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ST. PETERSBURG – Casey Janssen is still the Blue Jays closer. Except when he isnt, which depends upon Aaron Sanchezs status on a particular day. Janssen was measured when describing his own situation. “Its an interesting one.” An unselfish player during his decade in the Blue Jays organization, Janssen offered a little more when discussing the state of the team. “The situation right now is were on a four-game winning streak, were trying to back into the playoff race and hopefully we continue to stay hot and make this an interesting September for everybody.” Janssens situation is a reminder, perhaps a cruel one, about the nature of professional sports. The ‘What have you done for me lately? mindset supersedes the broader resume. An older player, especially an impending free agent whose re-signing isnt prioritized, runs the risk of being bumped by a young up-and-comer whos at the centre of an organizations plans. It isnt about whats right and it isnt about whats fair. Thats not a bad thing. There is, however, a way to afford a tenured veteran the respect of clarity. Heres whats clear: Sanchez is the priority. A starting pitcher throughout his professional career, the 22-year-old is dipping his toes in big league waters as a reliever and hes been very good. In 16 appearances, Sanchez has posted a 1.52 ERA and allowed runs in only three of his games. Taking pains to protect Sanchezs arm, the Blue Jays wont allow him to pitch more than two consecutive days. As well, if Sanchez makes a two inning appearance, he is unavailable the next day. If Sanchez warms up during a game, he will pitch in that game. A warm up counts as a work day so if Sanchez heats up, its a waste not to use him. The latter scenario unfolded during Wednesday nights 7-4 victory over the Rays. Sanchez loosened up in the seventh, with the score 7-2, behind Aaron Loup. Loup stranded a baserunner in the inning but Sanchez picked up again in the eighth as Dustin McGowan was giving up a two-run home run to Evan Longoria to cut the Toronto lead to three. Suddenly, a save situation existed. But there stood Janssen, down the left field line in the visitors bullpen, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and, towel in hand, loosening his arm. He would not ascend to the bullpen mound. “Im starting to get the grasp of it a little bit more,” said Janssen of his situation vis-à-vis Sanchez. “Pretty much, I just have to be ready to pitch and make the most of every opportunity that I get and see where that takes me. Sanchez is a heck of a pitcher, hes throwing the heck out of the ball and right now were just concerned with wins and if he gives us the best chance to win then we need him in the game.” Manager John Gibbons said he spoke to Janssen following Wednesdays game. After the skipper laid out the details, Janssen made a counter offer. Hell throw when hes needed. It doesnt have to be the ninth inning. “Because its a little fluid Ill pitch whenever,” said Janssen. “I just want to pitch and I just want to help the team as best I can. If one night of the week thats closing, if one night of the week thats something else, weve just got to roll with it.” Janssen has converted 21 of 25 save opportunities this season. The first two of his blown saves, on May 29 versus Kansas City and on June 9 against Minnesota, werent his fault. A ninth inning, two-out throwing error by Jose Reyes brought home the Royals tying run on May 29. Kansas City would win the game in 10 innings, snapping the Blue Jays season-high nine-game winning streak. On June 9, a one out double play groundball didnt get turned, extending the inning and the Twins managed to cash two runs to tie the game, although the Jays would win on a Kevin Pillar walk-off single in the ninth. The two most recent blown saves were on Janssen. Both came in August, a month in which he posted a 6.75 ERA and opponents slugged him for a .943 OPS against. Janssen hasnt been the same since being felled by a bout of food poisoning over the All-Star Break. He lost eight pounds during the ordeal and after missing the first two games post-break, he threw in five of Torontos next eight. It took Janssen longer to feel better than hed be willing to admit – hes not one for excuses – but the illness is far enough in the rearview mirror that its out of mind. Its all but certain Janssen will be in a different uniform next season. However it appears his time in Toronto is ending, he doesnt want it to reflect the life and career hes built in the city. “I dont want my time here in Toronto to get muddied by this last month and a half of the season,” said Janssen. “Ive been here for eight-plus seasons. Ive given this city and the team everything Ive had for as long as Ive been playing and I just dont want this … whatever you want to call it, stamp who I am as a person, as a teammate and as a competitor.” JENKINS SEASON OVER Reliever Chad Jenkins suffered a fractured right hand in a freak batting practice accident. He was in the outfield when a line drive short-hopped him, bending back his pinky finger and fracturing the bone at the fingers base. The recovery time is four-to-six weeks. