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Jose Bautista and R.A. Dickey are feeling positive about the Toronto Blue Jays offseason so far. Speaking to the media for the first time since the end of another disappointing campaign, two of the club’s leaders in the lineup and on the pitching staff respectively feel that a small shakeup was necessary to improve the club. “You’re talking about minimal changes that can have great effect and we’ve had some great moves so far that can make us better,” said Bautista. The Blue Jays led the American League East for the early part of last season before slipping to the wild card battle and eventually out of the playoff picture altogether. “We’re not that far away. We were very close last season at the deadline, two games out of first place,” said the 34-year-old outfielder. It has been another busy offseason for general manager Alex Anthopoulos. After acquiring all-star third baseman Josh Donaldson from Oakland for Brett Lawrie, he struck a deal with the Seattle Mariners to acquire outfielder, and Canadian, Michael Saunders. “For Saunders, playing in his home country is going to help,” said Bautista. “Playing on the turf is going to help him. He’s a fast guy that can maybe leg out some more hits and get some more balls to skip through the infield.” “I think they were necessary moves. In the sense that we’ve been [in the playoff conversation] two years now and there needed to be somewhat of a shakeup,” said Dickey. Despite seeing Melky Cabrera leave in free agency, there is a renewed optimism around the Blue Jays. “I’m as excited as I was in 2013,” said Dickey. “We all know what happened in ‘13, so I’m not getting my hopes up too high. There’s a lot of baseball to be played but it’s nice to look on paper and see some names there in the lineup that you know are going to be special players. It’s comforting.” Dickey and Bautista were joined by Aaron Loup, Todd Redmond and Dalton Pompey as the team kicked off their annual Winter Tour in a gymnasium filled with eager, cheering students at Joshua Creek Public School in Oakville, Ont. The Blue Jays still have many holes to fill, specifically in the bullpen. Toronto has been linked to many relievers on the market, including Francisco Rodriguez and the team’s closer, Casey Janssen, but nothing has come to fruition yet. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Jersey .com) - Rick Nash scored twice and Derek Stepan chipped in a goal with one assist as the New York Rangers claimed a 5-2 decision over Calgary at the Saddledome. Jimmy Graham Packers Jersey . 1 goaltender tonight when they conclude a four-game road trip versus the Winnipeg Jets. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Jmon-Moore-Jersey/. The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. DeShone Kizer Packers Jersey . -- With his team down 16 points in the second quarter and headed for another blowout loss at home, Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson yelled out to his players to keep shooting and keep fighting on defence. JMon Moore Packers Jersey .The South African had three birdies on the front nine and another four after the turn at Leopard Creek Country Club to move to 16-under 128 overall.Grace, who won all four of his European Tour titles in 2012, dropped his only shot of the competition on the par-3 fifth.PHILADELPHIA -- Marlon Byrd drove in two runs and the Philadelphia Phillies knocked around Jose Fernandez in one of his worst major league starts, beating the Miami Marlins 6-3 Friday night to snap a four-game skid. Phillies starter A.J. Burnett left in the fourth inning because of a sore groin, but Philadelphia chased Fernandez (2-1) with three runs in the fifth en route to its first home win of the season. Fernandez, last seasons NL Rookie of the Year, was tagged for eight hits and a career-worst six earned runs in four-plus innings. The right-hander walked four, matching a career high, and struck out six. He gave up only one run over 18 innings in three appearances against Philadelphia last season. Derek Dietrich homered for the Marlins, who lost their fifth straight. Miami has been outscored 32-13 during the slide. Byrd had two hits, including a double. Chase Ultey and Jimmy Rollins also had two hits for the Phillies, outscored 25-10 by Milwaukee this week in their first home series of the season. The Brewers won all three games for their first sweep in Philadelphia. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save in three chances. Philadelphia quickly jumped on Fernandez, scoring two runs in the first thanks to Byrds RBI double and Domonic Browns RBI single. Byrd has six hits and seven RBIs in his last four games. After the Marlins tied it at 2 in the second on Dietrichs drive to right-centre, Philadelphia went ahead 3-2 in the third thanks to Fernandezs wildness. The Phillies loaded the bases with a pair of walks and Utleys single before Fernandez walked in the go-ahead run with a free pass to Ryan Howard. Then, the hard-throwing righty returned to form by striking out the next three batters, featuring a fastball that reached 98 mph.ddddddddddddHe whiffed all three in the fourth for six straight strikeouts -- all swinging. Fernandez, however, was shaky in the fifth when Philadelphia opened the inning with four straight hits, the last of which was Byrds RBI single that ended Fernandezs night. Kevin Slowey limited the Phillies to just one more run, charged to Fernandez, but the damage had been done. Burnett was removed with one out in the fourth after walking Casey McGehee to load the bases on four pitches that werent even close. Phillies trainer Scott Sheridan went to the mound with manager Ryne Sandberg to pull Burnett from the game. He had thrown 106 pitches. Left-hander Jake Diekman (1-0) relieved Burnett and wiggled out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam by striking out Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Dietrich. Jeff Bakers eighth-inning sacrifice fly pulled Miami to 6-3. NOTES: Rollins had two walks to give him 694 for his career, moving into sixth place in Phillies history. ... The Marlins have lost 11 of their last 14 in Philadelphia. ... Philadelphia CF Ben Revere (sore ribs) was replaced in the starting lineup by Tony Gwynn Jr. ... The Phillies activated infielder Freddy Galvis from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Cesar Hernandez to Double-A Reading. Galvis, who entered in the sixth, went 0 for 1 with a walk. ... RHP Seth Rosin, a Rule 5 draft pick in December, cleared waivers and was returned to the Phillies. He will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Rosin was selected by the Mets in the off-season and was on the Dodgers and Rangers this year before getting released by Texas on Wednesday. ... Marlins RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 3.46 ERA) faces Phillies RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who will be making his season debut, on Saturday night. 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