KANSAS CITY – His Blue Jays mired in their first prolonged slump of the season, losers of six of eight and prone to giving away games in which theyve enjoyed healthy leads, star shortstop Jose Reyes has noticed bad habits creeping into the teams games and wants them nipped in the bud. Devin McCourty Womens Jersey . "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub. Dating back to the start of the last homestand, a week ago Tuesday versus Baltimore, the Jays have lost four games in which theyve led by at least three runs. The bullpen, usually reliable, has allowed 23 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings (8.06 ERA) in that span. Making matters worse, the Jays played perhaps their worst game of the season on Tuesday in Kansas City, which starts a string of 20-consecutive games without a day off. There were fundamental mistakes sprinkled throughout, including a run-scoring throwing error; the Royals taking an extra base twice on balls hit to left field; an arcing fly ball that bounced on the warning track for a double to start the Kansas City comeback; and Edwin Encarnacion not hustling out a ground ball and wild throw with two runners on. "This is baseball," said Reyes. "Sometimes the stuff in baseball doesnt go perfect. Sometimes youre going to make a mistake but you have to learn from that mistake." Its early and the Jays entered action on Wednesday only three games behind the division-leading New York Yankees but Reyes doesnt want the club consistently giving away games any longer. "When you go through September, if youre competing for making the playoffs those are the games you say, Oh man, I lost those games in April and you see where we are now and we need those games," said Reyes. "But like I said thats in the past and as a player you have to put stuff in the past and try to get it the next day." LAWRIE OUT OF THE LINEUP Brett Lawrie missed his first game of the season on Wednesday night, sitting out with tightness in his back. The 24-year-old is hitting .192/.243/.384 in 107 plate appearances. His six home runs rank second on the club behind Jose Bautista (8). Lawrie leads the Blue Jays with 20 RBI. Lawrie gave no indication he was concerned for the long-term, deeming himself day-to-day. GIBBONS CONSIDERING McGOWANS ROLE Dustin McGowans six-inning, two earned run effort on Tuesday night may have earned him another start. "As of right now its going to stay the same," said manager John Gibbons. "Were still debating adding that extra guy for that long stretch. Weve got to decide quick." McGowan, a type 1 diabetic, wore his insulin pump for the first time in an attempt to regulate his blood sugar and maintain energy throughout the game. It worked. McGowan alluded to "feeling stronger" as the night progressed. "He did a helluva job (Tuesday) night," said Gibbons. "Hes probably going to start again. My only reservation about it is how good he was in the bullpen. Weve struggled at times down there. Im still not sure where it all leads." On top of McGowans move out of the bullpen, Gibbons is without his closer, Casey Janssen, meaning hes down two quality late-game right-handers. JANSSEN THROWS BULLPEN Casey Janssen is making tangible progress toward his much-anticipated return from an oblique strain. He threw a bullpen session of more than 30 pitches on Wednesday. "Yeah, pain free, just trying to get my arm to work fast again," said Janssen. "I didnt get much of a spring training and want that to start building up and getting strong and getting used to the grind of throwing all those pitches off a slope and throwing aggressively." Janssen will throw another bullpen on Friday in Pittsburgh. If all goes well hell head out on another, hopefully his final, rehabilitation assignment. Hell ask the Blue Jays to place him at Double-A New Hampshire, hoping for better competition than he would get at Single-A Dunedin. Janssen also wants to be closer to Toronto and with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons scheduled to play early next week against the Braves affiliate just outside Atlanta, New Hampshire seems the appropriate spot. As for the recent struggles of his bullpen mates, Janssen doesnt expect the issues to persist. "Honestly, I kind of use this line, but I truly feel that zeroes can be contagious," he said. "When everyones putting up zeroes it seems easier to put up zeroes. Unfortunately when those hitters are comfortable in the box and putting good swings, their confidence level goes up and makes our job a little bit tougher. Its the same guys that had unbelievable years last year, and I dont want the first month to skew anybodys vision of what our bullpen is and what they can be, because its an electric bullpen." LIND TO RESUME BASEBALL ACTIVITIES Adam Lind, out with lower back tightness, is eligible to come off the disabled list on Thursday. He wont be back then but the Blue Jays are hopeful his return will come soon. "Hes feeling better," said Gibbons. "Hes going to take some ground balls either today or tomorrow. Hes swinging the bat. Hes starting to feel better. They backed him off a couple of days ago because it was still irritating him but hes back to go." Lind is under the care of team doctors in Dunedin, Florida. He received a medicinal injection nine days ago to alleviate his symptoms. Hell appear in at least one extended spring training game and could play in a Gulf Coast League game before rejoining the Blue Jays no sooner than this weekend in Pittsburgh. Stephen Gostkowski Womens Jersey . Youll find all sorts of celebrities and interesting people from Barack Obama to Bill Murray answering real questions in real time in a smart and entertaining way. Brandon LaFell Womens Jersey .These are Cobains statistics: he had 13 hits (twelve singles and a double) in 40 at-bats with a .333 batting average. He had 7 RBIs, no home runs and only 1 error. Pretty impressive!Here is another picture of a 12-year-old Cobain on his team, the Elks, which is on display at the Hard Rock Café at Universal CityWalk in Hollywood:Lastly, here is a picture of Cobain from his junior high school wrestling team:Cobain also came up in an interview that Kenny Mayne conducted with with Pearl Jams Jeff Ament, a noted hoopshead like the rest of his band that was formerly named "Mookie Blaylock" in tribute to the former Atlanta Hawk, in ESPN The