Das Team » game against the Orioles. Or t

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Jim Barker had huge expectations when he acquired veteran quarterback Ricky Ray in a blockbuster trade with the Edmonton Eskimos in December 2011. The Toronto Argonauts GM envisioned Rays calm approach and on-field poise helping secure the franchise its first Grey Cup since 2004. After a slow start with his new team, Ray did just that on the grandest of stages, leading the Double Blue to a 35-22 win over the Calgary Stampeders in the historic 100th Grey Cup before 53,208 spectators at Rogers Centre. On Friday, Barker rewarded Ray with a contract extension that keeps him in Toronto through the 2015 season. "A year ago December to a packed room at the CN Tower we introduced Ricky Ray as a man who was going to come and restore success and dignity and excitement to the Toronto Argonauts franchise and ultimately deliver a Grey Cup," Barker said during a news conference Friday. "He has delivered on all that. "Our organization, our ownership, have made a commitment to Ricky and hes made a commitment to us and we are excited about the future of this organization." And although hes coming off a Grey Cup championship and has a new deal, Ray wont be resting on his laurels as he enters his 11th CFL season. "In football nothing is guaranteed, contracts arent guaranteed," Ray said. "You still have to go out and perform at a high level. "Thats what they expect and thats what you expect of yourself. I dont think now I can relax a little bit, youve got to go out there and perform every week." But the move to Toronto was a difficult one for Ray, who spent his first nine CFL seasons in Edmonton and was a fan favourite there after leading the Eskimos to two Grey Cup titles. Not only was the 33-year-old native of Happy Camp, Calif., joining a new franchise but one with a rookie head coach in Scott Milanovich. The six-foot-three, 210-pound Ray struggled initially as he became acclimated with Milanovichs offence but still showed a deft passing touch. His 68.6 per-cent passing completion not only topped all league starters but was an Argos single-season record as Ray surpassed the 4,000-yard passing plateau for the seventh time in his CFL career. However, Ray saved his best for last. After returning from a knee injury Oct. 19, Ray surpassed the 300-yard passing plateau in three of his final five starts, including a 399-yard performance in Torontos 27-20 road win over Montreal in the East Division final. Toronto fell behind in both of its first two playoff games. Each time, the Argos were buoyed by the even-keel, no-panic approach of their quarterback who rallied them from 10-0 deficits to post-season victories. Ray was a workmanlike 18 of 30 passing for 231 yards and two TDs in the Grey Cup as Argos running back Chad Kackert took centre stage. Kackert ran for 113 yards on 20 carries and added eight catches for 52 yards to claim MVP honours. Still, Ray finished the playoffs completing 69 of 97 passes for 869 yards and five TDs with just one interception. He enters the 2013 campaign sixth on the CFLs all-time passing list with 44,588 yards but with a much better understanding and appreciation of Milanovich, on and off the field. "Hes an easy guy to work for," Ray said. "Hes very demanding, he expects a lot out of you but he keeps it to where you have a great opportunity to go out and perform week in and week out. "Its not like youre just talking to a coach. You can talk to him about other stuff thats not football so when you do have a little bit of down time youre joking with him and he keeps you relaxed and confident out there." Having a year in Milanovichs offence under his belt will certainly be a major benefit for Ray once training camp opens Sunday. "Last year I was learning from scratch just trying to figure out what I was doing out there," he said. "Now I have a lot of game experience to go off of and things we worked on throughout the year Ill be able to carry over. "Any changes or tweaks we need to make I can make those and not have to worry about where guys are lining up or what Im supposed to do. I can be more comfortable with those situations." http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/T-Shirts/ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Ryan-Switzer-Jersey/ . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Orlando-Scandrick-Jersey/ . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Bill-Bates-Jersey/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Zack-Martin-Jersey/ . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Some saw a American League Championship Series pitting the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cleveland Indians coming, but few saw each team flying into the ALCS coming off inspiring sweeps.The Jays won in a walk-off in the wild-card game then swept the?Texas Rangers?