on Sept. 17, 1996. The only other no-hitter against Colorado was pitched by Al Leiter of the Marlins four months earlier.

DUNEDIN, Florida – If Jose Bautista ends the season on the baseball
field, itll mark the first time since 2011 but the Blue Jays slugger
bristles at the suggestion he isnt a durable ballplayer. Keanu Neal Jersey .
"Its not because I was neglecting my training regime or anything like
that," Bautista said of his injuries. "It is disappointing and it is
upsetting that I dont get to go out there and finish the season with the
team and finish strong. Thats been the case in the last two years so
hopefully it doesnt happen again."
Bautista tore the tendon sheath in his wrist while taking a swing in a
game at Yankee Stadium on July 16, 2012. The injury essentially cost him
the remainder of the season, save for five plate appearances over two
games in late August.
Last year, Bautista jammed his hip while running the bases in July. He
played with pain for about a month and then removed himself from a game
at Yankee Stadium on August 20. He wouldnt set foot on the field for the
rest of the year.
Bautista continues to hit home runs at a prodigious pace. He went deep
on 6.2 per cent of his at-bats in 2013, a trend that has steadily
declined since his career-high 54 home run breakout season in 2010 (8.4
per cent in 2011, 8.1 per cent in 2012) when he rounded the bases in 9.5
per cent of his at-bats. Considering he was recovering from serious
wrist surgery, a body part that when injured can sap sluggers of their
power, his numbers remain impressive.
The 33-year-old describes as "great" his just-getting-to-know-you
relationship with new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. The two have spoken
briefly in Dunedin and had a couple of phone conversations during the
offseason. Broadly put, Seitzers modus operandi is to encourage his
hitters to use the entire field. Bautista is among a number of Jays,
Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus included, who are almost dead pull
hitters.
"You just watch the way they throw the shift on him," said manager John
Gibbons. "They leave some big holes (on the right side) for him. There
are some cheap RBIs that way. I mean, the way I look at it, you get 500
at-bats in a season and say you hit 50 home runs, which is an
unbelievable year. Thats still a lot of at-bats without home runs. If
youre more of a complete hitter and youll take some hits (to the right
side) to get a rally going or drive in a big run or something, that can
only help."
Leadership and its role on a baseball team continue to be topics of
debate among those who follow the game closely. The consensus amongst
players is that winning breeds camaraderie, something directly reflected
in the success of last years world champion Boston Red Sox. The Jays
buried themselves with a 10-17 April last season, injuries mounted and
not even an 11-game winning streak in June could salvage the year. As a
result, the clubhouse, while it didnt have any crippling divisions,
wasnt a tight-knit unit. Players on winning teams, with something to
play for, may be more willing to push a single through the opposite side
to score a run instead of being concerned primarily with their own
stats.
"I think if everybody does as well as theyre capable of doing, with some
leadership – and hopefully I get to help out in that area – I think we
can be a much better team than we were last year and a closer team than
we showed last year that we were," said Bautista.
The slugger doesnt share fans angst over Torontos relatively quiet
offseason.
"Not at all," said Bautista. "I think we have a good group of guys. Were
very competitive. Were really talented and I think if we remain healthy
and everybody plays up to their capabilities, nobody needs to go do
anything outstanding or hit 60 home runs or have a sub-1.00 ERA, we just
need to play up to our capabilities."
Pitching Depth
The Blue Jays announced on Friday theyve claimed RHP Liam Hendriks off
waivers from Baltimore. To make room for Hendriks on the 40-man roster,
the team designated infielder Brent Morel for assignment.
Hendriks, 25, was born and raised in Perth, Australia. Hes struggled in
limited big league action over three seasons, all with Minnesota,
compiling a record of 2-13, an ERA of 6.06 and a WHIP of 1.590.
Morel is a former third round pick of the White Sox, selected off
waivers from Chicago on December 23. A right-handed bat, there was
thought that Morel would compete for a job off the bench.
Understanding the Business
Reliever Neil Wagner, 30, is caught in the middle of a numbers game and
he knows it.
"Taken in the 21st round in the middle of nowhere, youre forced to prove
yourself and thats how Ive done it my whole career," said Wagner. "I
plan on doing that in camp as well."
