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Baltimore and Toronto Familiar Foes

October 4, 2016 by Terry Lyons Leave a Comment

TORONTO — (Wire Service Report) – The Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays are familiar foes. As American League East rivals, they played 19 times this season, with the Blue Jays winning 10 of them. The slim advantage is the reason the American League wild-card game is being played Tuesday at Rogers Centre after Toronto and Baltimore finished in a tie in the standings at 89-73.

“We know everything about them, they know everything about us,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “You’re playing a team from your division, there’s no secrets. It really comes down to who executes better, or who gets the big hit or whatnot.”

Embed from Getty Images

Edwin Encarnacion

The teams met just last week at Rogers Centre with the Orioles winning two of the three games to force a tie for the first wild-card spot. The tie could not be resolved on the weekend as Baltimore won two of three against the Yankees in New York while the Blue Jays won two of three from the Red Sox in Boston.

Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA) will start for Baltimore against Toronto’s Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37 ERA) in a battle of right-handers.

“We had probably three options,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said, “and Chris was one of those good options.”

Showalter said that in a one-game playoff, the other candidates to start also could play a big role in the game as relievers.

“These games usually have a lot go on in them,” Showalter said. “So everybody gets a chance to play a big part in it if it’s a competitive game.”

Stroman has not won since Aug. 14. He took the loss against the Orioles on Thursday when he allowed four runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out three in seven-plus innings.

Despite going 0-5 in six September starts, Stroman had a respectable 3.41 ERA in those outings. Stroman was chosen over left-hander Francisco Liriano, who struck out 10 in 6 1/3 scoreless innings Wednesday in a no-decision against Tillman.

“It wasn’t easy,” Gibbons said. “I think Stro’s the perfect guy. Big game. We’ve seen him do it before. He did that a couple of times for us last year. He’ll throw strikes.”

Liriano will be available from the bullpen, as will right-hander Marco Estrada.

Tillman went 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts against Toronto this year, posting a 2.38 ERA in two starts at Rogers Centre. Last Wednesday, he gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits in 5 2/3 innings during a no-decision. He walked three and struck out two.

“I know what they’re going to do, they knew what I’m going to do,” Tillman said. “The same goes the other way with Stro. We’ve seen him plenty. He’s seen us plenty. So I don’t think there are any secrets here. I think it’ll be the same kind of game that you always see.”

Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who defeated the Blue Jays on Thursday, and righty Dylan Bundy were the two other candidates to start and will be available from the bullpen.

Jimenez, who has a 2.45 ERA in his past seven starts, pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings Thursday in Toronto.

In 24 career starts against the Blue Jays, Tillman is 5-10 with a 5.44 ERA, and he is 2-6 with a 7.01 ERA in 13 starts in Toronto. Last season, Tillman was 0-4 with a 11.72 ERA in four starts vs. the Jays.

Stroman is 2-3 with a 5.07 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against the Orioles. He is 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA in three starts against Baltimore this season.

“There are no pitches you can take off,” Stroman said of the Orioles’ lineup. “Each pitch you have has to be executed. You make a mistake, and they make you pay. So that’s the mentality going into it.”

Stroman was 1-3 with a 7.76 ERA in five starts in June, then made adjustments.

“I definitely had an up-and-down year and battled a lot of adversity,” Stroman said. “I think I’ve done a pretty decent job at making adjustments throughout the year that were key for me and able to pay off down the stretch. I’m at a point now where I feel great, mechanics feel great, body feels great. I’m actually feeling at my strongest now. So I’m excited.”

The Blue Jays had the scoring advantage over the Orioles head-to-head this season, 97-81, and they went 6-4 vs. Baltimore at home. Toronto also had a 29-28 edge in home runs.

The winner goes to Texas to play the AL West champion Rangers in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Thursday.

The Blue Jays won their two regular-season games in October after going 11-16 in September. They have averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs per game in their 29 games in September-October. Because both teams did not clinch their wild-card spots until the final game of the season, the term “battle-tested” is being uttered by each side.

