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NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays venture into Yankee Stadium for an important three-game series with their foes in pinstripes, there are a number of storylines to latch on to before considering who will take the mound for Toronto on Tuesday night. Its the first-place Blue Jays against the team closest to them in the American League East. Toronto enters the series with a four-and-a-half game lead on the Yankees. Its another chance, the second of what will be as many as six, to wave goodbye to New Yorks future Hall of Fame shortstop, Derek Jeter. Here in New York, the dulcet voice of the late, great public address announcer, Bob Sheppard, brings No. 2 to the plate. Jose Reyes is back in New York, too. He made his name over in Queens playing for the Mets. R.A. Dickey is here but wont pitch. He won the Cy Young award two seasons ago on the other side of the city. Oh, and dont forget about the Blue Jays rookies mound opponent on this Tuesday: a rookie himself, technically, the Japanese phenom Masahiro Tanaka, whos dominated the early days of his major league career like he dominated for years back home. Then there is Marcus Stroman. Its strange that this, essentially a homecoming for a young man raised in the Long Island town of Medford, is somewhat lost in the shuffle. Hes the 23-year-old who stunned general manager Alex Anthopoulos, blowing his bubble gum in the middle of his windup. The kid seems born for the spotlight, even if it will shine more brightly on others. "Im usually pretty good with dealing with things like that," Stroman said on Sunday. "I dont let anything get to me or get me overly excited or kind of get me out of my game. Im fine. Im in a good place mentally. I feel good going into it. I have kind of an off-day just to hang out with friends in the city and then it will be Game on Tuesday." Medford is a sleepy town, according to Stroman, more than an hour from New York City. Its closer to the upscale Hamptons, a drive of about 45 minutes. Medford has one high school, Patchogue-Medford High School, which Stroman attended before moving on to college at Duke University. The town will awaken this evening. Many of its inhabitants, in fact, will venture to Yankee Stadium to watch the hometown boy pitch. Stroman has purchased up to 70 tickets for close family and friends. He said hes been told by another 50 or 60 people theyve bought ducats. Hell have a throng of about 130 people here rooting him on. "Anytime you have an opportunity to pitch in front of a bunch of family and friends, its exciting," said Stroman. "I should have a lot of – a bunch of people texting me, bunch of friends from high school, college, a lot of people reaching out to me saying theyre going to be at the game so thats always exciting to pitch in front of people whove been there along the way." Stroman is 3-1 in his first year in the big leagues, 2-1 as a starter. Hes gone six innings in each of his first three starts, losing his last outing against the Twins. In two of those appearances, including the Minnesota defeat, he didnt walk a batter. He has impressed with his fastball. His breaking stuff, particularly his curveball, has baffled opposing hitters. Hes developing his changeup. Hes not developing confidence. He already has it. His coaches brag about it. "I certainly dont see him as a guy whos going to nibble and pitch around guys," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Hes definitely on the attack. His walks have been down and I would like to think that thats going to continue with him. He certainly trusts his stuff. Theres no doubt about that." Growing up, Stroman went to Yankees games at the old stadium and saw the Mets at Shea. He didnt cheer for either team. He admired players. Like most native New Yorkers, he watched Jeter in awe. On Tuesday night, hell pitch to Jeter. He doesnt know what to expect. "I cant even tell you," said Stroman. "Im sure itll settle in once Im kind of on the mound but Im pretty sure it will be surreal." Travis dArnaud Rays Jersey . THE THUNDER & PACERS BENCHES: In a nutshell, not impressive at all. Jesus Aguilar Jersey . Rookie Christian Vazquez got his first three major league hits and drove in three runs, while David Ortiz had three RBIs to break open the game in the sixth inning and lead Boston over the Houston Astros 8-3. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/. Jeter doubled high off the left-field wall and scored on Jacoby Ellsburys first hit in pinstripes in the fifth. Hiroki Kuroda (1-1) pitched 6 1-3 sharp innings in the Yankees 112th opener in New York. In what manager Joe Girardi said would be a season-long lovefest for Jeter, the shortstop was cheered every step of the way by an adoring crowd of 48, 142 -- even when his double-play grounder back to Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) scored Solarte in the third inning for the first run. Don Zimmer Rays Jersey . Wrights first stint with Milwaukee was on a 10-day contract from March 14-23. He played in two games, averaging six points and two rebounds in 16. Don Zimmer Jersey . Paul, MN (SportsNetwork.Canadas World Junior team is once again preparing itself for Christmas overseas. Seeking to break a four-year gold medal drought, the hopes of Canadas under-20s will be looking towards Malmo, Sweden in hopes that this years crop can at least get back into the medals if not back to the top. But success overseas has not always been a guarantee for the Canadian World Juniors. Since the establishment of the Program of Excellence in 1981, the Canadian side has dominated tournaments held in North America, compiling a 76-12-3 record (.852 winning percentage) over 14 tournaments. Canada has only once failed to medal on their home continent (and that tournament was played in Alaska), racking up seven gold, five silver and one bronze. The track record has not been quite the same in Europe. While Canada has actually won more gold (eight) overseas, the European-hosted tournaments have provided some of Canadas greatest heartbreaks. The record itself isnt all that bad: 83-24-15 (.742 winning percentage) and Canada has actually won more golds in Europe than they have in North America, racking up eight - along with two silver and three bronze – over 18 tournaments since the start of the Program of Excellence. Hidden in that record, however, are some of the more painful memories in Canadas World Junior lore. The Piestany punch-up, the Heartbreak in Helsinki as well as Canadas two worst finishes since the 1982 tournament all came overseas. So, whats to blame for the difference? Certainly the added boost from fan support has helped their North American performance. After all, even the five tournaments held on American soil (save Anchorage) were close enough to the border to draw enterprising Canadian fans to the games. The flip side of that coin is the travel – and particularly the unfamiliarity during the holliday season – which must certainly weigh on the teenagers selected to wear the Maple Leaf abroad.dddddddddddd While several players have had experience abroad through the Under-18 World Championship tournaments and the Ivan Hlinka Memorial, those are summertime events that disrupt neither the players regular season junior schedules, nor their personal holiday traditions. Looking back particularly through Canadas history at World Junior tournaments hosted in Sweden, there is reason for optimism for Canadian fans looking forward to the 2014 Championship in Malmo. Canadas juniors are 16-2-2 in the last three Swedish-hosted tournaments having won a pair of golds and a bronze medal. Canadas last visit will be particularly memorable, with Jonathan Toews and Carey Price forging an unforgettable semifinal shootout performance against the United States en route to a gold medal at the 2007 tournament. In total Sweden has hosted the World Juniors five times and four since the Program of Excellences foundation with Canada finishing no worse than fourth since the Nykoping tournament in 1984. Karlstad hosted in 1979 with Canada finishing fifth on a team that featured future NHL All-Stars Brad McCrimmon and Brian Propp. So, how will Malmo treat the 2014 team? History dictates a medal is likely in the cards, since Canada has never failed to medal in successive tournaments since 1982. However, trends over the last 20 years have dictated that the golds come in clusters with a drought in between. Seven tournaments passed between the “Drive for Five” and the recent five-gold run ignited by the super-team featuring Sidney Crosby in 2005. Will Canada be able to cap the drought at four tournaments without gold? Rediscovering their luck in Sweden might well be the first step towards doing so. ' ' '