Das Feller-Forum » Raonic should make for a close contes

TAMPA – Mark Buehrle spun a gem on his 35th birthday, pitching as if he had evening plans to celebrate. "Go home, drop the family off at the airport so time to go home and clean up the house and get it ready for getting stuff shipped," said Buehrle of what will be a quiet night. Buehrle made his noise on the mound, tossing 6 1/3 innings of seven-hit, one-run ball against a Yankees lineup that featured every starter save for an injured Jacoby Ellsbury. He threw 94 pitches, 59 for strikes and was his usual efficient self, issuing no walks. He didnt strike out anyone, either. The Blue Jays won 3-1. "Hes looked a little different this spring," said manager John Gibbons. "Everythings just right. His locations on. I think hes popping the ball a little bit better. Of course I saw him last year, I hadnt seen him in any spring before that but I know hes feeling good and I think hes a little bit surprised about how good he feels and thats a good thing." Buehrle hadnt pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 7. On that day, he threw 31 of 44 pitches for strikes and was insistent that his changeup was the best it had been in any game in three years. In between, Buehrle made two starts in minor league games. Cognizant of his opponent, Buehrle threw fewer offspeed pitches on Sunday, focusing on his fastball. "We face these guys a lot so I came out and just said, hey, lets work on a lot of fastballs, location," said Buehrle. "I dont want to say trick them because obviously Ive been in the league for 12, 13 years so they know what I throw but just didnt want to show them everything." The plan is for Buehrle to start on Friday night in Montreal, the first of two exhibition games the Jays will play against the New York Mets at Olympic Stadium. Pitching coach Pete Walker draws up the assignments and didnt give Buehrle the choice of traveling or staying back in Florida to throw in a minor league game. Thats just fine with Buehrle, whos looking to pitch in front of a large crowd, in a large stadium, this close to opening day. "It definitely helps out," said Buehrle. "You get in that atmosphere, the adrenaline pumps a little more, theres a bigger crowd even coming here, everything just kind of clicks and it just becomes real once the game starts." Fridays start wont be Buehrles first at the Big O. His only previous outing came on June 18, 2004, an 11-7 White Sox win over the Expos. Buehrle pitched six innings but, as he put it, he got his "ass kicked." He allowed seven runs on 10 hits and got a no-decision. Reyes Update Jose Reyes wasnt in the Blue Jays lineup on Sunday, one day after leaving Saturdays win over the Tigers in the fourth inning with stiffness in his left hamstring. "It feels a little better," said manager John Gibbons. "We still dont think its a big deal." Reyes is listed as day to day. The Second Catcher Erik Kratz and Josh Thole are in a battle for the second catchers job behind Dioner Navarro. Its going down to the wire. "The number one job is going be able to catch Dickey," said Gibbons. "You want some offence but the number one thing (is) theyve got to be able to catch Dickey." Navarro played in 89 games for the Cubs last season, far and away his most since appearing in 115 games for the Rays in 2009. With that in mind, the Jays anticipate the second catcher having to play more. Kratz offers more offence but Dickey is most comfortable pitching to Thole. Dickeys thrown 565 2/3 career innings with Thole as his battery mate. Henry Blanco, at 127 innings, ranks a distant second. "I think theyve both done a good job so its a tough call," said Gibbons. Dickey, as he did last spring when the decision was made to take Blanco over Thole, insists he doesnt have, and insists he doesnt want, input in the process. Timeline for Roster Finalization Gibbons hopes to have his final roster determined before the Blue Jays leave for Montreal, where theyll play two exhibition games versus the Mets on Friday and Saturday, before the club departs on Thursday evening. "Well have a good idea before that what the roster is going to look like," said Gibbons. "Of course, well bring some extra guys with us anyway but well know in the next couple of days; with the catching, anyway." Fake Balenciaga . -- Valentin Zykov scored in overtime as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar rallied to a 3-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Sunday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Fake Balenciaga 2020 . Head coach Corey Chamblin announced on Monday that Avon Cobourne had been hired as the defending Grey Cup champions new running backs coach. https://www.fakebalenciaga.com/ . - Andre Drummond had his best night on the boards. Cheap Balenciaga .ca. Hi Kerry, Welcome back! Im sure you heard Peter Forsbergs comments last week regarding Canadian referees in the gold medal game. Seems to me that he was questioning the integrity and impartiality. Fake Balenciaga Cheap .C. -- Marcus Paige and his North Carolina teammates have endured so many wild swings -- big wins, surprising losses, NCAA drama -- that no one can blame their Hall of Fame coach for wondering whats next.Andy Murray continues his quest for a first Indian Wells Masters title when he takes on Argentinas Federico Delbonis, live on Sky Sports on Monday from 8pm. After beginning his campaign in California with a routine victory over Marcel Granollers, next up for Murray is clay-court specialist Delbonis who beat Portugals Joao Sousa for his second victory having come through his opening round tie with Santiago Giraldo.It will be a first career meeting between the men, with Murray never having played the world number 52 who has never gone beyond the second round of a Masters event. However, Murray will have to be wary of the threat posed by the Argentinian who produced a career-best Grand Slam performance to reach the last 32 of the Australian Open but Delbonis is most comfortable on the red dirt, with his only career title on the ATP tour coming in Brazil in 2014.But Murray has eased his way back to competition after the birth of his first child, a couple of victories in the Davis Cup along with Saturdays 6-4 7-6 win over Granollers should set him up for a run at a 12th career Masters title.Johanna Konta, Britains number one womens player and seeded 25th after her rise up the world rankings, will face Denisa Allertova in the first match on stadium court 3.Two-time winner Stan Wawrinka, who Murray could face in the semi-final, is also on the main court when he plays Russias Andrey Kuznetsov.On the second stadium court a clash of the big servers between Bernard Tomic and Milos Raonic should make for a close contest, while Gael Monfils meets Nick Kyrgios conqueror Albert Ramos-Vinolas - the winner could face Murray if the Scot comes through his meeting with Delbonis. Richard Gasquet takes on Aleksandar Dolgopolov One to WatchRichard Gasquet v Aleksandar Dolgopolov promises to be an occasion to watch, the two strokemakers should serve up a feast for the purist.ddddddddddddSurprise in store? Tomas Berdych will be tested by Borna Coric who has had an impressive season Tomas Berdych faces a very difficult test against rising star Borna Coric - the 19-year-old is up to number 47 in the world rankings and reached a first career final in Chennai earlier this year.Berdych has had the usual run of quarter and semi-finals so far this season but know he will face a tough ask if he is to win a second Masters title - his first coming way back in 2005 in Paris.In Case You Missed It Nadal and Djokovic progress Big guns progress at Indian Wells on Sunday You can follow all the action from 8pm on Sky Sports 3 as coverage from Indian Wells continues on Monday night. Also See: Djokovic and Nadal progress Murray starts with victory Tennis on Sky Latest scores ' ' '