VANCOUVER -- As bad as things have gone for the Vancouver Whitecaps during their inaugural Major League Soccer season, captain Jay DeMerit has never lost his belief in the club. An eternal optimist, DeMerit isnt totally surprised by the Whitecaps struggles. The U.S. international knew what he was getting himself into when Vancouver signed him as their first MLS player last November. "I knew the challenge that has been in front of me and this club," DeMerit said after the Whitecaps practised Friday. "I dont think anyone was under the illusion ... that things were going to be rosy and easy. "Sometimes I seem to enjoy the struggle and what comes along with it because, once we come out the back end of this ... then everyone will be better for it." DeMerit believes the Whitecaps have all the right parts to be a good team. They just havent been put together yet. "Ive played with a lot of different players before and I am confident enough to say this squad has a lot of very good players," said the 31-year-old central defender. "We just havent found the right formula. Whether its guys being fit, whether its the right guys on the field. We just have to try and make that individual talent work as a team on the field." The Whitecaps will be looking for their fourth win of the season Saturday when they play the Houston Dynamo at Empire Field. Houston is third in the Eastern Conference with a 8-7-11 record, but Vancouver can find some inspiration that the Dynamo have no road victories in 2011. "You have to try and get as many advantages as you can going into any game (and) that is certainly one of them," said DeMerit. "We know first-hand what its like to play on the road and not get your results. That comes along with getting out of the gate early and making sure we put them under pressure and possibly score ourselves." At 3-13-9 the Whitecaps have the worst record in MLS. All their wins have come at home and Vancouver tied a league record by going 14 games without a victory. With nine games left on the schedule, Vancouver wants to avoid setting a MLS record for fewest wins in a season. The current low is four, set by Tampa in 2001 and matched by Chivas USA in 2005. The Whitecaps also have three road games remaining to avoid becoming the fourth team in league history not to win an away match. "Those are things we talk about," said DeMerit. "You dont want to set a precedent in a negative way. You want to try to avoid that as much as possible. "Just knowing if we get a couple of wins here, you can start to salvage a season." While the team has limped along this year, DeMerit has battled his own injuries. A groin-hip problem has resulted in him playing just 12 matches. Vancouvers 2-1 loss in Portland last weekend was DeMerits first full 90 minutes in two months. "To play about half the games has been frustrating," he said. "You sign up to be out there and to help lead and to be one of the role characters on this team. "When you cant do that, and you have to watch from the sidelines, that makes it even more frustrating." Saturdays match may also be the first time this season DeMerit and fellow defender Alain Rochat are teamed together. Injuries and roster juggling have prevented the two from working together. "It will be great to try and form a partnership with him and hold down the middle maybe a little bit stronger than we have," said DeMerit. The Whitecaps continue to draw large crowds despite losing on the pitch. Theres a fun atmosphere at games and a growing excitement over the teams pending move to the renovated B.C. Place Stadium in October. "Im here for the long haul," said DeMerit. "Hopefully with the right attitude and the right people around we can keep moving this train forward." [url=http://www.authenticjaguarsshop.com/J-T-Thomas-Jaguars-Jersey]http://www.au... . -- No one has led more late game-winning drives during the past five seasons than Matt Ryan, and the Atlanta Falcons quarterback did it again with his fifth one this season. [url=http://www.authenticjaguarsshop.com/]http://www.authenticjaguarsshop.com/[/... . - Sharks coach Todd McLellans decision to start the season with familiar lines from a year ago is paying early dividends for San Jose. [url=http://www.authenticjaguarsshop.com/Jason-Babin-Jaguars-Jersey]http://www.a... . The left-hander takes the mound for the third installment of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Catch all the action on TSN2 beginning at 8pm et/5pm pt. Friday night, Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in Mets history and yesterday afternoon R. [url=http://www.authenticjaguarsshop.com/Will-Rackley-Jaguars-Jersey]http://www.... . Suddenly, San Francisco is right back in the chase, and well before the All-Star break. Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run double and sacrifice fly to help Barry Zito end a three-start losing streak, and the Giants beat NL West-leading Los Angeles 8-0 on Monday night. [url=http://www.authenticjaguarsshop.com/Alan-Ball-Jaguars-Jersey]http://www.aut... . But, these days ... not so much. While the Pittsburgh Steelers stayed in the thick of the conferences muddled playoff chase last week, the San Diego Chargers have done nearly everything to ensure theyll not be playing next month.(Sports Network) - Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro had nothing but praise for his bench following his clubs fifth straight win on Saturday. Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey didnt have many nice things to say about his club following its most recent loss. Watch Raptors vs. Clippers live on TSN today at 3:30pm et/12:30pm pt. The Raptors have yet to win consecutive games this season and have lost the first three of a five-game road trip to begin the month. Toronto lost for the ninth time in its last 10 overall with Fridays 131-99 setback at the Utah Jazz. Toronto allowed the Jazz to score 38 points in the second quarter and also saw their opponent post a 36-point fourth frame as Utah led by as many as 34 in the game. That led to Casey calling out his club afterwards. "We gave in to the altitude, or whatever," said Casey. "I thought we splintered apart, didnt stay together. Tonights the first time Ive seen us give in. Thats what we talked about in the team meeting. Hopefully thats the start of togetherness, but talk is cheap. "We have to get back to the fundamentals of basketball, whether it is guarding the ball, rebounding, transition. Everything was exposed tonight." Andrea Bargnani had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Raptors, while DeMar DeRozan scored 17 points and pulled down five rebounds. Toronto has lost nine in a row on the road and is just 1-12 as the guest thhis season.dddddddddddd The Raptors wrap the road trip on Monday against Portland. The Clippers and their red-hot reserves look to keep the Raptors winless on their current road trip in a Sunday afternoon contest. Los Angeles will play its second straight early game after also hosting the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Perhaps the early start impacted the starters as it was the bench that came alive late in a 117-99 win. Reserve Jamal Crawford scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the bench was responsible for all 32 points in the frame. "Thank the bench because the starters are struggling," Del Negro said. "They got us off to a bad start again. I was disappointed with that. I didnt think our energy defensively was very good. ... Our bench won the game for us." Blake Griffin wasnt too bad either with 24 points, eight rebounds and a career-high four steals, while Chris Paul had a double-double with 16 points and 11 assists. "Our bench is very unique, when they come in its like another group of starters," said Paul. "We have to just come out and work on being better." Guard Chauncey Billups missed his second game in a row due to a left ankle injury for the Clippers, who won a season-high six games in a row from Nov. 7-19. First, theyll try to record their ninth win in their past 12 games versus the Clippers and snap a two-game slide in Los Angeles. ' ' '