Die Regenbogenbrücke » e and the As skipper Bob Melvin is go

If home runs were all it took to win ball games, the Blue Jays would be laughing right now. They have homered once every 27.3 at bats, which just happens to be the third best mark in the American League, albeit just 10 games into the season. On top of that, they have the American league co-leaders in that category in Jose Bautista and Melky Cabrera with four a piece. The Chicago White Sox lead the American League with a homer ever 23.7 ABs. Detroit is second at 24.1 per homer. Houston leads the National League with a dinger every 22.5 at bats heading into Fridays action. The Giants are second at 24.8. The Giants and Dodgers are tied for the lead in the National League West, but their records are only 6-4. The Jays and White Sox are both sitting at 5-5. The Tigers are the best of the home runs, slugging teams at 5-2. Houston is only 4-6. The most interesting team is Kansas City. They didnt get their one and only homer until Wednesday when Alex Gordon connected against Tampa Bay. They are averaging one homer per every 260 at bats, yet they, like the Blue Jays and White Sox, are playing .500 ball at 4-4. Its really run differential that counts the most -- the difference between the runs you score and the runs you give up. Right now, the top two clubs in that category are Milwaukee and Washington at plus-22. They both have Major League best 7-2 records and lead their respective divisions in the National League; the Brewers in the Central and the Nationals in the East. I was curious to see how much the Blue Jays defense had improved over a year ago. This time last season through 10 games, they had committed eight errors, including three in one game against Boston. This time around, they have made only three and thats without Jose Reyes at short. Overall right now, Baltimore has the top defense in terms of errors made. They have only one, even with the left side of their infield SS J.J Hardy and 3rd baseman Manny Machado missing nearly all of their nine games. Minnesota is second best with just two errors committed. Seattle, Toronto and Tampa Bay have all made three errors, but the Ms have only played eight games to 10 for the Jays and Rays. Errors dont tell the entire story because you have to figure in things such as range and double plays not turned and defensive plays not made. Suffice to say, the Blue Jays are much better defensively than they were a year ago. The Blue Jays start their longest road trip of the young season Friday night; a nine-game, 10 day affair that begins with three games in Baltimore followed by a day off then three at Target Field against the Twins before three more at Cleveland. This is a key trip. A year ago, they went on a seven-game trip through Baltimore and Yankees Stadium. They went a dismal 1-6 and went from 8-11 to 9-17. They never really recovered from that journey and wound up the season with just 74 wins. Clevelands fireballer Danny Salazar, who made his Major League debut against the Jays last season, had a wild outing on Thursday night against the White Sox. He struck out 10 in just three and 2/3rd innings, thus becoming the first pitcher in the modern era to fan 10 in fewer than four innings. But he also got tagged for five runs on six hits, including two home runs; the White Sox winning 7-3. Being a closer is a perilous business in the American League these days. The Blue Jays Casey Janssen is still rehabbing his shoulder and has yet to pitch in a game since spring training. The Yankees David Robertson pulled a groin muscle last weekend against the Blue Jays and is on the 15-day disabled list. Detroits Joe Nathan, who had been struggling and then complained of going through a dead-arm period during a radio interview, picked up a win for the Tigers Wednesday night at L.A. against the Dodgers after blowing his second save in that same game. Oakland picked up Baltimores closer Jim Johnson in an off-season deal. Hes had so many problems early this season. Johnson has lost the shutdown role and the As skipper Bob Melvin is going with a closer by committee approach for the time being. On the flip side, the Mets - who lost their closer Bobby Parnell to "Tommy John " surgery - turned to ex-Tigers closer Jose Valverde and he has already notched two saves. Atlanta is off to an amazing start considering three of its starters -- Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor -- are down with injuries. They are sitting at 5-4 and until David Hale got lit up by the Mets Thursday night, none of their starters, including Ervin Santana, had given up more than two runs in a game. If you missed it, Santana pitched eight shutout innings in his first start with the Braves the other night. Thanks to three rainouts, Ricky Romero didnt get his first start with Triple "A" Buffalo until Wednesday night in the opener of a doubleheader at Lehigh Valley. He went four innings, giving up three runs on four hits, striking out four and walking four. Lefty J.A. Happ, meanwhile, made his second rehab at home for Buffalo Thursday night against the Red Soxs Pawtucket farm club. He gave up just one run over four and 2/3rds innings on five hits, including a home run. He struck out six and walked only two. The only thing the Blue Jays might be concerned about is he used up his 90 pitch limit inside of five innings. Happ could get one more minor league rehab start or could just join the Jays for the road trip. The pitcher, whose rotation spot could be in jeopardy, is Dustin McGowan. Hes starting Friday night at Baltimore. Claude Giroux Flyers Jersey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks hope an upcoming stretch of home games will be enough to get the club into the postseason. Samuel Morin Jersey . To be fair, the celebrations are already anything but tame. Nerf ball tricks shots are just the tip of the iceberg for a group that has performed in zero gravity, faced pro-skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and an assembled team on the MTV series "Fantasy Factory", and even hit a basketball trick shot from a passing blimp. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/sea...ockey-jersey/.5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2. Brian Elliott Jersey . A steady downpour and low temperatures were predicted for much of the night. No makeup date was immediately announced, although it was determined that the game will not be part of a doubleheader on Wednesday. James Van Riemsdyk Jersey . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers.Head coach Kat Ratnapala says Surrey Storm must believe in their own threat as they bid to beat Hertforshire Mavericks in the Vitality Netball Superleague semi-finals. Ratnapalas defending champions come into Saturdays semi-final boosted by a victory over Mavs last weekend, although they will be well aware of the visitors threat having lost to them at London Live earlier in the season. Agbezes semi-final preview England captain assesses the Superleague final four Storm have home advantage after Mavericks end-of-season implosion saw them drop form first to third on the back of three successive defeats at the end of the season.The franchises face-off in a repeat of last seasons Grand Final but only one can make it through to the Copper Box for next weeks 2016 showpiece against either Manchester Thunder or Team Bath.With Mavericks in mind as our opponents we have been working on sticking to a game plan, Ratnapala told Sky Sports. Player of the season Cast your vote on the Superleague best player this season We need to make sure that we are doing what we set out to do against them.dddddddddddd They have got a lot of different combinations and Sammy Wallace, they are a strong outfit.Mavericks kept pace with favourites Thunder for much of the season before falling away.They are a strong attacking line up as well as a structured and set combination in the defensive end - its making sure we break down those connections and work to our strengths, she added. Sky Live: Superleague semi-finals How to follow Saturdays semi-final on Sky Sports We have got things in our locker that we know are going to break them down and its making sure we use them and stay in the gameFor most teams consistency is the biggest word this season but it is making sure we think through every battle and every challenge they throw at us.You can watch all the action from the Superleague semi-finals on Saturday from 3.30pm on Sky Sports 5. Manchester Thunder v Team Bath gets underway at 4pm with Surrey Storm v Hertfordshire Mavericks starting at 6pm. Also See: Vote for your player of the season Sky Live: Superleague semi-finals Agbezes semi-final preview WATCH: Cookeys masterclass ' ' '