and made a couple of additions in the pre-season. Were looking good, looking strong so why cant we win it again? Its going to be very tough because people are going to be looking at us as champions and wanting to beat us, so its something weve got to get used to quite quickly.You play San Jose Earthquakes live on Sky Sports this weekend, whos their main threat? Ridgewell thinks Chris Wondolowski is one of San Joses most dangerous players Theyve got Chris Wondolowski, who is a very good centre forward and plays for the national team, he scores a lot of goals. Theyre a very strong outfit and Im sure this year theyll be looking to do a lot more [than last season] and are a team weve really got to look out for.What Portland players should we be keeping an eye on this season? Portand Timbers Darlington Nagbe was called up to the US national team in November last year Darlington Nagbe is certainly running the midfield every time we play. Hes such a big player for us and to now get into the USA national team is even bigger.Hes going to go on and do bigger things and a lot more with his career. Were lucky to have him to be perfectly honest and is a good player to have in our team. With him and Diego Chara in the midfield, and if we can get Fanendo Adi scoring goals like last season with 16, well be up and running.Other than Portland, who has the most passionate fans in MLS? Seattle Sounders fans are known to be very loud and passionate about their club Seattle are very big rivals to us. They pack out their stadium, so theyre certainly passionate about their team.Whenever we play them with it being a derby. Theyre certainly very loud. Its always nice to play there and you certainly hear them thats for sure.Can MLS ever compete with the Premier League? Steven Gerrard joined MLS last season I definitely think it can. The way the league is going theres a lot of investment into it, and theyre doing it the right way by not letting the investment get too out of control.When you get these players like Steven Gerrard, David Villa, Frank Lampard coming over here its a different lifestyle and type of place. Its enjoyable as well so theres no reason why it cant grow and get better. Your Lumberjack mascot Timber Joey… do you see him often? Timber Joey is a much loved figure in Portland We see him all the time! He travels with us to away games, we see him at home games before we go out and train...if were lucky enough we get to have a beer with him or see him out in Portland.Theres no other stadium in the world where you see someone cutting a log with a chainsaw. Its just incredible really and its such a good experience. You wouldnt get to experience that kind of thing back at home so its another perk of coming to play in MLS.Do you see yourself finishing your career in MLS? Liam Ridgewell was on loan at Brighton during the off-season, and could see himself returning to play in England one day Id like to go back and play one day back in England but Ive only got a year left on my contract at Portland Timbers.Im talking to the club at the minute so hopefully that will go well but you never know how thats going to go so it could be my last season this year.Hopefully it isnt but it might be. I might be playing at home sooner than I expected but I think Im always going to come home with my kids being at home, my family. Id like to play at home one more time. Also See: MLS: Galaxy start with win WATCH: MLS top 5 young players Weekend Menu on Sky Sports WATCH: Federico Higuain over-head kick Kurt Warner Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Trumaine Johnson Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. http://www.cheaplosangelesramsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-connor-barwin-jersey . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. CHICAGO -- Javier Baez is putting on quite a show for the Chicago Cubs. And he just might be turning these playoffs into his personal stage.Whether hes hitting a game-winning home run or making some spectacular defensive play, Baez has been hard to miss in these playoffs. And hes a big reason why the Cubs are in the NL Championship Series for the second straight year.Ive got a job to do, Baez said. Im not surprised. I know what I can do. I know what this team can do. Im just having fun right now and obviously trying to win.It must be fun to be Baez these days.The Cubs came into the postseason with the best record in the majors and their sights set on their first championship since 1908.They knocked out San Francisco in four games in the NL Division Series in no small part because of Baezs play at the plate and at second base. They open the NLCS against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field on Saturday, and if they take out Los Angeles, a franchise defined more by curses and heartbreak will go to the World Series for the first time since 1945.On a team loaded with stars, Baez has been putting on quite a show in the postseason.He hit the winning home run off Johnny Cueto in the opener against the Giants and the go-ahead single in the ninth in Game 4.On defense, playing mostly second base, it was as if the Baez highlight reel was on a nonstop loop with no shortage of diving stops and lightning quick tags.Even when he was chewing gum in the dugout Baez managed to amaze. Take this gem from Game 4 of the NLDS.The gum popped out after Baez put it in his mouth, but what happened next was about as impressive as any play he made in the field. He juggled it a few times, finally snagged it with his right hand. Baez pointed at a trainer as he was about to put it back in his mouth, then looked the camera, and grinned.I saw the camera, Baez said. I didnt know if he got it or not, but I caught it.No surprise.After all, the 23-year-old Baez has been catching just about everything that comes his way this season. And if thats not enough, he also hit .273 with 14 homers and 59 RBI in 142 games.Thats a big jump considering he struck out 95 times in 213 at-bats . Jack Youngblood Jersey. 169 after he debuted for the Cubs in 2014. But his swing is more compact now. He closed his stance and cut down the big leg kick he had when he first arrived.Now, hes looking like a breakout star.Manager Joe Maddon noticed the potential watching Baez in winter ball in Puerto Rico, right after he was hired two years ago.Everybody was talking about his hitting and the fact that he needed to hit better at the plate and be more selective, he said. And I was, `OK, I get that. I was impressed by everything else that he did. Sometimes we get caught up on somebodys weaknesses and dont glorify their strengths. I mean, his strengths are pretty outstanding.Baez was taken by the Cubs with the ninth pick in the 2011 amateur draft and worked his way through the minors as a shortstop. But with Addison Russell there, he has become a super-utility player.That could change down the line, depending on the moves the Cubs make. But they are relying on him to play multiple positions -- and to play them as well as anyone.Baez just might be the best defensive second baseman, shortstop and third baseman on the team. And considering Russell could win a Gold Glove, thats saying something.When the Cubs believe more balls will be hit to the right side, they put Baez at second. When they think the left side is where the action will be, he might start at third. And when Russell needs a breather, well, who better than Baez to fill in at shortstop?You have to get used to being flexible, not knowing what the lineups gonna look like and just jumping in there and being ready to help and do whatever you can, said Ben Zobrist, who has built his career around playing multiple positions. And hes done a great job of that this year. Theres been days he hasnt played. And theres been days he has. And theres been days hes come in mid-game or late in the game for defensive purposes. Whatever role they put him in this year, hes done really well and hes had a great attitude about it.' ' '