BALTIMORE – Manager John Gibbons likes to claim he doesnt read what gets written. David Njoku Jersey . But he will, on occasion, when something gets passed along. Recently, he was on the receiving end of an article detailing the key difference between his Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, Torontos opponent this week and the team closing in on its first American League East crown since 1997. "When you really compare our pitching, its almost neck-and-neck when you go by the stats and all the newfound formulas that they have. The same way with the offence, two home run-type hitting teams," said Gibbons. "The big thing this article pointed out has been the defence. Plays made, balls not gotten to because they definitely have one of the better defensive teams in baseball." Successful ball clubs prioritize up-the-middle defence. Teams look for a catcher who not only calls a good game but is a good pitch framer – that is, he receives the ball in a way that will ensure borderline pitches are called strikes and not balls – and who can keep the ball in front of him – that is, prevent wild pitches and passed balls which advance baserunners. While Dioner Navarro has had a nice offensive season for the Jays, hes not in the class of Baltimores Matt Wieters (Wieters is out for the season with an elbow injury and has been replaced by the tandem of Caleb Joseph and Nick Hundley). In the infield, the Orioles hold a decided advantage at shortstop. While there is debate about the effectiveness of Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), which aims to measure the number of runs prevented or allowed based on a players ability to get to balls hit his way, based on the statistic, Baltimores J.J. Hardy (6.1 runs saved entering Mondays action) has badly outperformed Jose Reyes (-9.1, meaning hes given up about nine runs). At second base, Ryan Goins is the Blue Jays best defensive option. The problem is he provides next to no offence. While Goins has made better contact more often since his last recall, his .190/.215/.268 (.483 OPS) slash line in 164 plate appearances doesnt reflect a player "holding his own" offensively, which Gibbons said in spring training Goins would have to do to stick on the big league roster. In centrefield, with the impending departure of Colby Rasmus, Anthony Gose will provide a defensive upgrade but, similar to the situation at second base, an offensive regression at the position. While Gose has improved his on-base percentage to a career-best .321 this season, thanks to a vastly improved walk rate (9.9-percent), it remains to be seen whether he can carry the freight over an entire season. The problems the Jays have experienced at second base this season, including having to resort to platooning Brett Lawrie and then overusing Munenori Kawasaki after Lawrie got hurt, arent solved without going outside the organization. Its a position that must be addressed in the offseason. The same, however, could have been said a year ago. Reyes, 31, is about to get really expensive. His heavily backloaded contract, signed with the Miami Marlins before the 2012 season, calls for salaries of $22 million for the next three seasons through 2017. Theres a $22 million option for 2018, which requires a $4 million buyout should the club decline it. Should the Blue Jays, at the very least, explore a positional change for Reyes, perhaps a move to second base, where the club could better cover his lack of range? Speaking to people in the organization, its difficult to get a read on whether anyone is willing even to broach the subject with Reyes. Given the uncertainty surrounding the health of Brett Lawrie, who by the end of this year will have appeared in slightly more than 62 per cent of the Blue Jays games since the start of the 2012 season, there are doubts about who will man third base every day. Can Gose play centrefield every day? If Melky Cabrera, a free agent, isnt retained, who takes his outfield spot? Is Reyes best suited to continue at shortstop? Who plays the middle infield with Reyes? What about Lawrie? There are plenty of questions for the organization to answer between now and spring training. Outfield Configuration A few eyebrows were raised when the Blue Jays posted Mondays starting lineup, which included Jose Bautista in centre field, John Mayberry, Jr. in right field and Kevin Pillar in left field. Pillar, it would seem, would be the right fit in centrefield. Hes played their extensively in his minor league career. Manager John Gibbons explained his rationale. "Against a lefty tonight, weve got our left-handed bats in there," said Gibbons. "The tough part in this park to play is left field and left centre so well put Bautista in centre field and he and Pillar should be able to cover that. Right centre and right field are smaller here. They dont require as much range." Gibbons had to use one of Anthony Gose or Ryan Goins, both lefthanded hitters, in the starting lineup. He opted for Goins, whose plus defence at second base was valued because starter Marcus Stroman works a 55 per cent groundball rate. Custom Cleveland Browns Jerseys .The Ottawa Senators winger was relegated to a corner seat in the locker-room to allow Daniel Alfredsson to return to his regular stall one last time. Josh Gordon Jersey . - After spending the morning in the hospital, Logan Couture gave the San Jose Sharks the spark they needed. http://www.brownsauthenticproshop.com/Youth-Nate-Orchard-Browns-Jersey/ . The announcement was made by the hall on Friday, March 14. She joins Switzerlands Denise Biellmann as this years inductees to the Hall, based in Colorado Springs, CO.Aged