NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays struggle toward the seasons finish, its becoming increasingly difficult to find something positive t

NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays struggle toward the seasons finish, its becoming increasingly difficult to find something positive to discuss. Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys . Heres one: Dioner Navarros play. The 30-year-old catcher told TSN.ca hes proven something to himself during his first year in Toronto. “That I can play everyday,” said Navarro. “I know I can hit. I know I can call a game. I know I can throw but Ive still got it on me that I cant play everyday. Obviously Im throwing the last bullets out there.” Navarro got the start behind the plate on Saturday afternoon, marking the 107th time this season hed caught at least part of a game. The last time Navarro squatted in more than 100 games was back in 2009 when he played for the Tampa Bay Rays. His season has been welcome in Toronto following J.P. Arencibias disastrous 2013. In that regard, it could have been Navarro or anybody else putting on the tools of ignorance for the Blue Jays this season: the replacement was, by default, going to be an improvement over the predecessor. But Navarro is third on the club with 68 runs batted-in, far exceeding his previous career high of 54 set in 2008, the year of his only All-Star selection and the season in which his Rays lost in the World Series to Philadelphia. His 101 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) isnt spectacular but is the second highest of his career. Navarros 12 home runs are one off his career high set last season with the Chicago Cubs. Hes developed a strong rapport with veteran pitchers (Mark Buehrle) and youngsters (Marcus Stroman) alike. While there are rumblings about his defence, specifically getting down on balls in the dirt to prevent wild pitches, Navarro is middle-of-the-pack (21 per cent) when it comes to throwing out base stealers. Navarros enjoyed his return to the American League East, “Where I grew up,” he said. Hes enjoyed proving his doubters wrong. The funny thing is he was among them. “You can talk all you want and obviously my mindset is I can do this, but there was still a little doubt, especially being a backup for four years straight and not having to catch more than 50 games a year and you kind of doubt yourself, like can you still do this?” said Navarro. “When I got the opportunity obviously I jumped in and its just been so satisfying.” Nobody mistook Navarro for Arnold Schwarzenegger when he arrived in Dunedin in February and while its doubtful hell be chiseled when players report next spring, Navarro will consult with his personal trainer at the end of the season to develop a more comprehensive plan for 2015. He stayed off the disabled list but Navarro did have a minor issue with his quadriceps earlier in the year. “Im going to try a different program this offseason,” said Navarro. “I felt great throughout the whole season but there were days that [it] wasnt as great but weve still got to grind it out so Im going to prepare myself this offseason for those days and hopefully Ill be better next year.” Theres reason for Navarro to be motivated. Next season will be a contract year. Hell also be working with a young pitching staff that has the potential to be elite. “Our future is bright. Our future is really bright,” said Navarro. “Weve got Stroman. Weve got Sanchez, Norris, Pompeys looking really good. Goins is showing some improvement. Everybody, man, everybody. Encarnacion, Bautista, myself, so Im really excited.” LIND NURSING BACK PAIN He wouldnt have started anyway with the Yankees throwing left-hander Chris Capuano on Saturday, but Adam Linds recurring back issues have returned. “Lindys back locked up on him a little bit (Friday) night,” said manager John Gibbons. “Hopefully its not a long-term thing with Lindy but you probably wont see him (Saturday).” Lind has been limited to 91 games this season, largely because of a fractured foot that cost him 28 games in July and August. He did miss 17 games in April and May with a back strain. Used almost exclusively in a platoon scenario this season, Lind has posted a .357/.415/.548 slash line against right-handed pitchers. Thats elite level hitting despite a dip in power (six home runs compared to 23 last season). Linds .398 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) against right-handers this year is higher than his career .315. ENCARNACIONS MRI Edwin Encarnacion is dealing with back pain but it isnt significant enough to keep him out of the lineup. Encarnacion underwent a MRI on Friday afternoon. Manager John Gibbons said the imaging revealed mild inflammation. The 31-year-old homered has shown no ill effects. Playing as the designated hitter, Encarnacion hit a two-run home run in the first inning of Friday nights game and doubled home Jose Bautista in the first inning on Saturday. Stitched Basketball Jerseys . The team let Keaton Ellerby, James Wright and Matt Halischuk become unrestricted free agents after declining to make them qualifying offers. Ellerby, 25, appeared in 51 games for the Jets last season and had two goals and four assists. Basketball Jerseys China . They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone. http://www.cheapbasketballjerseysauthentic.com/ . - Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery was so busy in free agency he didnt mind having a few extra weeks to prepare for the draft.TORONTO – For the past two weeks, Cody Franson was living the life of a Ryerson Ram. Two-hour skates, five times a week at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on the campus of the university in downtown Toronto. Early on Thursday morning, Franson swung by his temporary training camp home, grabbed his sticks and gear, completed a physical and by 11am had joined his NHL teammates at practice. The 26-year-old agreed to a one-year deal with the Leafs worth $2 million late on Wednesday evening, ending a difficult and lengthy negotiation. "Im glad its done," said a gleeful Franson, following the nearly two-hour on-ice session. "Its a process nobody really wants to