As 2013 winds to a close, TSN. cheap jerseys from china .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. TSN.cas writing staff reflects on the best baseball moments from the past 12 months including the Jays highs and lows, Ichiros moment in the sun, Todd Heltons farewell and more! Torontos Opening Day optimism vanishes in a hurry By: Barry Riz A winter unlike most in Blue Jays history had passed with some of the most dramatic player upgrades the franchise had ever seen. Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle, and Josh Johnson were each star additions and made the Blue Jays a revitalized force in the AL East. Many prognosticators saw Toronto as a 95-win team, and Las Vegas sportsbooks had the Jays as World Series favourites. Opening Day is usually sold out in Toronto - but tickets to this one against Cleveland were tough to come by two months in advance. There was a buzz in the stadium, an expectation that had been building all winter. The road back to the postseason was going to start - and start in style - with defending NL Cy Young winner Dickey on the hill for the Blue Jays. Well for those who believe in signs, there were plenty to go around. Catcher J.P. Arencibia allowed three passed balls from the knuckleballer which led in part to Clevelands first two runs. Torontos newly potent offence was held to just four hits, with their sole run coming on a double play groundout. The Indians cruised to a 4-1 win. After months of winter build-up the aura of invincibility for Blue Jay fans was gone in a hurry. Ichiro joins baseballs elite By: Shane McNeil Baseball has had a pretty brutal couple decades from the 1994 players strike through to the Biogenesis bombshell of 2013, but Ichiro is the type of classic baseball player that performs at the most basic technical level in hugely entertaining fashion. I dont care that he has hit one home run for every 83 major league plate appearance, because theres no one else in the game Id rather see run as fast as they can from home to first. So when Ichiro joined Pete Rose and Ty Cobb as the only professional ball players to reach the 4,000 hit plateau on Aug. 21, it gave baseball fans a chance to respect a man who has excelled at the game on its most basic of levels. Some put an asterisk on the achievement due to his time in Japan, but there are many reasons why those people are wrong. Ichiro has played baseball in a beautiful and dignified way for the last 13 years in North America while countless other superstars have chosen not to. If we cant allow the man his one moment in the sun in what is likely the twilight of his MLB career, were doing something wrong. A quiet goodbye for a Hall-of-Famer By: Mike Beauvais The 2013 MLB season had some great storylines and it was one of the more compelling campaigns in recent memory including legendary New York Yankees reliever Mariano Riveras farewell tour. There was another significant retirement in 2013, but it certainly didnt receive the coverage that Riveras did. On Sept. 17, Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton announced that the 2013 season would be his last in the MLB. Only 11 days later, he would play his final game at Coors Field. There was a modest ceremony prior to the game and Helton would go on to close out his career in Denver with a home run and three RBI. Maybe Heltons retirement didnt merit the fanfare that came with Riveras, but Heltons played out much like the majority of his 17 seasons with the Rockies did â€" quietly and under the mainstream radar. If youre a casual baseball fan, you just might be taken aback by Heltons career numbers: .316 career batting average, top-10 all-time in OBP (.430,), only player in MLB history to have 10-consecutive seasons of 35 or more doubles as well as countless Rockies career records. Helton was never the sexy name that Derek Jeter was and never starred in the spotlight of the Bronx like Jeter and Rivera did, but Todd Helton was the Colorado Rockies talisman and worthy of Cooperstown consideration. In his final at bat on that cool, September night in Denver, Helton went out as unassumingly as you would think a player like Helton would: he struck out swinging before politely soaking in the standing ovation from the Coors Field crowd. "It goes by really quick," Helton said after the game of his career. "You blink and here you are." Brian McCann stands up for his principles By: Daan De Kerpel In a two week span in September, Brian McCann had confrontations with Miami Marlins rookie Jose Fernandez followed by Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez after they each admired a home run a little too long. On Sept. 11, Fernandez was making his last start of the season in Miami. In the