Stars und Sternchen! » advice for Marcell

TORONTO – Jose Bautista hit a home run (his 15th), threw a runner out trying to score, lined into a triple play and was denied a catch down the right field line thanks to fan interference (although the hitter, Tony Cruz, was ruled out when the Blue Jays challenged the ruling). All in a nights work for the slugger as the Jays won a sixth-straight game, 3-1 over the St. Louis Cardinals. “I think its got to be the most eventful game Ive ever had in my career,” said Bautista. “Id like to see if anybody could find somebody else to have a game with that combination of plays. Thatd be pretty awesome.” Whats becoming clearer as the days go by is that this is a good Blue Jays team. Mediocre or bad teams dont win nine in a row, drop a couple and then respond with another win streak thats now reached six. Torontos been victorious in 20 of its last 24 games, is at or near the top of the sports key offensive statistical categories and continues to get solid starting pitching and defence. “Were playing great baseball and were enjoying a great couple of months and we need to keep doing that so we can get to the playoffs,” said Bautista. “We just need to stay with the consistency. Same approach, same effort that were putting forward every single night and its a lot of fun when youre winning. Its the first time Ive ever experienced anything like this at this level so Im enjoying it a lot as well.” Marcus Stroman won his second-straight start and improved his big league record to 3-0, hurling six-plus innings of one-run ball. After a shaky start - he allowed the run in the first, and backed by strong defensive plays by Bautista and Brett Lawrie - Stroman settled in and ended up striking out seven Cardinals. His curveball, which confounded the Royals last Saturday, made for more misery for another Missouri-based team. “Its been huge just because I dont feel like I necessarily have to throw a fastball in a fastball count,” said Stroman. “Just being able to mix it up and keep guys off balance has been pretty good this year.” When Stroman was lifted by manager John Gibbons in the seventh, the fans gave him a standing ovation. “Yeah, its pretty special,” said Stroman. “I tried to do my best tough guy impersonation and tried not to smile but it was definitely pretty special walking off. Just to go out there and put my team in a position to win was awesome.” 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROGERS CENTRE Jimmy Key threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Ernie Whitt on Friday night. The two formed the battery for the first ever pitch thrown at SkyDome, a strike to Milwaukees Paul Molitor on June 5, 1989. It was a trip down memory lane in a stadium that so often is unfairly maligned. A technological wonder when it was built, some still see it that way. “Its a nice piece of architecture,” said Jose Bautista. “You come in here and you expect it to be kind of old and beat down and look out of place because its so old but it actually looks pretty modern from the outside looking in. I was surprised the first time I saw it. I was expecting something different. I was pleasantly surprised.” Fans old enough to remember that June night in 1989 and the four Blue Jays playoff appearances in the SkyDomes first five years may have a different opinion of the facility than the younger crowd thats yet to experience a winner. Still, fond memories abound, even those of the more recent variety. “Itd have to be probably the day that I hit the 50th home run,” said Bautista of September 24, 2010. “It was a pretty nice crowd in a day game and one of the unique features of the stadium was highlighted that day, you know, open roof on a beautiful day.” Only Cito Gaston has managed more games in Rogers Centre/SkyDome than John Gibbons. “Its an entertaining place,” said Gibbons. “Exciting, fans come here because some crazy things can happen. The ball flies. Youve got some bouncy turf. I really enjoy this place. One thing youre guaranteed, youre always going to have a game because they can close that roof.” NO QUIT When a team has won six in a row, 15 of 17 and 20 of 24 like the Blue Jays have after Fridays action, chances are resiliency is one of its characteristics. The clubs star player sees it. “Its something that I always thought, even from last year, that we never give up,” said Bautista. “We had a lot of tough games last year. We lost a lot of close games and we battled back from some blowouts and came close, not quite enough to come out with a win. I always noted that about this team where we never give up and we always fight.” Amid the wreckage of last years lost season, 32 of Torontos 74 victories were comeback wins. So far this season, the Blue Jays have 13 come-from-behind victories. RASMUS AND SANTOS UPDATES Centrefielder Colby Rasmus is nearing a return to game action as he recovers from a right hamstring injury. “Colbys doing baseball activities down (in Florida),” said Gibbons. “We figure at the beginning of the week hell probably get into a game.” Rasmus has been on the disabled list since May 13. What he originally believed wouldnt require a DL stint has turned into a near-month absence, a reminder of how uncertain muscle injuries can be. Sergio Santos threw a bullpen session before