right." Burton said hes having trouble controlling his pitches,

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Guard Greivis Vasquez and forward Patrick Patterson, two key pieces to the Toronto Raptors run to an Atlantic Division title in 2013-14, were both given qualifying offers by the team on Saturday. By doing so, the Raptors retain the right to match any offer sheet the restricted free agents receive from another team. Both players came to Toronto in December as part of the trade with Sacramento that sent high-scoring forward Rudy Gay to the Kings. The Raptors went 41-22 following the deal to earn the Eastern Conferences No. 3 playoff seed. Vasquez averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 assists in 61 regular-season games as Kyle Lowrys backup with the Raptors. The four-year veteran led Toronto in scoring off the bench 25 times after joining the club. Patterson also played an important reserve role with the Raptors, averaging 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 48 games as Torontos primary forward off the bench. The 25-year-old then tallied 10.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during the clubs opening-round playoff series with the Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors also extended a qualifying offer to guard Nando De Colo, who averaged 3.1 points and 1.6 assists over 21 games after being acquired from San Antonio on Feb. 20. Cheap Rangers Jerseys China . It took five games, but the Celtics finally helped Stevens earn his first NBA victory. "Im going to celebrate for a whole 12 minutes, and then Im going to start watching Orlando and trying to figure them out," the first-year Celtics coach said after Boston beat the Utah Jazz, one of the leagues other winless teams, 97-87 on Wednesday night. Delino DeShields Jr. Jersey . -- Jacksonvilles offensive makeover is just getting starting. http://www.cheaptexasrangersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-edinson-volquez-jersey . Completely. Two days after releasing Peyton Manning, the longtime face of the franchise, the Colts announced they were cutting four fan favourites: running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark. Rougned Odor Jersey . -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October. Matt Moore Jersey . -- Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday for the first time in his seven-year career because of a swollen muscle in his left upper back.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins were given an unexpected day off because of the weather. They sure needed the extra time to warm back up from the night before. The Blue Jays-Twins game Wednesday was postponed more than seven hours before it was scheduled to begin, due to the unseasonable cold causing a spring storm to produce blowing snow all afternoon with some accumulation predicted at night. Since this week is Torontos only trip to Minnesota, the teams will play a day-night doubleheader Thursday. The forecast was calling for a high temperature of about 42 degrees Thursday but clear and dry conditions. The Blue Jays beat the Twins 9-3 Tuesday without precipitation problems, but the first-pitch temperature was 35 degrees. "Weve got a roof up there in Toronto, so we dont get exposed to it that much. Youve just got to be mentally tough," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said after the game. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had trouble gripping the ball and didnt finish the fourth inning. He escaped with only two runs allowed. "I didnt feel helpless. I was still trying on every pitch. But nothing was working," Morrow said. Third baseman Brett Lawrie didnt let the cold stop him from hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning, but he still felt it. "It just kind of hits you. It takes a little bit of getting used to," Lawrie said, adding: "Get your cold gear on and man up." One potential casualty of the cold was designated hitter Adam Linds back. He left the game Tuesday with tightness and has a history of back trouble. The Blue Jays held out centre fielder Colby Rasmus Tuesday because of hamstring tightness that forced him out Sunday at Baltimore. The cold could also work against R.A. Dickeys knuckleball, which thrives in humid, hot conditions. The Blue Jays switched their rotation to start Dickey in the matinee Thursday and use Dustin McGowan for the rescheduled game, which willl start six hours after the first one.dddddddddddd The Twins kept Kyle Gibson as their starter for the afternoon game, meaning Mike Pelfrey will take the mound Thursday night after having this turn bumped back. Pelfrey will try to bounce back from two rough appearances to start the season. Another pitcher in need of a rebound is reliever Jared Burton, the primary setup man. After posting a 2.18 ERA in 64 appearances in 2012, Burton had his ERA rise to 3.82 in 71 appearances last year. He was charged with nine losses. This season, he has allowed six hits, eight runs and three walks in five innings, including Lawries grand slam Tuesday. "I dont know whats going on with him right now. Hes not pitching with a lot of confidence," manager Ron Gardenhire said, adding: "Hes got good stuff. Hes got a track record. So weve just got to figure out a way to get him right." Burton said hes having trouble controlling his pitches, another byproduct of the April cold. "I think pitchers and hitters will both tell you that its tough at the beginning of the year with the weather and everything. Ive just got to do a better job of getting ahead of guys. Im behind everybody, and its a lot easier to hit when youre ahead in the count," he said. Burton expressed confidence hell bounce back. "I feel fine. Im healthy. Im just human. Were under a little bit of a microscope and when we struggle it shows. Ill figure it out. We all go through these phases. Its just a matter of stopping a slump and starting a streak," he said. NOTES: Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Twins have had nine weather-induced postponements, plus one game suspended by rain and finished the following day. Three of them came last April. ... Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen and shortstop Jose Reyes both played for Class A Dunedin on rehab assignments Tuesday. Reyes could rejoin the Blue Jays Friday at Cleveland, but Janssen is a little behind him. ' ' '