go through. Fortunately, we were able to find a common ground and get it done before the regular season started." With his contract status finally settled, Franson will shift his focus toward demonstrating that a terrific sampling in 48 games last season – sixth among NHL defenders in points – was just a harbinger of things to come; prove his viability to the organization with another good year. The Leafs certainly believe in that potential, but want to see it demonstrated over the course of another 82 games. If proved right, theyll happily commit to the B.C. native for the long-term. "The second you get complacent is the second you make a mistake," Franson said of taking the next step. "I learned that firsthand my first year [in Toronto], coming in a little comfortable. I got put in the press box because of it. Ill never make that mistake twice." Franson proved increasingly valuable to the Leafs as the 2013 calendar wore on. A late addition to training camp – following a similarly stunted negotiation that was solved hours after the lockout ended – he started the year with minimal ice-time, drawing about 14 minutes nightly in January, before emerging with upwards of 22 minutes a few months later in April. It was a demonstration which suggested he was capable of becoming a dependable top-4 NHL defender, both in the present and in the future. "When you get people that are developing and [having] more of an impact on your blue-line, you have to credit the player with that," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said of Franson, who found a partner in Mark Fraser five games into the season. "Hes the one that earned it." Not only did his offensive incline come to the forefront, but he also made adjustments defensively, aligning with the Carlyle way with a more assertive and aggressive defensive lean. "What he did is he committed more to a physical game which allowed him a little bit more space," Carlyle said of the 6-5 defender, adding that Franson, as a right-hand shot, was increasingly valuable on a defence chock-full of lefties. Realizing more of that potential, through continued growth defensively and sustained success offensively, will be the challenge of the coming year. As can often be the case in restricted free agency, Franson was stung by the process, believing that he deserved more than the organization chose to offer in negotiations throughout the summer. But with the cap falling to $64 million this season, he also came to understand that the annual number he sought over a longer term was not going to be realized, thus his insistence on a one-year deal with more to come down the line. The two sides found "middle ground" at the final pressure point (arbitration and the start of training camp flying by with no movementt) when the club moved on the term of the deal – they strongly preferred two years – and Franson budged by accepting an annual number below market value. Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys. . "I think both sides gave in a little bit," said Leafs assistant general manager Claude Loiselle. By following up on his breakthrough year with more of the same this season, Franson has his sights on a bigger payday next summer – the Leafs have 12 players in a similar boat, their contracts expiring after the coming season – though he will again remain a restricted free agent, albeit with arbitration rights. "One year was important to us," he told TSN.ca via text message early Thursday morning. "With the current cap situation, a two-year deal was very difficult to get at what we felt was fair. "A one-year [deal] was the most reasonable way for us to find a middle ground." Achieving that middle ground was not without its frustrations, both for the player and the organization. Easier said than done is not absorbing the negotiation as a personal afront, something Franson had his trouble with it as the process lingered. Ending his dispute with the Leafs shortly before training camp was due to begin, Nazem Kadri could sympathize with the struggle. "Its hard to [not take it personally] because when youre negotiating your deals, youve got to look at numbers and youve got to have comparisons and sometimes you may not like the comparisons, but the numbers match up," Kadri told TSN.ca. "Its just business really. Thats what Ive learned. I know it can maybe turn into a personal issue, but normally the player is just looking out for whats best for him and the team is looking out for whats best for them. Everyone just wants to make a deal in the end." "At the end of it, you sit back and you look at it and you realize its just business," Franson reflected. "Theyve got a job to do and that is to try and make everything work [under the cap]. I understand that. This is where I want to be. This is my dream place to play. Im hopeful that its a long-term deal coming up after this." For now, with Franson finally locked up, the Leafs find themselves in a cap squeeze, the roster requiring some carving and a degree of sculpting before opening day next week. Almost certainly, they will not be able to carry the roster maximum of 23 players, hurt by the 10-game suspension to David Clarkson and the uncertain status of Frazer McLaren, who could be placed on long-term injured reserve (finger injury) to offer a little wiggle room. "Its still the same situation as if Cody had signed at the beginning of camp," Loiselle said. "Were still evaluating. We still have two games left and well see how it shakes out." Paired with Fraser throughout his first practice – Jake Gardiner remains an option additionally as a partner, the two paired together late in the playoffs – Franson will likely play in both of the remaining exhibition games this weekend, a home and home set with Detroit. Though he enjoyed a brief and albeit unwanted experience at Ryerson, Franson was just pleased to be back in the routine of his NHL life, ready to take the next step forward – both personally and with his team. "I love being here in Toronto," he concluded. "This is where I want to be and thats the main reason why everything happened. Im happy its done and looking forward to getting going." 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