Bellefeuille has swapped Clarence Denmark and Jade Etienne

DUNEDIN, Florida – On Wednesday, it was J.A. Happs turn to play in the ongoing game of hot potato, better known as the competition to determine who will comprise the back end of the Blue Jays starting rotation. When the figurative music stops on March 31, Opening Day, general manager Alex Anthopoulos, manager John Gibbons and pitching coach Pete Walker will make whats becoming an increasingly difficult decision thanks to consistently mediocre to subpar performances by the candidates. Walker said before Wednesdays 11-6 win over the Phillies that the game was a "big start" for Happ. He needed to pitch in the strike zone. Happ needed to force Philadephias hitters to make contact. He was scheduled to pitch four or five innings with a pitch count of 70, give or take a few. Turns out Happ threw 71 pitches but did so in only 2 2/3 innings. Only 34 of those pitches were strikes. He laboured, to be generous, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks. Afterward, Happ saw his afternoon in a positive light. "It was good," he said. "I felt strong out there. Maybe a little too good but everything was good. Health was good." The health to which Happ refers is his back, an ailment which has kept him out of Grapefruit League action since he was pulled in the first inning of a March 3 start against the Twins. Happ intends to focus on developing his rhythm, interrupted due to injury, next time out. Hes looking to more consistently harness the new arm slot he employed in the final month of last season. Happ watched video of his start and noticed hed reverted to an over-the-top angle. Its all in the name of better efficiency. "Thats the same story for everybody," said Gibbons. "To be successful in the big leagues youve got to throw a lot of strikes. Youve got to throw that strike one. You fall behind guys, it turns everything in the hitters favour and just the opposite for the pitcher. Hes capable of doing that." Two weeks ago, the 31-year-old was bothered by Anthopoulos suggestion that his spot in the starting rotation was in question. Happ isnt dwelling on it now, saying he cant worry about what he cant control. Its apparent he will be on the team, as will Esmil Rogers and Todd Redmond, his competitors for a final rotation job. The question is who will be the starter and which two will work out of a bullpen which is expected to feature eight relievers. Its believed Happ is in the drivers seat, partly because Rogers doesnt throw enough of his repertoire for strikes and Redmond tends to struggle once the oppositions lineup turns over. Remember, too, that Happ is owed $5.2 million this year on an extension signed the day Ricky Romero was cut from camp last spring. The idea of having $12.7 million on the books for Happ and Romero, with neither in the starting rotation, cant be a pleasant one. "I dont feel like Im far," said Happ. "You guys, youre going to take that outing for what it was and it doesnt look pretty. Pitch-wise, like I said, Im up to 70 and next time be 85-90 and still feel strong thatll be a good thing. Im close." "Im looking forward to his next start," said Gibbons. "Thats all Ive got to say." The game of hot potato continues on Thursday when the Blue Jays visit the Phillies. Another back end of the rotation candidate gets the start. Over to you, Esmil Rogers. ROMERO AND STROMAN REASSIGNED Ricky Romero and Marcus Stroman shipped out to minor league camp on Wednesday morning. Both were outsiders, at best, to crack the opening day roster but both impressed at times during Grapefruit League play. "We just feel they both need more work," said manager John Gibbons. "As far as Ricky, hes moving in the right direction. We really like what he did this camp. Just go down there and polish it up. Stro, hes kind of the odd man out. He had trouble throwing strikes (Tuesday). Hes got to do that. They both need more work." After two down years the bar wasnt set high for Romero. With that as a consideration, its fair to say he exceeded expectations. He had two positive outings before he cratered against the Tigers on Tuesday, reverting to his wild ways. "He showed us enough in the previous two outings before (Tuesday) that you know what, hey, its coming," said Gibbons. "Its a long road and you never really know whether a guy is going to make it back or not but he was starting to show the signs of it." Stroman showed flashes of the pitcher the Blue Jays believe he will become but he was inconsistent all spring, culminating with an ugly performance on Tuesday. The Tigers knocked him around for seven runs on five hits in one-third of an inning. "We brought Stroman in, he pitched in Double-A for us and he had a legitimate shot (at making the club,") said Gibbons. "We dont think hes quite ready. Hes not polished yet so hes got to go down there and work on some things." The Jays still need to add two to a rotation which features R.A. Dickey, Brandon Morrow and Mark Buehrle. While the pitching coach offers praise to Drew Hutchison, Pete Walker wont yet guarantee him a spot. "Not ready to say