Its put up or shut up time. A pivotal season

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ST. Greg Robinson Rams Jersey . PETERSBURG, Florida – The time for talking is over. Its put up or shut up time. A pivotal season, the Blue Jays 38th in Major League Baseball, gets underway at Tropicana Field on Monday afternoon. Last springs eternal optimism has been replaced by this springs eternal doubt. Jobs are on the line if 2014 takes on a pattern similar to 2013. That certainly goes for manager John Gibbons. The heat already is being turned up on general manager Alex Anthopoulos. The players know it, including the ace knuckleballer for whom much was traded away over a year ago. "Guys really know that this is a big year for us collectively," said R.A. Dickey, who will make his second consecutive opening day start for the Blue Jays. "Were kind of getting a mulligan this year. Last year a lot of things went wrong. This year were pretty much all healthy, were here, weve been here all spring, weve been able to do relationships with one another and now were in a much different place than we were last year and its a much more comfortable place." While its nice that a full season has bred greater familiarity, the degree to which teammates are comfortable around one another will only take them so far. The Blue Jays go into the season with a starting rotation full of question marks on the heels of last year, when the club finished 29th out of 30 teams in starting staff ERA (4.81). "Thats the key to our success this year, thats the key to anyones success is how well you pitch as far as giving you a chance," said manager John Gibbons. "Were ready to go. Weve had a good spring all year." All things being equal, namely health, you know what youll get from Dickey and Mark Buehrle. The knuckleballer will be among the American League leaders in innings pitched, he was second last year with 224 2/3 innings despite pitching most of the first half with a strained muscle in his neck, and if Dickeys spring is any indication he could improve upon last years numbers (14 wins, 4.21 ERA). "I feel prepared. I feel confident, which is great," Dickey said after his final Grapefruit League start on March 26. "Last year I didnt feel very confident simply because I didnt feel as prepared. Im really looking forward to getting started and being able to adjust my schedule this year in a way that really maximizes my preparedness has been great." Buehrle, whose 12 wins and 203 2/3 innings in 2013 marked the 13th consecutive season hes achieved double-digit victories and more than 200 innings pitched, said of his changeup after an early March outing that it hadnt been that good in three years. Typically a slow starter, Buehrles 4.32 career ERA in the month of April is his worst for any month of the season. The joke has been how good he feels. "Its a joke but not a joke," explained Buehrle. "At times you go through your little stretches where you almost say, man, I wish I was giving up some hits and home runs to kind of get them out of the way for the season. But I feel good. I mean, obviously the results in spring training dont mean stuff but you still want to get people out no matter whether its spring training or the regular season. I feel good and I think thats the biggest thing Im taking out of this camp is I feel healthy, Im ready to go and hopefully the results are there." Throw Drew Hutchison and Brandon Morrow in the questionable category. Hutchison is there because hes 23 years old and likely to experience the normal ups and downs of any young pitcher, not to mention he has limited minor league innings under his belt following last summers return from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. Still, Hutchison was the Jays best pitcher this spring. He earned a starting job on merit and appears poised to resume a career halted by injury in June, 2012. Morrow, entering the final guaranteed year of his contract (the Blue Jays hold a $10 million option for 2015), must prove he can not only remain healthy but that he can pitch effectively, consistently. The Jays need Morrow to be his 2012 version (10-7, 2.96, 1.115 WHIP) save for the two and a half months lost to an oblique strain. Dont think the 29-year-old doesnt feel he has a point to prove. "You definitely dont want to be labeled as somebody injury prone," said Morrow. "My goal is to go out there and make every start this year. I had a positive spring so Im feeling good about it." Its a wait-and-see, hold-your-breath approach with Dustin McGowan, wholl be closely monitored not only during his outings but in between starts. The 32-year-old is returning to the starting rotation on a full-time basis for the first time since 2008. Multiple shoulder surgeries and various other injuries later, McGowans story is testament to his resolve but also a reflection of the Blue Jays lack, at the moment, of quality starting pitching depth. Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman and Sean Nolin are on the way but arent ready yet. Todd Redmond or J.A. Happ, once the issues with his wonky back get worked out, are the immediate fallback plans should McGowan falter. Anything the Jays get from McGowan has to be considered gravy given what hes been through. CASEY JANSSEN TO DISABLED LIST The Blue Jays have placed closer Casey Janssen on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 29, with what the club is calling a left abdominal/back strain. Janssen, 32, made only three spring appearances, all in the last week, after dealing with pain and stiffness in the back of his pitching shoulder for most of camp. Reached for comment, Janssen told TSN.ca he isnt worried about the state of his shoulder, which was surgically repaired more than a year ago. "Shoulder is feeling good," said Janssen. "Maybe compensated for it but, no, shoulder is good to pitch." Sergio Santos will replace Janssen as the clubs closer for the time being. Catcher Erik Kratz, who lost out to Josh Thole for the back-up job to Dioner Navarro, has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. McGOWAN THROWS SIMULATED GAME Dustin McGowan threw a 77-pitch simulated game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Sunday. General manager Alex Anthopoulos, speaking on a Sunday afternoon conference call, said that as of this moment McGowan is on track to start the home opener on Friday against the Yankees. McGowan describes himself as a "second day pain guy," meaning his shoulder is most uncomfortable following his second sleep after a start. Regardless, at the moment the 32-year-old appears to have cleared all hurdles in his attempt to return to the starting rotation. Nick Foles Youth Jersey . The 27-year-old Niskanen, the more offensive-minded of the pair of defencemen joining the Capitals, got a $40.25 million, seven-year contract. "Its a very big commitment from Washington. Thats no small thing. Youre talking a seven-year commitment for a very substantial amount of money," said Niskanen, who got married Saturday. Jacob McQuaide Youth Jersey . Barbre is eligible to participate in all off-season and preseason practices and games. Barbre played for Green Bay from 2007-09, and appeared in three games for Seattle in 2010 and four last season. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounds former Missouri Southern State lineman also spent time with Miami in 2010, but didnt play.The top three spots in the CFL on TSN Power Rankings remain unchanged this week after Winnipeg, Montreal and Calgary all had the week off. The Bombers remain in the top spot for the third straight week. Their top ranked defence will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats looking to maintain their lead over the Ticats and Alouettes in the East. Meanwhile, the Alouettes will held west to take on the Stampeders in a matchup of 5-2 teams. Both teams have tremendous offensive firepower sitting first and second in points scored per game this season. The Als have burned opponents for 31.7 points per game while the Stampeders are putting up 27.7 and are coming off a 45-point explosion against the Roughriders in Week 7. Hamilton moved up one spot this week despite being inactive thanks to the Eskimos loss.This week the Ticats head to Winnipeg to take on a strong Bombers squad. The game will be a good measuring stick for the Ticats and could go along way to determining whether or not they should be taken seriously out East. The Lions are this weeks biggest mover jumping two spots from seventh to fifth after an impressive victory on the road against the Eskimos. Their defence was ferocious holding the Eskimos to a single point while collecting four interceptions and eight sacks in the win.. Greg Robinson Jersey. . The offence was equally impressive as Travis Lulay threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns including two to the newly acuired Arland Bruce. Bruce looks to be fitting in just fine in B.C. picking up nine catches for 129 yards to go along with the two scores. The Eskimos continued their free-fall down the Power Rankings falling to sixth after being crushed 36-1 at home by the Lions. After a great start the Edmonton offence has completely disappeared scoring just five points in their last two games. Ricky Ray and Kerry Joseph combined for four interceptions in the loss to B.C. The Argonauts picked up their second win of the season but still fall one spot in the Rankings. Granted the win was against the punchless Roughriders. The Argos looked decent for most of the game but almost gave it away in the fourth quarter giving up 17 points in the fourth quarter of the 24-18 win. Greg Marshalls tenure as the Roughriders head coach lasted just eight games. Marshall was fired along with offensive coordinator Doug Berry after the Riders loss to the Toronto Argonauts this week. Former head coach Ken Miller will take on the sidelines as the Riders head into their bye week looking to regroup after a dreadful 1-7 start that has them dead last int he CFL. cheap jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '