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TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays will send Drew Hutchison to the mound today and could have closer Casey Janssen available out of the bullpen for the third game of a four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels. nfl jerseys china . The Jays activated Janssen from the 15-day disabled list early on Sunday. The 32-year-old has been out since the beginning of the season with a left abdominal lower back strain. The 23-year-old Hutchison is 0-2 over his last six starts since a victory at Tampa Bay on April 1 in his first start of 2014. Hutchison allowed nine hits and five runs over eight innings of a no-decision against Philadelphia on Tuesday. His only appearance against the Angels came May 6, 2012 in Anaheim when he gave up eight hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-3 defeat. Angels starter Jered Weaver is 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA over his last four starts and hasnt lost since April 6 at Houston. The right-hander threw eight strong innings in a 4-1 home win over the Yankees Monday. Weaver escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the eighth. He gave up a run on six hits, walked one and struck out seven. In 10 career starts versus Toronto, Weaver is 8-2 with a 3.68 ERA. In taking the first two of this four-game series, the Angels have won six in a row in Toronto. Their last loss at Rogers Centre came June 30, 2012 and they have won nine of the last 10 meetings overall. Tyler Skaggs spun eight-plus strong frames, C.J. Cron clubbed his first big league homer, and the Angels earned a 5-3 win yesterday afternoon in the second installment of this four-game series. Skaggs (3-1) struck out four while giving up just four hits and three runs -- two earned -- over his stellar outing. "He had some good movement on his fastball," Blue Jays catcher Erik Kratz said of Skaggs. "There werent a lot of hard hits today." Cron stroked a solo shot in the third inning and singled home a run in the second, while Chris Iannetta smacked a two-run homer. "Tyler is really coming into his own. You can really see the maturation process," Iannetta said of his batterymate. "He just keeps getting better and hopefully he just keeps learning how to pitch and learning how to execute." Toronto starter J.A. Happ (1-1) lasted just 2 1/3 innings after giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk. Jose Bautista scored once and also knocked in a run for the Blue Jays, who came into this series with five consecutive wins. Angels manager Mike Scioscia is scheduled to return to the team. He missed the first two contests of the series to attend his daughters college graduation. cheap jerseys . - The Washington Wizards are in a great position to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, and John Wall has a lot to do with it. jerseys from china .Y. -- Trevor Cooney and C.Bruins forward Shawn Thornton will be appealing his 15-game suspension handed down by the National Hockey League. The NHL suspended Thornton for his attack on Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik. After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Orpik suffered a concussion and was taken to hospital. The Appeal Process As a first step, Thornton will appeal the suspension to Commissioner Gary Bettman. He hears all appeals on league discipline. Since the suspension exceeds five games, Bettman is required to have an in-person hearing for Thornton. Since Thornton was at the NHL office last week for his disciplinary hearing, he should know his way around by now. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) provides that "the Commissioner shall endeavor to hear all appeals on an expedited basis and will determine whether the decision" is supported by clear and convincing evidence. So Bettman will get this done quickly and will assess whether the suspension makes sense based on the circumstances. Thornton should expect to fail on appeal to Bettman. The suspension was handed down by the Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan. However, given the complex legal implications of this case, particularly in light of the concussion lawsuits, the suspension was very likely a group effort. So the suspension wasnt a Shanahan decision as much as it was a league decision issued through Shanahan. As a result, its unlikely Bettman will reduce the suspension. Frankly, reductions by Bettman are unlikely in most circumstances. He runs the league so he wont contradict himself. Indeed, the NHLPA has probably told Thornton the prospects of success are bleak. And this brings us to the next stage in the appeal process. Appeal Number 2 It doesnt end with Bettman. Since the suspension exceeds five games, the CBA gives Thornton the right to appeal Bettmans decision to an independent arbitrator. This wasnt around in the old CBA and is brand new, thanks to the NHLPAs negotiations during the lockout. Thornton will have seven days to appeal Bettmans decision to the arbitrator (who is described as a "Neutral Discipline Arbitrator" in the CBA). There will once again be an in-person hearing, and while the CBA doesnt say when it must occur, the arbitrator needss to hear it on an "expedited basis". wholesale jerseys. . So again, relatively quickly. The arbitrator will consider the length of the suspension and whether its appropriate. That determination will be made by examining things like the incident, the leagues past practice, the evidence and the surrounding circumstances. The arbitrator has broad powers. The CBA gives the arbitrator "full remedial authority", which means he can reduce the suspension, leave it as is, or even increase it. Its unlikely, though, the suspension would ever be increased. If Thornton is unhappy with the decision of the arbitrator, his only recourse would be to challenge the ruling in court. However, a judge will not interfere with the arbitrators decision unless its completely outrageous. Effectively, then, you should consider the arbitrators decision final. To be clear, Thornton doesnt have to appeal Bettmans ruling to the arbitrator. If he wants, after the Commissioner rules on his case, he can decide to stop the appeal process and serve out what is left of his suspension. As I wrote here, Thorntons prospects of success on appeal are low, given the NHLs past practice when it comes to these types of incidents. As well, the NHL may be able to make a compelling case that this type of suspension represents an important deterrent for on-ice behaviour that puts players at risk for concussions and the irreversible brain damage that may flow from head shots. However, merits aside, I also noted that we could still see an appeal. Since independent arbitrators are new, the NHLPA may want to start building precedents to help guide them in future cases. As well, the NHLPA needs to show that it wont roll over when it comes to defending its players and that it is prepared to dig in and fight. So while this case does not present a high likelihood of success for Thornton, the NHLPA sees value in taking a stand. And as it should. As for Brooks Orpik, he may not be too happy with the NHLPA defending his attacker. Still, the NHLPA may draw the fine distinction that the appeal is not adverse to Orpik, but rather adverse to the NHL and its decision. So the Union isnt technically acting against one of its own, but instead acting on behalf of one of its own. That is a distinction that may not sit well with Orpik. However, thats the nature of the NHLPA beast. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
