NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays struggle toward the seasons finish, its becoming increasingly difficult to find something positive

NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays struggle toward the seasons finish, its becoming increasingly difficult to find something positive to discuss. Deion Sanders Youth Jersey . Heres one: Dioner Navarros play. The 30-year-old catcher told TSN.ca hes proven something to himself during his first year in Toronto. “That I can play everyday,” said Navarro. “I know I can hit. I know I can call a game. I know I can throw but Ive still got it on me that I cant play everyday. Obviously Im throwing the last bullets out there.” Navarro got the start behind the plate on Saturday afternoon, marking the 107th time this season hed caught at least part of a game. The last time Navarro squatted in more than 100 games was back in 2009 when he played for the Tampa Bay Rays. His season has been welcome in Toronto following J.P. Arencibias disastrous 2013. In that regard, it could have been Navarro or anybody else putting on the tools of ignorance for the Blue Jays this season: the replacement was, by default, going to be an improvement over the predecessor. But Navarro is third on the club with 68 runs batted-in, far exceeding his previous career high of 54 set in 2008, the year of his only All-Star selection and the season in which his Rays lost in the World Series to Philadelphia. His 101 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) isnt spectacular but is the second highest of his career. Navarros 12 home runs are one off his career high set last season with the Chicago Cubs. Hes developed a strong rapport with veteran pitchers (Mark Buehrle) and youngsters (Marcus Stroman) alike. While there are rumblings about his defence, specifically getting down on balls in the dirt to prevent wild pitches, Navarro is middle-of-the-pack (21 per cent) when it comes to throwing out base stealers. Navarros enjoyed his return to the American League East, “Where I grew up,” he said. Hes enjoyed proving his doubters wrong. The funny thing is he was among them. “You can talk all you want and obviously my mindset is I can do this, but there was still a little doubt, especially being a backup for four years straight and not having to catch more than 50 games a year and you kind of doubt yourself, like can you still do this?” said Navarro. “When I got the opportunity obviously I jumped in and its just been so satisfying.” Nobody mistook Navarro for Arnold Schwarzenegger when he arrived in Dunedin in February and while its doubtful hell be chiseled when players report next spring, Navarro will consult with his personal trainer at the end of the season to develop a more comprehensive plan for 2015. He stayed off the disabled list but Navarro did have a minor issue with his quadriceps earlier in the year. “Im going to try a different program this offseason,” said Navarro. “I felt great throughout the whole season but there were days that [it] wasnt as great but weve still got to grind it out so Im going to prepare myself this offseason for those days and hopefully Ill be better next year.” Theres reason for Navarro to be motivated. Next season will be a contract year. Hell also be working with a young pitching staff that has the potential to be elite. “Our future is bright. Our future is really bright,” said Navarro. “Weve got Stroman. Weve got Sanchez, Norris, Pompeys looking really good. Goins is showing some improvement. Everybody, man, everybody. Encarnacion, Bautista, myself, so Im really excited.” LIND NURSING BACK PAIN He wouldnt have started anyway with the Yankees throwing left-hander Chris Capuano on Saturday, but Adam Linds recurring back issues have returned. “Lindys back locked up on him a little bit (Friday) night,” said manager John Gibbons. “Hopefully its not a long-term thing with Lindy but you probably wont see him (Saturday).” Lind has been limited to 91 games this season, largely because of a fractured foot that cost him 28 games in July and August. He did miss 17 games in April and May with a back strain. Used almost exclusively in a platoon scenario this season, Lind has posted a .357/.415/.548 slash line against right-handed pitchers. Thats elite level hitting despite a dip in power (six home runs compared to 23 last season). Linds .398 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) against right-handers this year is higher than his career .315. ENCARNACIONS MRI Edwin Encarnacion is dealing with back pain but it isnt significant enough to keep him out of the lineup. Encarnacion underwent a MRI on Friday