NaD Spieleecke » y signing free agent James Jones to a three-year

TORONTO – Three-and-a-half hours before Wednesdays series finale with the Yankees, the Blue Jays issued a surprising media release announcing the demotion of Kevin Pillar to Triple-A Buffalo. This is far from an earth-shattering move, Pillar was the 25th-man, but the shock lies in his return to the Bisons just 48 hours after his latest recall and in the reasons why hes Buffalo-bound. Pillar and Anthony Gose were supposed to be the right-field platoon while Jose Bautista recovers from a mild strain of his left hamstring. The contract of outfielder Brad Glenn, a 23rd-round pick in 2009, has been purchased. “Were looking for a little more sock from the right side,” said manager John Gibbons. “Weve got three left-handed pitchers coming in from the White Sox and Glenn, hes been on fire down there, as well. So this is his opportunity.” When pressed for more, Gibbons acknowledged Pillars behaviour in the eighth inning of Tuesday nights game played a part in the decision. The score was 6-6 at the time. The Jays had loaded the bases with one out. Pillar was due up but the Yankees flame-throwing set-up man, Dellin Betances, was on the mound. Gibbons pinch hit Anthony Gose. Pillar reacted. He stormed into the dugout. Footage shows him angrily tossing his helmet and ripping off his batting gloves as he walked from Gibbonss end of the dugout to the other. He then tossed his bat, underhanded, down the tunnel leading to the clubhouse. “It didnt help him at all,” said Gibbons. “This is a team game, you know. Theres no room for selfish play. But weve been thinking about Glenn for a while now, anyway.” Glenn has given the Blue Jays plenty to ponder. In 113 at-bats with Buffalo since his promotion from Double-A New Hampshire, the 27-year-old has hit .381/.421/.575 with four home runs and eight doubles among his 43 hits. To make room for Glenn on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays designated infielder Jonathan Diaz for assignment. THE OUTSIDE CORNER Play a baseball game and inevitably someone will have something to say about the home plate umpires strike zone. Pitchers and hitters develop reputations, to the positive or negative, which can influence the way the game is called. What goes less noticed is how one pitch called incorrectly can affect the remainder of an at-bat. Take Colby Rasmuss three-pitch, caught-looking strikeout in the second inning of Tuesday nights 7-6 win over the Yankees. The first pitch was a David Phelps cut fastball off the outside corner of the plate for a called strike. This is the pitch that changed the at-bat. Pitch two: A knuckle-curve Rasmus fouled off. Pitch three: A cut fastball on the inside corner. The pitch crossed the plate, therefore it was a strike. The correct call was made. The problem: Rasmus was forced to adjust his approach after the first pitch to account for the wide strike zone. “Colbys told me he starts getting bigger to protect and then he starts chasing balls all over the place,” said hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. “I said, ‘Do not change your zone and if they call it, they call it, but you cant change your zone. Do not expand. If they throw three out there and get called, come back and sit down by me.” When pressed for comment, Rasmus politely declined. Good move on his part - he doesnt need the trouble. Adam Lind has also fallen victim to calls off the outside corner. Its common around the game, certainly not exclusive to the Blue Jays. “They both have really good eyes and they look for pitches on the plate and thats what theyre geared to do mentally and I dont want that to change with any of our hitters,” said Seitzer. “Its just a part of the way games always been. (Umpires) are human. Theyre not perfect. Theyre going to make mistakes. You cant expect them to be perfect but I dont want our hitters to change their zone ever in any way, shape or form.” Both Rasmus and Lind have laid-back personalities. Its rare to see either be demonstrative with an umpire. Seitzer appreciates their respectful approach, but he wants them to converse. If a pitch was off the plate, hes encouraged Rasmus and Lind to let the umpire know. Seitzer will accept from his hitters called third strikes on pitches out of the zone. He firmly believes Rasmus, whos prone to the swing-and-miss, having struck out in 33.5 per cent of his plate appearances this season, ends up offering at pitches he otherwise wouldnt due to frustration. Seitzers been a sounding board for his frustrated charges. “All I can do is be supportive,” said Seitzer. “Youve got a great eye. Its not a pitch you want to go on, so you cant go. And you cant even think that theyre going