The infirmary is filling up quickly in Winnipeg, and the offensively fraught Blue Bombers are counting on a few number-twos to fill in and help the club earn their first win at Investors Group Field, and more importantly, snag another victory over an East Division rival before a string of contests against a dangerous looking West. "As the football nature of things work, you always get hurt at the same position," said head coach Tim Burke. "Its the way it always works." Starting defensive tackles Bryant Turner and J.T. Gilmore remain out for Week 4 against the visiting Argonauts, as well as linebackers Rene Stephan and Jeremy McGee. Terrell Parker, the teams new starting weak-side linebacker, was lost to a torn ACL against the Tiger-Cats in Week 3. Ian Wild was activated off the practice roster and will slot in for Parker as well as for long-snapper Chris Cvetkovic who injured his calf in practice. "It definitely helps that you have one of the best defences in the CFL that youre playing on," said Wild, who enters his first professional game this week. "Youve just got to do your role. I think thats why our defence is so good, because everybody does their role and we play team defence." Some good news on the Blue and Gold injury front is the long-awaited return of strong-side linebacker Johnny Sears after recovering from offseason knee surgery. "Everything is feeling good right now so its about time to get back and let loose," said Sears, who thinks he and Wild will have a smooth transition into the starting lineup. "I think well be able to hit the ground running. I think it was difficult the first day at practice because new guys were getting in new positions but I think from watching a lot of film and getting the reps at practice — single reps for just us in particular — I think we should be fine." The most devastatingly hit position is the receiving corps — the same group quarterback Buck Pierce is having trouble utilizing consistently through the seasons first three weeks. Starters Terrence Edwards (shoulder), Chris Matthews (back), and leading pass-catcher Cory Watson (hamstring) are all out, leaving backups Isaac Anderson, Doug Pierce, and Rory Kholert to fill in. Third-year receivers Jade Etienne and Clarence Denmark round out the suddenly inexperienced group. But whoever is on the receiving end, it all starts with offensive leader Buck Pierce, who has taken an inordinate amount of sacks this season as offensive coordinator Gary Crowtons new system for 2013 works to keep him "protected" in the pocket. "Sometimes Buck has got to help us by getting rid of the ball," said Crowton. "I think Buck can do a little bit better job getting rid of that football and not take the sacks. Even though we gave up six sacks (against Hamilton), which were not happy with at all, I think the rest of the time we were passing we had a cleaner pocket. He has better vision and could see what he was looking at without a guy in his face when throwing the ball. That was positive. We just cant have those errors." But after another relatively uninspiring outing under Crowtons new system, the team plans to take the reins off Pierce in Week 4 and allow him to play his gunslinger-type game and work to extend plays outside of the pocket. "Until you really break out and have a great game and show everybody what you can do — we just havent done that this year, so those question marks are still kind of floating around." The nine-year veteran is clearly eager to show what he is capable of. "I love going against this type of defence," said Pierce on facing the Argonauts. "For the challenges that they pose, and I think weve got a good plan going in this week, so Im excited about it." "Ive always kind of related (Toronto defensive coordinator) Chris Jones as a guy that wants to go out there and brawl," added Pierce. "My mentality coming into this game is its going to be a fight. Its going to be a fight and Im ready for 12 rounds of it." Giancarlo Stanton Jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Bernie Williams Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. http://www.cheapyankeesjerseyschina.com/gary-sanchez-jersey/ . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Don Mattingly Jersey . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Wade Boggs Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. The day after Jose Fernandez died, Michael Hill sat down at his desk, took a deep breath and tended to his first big procedural chore as president of baseball operations for the Miami Marlins. He logged on to the Major League Baseball database, typed the word deceased next to Fernandezs name and removed him from the teams active roster.The seven weeks since have been a blur of emptiness and obligation for Hill and Miamis front office. The Marlins still grieve daily over the loss of Fernandez, who died Sept. 25 with two companions in a boat crash off the south Florida coast. But Hill and the executives and scouts on his watch are also conscious of their mandate to put the best possible team they can on the field for 2017. The task is exponentially more difficult without Fernandez, who was yanked from their presence without a semblance of a warning.Hills office at Marlins Park overlooks the West Plaza where the team painted a stadium pillar orange and fans lined up by the hundreds to inscribe messages of love and remembrance in the days after Fernandezs death. Every now and then, a passerby stops to pay respects or take a photo. Then the fan moves on, and Hill is left with a swirl of emotions and the gravity of his mission.You never forget the human [side] or what happened, but you know you have a job to do, Hill said. Were never going to replace Jose, but we have to try to move forward. The memory of him will always be with us and be a part of who we are. Thats a bond well all have forever.Fernandezs death came during a time of promise and hope for the Miami organization. A young Marlins roster improved from 71 to 79 victories under first-year manager Don Mattingly, and the pieces were in place to bring continued growth. Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is one of the games elite power hitters. Left fielder Christian Yelich just won a Silver Slugger Award at age 24. And the foursome of catcher J.T. Realmuto, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, second baseman Dee Gordon and center fielder Marcell Ozuna combine to give the Marlins a strong up-the-middle presence.Starting pitching was the tenuous link in the teams chain, with the exception of the stability Fernandez provided every fifth day.In 29 starts in 2016, Fernandez logged a 2.86 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. In comparison, Miamis other 12 starters combined for a 4.70 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine.The Marlins arent even entertaining the possibility of trying to replace Fernandez, because his impact was so profound. If spring training began today, Miamis rotation would consist of Wei-Yin Chen, Adam Conley, Tom Koehler, Justin Nicolino and Jose Urena. Even if the Marlins wanted to sign a big name -- which is typically a foreign proposition for them -- the free-agent market is bereft of front-of-the-rotation arms. The other alternative is a trade, and they lack the talent in their farm system to make a run at Chris Sale, Sonny Gray, Chris Archer or other commonly mentioned alternatives.Miamis top pitching prospects are a ways away. Tyler Kolek, a former first-round pick with a 100 mph fastball, underwent Tommy John surgery in April. Lefty Braxton Garrett, selected out of an Alabama high school with the seventh pick of the 2016 draft, will begin his journey through the minors in the spring. During the Arizona Fall League, the Marlins have been monitoring the progress of starter Jarlin Garcia and reliever Drew Steckenrider. Scouts regard both as future big leaguers, but neither is the type to anchor a staff.With few alternatives, the Marlins have discussed fortifying their staff at the back end to help compensate for the loss of Fernandezs 182 innings. Relievers A.J. Ramos, David Phelps, Kyle Barraclough and Brian Ellington combined for 332 strikeouts in 256? innings this season. If the Marlins can add a power arm or two this winter, theyll have a bullpen that will take some heat off the rotation and allow Mattingly to pick his spots.We leaned on our bullpen a lot last year because it was a strength for us, and our starting pitching on the whole wasnt as strong, Hill said.dddddddddddd To build that way is another route we can take. Get versatile, multi-inning pieces in the bullpen and try to shorten a game. Weve seen the trends of late with Kansas City and [Cleveland] in the postseason. We have the pieces in place already, so that might be a way to ease the blow.If Hill is looking for a current road map on how to move past Fernandez on and off the field, none exist. The closest comparable came two years ago in St. Louis, when star outfield prospect Oscar Taveras died in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic at age 22.Taveras death marked the third encounter with tragedy for St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak in 20 years with the organization. Mozeliak was assistant GM under Walt Jocketty when veteran starter Darryl Kile died of a heart ailment in 2002, and was in the same role when pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident in 2007.Mozeliak reached out to Hill immediately after Fernandezs death, and the two have spoken several times since. Among the insights Mozeliak has shared: Work can be therapeutic.You want to be respectful to the parents and siblings and people in that inner circle who are going to grieve for a long time, Mozeliak said. But going back to business actually helps with the healing. Its hard to get your hands around a tragedy when youre [forcing yourself] not to think about it. When you have something to focus on -- like getting the club going again from an organizational standpoint -- it makes it a lot easier.At the time of Taveras death, he was regarded as an elite prospect still trying to get over the hump. Taveras had just hit .239 with a .590 OPS in 80 games as a rookie, and the Cardinals knew he had some maturing to do and adjustments to make to take his game to another level.The Cardinals were coming off a 90-win season and a National League Central title in 2014, and Mozeliak couldnt afford to stand pat and let things sort themselves out in the spring. So he made a bold offseason move, acquiring right fielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden from the Atlanta Braves for pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins before Thanksgiving. Heyward logged a .293/.359/.439 slash line and won a Gold Glove to help the Cardinals win 100 games in 2015 before leaving to sign a $184 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.What the Marlins are doing, and specifically Mike Hill, is a little different than what we were dealing with, Mozeliak said. He was dealing with the rumors: Do we trade Jose Fernandez or try to sign him long term? Jose had already established himself as one of the elite players at the major league level.Not to sound callous or coldhearted, but I remember shortly after Oscars passing I was reflecting and I said to a few people, Were not going to miss him next year from a baseball standpoint. Its going to be two or three or four years down the road, when we dont have the No. 3 hitter we thought wed have.Left without their ace, the Marlins try to take solace in positive signs. Stanton, Miamis quiet superstar, assumed more of a vocal leadership role in the days after Fernandezs death, and the players and staff grew closer amid painful circumstances. But Fernandezs absence wont truly hit home until the first day of spring training in Jupiter, Florida, when the clubhouse will be a much quieter place.You felt Jose every fifth day on the mound, and the energy he brought, Hill said. But this was also a young man who loved life and lived it to the fullest. He had a pure energy and passion for the game that was infectious. I dont think you can separate the two.As the Marlins go down an uncharted path this offseason, the memories of Fernandez will simultaneously haunt and sustain them. Theyre still trying to process the unimaginable, while doing their best to make it through another day. ' ' '
