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TORONTO – It didnt happen right away, this positive working relationship between centerfielder Colby Rasmus and hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. It wasnt that the two men were at odds. Its just, sometimes, these things take time. Its especially true with a guy like Rasmus. Hes taken all kinds of advice through the years on how to be a better hitter and how to be a better player and sometimes too much information rattles around in his brain. "Weve crossed some humps for sure," said Rasmus. "Just getting to know each other better; him getting to know me a little better." It was a conversation in Kansas City that proved the turning point. Rasmus was scuffling, his batting average hovering around the so-called Mendoza Line (.200). Hed been trying things his way. Noticeable details, like how he would hold his hands out over the plate when he came set in his batting stance. There were less noticeable things, like his approach to particular pitchers, which also needed tweaking. Seitzer approached Rasmus. The coach asked his 27-year-old pupil to do it his way for one week. The hands came in a bit, the bat rested still on Rasmus shoulders to launch a more even swing through the strike zone and the results were immediate. Entering Sundays play, Rasmus had at least one hit in each of the nine games hed played in May. He was tied with Jose Bautista for the team lead with nine home runs. "I was probably more surprised than what he was that he was able to do it so quick and he did it immediately," said Seitzer. "It was amazing how he just went from a straight pull guy to having a willingness to go back through the middle of the field." For his entire career, Rasmus has been considered a dead pull hitter. Seitzer, with whom manager John Gibbons became familiar when the two served on Trey Hillmans coaching staff in Kansas City, was brought in to change the Blue Jays all-or-nothing offensive approach. The hitters would use all fields under his tutelage and get away from their pull-happiness. Seitzer would like to clarify. "I said, I dont care where the ball goes. What I care about is your approach," said Seitzer. "The quicker your hands, the better your swing, the more balls youre going to catch early and youre going to pull them but its the approach that allows for better recognition and the ability to repeat your swing path to where youve got a chance on balls that are cutting and sinking and the change of speeds." The hitting coach also plays the role of part-time psychologist. Different guys need different types of help. Rasmus doesnt need the proverbial kick in the rear. His issue never been work ethic; if anything, hes often worked too hard to the point of physical and mental fatigue. "Keep it light," said Rasmus of what he needs from Seitzer. "I guess make the game less than what it really is and I think hes learned that about me, that I dont need a lot of poking and prodding to give me a lot of energy out there because I like to compete, I like to play, I like to do good and I think hes starting to learn that about me. Hes been just kind of cutting up with me and trying to keep it light and we laugh. I think if Im laughing, its a good thing." Rasmus slash line had climbed to .234/.279/.516 before Sundays action. The on-base plus slugging is closing in on .800, moving toward the numbers of his two best seasons (.859 in 2010; .840 in 2013). His career on-base percentage of .315 suggests that statistic will improve as games pass by. The strikeout rate remains high, almost 33 per cent after Sunday, but Seitzer thinks Rasmus will end up cutting down on the whiffs with his new approach. "I feel like hes putting balls in play and fouling off more pitches that he would have swung through the first part of the season," said Seitzer. "Thats an encouraging sign for me." Rasmus admits to being too pumped up after hitting a grand slam in Pittsburgh. Hes still finding an even keel, having to remind himself that each at-bat isnt life and death. Seitzer has met a student hes better learning to understand as time rolls on. "I think Colbys very quiet, hes a very private person and what Ive learned about him is hes probably one of the most genuinely nice, kind, sincere, honest people that Ive ever been around," said Seitzer. "I told him he has an absolutely beautiful heart inside and I can see it. I see it everyday even when hes got a scowl on his face because hes either in his zone or a little frustrated." JANSSEN RETURNS The Blue Jays activated closer Casey Janssen from the disabled list in time for Sunday afternoons game with the Angels. Janssen strained his left oblique muscle on March 28 in Montreal. He felt a tweak during a warm up pitch, thought nothing of it and threw a scoreless inning against the New York Mets. He made three appearances for Double-A New Hampshire on a rehab assignment that began on Monday and concluded on Saturday. "In my last outing I told myself I was going to step on it a little bit more and get some more velocity and I did that," said Janssen. "Not that velocity is anything really but I know that the difference between throwing in a Double-A game and a big league game youre going to go through those adrenaline rushes where youre going to throw harder based on actual adrenaline and I wanted my arm to withstand it." Torontos bullpen entered play on Sunday with the fourth-worst ERA in baseball (4.77). Its 62 walks rank third-most in baseball. The Jays are hoping Janssens return settles down the relief corps as pitchers resume roles to which theyre more accustomed. "We had a nice bullpen last year," said Janssen. "We were able to pass the baton pretty well in the certain inning that they had and if we can back to that and start putting up some zeroes I think that would help everybody." "I just think it brings a bit of a comfort down there for those guys having Casey back," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Obviously our staff, knowing that hes down there and hes a viable option to close out a game, it does put guys back into their more proper roles. Trying to mix and match and close out the ninth without him has been difficult." To make room for Janssen on the active roster, infielder Chris Getz was designated for assignment. ROGERS ALTERS DELIVERY Esmil Rogers, whos struggled early this season, looked noticeably different during his two-inning appearance in Saturdays game. He dropped to a three-quarters arm slot. Rogers went six up, six down. "He made a little bit of an adjustment the day before," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Were trying to find a little more deception. Hes an over-the-top guy and maybe the hitters have a good view of the baseball. We just altered just a hair and he seems comfortable with it and he had a good outing (on Saturday)." Its been a tough year for Rogers. Hes allowed a staff-high five home runs in just 18 1/3 innings pitched and of late has been used by manager John Gibbons only in low-leverage situations. Chief Bender Jersey .J. -- Patrick Sharp is on one of those streaks. Lance Johnson White Sox Jersey . The Brewers finalized a US$36 million, three-year contract with free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Wednesday, adding a much-needed bat to their lineup. