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Topic Started: Jan 11 2013, 12:27 PM (42 Views)
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TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays have a new skipper, fresh faces on the roster and a renewed sense of confidence. Casey Hayward Womens Jersey . With one bold megatrade and a few surprise moves, general manager Alex Anthopoulos has put baseball back on the front burner in a city that is starving for a taste of the post-season. Anthopoulos has addressed several glaring needs and strengthened a sagging starting rotation. The lineup is much deeper, team speed has improved and there is more depth on the roster. Fans of Canadas only major-league team have endured a near two-decade run of mediocrity. After years of looking down the road, the Blue Jays future is now. However, while its tempting for some fans to start planning the parade route, there is a long list of teams that made big off-season splashes in previous years but flopped in the regular season. Its one of the reasons why team officials havent made any bold statements or predictions. "We know we havent won anything yet, we havent done anything yet," Anthopoulos said in a recent interview. "Weve made some trades and I understand its always exciting when trades are made. "But I dont know that anythings ever been won in the winter." Big changes were made shortly after Toronto wrapped up a 73-win season in 2012, good for a fourth-place finish in the American League East. Injuries and ineffectiveness contributed to some mid-season struggles, resulting in another run of inconsequential late-season games and a rather dreary atmosphere at Rogers Centre. Anthopoulos made it very clear at seasons end that beefing up the teams starting pitching would be a top priority. He delivered by acquiring veteran starters Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle in a huge deal with Miami last month, giving the Jays a couple of inning-eating horses at the front end of the rotation. All-star shortstop Jose Reyes also came over from the Marlins along with infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio, catcher John Buck and cash considerations. In return, the Blue Jays gave up infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, catcher Jeff Mathis, pitcher Henderson Alvarez and three prospects. Toronto also got in on the free-agent action this off-season, signing outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal and infielder Maicer Izturis to a three-year contract. Manager John Farrell was dealt to Boston and John Gibbons was brought back as skipper. On paper the team looks significantly better. If the players can stay healthy and consistent, the Blue Jays should be in the mix of American League contenders. But there are still several question marks heading into next season. Will slugger Jose Bautista have the same pop after undergoing wrist surgery last summer? Can Edwin Encarnacion duplicate the statistics from his breakout season? Will Cabrera be able to post the same numbers he did with San Francisco before his suspension for a positive testosterone test last August? The other teams in the always-tough AL East have also been busy and there is no clear favourite at this point. Anthopoulos feels it will likely come down to health and the performance of every teams key players. "We thought we had a competitive team last year, obviously we had a lot of injuries," he said. "But those other clubs had a lot of injuries as well and we were still in fourth place. So those other clubs are incredibly strong. Theyve shown the ability to withstand and to have the depth with the injuries that they sustained last year. "So from that standpoint, I mean every team in the division, theres just so much parity right now. Its really going to be a coin flip I think in a lot of ways going into next year." The Blue Jays will look to build on last seasons 15 per cent home attendance jump and its a good bet the team will be a hot ticket out of the gate. Toronto hasnt been to the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1993. The Canadian national team is also hungry for success after coming up short at the first two editions of the World Baseball Classic. Japan won the inaugural WBC in 2006 and successfully defended its title in 2009. Canada did not make it to the second round at either event and needed to advance through a qualifying round to reach the 16-team main draw for 2013. Canada is in Pool D along with Italy, Mexico and the United States. Canada will open round-robin play March 8 against Italy at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz. Canada will play Mexico the following day at Chase Field in Phoenix before wrapping up the first round against the Americans on March 10. The top two teams in each of the four pools will advance to the second round. Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C., and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., have already been named to the provisional 28-man roster. The rest of the Canadian players will be named in mid-January. Morgan Burnett Jersey . The UEFA appeals panel deferred the final match of the England strikers three-match suspension on condition of his good behaviour for four years. Rooney remains banned for Englands games against France and Sweden, but he will be able to face Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine in Donetsk on June 19. Bart Starr Womens Jersey . -- Brad Bryant and Tom Purtzer teamed up for a 12-under 60 to take the first round lead at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf championship Friday. http://www.nflpackersgearshop.com/customized/ . One, two, three, four -- five! -- offensive rebounds later, the ball finally surrendered and dropped through the hoop. A few minutes later, the truth was as undeniable as that 7-foot Spaniard. Although the Nuggets drove them to the brink of playoff collapse, the Los Angeles Lakers still have the tenacity to win on the biggest nights of the post-season. Packers Randall Cobb Jersey .25 million contract. The person, speaking Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized, confirmed reports by several media outlets. Cedric Benson Jersey . -- The Magic are making some progress on solidifying