The Blue Jays will consider going with an eight-man bullpen out of camp
but that still wont guarantee Wagner a big league job.
Casey Janssen, Sergio Santos, Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup and Steve Delabar
are guaranteed spots. Dustin McGowan will be stretched out this spring
but it seems more likely he will be a reliever. Wagner has an option
remaining, whereas Jeremy Jeffress, Esmil Rogers and Todd Redmond do
not, which doesnt bode well for his chances to make the team.
"They havent told me anything," said Wagner. "Im expecting that Ill be
here until Im not. I plan on going out and pitching well and pitching my
way onto the team and if things dont work out that way, then Ill go
down to Buffalo and do the same thing."
Wagner has a live arm, his fastball routinely clocking in the mid to
high 90s and can touch 100 miles per hour. He allowed only one run,
earned, in his first 12 appearances with the Blue Jays last season. He
ended the season with a 3.79 ERA over 36 appearances, striking out 7.8
batters over nine innings while walking 3.1 hitters per nine innings. He
had a 1.368 WHIP over what, to this point, was his longest stint in the
majors.
"I feel like I proved that I can pitch at the big league level but in
this game, nothing is given to you, nothings owed to you, so anything
could happen at any time and Im perfectly okay with that."
Nickeas Cant Lose
Catcher Mike Nickeas kept an eye on the Canada-USA semi-final hockey
game in Sochi.
"Im a winner today, either way," he joked in passing.
Nickeas was born in Vancouver in 1983, while his father, whos English,
was playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the now-defunct North
American Soccer League.
His mother is American and Nickeas grew up in California, which explains
his allegiances to both sides.
Guess is hell be cheering for Canada in Sundays gold medal game against
Sweden.
Gibbons Talks Haircuts
Manager John Gibbons, himself sporting a new, shorter haircut this
spring, didnt appreciate my efforts to update my do.
"It looks like a ducks ass," Gibbons joked before starting his daily
scrum with the media.
Well, I cant change the haircut now. My pride wont allow it.

Custom Falcons Jersey .
The Kings have gone 6-0-3 over their last nine games despite having been
held to three goals or fewer in eight of 10 contests this month. Los
Angeles has failed to score more than two goals six times in that span. Womens Keanu Neal Jersey .
Reynolds is a .233 hitter with 202 homers, 568 RBIs, 459 walks and 1,276
strikeouts. He hit .220 last season with 21 homers and 67 RBIs for
Cleveland and the New York Yankees.LOS ANGELES -- A pair of Cy Young
Awards, three straight major league ERA titles, a 20-win season -- and
now a no-hitter.
There isnt much more for Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to accomplish
besides winning a World Series ring.
Kershaw dominated the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night, striking out a
career-high 15 and allowing his only baserunner on a throwing error by
shortstop Hanley Ramirez in Los Angeles 8-0 victory.
Kershaws gem gave the Dodgers both no-hitters in the majors this season.
Josh Beckett tossed one May 25 in Philadelphia.
"I am so amazed," Kershaw said. "Beckett told me he was going to teach
me how to do that, so I have Josh to thank."
Cheered on by his wife in the stands, Kershaw (7-2) retired his first 18
batters before Corey Dickerson led off the seventh with a slow bouncer
to Ramirez. His throw on the run went wide past first baseman
Adrian Gonzalez for a two-base error -- ending any chance for a perfect
game.
But that was it for the Rockies against the 26-year-old Kershaw, who
shrugged off the miscue and came oh-so-close to pitching the 22nd
perfecto in the majors since 1900.
"He had command of everything. I told him between innings: Its not fair
when you have a devastating slider and a devastating curveball in the
same night," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "And when he does that,
nights like this are really possible."
One batter after Dickerson reached base, rookie third baseman Miguel
Rojas backhanded Troy Tulowitzkis grounder behind the bag and let fly
with a strong throw to first that Gonzalez -- a three-time Gold Glove
winner -- scooped out of the dirt to keep the no-hitter intact.
And with the crowd of 46,069 on its feet and roaring, Kershaw made quick
work of the Rockies in the ninth.
DJ LeMahieu grounded out to first base on the first pitch and
Charlie Culberson hit a lazy fly to right field on the next one.
