its one of those things that everyone wants to play five games,

DUNEDIN, Florida - Kevin Pillar and Ryan Goins made their respective major league debuts nine days apart last August and with just days until spring training play gets underway, the two late-season Toronto Blue Jays call ups find themselves in different situations vis-à-vis the 2014 squad. Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen. Praised last week by general manager Alex Anthopoulos as the best defensive second baseman the club has had since Orlando Hudson and as "gold glove caliber," Goins hopes an offensive adjustment he made in mid-September helps to round out his game. Goins moved his hands down in his batting stance. Then, during an offseason visit to new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer in Kansas City, Goins went one step further, starting his hands closer to his body. "I have more time to see the ball," he said. "My timing is a little different than having so much movement, having to get going so much earlier, so now its a little better to see the ball and hopefully it will lead to better plate discipline, hitting the ball harder and more consistent." A safe bet to be the nine-hole hitter if he makes the team, Goins is eager to improve upon the .609 OPS he posted in 121 plate appearances over 34 games with the Blue Jays last season. His .679 OPS in 111 Triple-A games last season feeds into the all defense-not much offense narrative but Anthopoulos is more concerned with run prevention this season after watching his infield struggle with injuries and range last year. "He needs to be able to hold is own (offensively,)" said manager John Gibbons. Seitzer, during his first scrum with the Toronto media in January, said he saw Goins as a potential .275-.280 hitter. Their Kansas City rendezvous had already happened so Seitzer was speaking as someone whod watched Goins up close. "I see myself as a hitter," said Goins. "I think I can put together productive at-bats for a season and help the team win. Whatever they need me to do. If its situational hitting, hit and runs, bunting guys over. Whatever is called upon me, wherever Im hitting in the lineup, is what Im going to go out there and do everyday." Pillar, who made his debut on August 14 and went 0-17 before getting his first big league hit at Yankee Stadium, struggled to a .206/.250/.333 line over 110 plate appearances. He got away from his strength as an offensive player, an up-the-middle approach, becoming pull happy and unable to lay off down-and-away breaking pitches. Not one to mope, Pillar went home to Southern California and went to work. "I went home, took about two weeks off in the offseason and Ive been hitting three to four hours everyday just trying to get back," said Pillar. "People say, Why dont you just go back to what you did? Once its gone its gone. Like a lot of things in life, once you forget how to do it or how you felt in the box youve got to recreate that feeling." Pillar insists he isnt exaggerating his three-to-four hours a day hitting routine. His only break wasnt a break. He went to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic and had 66 at-bats, his attempt to get back in his groove. Lawrie thrilled for Team Canada Brett Lawrie, the lone Blue Jay whos Canadian born and raised, was happy to lord Canadas Olympic hockey gold medals over his teammates. After all, Lawrie is badly outnumbered in the clubhouse. "When youre the underdog youve got to keep quiet because theres too many of them," said Lawrie. "I just waited for my turn and then obviously I got my opportunities." Lawrie did his best to keep an eye on Sundays win, working around media responsibilities and warm up Sunday morning at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Kawasaki follow up One day after predicting Canada would beat Sweden 2-1 in the mens hockey gold medal game, Munenori Kawasaki was pleased with himself. "I say Canada win," Kawasaki said. When reminded he didnt pick the correct score, Kawasaki issued a pseudo apology: "My bad. Im no good." Kawasaki didnt watch the game. Cheap Puma Shoes Wholesale .Fiji striker Roy Krishna scored in the 14th minute to give Wellington its fourth win, along with a draw, from its past five matches, putting the Phoenix fourth but only a point behind third-placed Adelaide. Cheap Puma Shoes China . Didnt need any help this time. Wood beat Cincinnati for the first time in his career, repeatedly pitching out of threats for seven innings, and Chicago stalled the Reds week-long surge with a 2-0 victory Monday night. http://www.clearancepuma.com/ . Every once in awhile, it seems like life lets dreams become real - and that is a gift. Puma Shoes Online Sale . -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent. Puma Shoes Clearance Sale . -- The Denver Broncos locked up a shutdown cornerback, only his name wasnt Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.Lee Westwood has reiterated his desire to captain Europes Ryder Cup team in 2020 with a stint as vice-captain in Paris in 2018 a likely stepping stone. Westwood, who was one of Darren Clarkes three wild cards for the Ryder Cup in Hazeltine, has not given up hope of playing against the United States for an 11th time when the event is staged in Paris and equal the record of his first Ryder Cup partner Nick Faldo.The 43-year-old needs just two and a half points to overtake Faldo as Europes all-time record points scorer in the biennial contest, after failing to win any of his three matches in the defeat at Hazeltine. Asked if he wanted to be European captain at Whistling Straits in 2020, Westwood said: Yeah, I think so. I certainly wouldnt want to be the captain next time around.Thats too soon for me, but I think 2020 is definitely on my radar. There are a lot of candidates for it but Ill be putting my name in the ring for sure. Its something Id like to do. Nick Faldo (left) and Lee Westwood (right) during the Ryder Cup at the Valderrama Golf Club Ive played on 10 and witnessed 10 different forms of captaincy, so Im pretty well qualified to be a captain I would have thought.Ive played a lot in it and Id like to maybe play again, but if I cant play again Id like to do the assistant captains role, see what goes on behind the scenes, although I paid a lot of attention to what Darren and the assistant captains were doing this year.I dont think necessarily you have to be an assistant captain (before being captain), but it probably helps. Another angle to see it from, more experience. Andy Sullivan was part of Europes 2016 Ryder Cup team Englands Andy Sullivan also failed to win a point at Hazeltine, the 30-year-old losing in the opening foursomes session alongside Rory McIlroy and to Brandt Snedeker in the singles.dddddddddddd.I think its one of those things that everyone wants to play five games, which is not going to happen, Sullivan said.Its not plausible to do that.Obviously different situations come about and unfortunately its one of them situations where we were behind and Darren had to send the team out there that he thought was going to get us in front. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract Its tough being a captain. Youve got to make tough decisions and if it had come off we would all be standing here saying Darren is a genius, but it didnt.And we were there as a team, regardless if we play one or two games; were there as a team to win as a team. Unfortunately we lost as a team, but we stand shoulder to shoulder as Darren said, and we stand by his decisions.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Hero Challenge hailed a success WATCH: Levy the Grove Hero Tiger may not be mentally ready Wood disappointed at Tiger delay ' ' '