1. Discount Sports Jerseys . With the Blue Jays playing out the string this season, should the team just focus on next year or are arbitrary things like finishing with 70 wins actual goals worth accomplishing? And to that point, how much sway does (or should) the GM have on line-up decisions when teams hit this point? Lets be clear, the Jays are not winning the division or wild card. They are not finishing .500 and they are not finishing anywhere but last place in the AL East. Winning is important. It is always important. Its critical for the players to grow in confidence in themselves and their teammates. Winning helps everyone believe in the plan and direction of the organization. It can be contagious. The fans need to taste victory to grow in hope and excitement. That being said: the Jays cant focus on winning right now. I mean it would be nice to win, but Toronto needs to find some answers right now. They need to figure out who is part of the problem and who is part of the solution. John Gibbons and his staff in conjunction and cooperation with Alex Anthopoulos need to play players with whom they have questions that need answering. Can Brett Lawrie hit enough to be an everyday third baseman? Can Anthony Gose hit enough to be a starter? Is Kevin Pillar overmatched by big league pitching? Can Esmil Rogers develop his secondary pitches enough to get through the lineup a second and third time in a game? Is JP Arencibia a good enough defensive catcher? Alex Anthopoulos and John Gibbons will work closely together for the rest of the year. This is where their relationship and trust for each other will be evident. Anthopoulos will generally share his need for answers and Gibbons will manage accordingly. Gibbons is ultimately judged on wins and losses but he may have to sacrifice building his resume for the good of the organization. Gibbons will manage these games like a minor league manager where there are times that the development of the individual is more important than the ultimate result of the game. He may leave a pitcher in a bit longer to see if he can handle a tough situation. He may not pinch hit when there is an obvious better option on the bench to see if a player can handle a pressure situation. Unfortunately for Jays fans this season is over. But you may find out about how next year will look over final month of this season. 2. Last Sunday night, Ryan Dempster took four pitches to intentionally hit Alex Rodriguez. If you were his GM, how would you react to Dempsters effort to apparently plunk A-Rod for non-strategic purposes? Like or dis-like? Make no doubt about it. I believe Alex Rodriguez used PEDs throughout his career. I believe he is closely tied to Biogenesis. I believe that MLB has evidence that he recruited other players to Biogenesis. I believe he offered thousands of dollars to buy evidence and testimony to cover his tracks. I think it is awful that A-Rod likely leaked evidence to a media source to point attention to Ryan Braun and his teammate Francisco Cervelli. I can completely understand how fans are outraged by this era of baseball. I understand their anger and energy toward A-Rod as one of the poster boys for the steroid use in baseball. In fact I can understand how current and former players can be angry as well. Former players are jealous of the money that todays players make. Plus, they feel they built the game up into Americas pastime and feel the current generation has killed the reputation and credibility of the game by cheating. Current players feel like the cheaters are taking money out of their pockets. Ryan Dempster was mad at A-Rod possibly because of his cheating or maybe because A-Rod ratted out other players. It has been reported that Dempster may have hit Rodriguez because A-Rod blew him off at a function last year. Whatever the reason, Ryan Dempster went into the Red Sox/Yankees game last Sunday with vengeance on his mind. It was premeditated and clear. He was going to throw at Alex Rodriguez. In the fallout, Dempster was suspended for five games which ultimately is of little harm to the Sox. With an off-day yesterday and again on Tuesday the Sox can cover Dempsters start on Saturday without missing a beat. Even though I share some of the same anger that Ryan Dempster does for A-Rod, even though I can understand how if you feel that someone took money from you that you might want to throw a ball at him, I cant condone what Dempster did. If I were the Red Sox GM I would be livid. I would pull Ryan Dempster in to my office and tell him he was selfish. He put his personal feelings ahead of what is best for the team. Dempster put himself and his teammates at risk. A fight could have broken out if A-Rod charged the mound. The Yankees could have retaliated and injured a Red Sox player as well. David Ortiz has spoken out about how wrong Dempster was to hit A-Rod. He pointed out that you shouldnt wake the sleeping giant. If the Yankees make the playoffs they may vote Dempster a playoff share of their money because he has inspired tremendous energy from them. New York now stands just 3.5 games out of a wild card spot. After airing out Dempster I would tell him not to make it so obvious the next time. 3. Ichiro became only the third player in baseball history to reach 4000 career hits this week. Since over 1200 of those hits came when he played in Japan, how do you view the milestone and where does he rank on your list of great hitters of this generation? Ichiro is an amazing baseball story There are only 6 players who have had 4,000 hits in the majors and minors