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DUNEDIN, Fla. -- After facing R.A. Dickey and Josh Johnson in the National League, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus is happy to have them as teammates. In his days with the St. Louis Cardinals, Rasmus had one hit in five at-bats against Dickey and four in 14 against Johnson. He also struck out a combined four times. "Ive faced Johnson quite a bit," Rasmus said of the six-foot-seven right-hander. "He was always a fierce competitor. He was always slinging that cheese. And Im definitely excited to play behind him. I know hes put it on us some games when I was over with St. Louis. Hes strong, a big dude. Big durable pitcher. Thats going to be a big add for us. "And R.A. Dickey, I faced him with that knuckleball, hes tough, man. Now, what he did the last couple of years, I guess hes learned more about his knuckleball and how to perfect it and what hes trying to do with it. Im just excited to see him pitch." Rasmus reported to camp Saturday, his southern drawl as pronounced as ever with a mullet-like mountain of hair carefully tucked behind his ears. The 26-year-old from Alabama hit .223 last season with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs in what was an up-and-down year. The home runs matched his career high, but his average was the worst of his four big-league seasons. Consistency at the plate is the first order of business in 2013. Last campaign, Rasmus hit .291 in June but batted just .191 in July, .167 in August and .209 in September. "This year Im looking to pace myself a little more," he explained. "Sometimes I get a little carried away with trying to do too much or when I start struggling, get in the cage and taking more hacks and working on things a little more than I should. "Im going to try to take it easy and try to be more consistent throughout instead of just busting it hard at the beginning and kind of falling it off." Rasmus also hopes not to let things fester mentally. "This is a competitive game and I dont like to lose," he said. "Sometimes I take that to the extent of overworking myself instead of just knowing that Im good, get out there and just play the game." Rasmus has a close relationship with new hitting coach Chad Mottola, saying he has a good way with younger players. "Hes a cool dude and he knows what were trying to do," Rasmus said. "Ive come in this year and talked to him about some things that Im trying to do. And hes going to try to keep me there." That includes avoiding lowering his hands at the plate, something he noted during some off-season video sessions. As for the team itself, Rasmus likes what he sees of the additions after a tough, injury-plagued year. "I remember telling some people last year, youve got to ride the low tides to get to the high tides," he said. "So I think this year will be a good year for us with everybody weve got coming in. "Hopeful this will be our year and we can just ride the high wave and have a good time and win some baseball games." Injuries decimated the Jays pitching staff last season, which meant stress for the position players. Rasmus sees the beefed-up Toronto pitching rotation helping keep the hitters off the field and at the plate -- "taking some hacks and keeping us more fresh to do damage at the plate." "I think were definitely going to be dangerous," he added. Rasmus and the Jays avoided arbitration in January by agreeing to a one-year contact worth US$4.67 million. Note: Jays manager John Gibbons cut short his day on Saturday as he deals with the flu. <a href="http://www.customnflstore.com/Customized-New-York-Giants/">Custom New York Giants Jersey</a>. Home run, home team. Adeiny Hechavarria ended a pair of home run droughts with a three-run shot that helped Miami beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 Tuesday night. <a href="http://www.customnflstore.com/Customized-Denver-Broncos/">Custom Broncos Jersey</a>. The NHLs senior vice-president of hockey operations will oversee a rules summit with key stakeholders in the game Tuesday and Wednesday that is tasked with examining the way hooking, holding and interference calls were handed out last season. <a href="http://www.customnflstore.com/Customized-Tennessee-Titans/">http://www.customnflstore.com/Customized-Tennessee-Titans/</a>. Porto won 1-0 at home last month but Malagas 20-year-old forward Francisco "Isco" Alarcon levelled the series in the 43rd minute by scoring with a high, curling shot that beat goalkeeper Helton and went into the far top corner. <a href="http://www.customnflstore.com/Customized-Buffalo-Bills/">Custom Bills Jersey</a>. The world No. 5 defeated Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at Kuala Lumpurs Putra Stadium. Benneteau earlier beat Colombias Alejandro Falla 6-2, 6-2. "I was good tactically and did not give him a chance to come back into the game," Benneteau said. <a href="http://www.customnflstore.com/Customized-Washington-Redskins/">Custom Redskins Jersey</a>. Now hell lead the Toronto Argonauts in their biggest game of the season. NEW YORK -- San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum headed 142 players filing for arbitration on Friday and is set to ask for a record salary when figures are exchanged next week. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner made US$13.1 million last season, completing a two-year deal worth $23.2 million. The highest figure ever asked for in arbitration is $22 million, submitted by Houston pitcher Roger Clemens in 2005 after he became a free agent and accepted arbitration. Among players with less than six years of major league service, the high of $18.5 million has been held by Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter since 2001. San Francisco figures to give Lincecum the highest offer for an arbitration player, topping the $14.25 million the Yankees submitted for offered Jeter. Most players settle before a hearing -- Jeter agreed to a $189 million, 10-year contract, and Clemens accepted a one-year deal for $18,000,022. Others set to swap figures Tuesday include NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Andre Ethier, Philadelphia pitcher Cole Hamels, World Series star Mike Napoli of Texas and Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza. Also in arbitration are three former free agents who accepted offers from their olds teams: Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, Milwaukee reliever Francisco Rodriguez and Toronto second baseman Kelly Johnson. San Diego has the most players who filed with 11. The Chicago White Sox are the only team without any. Lincecum is 69-441 with a 2.dddddddddddd98 ERA in five major league seasons and in 2010 helped the Giants win their first World Series title since 1954. He would be 29 when he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2013 season. While he was just 13-14 last year, his 2.74 ERA was fifth-best in the NL. The Giants scored no runs while he was in the game in seven of 33 starts, had one run six times and two runs five times, according to STATS LLC. Atlanta outfielder Martin Prado became the first player who filed to reach an agreement, getting a $4.75 million, one-year deal. Three players who had been eligible for arbitration agreed to one-year contracts: Phillies right-hander Kyle Kendrick ($3,585,000), Boston Red Sox outfielder Ryan Sweeney ($1.75 million) and Pittsburgh right-hander Chris Resop ($850,000). In a trade Friday night, the Seattle Mariners sent hard-throwing right-hander Michael Pineda and 19-year-old righty Jose Campos to the New York Yankees for power-hitting catcher Jesus Montero and 24-year-old pitcher Hector Noesi. The Yankees also agreed to a one-year, $10 million free-agent contract with right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. The 36-year-old Kuroda can also earn performance bonuses as part of the deal. Among other free agents, reliever Kerry Wood is remaining with the Chicago Cubs. He agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract for 2012 with a $3 million club option for 2013. Shortstop Jack Wilson decided to stay with the Braves for a $1 million, one-year deal. ' ' '