Dickerson then saw four straight strikes and went down swinging.
The only pitcher to have more strikeouts in a no-hitter was Hall of
Famer Nolan Ryan, according to STATS.
"Ive seen some great pitching performances, but its tough to be any
better than Kershaw," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.
After his 107th and final pitch, a beaming Kershaw raised his arms above
his head and waited for a huge hug from Ellis.
"I started tearing up out there in the ninth inning, just sitting out
there catching and watching him throw after he got those first two
outs," Ellis said. "It was pretty special."
"Its something you never forget," he added. "Its a game Ill watch on
replays with my kids forever."
Moments later, as he was about to be interviewed on the field, Kershaw
was doused by teammates with two large buckets. The left-hander with the
big-breaking curve also got a big hug from his wife.
Kershaw, who signed a $215 million, seven-year contract in the
off-season -- a record for a pitcher -- gave Los Angeles sports fans
their second memorable thrill in just a few days.
The Kings won the Stanley Cup at home last Friday night, their second
NHL championship in three years, and brought the famous trophy to Dodger
Stadium on Tuesday for a pregame ceremony.
The next night, Kershaw took over.
The only other time the Dodgers pitched two no-hitters in one season was
19566, when the team was still in Brooklyn. Cheap Devonta Freeman Jersey. Carl Erskine and Sal Maglie turned the trick that year.
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who tossed four no-hitters, pitched the
franchises lone perfect game on Sept. 9, 1965, against the Chicago Cubs.
"I guess I havent really thought of the ramifications of throwing one of
these things, but its definitely special company," Kershaw said. "Its
pretty cool."
Ramirez was back in the lineup after leaving Tuesday nights game with a
bruised ring finger on his throwing hand, the result of a sharp grounder
by Dickerson than deflected into short centre field for a double.
Ramirez was replaced on defence by rookie Carlos Triunfel to start the
eighth.
Kershaw missed more than six weeks early this year because of a strained
muscle in his upper back, after beating Arizona in the season opener
during the Dodgers two-game trip to Australia.
It was the 22nd no-hitter in Dodgers history -- more than any other team
-- and the first at home since Ramon Martinezs 2-0 gem against the
Marlins on July 14, 1995.
"His stuff was phenomenal tonight. I think all the guys said that. We
tip our hats to him," Dickerson said.
The day after Becketts no-hitter, teammate Hyun-Jin Ryu took a perfect
game into the eighth inning against Cincinnati before giving up a
leadoff double to Todd Frazier.
"As far as individual games go, this is really special. To do it at home
is more amazing," Kershaw said before looking up and thanking the
crowd.
Kershaw received a standing ovation when he came to bat in the eighth,
and another one minutes later after finishing the job against one of
baseballs top lineups.
Playing their home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, the Rockies
began the day leading the majors in batting average, hits, total bases,
on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They were first in the NL in
runs and homers.
"There are some guys in that lineup that give him fits," Ellis
acknowledged. "But the way he made those guys look tonight was a
testament to how good his stuff was. He was pretty dialed in and pretty
locked in -- especially as the game progressed."
Rojas also supported Kershaw with his bat, hitting a three-run double
while continuing to fill in for injured third baseman Juan Uribe.
Gonzalez and Matt Kemp each drove in two runs, helping the Dodgers
complete their first three-game sweep at home this season.
Jorge De La Rosa (6-6) threw 86 pitches over 3 1-3 innings and was
charged with eight runs, six hits and five walks. The left-hander is 0-3
with an 8.19 ERA in his last four starts after going 6-0 with a 1.80
ERA during his previous seven outings.
NOTES: Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters. He whiffed 17 batters in
one of them, 16 in another and 15 in yet another. Warren Spahn (15) and
Don Wilson (15) were the only other pitchers with 15 strikeouts in a
no-hitter, STATS said. ... San Francisco LHP Jonathan Sanchez was the
previous pitcher to throw a no-hitter with the only baserunner reaching
on an error, in July 2009 against San Diego, STATS said. ... The last
time the Rockies were held hitless, it was by Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo
on Sept. 17, 1996. The only other no-hitter against Colorado was
pitched by Al Leiter of the Marlins four months earlier.

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