TORONTO – The first-place Blue Jays hit the halfway mark of the season with 45 wins and a two-game lead on Baltimore in the American League East, territory unfamiliar to a franchise still waiting for its first playoff game since October 23, 1993, the night Joe Carter walked off Mitch Williams into World Series lore. Justin Pugh Jersey . "Im proud of the way the guys played," said manager John Gibbons. "It was kind of a so-so start and we kicked it in there in the month of May and put ourselves in a good position. Now, you know, we just need to do that again in the second half or even improve on that but Im very, very happy with the effort and the way the guys have been playing baseball. Its that simple." You wont find a Mission Accomplished banner hanging in the clubhouse. The expectation is much greater. "Has it met it yet? No," said Casey Janssen. "Our expectation is to make the playoffs and win the World Series and were not there yet. Weve got a long way to go. I think everyone believed we could be this type of team but were not throwing a party yet, we know that. We know theres a ton of talent here and its the AL East so anything can happen." Despite a recent downturn in offensive production, through 81 games Toronto continues to sit in the top seven of most major categories. The club sits first in the majors with 104 home runs. Its fourth with a .262 batting average and .331 on-base percentage. The on-base plus slugging percentage of .767 ranks third and its 272 walks are seventh. The most pleasant surprise and biggest disappointment reside on the same spot: the pitchers mound. The pleasant surprise: Blue Jays starters lead the American League with 35 wins (a number not reached until the 135th game last season) and the staff ERA of 3.87 is best in the AL East. The biggest disappointment: the bullpen, the ray of sunshine in a stormy 2013 season, has compiled baseballs fourth-worst ERA (4.48). Its a target for improvement. "I think there are some times when weve got to be better in the bullpen," said Gibbons. "Weve got to shore that up a little bit. Its like anything, consistency over the whole pitching staff and hopefully you stay healthy enough." The Blue Jays have been fortunate to remain relatively healthy, dealing with injuries theyve been able to cover. Maicer Izturis was a backup infielder. Brandon Morrow wasnt pitching well when he got hurt. Colby Rasmus missed 33 games with a hamstring strain and the Jays got by with an Anthony Gose-Kevin Pillar platoon in centerfield. The medical staff is now doing the dance with Jose Bautista as he deals with a hamstring problem, which could be made worse if rushed. Bautista will run sprints on Saturday morning and depending on how he feels, could be available to at least pinch hit on the weekend. QUIET TIME FOR JANSSEN Wondering where closer Casey Janssen has been these days? Hes around. He just hasnt pitched much due to a lack of save opportunities. Since notching his 12th save of the season on June 15 in Baltimore, Janssen has appeared twice. He mopped up the epic, 14-9 comeback win on June 20 in Cincinnati. He threw the ninth inning of a 6-6 game against the Yankees on June 24 and got the win when the Blue Jays walked off. It can be difficult for relievers when they go through a period without consistent work. "I feel like saves come in bunches at times," said Janssen. "You get opportunities to pitch maybe in a lopsided game one way or another if it gets to be too long. Sometimes there are times when you dont get in but you get up. Im one of those guys that always has relied on my command and I guess it comes a little more natural to me than others." Janssen has 12 saves in 14 opportunities this season. "Sometimes the rest is good, knowing that the tough stretch is going to come at some point," said Janssen. Expect Janssen to get into a game before the weekend is over, regardless of whether Toronto has a lead of three or less. Janssen speaks to pitching coach Pete Walker about his schedule, who relays the message to manager John Gibbons. If Janssen goes four or five days without action his arms reaction to its diminished workload becomes less predictable. "You wonder if your arms going to be a little cranky or if its going to be super fresh," said Janssen. "Sometimes you feel great when you get the rest and sometimes youre kind of knocking the dust off a little bit." Remember that Janssen had an abbreviated spring training thanks to stiffness in the back of his pitching shoulder. He didnt appear in a Grapefruit League game until the final week of March. Then, in Montreal, he strained his left oblique and didnt make his season debut until May 12. Its been a build for Janssen, who anticipates being able to pitch on three consecutive days, if needed, as the importance of each game ramps up. "I feel like Id love to do it and Id love to have the opportunity to do it," said Janssen. "I think a lot of those three in a rows depend on how the first two went and the stress level of those innings. My goal is to be able to pitch in every opportunity possible, especially as the season gets further along and as this division and the race gets tight and everything like that." Andre Smith Jersey . Quarterback Drew Willy appeared to injure his throwing hand on the third last play of practice Thursday. Rudy Ford Jersey . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break. http://www.cheapcardinalsjerseysonline.com/?tag=derrick-coleman-jersey-online . Completely. Two days after releasing Peyton Manning, the longtime face of the franchise, the Colts announced they were cutting four fan favourites: running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark.Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed a contract extension to remain with Real Madrid until 2021, the club have announced. The three-time World Player of the Year will sign the new deal, which will keep at the Bernabeu until he is 36, on Monday at an event alongside club president Florentino Perez.The news comes a week after team-mate Gareth Bale signed a bumper new contract which will keep him at Real until 2022. Financial details were not released, although Ronaldo is expected to remain the teams top-paid player.Bale and Ronaldo are the latest in a series of Real stars to agree contract extensions in recent weeks as the club prepares to serve a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA should a final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport fail.Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Lucas Vazquez have already agreed new deals. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Coach Zinedine Zidane had teased about Ronaldos new deal when speaking after Madrids 3-0 win over Leganes on Sunday afternoon.Im happy because he is a player who has to finish his career in Madrid. It is unique, Zidane said in comments reported by Marca. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 38th hat-trick for Real Madrid as they won 4-1 away at Alaves in La Liga on October 29 His dream is to finish here and why Im glad he has renewed and will end it in this white shirt as I did. Budda Baker Jersey. The 31-year-old Ronaldo is in his eighth season with the Spanish powerhouse. He will have played 12 years with the club if he stays through the end of the new contract.The Portugal forward arrived in Madrid from Manchester United in the summer of 2009 for a then world record transfer fee of £80m. He has scored more than 350 goals for the club while winning two Champions League crowns, one league title and two Copa del Reys as well as the Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.Watch Cristiano Ronaldo in an exclusive interactive broadcast in conjunction with Nike this Wednesday from 1pm live on skysports.com, Sky Sports Facebook and the Soccer AM You Tube channel A Madrid vs R Madrid November 19, 2016, 7:15pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Also See: Get Sky Sports Real Madrid video Real Madrid fixtures Real Madrid stats Get a ￡10 free bet! 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