-- the first postseason series sweep in Blue Jays history -- in a Game 3 walk-off in the first postseason series ever to end with the winning run scoring on an error. The Indians swept the?Red Sox, holding the games best offense to seven runs, after no team had held Boston to just seven runs in a three-game series this season. The Indians got contributions from so many players, including Lonnie Chisenhall, who hit his first homer this season against a left-hander, and Coco Crisp, acquired for the stretch run, who had a crucial two-run home run during the clinching Game 3.When things like that happen, destiny seems to be in play, yet destiny only takes one team, which is why the Blue Jays-Indians ALCS should be fascinating. Here are five questions:Has the Toronto offense finally emerged?The Blue Jays scored 127 more runs than any American League team last season, but they scored 132 fewer runs this year, finishing fifth in the league in runs scored. They averaged 3.7 runs per game in September/October, the third team ever to go to the postseason as the lowest-scoring team in September/October. But now the Blue Jays look like the offensive powerhouse that they were for most of last season. They scored 22 runs in sweeping the Rangers, the fourth most by any team in a sweep in a division series. They got eight home runs from seven different players, tying a division series record.Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, free agents after the season, seem to be swinging for big, new contracts. Josh Donaldson has not hit a home run during this postseason, but he is quietly dealing with various injuries and still went 7-for-13, with four doubles in the division series. Donaldson scored the winning run in Game 3 from second base on a throwing error in the 10th inning. The gang is back together in Toronto. And it crushed Texas rotation: 16 earned runs in 10? innings.How good is the Cleveland bullpen?Its not just really good, it is different than most of the other pens because of Andrew Miller (1.45 ERA this season, with 0.69 WHIP, nine walks, 123 strikeouts). In Game 1 of the sweep against Boston, Miller pitched in relief in the fifth inning for the first time since 2013; it also was the first time since 2011 that he pitched in relief in three different innings. In Game 3, Miller threw two more scoreless innings and struck out three. The Indians can move Miller around and pitch him in any situation, because he is so versatile -- and because closer Cody Allen has, for the most part, got the ninth inning covered. In Game 1 of the division series, Allen and Miller threw 40-plus pitches, the first relief teammates to do that in a ppostseason game since 2008.dddddddddddd. Look for that to happen again in the ALCS. And look for that Cleveland defense, which is so good and so much better than two years ago, to help the pitching.How good is the Toronto bullpen?Really good. It threw 4? scoreless innings in the clinching Game 3 against the Rangers. In 14 innings during this postseason, the bullpen has allowed just two runs, including five scoreless frames (with one hit allowed) in the wild-card game against the Orioles. Closer Roberto Osuna, who left that wild-card game with a shoulder issue, was terrific in the division series. In the clinching Game 3 against Texas, Osuna retired all six batters he faced, striking out two and showing no signs of a shoulder issue. Francisco Liriano (concussion) might not be available for the ALCS -- and?Joaquin Benoit?might not be ready, either. It will be interesting to see if the Toronto pen can be as good against Cleveland as it has been so far during this postseason.How do we explain the Indians rotation?It is hard to believe that without injured starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, the Indians could hold the Red Sox -- who led the AL in runs scored, with 101 more than the next team, the Indians -- to just seven runs in three games. Trevor Bauer kept the Indians in the game until Miller arrived in Game 1. Corey Kluber, a Cy Young candidate, was marvelous in Game 2, allowing three hits and no runs in seven innings. Then Josh Tomlin gave the Red Sox five strong innings in Game 3. Tomlin allowed just 20 walks against 36 homers allowed this season, a plus-16; Carlos Silva is the only other pitcher to allow 16 more homers than walks in a season (2005). Salazar (shoulder) is working to try to be ready for the ALCS, but there are no guarantees there. But this is guaranteed: The Indians will start Kluber in Game 1 of the ALCS, then have him, if necessary, for Game 4 and -- this is a real stretch these days -- Game 7.What are the options for the Toronto rotation?The Blue Jays have all sorts of choices, none involving short rest. They can start the series with Marcus Stroman, who threw six innings (two runs) in the wild-card game against the Orioles. Or they can go with Marco Estrada, who shut down the Rangers (one run, four hits, 8? innings) in Game 1 of the division series, because that great changeup of his was unhittable. Or they can go with 20-game winner J.A. Happ, who beat the Rangers in Game 2 of the division series with five innings pitched and one run allowed. And they can wait instead of push Aaron Sanchez, keeping him for Game 3 or Game 4. Remember, over the final 21 games of the regular season, the Blue Jays rotation had a 2.08 ERA, the best in the big leagues. The postseason has been an extension of that success.Indians in seven. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '