If nothing else, the schedule maker is being kind to Toronto. [url=https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/]Custom NHL Jerseys[/url] . But it remains to be seen if the Blue Jays can take advantage of the timely generosity on Monday night, when they host the Chicago Cubs to open a three- game series at Rogers

If nothing else, the schedule maker is being kind to Toronto. Custom NHL Jerseys . But it remains to be seen if the Blue Jays can take advantage of the timely generosity on Monday night, when they host the Chicago Cubs to open a three- game series at Rogers Centre. Toronto begins the week with four teams between it and the final American League wild card position, and starts a six-game homestand against a pair of sub-.500 opponents. Of course, the Blue Jays played another below-.500 foe for three games over the weekend -- the Boston Red Sox -- and lost twice, so the records may be irrelevant. Still, Toronto has won six of its last eight and has 20 games to close a five- game gap. Rookie Marcus Stroman takes the ball for the Blue Jays with a chance to win a third consecutive start. Hed gone 0-3 in four starts to open August while toting an 8.66 earned run average, but won his last start in the month and then opened September with a 7-4 defeat of Tampa Bay last Wednesday. "Its just baseball, sometimes you go through a tough stretch," Stroman said. "Same confidence, same game plan, tried to attack hitters each time out. Just went better." In four meetings with National League foes this season -- three relief appearances and one start -- hes 2-0 with a 1.93 earned run average. The Cubs scored seven runs in a three-game weekend series with Pittsburgh. Leadoff man Arismendy Alcantara has two hits in his last 19 at-bats. "We know he has the speed to be a top-of-the-order guy," manager Rick Renteria said. "We also know he has a history in the minor leagues of being able to get on base. Theres nothing that says he cant do it here." Chicago sends Jacob Turner to the mound after he scored his first win as a Cub last week with a 4-2 triumph over Milwaukee, in which he allowed a run in 6 1/3 innings. "Its definitely a step in the right direction," Turner said. "Im just happy Ive been able to build on some of the stuff that me and (pitching coach Chris Bosio) have been working on. I made the pitches when I needed to when guys got on base, especially in the first inning. Getting through that catapulted me through the rest of the game." Hes never faced the Blue Jays, but is 3-3 with a 7.04 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against American League foes. On Sunday in Chicago, starting pitcher Gerrit Cole hit one of Pittsburghs four homers in a 10-4 victory over the Cubs. Travis Wood (8-12) gave up seven runs on nine hits over just 1 2/3 innings for the Cubs. In Boston, R.A. Dickey tossed seven-plus effective innings and Jose Bautista cranked a three-run homer, as Toronto took down the Red Sox, 3-1, in the finale of a three-game series. Dickey (12-12) scattered six hits and one run while striking out four for the Blue Jays, who avoided a sweep. The Jays and Cubs are meeting for the first time since 2008, when Chicago took two of three games north of the border. Fake NHL Jerseys . Like a magic trick, the puck popped out behind Stalock in the San Jose net. While Sharks coach Todd McLellan decried the legality of the tiebreaking goal, the Los Angeles Kings celebrated their latest, greatest escape yet. Discount NHL Jerseys . Last year, Islanders forward Colin Mcdonald released a "Do It For Colin" campaign to promote his teammate and friend John Tavares for the EA sports honour:The most popular sports voting video ever has to go to Chris Bosh who showcased his comedic abilities in his effort to get fans to vote him into the 2008 All Star Game:You can vote for TJ and other star players for the NHL 15 cover vote here. https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/ . And yet as they left TD Garden amid the slush and snow of a winter storm on Thursday evening, there was a sense among the Leafs that they had finally stood toe to toe with their long-time bully, only to fall just short.FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. Steve Nash (Lakers): I watched the game Sunday against Minnesota and to see him have to leave the game due to back issues is concerning. He doesnt look like he has the same explosiveness in his game as in the past. Obviously everyone loses that step/pop as we get older but to watch him this season its clear that hes far from 100%. Hes had an amazing career and as I watch right now I wonder whether hell be able to play at a high level and finish his contract with the Lakers through next season. Fingers crossed he gets well; its never easy to watch an older star player deal with injuries at the end of their career. 