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Show DAILY HERALD MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Revamped Toronto lookingfor bigyear Rob Maa THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. from our first acquisition, it in the standings so he won't doesn't matter what's on paper; have to make any deals. you havegot to go out and prove yourself dayin and day DUNEDIN,Fu. — New York. Boston. Toron. >. That was the orderof finish out, especially in our division.” For manager John Gibbons, the entire offseason nearly felt like Christmas morning. “We knew what we needed to do to improve,” said Gibbons, who replaced Carlos Tosca duringie 2004 sean“We targeted some guys we were hoping to get one or two of them. You never expect to get your whole wish list and we almost did that.” : Ricciardi’s spending spree still doesn’t put Torontoin the fiscal class of the Yankees and Red Sox. New York's payroll in the American League East in sevenofthe last eight seasons. Tired of chasing the Yankees and Red Sox,the Blue Jays spent a ton of moneyon quality playersin the offseason and enter spring training with a legitimate chance at making the playoffsforthe first time since winning consecutive World Series titles in 1992-93. Given an opportunity to increase the team’s payroll from $45 million to $75 million, general managerJ.P. Ricciardi signed closer B.J. Ryan ($47 is projected to be about $196, down from $207 million on million, five years), starter A.J. Burnett ($55 million, five years) “Weknow they will always have moreresources than us, but spending isn’t the absolute reason you're going to wilt,” he said. “Wejust want to have a chance and that’s what we have now.If I had that kind of money, I'duse it, too. I don't blame them for what they do.It’s just that $75 million is a realistic numberfor us.” Atleast Ricciardi didn’t have to rebuild from scratch. He had a solid core ofplayers to build around. Toronto went 80-82 last season, even though Halladay and Lilly missed about 26 starts combined. While pitching should be the Blue Jays’ strength, the offense could be exciting. Wells, Glaus and Overbay are a formidable trio in the middle of the lineup. Designated hit- and catcher Bengie Molina ($5 million, one year). He also add- ed third baseman Troy Glaus andfirst baseman Lyle Overbay in trades. Toronto dealt away Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson,keyreliever Miguel Batista andstarter David Bush. “I never thought in my wildest dreams we'd get everybody we wentafter,” Ricciardi said Saturday as pitchers and catchers took thefield for their first official workout. “We werereal fortunate.” Ryan,who gotthe largest five teams to win the World . Series had a payroll under $100 illion, including the Chicago White Sox last year. “In our division, $50 million is unrealistic to think you can win. I don’t think $75 million means you're guaranteed to win either,” Ricciardi said. “Just because you spend money doesn’t mean you're good. I don’t think spendingis the answer,butit narrows the gap a little bit.” The Yankees and Red Sox have an advantageduring the season because they have the flexibility to add high-salaried players. Ricciardi his team has a comfortable cushion Toronto Blue Jays’ A.J. Burnett works out with other pitchers durin,ig an afternoonspring training session at the Bobby Mattick Training Center on Saturday in Dunedin, Fla. a2.43 ERA. Burnett upgradesa starting rotation considered among the best in the league. He went 1212 with a 3.44 ERA for Florida before being banished from the team in the final week after criticizing manager Jack McKeon and his coaching staff. Former Cy Young Award winnerRoy Halladay(12-4, 2.41 ERA)returns from a season-ending leg injury to anchor a staff thatalso includes left- contract everfor a relief pitch- er, solidifies an underrated but deep bullpen. A hard-throwing left-hander, Ryan converted 36 of 41 save chancesfor Baltimorelast season, going 14 with handers Gustavo Chacin (13-9, 3.72) and Ted Lilly (10-11, 5.56) andright-hander Josh Towers (13-12, 3.71). i Glaus, Overbay and Molina * strengthen lineup that scored the fifth-most runs in the : ie. Glaus had 37 homers and 97 RBIs for Arizona. Overbay hit .276 with 19 homers and 72 RBIs for Milwaukee. Molina, a twotime Gold Glove-Award winner,hit a career-best .295 with 15 homers and 69 RBIs for the Los Angeles Angels. Those moves have generated excitement among fans in Toronto andthrust the Blue Jays into the national spotlight. A larger-than-normal contingent of reporters turned out to see the first practice. “It’s different this year,” center fielder Vernon Wells said. “Wearebeing talked about coast to coast and country to country.It’s fun to see, fun to sit back and watch, but I said ter Shea Hillenbrand(291, 18 homers, 82 RBIs) and Molina provide punchlowerin the batting order. Shortstop Russ Adams and second baseman John McDon-: ald are the middJeinfielders. Frank Catalanotto(.301, 8, 59) and Alex Rios (.262, 10, 59) likely will platoon in right field. Reed Johnson(.269, 8, 58) and converted infielder Eric Hinkse (.262, 15, 68) probably will split timein left field. “Weexpect to competeall year long,” Gibbons said. “In saying that, we haven't done anything yet. Talk is cheap.” Cheapshouldn't be a word associated with the Blue Jays in any other context. FAST FACT | Onthis date in 2005, Schreinerended its NCAA-record losing streak at 83 games, beating Sul Ress State 75-69in a women’s basketball game.It was the DivisionIII Mountaineers first win since Jan. 17, 2002, when they also beat Sul Ross. ‘Source: AP Sportlight/Associated Press 2006tournaments state basketball #97" ‘Bran Gay Geott Ogilvy Mark Hensby Auto oe Donald NASCAR-Busch Hershey's Kissables 3 y's Kiss Ces FIRSTArye ROUND: s 300 ‘arena ‘Daytona uration Beach Fa,speetuey omgtsi, ey 1.06% Fe eee Gere 1 ES (21) Burey Lamar, Cro, 120, $9842, (iKevarc,Goole20,858875 {24} Jason Leter, Chevrlet 120, $3,900 (19) Too Kier, Far 120, $52625 | Pine View 65, Ogden 36 Emery 15-6) vs. Dine (18-4), 9'30 a.m, | Tooele 19-3v8 ae Morgan 166) 1 10am Cae || Juan Drego pm. = (19-3) vs, Pine View (13-7). 2.30 as | 1250 p.m. 230pm Championship game: 7 pm FINALS, | sm-6m place game: 10am | 3ra-4m piace game: 120 p.m Class 2A Boys Fs now Sartor eats 200 P| impernaderel Class 2A Girls | it RoW Enerpe 66, San Wuan «2 SoarumPatan Sout Sum 45 Parowan2 29 Warts 52, Mila 25 ee ee | 56 Nan Sex teowSentWace jb nce snsoni as 42 15 Sener45, Beaver 60 filled aia at 35 veeverPera | Roan at wmit 37, Gunnwson 26, Ener 38. 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Oregon 53 Aaty, NY. 65, Vermont 2 LevganaTeen34S Lousiana Tec 73, Fehos 170 ic medals Neteriends, tae 114-216 2173-218 Ben Curts Seat Miter ae espe (20-2). 7.30 p.m. | bee lh -B)vs. Enterprise (11-10), | om ‘At Sevier Valiey Centar,Richfield 410m 550pm 2. 2: tenatace dbey Sede SieEnon ienewts | Mant (15-6)vs. North iE ‘Aaron Baddeley Tea Puray Ca Sou seemt6-9:r0S09m | Sou SMM(18-3)enoRenIestop v5 Water (13-4), 5:50 pm, rth Sunt 15-6)v8 Kanab 15°6),2 30 pm. 0 N=} 1-72 yan Palmer Se ery Kansas St. 72. 185.322. Olympics Z | NALS, a-4in place game 3 pm ‘58. (95)Stanton Barrett, Russia | Stn-étn place game 1140 am 53. (64) Randy Ladoie, Chevrolet, 184,540. BNleaeS, Winter 01 } ic Serumsoma 2s Maou 35‘56. fecha CatcheseT. in. Chewolt (80) Cart Ford, 176.935. Rea ree ae Fea, Feb.26 St. 52. Del a E. Michigan 65, €. ilinots 50 Fairleigh Dickinson 68, Wis.-Green Bay 64 Hheuisarsge (5 Any BernatEre. 79960 (eeea0 ‘At Dee Events Center, Ogden m. 550 73pm. 910pm 47. (23) Mike Skinner, Dodge, 182.771. ‘48. (74) Dernike Cope, , 183.333. ‘49. (52) Larry Gunseiman, 181.214. Sommer ieseee WeberSt 5-14 (Shaton. een cone 24, Weber 8 Women’ ‘tone St. 62, S Sun 74 Rat ewe Sena wa ieneres Montana 87, W Ntaone 88 Nevada 49, iano43 Weber 8. 00 Sctgon 6077 vorns 87, ina 78 aoetee root 88 Beach 43 Portland St. 4 ‘SEMIFINALS Friday, Feb. 24 At Salt Lake Community College, Taylorsville soe, Arnaud Clement, France, dt Ratel Nodal 1), erSpain. 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 : |