just 23, Juan Agudelo has already played with Thierry Henry, scored some incredible goals and seen a move to the Premier League collapse. The Colombian-American striker burst onto the scene with the US national team aged just 17, and after a brief stint in Europe two years ago, Agudelo is now looking for MLS Cup glory with New England Revolution.A product of New York Red Bulls academy, Agudelo moved on to the now-defunct Chivas USA before a switch to Stoke stalled due to work permit problems. After a short spell in the Netherlands, Agudelo is back in the States and aiming for MLS glory. We caught up with him to find out more about his whirlwind journey, ahead of his sides clash with New York City this weekend - live on Sky Sports.What was it like playing and training with Thierry Henry at the New York Red Bulls aged 18? Agudelo (R) played and trained with Thierry Henry at New York Red Bulls at the age of 18 I learnt so much from him. The first day he got there I couldnt believe he was right next to my locker. Im an 18-year-old kid just coming into practice and then Ive got Henry next to me!He talked to me and gave me a couple of tips on how to improve my game and complementing it.It was huge for boosting my confidence, telling me that I could be a good player and that I could play in England one day.Your move to Stoke City in 2014 didnt work out after signing a pre-contract agreement, why was that? Stoke boss Mark Hughes tried to sign Agudelo for Stoke in 2014 It was down to work permit reasons. It got denied.I just fell short of my national team appearances to automatically qualify and be automatically eligible to play in England. I had to go through a court process and it didnt work out.How did the transfer originate?Mark Hughes saw I had a couple of caps with the national team since I was 17, at a young age, and I scored a goal.When Hughes was at Manchester City at the time I heard that he had interest in me and then he went over to Stoke.I guess he talked to their scouts and told them to keep an eye on me and then eventually when my contract was running out in MLS they wanted to pull the trigger [and sign me].Growing up watching these teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, its crazy to think that I almost played in that league because thats the league I look up to. Thats the league I would have loved to play in.You played for Utrecht in the Eredivisie for four months in 2014, what were the differences between MLS and the Dutch league?I would say it was a little bit less athletic but very, very technical and the technical ability is class.If you were to set an example, the crossing was a lot better because the players were more consistent but the athleticism was a little bit less than MLS.You have 20 caps for USA but youre not in the international setup at the moment - have you had any dialogue with Jurgen Klinsmann over your international future? Agudelo last appeared for the US national team in 2015 against Germany He has been telling me that he understands that Im young and I need to prove myself outstandingly in my club and try to make the team of the month in MLS.He wants me to stand out at my club.You scored a superb bicycle kick against DC United in the play-offs last year, was it the best goal youve ever scored? Juan Agudelo scored an amazing overhead kick for New England Revolution against DC United in the play-offs last year I felt like it was one of those moments where I saw it but I couldnt really believe it. Trevon Coley Jersey. t was definitely the best goal that Ive scored because I didnt believe I was going to be able to achieve it when it was in mid-air.I managed to get contact on it and it went in so definitely the best goal Ive ever scored!New England are without a win in their first three matches this season - why is that? Philadelphia made it back to back wins after a 3-0 win over New England Revolution last weekend I think we maybe just need to be a little bit sharper in the final third, including myself. Collectively, we need to be sharper and finish the chances that weve created or make that extra pass in order to put us in a better position to score a goal.What is the aim this season?Every single weekend were going to try to get three points and hopefully make the play-offs - then everything is fair game in the play-offs.You see a lot of teams that arent even in the right form going to play-offs and go on to win the MLS Cup, so I think everybody has a chance of winning.Of course, with our home record, it would be big for us to have home-field advantage because of the play-offs as were pretty good at home.How do you aim to approach New York City FC with all their star names? Agudelo will be up against the likes of Andrea Pirlo and David Villa on Saturday Weve all watched NYCFC, theyve got a new top-class manager now.They play a little bit differently now with some young, class guys out wide with Andrea Pirlo pulling the strings and David Villa trying to get on the end of things.At the weekend, just like the manager tells us, weve got to play our own game and not focus too much on the opponent. If we do our job then well get our first three points of the season.Are you excited to play against the likes of David Villa and Andrea Pirlo on Saturday? Any time I see a fixture on my phone, I see the logo of the team and pick out two or three players that Im going to say wow, Im going to play against those guys!It doesnt even have to be a player. With Patrick Vieira as head coach its crazy that Im going to be going up against a coach like him, so Im very thankful for that. Its always fun! 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