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Feb 22 '18
NEW YORK – Make it two in a row for the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium following Sundays grind-it-out, 5-4 victory, a monumental accomplishment when contrasted with the 17-game losing skid that ended with Saturdays win in the Bronx. Custom Indianapolis Colts Jerseys . Suddenly, after six weeks of bad baseball compounded by a rash of injuries to vital cogs like Brett Lawrie, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind, the Blue Jays (56-50) are 7-3 out of the All-Star Break and have crucial series wins over the Red Sox (three out of four) and the Yankees (two out of three). The Blue Jays will travel by train to Boston on Sunday evening in preparation for a three-game series with the Red Sox. Regardless of the result of the Orioles-Mariners game in Seattle, the Blue Jays will wake up on Monday morning in sole possession of second place in the American League East and, perhaps more importantly, in sole possession of the lead for the American Leagues coveted second wild card spot. It wasnt pretty at times. The Jays blew leads of 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 on Sunday but in a test-of-the-mettle type of game, the club went ahead for good when Dioner Navarro singled home Jose Bautista with two outs in the ninth. That the base hit came off Yankees closer David Robertson and combined with the fact that Bautista had stolen second to get into scoring position, it seemed a solid way to cap a solid weekend. Bautista wants his team to believe its good. "We need to sometimes have that swagger and that attitude that we are a good team," said Bautista. "At times when we lose a couple in a row, it seems like we lose it a little bit, lose that edge. Im not saying we dont compete, we dont show up on time and do our work and do our preparation. Were great about that but at times you can see it on the field and in the clubhouse, if we lose a couple in a row and theyre tough games, its like the energy goes down a little bit." Sanchez wins his first game Rookie Aaron Sanchez picked up his first career major league victory in Sundays win. He wasnt entirely satisfied. "Maybe not so much the way I would have liked it to have," said Sanchez of the way the win played out. "We score a run there in the eighth and I go back out there and for me, I need to do a better job of shutting that inning down so they dont have to fight for another one but those guys picked me up and its such an awesome feeling right now to get my first win, especially here in Yankee Stadium." Sanchez pitched a three-up, three-down seventh on three groundballs to preserve a 3-3 tie. After Colby Rasmus drew a walk and advanced two bases on a pickoff attempt throwing error by Yankees reliever Dellin Betances, Munenori Kawasakis sacrifice fly scored Rasmus to give Toronto a 4-3 lead in the eighth. Sanchez gave up a leadoff single to Brett Gardner in the eighth. Gardner advanced to second on a Derek Jeter sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out single by Carlos Beltran. The game was tied 4-4. Sanchez was still the pitcher of record when the Blue Jays went ahead in the ninth. Casey Janssen worked a clean inning for his 16th save. Reimold returns One day after revealing publicly that Edwin Encarnacion isnt close to returning to the lineup due to a right quadriceps strain, the Blue Jays trimmed their bloated infirmary by one in welcoming back outfielder Nolan Reimold. Pitcher Esmil Rogers was designated for assignment to make room for Reimold on the active roster. "To get another position player up here," said manager John Gibbons, explaining the move. "Another right-handed bat instead of having eight bullpen guys." Reimold arrived at Yankee Stadium about two hours before Sundays game and wasnt in the starting lineup. Coming off a left calf strain suffered while running the bases in the July 11 game at Tampa Bay, Reimold wont be in the outfield for at least "a couple of days," according to Gibbons. He was available to pinch hit and will be used as a designated hitter. Expect to see him in Wednesdays starting lineup when the Jays face Red Sox ace lefthander Jon Lester. "Hes a good pitcher so itll be good to get back in there and compete again," said Reimold. Reimold was just getting settled with his new team when he was bitten by the injury bug. Its been a consistent theme throughout the 30-year-olds career. Hes had two major neck surgeries, spinal fusion. The second procedure was required to correct the first, which didnt take. The calf strain happened as he was running to third on a base hit. Hed never had a problem in that area before. "Its very frustrating," said Reimold. "But its behind me now. No issues; you know, get back at it again and start over." In four games with the Jays, his first big league games of the season after being picked up on waivers from the Orioles, Reimold showed flashes of the player the Blue Jays believe he can be. He had two hits, including a double, and three RBI in an 8-7 loss to the Angels in Anaheim. Rogers, who turns 29 on August 14, will be exposed to irrevocable waivers for the second time this season. While its likely he clears and is assigned, once again, to Triple-A Buffalo, the Blue Jays would be content for another team to take a flier on Rogers and pick up the remainder of his $1.85-million salary. Rogers played a significant role in Toronto last season, making 44 appearances, including 