sopped a big shot early in the ensuing power play to keep

CLEARWATER, Florida – J.A. Happ got the start in the Blue Jays rain-shortened, Grapefruit League opener against the Phillies but it was Todd Redmond who left an early impression on his manager. "Redmonds like anybody else, hes going to get hit every now and then but all weve ever seen out of him is good pitching and he gets guys out," said John Gibbons. "Hes pretty polished." The 29-year-old pitched two clean innings, the second and third, striking out a batter over 22 pitches. He got the win, for what thats worth on February 26, in a 4-3 game called midway through the seventh. Redmond is among more than a half-dozen pitchers in contention for the last starting rotation spot. While not much can be made of one outing, Redmonds performance resonated following a comment Gibbons made before the game. "Usually what happens, when theres a spot open, the guy that takes it, some of those guys have those springs where theyre good all spring and theres no doubt about it ... a lot of times that guy from day one, man, hes standing out and theres no hiccups." All Redmonds ever wanted is an opportunity. Here it is, less than three months before hell turn 29. Think hes overwhelmed? Redmonds been around too long – eight minor league cities over nine seasons – to get rattled by the best chance hes had to crack an opening day roster. "Im an easy-going guy," said Redmond. "Just give me the ball, Ill go out there and pitch. Same thing as I do every day. I pitch." Redmond made 17 appearances for the Blue Jays last season, 14 of them starts. Hed only made one previous appearance in the majors, a start for the Reds in 2012 that didnt go well. Familiarity breeds a sense of comfort. "I have a little more confidence coming into camp. Of my stuff, not of me, just of my stuff. More trusting of my ability," he said. As a starter last season, Redmond slowly earned Gibbons trust, which allowed Redmond to pitch deeper into games. If hes going to succeed at the major league level, however, Redmond will have to vastly improve his numbers facing hitters for a second and third time through the order. Batters have a .627 on-base plus slugging percentage against Redmond the first time through. Redmonds OPS against spikes to .939 when the lineup turns over and .914 the third time around. He insists durability isnt an issue. "My entire career, if you look at my minor league side of it, I dont think Ive ever thrown under 160 innings a year," said Redmond. "The workload. Thats one thing I take pride in is being able to go out there every fifth day and take the ball." Redmonds almost right. In the seven seasons between 2007 and 2012, he logged at least 160 innings five times and never through less than 145 innings. Having worked a modified heavy ball program this offseason, he would typically stretch with the one-pound or two-pound weighted ball prior to throwing, Redmond says his should feels strong as he makes the push for a job in the rotation. "Hes been a good pitcher in the minor leagues," said Gibbons. "Every year hes pretty steady and he never really had that opportunity until he came here last year. If this is his year he makes it and he goes on to have a good year, hell be a big league player and I dont think there will be any looking back." DRABEK UNHAPPY WITH PERFORMANCE Kyle Drabek was visibly upset with his first spring performance, a line that looked like this: 1.2IP/1ER/1H/3BB/1K. In his only full inning of work, Drabek threw 11 pitches but only four for strikes. A candidate for that final rotation spot, he was most bothered by the lack of command. "Ive had it so good in all the bullpens," said Drabek. "Its just frustrating for me to kind of fall back into being wild a little bit. I know what I can do and thats not me." "Kyles whole thing, get it into the zone and hes fine," said Gibbons. "Hes had a long layoff through the surgery. He pitched some last year but in a lot of ways, hes been out for so long it may be something that he can build back into." The 26-year-old has a history of control problems. Hes averaged 5.8 walks per nine innings over 169 1/3 big league innings. Returning from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery last season, Drabek vastly improved his walk rate, issuing just six bases on balls over 43 innings. BAUTISTA IMPRESSIVE It took Jose Bautista all of three pitches to appear in midseason form. He smacked a 2-0, Roberto Hernandez fastball out of the park, literally. The drive to left field cleared the Phillies bullpen, the walkway behind the bullpen and the fence beyond the walkway. "I dont know, for whatever reason, I feel like Im seeing (the ball) better," said Bautista. "Theres nothing that I could have done different. Im not going to go to play winter ball right now. Its kind of odd because I havent played since August. But Im not complaining." CABRERA LIKELY TO HIT SECOND Its not even March, everyone is healthy, and manager John Gibbons is able to envision putting together a full lineup, something he wasnt able to do all of last season. Jose Reyes will lead off and, as the plan was at this time last year, Melky Cabrera has the inside track to bat behind him. "The only real downfall is he does hit a lot of ground balls but you look at what hes done the last few years, take away last year, and hes been one of the better hitters in baseball," said Gibbons. "We like guys there that can get a lot of hits. Hes a switch-hitter, he can manipulate the bat a