NEW YORK – It was only 338 days ag in this city, but at its other big league ballpark, Citi Field, that Steve Delabar was one of four Blue Jays representing the disappointing 2013 version of the ball club at the All-Star Game.
https://www.lacfootballshop.com/64-Jersey . On Tuesday afternoon in this city, but at its American League cathedral in the Bronx, Delabar was given the news that he was being optioned, the technical term for a demotion, to Triple-A Buffalo. “Its the business,” said Delabar. “Im not crushed or beat up. I understand the move. Its obviously a team move. They have to do this or designate someone and they dont want to do that so Im the guy right now. Theyre going to send me out.” The Blue Jays found themselves in a roster predicament thanks to two injuries that, while considered relatively minor, have left them short a bench player and a reliever. Brett Cecil tweaked his groin in the eighth inning on Friday night. He was not available for the two weekend games in Baltimore and was to be used only in a pinch on Tuesday night in New York. The ailment which affected Delabars status is Adam Linds. He fouled a pitch off his right foot in the sixth inning on Saturday. He required the assistance of a golf cart to get off the team bus on Sunday. Lind wore a walking boot and was on crutches, making the injury optically worse than the Jays say it is. “Thats just a precautionary think to take the weight off it,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. “The walking boot allows it to heal a lot sooner.” Lind is “day-to-day,” Anthopouloss words, and wasnt ruled out for Wednesdays game. Lets let the general manager explain. “The fact that we had the off-day, our bullpen is fresh and we needed to make a move,” said Anthopoulos. “Delabar hasnt performed as well as he did last year. He can use the consistent work. Its just a combination of things. We needed to clear up a spot to get an infielder up here and out of the relievers that were there, Chad (Jenkins) provided us a little more length right now and we can get Steve the work as well. That was the move for us, unless we were going to go the DL route.” Regardless of the reasons, this stings Delabar. He pitched to a 3.22 ERA and a 2.72 FIP in 58 2/3 innings in 2013, a key part of a strong bullpen, which was the saving grace of an injured, bad team. Now, he was at best the third right-handed bullpen option leading to Casey Janssen. Dustin McGowan took Delabars coveted eighth-inning role weeks ago and Sergio Santos, back from the disabled list, will get a chance to reestablish himself as a viable right-handed, late-inning guy. Delabars main issue has been fastball command. Hes seen his walk rate jump from 11.5 per cent last year to 14.8 per cent in 2014. Delabars strikeout rate has plummeted. He whiffed 32.4 per cent of enemy hitters in 2013 compared with 19.4 per cent this season. “Some small mechanical things that I was off line and it was causing me to be a little erratic in my command,” said Delabar. “Kind of cleaned that stuff up recently and theres really nothing to go down and really clean up; its just go down there and get some consistent innings and just work on what Ive been doing.” Munenori Kawasaki was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and started at second base on Tuesday night. Kawasaki was hitting .276/.320/.388 and 11 of his 32 hits for the Bisons were doubles. “We dont know how long the move is going to be for,” said Anthopoulos. “Hes on the (40-man) roster, its a left-handed bat, were not facing any left-hander, will give you a good at-bat and you know all the other stuff he brings and so on. Hes someone who can grind an at-bat and the fact we dont face any left-handers, it makes sense for us. And he can also play the outfield if we needed him to.”
https://www.lacfootballshop.com/84-Jersey . Austin does not believe the game-time temperature is going to be an advantage for either side heading into the Grey Cup. "We dont think about (the cold)," said Austin. "Im not even sure how you would determine an advantage.
