BOSTON – Its easy to get caught up in small sample sizes and to envision a player excelling in a role in which hes spent far too little time performing at a high level. But theres something about Brandon Morrows weekend at Fenway Park thats hard to ignore. Throwing out of the bullpen, Morrow made his return from a four-month absence with a torn tendon sheath in his right index finger on Friday night. It was hard to ignore his fastball, which topped out at 99 miles per hour. The delivery was “free and easy,” as they like to say, and he worked to four batters, stranding a softly hit single. The next night, pitching in back-to-back games, Morrows velocity didnt suffer and he worked a quick inning. Morrow wants to be a starting pitcher in 2015. The Blue Jays hold a $10-million option on his services for next season. Its an option that likely wont be picked up because its a pricey number for a pitcher whos missed significant time in each of the last three seasons. If the option is declined, Morrow can become a free agent. While free to negotiate with the Blue Jays, he could leave town if he finds a club willing to give him a shot in its starting rotation. The Jays have Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Drew Hutchison penned into the rotation next season. J.A. Happ has a team-friendly $6.2-million option, which should be picked up. Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey are possible trade candidates, although the Jays likely would have to eat part of Buehrles $19-million price tag in order to move him. There doesnt, at the moment, appear to be a fit for Morrow in the Jays rotation. Expect a full court press to attempt to convince the 30-year-old to take up relieving full-time. “Hes certainly responded well out of the bullpen in his first three outings in the minor leagues and here,” said pitching coach Pete Walker. “The velocitys been tremendous. You know, power arm, right now 98-99 (miles per hour). He certainly feels good, bouncing back, feeling great each day right now.” Morrow broke into the big leagues as a reliever with the Seattle Mariners. He saved 16 games over the 2008 and 2009 seasons. His slider command hasnt come back yet, but theres no reason it wont. A few more outings like the first two hes had this month and Morrow, perhaps, could be convinced to give late-game relief a shot. Hes got closers stuff. Factoring in the difficulty he had recovering, at times, in between starts and that he didnt throw side sessions in order to preserve his arm, the short-man route could be Morrows best shot at prolonging his career. Theres also good coin to be made. “The two pitches together (fastball and slider), late in the game, are pretty dominating,” said Walker. “Certainly, for him, its a possibility down the road to look at the relieving end of it whether he wants to or not. I know he still wants to start. Im sure theres still going to be opportunity there, but he certainly looks good in a relief role right now.” KAWASAKIS PREGAME Munenori Kawasaki spent a half-hour before Sundays game engaging fans and incorporating them into his preparation. He brought his tote bag down the left-field line and, one by one, took out the elements inside. As he stretched, he chatted with the assembled mass. Then he played catch, first with a baseball and then with a football, with kids lined along the front row seats. “I need practice,” said Kawasaki. “I very appreciate. Fans are very important.” His workout routine complete, Kawasaki signed autographs and posed for photos. At one point, he took a photo with an infant baby and then held the baby, rocking the child back and forth as the parents looked on. Its been said here before, the reason the 33-year-old is so popular with fans is because, in a game that so often is a business, he brings a childlike joy to work. Kawasaki seems to appreciate each moment. With the NFL schedule in full swing on Sunday, Kawasaki said hell be rooting for the defending Super Bowl champions. Theres a good reason: hes a former Mariner. “My favourite team is the Seattle Seahawks,” said Kawasaki. “Because two years ago, I lived in Seattle. Very beautiful. One time, I went to go to the game.”
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. -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena.
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. The Wild, playing their first game since leading scorer Mikko Koivu broke his ankle Saturday at Washington, have won three straight for the first time since Nov. 1-5. Koivu underwent surgery on Monday and is expected to miss at least four weeks.
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. -- C.J. Cron hit an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues, doubled his second time up and hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth inning to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
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. Marcus Olsson, 23, joins Blackburn on a free transfer from Swedens Halmstads. He made 139 appearances and scored 17 goals in his four years with the club. He earned his first caps for Sweden this month, featuring against Bahrain and Qatar.
