Gästebuch » Canadiens shouldnt have left it so late

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- If Yu Darvish is feeling any pressure after leading the majors in strikeouts last season, it isnt showing. The Texas Rangers ace was even in a joking mood Tuesday at spring training. Darvish wisecracked that the New York Yankees might have paid too much for fellow Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka by giving him a seven-year, $155 million contract on top of a $20 million posting fee to the Rakuten Golden Eagles. The deal made Darvish No. 2 when it comes to Japanese players in the majors: He has a six-year, $56 million deal signed before the 2012 season after the Rangers paid $51.7 million to Hokkaido for the right to negotiate with him. "I dont know the details of the posting system, but I think the Yankees gave him a little bit too much," Darvish said with a chuckle through his interpreter during his first spring training session with reporters. Even before the session was done, the remark was all over social media and the Rangers released a statement to make sure everyone knew Darvish was kidding. "I am sorry if anyone took my comment seriously about Masahiro Tanaka at the press conference," Darvish said in the statement. "I assumed by the reaction in the room that everyone knew I was joking." The 27-year-old Darvish could opt out of his contact after five years if he wins a Cy Young Award and potentially get a contract exceeding that of Tanaka. He came close last year, finishing second to Max Scherzer in the balloting after leading the majors with 277 strikeouts -- the most since Randy Johnson struck out 290 in 2004 with Arizona. Darvish, who manager Ron Washington has already named the opening day starter, was 13-9 with a 2.83 ERA in 32 starts last season. "If we score him runs, he might win 35 games and hes only going to get 32 starts," Washington said. Darvish lost four 1-0 decisions, the first pitcher to do that in a season since Orel Hershiser with the 1989 Dodgers. "Never once did he ever make any whimpers of, Boy it sure would be nice to get some runs, never once," pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "Thats the kind of teammate he is. Hes going to go out and do the best he can and wants everyone else to the best they can." The Rangers averaged 3.08 runs per game in Darvishs final 23 starts. "The game is something you cant control, so you cant be pessimistic or optimistic," Darvish said. "The main thing is to keep yourself healthy. If youre healthy enough, I think numbers are going to follow. The outcome is something that is a result of having a healthy season. I cant really control what goes on in a game situation." Darvish went on the 15-day disabled list last July with a right shoulder strain and was bothered by back nerve irritation in September. Darvish said he shied away from heavy lifting during the off-season to help the back. His lack of fastball command, which gets his pitch count up early, has been a concern. "Youll probably see during the course of the season how much I have improved," Darvish said. "Im more relaxed and I can do many things at my own pace and Im aware of whats going on and people know me better than in the past." An improved Darvish could equate to a blockbuster contract. No joke. Notes: RHP Tanner Scheppers (back spasms) and LHP Matt Harrison (stiff neck) were held out of throwing Tuesday. .2B Jurickson Profars right shoulder is still stiff, preventing him from throwing. He likely will be limited to DH duties until mid-March for exhibition games. Wholesale Patriots Jerseys . Modin, 36, tallied seven goals and three assists in 36 games with the Thrashers this season. The Sundsvall, Sweden, native has posted 232 goals and 230 assists in 894 career NHL games with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Columbus, Los Angeles and Atlanta and has appeared in 57 post-season contests, helping the Lightning capture the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship. Cheap Patriots Jerseys . In the opening game of his fourth-round match at the U.S. Open, the owner of 17 major titles got passed at the net twice, sailed a backhand long, then missed two forehands to get broken. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/. -- Darrelle Revis says at least 26 teams called after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New England Patriots Pro Shop . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. New England Patriots Gear . That Ginette Reno can sing.MONTREAL -- Brendan Gallagher felt a little hard done by the referees. In the final minute of play in Winnipegs 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, Gallagher was roughed up by three different Jets players, preventing him from leaving the offensive zone. With their net empty, and an extra player on the ice for a Canadiens team looking for the equalizer, Gallagher was kept on the wrong side of the blue-line for roughly 20 seconds, keeping his team from entering Winnipegs zone. Gallagher was crosschecked into the net by Zach Bogosian, punched and then elbowed in the head by goaltender Al Montoya in the crease, and then elbowed again by defenceman Jacob Trouba. There was no call on the play. "There could have been five penalties there," said head coach Michel Therrien, who watched the replay before speaking to the media. "Were definitely going to ask the league for explications. Its very frustrating. It could have given us the chance to tie the game." But Montoya, who made 30 saves for his 10th win of the season, wasnt buying any of it, and suggested the Habs forward was doing his best to stay in the zone and draw a penalty. "No. 11?" Montoya asked, apparently not knowing Gallagher by name. "We were all caught up. The referees saw that. They were there. You know he was doing something for a reason." After the game, defenceman Josh Gorges spoke to the press on Gallaghers behalf, calling the five-foot-nine forward too "fired up" and "heated" to address questions about the games final minute. "I have to be careful with what I say," said Gorges. "It was pretty evident they were not allowing him to get out of the zone. He took a punch to the head from the goalie, got tripped up from the defenceman, and the guy coming off the bench gave him another shot." To make matters worse, Gallagher made three trips to the penalty box during the game, for roughing, holding, and tripping. He finished the game with two shots, six penalty-minutes and a minus-1 rating. "I cant comment on how (the referees) feel towards any one individual player," said Gorges. "I dont know if theres a grudge or something. Its too bad." With the game tied at 1-1 going into the third period, Michael Frolik scored the eventual winner at 1:04 after a Winnipeg dump-in was mishandled by netminder Carey Price. Thee Jets captain Andrew Ladd took the puck off Prices stick, and found a streaking Frolik in front of the net.dddddddddddd The Canadiens (29-21-6) kept the pressure on Montoya and the Jets in the final frame, but couldnt benefit from two power plays. Winnipeg held on for their eighth win in 10 games since Paul Maurice took over as head coach on Jan. 12. The Jets (27-25-5) are still in last place in the Central Division, but are only four points off the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg has now won four of its last five on the road, and beat the Canadiens for the first time in seven encounters. "Weve made some pretty big strides," said Maurice. "Theres still a lot to cover. Its what we want our team to look like. We want to define what the Winnipeg Jets game is. And thats going to take a long time to do. "Were big and were fast and were young. And we want to use that. We want to be aggressive with our size and our speed." The Jets benefited from good speed by Tobias Enstrom in the second period when he opened the scoring at 9:13 on a great individual effort. The Winnipeg defenceman carried the puck along the end boards, circled the net and squeezed a shot under Prices glove on the wraparound for his sixth of the year. After hitting two posts in the period, the Canadiens got their equalizer courtesy of a quick release wrister by Brian Gionta at 17:06. While playing 4-on-4 hockey, the Canadiens captain took a pass from Tomas Plekanec on his backhand, quickly switched to the forehand and fired home a sharp shot into the roof of the net. And despite the incident with Gallagher in the dying seconds, Gorges thought the Canadiens shouldnt have left it so late. "Thats not what happened tonight, that wasnt the difference," said Gorges of the altercation. "But it was a frustrating end to the game." Price, playing his second game in as many days, made 33 saves in the loss. NOTES: Michael Bournival was back in the Canadiens lineup after missing Saturdays game with the flu. Christian Thomas dressed for the second straight game, while George Parros was a healthy scratch. a The Jets were without Evander Kane, the teams third-best goal scorer. Hes out with an infection in his hand. a The Canadiens beat the Jets 3-0 in the teams first encounter of the year on Oct. 15, 2013. They do not play again this season. ' ' '