to go back out there because of what happens there, you get locked up on paint inside.” LINDS FOOT Adam Lind fouled a pitch off his right toe in the seventh inning of Tuesday nights game. “Ouch. Thats what I said,” said Lind. Surely he must have cussed? “It was more just deep breaths.” Lind returned to the starting lineup on Monday for the first time since fouling a pitch off the top of his right foot on June 14 in Baltimore. He had three pinch-hit appearances in the seven games in between. Linds wearing a guard on his shin, which extends to the top of his foot. In Wednesday nights series finale versus the Yankees, Lind made his first start at first base since suffering the injury. TOLLESONS EYE Blue Jays utility infielder Steve Tolleson is dealing with an eye problem that cropped up on the last road trip. Hes got dryness and blurriness, especially in his right eye.Tolleson had laser eye surgery five years ago, but its unclear if this is a factor in any way.Hell be seeing a cornea specialist on Thursday, marking a fourth-straight day that hell see an eye doctor of some description. Mike Pouncey Jersey . The Gatineau Olympiques head coach will lead Canada in its quest to end its gold medal drought at the 2015 world junior hockey championship held in Montreal and Toronto at the end of this year. Justin Jones Jersey . Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season, the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in. http://www.chargersauthenticofficialonli...customized.html. -- The Oakland Raiders added a veteran presence to their young receiving group by signing free agent James Jones to a three-year contract Monday. Derwin James Jersey .com) - Driphus Jackson had three touchdown passes, including two in a 19-second span in the opening quarter, to guide Rice to a 30-6 rout of Fresno State at the Hawaii Bowl. Mike Pouncey Chargers Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will head into the regular season short on experience at quarterback after trimming the roster on Friday.London, England - Five-time Wimbledon champion and top- seeded Serena Williams was stunned by Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in a third- round match on Saturday. The 25th-seeded Cornet beat Williams 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to match a personal-best at a Grand Slam by advancing to the round of 16. She also reached the fourth round at the 2009 Australian Open. The win was the second straight for Cornet against Williams, but her first in 14 career matches against Top 20 opponents at a Grand Slam. After the match on Court 1 was halted by rain in the third game, but Williams comfortably captured the first set following a lengthy delay. However, Cornet stormed out to a 5-0 lead in the second and closed it out with a forehand winner. Cornet continued to pressure Williams serve. The American saved four break points in the opening game of the third set, but Cornet converted a fourth break point in the fifth game to go up 3-2. Williams was broken again to trail 5-2 before netting a backhand on match point. Cornet, who also beat the womens world No. 1 at Dubai in February, will next play Eugenie Bouchard. The 13th-seeded Canadian defeated 20th-seeded German Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-4. Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova dodged the rain playing under thhe roof on Centre Court and posted a 6-3, 6-0 win over American Alison Riske.dddddddddddd The fifth-seeded Russian, who was 17 when she beat Williams in the 2004 final at the All England Club, got off to a wobbly start, as she was broken in the first game and fell behind 3-1. However, she recovered to claim the final 11 games of the 69-minute match. Sharapovas next opponent is sixth-seeded German Angelique Kerber, who battled back to defeat 24th-seeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The wet weather eventually forced two of Saturdays scheduled matches to be suspended due to lack of daylight, including the marquee matchup between 2013 Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki and Ana Ivanovic. Lisicki, seeded 19th, was leading the 11th-seeded Ivanovic 6-4, 1-1 when their match was halted. Also stopped was a third-round bout between Yaroslava Shvedova and Madison Keys, with Shvedova holding a slim 7-6 (9-7), 6-6 advantage on the American teen. Both matches will resume on Monday. Third-seeded Romanian Simona Halep did advance with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Switzerlands Belinda Bencic. The French Open runner-up will next face Kazakhstans Zarina Diyas, who beat former Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 6-3. 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