6) If youre a sports fan living in Toronto or Winnipeg, are you thinking things couldnt be worse anywhere else? Well, they probably can...in the other place. While Torontonians saw the Leafs, Argos and TFC suffer a losing weekend, the Winnipeg headlines referred to the Blue Bombers worst season since 1930 and offered the idea that the Jets season had already gone "sideways", after only five games.7) On the other hand, did you realize that the combined record of the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks is 12-3? So Canadas three best teams compare nicely with Californias three teams - LA, Anaheim and San Jose are 13-3-2. Well, their records compare favourably. 8) Are you big on hockeys plus-minus statistics? Ponder this - two of the NHLs worst minus players so far are Rene Bourque and Lars Eller of the Montreal Canadiens, who have won five of their first six games.9) Who is Travis Ishikawa? You know him as the San Francisco Giants NLCS hero, the guy who hit the three-run homer that put the Giants into the World Series against Kansas City. However, you dont really know Ishikawa unless you see a list of his former minor-league teams and realize that Travis Ishikawa is the epitome of the baseball dream.In addition to major league stops in San Francisco (twice), Milwaukee, Baltimore, New York (Yankees) and Pittsburgh, Ishikawa has played for the Salem-Keizer Volcanos, Hagerstown Suns, Connecticut Defenders, Scottsdale Scorpions, Fresno Grizzlies, Norfolk Tides and Charlotte Knights. In April of this year, he played for none of those teams. He was an unemployed minor-league free agent. 10) It may or may not be a big deal that the KC Royals have home-field advantage in the World Series, but it is theirs because of the American Leagues 5-3 win over the National League in the All-Star game. What do you remember about that game? Not much, right? Ah, but what if I mention the names of Adam Wainwright and Derek Jeter? Now, it comes back - the controversy created by Wainwrights admission that he grooved a pitch that Jeter, in his farewell All-Star appearance, smacked for a double in a three-run first inning. It was actually suggested that the result of the game should not count, and that the World Series should open in the park of the team with the best regular-season record. That would have been Kansas City, so never mind the fuss...I guess.11) How many members of the Royals and the Giants were chosen as starters for that 2014 MLB All-Star game in Minnesota? And, of course, the answer is...none.12) World Series managers Bruce Bochy of San Francisco and Ned Yost of Kansas City dont really look alike, but they seem alike. Theyre both former catchers who appear studiously calm during a game. They answer questions with a politeness that suggests there need not be too many of them if theyre meant to bring colourful answers. The difference between Bochy and Yost is that Bochy is bidding for his third World Series ring, and the two hes got make him the most successful manager of these times. The only other current manager with two? Terry Francona of Cleveland, whose rings are adorned with a Red Sox logo. 13) As you watch the World Series, with the Giants employing a designated hitter in the first two games and the Royals pitchers batting in the next two, ask yourself the following question: "Is there anything dumber than a pro sports championship series that includes two sets of rules based on a games location, and is there a chance the next baseball commissioner will be bold enough to call for one set of rules - DH or no DH - that would apply to both leagues"?14) The next time you watch Steven Stamkos or John Tavares, ask yourself this question: "Did Canada really win Olympic gold in Sochi without Stamkos and Tavares, and with Sidney Crosby scoring one goal?"15) What is the end result of the Oscar Pistorius trial that seemed to last forever? It is that Pistorius may end up serving a 10-month jail sentence before his punishment reverts to house arrest. In that event, Pistorius would spend only three months longer in jail than he did in a South African courtroom trying to avoid jail.16) The Florida Panthers owners say they are "100 per cent convinced" that a market for NHL hockey exists in South Florida. Im not sure you can be "95 per cent convinced", but Id pick a number lower than 100, wouldnt you?17) Its a long story, and the only sad one connected to the Kansas City Royals appearance in the 2014 World Series. Frank White is an all-time Royal whose ties to the teams history are even greater than George Bretts, but White and the Royals had a major falling-out that made him declare he would never be seen at Kauffman Stadium again.He has broken that vow to sit in the stands a few times recently. It wont happen, but surely it should - wouldnt a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Frank White, with Brett alongside, be a perfect way to celebrate the moment?18) Do you know how bad the Cincinnati Bengals were in the first half of their 27-0 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday? They gained 27 yards, thats how bad. Thats less than a yard per minute. And it could get worse when the Bengals play at home this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, who are playing a lot better now than when they dropped their season opener at home to the Bengals. Ravens seek revenge, and may have no trouble finding it. 19) Should a goalie win the Hart Trophy? To each his/her own on this one, but my answer would be: Not unless the year is 1997 or 1998 and his name is Dominik Hasek. The standard of goaltending excellence and value to his team set by Hasek in Buffalo has not been equalled since, which is a polite way of disagreeing with the choice of Jose Theodore in 2002. Hasek will be honoured in Buffalo on January 13, and again to be polite, that will be the hilite of the Sabres current season.20) To fully enjoy the start of the 2014 World Series, can we all agree that Terry Cashman still has the best way of "Talkin Baseball"? Some of us have been singing this for more than 30 years. Cheap Celtics Jerseys . Canada will host Japan in a World Group first-round match in 2015. It will be a rematch of their first-round clash last year when Japan defeated Canada 4-1 to reach the World Group quarter-finals for the first time in its history. Cheap Celtics Jerseys Authentic . - A Tuesday funeral is planned in Toronto for 20-year-old Saginaw Spirit forward Terry Trafford. http://www.cheapcelticsjerseys.com/. Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Cheap Marcus Morris Jersey . Make the extra pass, take care of the ball, play defence and get more out of his bench. Cheap Paul Pierce Jersey .com) - Devan Dubnyk stopped all 30 shots fired his way and made several big saves down the stretch for his third shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Tuesday. TORONTO -- Drew Hutchison has given the Toronto rotation a nice boost this year in his first season back since undergoing Tommy John surgery. He has had troubles at Rogers Centre though and one rough inning proved costly on Wednesday night against New York. Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer in the Yankees four-run third inning as New York (40-37) salvaged the finale of a three-game series with a 5-3 victory. The Yankees ended a four-game losing skid and moved 2 1/2 games behind first-place Toronto (44-36) in the American League East. "I felt I got stronger as the game went on," Hutchison said. "It was disappointing to have that big inning, especially to allow three runs with two outs and not be able to make that big pitch. "It turned out to be the difference in the game." Former Blue Jay Kelly Johnson reached on a walk to open the frame and scored on a Francisco Cervelli double. Hutchison (5-6) got the next two outs before giving up a single to Jacoby Ellsbury that brought Cervelli across with the go-ahead run. Teixeira padded the lead by turning on an 0-1 pitch for his 14th homer of the year. "Hutchison pitched really well, he only made a couple of mistakes that one inning and we made him pay," Teixeira said. "Other than that, he was throwing some dirty pitches. It was good to get the four runs when we got them." Hutchison, a 23-year-old right-hander, has a 4-2 record and 2.23 earned-run average on the road. But he entered play with a 1-3 record and 8.72 ERA at home. "Thats the farthest thing away from my mind," Hutchison said of the uneven splits. "Im disappointed that I was not able to deliver a better performance for us and not give us a better chance to win." New York starter Hiroki Kuroda (5-5) was effective over 6 1/3 innings and David Robertson got the last five outs for his 18th save. Ellsbury had three of New Yorks nine hits. Jose Reyes, who had three hits for Toronto, took the first pitch from Kuroda over the wall for his sixth homer of the season. It was his third leadoff home run of the year and 21st of his career. Reyes scored again in the fifth inning after he moved Munenori Kawasaki to third base with a ground-rule double. Melky Cabrera brought them both home with a sharp single to left field. Hutchison struck out the side in the sixth inning and was replaced in the seventh by left-hander Rob Rasmussen. Hutchison alloowed seven hits, four earned runs and two walks while striking out six.dddddddddddd "Overall I think hes been pretty good (this season) -- actually very good," Gibbons said. "Hes still a young kid. Hes going to go through his growing pains." Rasmussen faced three batters and did not record an out. He walked Brett Gardner, hit Jeter with a pitch, threw a wild pitch to the backstop and walked Ellsbury to load the bases. Sergio Santos came on in relief and gave up a sacrifice fly to Teixeira that brought Gardner home with an insurance run. The Blue Jays had the potential tying run at second base in the eighth inning but Adam Lind hit a weak comebacker that ended the inning. Kuroda allowed eight hits, three earned runs and two walks. He had four strikeouts. Notes: Announced attendance was 34,710 and the game took three hours two minutes to play. ... After the game, Toronto infielder Steve Tolleson said he has been blurred vision over the last two weeks. He plans to see a specialist on Thursday. ... Toronto slugger Jose Bautista missed his third straight game with a hamstring strain. He remains day to day. ... Before the game, the Blue Jays sent Kevin Pillar back to triple-A Buffalo and selected the contract of fellow outfielder Brad Glenn. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Jonathan Diaz was designated for assignment. ... Fans who came down early for batting practice got to watch San Franciscos Tim Lincecum complete his no-hitter against San Diego. The ninth inning of the 4-0 game was shown on the video scoreboard. Earlier, the two late-afternoon World Cup soccer games were shown in a split-screen style. ... The Blue Jays will continue their nine-game homestand Thursday with the opener of a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox. Left-hander J.A. Happ (6-4, 4.87) is scheduled to start for Toronto against right-hander Scott Carroll (2-3, 4.30). ... The Blue Jays reached the one-million mark in attendance on Tuesday night. It took 39 home dates to reach the mark this year, six more than last year. ... It was the Blue Jays first series win at home since a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay from May 26-28. ... Toronto has hit at least one homer in seven consecutive games. ... The Yankees get an off-day Thursday -- on Jeters 40th birthday -- before kicking off a six-game homestand Friday against Boston. ... The Blue Jays had an even 40-40 record after 80 games last season. 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