that," said Walker. "Obviously, were extremely pleased with the way hes thrown the ball. Hes certainly shown hes capable of getting major league hitters out. His velocity, his strength, his bounce back, right now, after outings has been fantastic. Hes shown poise on the mound. Hes done everything you need to do to earn a spot, theres no question, but were just in a position right now, were sorting through some things to make sure we make the right decision." SANCHEZ AROUND FOR EXPERIENCE Aaron Sanchez is getting plenty of opportunity to pitch in Grapefruit League games, often the back end of a starters piggyback. Hes thrown as many as four innings in a game and is scheduled to work in relief of Todd Redmond against the Rays on Friday. "He wont make the team," said manager John Gibbons. "We want to keep him around, pitching in some of these games for the experience factor." Sanchez, 21, is considered the Jays top pitching prospect. He threw 109 2/3 innings combined with High-A Dunedin and in the Arizona Fall League last season. Its expected he will begin the year at Double-A New Hampshire. Cheap Basketball Shoes Authentic . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3. Basketball Shoes Outlet . -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights. http://www.wholesalebasketballshoes.com/ . 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And the philosophy under new Winnipeg Blue Bombers acting general manager Kyle Walters appears to be a drastic shift in thinking from the former regime. “The way we feel now, talking Wade (Miller), Kyle (Walters), and myself, were going to bring guys in,” said head coach Tim Burke of the new acting CEO, GM, and himself. “In the future were going to bring guys in, free agents, who might get cut by another team — theres good guys who get cut by teams.” And it didnt take long for the new philosophy to set in as veteran kicker Sandro DeAngelis was shipped in and started immediately in place of Justin Palardy last week and five-year Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Bo Smith was inked to the practice roster early this week. Not to mention the firing of Gary Crowton and promotion of Marcel Bellefeuille into the offensive coordinator role. Everyone around Bombers camp has been careful with their words when speaking about the old philosophy compared to the way the new Miller-Walters-Burke trio will approach things, but they are definitely clear in the changes they want to make. “Were going to build our team and not just rely on bringing our own guys in. If somebody else finds them and develops them, thats fine with us,” added the head coach. “Were constantly looking for other people. If we can do anything to upgrade our team, we will.” Somewhat overshadowed by the change at OC and the perpetual carousel at quarterback, the Blue Bombers defence has also been troubled by the opposition - the air attack in particular. And while the roster appears experienced and talented on that side of the ball, the new philosophy is a welcome one to struggling coordinator Casey Creehan. “When you get injuries in this league its nice to have veteran players that can come and fill in. I mean, its good to get young talent but it takes a while to learn this game.dddddddddddd Its different than it is down south. Having to plug young kids in fast, early in the season like weve had to do a couple weeks, is tough.” Creehan, Hamiltons DC last season, is beyond pleased that his roster depth can now be supplemented with players that have competed professionally, like Bo Smith who has 56 CFL games under his belt. “Competition, in my opinion, is the best thing in the world. It makes us all better. It makes us better in any profession, so when theres a guy in here thats played at a high level, sure people are looking over their shoulders. And thats OK because its a results-based business and all of us have to perform.” Notes: Receiver Chris Matthews, who has battled a troublesome back since training camp, is out for 4-6 weeks after tearing ligaments in his foot. Doug Pierce will check in for him… Bellefeuille has swapped Clarence Denmark and Jade Etienne, with Etienne now lining up at wideout while Denmark moves back to the slot where he has found his most success over the past two seasons… Max Hall will make a consecutive start at quarterback as Bellefeuille continues to assess his options at pivot… Former Winnipeg head coach Paul LaPolice had some insightful comments on the CFL on TSN pregame show this week about the former general managers philosophy: ““I could talk a week about this… I didnt have a lot of interviews with Joe Mack besides about five introductory conversations. You dont hit every conversation through there, but when something comes up you have to trust people in their jobs and allow them to do their jobs (with) what has to be done. At times I believed in building a roster a certain way, and if there is a disconnect, thats going to tear apart your team. There was certainly a couple of times that we wanted to sign a couple guys that ( Mack) didnt want to because (he) wanted to go younger…” ' ' '