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/1434e-harr...-white-sox.html. The Asheville, N.C. native, who signed as a free agent with the CFL club last May, didnt see any action with Edmonton this season after opening the year on the injured list. Josh Osich Jersey . -- The Val-dOr Foreurs made it to the Memorial Cup semifinal thanks to their workhorse goaltender and their ability to hang around like a bad cold. Jack Mcdowell Jersey .Currently no, Tatjana Haenni, FIFAs deputy director of the competitions division and head of womens competitions, said Tuesday in an interview from Ottawa.TORONTO - While Canadas world junior team is a long ways away from show time, two players have already shown theyre worthy of that moniker.Forwards Jake Virtanen and Brayden Point were anointed Show Time by teammates in the dressing-room Sunday after Canadas second exhibition game against local university all-stars. Virtanen and Point were among the players who acquitted themselves well over the weekend as selection camp drew to a close.Virtanens two goals and four assists and Points three goals and two assists helped them stand out in the crowd and made them feel pretty good about their chances of making the final 22-man roster.You look at the roster and theres some pretty big names and guys that have done really well for themselves in the past, said Virtanen, a first-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in June. Coming into this camp its just showing yourself and playing well. I think so far as a team we played well and personally I think Ive done pretty well. I think just showing my 200-foot game and just trying to be a good player all around the ice is what Ive been trying to do.Virtanen, who plays for the WHLs Calgary Hitmen, scored one of his two goals Sunday on a perfect wrist shot just under the cross-bar. After missing Canadas summer camp while recovering from shoulder surgery, the Abbotsford, B.C., product is glad just to be healthy and playing like himself again.Coming into this I knew that I had to really show my stuff, Virtanen said. Especially in the Subway (Super) Series it was huge for me. I know I had to show the coaching staff and the whole staff that I definitely want to be on this team and Ill do anything to be on it.The other goal Virtanen scored Sunday came after Point dazzled defenders and dished the puck to him to put into an empty net.Point, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect playing with the WHLs Moose Jaw Warriors, was in playmaking and scoring mode in the two games. Coach Benoit Groulx referred to him as relentless and said he likes a lot of things about him.Hes playing with a lot of passion and competes, Groulx said. Hes got a flair out there, a lot of anticipation. Hes been good. Hes been very good.Groulx gushed about Point more than any other player over the weekend. Thats not bad for him.If he saw something he liked, then thats good for me, Point said. You always want to do your best and impress.Neither Virtanen nor Point were considered a sure bet to mmake Canada when selection camp opened Thursday.dddddddddddd But they more than survived the first round of cuts and will be at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines on Monday when main camp opens.Still, forgive Point for not wanting to get ahead of himself and think he has already made the team.Theres a lot of guys that played well, so you never know, Point said. Im just going to try to keep working hard. If I can keep going through the process, then Ill keep working hard.Robby Fabbri, a St. Louis Blues prospect playing with the OHLs Guelph Storm, stood out as well with two goals in Saturday nights exhibition. And Frederik Gauthier, the Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick in 2013 whos with the QMJHLs Rimouski Oceanic, looked more comfortable in the offensive zone than he has in the past.Nick Ritchie, whom the Anaheim Ducks took in the first round with the pick they got from the Ottawa Senators in the Bobby Ryan trade, also made an impression because he can play on the edge. Thats a tough mix and a thin line to toe, but Groulx thought Ritchie has done a nice job of that so far.You have to watch it, Ritchie said. You cant take too many penalties. I think I did a pretty good job of that, not taking that risk, just playing hard and knowing to stay on the right side.Ritchie could be on the borderline of making the roster, too, but theres time before Hockey Canada has to make that decision.Then there are the no-doubters, the several players who didnt need to take the ice in one or both of the game at Mattamy Athletic Centre because their spots are safe.Injured centre Connor McDavid is a lock as he continues to progress from a broken bone in his right hand, and hes joined by forwards Sam Reinhart, Anthony Duclair, Max Domi and Nic Petan. Defencemen Darnell Nurse, Josh Morrissey and Madison Bowey can also feel good about making it.In goal, Canada only brought Zach Fucale and Eric Comrie to camp, and unless something unforeseen happens, Fucale figures to be the starter. Comrie had a 22-save shutout Sunday in Canadas 6-0 win over the Toronto CIS Selects team.At forward and defence, injuries could affect Canadas short-term future as forward Michael Dal Colle missed Sundays exhibition game and defenceman Joe Hicketts left as a precaution after being hit from behind into the boards. Groulx said the team did not want to take chances with either player.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter ' ' '