“It wasn’t easy, but you know, maybe this is a better way to head into the playoffs — battle-tested,” Gibbons said.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said the same about his own team: “This team is battle-tested. We’re ready for whatever gets thrown at us.”

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Filed Under: MLB, MLB Postseason Tagged With: Baltimore Orioles, Buck Showalter, MLB, Toronto Blue Jays

AL Wild Card: Orioles at Blue Jays

October 3, 2016 by Terry Lyons Leave a Comment

Baltimore at Toronto
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto

The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles did what they needed to do on the last weekend of the regular season and earned the two American League wild-card spots with identical 89-73 records. The Blue Jays edged the Orioles 10-9 in the season series, earning the right to host the one-game playoff Tuesday to determine which team advances to the AL Division Series to face the top-seeded Texas Rangers.

Baltimore should have plenty of confidence after finishing the season winning seven of its last nine games with a series win in Toronto last week that included a 3-2 triumph Wednesday in which Hyun Soo Kim belted a pinch-hit, two-run blast off Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna in the ninth inning. The Orioles paced the majors with 253 home runs and Mark Trumbo led all players with 47 blasts, though only one of those came in 75 at-bats against Toronto. The Blue Jays took two of three from the Boston Red Sox to finish the regular season, holding off hard charges from the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners in the wild-card race, but have some concerns at the back of the bullpen with Jason Grilli and Osuna. Grilli, who works the eighth inning, allowed a total of six runs on seven hits – three home runs – in 1 2/3 innings over his last three appearances while Osuna had a string of three straight blown saves come to an end Sunday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TBS, Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37)

Tillman is the nominal ace of the Baltimore staff but is winless in his last three starts while failing to complete six innings in each of those outings. The California native could not get out of the second frame against Boston on Sept. 22 but was better at Toronto on Wednesday, when he allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Tillman is 5-10 with a 5.44 ERA in 24 career starts against the Blue Jays.

Toronto burned its top two starters in ace Aaron Sanchez and right-hander Marco Estrada over the weekend at Boston in order to clinch and instead turns to Marcus Stroman. The Duke product went 1-0 with a 4.19 ERA in the playoffs last season and finished the 2016 campaign by allowing three or fewer earned runs in five of his last six starts. The outlier in that bunch came Thursday against Baltimore, when he was reached for four runs on nine hits and two walks in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Blue Jays qualified for the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since winning the World Series in 1992 and 1993.

2. Orioles LHP Zach Britton converted all 47 of his save opportunities in the regular season with five versus Toronto, tossing eight scoreless innings over seven appearances against the Blue Jays.

3. Baltimore CF Adam Jones enters the postseason in a 7-for-51 slump with one extra-base hit in his last 12 games.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5

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Filed Under: MLB, MLB Postseason Tagged With: Baltimore Orioles, Chris Tillman, Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays

New England Patriots Ready for Phase 2 of NFL Season

October 3, 2016 by Terry Lyons Leave a Comment

FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report – Special to Digital Sports Desk) – The New England Patriots Patriots looked very much like a team playing without its franchise quarterback and with a rookie third-round draft pick under center in Sunday’s 16-0 shutout loss to the Buffalo Bills. A conservative offensive game plan with Jacoby Brissett running the show and big mistakes in all three phases of the game gave New England not only its first loss of the season, but its first shutout loss in the history of Gillette Stadium and first at home since 1993.

“Well obviously we didn’t do much of anything well enough to win today, so we’ve just got to do a better job, turn the page here. We think we’re a better team than we showed today but we just didn’t do anything well enough today,” Belichick said to open his postgame press conference.

As much as the Patriots previous week’s shutout victory over the Texans on Thursday Night Football was a true team win, including big plays in all three phases, the shutout loss to Buffalo was the exact opposite.

Embed from Getty Images

New England Patriots Regrouping for NFL Week 5

New England took over its first two possessions at its 9 and 14 due to poor decisions/returns by rookie Cyrus Jones. A pair of penalties on Chris Hogan — both holding and pass interference — wiped out a 90-yard Julian Edelman catch-and-run to the Bills 1 on the first offensive play of the day. And defensively the first series saw Tyrod Taylor march the Bills 65 yards in 12 plays to take the 7-0 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass to LeSean McCoy.