Thursdays game in Detroit. Gibbons wasnt clear on the plan moving forward. Earlier in the week the plan was for Santos to throw sides on Thursday (he did) and on Sunday and if he passed both tests, hed leave for Buffalo and a rehab assignment perhaps as early as Monday. Cheap Discount Adidas Shoes . -- Thirty years ago, the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime, a game that remains the highest scoring in NBA history. Cheap Wholesale Adidas Shoes . The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. The arena was evacuated about 45 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff when a generator malfunction outside the arena sent smoke pouring into the building, according to NBA spokeswoman Sharon Lima. http://www.cheapadidassale.com/ . LOUIS -- The St. Cheap Adidas Shoes Online . -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are disappointed, though not discouraged. Adidas Shoes Cheap Sale . "This isnt really the week you want to lose Chris Greaves," fellow lineman Glenn January said Wednesday after practice. Greaves is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in last weeks 36-28 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams had a few cautionary words of advice for Marcell Dareus, in welcoming his teammate back to practice Tuesday. Its time, Williams said, Dareus realized he has put his young and promising career in jeopardy after being charged in two separate arrests last month involving drug possession and a car accident. "Im hoping that this is kind of a watershed moment for him, because hes at a pivotal point," Williams said after Dareus reported for the start of the Bills three-day mandatory minicamp. "Hopefully, its to a point where its kind of an epiphany, and he comes alive and turns the corner and does his best." Williams, a team captain, is taking a tough-love approach with Dareus, a player hes spent the past three years mentoring. "I think hes heard (advice) from a lot of different levels, whether it be from his teammates or coaches, and Im sure the front office," Williams said. "So if you cant get it from those three levels, maybe youre not going to get it." Dareus, the Bills 2011 first-round draft pick, returned to practice for the first time since he and coach Doug Marrone agreed that the player take two weeks off to sort out his legal problems. Its unclear what Dareus has been doing during his time away. The Bills announced before practice that Dareus will not be made available to reporters this week so that he can focus solely on football. Dareus was escorted off the field by a team official following practice. Hes been off since May 30. Thats when shortly after participating in a voluntary practice, Dareus crashed his 2012 Jaguar into a tree near a busy suburban Buffalo intersection after allegedly racing teammate Jerry Hughes. Dareus was charged with reckless endangerment and ticketed for several traffic violations, including drag-racing. Dareus was scheduled to appear at Hamburg Town court on Tuesday, but that was pushed back to July 1 in part so that he didnt miss practice. Four weeks earlier, Dareus was arrested in his native Alabama and charged with possession of synthetic marijuana aand drug paraphernalia.dddddddddddd Rod Giddens, the attorney representing Dareus in Alabama, said hes still awaiting word from prosecutors as to whether theyll accept a plea deal in which Dareus entered a pre-trial intervention program to have the charges reduced or dismissed. Dareus troubles actually come from the end of last season when he was benched during each of the Bills final two games because he was late for team meetings. General manager Doug Whaley intends to meet with Dareus following the Bills final practice on Thursday, when the team takes a month before opening training camp July 20. "Ill just have a little sit-down with him when we leave, so everybodys on the same page," Whaley told The Associated Press. "The thing right now is hes back focused straight on football. Its great that hes back. And I think he thrives in a situation like this where its all football." On the field, Dareus returned to his familiar starting spot alongside Williams. In one team drill during the non-contact practice, Dareus showed off his power and speed by bullying past guard Kraig Urbik to break up a potential pass. On the next play, Dareus spun off Urbiks block and filled the hole to stop a run. Coach Marrone has stuck by Dareus, while expressing disappointment in saying the player has made "some poor decisions." "I just want to make sure that Im clear that everyone understands that I believe in Marcell, and I will do everything I can to make sure that we can get him on the right track," Marrone said two weeks ago. "Im going to do everything I can to help a 24-year-old man make better decisions." NOTES: LB Manny Lawson and DL Alan Branch reported for the mandatory minicamp after both skipped the teams voluntary sessions this off-season. Lawson said he found it important to take time off from football and be with his family. ... TE Scott Chandler was excused from practice for personal reasons. Starting LT Cordy Glenn was absent due to an illness. ... Rookie OT Seantrel Henderson missed practice due to travel delays. 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