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . With timely hitting and good pitching, the Marlins are one win away from sweeping the slumping Houston Astros. Nike NFL Jerseys China . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers. https://www.chinajerseysnfl.us/ . Ribery terrorized the Schalke defence throughout and put the home side ahead in the 36th minute when he chipped the goalkeeper before stroking the ball into the empty net. The French winger struck again after the interval, combining with Thomas Mueller on the left before firing a deflected shot beyond the helpless Timo Hildebrand in the 55th, as Bayern bounced back from Wednesdays 1-0 loss at FC Basel in the Champions League. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . - Regan Smith had the checkered flag in sight at Daytona a year ago and a freight train of cars in his rearview mirror. Fake Nike NFL Jerseys . Fognini won 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 after Argentinas Carlos Berlocq had beaten Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 on the outdoor clay surface. Doubles are set for Saturday with reverse singles on Sunday to decide which team reaches the quarterfinals.New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - John Wall supplied 24 points and 11 assists in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. Wall made a dazzling move late in the third quarter, hitting a reverse spinning layup, and then was involved in fourth-quarter scuffle. He took exception to a hard foul from Quincy Acy, retaliating with a shove. The New York forward swung his right arm as if to throw a punch before holding up. Acy received a Flagrant-2 foul and was ejected with 5:31 remaining. Wall received a technical foul. Bradley Beal had 17 points and Kris Humphries scored 14 off the bench on 7-of-9 shooting for the Wizards, who snapped a two-game losing streak with a win in their first game on Christmas since 2008. Washington earned its fourth straight win at Madison Square Garden and fifth overall against the Knicks, who have dropped eight consecutive home games, the longest streak in a single season in team history. Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points and Jose Calderon added 16 for New York, which has lost 16 of its last 17 games overall. Final Score: Oklahoma City 114, San Antonio 106 San Antonio, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Westbrook turned in another dominant performance and the Oklahoma City Thunder, minus Kevin Durant, beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-106 on Christmas Day. Westbrook totaled 35 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and five steals for the Thunder, who were without the reigning MVP Durant for a fifth straight game. Durant sprained his right ankle late in the first half of a loss to Golden State on Dec. 18. WWestbrook scored 20 in the second half, helping Oklahoma City hold off a pair of Spurs rallies.dddddddddddd Serge Ibaka added 21 points and Steven Adams donated 16 points and a career-high 15 boards. The Thunder were plus-27 with Westbrook and Adams on the floor. Seven Spurs reached double figures, with Matt Bonners 17 points leading the balanced attack. Tim Duncan scored 15, Cory Joseph and Tiago Splitter had 14 apiece and Manu Ginobili tallied 11 with a game-high 13 assists. Final Score: Miami 101, Cleveland 91 Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Cheers quickly turned to boos once Michael Baiamonte announced the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup. Dwyane Wade then went and shot the lights out in the first half. Literally. And once LeBron James finally helped put the Cavs in front early in the fourth quarter, the Miami Heat had one last surge in them. Wade netted 24 of his 31 points in the first half and the Heat spoiled James return to South Beach with a 101-91 win over the Cavaliers. James, who helped the Heat to a quartet of NBA Finals appearances and a pair of titles during his four-year stay with Miami, was the first Cleveland player introduced out of its starting five. He was greeted with a standing ovation with a scattering of boos, but James wasnt able to fully sink in the reaction as Baiamonte quickly went through the rest of Clevelands lineup. The cheer was more elongated midway through the opening frame when the Heat played a video tribute. James acknowledged the applause by waving to the crowd. James finished with 30 points and eight assists. ' ' '