07-25-2019, 12:48 AM
ARLINGTON, Texas – J.P. Arencibia was a busy man on Friday afternoon, unable to find the time to speak to the Toronto media between advanced meetings and his pregame workout and batting practice routine. The brief reunion between Arencibia and the club that drafted him, this three-game weekend series at Globe Life Park, marks the first opportunity for the former catcher of the future to address public comments he made about the Blue Jays during a March media scrum at the Rangers spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona. "That has nothing to do with us," said manager John Gibbons, who added he wasnt previous aware of Arencibias comments. "We wish him well. Hes a good guy. He comes to play everyday. I cant get caught up in that." Arencibia seemed to spare no one and nothing, offering comment on what he perceived to be the Blue Jays misplaced priorities. "Theres not a lot of riff-raff going on except for baseball stuff," he said. "Its cool. Its refreshing to be part of something that is really baseball emphasized." The clubhouse leadership got addressed. "Elvis (Andrus), (Adrian) Beltre, you have these guys who are leaders and have been around for a while, they make it easy," Arencibia said at the time. "Its not like you come in here and youre walking on egg shells." If hes more comfortable in his new surroundings, the results arent showing it. Entering Fridays play, Arencibia had appeared in fewer than half of Texas games (19), and was hitting a measly .140/.190/.246 with one home run. This off a disastrous 2013, Arencibias last in Toronto, during which hit for a .194 batting average and posted a meager on-base plus slugging percentage of .592 despite hitting 21 home runs. He was non-tendered by the Blue Jays in the offseason and signed a one-year deal with Texas in free agency. The Rangers are missing their starting catcher, Geovany Soto, and dont expect him back from a knee injury until later in June. In the meantime, Arencibia is splitting the catching duties with Robinson Chirinos, a one-time Chicago Cubs prospect who spent the better part of a decade in the minor leagues. There is talk around Arlington that when Soto comes back, Arencibia will be the odd man out. Arencibia is, by nature, a sensitive individual who seemed to read and hear everything critical written and said about him. He took it to heart. That same personality trait affected his relationship with members of the Blue Jays organization. Coaches would offer advice, try to help, but he would perceive constructive criticism as personal slight. Toronto decided Arencibia was no longer the right fit. Despite that, Gibbons still believes Arencibia can forge a successful big league career but he has some advice. "Its the ability to make some adjustments," said Gibbons. "He can do that. Ive seen him do it but hes got to be committed to it, you know. With J.P., hes still on the younger side of this game so hes got the time." INJURIES IN BASEBALL If youre a baseball fan in Toronto, youve likely got at least one friend who isnt and who enjoys pointing out how "soft" baseball players are when it comes to injuries. Youve heard it; the old "Hockey player takes a puck in the mouth and doesnt miss a shift but the baseball player tweaks his hamstring and misses three weeks" routine. One player whos spent time on the disabled list this season suggested to TSN.ca last week that if people felt the aches and pains baseball players do on a daily basis, theyd be visiting their doctors office on a regular basis. "Canadas the wrong place to say it because youve got hockey," said manager John Gibbons. "Those guys break a leg and theyre still playing so theres probably not a lot of sympathy on that end of it." Baseball, obviously, is a different sport. Its stop and start, which can wreak havoc on muscles that are in use one moment and then not again for a number of minutes. There arent intentionally violent collisions. Remember, too, the Blue Jays play on Astroturf, which has improved over the years but remains a thick rug blanketing a concrete surface. "The toughest part about baseball is its everyday," said Gibbons. "Youre banged up and a certain part of it is skill. If youre a pitcher or something like that, if youre hurting, you cant perform because youve got to throw a baseball or something like that." NAVARRO TO RETURN ON SATURDAY Catcher Dioner Navarro, whos been on the bereavement/family emergency list since Wednesday, will return in time for the second game of the Blue Jays three-game series in Texas. The club will make a corresponding roster move prior to the game. GETZ RETIRES One week ago, Chris Getz was a Toronto Blue Jay. Today, hes a former baseball player, having formally announced his retirement. "He called me the other day and he told me its something hes been contemplating anyway," said manager John Gibbons. "Hes a smart cookie. Getzys got it all together. He ended up getting his five years in but it was something that was kind of stewing with him a little bit because in the last couple of years hes been up and down." Getz and his wife are expecting a baby. He was designated for assignment on Sunday to accommodate Casey Janssens activation from the disabled list. The 30-year-old played 459 career games for three teams (Chicago White Sox, Kansas City, and Toronto), hitting .250/.309/.307 with 50 doubles and 89 stolen bases. Justin Tucker Jersey . Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. Mark Andrews Youth Jersey . The Heat centre scored 10 of his 30 points early in the first quarter to silence the Toronto fans as Miami defeated the Raptors 113-101 on Friday night. http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/You...ns-jersey/. Griffin scored 13 of his 31 points in the final 7:05 and Dudley got 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter, leading the defending Pacific Division champions to a 112-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. "Dud is a shooter. Iman Marshall Ravens Jersey .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana. Ray Lewis Youth Jersey . Whenever United loses, its crisis. When other top teams slip up, its the quirky nature of the Premier League. The predictable reaction speaks to the sky-high expectations for a team proven perennial contender and 13 times Premier League champion.Auburn, AL (SportsNetwork.com) - Auburn put up touchdown after touchdown in the second half and then finally stopped South Carolina on fourth down. When the Gamecocks got the ball back, there wasnt enough time to travel the length of the field again. Nick Marshall ran for three touchdowns and threw for another as the fifth- ranked Tigers defeated South Carolina 42-35 on Saturday night. Auburn scored touchdowns on six straight possessions at one point, with Marshalls go-ahead 5-yard TD sprint with 11:22 left providing the Tigers a 42-35 lead. The Gamecocks converted their first five fourth-down opportunities -- including two on their ensuing drive -- before Dylan Thompson overthrew Shaq Roland in the end zone on a 4th-and-14 at the Auburn 19. Four of those fourth-down conversions came in South Carolinas own territory. South Carolina then forced its first punt of the second half and regained possession at its own 15 with 1:08 to go and no timeouts. Jonathan Jones, though, intercepted his second pass on Thompsons Hail Mary heave in the end zone on the final play of the game to preserve the win and national title hopes for the Tigers. Cameron Artis-Payne ran for 167 of Auburns 395 yards on the ground to go with a touchdown. Marshall was 12-of-14 for 139 yards and a touchdown and added 89 yards rushing on 10 carries for the Tigers (6-1, 3-1 SEC), who bounced back from their lone loss of the season two weeks ago at Mississippi State. Thompson completed 29-of-50 passes for 402 yards with a school-record five touchdowns to go with three interceptions for South Carolina (4-4, 2-4), which has dropped three of its last four games. Ricardo Louis dashed down the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown and a 35-28 Auburn cushion midway through the third quarter, just one snap after the Gamecocks Pharoh Cooper burst through the middle of the Tigers secondary on a quick slant that turned into a 51-yard TD reception. On the ensuing drive, Thompson hit Roland for a 12-yard completion on an out route to keep South Carolina a yard shy of the first-down marker on a 3rd- and-13. Cody Gibson committed a false start penalty to push it to a 4th-and-6 at the Gamecocks 40, but Steve Spurrier elected to go for it anyway. Thompson sprinted oout to his right and hooked up with Cooper for nine yards to move the chains.dddddddddddd Mike Davis then broke off a 23-yard run, Thompson found Roland for an 18-yard completion two plays later and then fired a 10-yard TD strike to Nick Jones in the back of the end zone to tie the game late in the third. And Spurrier wasnt done gambling. South Carolina recovered an onside kick to regain possession, and Davis plunged for three yards up the middle on a 4th-and-1 at the Auburn 23. On 3rd-and-8 at the 18, however, Jonathan Jones made a diving interception on a pass floated in the back left corner of the end zone intended for Roland. It didnt take long for Auburn to strike. Marshall flipped a screen out to Quan Bray for a 20-yard reception and then fired a 28-yard completion to Corey Grant along the right sideline two plays later. Marshalls 9-yard TD run off the left side came a snap later. Earlier, Rolands 32-yard TD catch on South Carolinas opening drive began the scoring, and the Gamecocks marched into Auburn territory on their next offensive series following a Tigers punt. Cassanova McKinzy, though, picked off Thompson inside the 10 and Marshall flipped a 3-yard TD pass to Brandon Fulse to cap an 11-play, 92-yard sequence and knot the score late in the first. The Gamecocks first fourth-down make came on a 4th-and-2 at their own 33 early in the second quarter, when Davis took a swing pass and scampered 18 yards along the right sideline. Cooper hauled in a 16-yard TD reception before Auburn answered with Artis-Paynes 2-yard TD run for a 14-14 tie midway through the second. Bray fumbled on a punt return and Davis took a swing pass in the left flat 27 yards for a score to put South Carolina back ahead, but Marshall answered with a 37-yard TD sprint to knot the game at 21-21 late in the first half. Marshalls 4-yard TD run on Auburns opening touch of the second half gave it a 28-21 advantage. Game Notes Auburn has won 14 straight home games, tied with Florida State for the longest active FBS streak ... The Tigers were 6-of-8 on third down, while the Gamecocks finished 6-of-14 ... Auburn outgained South Carolina, 551-535 ... Auburn moved to 310-5 when scoring at least 30 points. ' ' '