Athen » plied four hits and a run for the Blue Jays in last night

As Manchester United, like Arsenal and Manchester City before them were humbled on the European stage in midweek, the infernal debate about what the best league in Europe rages on. Even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt the urge to discuss the matter during his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrows visit to Stoke. Anointing the BPL the best, Wenger trotted out the top to bottom competiveness theory. What cant be denied though is that English football is never too far away from grabbing the football headlines. This weeks offering began with a slip of the Mourinho lips. Then we had the national manager waxing lyrical about the possibility of adding a Penalty Psychologist to his Brazil bound backroom staff and how about this mornings revelation Sir Alex Ferguson attributes six of the best as a school boy influenced his managerial ways. Mourinho was clearly agitated and embarrassed when he faced the media Tuesday following the publication less than 24 hours earlier of disparaging remarks he made about Torres, Etoo and Demba Ba to a senior executive of a club partner. Unbeknown to Mourinho, what he thought was a private conversation ahead of a scheduled interview, was in fact been taped by a French TV channel. Who in turn published it for the world to see on their website. Using the old adage the best form of defense is attack, The Happy One launched into the media labeling them a disgrace for publishing extracts of that conversation - which included mocking Etoo and wondering out loud if he was actually older than his stated age. Torres had the last laugh though by responding to his managers harsh words in the most effective way possible by putting Chelsea up early in Wednesdays first leg against Galatasaray. It was no laughing matter not long after the final whistle in Istanbul when Chelsea revealed the club would be immortalized on the small screen in an upcoming edition of the Simpsons. In which a number of players, including Torres will feature in an episode where Bart Simpson plays referee. The week for Torres though didnt end on a happy note. We learnt earlier today and long with Manchester Uniteds Juan Mata both players had been omitted from Spains squad for next weeks prestigious friendly match against the 2006 World Cup winners, Italy. Roy Hodgson who named Toronto FCs Jermaine Defoe in his squad for the March 5 friendly at Wembley versus Denmark yesterday, made news earlier in the week when addressing England penalty woes at tournaments. The England manager, along with all other managers of the 32 nations going to this summers World Cup Finals, has just returned from visiting Brazil let it be known earlier in the week he is giving serious thought to having a psychologist at his disposal as ways to improve on Englands inability to win penalty shootouts. Hodgson experienced penalty misery first hand at Euro 2012 when Italy eliminated England in the quarter finals but certainly does not want to suffer that same fate for a team that has bowed out on penalties in six of the last 10 major tournaments they have qualified for. One of world footballs most dubious of records only once over this period have England progressed from the Achilles Heel of a penalty shootout. This occurring when they edged out Spain at EURO 96 - only then to fail at the next hurdle, Germany beating England on penalties in the semifinal. Hodgson isnt the first England World Cup manager to make the headlines for matters of the mind. As part of final preparations for the 1998 Finals the-then England manager Glen Hoddle arranged for a faith healer to visit the England camp before their departure to France. Such were part of Hoddles unorthodox methods, the ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville revealed in his 2011 autobiography Hoddle had requested his staff walk around the pitch anti-clockwise as ways to create positive energy before their round of 16 match against Argentina. A match won, by you guessed it, Argentina on penalties. Paired in a group this summer with Uruguay and Italy my how the legions of England fans who will journey to Brazil would dearly love to face the possibility of a penalty shootout. At least this would signify England had successfully made it out of a difficult group. Sir Alex Ferguson who tasted penalty glory himself in the 2008 Champions League Final made it on to the back pages today when it was revealed in the London Times that as a school boy he often found himself in trouble. Not only that, but Ferguson disclosed he felt the corporal punishment he received because of his bad boy ways went a long way to helping shape his hair dryer ways. He also revealed the belt which was used now hangs proudly on the wall of his study at home. With Manchester United not in action this weekend as their scheduled opponent, Manchester City play Sunderland in Sundays League Cup Final, perhaps it might be an idea if Ferguson invites David Moyes over for a cup of tea. In a BPL season which continues to