Dein erstes Forum » Pat Gillicks discussions with free agents

TORONTO -- Brett Lawries latest injury has the Toronto Blue Jays confused because theyre not sure quite how it happened. JK Scott Super Bowl Jersey . Lawrie felt something wrong in his left oblique muscle during batting practice earlier this week and now hes out a month. Even confounded by the cause of Lawries injury amid a season full of them, general manager Alex Anthopoulos doesnt blame the artificial turf at Rogers Centre. "I dont know that the injuries weve had have been linked to this," Anthopoulos said during a wide-ranging meeting with reporters Thursday afternoon. "Is there a wear and tear component to it? Sure. Im not denying that. "I just think its too easy to say everything relates back to the turf." Anthopoulos pointed to Lawries 2013 oblique injury happening at spring training in Florida and then at the World Baseball Classic in Arizona, all while running on grass. A couple of the third basemans other injuries, a broken finger from getting hit by a pitch and sprained ankle from sliding into a base, couldve happened anywhere. First baseman Adam Lind is out with a fractured right foot now but landed on the disabled list earlier this season with back problems, and Jose Reyes and Colby Rasmus each missed time with hamstring injuries. Reyes aggravated his hamstring ailment on the turf at Montreals Olympic Stadium, which Anthopoulos said used to be like "cement" when the Expos were there. Rogers Centre uses AstroTurf GameDay Grass, which gets rolled up for other events. Anthopoulos conceded that the turf can flatten out the more that its rolled but doesnt consider it the reason some players have gotten injured. "Guys that have Tommy John (elbow surgery), I dont think theres an impact," he said. "Adam Lind broke his foot. "It wasnt like a sledgehammer came up out of the turf and slammed him down on the foot." Edwin Encarnacion strained his right quadriceps muscle while running the bases in Oakland, and his rehab setback came when swinging in Dunedin, Fla. When a reporter relayed a story to Anthopoulos that opposing players have run to first and said to Lind, "I dont know how you play on this every day," the GM said he has heard the same thing before. But he also doesnt want to make the turf an excuse because the Blue Jays are locked into playing on it through at least 2017, when the stadium lease for the CFLs Toronto Argonauts expires. Anthopoulos said president Paul Beeston and members of the organization were exploring the possibility of changing the surface to grass. Five retractable-roof parks -- the Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field, Houston Astros Minute Maid Park, Seattle Mariners Safeco Field, Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park and Miamis Marlins Park -- have natural grass, so the technology is available. "Would players certainly prefer to play on grass? Absolutely. Would I love to see grass? Absolutely," Anthopoulos said. "I know no matter what, the turf is there. "Its not going anywhere, at least for the next few years. So theres no point spending time on something that isnt going to change." Anthopoulos said it was a "total cop out" to blame the turf for any of the Blue Jays losing, pointing to the Tampa Bay Rays recent success. Rogers Centre and Tampa Bays Tropicana Field are the only two Major League Baseball stadiums left with artificial turf. Asked if the turf was a problem in signing free agents, Anthopoulos pointed to the two World Series won in the building formerly known as SkyDome in 1992 and 1993. But back then, the Blue Jays were among 10-of-26 major league teams playing on turf and one-of-five in domed stadiums. Anthopoulos wasnt sure if turf being more prevalent back then affected then-GM Pat Gillicks discussions with free agents, but he implied its not the driving force behind players signing or not signing with the Blue Jays during his regime. "Even in the past, when weve been able to bid high, whether its years or dollars, weve been able to get players," Anthopoulos said. "Do I think when things are very close, can it have an impact? Sure. But I dont think turf has anything to do with you win or lose games." Geronimo Allison Super Bowl Jersey . His team rose to the occasion Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Sweden in the bronze-medal game. "The sting from yesterday is not something we hid from or pretend didnt happen," Dineen said. Tony Brown Super Bowl Jersey . It took five games, but the Celtics finally helped Stevens earn his first NBA victory. "Im going to celebrate for a whole 12 minutes, and then Im going to start watching Orlando and trying to figure them out," the first-year Celtics coach said after Boston beat the Utah Jazz, one of the leagues other winless teams, 97-87 on Wednesday night. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.com/Clay-matthews-packers-jersey/ . -- Chris Tillman paid no attention to the Baltimore bullpen as it started to stir in the ninth inning.ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The video of Ray Rice punching his fiancee inside a casino elevator was sent to NFL headquarters to the attention of league security chief Jeffrey Miller in April, a law enforcement official says.The NFL has repeatedly said no one with the league saw the violent images until TMZ Sports released the video earlier this month. Miller said Thursday through an NFL spokesman that he never received the video.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to release details of the case, said he doesnt know if Miller ever saw the DVD or opened the package. His only communication with the NFL was a 12-second voicemail on April 9 from league offices confirming receipt of the package, in which a woman says, Youre right. Its terrible.The official told the AP two weeks ago that he sent the video to the NFL, but asked the AP not to report that he had addressed the package to Miller. He eliminated that restriction Thursday.Since the NFLPA and NFL have launched separate investigations into the league and the Ravens handling of Ray Rices case, I want to make a few things clear. No one from the NFL ever asked me for the inside-elevator video, the official said Thursday. I mailed it anonymously to Jeff Miller because hes their head of security. I attached a note saying: Ray Rice elevator video. You have to see it. Its terrible. I provided a number for a disposable cellphone and asked for confirmation that it was received. I knew there was a possibility Mr. Miller may not get the video, but I hoped it would land in the right hands.Miller, in London preparing for the Raiders-Dolphins game Sunday, issued a statement to the AP Thursday night through an NFL spokesman.I unequivocally deny that I received at any time a copy of the video, and I had not watched it until it was made public on September 8, he said.Miller joined the league in 2008 as director of strategic security and was promoted to chief security officer in April 2011. Before joining the NFL, Miller spent nearly six years as the commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. He worked for the state police for 24 years.At the NFL, Millers responsibilities include overseeing investigative programs and services. He is also in charge of event security and game integrity. When players get arrested, the NFLs corps of investigators rarely get involved, leaving that to local law enforcement. The leagues security operatives gather court documents and pollice reports available to the public, but dont ordinarily interview witnesses or gather evidence independently. Dexter Williams Super Bowl Jersey. It remains unclear what happened to the video once it arrived at league offices. There are two NFL executives named Jeffrey Miller, but the law enforcement official didnt know that, and intended it to go to the chief of security. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the other Jeffrey Miller a€” who is the senior vice-president of health and safety policy a€” did not report receiving the video.The law enforcement official said he wanted to make sure the NFL had the video before deciding on Rices punishment.My intention wasnt to bring down Commissioner Goodell or anyone else at the NFL, he said.He said he didnt know the identity of the woman who left him the voicemail. He said he chose Miller because of his law enforcement background, even though he didnt know him personally.Rice, a former Pro Bowl running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was arrested in Atlantic City on an assault charge for hitting Janay Palmer in February. A police summons stated that Rice had struck Palmer with his hand, knocking her unconscious. Rice has been accepted into New Jerseys pretrial intervention program, which enabled him to avoid jail time and could result in having the charge expunged from his record.Initially, Goodell suspended Rice a€” who has since married Palmer a€” for two games. After criticism, Goodell announced new stiffer penalties for future domestic violence cases. After video of the punch in the casino elevator was released, the Ravens cut Rice and Goodell suspended him indefinitely.League and Ravens officials said they requested the video from law enforcement but were denied. ESPN and others have reported that the Ravens had a detailed description of the video shortly after Rice was arrested.After the AP reported that the video was sent to NFL headquarters, Goodell announced that former FBI Director Robert Mueller would lead an internal investigation. That probe is ongoing, and there is no timetable for its completion.The law enforcement official said he does not want to speak to NFL investigators, and Mueller, who is now in private practice with a Washington law firm with deep ties to the NFL, has no subpoena power. I know nothing else about this case, the official said.Former FBI Chief of Staff Aaron Zebley, who is working with Mueller on the investigation, didnt immediately return a call seeking comment. ' ' '