BALTIMORE – The Blue Jays entered play Sunday with a team batting average of .209, a team on-base percentage of .283 and a team on-base plus slugging percentage of .643. Make what you will of a small sample size, the market will surely correct itself, but slugger Jose Bautista acknowledges that change must come soon and he identifies one stat in particular: the teams .157 batting average with runners in scoring position, entering Sundays game. "I think, obviously, you can not necessarily get on base a whole lot and not out-hit the other team but if you get the timely hits when you need them, youre still going to win as long as youre getting good pitching and defence, which we have been getting," Bautista told TSN.ca on Sunday morning. Bautista points the finger at himself. Through a dozen games, hes been up nine times with runners in scoring position. He has one hit, a home run, two RBI, has walked three times and struck out on three occasions. "Ive gotten my fair chances of driving in runs in different situations and I havent been able to come through so Ive got to focus a little bit better, I think, and just figure out a way to execute no matter what the circumstances are," he said. While Bautista is willing to first look at himself, which is admirable, its difficult to point the finger at him. While his batting average was only .200 entering Sunday, his on-base percentage of .451 (attributable to his major league-leading 16 walks) and slugging percentage of .571 (four of his seven hits have been home runs) constitutes significant production in a dry lineup. The problem is Bautistas getting on base and nobodys taking advantage of it. Hes scored only six times so far on plays that arent a result of his home runs. The main culprit is Edwin Encarnacion, who entered Sunday with a .174/.240/.261 slash line, no home runs and he was still looking for his first RBI. The consensus on Encarnacion is that its merely a timing issue. Hes not been a slow starter in either 2012 or 2013, his two breakout years, hitting eight and nine home runs, respectively, in the opening month of those seasons. "I dont know if he feels that way but it certainly seems that way from my perspective where he just hasnt found his rhythm yet," said Bautista of Encarnacion. "That being coupled with the way they pitch to us, being so different and so difficult, its easy to kind of get back into rhythm when you see a 2-0 fastball and you can place your bet on that but he doesnt see that very often." Bautista wonders if, maybe, theres something about the way Encarnacion is being pitched. Encarnacion, with two straight big seasons, now is an established superstar. Its similar to what Bautista went through a couple of years ago. "I saw a huge difference after 2011," said Bautista. "Not so much after 2012 but after 2011 it was just a night and day difference on how people were pitching to me. The amount of breaking balls in hitters counts and Ive seen pitches in hitters counts, first pitches, even in 3-0 counts, I was seeing some stuff that Im like, Im not even swinging and Im getting sliders and changeups." The great hitters learn to be patient. They have to be. "Can you lay off of those borderline and bad pitches consistently?" said Bautista of the question that plagues the games elite hitters. Toronto entered Sundays play with a 3.88 starting staff ERA, on track for a great improvement over 2013, and a .993 team fielding percentage, which tied the club for second in baseball. "Were more concerned about more consistently putting a good effort forward and weve done that with every aspect of the game except for the offence," said Bautista. "Were obviously working to get better at that." Under Armour Shoes Sale . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt. Air Jordan 24 Sale . His Chicago Blackhawks teammates werent shocked when he found it. Kanes career has been defined by his brilliance in the Blackhawks biggest moments, and his tiebreaking goal with 3:45 to play in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals will rank among the best. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/air-max-4-sale/. Off-Season Game Plan examines a team facing some challenging times as GM Bryan Murray tries to put together a roster for next season. Perhaps the first challenge facing Murray is that its expected he will be moving out Jason Spezza, a premier point producer who is about to enter the final year of his contract. Air Max Flyknit Sale . Gordon reportedly failed another drug test and is facing a one-year ban. Gordon led the NFL in yards receiving last season despite being suspended two games for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. Nike Vandal Sale . - Suspended Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon has voluntarily checked into a treatment facility and seems to be doing well.TORONTO - First things first: Adam Lind loves Toronto and wants to remain a Blue Jay. But Linds future isnt in his hands. With a club option worth $7-million for 2014, or a $2-million buyout should the Blue Jays choose to part ways with their long time first baseman/designated hitter, general manager Alex Anthopoulos has a decision to make. Whatever