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. Future Hall of Famer Ricky Ray is in his prime and back for a third season in double blue. The 34-year old was magnificent in 2013, throwing for just under 2,900 yards despite missing eight games, tossing an impressive 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions, completing 66 per cent of his passes in the process.MIAMI -- The Washington Nationals comeback victory against Jose Fernandez felt well-deserved, even if the pivotal runs were unearned. Jayson Werth hit a tying three-run homer off Fernandez after Miami Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia committed two errors in the sixth inning, and the Nationals went on to win 6-3 Wednesday night. "Tonight was good for us against a really tough pitcher," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Hes an animal, one of the best pitchers in all of baseball." After the Nationals overcame a 3-0 deficit, pinch-hitter Zach Walters broke a tie in the eighth inning with his second career homer -- and his second in as many nights. Washington took the rubber game of the three-game series despite being without four starters, including Bryce Harper, a late scratch because of a tight left quadriceps that has bothered him since Friday. Harper is expected to be back in the lineup Thursday when the Nationals begin an 11-game homestand against St. Louis. Fernandez, betrayed by his defence, departed for a pinch-hitter after seven innings. He allowed four hits and three runs, all unearned, with 10 strikeouts and no walks. The Marlins precocious ace allowed only one baserunner in the first five innings, but Saltalamacchias throwing error put runners at first and third with nobody out in the sixth. Fernandez retired the next two batters before Werth stepped to the plate. "I thought Jose was going to pitch himself out of that," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "He made some great pitches, then just made a mistake and the guy hit it out." Werths homer, his third of the season, tied the score at 3. "I got beat," Fernandez said of his matchup with Werth. "Its part of the game. Obviously not what I wanted to happen, but we learn from it." Walters led off the eighth with the Nationals first pinch-hit homer this year, which came against Mike Dunn (0-2). That raised Walters slugging percentage to 2.000. "Luck of the draw," the rookie said of his fast start. Ian Desmond added a two-run single. Tanner Roark allowed three runs in 6 1-3 innings, and the bullpen pitched the final 2 2-3 innings without allowing a runner. DDrew Storen (1-0) got the final two outs in the seventh, and Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his third save in as many chances.dddddddddddd Washington improved to 5-1 against the Marlins this year and 14-3 against them since July. Winning the series was especially sweet for the Nationals after they were swept last weekend at Atlanta. "The way the road trip started, to get two out of three here is good," Werth said. Miamis Derek Dietrich hit a tape-measure three-run homer, his third. The Marlins have homered in eight consecutive games after finishing last in the majors in home runs in 2013. Giancarlo Stanton, baseballs RBIs leader, went 0 for 4, including two at-bats with runners in scoring position. Fernandez remained 11-0 at home and became only the third major league pitcher since 1914 to go unbeaten in his first 18 home starts, according to STATS. And he appeared headed for a victory until the sixth. After Jose Lobaton led off with a double, Saltalamacchia made an ill-advised throw to third on a bunt, and both runners were safe when the throw was errant. With one out, Saltalamacchia dropped a pop foul for another error that forced Fernandez to throw extra pitches. Werths homer deflected off the hands of a fan in the first row of the right-field seats. The ruling was upheld by a replay review that took only 22 seconds. "We have the ability to come back because guys grind at-bats and never give up," Williams said. NOTES: Nationals OF Denard Span (concussion) is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment Thursday and may rejoin the team Saturday. ... Washington RHP Doug Fister (back muscle) is scheduled to pitch two innings Thursday in an extended spring training game in Florida. Hell pitch at least twice more after that before joining the rotation, perhaps in early May. ... Jones came into the game leading the majors with 24 strikeouts, but didnt fan in this one. ... The Nationals begin their homestand Thursday against St. Louis with Taylor Jordan (0-1, 4.76) slated to pitch against Adam Wainwright (2-1, 2.57). ... The Seattle Mariners visit Miami for only the second time, and the first time since 2005, to begin a three-game series Friday. ' ' '
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