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ST. Chris Davis Grey Jersey . PETERSBURG, Florida – Drew Hutchison meant business when he arrived in Dunedin for spring training. He had a point to prove: hes back, and hes not worried about his surgically repaired elbow, as he enters what he hopes will be his first full season in the major leagues. "I expected make the team and now Im ready to go perform," said Hutchison after his final Grapefruit League start on March 27. Manager John Gibbons and pitching coach Pete Walker rave about Hutchisons poise. They love his mound presence. Theyve been thrilled with his bounce back from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery dating back to his appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Hutchison, a command and control pitcher, routinely pumped his fastball to the plate at 92-94 miles per hour, painting the corners along the way. "We like him," said manager John Gibbons. "Hes got a chance to be a real good one. Ever since he had the Tommy John hes thrown better than he was." Results in spring training often dont matter. With Hutchison, they did. He was competing for a roster spot. He needed to show the Blue Jays he was healthy and could be consistently effective. As a young player, just 23 years old, with options, he needed to drastically outperform veterans who were out of options. He accomplished all that with a 1.80 ERA and 0.800 WHIP in four Grapefruit League starts, and gets the nod in Tuesday nights second game of the season-opening series in Tampa Bay. Not that it surprises him. "I thought Id come into camp and do exactly what I did," said Hutchison. "Thats my expectation level and thats what I feel I would be able to do." Hutchison often repeats variations of the word "expect." He has high expectations of himself, he expects to succeed; hes expecting a long and healthy career. He speaks with supreme confidence but without a hint of arrogance. Its all matter of fact. "I dont understand, at least from my perspective thats just the way Ive approached things and thats the way Ive always been," said Hutchison. "I expect that out of myself and now its time, spring trainings over and its time to go perform and win because thats what its all about." Whether Hutchisons approach translates into a successful season will be known only with the passage of time. Gibbons and Walker are looking for someone on which they can rely. The club has a reasonable idea of what to expect from R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle. It isnt clear what the Blue Jays will get from Hutchison and Brandon Morrow, both because of their respective injury histories and because neither has shown the ability, yet, to be a front-line starter over the course of a full season. "Hes a pitcher," said Gibbons. "It takes effort for him but hes kind of an effortless type guy. I think hes going to have a big, big year for us. I really do." Surely Hutchison must have had his doubts during the laborious rehab of his elbow? He insists he didnt. "Thats just the way Ive always been," said Hutchison. "I just expect a lot out of myself and I expect a high level from myself. Thats not to try to be, you know, thats just how I am." Manny Machado White Jersey . China defeated Myanmar 3-0 while South Korea blanked Thailand 4-0 at the AFC Womens Asian Cup to secure top-two finishes in the Group B standings. Three more Asian countries will book their World Cup tickets by Wednesday. Cal Ripken Orioles Jersey . -- It wouldnt bother Zack Greinke if he didnt have to travel for the Los Angeles Dodgers opener against Arizona in Australia. BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Injuries played a contributing role in the Buffalo Sabres midseason swoon. And the Sabres are going to have to deal with them again if they intend to complete a late-season playoff push. Defenceman Christian Ehrhoff is out indefinitely after hurting his left knee. Coach Lindy Ruff wouldnt put a timetable on his recovery Wednesday, except to say Ehrhoff will "miss some time." Ehrhoff was hurt a day earlier in the first period of a 5-1 win over Washington. Thats when he was in front of his own net and knocked knees with Capitals forward Troy Brouwer, who was driving into the crease. The injury is a considerable blow to a team in the midst a late-season playoff surge. The Sabres (38-29-10) have won five straight and are 7-0-2 in their past nine in a run thats jumped them two points ahead of Washington and into sole possession of the Eastern Conferences eighth and final playoff spot. With five games left, Buffalo is off until hosting Pittsburgh on Friday. Ehrhoff was one of the Sabres key off-season acquisitions, and has developed into one of their steadiest defencemen. He leads the team in averaging 23:03 of ice time, and Buffalo defencemen with 32 points (five goals, 27 assists). Mike Weber will fill Ehrhoffs spot, returning to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past four games. Ehrhoffs importance was evident earlier this season when he missed 11 games with a rib injury. The Sabres went 2-7-2 without him. Buffalo has gone 19-5-5 since, with Ehrhoffs return coming at a time when the Sabres also welcomed back defenceman Robyn Regehr and centre Tyler Ennnis from injury. Chris Davis Jersey. "I think dealing with one injury is maybe better than what we had to deal with in the past," said Ruff, who at one point was missing as many as nine regulars. "We have to deal with it. We have to face a little adversity, and we need players to step up." The Sabres stepped up against the Capitals, particularly in the second period when they were missing both Ehrhoff and defenceman Andrej Sekera, who limped off after being struck by a shot. Down to three blue-liners after Robyn Regehr was penalized for hooking, Buffalo responded with captain Jason Pominville scoring a short-handed goal to make it 4-1. Sekera was given the day off from practice Wednesday, but is expected to play against Pittsburgh. Center Derek Roy missed practice due to the flu. Defenceman Tyler Myers is impressed by how the Sabres have surged into playoff contention, while noting the jobs not done yet. "I think last game was a big statement game for us," Myers said. "But in saying that, we dont want to focus on it too much. We want to look ahead and make sure we win our next five here." Notes: After Drew Stafford scored twice against the Capitals, he and his linemates, Ennis and rookie Marcus Foligno, have combined for 17 goals and 38 points in their past nine games. ... G Ryan Miller stopped 44 shots and improved to 14-1-3 in his past 18 games, in which hes allowed 32 goals. ... LW Jochen Hecht, whos 29 games with a concussion, says hes been symptom-free for about two weeks, but still hasnt been cleared for contact. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