The poor start set the tone and New England just never got to making plays in any area to really be anything more than marginally competitive against a seemingly marginal opponent.

“We didn’t play well on all three sides, we got to play better,” Danny Amendola said on a day when he, Edelman and Hogan were held to a combined one reception on 27 New England pass plays.

But something that is good is the fact the loss was indeed the final game of Tom Brady’s four-game Deflategate suspension. Brady is now allowed to return to Gillette Stadium and resume his normal football activities for the first time in a month as he prepares to return to the game field on Sunday in Cleveland.

No. 12’s absence was something even Bills coach Rex Ryan acknowledged while celebrating his team’s victory over his personnel coaching nemesis.

“I mean it’s satisfying, but let’s face it, they had a player out. This just in, they had a player out and we had our team, so you know, we expected to win,” Ryan said.

While the Bills were celebrating down the tunnel at Gillette, the Patriots were licking their wounds as they prepared for Brady to return after what was still a very impressive three-win month without their quarterback.

“It’s going to be good. He’s our leader and it’s going to be great to have him out there,” Edelman said. “We’re going to have to have a great week of preparation to get back in sync, that’s where it all starts from, going out there and having a good week in practice. We had a good practice this week, we just didn’t turn it on, and like I said, you can’t get behind in the count, especially against a team like that who plays really good defense.”

“He’s a good football player so we’re excited to get Tom back. He’s our leader,” Amendola added.

The Patriots are dealing with a loss for the first time this year, but they’re also dealing with the biggest addition in the NFL as Brady returns to his role atop the New England quarterback depth chart to lead a Patriots team that’s already entrenched atop the AFC East with a month in the books, even after Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Bills.

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Filed Under: Boston Sports, New England Patriots, NFL Tagged With: Bill Belichick, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, NFL, Tom Brady

Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back

October 3, 2016 by Terry Lyons Leave a Comment

FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report – Special to Digital Sports Desk) – Tom Brady is back at work and the All-Pro quarterback of the New England Patriots was not the only one returning from a four-game suspension.

“Obviously it’s exciting getting Tom back,” said Brady’s favorite target, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who missed two games with a hamstring injury and has only one reception this season.

<> at Gillette Stadium on October 13, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Tom Brady (Getty Images)

Brady sat out the first four games of the regular season for his role in what the NFL alleged was intentionally deflating game-used footballs during the 2015 AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. Commissioner Roger Goodell said during the 21-month off-field battle that Brady’s actions that day and during the investigation of pregame practices by the Patriots’ equipment staff led the league office to act in protection of “the shield.”

The Patriots were 3-1 using backups Jimmy Garoppolo (2-0) and Jacoby Brissett (1-1) at quarterback.

Not all suspensions are created equally, but many other top-paid performers are due back this week.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus rejoins the team this week at Los Angeles. The Bills’ highest-paid player should bring energy and impact — if he’s in shape — to a defense riding high off of a shutout of the Patriots at Foxborough in Week 4 and another stellar showing the week prior against the Arizona Cardinals.

Dareus was banned four games for a repeat violation of the NFL’s drug policy.

Le’Veon Bell returned to the Steelers on Sunday night and the Pro Bowl running back made his presence felt in Pittsburgh’s landslide victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Bell rang up 178 total yards Sunday night and the Chiefs struggled to bring him down with one defender on repeated occasions in a 43-14 loss.

“He’s ‘The Juice,'” All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown said of Bell’s game Sunday. “He’s the No. 1 back I feel like in the league and, just having his presence out there, any given time you can see him take it to the house.”

Bell, suspended for a second marijuana-related violation, was also making his first regular-season appearance since tearing the MCL and PCL in his right knee last season, an injury caused by a Vontaze Burfict tackle. Burfict also debuted in Week 4 with the Bengals. The linebacker was suspended for repeat violations of the player safety rules.

Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant was banned for the entire 2016 season for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Brady’s teammate, outside linebacker, Rob Ninkovich, is due back Monday from his own four-game suspension. He was suspended for testing positive for a banned substance, and the announcement of his absence came just days before the regular-season opener.

Former Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon is eligible to return to the Cleveland Browns from his latest suspension but he will not be on the field when the Patriots visit on Sunday. Gordon announced last week he was checking into a rehab facility. Browns outside linebacker Armonty Bryant was eligible to return from suspension Monday, but Cleveland placed him on waivers.

Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is scheduled to return Monday to the Dallas Cowboys, who began the season without their top two pass rushers — Lawrence and Randy Gregory, who is out 14 games for separate violations.

“I can’t wait,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said of Lawrence. “It will be fun to get him working and keep improving each week.”
Lawrence led the Cowboys with 31 quarterback pressures last season.

Among other players returning from four-game suspensions this week are Colts defensive lineman Arthur Jones, Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins, Jaguars defensive back Aaron Colvin and Packers defensive lineman Mike Pennel.

Ravens tight end Nick Boyle is serving a 10-game suspension after a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Free agent quarterback Johnny Manziel, released by the Browns in March, was suspended four games for violating the substance-abuse policy. He might not be back at all.

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Filed Under: Boston Sports, New England Patriots, NFL Tagged With: Antonio Brown, New England Patriots, Rob Gronkowski, Roger Goodell, Steelers, Tom Brady

LeMahieu Wins Batting Title From Bench

October 3, 2016 by Terry Lyons Leave a Comment

(Wire Service Report) – Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu achieved a goal that he thought was unlikely — and he went to great lengths to make sure it became possible. LeMahieu won his first National League batting title by hitting a major-league-leading .348, but his path to the crown was not exactly the stuff made of legends.

The 28-year-old sat out Colorado’s final two games — and four of its final five — to protect his one-point lead over injured Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy.

“It hasn’t been a very fun week,” LeMahieu told the Denver Post. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It’s pretty special.”

Colorado manager Walt Weiss defended his decision to hold out LeMahieu, who was hitless in two at-bats Friday before he was removed from the game.

“It was a weird situation with the batting title thing,” Weiss said. “It was unique in that the other guy he was battling with wasn’t playing. He was hurt. I didn’t want DJ to lose the batting title that way. So I did what I could to kind of construct that as much as possible.

“If they’re both playing and going at it, that’s one thing. But I didn’t want him to lose it that way.”

The Nationals gave Murphy a chance earn a share of the batting title, but he flied out in a pinch-hit appearance Sunday to clinch it for LeMahieu, whose previous career high was a .301 average last season.

“I wouldn’t have said (hitting .348) wasn’t possible,” LeMahieu said. “But I would’ve been surprised if somebody told me that three or four years ago when I was breaking into the big leagues.”

LeMahieu wasn’t the only Colorado player to garner individual honors. Third baseman Nolan Arenado led the majors with 133 RBIs and tied Milwaukee’s Chris Carter for the NL league with 41 homers.

Mark Trumbo of the Baltimore Orioles topped the majors with 47 homers, while retiring Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz and Toronto Blue Jays

DH Edwin Encarnacion shared the AL lead with 127 RBIs.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve won his second AL batting title in three seasons, hitting .338 to easily outdistance Boston teammates Mookie

Betts and Dustin Pedroia, who both finished at .318.

Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello (22-4) led the majors in wins. Washington’s Max Scherzer won his NL-leading 20th game on Sunday while leading all of baseball with 284 strikeouts — 30 more than AL pacesetter Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers.

The ERA leaders were Kyle Hendricks (2.13) of the Chicago Cubs in the NL and Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez (3.00) in the AL. Jeurys Familia of the New York  Mets registered a major league-best 51 saves, while Orioles left-hander Zach Britton led the AL with 47. Britton didn’t blow a save chance all season.

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: Colorado Rockies, DJ LeMahieu, Jury Familia, Mark Trumbo, Nolan Arenado

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