Blue Jays place Cesar Valdez on 10-day DL
LONDON — Shawn Barber will be leaving the world track and field championships empty-handed.
The Canadian pole vaulter failed to defend his gold medal today after missing all three attempts at 5.75 metres.
The 23-year-old from Toronto won gold two years ago in Beijing.
But he has been inconsistent this season as he has tinkered with his jumping style. He arrived in London with the 16th best jump in the world of 5.72 metres.
He missed his first attempt at 5.50 metres today and needed three tries to clear 5.65.
The last two years have presented challenges for Barber, who had a disastrous competition at last summer’s Rio Olympics as he struggled in heavy wind and rain en route to a 10th-place finish.
A few months later, news broke that he had tested positive for cocaine before the Olympics, but was spared a suspension when an independent arbitrator ruled Barber had accidentally ingested the drug. Barber said it happened while he was kissing a woman.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-hander Cesar Valdez on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday with a right shoulder impingement.
Right-handed reliever Leonel Campos was recalled from triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
Valdez has started three games for the Blue Jays this season and has struggled in the last two. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings on Friday in a 16-7 loss to the Houston
Barber’s Canadian record is 5.93, which he set in 2015.
Elsewhere, Matt Hughes of Oshawa, Ont., was sixth in the 3,000-metre steeplechase while Brandon McBride of Windsor, Ont., was eighth in the men’s 800. On the women’s side, Vancouver’s Liz Gleadle was 12th in the women’s javelin while Sage Watson of Medicine Hat, Alta., qualified for the final in the women’s 400-metre hurdles and Toronto’s Crystal Emmanuel qualified for the semifinals in the women’s 200 metres. Astros, allowing six runs on six hits and walking two.
The 32-year-old Valdez is 1-1 with a 7.63 earned-run average in 11 games this season with both Toronto and Oakland.
The Blue Jays claimed Valdez off waivers from the Athletics in May.
Campos has appeared in six games for Toronto this season, posting a 2.08 ERA and striking out 10 over 8 2/3 innings.
DAVIE, Fla. — Jay Cutler woke up in his hotel room Tuesday morning and didn’t know where he was. Then the fog cleared, and he realized it was time to go back to work.
The Miami Dolphins’ new quarterback practiced for the first time since December, marking the start of his comeback from a brief retirement. Rust removal included 11-on-11 drills and one-on-one conversations as he learns the names of teammates.
When the workout ended, the 34-year-old Cutler said he had no second thoughts about deciding to renew his working relationship with coach Adam Gase and return for another season.
“It felt right,” Cutler said. “Going into work and getting here and going through the motions of the practice, it felt good. I told Adam thanks for bringing me in. It’s fun to be back out here.”
Cutler, who parted with the Chicago Bears in March, agreed to delay his fledgling network TV career when he signed a $10 million, one-year contract with Miami. He’s expected to start in place of Ryan Tannehill, who is out with a knee injury likely to sideline him for the entire season.
Cutler took the practice field wearing jersey No. 6, his number since high school, after reserve quarterback Brandon Doughty agreed to give it up. When Cutler began to throw, he looked light on his feet and quick and accurate with his passes while showing good arm strength.
Same old Jay, said Gase, who was the offensive co-ordinator when both were with the Bears.
“He remembers basically everything with the offence,” Gase said. “He said he felt good, and he’s not going to sugarcoat anything with me. He felt just right back in it.”
Said Cutler: “It’s kind of a crash course, if you already took the course before.”
He underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery last December, but said his arm felt good and will need only a couple of days to be 100 per cent. His timing will take a little bit to come back, he said, and the 88-degree morning temperature was hotter than he’s used to.
Cutler’s best moment came in individual drills, when he threw a 45-yard tight spiral that hit Jakeem Grant in stride at the goal line. Grant, a second-year reserve, described the moment as a dream come true.
“Everybody in the locker room grew up watching Jay,” Grant said. “It’s an honour for him to be on the team.”
Cutler might not know Grant’s name yet, but he seemed intent on getting to know everyone quickly. He spent much of practice engaged in steady conversation with backup quarterback Matt Moore, quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree and even Tannehill.
“It’s a tough situation for Ryan,” Cutler said. “He has been great and supportive. He just wants to help this team win games.”
Also supportive was Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Cutler’s nemesis when they were rivals in the NFC North.
“I’ve played against him many, many time,” Suh said. “I actually got my first sack against him. A good dude. I don’t like any quarterbacks, but he was one guy I definitely had respect for, because he took hits and never cried, never complained, just got up and played the next play.”
There was no tackling in practice, and Cutler won’t play in Thursday’s exhibition opener, so he doesn’t have to worry about sacks for a while. Tuesday was just a start; the hits will come later.