little bit, he knows how to do those things. Ideally, if hes the player we expect him to be, than hed be a good guy for that spot." One thing Cabrera doesnt do often is walk, an ideal trait of a two-hole hitter and something that would get him on base more often ahead of sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. After walking 56 times in 2006, his first full year in the big leagues, Cabrera hasnt had more than 43 bases on balls in a season. A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVE Nobody wants to read about or hear about injury as an excuse for the Jays disappointing 2013 year. But a little perspective never hurt anyone, either. Last season, manager John Gibbons had these six players – Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Colby Rasmus and Brett Lawrie – in the lineup at the same time on only eight occasions all year. It happened over an 11-day period, starting on July 21 and ending on August 1. Scarpe Air Max Tavas Scontate . The Nuggets leading scorer, Lawson is characterized as day to day by the team. Hes averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. Lawson suffered the injury late in Denvers win Sunday at Sacramento. Nike Air Max Classic Bw Scontate . Billy Hamilton finished off Cincinnatis biggest comeback of the season for a doubleheader sweep. http://www.airmaxitaliascarpe.it/scarpe-air-max-200-scontate.html . For the first time all night, as the Raptors were on the clock to make the 20th overall selection, no one had the slightest idea what was about to happen. No leaks, no whispers, nothing. Air Max 1 Outlet Italia . Louis Cardinals. He was 48. The commissioners office said Bell died in his home state of Ohio. Bell had not been feeling well over the weekend and had been scheduled to see doctors later Monday at the Cleveland Clinic. Scarpe Air Max2 Light Scontate . They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone.BOSTON -- Three straight goals and Jonathan Bernier in net was enough for Toronto to hold a third-period lead in Boston this time. Bernier stopped 38 shots, including 15 in the final period as the Maple Leafs held off the Bruins 4-3 on Tuesday night. "Its fun. Its why we play hockey -- that little pressure, that extra pressure. I thought we reacted in a good way," Bernier said. Bernier wasnt part of the Toronto club that blew a late 4-2 lead and lost 5-4 in overtime to the Bruins in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series last spring. But he knew plenty of his teammates hadnt forgotten, which made Tuesday night a bit of a special regular-season victory. "I thought the atmosphere was awesome. I think both teams played hard, and lots of hitting in that game," Bernier said. "When we get skating and we hit a lot, I think we get a lot of energy from our bench and we play very well." Tyler Bozak scored twice, Phil Kessel had three assists and James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist for Toronto. Jake Gardiner also scored for the Maple Leafs, who were 0-2 against the defending Eastern Conference champions this season. "Hopefully, it bleeds some of the demons out of us," Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each had a goal and an assist for Boston. Gregory Campbell pulled the Bruins to 4-3 with 10:25 left in the third period, but Bernier stopped a late flurry of shots after Boston pulled goalie Tuukka Rask for the extra skater. Toronto scored twice on the power play, while the Bruins were 0 for 3. "We had a lot of good looks. Weve obviously got to do a better job and bear down," Bergeron said. "On the power play they did that and we didnt do it, so the games right there." Bozak answered each of Bostons first two goals, then Toronto scored two straight and Bernier continued stopping shots.dddddddddddd "Whenever you come to Boston you know its going to be tough and you know theres going to be times in the game where theyre going to be all over you," Bozak said. "Youve just got to stay composed and block some shots and need the goalie to make some saves, and Berny did a great job for us tonight to keep us in it." Rask made 22 saves for Boston, which lost for the third time in four games. He was booed after van Riemsdyks wrist shot got past him early in the third, but came up with two big saves later in the period that kept the Bruins in it. Rask made a sliding pad save on Nazem Kadri as he was being taken down by Zdeno Chara with a hook, then stopped a big shot early in the ensuing power play to keep it 4-3. Bernier withstood a flurry of shots by the Bruins early in the second, then stopped Boston on a power play to preserve a 2-all tie until Gardiner gave Toronto its first lead with 12:51 left in the period. The Maple Leafs were on a power play when Gardiner drifted in from the point to the right circle, where he took a cross-ice pass from Kessel and wristed a shot through Rask. Bergeron tucked a backhand between Berniers left pad and the post to put the Bruins up 2-1 with 9:12 left in the first period. The goal stood after a review to make sure the puck didnt slip under the side of the net. NOTES: Chara played in his 1,100th career game. ... Rask entered with 22 wins, tying his career high set in 2009-10. ... Toronto had not beaten the Bruins since a 2-1 victory in Game 6 of their playoff series last year. After playing three times so far this season, the Original Six rivals have one meeting left. ... Dion Phaneufs assist in the second period for Toronto snapped a five-game scoreless streak. ' ' '