2. UTAH JAZZ (0-7): Man, I feel bad for Coach Tyrone Corbin. The team he has to coach is far from capable of competing at a high level on most nights. This is going to be a long season for the Jazz faithful in Salt Lake City who have been used to a good or very good level of play for over the past 25 years. Everyone was on board with the Suns (5-2) and 76ers (4-3) as the Tank Nation leaders yet theyve been a pleasant surprise. After watching the Jazz in person and a few Suns and 76ers games on TV there is no doubt that Utah is the worst team in the NBA by far. I understand teams trying to clean up their salary cap and add future picks but this is tough to watch. I feel bad for the season ticket holders and sponsors paying full price for a totally inferior product. 3. STEVEN ADAMS (Thunder): Its not as bad as the grief I get from Raptors fans for their trading of the draft rights to Roy Hibbert (17th overall) for Jermaine ONeal but Im starting to have a few fans already ask me about this guy drafted 12th by OKC with the Raptors pick that was used to acquire Kyle Lowry from Houston. Its so hard to evaluate how a trade works out until you let the whole process work itself out over a period of years in relation to both Lowry and Adams. I will say that so far Adams has impressed me with his great energy, instincts and grit. His numbers are far from Earth shattering (6ppg, 6rpg , 1.3 blocks, 52% shooting) yet if you watch him he has really nice potential and will grow at a nice steady pace in OKC not having the weight of the world on his shoulders as a young player. He was a good get for Sam Presti with the 12th pick. 4. STEVE CLIFFORD (Bobcats): Must be a day for Steves! I hope and pray that hes ok and ready to go again. Hes a longtime friend from my coaching days and weve texted back and forth since his health scare. Hes an outstanding coach and terrific person and will do a nice job for the young Charlotte squad. As I well know, the coaching profession is a meat grinder and incredibly stressful, particularly coaching a young team with limited talent. Every one of these coaches, despite the opinnions on the W-L record and strategies, works their tails off and yes, are well compensated but its still a job that can break you. Wholesale NHL Jerseys. Ill never forget what former Utah Jazz President, GM and head coach Frank Layden said to me when I was coaching, Remember, the job doesnt love you back. Very true words and when I see Clifford, John Fox (Denver Broncos) and Gary Kubiak (Houston Texans) all experience health episodes I worry what the job/profession has become and whether the price truly is worth it. Its not an easy gig. 5. RUDY GAY & DEMAR DEROZAN (Raptors): Let me get this right out there in the open: they are NOT selfish players. Does the offence slow down and/or come to a stop when they get the ball? At times, yes. With Gay shooting 37 percent and averaging 17.6 field goal attempts, and DeRozan shooting 39 percent and averaging 16.6 field goal attempts, there are a lot of concerns about the fluidity and flow of the Raptors offence. They are legitimate concerns that Im sure Dwane Casey and his staff is spending a significant time on to address. Offensive continuity is a huge challenge on every team and is a tough habit to crack. You watch San Antonio destroy the Knicks Sunday and you see a team where the ball moves and there is incredible flow. You watch the Miami Heat on most nights and the ball and player movement is picturesque. The Raptors have a ways to go to get there but they can. Both Gay and DeRozan are guys that love to probe and attack the defence with the dribble which Im cool with. The area that both need to improve upon is identifying when to dribble it, pass it or shoot it, and they need to decide a whole lot quicker before the defence gangs up on them and their four teammates become spectators. Be decisive. The idea of using four, five, six, evenseven dribbles to create a shot when the other four guys on your team stand and watch and your opponent loads up on you forcing lower percentage shots has to be a no-no. Both are very talented offensive players that can get big numbers on their own and yet more importantly can, and know how to, do it within the confines of a more structured offence. I talk every night to coaches and scouts from opposing teams and the major theme with the Raptors is that at times these two guys make their team too easy to guard with the ball-stopping habits; habits that can and have to be broken. Its easier said than done yet this is a fixable issue. Both are good guys and team guys and want to win yet their style of play sometimes causes indecision by teammates. The improvement of the player and ball movement by the Raptors will lead to a much improved team. I have no doubt that if they improve this area theyll be a tough team for any opponent to defend and thats a benefit to everyone. ' ' '