https://www.lacfootballshop.com/28-Jersey . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first game at Wrigley Field in the most appropriate way: with a gut-wrenching loss. They entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead. They were one out from victory. And then they collapsed. After an error by shortstop Starlin Castro, the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for five runs in the ninth to beat the Cubs 7-5 Wednesday. "That one finished not like we would have wanted, obviously," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "It seemed like the inning kept opening up, and we werent able to end up in the end putting a stop to it." Martin Prado hit a two-run single off Pedro Strop (0-2), Miguel Montero had a tying single against James Russell and Aaron Hill followed with a two-run triple off Justin Grimm. The beloved ballpark, the second-oldest in the major leagues behind 102-year-old Fenway Park in Boston, opened on April 23, 1914, when the Federal Leagues Chicago Federals beat the Kansas City Packers 9-1. Fans sang "Happy Birthday" in the middle of the fifth inning Wednesday. The Cubs wore Federals uniforms, and the Diamondbacks wore Kansas City Packers threads. The Cubs moved into the Friendly Confines in 1916, after the Federal League folded, and have established a tradition of beloved losers. The Cubs only World Series titles came in 1907 and 08, when they played at the West Side Grounds, and they havent even reached the World Series since 1945. Still, the Cubs are 4,076-3,621 (.530) during the regular season at Wrigley, according to STATS, and 7-20 in the post-season. Chicago failed in its bid to win three straight games for the first time since last July 26-28. "Big day out there. You want to show up, have a good turnout for the fans and former players in the crowd," Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija said. Before a crowd of 32,323 -- about 9,000 under capacity -- the Cubs led 5-2 in the ninth. Strop walked Chris Owings on four pitches and Castro allowed Tony Campanas grounder to kick off his glove for an error. Castro tried to keep his left leg on second as he retrieved the ball, and second base umpire Brian ONora called the sliding Owings safe -- a decision confirmed by the replay umpire in New York. Pinch-hitter Eric Chavez walked on a full count, loading the bases, and Gerardo Parra struck out. Prados bouncer up the middle bounded off second base, eluding second baseman Darwin Barney and kicking into short right-centre field as thee Diamondbacks closed to 5-4.
https://www.lacfootballshop.com/24-Jersey. Strop struck out Paul Goldschmidt for the second out. Montero fouled off a 2-2 pitch, took a ball, and then lined a tying single to right. Hill blooped a ball down the right-field line and Justin Ruggiano injured his left hamstring as he tried for a sliding catch near the foul line and the bullpen mound. He needed assistance to leave the field and was replaced by Ryan Kalish. Samardzija allowed two runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings and is winless in 11 starts since beating San Diego on Aug. 24. He was supported by Ruggianos two-run homer in the sixth and a three-run fifth. Trevor Cahill (1-4) pitched two scoreless innings for Arizona, which ended a four-game losing streak, and Addison Reed got his fourth save as the Cubs went quietly in a 1-2-3 ninth. That gave the Diamondbacks gome good news on a day when they learned outfielder Mark Trumbo will be out an undetermined amount of time with a stress fracture in his left foot. Trumbo has felt plantar fasciitis since spring training. "The plantar (fasciitis) at times has been pretty bad but manageable," Trumbo said. "Thats what you have to do. Youve got to earn a living and play. This was to the point where I severely had to compensate running-wise to the point where I probably wouldnt be much of an asset on either side." Arizona starter Wade Miley gave up five runs -- three earned -- and four hits in five innings. "I think were going to continue to be the Kansas City Packers," Miley said. "Were the Packers now." Even dressed as another team, the Cubs were still the Cubs. NOTES: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said "it would be great, no question about it" if the Cubs were competitive. He also said replay review has "done great" and added that hes not reconsidering his decision to retire after the season. He also confirmed that baseball is working on an interpretation of the transfer rule. ... Ryan Dempster, who was at Wrigley Field for the 100th anniversary festivities, said joining MLB Network as an analyst is the best thing for him to do right now. Dempster didnt rule out returning to the field. ... Results of Ruggianos MRI will be known Thursday. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta is to make his fifth -- and what the team hopes is final -- minor league injury rehabilitation start Saturday for Double-A Tennessee. ... Arizona OF A.J. Pollock (neck stiffness) didnt start but pinch ran in the ninth. ' ' '