combined: Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial and Jigger Statz (a little-known player who had almost all of his hits in the minors) and now Ichiro. There are only two players who reached the 4,000-hit threshold in major league history: Pete Rose and Ty Cobb. Whether we count Japan as a major league or a minor league - or something in between - determines whether or not Ichiro joins Cobb and Rose. Japanese professional baseball is of very high quality. From my experience it is better than AAA baseball but below major league baseball caliber. Therefore, I only look at Ichiro as having 2722 major league hits. In his first year in the Sates Ichiro had 242 hits and won Rookie of the Year and MVP. He was 27. He could have thrived in the U.S. well before he finally got here. It is too bad he didnt have that opportunity. I believe that if he had played in the U.S. his entire career we would still have celebrated the 4,000 hit threshold with Ichiro. In fact, we might have been celebrating it a year or two ago. The Japanese season is about 20-30 games shorter than the U.S. schedule. Playing in Japan cost Ichiro almost a full seasons worth of at bats he would have otherwise gotten in the major leagues over the seven years he spent in Japan. I love Pete Rose. He was one of my favorite players as a kid. He is the Hit King but only because Ichiro didnt have the same opportunities to log major league at bats. So, to me, Ichiro is the second best hitter ever and that is pretty darn good too. Fair or Foul Ryan Braun finally issued his long-awaited apology and admission for using performance enhancing drugs on Thursday. It fell far short of what I expected; Far short of what was necessary. It opened up so many more questions. Who advises these guys? I mean really does anyone proof read this stuff before they send it out? Can they not anticipate how it will be received and interpreted? Ryan Braun admitted he took PEDs in 2011 to deal with a nagging injury. “During the latter part of the 2011 season, I was dealing with a nagging injury and I turned to products for a short period of time that I shouldnt have used. The products were a cream and a lozenge which I was told could help expedite my rehabilitation.” Ok so who told you what the drugs could do for you? Did you get them from Biogenesis? Define “short period of time”? Did you use PEDs at any other time? Braun said he had a revelation that it was time to come clean. “After my interview with MLB in late June of this year, I came to the realization that it was time to come to grips with the truth. I was never presented with baseballs evidence against me, but I didnt need to be, because I knew what I had done. I realized the magnitude of my poor decisions and finally focused on dealing with the realities of-and the punishment for-my actions.” What is the evidence that MLB had against you? Would you ever have been tormented enough to just tell the truth or did it take getting caught again? Why did you accept 65 games? What is the significance of it? In anticipation of having to answer questions about additional claims made by a former friend who has filed a lawsuit against Braun because he didnt pay him for his helping in his appeal against MLB in 2011 he said: “There has been plenty of rumor and speculation about my situation, and I am aware that my admission may result in additional attacks and accusations from others.” Which of the allegations made by your former friend are true? Have you used PEDs since college? Did you lie to Aaron Rodgers and the owner of your restaurants? Did you lie to Mark Attanasio the owner of the Brewers when negotiating your $100 million contract? Did you engage in academic misconduct in high school and college as your friend alleged? Braun apologized to a specific group of people but left some out: “I have privately expressed my apologies to Commissioner Selig and Rob Manfred of MLB and to Michael Weiner and his staff at the Players Association. Im very grateful for the support Ive received from them. I sincerely apologize to everybody involved in the arbitration process, including the collector, Dino Laurenzi, Jr. I feel terrible that I put my teammates in a position where they were asked some very difficult and uncomfortable questions.” Do you understand that you can face a defamation of character lawsuit from Dino Laurenzi Jr. because you are admitting that you knowingly made up claims about him to cause harm and help yourself? Why did you call Dino Laurenzi an anti-semite? Why did you use your religion as a weapon in this fight? Dont you need to apologize to other players for cheating against them? The arbitrator that ruled in your favor in the appeal lost his job because MLB didnt like his ruling. Do you understand that if you didnt lie then that arbitrator would still have his job? Braun talked about his values and character and the work he has ahead of him to change the perception people have of him: “What I did goes against everything I have always valued -- achieving through hard work and dedication, and being honest both on and off the field. I also understand that I will now have to work very, very hard to begin to earn back peoples trust and support. I am dedicated to making amends and to earning back the trust of my teammates, the fans, the entire Brewers organization, my sponsors, advisors and from MLB.” Why should we believe you havent cheated in the past, prior to 2011? What does making amends mean to you? Are you going to do public service announcements about steroids? What else could come out that will