Pirate Galaxy » e Two seasons also end on May 6, the Premiers

TORONTO – Three-and-a-half hours before Wednesdays series finale with the Yankees, the Blue Jays issued a surprising media release announcing the demotion of Kevin Pillar to Triple-A Buffalo. This is far from an earth-shattering move, Pillar was the 25th-man, but the shock lies in his return to the Bisons just 48 hours after his latest recall and in the reasons why hes Buffalo-bound. Pillar and Anthony Gose were supposed to be the right-field platoon while Jose Bautista recovers from a mild strain of his left hamstring. The contract of outfielder Brad Glenn, a 23rd-round pick in 2009, has been purchased. “Were looking for a little more sock from the right side,” said manager John Gibbons. “Weve got three left-handed pitchers coming in from the White Sox and Glenn, hes been on fire down there, as well. So this is his opportunity.” When pressed for more, Gibbons acknowledged Pillars behaviour in the eighth inning of Tuesday nights game played a part in the decision. The score was 6-6 at the time. The Jays had loaded the bases with one out. Pillar was due up but the Yankees flame-throwing set-up man, Dellin Betances, was on the mound. Gibbons pinch hit Anthony Gose. Pillar reacted. He stormed into the dugout. Footage shows him angrily tossing his helmet and ripping off his batting gloves as he walked from Gibbonss end of the dugout to the other. He then tossed his bat, underhanded, down the tunnel leading to the clubhouse. “It didnt help him at all,” said Gibbons. “This is a team game, you know. Theres no room for selfish play. But weve been thinking about Glenn for a while now, anyway.” Glenn has given the Blue Jays plenty to ponder. In 113 at-bats with Buffalo since his promotion from Double-A New Hampshire, the 27-year-old has hit .381/.421/.575 with four home runs and eight doubles among his 43 hits. To make room for Glenn on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays designated infielder Jonathan Diaz for assignment. THE OUTSIDE CORNER Play a baseball game and inevitably someone will have something to say about the home plate umpires strike zone. Pitchers and hitters develop reputations, to the positive or negative, which can influence the way the game is called. What goes less noticed is how one pitch called incorrectly can affect the remainder of an at-bat. Take Colby Rasmuss three-pitch, caught-looking strikeout in the second inning of Tuesday nights 7-6 win over the Yankees. The first pitch was a David Phelps cut fastball off the outside corner of the plate for a called strike. This is the pitch that changed the at-bat. Pitch two: A knuckle-curve Rasmus fouled off. Pitch three: A cut fastball on the inside corner. The pitch crossed the plate, therefore it was a strike. The correct call was made. The problem: Rasmus was forced to adjust his approach after the first pitch to account for the wide strike zone. “Colbys told me he starts getting bigger to protect and then he starts chasing balls all over the place,” said hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. “I said, ‘Do not change your zone and if they call it, they call it, but you cant change your zone. Do not expand. If they throw three out there and get called, come back and sit down by me.” When pressed for comment, Rasmus politely declined. Good move on his part - he doesnt need the trouble. Adam Lind has also fallen victim to calls off the outside corner. Its common around the game, certainly not exclusive to the Blue Jays. “They both have really good eyes and they look for pitches on the plate and thats what theyre geared to do mentally and I dont want that to change with any of our hitters,” said Seitzer. “Its just a part of the way games always been. (Umpires) are human. Theyre not perfect. Theyre going to make mistakes. You cant expect them to be perfect but I dont want our hitters to change their zone ever in any way, shape or form.” Both Rasmus and Lind have laid-back personalities. Its rare to see either be demonstrative with an umpire. Seitzer appreciates their respectful approach, but he wants them to converse. If a pitch was off the plate, hes encouraged Rasmus and Lind to let the umpire know. Seitzer will accept from his hitters called third strikes on pitches out of the zone. He firmly believes Rasmus, whos prone to the swing-and-miss, having struck out in 33.5 per cent of his plate appearances this season, ends up offering at pitches he otherwise wouldnt due to frustration. Seitzers been a sounding board for his frustrated charges. “All I can do is be supportive,” said Seitzer. “Youve got a great eye. Its not a pitch you want to go on, so you cant go. And you cant even think that theyre going to go back out there because of what happens there, you get locked up on paint inside.” LINDS FOOT Adam Lind fouled a pitch off his right toe in the seventh inning of Tuesday nights game. “Ouch. Thats what I said,” said Lind. Surely he must have cussed? “It was more just deep breaths.” Lind returned to the starting lineup on Monday for the first time since fouling a pitch off the top of his right foot on June 14 in Baltimore. He had three pinch-hit appearances in the seven games in between. Linds wearing a guard on his shin, which extends to the top of his foot. In Wednesday nights series finale versus the Yankees, Lind made his first start at first base since suffering the injury. TOLLESONS EYE Blue Jays utility infielder Steve Tolleson is dealing with an eye problem that cropped up on the last road trip. Hes got dryness and blurriness, especially in his right eye.Tolleson had laser eye surgery five years ago, but its unclear if this is a factor in any way.Hell be seeing a cornea specialist on Thursday, marking a fourth-straight day that hell see an eye doctor of some description. Leon Goretzka Jersey .C. -- Carter Ashton had a pair of goals and added an assist as the Toronto Marlies downed the Charlotte Checkers 5-2 on Saturday in the American Hockey League. Kevin Trapp Jersey .1 Sam Stosur will meet Germanys second-ranked player Andrea Petkovic in the opening match of the Fed Cup World Group semifinal. http://www.germanysoccerpro.com/Antonio-...Germany-Jersey/. "Last year didnt go the way we wanted it to, but we need to look at what went well and what didnt go so well. Hopefully this year we will be better," Brendan Gallagher said after practice. This year, the Canadiens have a little more depth to work with by adding players like Daniel Briere, Dale Weise, Mike Weaver, Douglas Murray and arguably, the biggest addition to this playoff roster, Thomas Vanek, who the Canadiens were able to land at the trade deadline. Marco Reus Germany Jersey . - Because they didnt go into Beast Mode, the Seattle Seahawks found themselves in Spin Mode. Ilkay Gundogan Jersey .Y. - DeMarre Carroll felt as though he couldnt miss in the second quarter as he outscored the Brooklyn Nets 14-13 all by himself.Euro 2016 might be in full swing but planning can start in earnest for the new Premier League season when the 2016/17 fixtures are released on Wednesday. Top-flight clubs across the the country will discover their curtain-raisers, run-ins, Christmas programmes and derby dates when the schedule is released at 9am - and you can follow it all with Sky Sports as we gear up for our biggest season yet of live Premier League action.Where will new Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola start life in the Premier League? When will new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho come up against old club Chelsea? Will new boys Burnley, Middlesbrough and Hull get tough or sympathetic starts? And which tussles could prove pivotal at the business end of the season? Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are the new men in the Manchester dugouts - but what have the fixtures got in store Heres all you need to know and how to stay up to speed, whether youre watching at home or on the move...When are the fixtures released?The Premier League fixtures for the 2016/17 season will be published at 9am on Wednesday, June 15.Fans of Football League clubs will have to wait a little longer to mark their diaries; schedules for new Championship, League One and Two seasons will be released on Wednesday, June 22.Fixtures for all the Scottish leagues will be announced at 10am on Friday, June 17.When will Skys first live fixtures be announced?That’s still to be confirmed but we expect to bring you details of the first batch of Premier League fixtures - those to be shown live on Sky Sports in August and September - at the beginning of July.Sky Sports will strengthen its position as the home of the Premier League by showing more live matches on TV than ever before - 126 - and providing in-game goals and highlights to mobile users this season. Leicester will be top seeds when the draw is made for the Champions League group stage When does the season start?The new Premier League season kicks off on August 13, 2016 and finishes on May 21, 2017.ddddddddddddThe Football League season starts a week earlier - on August 6, 2016 - and ends on May 6, 2017. Like the English Football League, the Scottish season kicks off on August 6 but while the Scottish Championship, League One and League Two seasons also end on May 6, the Premiership season concludes on May 20/21.Any other key dates? Burnley won the Championship title to clinch promotion and will be joined in the top flight by Middlesbrough and Hull (Mark Robinson/SkyBet) The draw for the first round of the EFL Cup will be made later this month and those fixtures are due to be played in the week commencing August 8, with kick-off in the Football League Trophy week commencing August 29.The group stage of the Champions League starts on September 13/14, while the Europa League group phase begins on September 15.How can I stay up-to-date with the fixtures?Whether youre on the move or watching at home, Sky Sports is the place for all the news and reaction.- Sky Sports News HQ - channel 401 - will bring you details of your clubs schedule as the clock strikes 9am, as well as reaction from studio guests and clubs up and down the country.- If youre out and about, our live blog will bring you details of all the fixtures, plus analysis, reaction and social media.- Fixtures by club will be available on skysports.com and via the Sky Sports apps.- Push notifications will deliver the news straight to your phone - download the Sky Sports Score Centre app, set your favourite team and subscribe to push notifications (fixture push notifications will be for Premier League teams only)Watch Sky Sports News HQ from 9am to find out your clubs fixtures or follow via our live blog from 7am. Youll find news of all the fixtures - plus club-by-club guides - on skysports.com and via the Sky Sports apps from 9am. Also See: Latest Premier League news Your clubs 2015/16 review ' ' '