Magazine.SAN DIEGO -- Yes, that was LaDainian Tomlinson taking a handoff from Philip Rivers on Saturday. Too bad it wasnt like it used to be, when Tomlinson would find either a big hole or the end zone. "We did a handoff for old times sake but it was at walkthrough pace so it wasnt full speed or anything," said Tomlinson, who retired 13 months ago and visited the San Diego Chargers training camp as part of his job with the NFL Network. New coach Mike McCoy asked L.T. to speak to the team after its first practice in pads. The former star running back then taped an interview with Rivers. "It was a great feeling, really," said Tomlinson, who played nine mostly brilliant seasons with the Chargers before finishing his career with two seasons with the New York Jets. "Mixed emotions because I started to get that feel of putting on the pads again but truly knowing that I dont need to put on pads anymore. Its over. But it was great seeing some of my olds teammates, really, Philip and Antonio (Gates) and Nick Hardwick and Eric Weddle. So many guys that I went to battle with and now seeing them as leaders of this football team." He said he talked to the players about making a commitment to themselves and each other, "and dont worry about what everybodys saying in terms of where the Chargers are going to finish in the AFC West. It really depends on what they want out of themselves and if they commit to each other and come to work every single day and think about each other, they will exceed expectations." McCoy replaced Norv Turner, who was fired along with general manager A.J. Smith after the Chargers missed the playoffs for the third straight season. "Its great to have a guy like that come in," McCoy said. "To have one of the greatest Chargers of all time speak to the team, he just talked about what it meant to be a Charger and how fortunate we all are to be here and kind of the way we need to approach the game." Rivers said Tomlinsons pep talk "was solid. He and I briefly talked and it was weird having him out here, not in uniform. It was more weird for him, I bet, just because its like going back in time, like, Yall still here? Hardwick, me and Gates, were still doing the same thing weve been doing. Hes great. It brings back memories seeing him out here." Rivers said it was a little different being interviewed by Tomlinson, "but it was cool. It was very comfortable because its a guy you stood there and talked to and handed the ball to many times." Tomlinson was the NFLs MVP in 2006. Hes fifth on the all-time list with 13,684 yards rushing and third all-time with162 touchdowns. His 145 rushing touchdowns are second-most in history. He also passed for seven touchdowns. Tomlinson signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Chargers on June 18, 2012, and then announced his retirement. Tomlinson said he likes the change in regimes and that the Chargers have to improve on offence. Playing behind a dreadful line last year, Rivers was sacked 49 times and committed 22 turnovers, giving him 47 turnovers in two seasons. Running back Ryan Mathews, who replaced Tomlinson in 2010, was hurt and continued his fumbling problem. He ran for only 707 yaards and one touchdown before finishing the season on injured reserve. Brandon Bolden Patriots Jersey. "It seems to be a refreshing start. Everything is a new beginning for the Chargers and I think theyre approaching it that way," Tomlinson said. "Obviously the key is the rebound of the offensive line. They have to be able to protect Philip Rivers. Being sacked 49 times last year is way too many for your franchise quarterback. "If they can get their offensive line to jell, and if Ryan Mathews can stay healthy and give them some production in the running game, the defence is going to take care of themselves. Theyre going to be good," Tomlinson said. The Chargers rushed for only four touchdowns last year. By comparison, Tomlinson set NFL records with 28 touchdowns rushing and 31 touchdowns total during his MVP season of 2006. "The run game controls the entire game," Tomlinson said. "Whenever youre able to run the football and then put it in the end zone, that really wears the defence down. If youre not able to do that, typically things arent going too well for you. But I think its an area of focus for the San Diego Chargers, getting their running game going, getting Ryan Mathews going and I think they will have more rushing touchdowns this year." Mathews has had an uneven three seasons. "I think he would tell you hes at a crossroads in his career. I think this season is going to determine whether Ryan Mathews continues to be a Charger or if he moves on somewhere else," Tomlinson said. "I think he would tell you, absolutely he wants to be here. But has to make that commitment on the field, in the weight room, in the classroom and also, off the field. Tomlinson said hes impressed with Teo, the rookie from Notre Dame. "The natural leadership qualities obviously are there. I see a really bright guy that knows the game of football and has really great fundamentals. Probably not the most athletic linebacker, but he makes up for it because hes such a smart guy. I think Manti Teos going to have a really good, long career and I think hes going to do some great things for the Chargers defence." Tomlinson said the biggest adjustment for Teo will be playing on third down. "Thats the hardest thing for any rookie. Heck, it was hard for me when I first came into the league, because the game is different on third downs," Tomlinson said. "Its like its two separate games. Theres first and second downs, and then theres third downs. The different blitz packages, who hes covering, and remember, the Chargers defence, they play multiple coverages. Thats one thing that Manti Teos going to have to get used to is playing multiple coverages." Teo reportedly has the bestselling jersey among rookies. Tomlinson said he was at Disneyland last week and saw someone wearing a No. 50 Teo jersey. "It made me proud to see San Diego being represented in that way," Tomlinson said. Teo was in pads for the first time since Notre Dames blowout loss to Alabama in the BCS national championship game. "Its been a little while since weve all been in pads Its nice to get to concentrate on football," Teo said. "It feels good." ' ' '
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