Basisphilosophie » Perhaps that explains the bond he still feels toward

DETROIT - Dominic Raiola spent 14 seasons with the Detroit Lions and endured some of the most difficult years in franchise history.Perhaps that explains the bond he still feels toward the city, even though hell no longer play his home games in Motown.Ive made Detroit my home. People ask me when Im moving back to Hawaii, Im not, Raiola said Tuesday. So, this is home for me now and Ive made a home here. Its very humbling to be in this position that I am.The Lions have told Raiola he isnt part of their plans for next season, meaning the veteran centre will be a free agent after playing the first 14 years of his career with Detroit. He says he thinks he can keep playing, but now hell have to find another team.Raiola set a franchise record with 203 starts, and hes one of three players to appear in at least 200 games for the Lions.In many ways, hes a throwback who couldve played in any era of the NFL, general manager Martin Mayhew said in a statement. He should take pride in the fact that he is one of the most durable players in this teams history, as proven by his longevity, and that he helped lead us to two playoff berths in the past four seasons. We wish him nothing but the very best in all his future endeavours.The Lions missed the playoffs in Raiolas first 10 seasons, including an 0-16 showing in 2008, but the Honolulu native was still a part of the starting lineup when Detroit reached the post-season two of the last four seasons. This season the Lions were a wild card, losing their playoff opener at Dallas.I think the last ones going to stand out. I mean, you can say the 2011 playoff year because it was so special and a lot of people made it about the guys that were left over from the 0-16 team, Raiola said. But I think theyre going to look back at this season and say that was a step for Lions coming to whats ahead of them. I think good things are ahead. I know good things are ahead.Raiolas longevity — and his postgame candour — made him one of the most recognizable Detroit players, but he also exasperated fans on occasion. He was fined this past season for unnecessary roughness in a game at New England, and he was suspended for the regular-season finale at Green Bay after stepping on a Chicago player the previous weekend.I played with passion, he said. Yeah it was controversial at times, but when you live in the city, nobody knows that unless you live in the city. If youre one with the city you understand the passion I play with, what I brought every day. It was grouped together.The Lions drafted centre Travis Swanson in the third round last year, and he seems to be the most likely candidate to take over the position now.Hes going to do great, Raiola said. Hes a tough dude. Hes smart. I mean, youve got to be smart to be a centre. The Lions are in good hands with him and Im glad I can leave what I did and move on to Travis. Couldnt happen to a better guy.Raiola signed a one-year deal last off-season that kept him with the Lions for 2014, and this was arguably Detroits most successful season of his time with the franchise.I put a lot of my career on grouping myself with the city. You heard me say that over and over, Raiola said. One thing if I could apologize to people in the city is that Im sorry that we couldnt be more successful and ultimately win a championship while I was here. ... Some people can take it how they want, but the real fans know that I really mean that and that it really comes from my heart.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Nike Shox Shoes Australia . According to USA Today the Finns have tapped forwards Jarkko Immonen and Sakari Salminen to replace injured forwards Mikko Koivu and Valtteri Filppula at the Sochi Games. Cheap Nike Shox Australia .3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday. http://www.cheapnikeshoxaustralia.com/ . -- Jack Del Rio only wanted to talk about the Cowboys, not the Trojans. Nike Shox Clearance Australia . Felix Pie had an RBI double earlier in the inning, as Baltimore rallied for three runs to overcome a 3-2 deficit. J.J. Hardy had two hits and Matt Wieters chipped in with an RBI double for the Orioles, who pushed their winning streak to three games. Nike Shox Clearance Sale .The South African had three birdies on the front nine and another four after the turn at Leopard Creek Country Club to move to 16-under 128 overall.Grace, who won all four of his European Tour titles in 2012, dropped his only shot of the competition on the par-3 fifth.DUNEDIN, Florida – Heres what we know when it comes to exactly who will fill out the back of the Blue Jays season-opening starting rotation: We dont know. At the moment, neither do the decision-makers. Dustin McGowan is front-and-centre in this ongoing saga, having thrust himself into the conversation with a dominating three-inning performance against the Phillies on Thursday, just hours after manager John Gibbons appeared to pour cold water on the notion. Heres part of Gibbons conversation with the media from that day: QUESTION: "So it seems like (McGowans) more in the bullpen picture then?" GIBBONS: "Yeah, yeah. Unless he comes out of nowhere and you know." Then, later: QUESTION: "How concerned are you if he went the route and got the innings needed to be a starter, worried about injury with him?" GIBBONS: "Well, me personally, I was concerned about that. Not everybody was, but I was, because thats where hes had his problems. We think hes beyond that kind of stuff. And, I thought he thrived in the bullpen, I thought that was a good role for him. But he had desire to do it, a lot of people had desire to see if he could do it. Myself, personally, I kind of had some reservations." On Saturday, Gibbons clarified his stance, saying hes always left the door open to McGowan beginning the season in the rotation. "Im concerned about his health but