afternoon. Manager John Gibbons said the imaging revealed mild inflammation. The 31-year-old homered has shown no ill effects. Playing as the designated hitter, Encarnacion hit a two-run home run in the first inning of Friday nights game and doubled home Jose Bautista in the first inning on Saturday. Robert Newhouse Jersey . Sizemore, who turned 29 on Jan. 4, has been limited to six games over the past two seasons because of an injured left knee that twice required surgery. He originally got hurt on Feb. 25, 2012, during a fielding drill in Oaklands first full-squad spring training workout and had surgery that March 21 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Connor Williams Cowboys Jersey . -- Quarterback Josh Johnson has returned to the San Francisco 49ers and his former college coach, Jim Harbaugh. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Tony-Romo-Inverted-Jersey/ . His apology came before a pregame ceremony in which the team honoured its 2004 team that won Bostons first World Series championship since 1918. "I realize that I behaved bad in Boston," Ramirez said.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Nobody on the current Villanova roster had even been born the last time the Wildcats stood alone atop the Big East. The 32-year drought ended Thursday night when Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points and No. 6 Villanova clinched the outright Big East championship for the first time since the 1981-82 season by holding off undermanned Xavier 77-70. The Wildcats, playing before a hostile standing-room only crowd of 10,340 in their first visit to Cintas Center, overcame a determined Musketeers team in what Villanova coach Jay Wright described as a "great, intense college basketball environment." "Youre not going to win championships unless you win on the road," Wright said. "We have great respect for this league. To win this league is a hell of an accomplishment." JayVaughn Pinkston added 15 points -- eight in the last 3:20 -- James Bell finished with 12 and Ryan Arcidiacono chipped in 11 as the Wildcats (27-3, 15-2 Big East) extended their school record for regular-season wins with their fifth straight and 11th in their last 12 games. They also clinched the top seed in the Big East tournament, which starts Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in New York. "This is a big accomplishment," Bell said. "Its a testament to how hard weve worked, but we cant stop there." The Wildcats went into the night with a 1 1-2 game lead over No. 13 Creighton in the Big East and two games remaining. The Bluejays have one game to play. Villanova, which last shared the title in a co-championship with Syracuse in 2005-06, wraps up its regular season Saturday at home against Georgetown. Justin Martin had 20 points for Xavier (20-11, 10-8) while Semaj Christon added 18 points and Isaiah Philmore finished with 15. The Musketeers ended the regular season with consecutive losses. Randy White Youth Jersey. Xavier struggled from 3-point range finishing 6 of 23, while Villanova was 9 for 23. The game was Xaviers first without 6-foot-10 junior centre Matt Stainbrook, who started each of the Musketeers previous 30 before straining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in their 71-62 loss at Seton Hall on Monday. Stainbrook watched the game from the bench wearing a tan suit and bow tie. "Us not having Matt was tough, but I think we learned more about each other," Philmore said. "It didnt turn out the way we wanted it to, obviously, but we stuck together. It just wasnt enough. Sometimes, its not always enough." Xaviers regular-season finale was its second consecutive home game against a Top 10 team and the second straight to attract a standing-room only crowd. The Wildcats never trailed after Arcidiacono made two free throws for a 29-28 lead with 5:11 left in the first half. Villanova, which beat Xavier 81-58 on Feb. 3 for the Musketeers worst loss of the season, led by as many as 12 points. The lead dwindled to three before Josh Hart and Bell made two free throws each in the final 19.4 seconds. "We knew they wouldnt go away," Wright said. "They played without one of their best players. We caught a break there." The Wildcats had no surprises, Musketeers coach Chris Mack said. "They were what we saw on film," he said. "This was our first game without Matt, so that was a little bit different, but we competed. We didnt quite have enough to beat Villanova." Hilliard, averaging 14.1 points per game, had 15 to help the Wildcats take a 41-36 halftime lead. Martin, who went into the game averaging 11.2 points, scored 12 in the first half for Xavier. ' ' '