further compromise how we look at you? Why did you throw others under the bus? Do you understand your responsibility as a role model? I am dumbfounded that Brauns advisors thought a statement of apology like this was appropriate. He took to the microphone with anger and defiance when he lied in 2011. He was incredulous. If you lie to someones face you should have the courage to apologize to his or her face as well. Braun did not give any insight to the depth of his relationship with Biogenesis. He did not comment on how often he has used PEDs. If Ryan Braun thinks that this statement suffices he is crazy. He cant show up in Spring Training and “no comment” us to death. He needs to speak and answer questions. Then and only then will he be able to start to heal his image and reputation. Puke out the truth; the whole truth; nothing but the truth. He hasnt even come close to doing that so far.Authentic Sports Jerseys . -- Antoine Bibeau bought the Val-dOr Foreurs valuable time at the Memorial Cup with his 51-save shutout Friday. Sports Jerseys From China . -- All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Panthers coach Ron Rivera hopes the return of two starting offensive linemen will give Cam Newton more time to make plays in the passing game. Carolina is mired in a three-game losing streak entering Monday nights game at Philadelphia and is 1-5-1 in its last seven games. You can watch the game starting at 8:30pm ET/ 5:30pm PT on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5. Newton has struggled during the last three weeks, held to 527 yards passing and one touchdown with three interceptions during that span. Many of his throws are sailing high or wide or his intended target. Part of the issue is Newton has been under siege in the pocket, sacked 10 times in the last three games. The return of left tackle Byron Bell and left guard Amini Silatolu — who both practiced full on Thursday and arent listed on the teams injury report — should help an offence that ranks 26th in the league. Starting right guard Trai Turner is also improving, but may still be another week away. A lot of it is not just about him, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of Newtons recent struggles. We can put it all on the quarterback and say its all about the quarterback, but this is a team game. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin has dropped a pass in the end zone in each of the last two games for Carolina (3-5-1). And Newton has gotten little help from his running backs, which have been hobbled by injuries all year. Playing behind an offensive line last Thursday night that included four undrafted players hasnt helped either. Rivera said earlier in the week if the Panthers are going to reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, theyll need to stay healthy on the offensive line the rest of the way. In order for us to make a run. ... weve got to have some groups have some continuity, the (offensive line) being one of them, Rivera said. Its a group thats been up and down because of the injuries. Newton did some self-scouting during in five days off players had since last Thursday nights loss to New Orleans and said he needs to get better, too. I think were at that point right now that everybody understands whats at stake, Newton said Wednesday. Every week is a must-win for us. Mark Sanchez, who is filling in for the injured Nick Foles for the Eagles at quarterback, can relate to what Newton is going through. Sports Jerseys Sale . He struggled in New York and wound up getting cut by the Jets. Sanchez said Newton will be just fine if he continues to trust the coaches and his preparation and not let outside distractions get to him. Hes a heckuva player, a physical specimen with incredible talent, Sanchez said. Hes one of those guys that you play against and its like, Dang, man. The guy is a stud. So he has to understand that hes one of heckuva player and to never change no matter what. When things arent looking so good from the outside just put your head down and keep working and studying and trust his ability. Eagles coach Chip Kelly is pretty confident Newton will bounce back, too — he just hopes it isnt Monday night. He knows all about Newtons potential. Newton led Auburn to a 22-19 win over Kellys Oregon Ducks in the 2011 BCS national championship, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns and running for 64 yards on 22 carries. Kelly called 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton the complete package at quarterback. I remember just watching him in pregame warmups and thinking, holy smokes this guy is a legitimate quarterback, Kelly said. He can throw it. Obviously he broke Peyton Mannings rookie (yards passing) record. He can make all the throws and then, unfortunately, if you defend all the throws he has the ability to pull it down and run. He can run around people, he can run through people. Hes built like an NBA power forward. Newtons future appeared on the rise entering this season after leading the Panthers to the NFC South championship. But after a 12-4 season, Newtons overall record as a starter has fallen to 27-28-1. Hes been hobbled by rib and ankle injuries and hes completing just 57 per cent of his passes this year with only eight touchdowns in eight starts and five interceptions. I just want to win, whether I play good, bad or indifferent, Newton said. . We are past due for a game that proves we are what we thought we were. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '
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