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Last Wednesday in St. Weston Richburg Super Bowl Jersey . Petersburg, R.A Dickey tossed a two hit shutout as the Blue Jays blanked Tampa Bay 3-0 to savage the final game of the three-game set at Tropicana Field. It was the Blue Jays first shutout and first complete game of the season. That seemed unusual to me, even for a team that is sitting in the basement in the A.L. East at 40-41. Going back to last season - when the Jays starting rotation was devastated by injuries - they had five complete games for the entire season, and four shutouts. Brandon Morrow had three of each for a team that finished 73-89. Safe to say the Blue Jays are well on pace to have their worst totals in both categories ever. Complete games have been on the downswing for years and it is a rare year indeed when even one pitcher in all of baseball hits double figures in the category. James Shields of the Rays was the last to accomplish the feat in the American League when he hurled 11 in 2011. In fact, since the Blue Jays last World Series title in 1993 only four American League pitchers - including Shields - have had 10 or more complete games in a season. The other three were Angels lefty Chuck Finley, Scott Erickson of the Orioles and current Blue Jays bullpen coach Pat Hentgen. The last to do it in the National League was Randy Johnson in 1999. In 1970, 19.65 per cent of all American League games were complete games. As recently as 2007, that figure had dropped to 2.82 per cent in the American League and 1.85 per cent in the NL. Dave Stieb was the first Blue Jays pitcher to lead the league in complete games with 19 in 1982. Hentgen led with 10 in 1996. The following season, the Blue Jays had co-leaders in the American League, with Roger Clemens and Hentgen each having nine. The interesting thing about 1997 is that it was the final year of Cito Gastons first stint as Manager of the Jays. They had a horrible season, despite getting that kind of quality pitching from Clemens and Hentgen. Lefty David Wells led in complete games in both 1999 and 2000 with seven and nine, respectively. Then we get to the incredible run of one Roy Halladay. He tied for the American League lead in 2003 with nine complete games. Then he held the lead outright in 2005 (five), 2007 (seven), 2008 (nine) and 2009 (nine). In Philadelphia, "Doc" topped the National League the next two seasons with nine and eight in 2010 and ‘11 respectively. But - perhaps as a harbinger of things to come - he had no complete games last season. It marked the first year without one in a decade. He is sidelined right now, rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Halladay wont be back ‘til August at the earliest and there is a chance he wont pitch at all for the Phillies for the rest of the season. The game has changed so much over the past 20 years, with pitch counts, increased specialization and reliance on relievers and of course the designated hitter thats been around 40 years. Its hard to discern, what the decrease in complete games really means. In more cases than not, if youve got a pitcher who can take the ball from first out to last, youve got a leader and youve got an ace. A Blue Jays pitcher has led the league or tied for the league lead in complete games 10 times over their 36 year history. They also employed former league leaders in Jack Morris, Dave Stewart and Phil Niekro. Oddly enough, in the five years they won the American league East, pitchers from other teams led in complete games. The fewest number of complete games to lead a league in any individual year is five, a record shared by Halladay (2005) and Dickey (in his 2012 NL Cy Young season). For the record, Clevelands Justin Masterson is leading the American League so far this season with three complete games while Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals is leading the National League with four. Cleveland enters Monday tied for first in the A.L Central with Detroit, while the Cardinals are second in the NL Central, two games back of Pittsburgh. There is no question July is make-or-break for the Blue Jays. They play 26 games: 17 at home and nine away. Its by no means an easy schedule since they have three-game sets with Baltimore and Tampa Bay, a three-gamer with Oakland and their current four-game set with Detroit. Just the same, with the heavy load of home games this month, the Blue Jays must make up a lot of ground in the Wild Card race, if the games in August and September are going to mean anything. Dee Ford Super Bowl Jersey . -- The court fight over NFL concussions should heat up soon as a judge in Philadelphia weighs the fairness of the proposed $765 million settlement. Emmanuel Sanders Super Bowl Jersey . Coach Jorge Sampaoli resisted naming any major surprises in the list published Tuesday at the site of Chiles football association. Chile is pinning its hopes on the recovery of Vidal. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/k-apos-waun-williams-jersey-sales.html .Y. - Terry and Kim Pegula have no immediate plans to tinker with their new NFL team.SURREY, B.C. -- B.C. Lions starting quarterback Travis Lulays recovery from off-season shoulder surgery appears to be on schedule as he takes part in the teams mini-camp. But with off-season signing Steven Jyles absent and his future in question, the Lions are lacking a bona fide backup with CFL experience. Lulay limited the number of throws while only making short passes in drills Tuesday, the second day of a three-day mini-camp for offensive players at the teams Surrey, B.C., training complex. But he was hopeful of being ready for main training camp in June. "Its getting better," said Lulay. "Its been a good couple days to come out and throw the ball around. Obviously, Im still limited, Im still progressing to getting back to where I need to be. But its been a really good measuring stick for this stage of the game." Lulay underwent surgery to repair a damaged labrum suffered in a collision while scoring a touchdown in September. He missed six regular-season games but was able to play in the Western semifinal loss to the Calgary Stampeders. "Im being cognizant of my numbers," he said. "Im just not over-throwing because the biggest thing is, with a shoulder, its such a delicate joint. Over-doing it is one of the worst things you can do. "So Im just understanding that its a progression and just taking steps up the ladder each week. This (camp) is just another part of that. The mobility, the range, is great. Its just continuing to get that end range (i.e. long-pass) and that strength back." General manager Wally Buono said medical reports indicate that Lulay will be ready for the main training camp in Kamloops, B.C., and the quarterback has gone "way beyond the call of duty" in his recovery efforts. "The camp was held at this time for a specific reason," said Buono. " (Part) of it was to make sure Travis could go out and do all the things that hes been doing. Right now, it looks very promising." Jyles, who has seven years of CFL experience but did not play last season because his services were not in demand, was conspicuous by his absence after agreeing to terms with the Lions in April. "Im fine with it," said Buono. "As I intimated before, we were going to bring five quarterbacks to this camp, and one of the things we were going to do was evaluate which quarterback we probably wouldnt invite to the main camp. So this, right now, is just helping our decision." Jyles absence left the Lions with four QBs in the mini-camp. With new offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones beginning to implement his system, this is an important time for quarterback hopefuls to start learning the revised playbook and executing plays in advance of the clubs main June training camp. However, the camp is voluntary for those invited. Jyles, who has three young children, is working in the Dallas area. "I respect the fact that he put his family first," said Buono. "Obviously, (deciding whether to pursue an unguaranteed spot with the Lions) is not an easy decision and, at this point,, he felt it was just best not to leave his job. Kwon Alexander Super Bowl Jersey. " Since beginning his CFL career in 2006, Jyles has had two stints with Edmonton and also played for Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and Toronto. With Jyles absent, second-year Lion Chris Hart is the only other quarterback at the camp with CFL experience. NFL veteran John Beck, 32, and Jarrett Lee, who was drafted in 2012 by the San Diego Chargers but did not play in the NFL, are also signed and taking part in the mini-camp. Hart spent most of last season as the clubs fourth quarterback, but feels he has "improved a lot" since he took part in an offensive mini-camp a year ago. "I dont want to say anything (on the backup job)," he said. "I let the coaches do their job and pick who they need to pick. Im just battling for the job and Im going to compete. Im going to work hard like Im No. 1." "Obviously, this is a good test for him, too, because we spent a year with him," said Buono. "Hopefully, hes a lot more comfortable. Hopefully, even though the system is new, the verbiage is easier for him." Beck, a second-round selection of the Miami Dolphins in the 2007, is looking to secure regular employment with the Lions after taking a winding path to B.C. In addition to the Dolphins, he played six seasons with Baltimore, Washington and Houston. The Brigham Young University grad has started seven NFL regular-season games and thrown for 1,417 yards and three touchdowns on 140 completions. Beck spent last season out of football. But instead of pursuing a different career, he spent his time honing his skills while enjoying extra time with his wife and their three sons and hoping for a team to call. "Ive gotta be honest," he said. "Id never really anticipated that my journey would take me to Canada. My journey started in the NFL. I thought thered be some really good opportunities in it for me, and my journey started off in the situation you dont want have it start off on. Go to (Miami) the worst team in the NFL and have everybody get fired. It cant get much worse than that. "But Im very excited that my journey has taken me here. Thats the fun part about it. Im excited for the opportunity thats here." Lee spent five years at Louisiana State, a perennial powerhouse, where he completed 317-of-565 attempts for 3.949 yards and 32 touchdowns. New offensive co-ordinator Jones believes that Lulay is "on track" to being ready to start the season and is not perturbed by Jyles absence. "My job is to coach the guys that are out here," said Jones. "If he shows up, then he shows up." Notes: The Lions were forced to find a new backup after former backup Thomas DeMarco was claimed by Ottawa in the CFL expansion draft, veteran Buck Pierce retired to become an assistant coach with Winnipeg, and Joey Elliott was released after two stints with B.C. last season. a Veteran offensive guard Patrick Kabongo, entering the option year of his contract, is not attending the camp as he works outside of football in Edmonton. ' ' '