I didnt say we had to have him in the bullpen," said Gibbons. "That hadnt been determined yet. Did I officially say he was in the bullpen?" McGowan wants to be a starter. Hes expressed as much on repeated occasions dating back to the end of last season. But the 31-year-old, whose multiple shoulder surgeries have sidetracked a promising career, admits to having his own hesitations. Hes topped out at 47 pitches this spring, the Thursday outing, and plans to throw 65 pitches in a minor league game on Tuesday. "Its going to be tough, I think," said McGowan. "Anytime you increase by 15 to 20 pitches, its more stress and I havent done it in so long Im kind of eager to see how I feel after." As of Saturday morning, McGowan hadnt spoken with Gibbons or pitching coach Pete Walker about whats in store beyond Tuesdays appearance. If McGowan feels good the day after his next start, its believed the plan is to have him throw an 85-pitch outing in a minor league game on Sunday, March 30. "I have to try it to see if I can do it," he said. "I cant just say in my mind, oh I can do it or I cant do it. So well see. "Well have to see after the next one, after 65 how I feel," McGowan continued. "Its possible. It all depends on me." The fact that McGowan is even in the rotation conversation is reflective of a number of things: First, its a testament to the injury-riddled players resolve. McGowan hasnt been a regular starter in the big leagues since 2008. Second, J.A. Happ entered camp with a job in the rotation but three poor outings later (20.25 ERA) and uncertainty about the status of his back has cast a cloud of doubt; Esmil Rogers is better suited to a long relief role; Todd Redmond is a strike thrower who typically struggles after the first time through the oppositions lineup. Third, the failure to sign Ervin Santana, or acquire any major league-caliber pitching help via free agency or trade in the offseason, is forcing the Jays into a less-than-desirable decision. McGowan wont throw a bullpen session before Tuesday in the name of resting up. "Thats one of the things were kind of discussing," he said. "Would it benefit me more to throw one or not to throw one, to have more days in between to rest? I believe well kind of try both at some point to see if I feel better not doing it or if I need a bullpen.dddddddddddd Its no big deal though." Regardless of whether hes a starter or a reliever, McGowan is poised to break camp with the Blue Jays for the first time since 2008. Theres still a week to go, though, and McGowans been through enough injuries to know he cant take anything for granted. "Weve still got a little bit to go in spring training so lets not jump ahead here," he said, pretending to knock on wood. Hutchison tosses gem Drew Hutchison pitched seven innings of one-hit, one-walk baseball in a minor league game on Saturday morning. The 23-year-old still hasnt officially secured a job in the starting rotation, although its difficult to believe the impending announcement is anything but a mere formality. "It was good to get stretched out, get 80 pitches and get up-and-down seven times," said Hutchison. "Those were the two most important things out of the outing." Its been a rewarding spring for Hutchison, whose positive results reflect the hard work he put in to rehabbing from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. General manager Alex Anthopoulos pursued pitching help in the offseason, both via trade and free agency, but failed to secure an arm. Hutchison watched from afar, unconcerned about what he couldnt control. "Ive always thought I was a guy that could contribute," said Hutchison. "Regardless of what is being talked about anywhere else, it doesnt change the way I prepare for a season." Janssen on track Casey Janssen, recovering from soreness in the back of his pitching shoulder, threw one inning in a minor league game on Friday. The key is the so-called "bounce back," how a guy feels the morning after his outing. "Good," said Janssen. "Not too bad on the soreness. Those guys were scrappy down there and made me work a little bit. Its good to get a little sore. Its good to get some work in." While Janssen estimated he threw 21 or 22 pitches, the official line given to the media was 17 pitches and 10 strikes. In his one inning, he allowed a hit, walked one and struck out two. "I was kind of more pitching, not necessarily to a Double-A Philly team, it was how I would pitch in the game or knowing in a 2-1 count I might throw an offspeed pitch because thats what I going to have to do in two weeks," said Janssen. "It was just here it is, hit it and see what you can do with it. I was pitching and trying to put sequences together." Janssens shoulder pain was in a different spot – the back of the shoulder where the decelerator muscles are located – than last years post-surgery soreness. The plan is for Janssen to pitch in three spring games before opening day, including two appearances on back to back days. Reyes leaves early Shortstop Jose Reyes left Saturdays 9-4 win over the Tigers before the fourth inning. He experienced tightness in his left hamstring. Asked quickly whether he was concerned, Reyes said he was fine. Camp cuts The Blue Jays reduced their major league camp roster be three on Sunday, optioning OF Kevin Pillar to Triple-A Buffalo and reassigning 1B Dan Johnson and P Aaron Sanchez to minor league camp. Getting buzzed for good cause Todd Redmond will shave his head on March 26, all in the name of a good cause. Hes supporting Cut for Cure, which raises money in the fight against pediatric cancers. "Im going to shave my head to I think a Number One," said Redmond. "Im shooting for a Two just so I can have a little bit of hair on there." The aim is raise $50,000. Former Atlanta Braves great Chipper Jones is also involved. For more information, visit Redmonds Twitter page @redneckred34 or click on the this link. ' ' '