20 starts to cover for an injury-depleted rotation. He was initially shipped out in mid-May, following a series at Fenway Park. At the time, he led the entire staff with five home runs allowed. His regression isnt a story exclusive to Rogers. The Jays relief corps also has been burdened by down seasons from two 2013 All-Stars, Steve Delabar (now pitching for Buffalo) and Brett Cecil. What makes the Rogers situation hurt more is what general manager Alex Anthopoulos gave up to get him. Catcher Yan Gomes is a regular in Cleveland and Mike Aviles is a serviceable utility infielder. For the cash-strapped Blue Jays, Rogers salary is burdensome with ownership apparently unwilling to take on money in a midseason trade. Theres no timeline for Encarnacions return to the lineup after he suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a right quadriceps strain, an injury sustained on July 5. In Encarnacions absence, Reimolds potentially potent righthanded bat will be a welcome addition to Gibbons lineup. Matthias Farley Jersey . On the day the club activated Casey Janssen from the 15-day disabled list, his return from a strained oblique that cost him the first six weeks of the regular season, it announced Sergio Santos would be placed on the disabled list on Monday with discomfort in his right forearm. Indianapolis Colts Jerseys .com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to get another win on this homestand Thursday night when they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Bradley Center.The Toronto Blue Jays are in an unfamiliar position. With just over two months to go in the season, the Jays hold the second Wild Card spot, are 2 1/2 games behind the A.L. East-leading Baltimore Orioles and have a very realistic chance at making the postseason for the first time since 1993. But they also have holes - and injuries - in their lineup that could easily lead to the drought continuing for another year. With MLBs non-waiver trade deadline on Thursday, Blue Jays fans will be seeking additions of some sort for the stretch run. Realistically, general manager Alex Anthopoulos wont be able to pick up everything on his wish list. So the question is - what do the Blue Jays need the most in order to make the best possible run for the playoffs? Second Base With injuries to Brett Lawrie, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind, the Jays have had to run with a makeshift infield for the last little while, especially at second base. On Monday, Toronto picked up third baseman Danny Valencia, a player known for hitting lefties well over his career. Valencia has experience at second base as well, joining the likes of Munenori Kawasaki, Steve Tolleson and Ryan Goins, who have helped man the position for much of the season. With Lawrie (and the others) presumably close to returning, the Jays could keep the Canadian at third and continue with a platoon situation at second, or have Valencia play the hot corner while Lawrie jumps over to second which he did for a short stint earlier this season. There have been reports that the Blue Jays have shown interest in Asdrubal Cabrera of the Cleveland Indians, as well as the Arizona Diamondbacks Martin Prado and former Jay Aaron Hill. Is the return of Lawrie and the addition of Valencia enough for the Toronto infield, or should they get more? Starting Pitching You can never have enough starting pitching. The early season debate on whether it would be a good iidea to deal Marcus Stroman for a veteran arm may seem unrealistic at this point as the rookie has arguably become the ace of the staff. Pierre Desir Jersey. . R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle (who hasnt won a game since June 1), Drew Hutchison and J.A. Happ have all had peaks and valleys to their seasons. The injured Brandon Morrow is still a little ways away from returning and when he does, it will likely be as a reliever. Aaron Sanchez, 22, has been sharp in his two appearances from the bullpen, but John Gibbons and the Jays brass has given no indication theyll use him in a starting role this season. So does Toronto need to add a starting hurler? Jon Lester and David Price have been rumoured to be on the market, but its unlikely the Rays or Red Sox would trade within their division unless the Blue Jays come up with an incredible offer. Toronto may have to set their bar a little lower if they want to add to the rotation. Bullpen The Blue Jays bullpen hasnt been horrible this year, but it also hasnt been to the level of a season ago. Steve Delabar was an All-Star in 2013, but has spent much of 2014 with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Brett Cecil has seen an increase in his earned run average from last year and Sergio Santos never found his stride before being designated for assignment last week. Overall, Toronto has the fourth-worst reliever ERA in all of the majors at 4.37 and is tied for 10th in home runs allowed with 30. Casey Janssen, Aaron Loup, Todd Redmond and most recently Sanchez have been bright spots, but a playoff team can never have enough pitching depth. Antonio Bastardo of the Philadelphia Phillies is one player reportedly on the Jays radar. Are there any other areas on the diamond Toronto should consider investing in? What do the Blue Jays need the most in order to make the best possible run for the playoffs? As always, its Your! Call. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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