Zigeunerzelt » 2B Jurickson Profars right

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. Cheap Jordans Ireland .com Tour title, closing with a 6-under 64 for a four-stroke victory. The 22-year-old former North Texas player finished at 12-under 268 at Panama Golf Club and earned $112,500 to jump from seventh to second on the money list with $171,500. Wholesale Air Jordan 4 Ireland .I shared with him how much I appreciated all he had done for us, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said of that Thursday night farewell. http://www.cheapairjordan4ireland.com/ . Basketball fans around the globe will be watching as Kobe Bryant makes his season debut - 240 days after tearing his left Achilles - against Toronto, a team he has used as his own personal punching bag. Cheap Air Jordan 4 Wholesale . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Air Jordan 4 Ireland Online . - Erick Torres scored his 10th goal of the season on a stunning volley, and Chivas USA edged 10-man Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Saturday night.TORONTO -- Help is on the way for the Toronto Maple Leafs beleaguered forward lines. Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Holland, a centre, played for the Maple Leafs on Saturday, while right-winger Staubitz has been assigned to the American Hockey Leagues Marlies. Toronto needs help at centre with the loss of Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland to injury and the three-game suspension of Nazem Kadri. "Obviously, the centre-ice position for us has been an area that has been decimated with injuries. Hollands a big, young, skilled centre ice man," said Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle. "Hes been able to provide offence at the junior level and the American Hockey League level and hes going to get an opportunity to play with some of our better players." Holland, a 22-year-old native of Caledon, Ont., was Anaheims first choice, 15th overall, in the 2009 Entry Draft. The six-foot-two, 194-pounder played junior with the Ontario Hockey Leagues Guelph Storm. This season he played four games for Anaheim, scoring one goal and adding two penalty minutes. In 10 games with the AHLs Norfork Admirals he registered a team leading nine points (five goals, four assists) along with 22 penalty minutes. In 29 career NHL games he has earned five goals, two assists and eight minutes in penalties.dddddddddddd. "Big guy that played a lot of hockey in Guelph, would be known for his offensive side of it," said Carlyle. "Probably has developed into more of a combative individual and has allowed him to take the next step as far as being a damn good American League player and now looking to take the next step to being a NHL player." The Ducks receive a 2014 third round pick -- it could become a second round pick if certain conditions are met -- and Anaheims 2014 seventh round pick, which was originally acquired by Toronto in a trade for David Steckel. Toronto also assigned left-winger Troy Bodie to the Marlies to make space for Holland on the Maple Leafs roster. Bodie has two assists and five penalty minutes in nine games with the Leafs this season. The 29-year-old Staubitz played six games for Norfolk this season with 10 minutes in penalties. In 230 career NHL games with San Jose, Minnesota, Montreal and Anaheim, the six-foot-one, 207-pound native of Brights Grove, Ont., has 10 goals, 11 assists and 520 penalty minutes. Blacker played five games for the AHLs Toronto Marlies this season, collecting one goal and four penalty minutes. He was selected 58th overall by the Leafs in the 2009 Entry Draft. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '