BRADENTON, Florida – J.A. Happs hold on a spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation is in question. The tall lefthanders sore back and poor performance this spring, combined with the emergence of Drew Hutchison and the sense that Marcus Stroman is almost ready to contribute to a successful major league club, has cast doubt on his role with the team. "I think were going to take the best team north," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "Especially right now, we have J.A. and the back, the performance, things like that, we have to get him on track, stay healthy. Obviously R.A., Mark and Brandon. Again, we expect J.A. to be in the rotation but at the same time, the backs flared up on him twice. I just dont know. Look, if guys perform well and they force our hand, well take the best team." Hutchison has stood out. Members of the Blue Jays brass caution against overvaluing spring training performance. However, it isnt just about results. Hows a pitchers "stuff?" Is he locating his pitches, especially his fastball? Hutchison was dominant in two innings against the Orioles last Saturday, striking out four. The parks radar gun had his four-seam fastball clocked at 94 miles per hour while Jays scouts say it hit 96 on three or four occasions. The command was there, too. "We saw that velocity at the end of his time in 2012 before he got hurt," said Anthopoulos. "When I went to the Arizona Fall League, it was so encouraging to see him pitch that way. He really started to come into his own in 2012 before he got hurt so Im not surprised. I think I said it before. Hes a guy I expected to really impress. Hes off to a great start, hes definitely opened some eyes, hes a strong candidate to make the rotation but hes got to make it. But I love what I see." The Jays are enamoured with the makeup of both Hutchison and Stroman. Coaches say both men have come to camp on a mission – to make the team – and say neither will be satisfied with simply being a major leaguer and collecting a healthy paycheck. Both are driven to be front end of the rotation pitchers. Both expect to be the ace of a big league staff. About Stroman, the general manager jokes hes never seen a guy chomping gum in the middle of his delivery. Stroman was scheduled to throw three innings in Bradenton on Thursday. Due to rain, the outing has been rescheduled for Friday. To use Anthopoulos words, its a "big day" for the 22-year-old. "Im saying it more tongue-in-cheek. Its not like the decision gets made tomorrow but I think every outing for him is important." "He has a chance. I dont know what the chances are, the percentages, but theres a reason hes getting stretched out, theres a reason were giving him the innings. We want to take a look. If he can impress and really come on, hes going to make it hard on us, which is what we want." Happ was scheduled to pitch on Saturday but has been pushed back in the wake of the rainout. Tests have revealed no structural damage in Happs back, the Blue Jays say, just inflammation. This isnt the first time Happs battled the problem in his career. Anthopoulos remains willing to consider external options to add to the roster. Hes in periodic touch with representatives of free agents and is open-minded to a deal if the prices drop. A trade between now and opening day seems more likely and hell try to deal from a position of strength. "We do have inventory in the bullpen and we talk about it daily but we know how quickly that inventory can vanish," said Anthopoulos. "Guys get hurt. I think as we get to the last 10 days of camp is when things will ramp up a little bit ... Id say the last 10 days of camp or so is when youre expecting guys to stay healthy and itll be interesting, especially with all the guys we have who are out of options." Innings limits for the kids? Some in the organization would prefer Hutchison and Stroman begin at Triple-A Buffalo, to the extent there is debate it is healthy, not confrontational. Given that jobs could be at stake this season, it behooves the front office and coaching staff to take the best team to St. Petersburg on March 31. If that team includes both Hutchison and Stroman and they stick for the season, Anthopoulos says their innings will not be monitored. "Someone said Marcus threw 126 innings and 25 in the Fall League, well he threw more than that because he was being stretched out as a starter last year in extended and no one has those innings," said Anthopoulos. "The year before he was around 160 or something. He has no restrictions at all. He was a pretty high number last year." "Drew, the same way," Anthopoulos continued. "I think Drew, I think Ive said this before, reminds me a lot of a similar scenario with Shaun Marcum. Marcum was more than a year removed from Tommy John. He had it in August the year before, didnt come up in September on the one-year anniversary date, came into spring training, pitched great, was our opening day starter and had a three and a half ERA and pitched 195 innings, I think. Drews got no restrictions. I think it would be the same type of thing. I could see him, if he makes this team, going wire to wire." On second base Anthopoulos continues to be effusive in his praise of Ryan Goins. "Defensively, the more you watch him, the more you realize how good he is defensively, just his actions, the way he moves," said Anthopoulos. "You know, the bat, thats something were going to watch in spring training. The tough part is, you realize its two at-bats a game, three at-bats a game, the competition level varies. I would say, again, the competition is still there. Were going to value the defence because its that