sixth inning, he hit a home run and watched it a little too slowly for the Braves liking. As he rounded third, Fernandez made some gestures to the Braves bench, which didnt sit well with McCann, who immediately started talking to the 20-year-old. After the game, Fernandez told the media that he apologized to both McCann and Mike Minor, the pitcher who hit the home run off of. McCanns response: "Hey, man, youre a kid but youre in the big leagues. You need to do what big leaguers do." Perhaps taking a page out of Johnsons playbook, McCann was much more animated two weeks later when Gomez took Paul Maholm deep, watched the ball sail into the seats before running. After trading barbs with Braves players as he ran the bases, McCann stood in front of home plate and wouldnt let the Gomez pass. That led to the benches clearing and even punches being thrown. While no one is expecting McCann to display this type of fire all the time in the regular season, the fact that he can get that wound up in games against non-playoff teams in September, makes me wonder what hell be like in a rivalry game against the Red Sox. The infectious joy that is Munenori Kawasaki By: Sarah Zintel The Toronto Blue Jays 2013 season may not have met their fans expectations but they certainly got lucky with the hilarious distraction that was Munenori Kawasaki. He stormed onto the Jays infield leaving everyone in stiches. The shortstop quickly became best known for his unorthodox stretching, unique dance moves, original handshakes with teammates, and most importantly his interview skills. The Japan natives most infamous interview was after his walk-off double for the win at home against the Orioles where he stole the show with his preplanned notes and poor English. The interview quickly went viral and most recently earned him the MLBs GIBBY Award for "Cut 4 Topic of the Year". Kawasakis positive and joyous attitude helped motivate not only the fans but also his teammates to come together and celebrate the Blue Jays, despite the team finishing last in the AL East. The team declined Kawasakis option for next season and the fans will surely miss his spirit. But one thing that will never be forgotten is: "My name is Munenori Kawasaki. I come from Japan. Im Japanese!" MLB strikes unlikely gold in Game 162 By: Shane McNeil So, were now two years into Major League Baseballs expanded playoff format and while nothing could replicate the insanity of the final day of the 2011 season, the extra playoff spot has at least provided meaningful games on the seasons final day with regularity. This season was no different, as the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians entered the final game vying for wild card spots. All three teams won their final game, setting up a one-game playoff between the Rangers and Rays to earn a spot in another one-game playoff with the Indians. But the highlight of the day would come not from the wild card chase but a meaningless game in Miami. Marlins hurler Henderson Alvarez no-hit the Detroit Tigers for nine innings, but his teammates were unable to get him a run through eight. The Marlins caught some fortuitous bounces in the ninth, including the wild pitch that would plate Giancarlo Stanton for the winning run. Immediately after Stanton crossed, the Marlins mobbed Alvarez â€" who was standing in the on-deck circle - to celebrate the achievement. When was the last time you saw a pitcher relish a no-no with a batters helmet on? . Members of that Arizona team will gather this weekend to commemorate the 10th anniversary of that seven-game triumph, a series acclaimed as one of the most dramatic in history, one that ended with Luis Gonzalezs ninth-inning single off Mariano Rivera, a base hit that barely made it to the outfield grass. [url=http://www.nhlpenguinshockeystore.com/black-68-jaromir-jagr-womens-jersey/]... Jagr Jersey . -- Canadas Lorie Kane won the Legends Championship on Sunday, closing with an even-par 72 for a two-stroke victory over Val Skinner and Laurie Rinker. ht... . "Im very happy to help the team," the Swiss youth international said. "It was a good start." Brazilian defender Felipe opened the scoring in the 43rd minute for Hannover, before last seasons leading scorer, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, drew the visitors level with a great individual effort in the 52nd. [url=http://www.officialroyalsteamshop.com/Yordano-Ventura-Royals-Jersey/]Yordan... Ventura Royals Jersey . UK Anti-Doping says the Iraqi-born professional tested positive for stanozolol following his four-round loss to former Olympic champion Audley Harrison on May 26. . But the heptathlete plans to move out of her Calgary home while shes competing. Zelinka wants to avoid distractions and concentrate on her seven events over two days. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Mike Leake was a sophomore at Arizona State the last time he got to round the bases at his own pace. Three years later, he finally got to do it again in the major leagues. The right-hander hit his first career homer -- the first of three solo shots in a row -- and allowed only two hits over eight innings Monday night to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. When Leake connected on a 1-2 pitch from Mike Minor (2-4) with two outs in the fourth inning, he sprinted around the bases with no outward show of celebration. Then, he sat in the dugout and watched Zack Cozart and Drew Stubbs also go deep within a 10-pitch span. "I started a trend, I guess," Leake said. "It was nice to see three in a row." Leake (1-5) finally got his first victory in eight starts this season, doing a little bit of everything. He struck out a season-high six and retired 14 in a row after Juan Francisco homered in the second inning. "He was outstanding," said Stubbs, who had two of the Reds four homers. "That was a big performance for him. Hed been struggling. That should be a big boost for his confidence. Im glad to see it." All the runs scored on solo homers at one of the majors most hitter-friendly ballparks. The Braves had a chance to tie it in the ninth, when the Reds lack of a proven closer came into play again. Jose Arredondo walked two batters with two outs before Sean Marshall retired Jason Heyward on a fly ball for his eighth save, completing the two-hitter. Reds manager Dusty Baker did not use reliever Aroldis Chapman, who pitched in four of the previous five games. Chapman saved Sundays 5-2 victory over the Yankees and Baker said Monday the hard-throwing lefty will get more chances to close when hes rested. After the game, the Reds learned that Chapman had been arrested in central Ohio early Monday for speeding and driving with a suspended license. He has a court hearing set for June 6. Minor had a strange outing. He went six innings and yielded five hits, four of them homers. "I dont think it was the ballpark," Minor said. "The pitches were up, and thats what they did -- home runs. They were sitting on my best pitch tonight, which was my changeup. Three of the four homers came off changeups. [url=http://www.nhlofficial.ca/colorado-avalanche-ryan-oreilly-jersey-canada/]Ry... OReilly Avalanche Jersey Canada. " The Reds were coming off a successful stay in New York that included three wins in five games against the Mets and Yankees. Back home, they got the best of another homer-filled game at Great American Ball Park. Leake gave up a homer deep into the Braves bullpen by Francisco in the second. The Reds gave up on the third baseman during spring training and traded him to the Braves for reliever J.J. Hoover. The Braves got only one other runner as far as second base against Leake, who threw 98 pitches and walked one. Stubbs started the Reds biggest homer splurge of the season by connecting in the first inning. The Reds wasted a chance to break the game open in the second when Joey Votto flied out with the bases loaded. Leake hit a high, 1-2 pitch into the stands in left field with two outs in the fourth. He sprinted around the bases without fanfare, then got a congratulatory knuckle bump from Baker on the top step of the dugout. Cozart was in a 3-for-28 slump when he followed with another homer three pitches later, the fourth of the season for the rookie shortstop. Stubbs came to bat, ran the count full and hit his fifth homer. It was the first time three Reds batters homered in succession since Sept. 10 at Colorado, when Chris Heisey, Votto and Jay Bruce did it against Alex White. After Stubbs rounded the bases for the second time and got congratulations from everyone in the dugout, he stopped by Leake for a brief chat -- about hitting, no doubt. Chipper Jones was out of the Braves lineup for the third consecutive game with a swollen left calf, hit by a batted ball on Friday night. The Reds have put Jones name on the side of the bases for the series, honouring him in his last season before retirement. Jones expects to miss another game or two. NOTES: Brandon Beachy makes his second career start against the Reds on Tuesday. Mat Latos is 2-2 in five career starts against the Braves. ... The Reds hadnt hit more than three homers in any game before Monday. The Braves hadnt allowed more than three. ... Caleb Lloyd, a 20-year-old Reds fan in left field, caught two of the three homers in the fourth inning, one off a carom. ... The Reds will honour Jones on the field before the final game of the series Thursday, presenting him with one of the bases. ' ' '