happens, Lind hopes he finds out soon. "I dont know the date when they have to tell me," Lind told TSN.ca. "Hopefully its after the last day of the season or after that last game of the year because I dont really want to be in limbo until the World Series. Id like to know but with all the number crunchers they have up there they may take their time." Lind has enjoyed a stellar offensive season. With 19 home runs, he has a chance to surpass the third best output of his career - he hit 23 homers in 2010. If Lind goes on a tear, his second-highest number of home runs (26 in 2011) would be in jeopardy. His OPS, a healthy .829, represents a significant increase over the last three seasons when it was no better than .734. Entering Tuesdays play, Lind had 46 walks, which already is the second-most hes had in a season (58 in 2009.) "I dont think anyone, unless youre Miguel Cabrera, would say youre consistent for a whole season," said Lind. "Its hard to do with how many different types of ways the pitchers pitch the ball to stay comfortable and have your rhythm and timing over the course of an entire season. You go from Texas and theyre throwing heaters and then we come back and face Colorado and theyre throwing slop and its hard to stay locked in. Thats part of it and thats why management sticks with players, especially at the beginning of the season, with slow starts." Lind has stayed off the disabled list this season - a stated goal back in spring training. He tweaked his historically-troubled back at Fenway Park on June 30 and missed two games before returning to face Detroits Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander on back to back days. "Ive done a lot of maintenance to make sure it stays (healthy,)" said Lind. "I feel, I dont know if proud is the word, I feel happy especially with the way things have gone with this team this year. I dont think theres been too many, not including the bullpen, only me, Eddie, J.P. Buehrle and Dickey have been here since April 1." Theres a sense of unfinished business for Lind. He believes the club is capable of meeting expectations in 2014 and would like to continue in the only big league city hes ever known. "I feel like Ive been an important part of it more often than not through the course of the past six years," said Lind. "Ive had some great experiences hitting behind Jose in his huge years; Ive hit behind Eddie the past two years. Maybe I havent produced as much as some would have liked but Ive protected the best hitters in the game the last four years.dddddddddddd" SIMILARITIES BETWEEN DISAPPOINTING JAYS AND ANGELS The Blue Jays and Angels kicked off their three-game September series with identical records. It was easy, at the start of the season, to anticipate the clubs meeting in Toronto with much on the line. Either could have, maybe should have, been division leaders or, at the least, battling each other for wild card positioning. Instead, Toronto and Los Angeles were each 67-76. "Two teams that didnt meet expectations, no doubt," said Mark DeRosa. "I think if you polled a lot of people they would have said this would probably be an ALCS or an ALDS match up, who knows? For whatever reason and we know, weve chronicled them all year; it hasnt gone according to plan." Heres a big reason why neither team has succeeded: their respective starting rotations. The Blue Jays rank 29th (out of 30) in baseball with a 4.83 starters ERA. The Angels arent much better. Their 4.34 starters ERA is ranked 23rd in the majors. RASMUS HEALING Colby Rasmus, whos been on the disabled list since August 11 with a strained left oblique, is back in Toronto and hopes to return to the lineup during this weekends series against the Orioles. "Feeling good," said Rasmus. "Just trying to go through getting back on this turf, taking some swings, like some full hacks. Down in Florida I wasnt able to really get into it, get after it so come up here to try to get some swings going on the field and running some balls down." Rasmus arrives in time to see the Blue Jays play the Angels, for whom is brother, Cory, now plays. Colby doubled off of Cory on May 27 when Cory was pitching for Atlanta. Cory was traded, by the Braves, to Los Angeles for former Blue Jays reliever Scott Downs on July 29. "It kind of worked out funny for me to be here when hes here but thats just the way it worked out," said Colby Rasmus. "I didnt just try to come up here because hes here. I got to feeling good and it worked out to where I could." MONTREAL BOUND The Blue Jays will play two spring time exhibition games in Montreal, March 28-29, against the New York Mets. Maicer Izturis is the only current Blue Jay who played for the Expos (2004.) Mark DeRosa goes back far enough to remember travelling to Olympic Stadium. "Id probably be the only guy who knows how to get the field, I know that," said DeRosa, who traveled often to Montreal while playing with the Braves in the early 2000s. "I think my one memory there would be the ball Vladimir Guerrero hit off Mike Hampton. He smacked it 502 (feet,) they estimated that. I think they put a sign up on one of the runners where he hit it. Probably one of the furthest balls Ive ever seen in my life." ' ' '