their roster for next season, agreeing in principle to a new deal with Jameer Nelson. METAIRIE, La. -- Now that New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis has returned to work, the Saints need his crisis-management skills to be sharp. The organization continues to be rife with unsettled issues, some of which have made its fan base uneasy. So there was no time for Loomis to ease back into a routine Tuesday after serving his eight-game suspension in connection with the NFLs bounty probe of the Saints. His immediate tasks include clearing up the status of Sean Paytons contract extension through 2015, which NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has so far refused to approve since the coach signed it in 2011. Recent revelations that Payton is still not officially under contract beyond this season have only pushed anxiety-ridden Saints fans closer to panic. New Orleans has struggled while Payton has served his season-long bounty suspension, which, in the minds of many, has only strengthened the fiery and innovative coachs value. Loomis also will have to oversee contingency plans in the event that defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma have to serve their own bounty suspensions, which so far have been delayed by legal moves. The GM kept a low profile on his first day back. The Saints did not make him available to reporters and he did not immediately respond to requests for comments about his return to his Saints duties. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt said even he did not have much time to chat with Loomis when they met Tuesday morning, but Vitt stressed that people throughout the organization were comforted by knowledge that the GM was back for the last half of what has already been an extraordinarily eventful season. "Listen, Mickey and Sean are the leaders of this building. Its not only great for Mickey to be back for our players and our coaching staff, but every person in our building," Vitt said. "Slowly but surely were starting to get people back. Everybody knows here what Mickey means to me, but he also means just as much to everybody else in our building and our football team." Vitt also sounded skeptical of the idea that Payton would leave. "Our football team loves Sean Payton. Sean Payton loves this football team," Vitt said. "Sean Payton loves this city. And this city loves Sean Payton. That goes a long way. Thats what I know." At 3-5, the Saints are playoff longshots as they head into next Sundays showdown in the Superdome with undefeated NFC South Division leaders Atlanta (8-0). Yet a sense of hope permeated team headquarters after a 28-13 victory over Philadelphia on Monday night that marked New Orleans third victory in four games. "I love this football team. I love the resolve. I love the togetherness. I love their work habits," Vitt said. "All that being said, weve got to get better this week." If the Saints are to get better, such strides will have to be made in an environment of uncertainty. Two people familiar with Paytons contract situation told The Associated Press that the Saints and Payton still see nothing wrong with a provision in the coachs extension that wouuld allow Payton to opt out of his contract if Loomis -- who hired Payton in 2006 -- were to leave the club. Packers Jerseys. The people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL and Saints have declined public comment on the matter, say the Saints and Payton believe the provision is similar to one that allowed Bill Parcells to leave his post as executive vice-president with Miami if ownership changed. Goodell has not publicly specified his problem with Paytons extension, which pays more than $6 million a year. The NFL has said the commissioner has not made a final determination about Paytons contract status for next season. Goodell has said, however, that he has discussed his concerns with the Saints and asked the club to rework part of the deal. Although Payton is suspended, he and the Saints currently may address Goodells concerns with the extension, providing some hope of resolving the matter before the coach effectively becomes a free agent. Another major area of uncertainty involves ongoing challenges to players bounty suspensions. Although Goodell has recused himself as arbitrator for four current or former Saints players appeals of their bounty suspensions, the players -- Smith, Vilma, Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove -- objected to Goodells decision to appoint former commissioner Paul Tagliabue to handle the matter. The players say Tagliabue has a conflict because he works for the law firm that has represented the NFL in bounty-related matters. Tagliabue has given no indication he intends to step down, leaving the matter for a federal judge in New Orleans to decide. In the meantime, Smith and Vilma keep playing, and Saints coaches make weekly game plans on the assumption theyll have the two defenders in the lineup. "You have to have a little bit of foresight should something happen. Weve kind of just been under that thing all year long," defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "Once we know the week is set the way the week is, we just move on and worry about the opponent were playing." The Saints wont want to lose Smith and Vilma, given their leadership roles on a unit that needs help. The Saints are last in the NFL in yards allowed (471.3 per game) but did come through with clutch plays against the Eagles, including Patrick Robinsons interception return for a touchdown, a fumble recovery and seven sacks. Smith had two sacks and Vilma had two tackles for losses. If the suspensions are upheld, Smith will have to serve four games and Vilma the rest of the season. Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said he hopes that wont happen, but added that the Saints know worrying about it wont do any good. "Were at the point now where it seems like every week theres something new to distract us, so people are like, The hell with it. Well wait to figure it out when the time comes," Shanle said. "Were trying to fight our way back into something and with all the distractions weve had week in and week out, I think guys just kind of put blinders on." ' ' '
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