Page 22 - AT

A22 sports
Monday 18 February 2019

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) looks on during baseball spring training in Dunedin,
Fla., Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019.
Oklahoma City Thunder Hamidou Diallo leaps over former NBA Associated Press
player Shaquille O’Neal during the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk
contest, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. Diallo won Blue Jays’ Stroman disheartened
the contest.
Associated Press by unsigned veteran players
Canadian women

beat U.S. 2-0 to win By MARK DIDTLER that others, including Melky Morales.
Associated Press
Cabrera and Curtis Grand-
“We will to continue to bol-
inaugural Rivalry Series DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Mar- erson, have only been able ster our roster anyway we
to find minor league deals.
possibly can,” Atkins said.
cus Stroman says it is “pret-
ty disheartening” that vet- “The young wave of guys Stroman is looking to re-
By LARRY LAGE eran players like Adam are extremely talented, bound from last year when
AP Hockey Writer Jones remain unsigned as but they need to be men- he went 4-9 with a 5.54 ERA
DETROIT (AP) — The inaugural Rivalry Series was created full-squad spring training tored,” Stroman said. “So I over 19 starts. He missed six
to give Canada and the United States another opportu- workouts are set to begin. think it’s a premium that we weeks with right shoulder
nity to put the world’s best female hockey teams on the “I’m someone who can start getting some of these fatigue and said the shoul-
ice together. speak on how much I have guys that don’t have jobs, der was not right all season.
It went so well, there likely will be a sequel. learned from these indi- they need to have jobs. “I’m back to being where I
Brianne Jenner and Blayre Turnbull scored, Shannon Sz- viduals, and I know how They should have jobs. They was in 2017,” Stroman said.
abados made 38 saves, and the Canadians beat the important they are to the should be in clubhouses. It’s “I’m back to being ex-
Americans 2-0 in front of 9,048 fans Sunday to win the game of baseball,” the To- ridiculous that they’re not.” tremely calm. I’m back to
three-game series. ronto Blue Jays right-hand- During his formative ma- not having to worry about
“It always means a lot when you play these guys and er said Sunday. “So to see jor league years, Stroman my shoulder. I’m excited for
there’s no love lost on the ice, so to get a win in their barn these guys sitting at home turned to players like Ca- this year.”
felt pretty good,” Jenner said. and not have jobs, that’s brera, Bautista, Mark Bueh- Stroman, who could be-
Gina Kingsbury, director of women’s national teams for absolute crazy.” rle and Josh Donaldson for come a free agent after
Hockey Canada, declared the event was a success in Stroman, 27, will have a guidance. When asked if the 2020 season, posted a
every way. veteran role this season as the Blue Jays front office 13-9 record in 2017.
“We would love to see this repeat itself every year for the Blue Jays have under- has done everything it can “I want to play here,” Stro-
sure,” Kingsbury said. “It would help generate excitement taken a youth movement. to put the best team on man said. “I’ve been wait-
about our game outside of Olympic years.” “I think it’s a little weird to the field, Stroman replied ing to sign a long-term
The Canadians beat their rivals nearly a year after the U.S. come into the clubhouse, “we’re going to see.” deal.”
won Olympic gold in a shootout thriller and a few months me having Jose Bautista’s “Are they doing what they Stroman added that he
after it won the Four Nations Cup against them. original locker when he need to do to put the best has been “offered nothing”
They will meet again in April at the world championship used to be the veteran,” product on the field, at the when it comes to a multi-
in Finland. Stroman said. end of the day I only care year extension.
“That’s the hardest part,” Alex Rigsby said after making 15 Beyond the unsigned star about what’s going on in “We’ve had lengthy dis-
saves for the Americans. “You come off a loss and now duo of Manny Machado the clubhouse and I prom- cussions with Marcus’ rep-
we have to wait another six, seven weeks until we play and Bryce Harper, base- ise you those 25 guys in the resentation,” Atkins said.
each other again.” ball’s free-agency pool still clubhouse, I’ll have those “Just like any negotiation
The top U.S. and Canadian teams have not played regu- has a surprising number of guys ready to rock,” Stro- we have a pretty strong
larly outside of the Olympics, world championship and big names in it: closer Craig man said. stance on that because of
Four Nations Cup, but that will change if the Rivalry Series Kimbrel, left-hander Dallas Blue Jays general manager the impact it could have
becomes an annual event. Keuchel, outfielder Carlos Ross Atkins said the team is on the potential of getting
“It fits really well with our program,” USA Hockey execu- Gomez and infielder Josh excited about its veteran something done. We like
tive director Pat Kelleher said. “And, it’s good for us to Harrison included. players like Justin Smoak, to keep that completely
have the NHL involved as well.”q Stroman also pointed out Kevin Pillar and Kendrys private.”q