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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. "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." Wholesale Air Jordan 11 From China .com) - Delon Wright scored 17 points and No. Cheap Air Jordan 11 From China . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form. http://www.airjordan11wholesale.com/ . After losing a shutout bid in the dying seconds of Sundays win over the Colorado Avalanche, Luongo would not be denied against the punchless Oilers and is now just one back of Patrick Roy for 14th on the all-time list. Jordan 11 Wholesale Free Shipping .C. -- Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons. Air Jordan 11 Wholesale . Lupul injured the hand in a fall at practice on Thursday. He will wear a cast for a minimum of 10 days before he can put a glove back on it and get some mobility back, said Carlyle, who added the winger wont go on the teams upcoming road trip.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Chris Paul couldnt remember the last time the Los Angeles Clippers needed quality practice time more than they do now.Their play has been a bit ragged at times, yet they were able to do enough good things down the stretch Monday night to hold off the Utah Jazz 101-97 with 24 points from Blake Griffin.The Clippers havent been able to get extra time in the gym because of their hectic schedule, so they have to try to improve on the fly. Several times this month, theyve had to close the court to reporters at Staples Center before games in order to fit in a couple of much-needed walkthroughs.Its been such a blur because theres been so many games, Paul said. But we cant look at that, or look for excuses like that. Weve pushed and fought through some times when guys are a little bit winded.We just talk about staying the course and figuring out a way to win. Tonight was one of those nights.The victory was the Clippers 12th straight against Utah, breaking the franchise record for consecutive wins against one team. The previous mark was set against Dallas from Feb. 4, 1992, through March 11, 1994.These guys had won four out of five, and this was our fifth time playing them — including preseason, Paul said. There were a couple of times where we could have gotten some separation, but they kept making timely plays.We didnt rebound well as a team. We gave up a lot of offensive rebounds, but we still found a way to win.Paul, who recorded his first triple-double with the Clippers during a 107-101 victory over the Jazz on Nov. 3, finished with 20 points and eight assists this time.It was Griffins first NBA game with at least 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four blocked shots.Blake was huge tonight. He made some big shots and got some tough rebounds, Paul said. He had some tough calls go against him, but he just didnt let it bother him. I think that shows the growth in our team, and also in Blake.DeAndre Jordan had 19 rebounds for the Clippers. The two-time defending Pacific Division champions blocked 12 shots and never trailed in the fourth quarter despite leading by no more than five.We got stops when we needed to, and Matt Barnes did an unbelievable job on Gordon Hayward, Paul said.dddddddddddd We know how Hayward can score the ball, but when he was making all those moves, Matt was right there, and he never gave up on those plays.The Clippers are 10-6 in December with one game left. Its the seventh time they have reached double digits in a month since the start of the 2011-12 season — including December 2012, when they became the first NBA team to go 16-0 in a month. They capped it by beating the Jazz 107-96 at home.Hayward scored 22 points for the Jazz, and Rudy Gobert added 13 rebounds and 11 points off the bench.Shooting guard Alec Burks missed his second straight game because of chronic soreness in his left shoulder. He also sat out two games early this month.Theyre a really good team. And for us to fight on the road like this is really positive, Hayward said. But we just have to close out games a little bit better and find ways to get good looks.Pauls 3-pointer with 35.6 seconds left in the third quarter helped Los Angeles pull even at 77-77. Jamal Crawford was outscoring the rest of the Clippers bench 14-0 until Jordan Farmar made a 3-pointer on his first shot of the game with 10:25 to play.___TIP-INSJazz: Their most recent victory over the Clippers was on Jan. 17, 2012, when they extended their home winning streak against them to 16 with a 108-79 decision. ... Hayward totalled 57 points against the Clippers in the first two meetings — losses by six and 16 points respectively. The season series concludes on Jan. 28 at Utah. ... Monday marked exactly 13 years since the Jazz gave Jerry Sloan his 800th NBA regular-season coaching victory by beating Philadelphia.Clippers: They are averaging 12.6 3-pointers over the first 32 games. Their total of 320 is the best in club history at this stage of a season. ... Reserve F Spencer Hawes was back in action and played 12 minutes after sitting out the previous nine games because of a bruised left knee. ... The Clippers are 79-20 since the start of the 2012-13 season, and the .798 winning percentage is the best in the league during that stretch.Jazz: Host Minnesota on Tuesday.Clippers: Host New York on Wednesday. ' ' '