shock, and will do so until mid May, tomorrows action throws up potential banana skins for each of the clubs who currently sit in the Champions League slots. The West London derby sees the current leaders Chelsea, paying a visit to the worst club, Fulham who are desperate for a win. Especially so after coughing up an 86th minute equalizer away to West Brom last Saturday, welcome to the BPL Felix Magath. Arsenal, with a well-rested Mezut Ozil expected to return following his own penalty demons, are sure to be weary of Stokes direct approach. While Liverpool wont need reminding of their early season 0-1 reversal at home to Southampton - result which knocked them off the top spot. Even though his club arent playing, whats the odds occasional Manchester United bad boy Wayne Rooney does not feature prominently come Sundays tabloid headlines? You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca@TheSoccerNoel TSN & TEAM Radio is your exclusive BPL radio home this season. Saturdays double header action features, Fulham v Chelsea with kickoff at 10am et/7am pt and Southampton v Liverpool with kickoff 12:30pm et/9:30am pt Dale Murphy Braves Jersey . Players suspended during the season for a performance-enhancing drug violation will not be eligible for that years post-season. In addition, discipline will increase from 50 games to 80 for a first testing violation and from 100 games to a season-long 162 for a second. A third violation remains a lifetime ban. Nick Markakis Braves Jersey . Henry, who missed three games with a knee injury, was charged with a handball in the penalty area in the 82nd minute as he went to block a strike from Patrick Mullins. On the ensuing penalty kick, Lee Nguyen picked up his fourth goal of the season, giving the Revolution a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/orlando-cepeda-braves-jersey/ . - For years William Gay kept quiet. Dansby Swanson Jersey . - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday. Kevin Gausman Jersey . The shortstop still grieves, but it will be nights like the one Segura had in a 5-2 victory Monday over the Cincinnati Reds that will provide some distraction.Mark Buehrle tries to win his fourth straight start to begin the season when the Toronto Blue Jays resume their three-game set in Cleveland this afternoon. Buehrle has given up just two earned runs this year, and one of those came Sunday at Baltimore when he limited the Orioles to five hits over seven innings. This strong beginning to the season by the veteran left-hander is his best since 2009 when he went 5-0 over his first six appearances before losing in Cleveland on May 13 that season. Buehrle is 15-17 with a 4.87 EA in 48 games (47 starts) against the Indians. The Blue Jays, who won 3-2 last night, are expected to get back infielder Jose Reyes today. Reyes suffered a strained hamstring during his first at-bat of the season on March 31 and hasnt played since. He was activated off the 15- day disabled list last night. The Blue Jays placed Adam Lind on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back and optioned shortstop Munenori Kawasaki to Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays also selected the contract of Juan Francisco from the Bisons and transferred Maicer Izturis to the 60-day DL. Corey Kluber tries to help the Indians snap a two-game skid today when he takes the mound. The righty will be throwing on extended rest after throwing a season-best 7 1/3 innings against the White Sox last Sunday. He allowed eight hits and two runs in a no-decision. Thus far this season, Kluber has fanned 16 and walked only three batters. This willl be his first career appearance against Toronto.dddddddddddd Kluber is 6-0 over his last 11 starts at Progressive Field and hasnt lost at home since May 31, 2013 against Detroit. Melky Cabrera supplied four hits and a run for the Blue Jays in last nights win. Kawasaki, Edwin Encarnacion, and Brett Lawrie each drove in a run for the Blue Jays, who snapped a two-game skid. Starting pitcher Drew Hutchison gave up two runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts across 5 1/3 innings. Steve Delabar (1-0) retired the final two batters in the sixth after having men on first and third to earn the win. Sergio Santos picked up his fifth save of the season after issuing two walks and striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth. "It got a little hairy there, but the bottom line is he got it done," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Santos. Carlos Santana stroked a two-run homer and Jason Kipnis had two hits for the Indians, who have dropped three of their last four. Justin Masterson allowed two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings, but Marc Rzepczynski (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up a run on two hits in the seventh. "Were just working out the kinks, having some fun. A lot of close games. I think youll find as we continue to go, theres going to be a lot of great things coming," Masterson said. Cleveland won four of the six meetings last season. ' ' '