good. He has room to do less offensively because the defence is so elite. I dont use that word lightly. I really think hes elite and hes got a chance to win a gold glove there." Chris Getz, Jonathan Diaz, Munenori Kawasaki and Steve Tolleson are on minor league deals and are getting looks. "Goins is the front-runner because of the defence that he showed but he still has to earn that job," said Anthopoulos. Jays rained out Thursday The Blue Jays and Pirates were rained out in Bradenton on Thursday, forcing manager John Gibbons to adjust his pitching lineup. Mark Buehrle, scheduled to start on Thursday, will instead start Fridays home game against the Rays. Marcus Stroman and Ricky Romero will also appear. Drew Hutchison will make the start, at home, on Saturday against Minnesota. R.A. Dickey will take his knuckleball to Kissimmee on Sunday for a date with the Astros. Lawson Crouse Jersey . "I just think what it does for everybody in life is real simple," said Babcock early on Friday afternoon. "You dont give in. You just keep on keeping on. Is it going to go your way every time? No. But you choose your attitude and how you perform and how hard you dig in." Nearly four years to the day of the 2010 gold medal match in Vancouver, his team dug in with its best effort of these Olympics, snuffing out the high-powered Americans for another opportunity at gold. Dylan Strome Jersey .The Los Angeles Lakers star passed Michael Jordan for third on the NBAs career scoring list Sunday night in a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. LOUIS -- Known for his game-managing and defensive skills, Yadier Molina made another statement with his bat. Custom Arizona Coyotes Jerseys .com) - The 12th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes continue a four-game homestand at Value City Arena on Wednesday night when they face off against the High Point Panthers in a non-conference matchup. Arizona Coyotes Gear . The 42-ranked Czech saved seven break points while converting his one chance, and defeated the No. 3 seed in 1 hour 46 minutes. Rosol, who lost in the final in Stuttgart against Roberto Bautista Agut on Sunday, awaits the winner between Philipp Kohlschreiber or 2011 champion Gilles Simon.Leicester qualified for the Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday evening but did so with a nervy 2-1 win against Club Brugge at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes needed just a point to make it through to the last 16 and raced into a 2-0 lead within half an hour.Shinji Okazaki opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Riyad Mahrez converted from the penalty spot to put the Premier League champions in control. Brugge produced a much improved second-half display with Jose Izquierdo scoring seven minutes after the restart to end Leicesters run of clean sheets in the competition. Shinji Okazaki nets the opener for Leicester But Claudio Ranieris men hung on for the victory to seal their spot in the knockout stages and top the group ahead of Porto and Copenhagen, who played out a 0-0 draw in Group Gs other fixture. It was the perfect start for Leicester as they took an early lead after a sublime touch from Jamie Vardy to take the ball round his defender and set off Christian Fuchs on the left flank. His cross found Okazaki, who glided the ball past Brugge goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! The busy opening quarter continued as Hans Vanakens cross destined for Izquierdo was collected by Ron Robert-Zieler before Okazaki nearly made it two - but Butelle was down low to keep him at bay.The Foxes got their second on the 30-minute mark as Dion Cools clipped Marc Albrighton on the edge of the box and referee Ruddy Buquet pointed to the spot. Mahrez made no mistake in expertly dispatching the penalty to make it 2-0. Dion Cools fouls Marc Albrighton for Leicesters penalty Both goalkeepers were called into action as the first half drew to a conclusion, with Butelle making a high save to collect a Wes Morgan header before Zieler - starting in place of the injured Kasper Schmeichel - produced a fantastic leaping stop to clear a curling effort from Izquierdo.ddddddddddddBrugge made Leicester work for their victory in the second half, and pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute. It was a great solo effort from Izquierdo, who looked lively in possession, making a driving run from the halfway line and thumping the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box to give the visitors a lifeline. Christian Fuchs vies for the ball Vardy had not scored in 13 appearances for his club and thought the drought was over on the hour mark when he flicked a Fuchs cross into the back of the net - but the linesmans flag was correctly raised for offside. Substitute Jeff Schlupp wasted a fine chance ten minutes later when he shot straight into the hands of Butelle despite having options on either side, before Foxes captain Morgan was called into defensive action to stop a fizzing Anthony Limbombe cross from finding the head of Jelle Vossen. Wes Morgan celebrates their qualification at the King Power Stadium Brugge twice went close in the final ten minutes, with a Hans Vanaken cross just evading the toe of an unmarked Vossen at the back post before Robert Huth almost turned a bouncing ball into his own net.Demarai Gray was also twice thwarted by Butelle in injury time, but Leicester did not need a third goal to seal their victory as they confirmed their place in the knockout stages in their maiden Champions League season.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4! cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '