me runs, second-most in the American League. Its the starting rotation, afflicted by injuries, aches and inconsistency, which has the most room for impro

ATLANTA, Georgia - When Alex Anthopoulos made blockbuster deals with the Miami Marlins and New York Mets to acquire the likes of Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and R.A. Dickey, he couldnt have envisioned his Blue Jays mired in last place in the American League East two months into the season. Yet after play on Wednesday, after an impressive 3-0 win over the Braves, the club was seven games under .500 and looking up at the rest of the division, eight and a half back of first place Boston and five and a half back of its nearest foe, Tampa Bay. The offence has come around. The statistics say so. The Blue Jays are a middle of the pack team in team batting average (.253) and on-base percentage (.320) after being near the bottom of the league in both categories in April. The club is slugging sixth-best in the majors (.427,) powered by 67 home runs, second-most in the American League. Its the starting rotation, afflicted by injuries, aches and inconsistency, which has the most room for improvement. "I think (the offence) will be able to carry us for quite some time, but theres no question the rotation is going to be a big part and getting a guy like Josh (Johnson) back soon is going to help," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "Expect R.A. (Dickey) to be a lot better and Buehrles continuing to throw the ball better. Even a guy like Chad (Jenkins,) we didnt know what to expect, but Chad has done a really nice job." The Blue Jays 5.46 starters ERA ranks ahead of only two teams in Major League Baseball: Houston and Minnesota. Check the standings for the commonality; the three clubs each are last in their American League division. Josh Johnson (triceps) and J.A. Happ (head/knee) have injuries that have forced them out of the lineup. R.A. Dickeys pitched most of the season battling a neck strain which has robbed him of his high-velocity knuckleball. Brandon Morrow, who missed 10 days in May with a back strain, left Tuesdays game against the Braves after two innings with a strained forearm. While he expects to make his next scheduled start, Sunday in San Diego, he would be less than 100-percent. Mix in visits to the disabled list for relievers Sergio Santos and Darren Oliver and the uncertain availability of closer Casey Janssen and its been a trying season. Anthopoulos and his staff study different ways to maximize a pitchers health and efficiency but he concedes injuries are a risk of the business. "Weve done the same program for 10 years, the same staff," said Anthopoulos. "Weve looked at it, I think we were 14th lowest, basically the middle of the pack, in DL days. Weve studied it and always, just like the same thing, we dont get a guy in from third base with less than two outs, you feel like youre the only team in the league doing it and a lot of teams are going through it, a lot of teams have guys going down and getting hurt. From that standpoint, I think DL days, it seems across the league are up. I think for the most part you continue to study it." BULLET POINTS Anthopoulos addressed a number of other topics, including: - Josh Johnson will make his final rehab start on Thursday night, for Buffalo, in Durham. Johnson is on schedule to pitch on Tuesday, when the Blue Jays open a two-game series in San Francisco. - Brandon Morrow, suffering from a forearm strain, is expected to make his next start on Sunday in San Diego. The final decision wont be made until closer to the date. - Brett Lawrie, placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 28, will be shut down for a week to allow his sprained left ankle to heal. Lawries likely to return in no more than three weeks. - Rajai Davis is close to returning from a strained oblique. Davis played in an extended spring training game on Wednesday. - Jose Reyes, whos begun taking batting practice and ground balls as he rehabs a badly sprained ankle, is about two weeks away from appearing in an extended spring training game. Reyes is expected to return to the Blue Jays in late June. - The club has considered different options in order to keep Adam Lind in the starting lineup in games played under National League rules. The absence of the designated hitter makes it a challenge. Edwin Encarnacion could play some third base, where he played in only one game last season. Lind, who played 16 games in leftfield in 2010, may see time in the outfield. - Anthopoulos was asked if Ricky Romero, who allowed eight runs in just 2/3 of an inning in his latest start at Triple-A Buffalo, is suffering a crisis of confidence and needs time away from the game. "I dont know," said Anthopoulos. "He hasnt said that to me. He hasnt been able to pinpoint anything. I think you have to be open to anything at this point. Some people have talked about confidence and so on. I dont know how you could be confident when youre not having some success. Its the age old question, what comes first? Everyone has theories and we brainstorm and weve had so many people come up with ideas. Its one of those things that he continues to work and pitch and hopefully at some point hes going to find it again." Cheap Vans Shoes NZ . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Clearance Vans Shoes NZ . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. http://www.vanssalenz.com/ . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Discount Vans Shoes NZ . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Cheap Vans Shoes NZ From China . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is in prolific scoring form these days and hardly needs any help from his opponents.But Nancys clumsy defense set up his goal in a gritty 2-1 away win in the French league on Saturday that keeps second-placed PSG four points behind surprise leader Nice.It was a poor performance from defending champion PSG, which was dominated in midfield by two veterans playing for the last-placed side.But Nancys defense was in charitable mood and PSG was already leading 1-0 when Cavani struck in the 18th minute.Center back Michael Chretien casually headed an intended back pass straight into his path, and Cavani sprinted through before calmly lobbing goalkeeper Guy NDy Assembe for his 12th goal in 10 games this season.Cavani will never enjoy the popularity of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined Manchester United after becoming the French clubs all-time leading scorer in just four seasons. But the Uruguay forward is winning fans over with goals, and has 16 in 14 matches so far this season for club and country.With a combined age of 70, Nancys midfielders Alou Diarra and Benoit Pedretti -- both former France internationals -- showed their teammates how to play.Pedrettis precision free-kick from the right was met with a powerful header from Diarra -- who played in the World Cup final for France against Italy 10 years ago -- as Nancy replied in the 55th.But the damage was already done, which Nancy will regret as PSG looked vulnerable.We started well but then played with less rhythm and tempo. In the second half it became even more difficult, PSG midfielder Marco Verratti said. We need to keep working hard because were not at 100 percent yet.PSGs first goal came in the 13th minute as Brazilian winger Lucas scored in bizarre fashion.Lucas took a free-kick way out on the left and the curling ball eluded Cavani and midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak as they lunged for it -- and then bounced in front of NDy Assembe, who stood still as the ball rolled in.dddddddddddd.PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola started the move for the second goal, launching a long clearance that Chretien naively nodded back without anticipating Cavanis presence.We paid for our poor start to the game. They were errors of concentration, Diarra said. Its a shame because we reacted well.PSGs two defeats this season have been away to Toulouse and third-placed Monaco. They played each other Friday, with Toulouse winning 3-1 to move up to fourth. Also Friday, Nice beat Lyon 2-0.---OTHER MATCHESSince scoring Portugals winner in extra time against France in the European Championship final back in July, striker Eder has struggled to find the net for Lille.He has only one goal in nine games this season -- and that was from the penalty spot -- after again drawing a blank in a 1-0 defeat away to Brittany-based side Guingamp. Jimmy Briand unselfishly set up strike partner Sloan Privat for the only goal as Guingamp moved up to fifth.Angers climbed up to eighth spot with a 2-1 win at Bastia, thanks to two goals from striker Famara Diedhiou, while forward Yacine Bammous first goal of the season helped mid-table Nantes to a 2-1 win at Lorient.After a difficult start to the season Montpellier is finding form, thanks in large part to Casimir Ninga. The Chad strikers fifth goal in two games largely contributed to a 3-2 home win against Normandy side Caen that pushed Montpellier up to 14th.On Sunday, Rennes takes on Bordeaux; Saint-Etienne faces Dijon; and Metz travels to Marseille. ' ' '