said. It becomes part mental and physical at

SAN DIEGO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers Dave Roberts felt the burn.The San Diego Padres Andy Green felt the future.The first-year managers are in very different places as Los Angeles visits San Diego for a three-game series that starts Tuesday at Petco Park.Were going to be ready to go Tuesday, Roberts promised Sunday, with champagne cascading over smiling face. Once I get my eyes open.Roberts Dodgers sewed up their fourth consecutive National League West title with a 4-3, 10-inning win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Roberts broke the seal on his managerial career with some bubbly. Those grapes may sting, but they are far from sour.The upbeat Roberts is unlikely to have any sour grapes regarding the lowly Padres.After Roberts served as San Diegos bench coach under Bud Black and then interim manager Pat Murphy last season, the Padres denied Roberts request to interview for their managerial opening during the offseason.Instead, the job went to Green, a former third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.Roberts landed in Los Angeles (90-66), and lets just say it worked well.His rookie regular season was capped by Charlie Culbersons walk-off homer Sunday in the last game Vin Scully at Dodger Stadium.Meanwhile, the Padres (66-90) are heading for a familiar destination in their sixth straight season of losing baseball. But they have been hitting improving of late.Greens Padres capped an 8-2 second-half mark against the San Francisco Giants with a win on Sunday, one that eliminated the Giants from contention for the NL West crown. The Padres did so while giving a peek at their future, the one loaded with talent that they say just needs some seasoning.The Dodgers may have sewn up another title, but they are not done. They are fighting the Nationals (91-65) for home-field advantage in their National League Divisional Series. Washingtons lead over Los Angeles is down to one game after a 14-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.The Padres arent going anywhere except into an offseason that cant get here soon enough. Yet an infusion of young talent finally reached the major league level last week.Outfielder Manuel Margot revealed his skills on Sunday, lacking only a home run for the second cycle in franchise history.Hes going to be really good, Green said. Hes got a feel to hit even when he wasnt getting hits the first couple of games. You could tell he was going to be getting them in short order. Hes hit every pitch in a relatively short period of time. Comfortable in the box, confident -- hes going to be good.Margot is but one of the core four, along with outfielder Hunter Renfroe, second baseman Carlos Asuaje and catcher Austin Hedges.The San Diego newcomers will oppose Dodgers rookie Jose De Leon (2-0, 5.52 ERA) in the series opener. The 24-year-old right-hander made his major league debut Sept. 4 against the Padres, and he allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings in a win at Dodger Stadium.Green counters with Paul Clemens (3-5, 4.48 ERA). In 14 games (10 starts) for San Diego since arriving from the Miami Marlins, he is 2-5 with a 4.11 ERA.Clemens only two career appearances against the Dodgers came as a reliever in July, and he gave up one run in a total of 2 1/3 innings. MIAMI -- Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Xavien Howard underwent knee surgery to repair his meniscus and is expected to be sidelined several weeks.Howard, a second-round pick, missed the first three-plus weeks of training camp recovering from arthroscopic surgery on the same knee. The latest injury occurred in practice Tuesday when he got tangled up with receiver Kenny Stills.Its tough when you just went through this, and now you have to go through it again, coach Adam Gase said. It becomes part mental and physical at this point. Hes a really good young player, and he has brought a lot to our defense.Howard will be replaced in the starting lineup Sunday against Tennessee by Byron Maxwell, who was benched last week for poor play.Cornerback Chris Culliver, recovering from a serious knee injury last Thanksgiving, is on the physsically unable to perform list and is expected to begin practicing in Week 7.dddddddddddd.We have that window to keep evaluating when we can get him on the field, Gase said. When that time comes, then obviously hell be in the conversation very fast.Ruled out against the Titans along with Howard were linebacker Koa Misi (neck) and tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion). Running back Arian Foster (hamstring) is doubtful.Center Mike Pouncey is expected to play. He missed the first four games with a hip injury and returned to practice this week.Left tackle Branden Albert, who has been slowed this week by a virus, is listed as questionable.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '