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SAN DIEGO, California - Josh Johnson was doing more than rehabbing an inflamed triceps during his six-week absence. Cheap Amari Cooper Jersey . When Johnson takes the mound on Tuesday night in San Francisco, his first start since April 21, hell feature a differently gripped changeup he hopes will keep Giants hitters off balance. A prototypical power pitcher with a fastball consistently in the mid-90s mph, Johnson feels hes lacked an offspeed pitch with a significant variation in velocity. "Ive been trying to get speed off for years and years," said Johnson. "You see other guys whose changeups are hard but they have good action to it. Mine doesnt really have that action that youd like that can get groundballs or get a swing and miss here and there to throw guys off a little bit, to have them respect that pitch. Hopefully I can get it to that level where it can be a huge pitch for me." Johnson has previously used his curveball to get hitters, anticipating his fastball or slider, to commit early. Even then he found he was throwing his curveball too hard. During his down time, spent predominantly at the Blue Jays facility in Dunedin, Florida, Johnson began picking the brain of Rick Langford, the clubs minor league rehab and pitching coach. It was then a change to Johnsons changeup grip was discussed and once the big right-hander was back on a mound, the change was implemented. "Its all about trust with that, with new grips," said Johnson. "I threw a couple good ones in the rehab starts. The first rehab starts the punchouts I had were with the changeup. Then, as always, once you start throwing it more and more it kind of goes up and down. Hopefully it will keep going up and progressing with it and keep it down in the zone." The Blue Jays, who entered play Sunday 10 games under .500 and buried in last place in the American League East, need not only Johnsons return to the mound but his return to effectiveness. Johnson himself needs the same. Making $13.75-million this season and a free agent after the World Series, Johnson needs a combination of health and success in order to secure a contract rich in both term and dollar. In four starts this season, the last of which came April 21, Johnson is 0-1 with an ERA of 6.86. His walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP) sits at 1.881, inordinately high especially for a potential staff ace. When Johnson went down there was no indication he would miss six weeks. "It was just in a weird spot, its something that Ive never had before, never felt before," said Johnson of the triceps inflammation. "Just felt like someone had my fingers stuck in my triceps and every time Id get out there and get extension, I could throw and be alright but as soon as I let it go and got extension thats when I could feel it. It was in a weird spot and I didnt want to escalate it into anything worse, its the exact opposite of what wed want. So, just take a little bit more on this end of it." Johnson rejoined the Blue Jays on Friday night and was in the dugout in time to watch a good portion of the 17-inning marathon loss. His family is with him on the road trip. He says hes glad to be back. "Absolutely. Just being out there and going to battle with the guys and just being around." Cheap Raiders Jerseys China . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Cheap Derek Carr Jersey . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. http://www.cheapraidersjerseyselite.com/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter.Stokes record signing Giannelli Imbula was the most expensive incoming Premier League transfer this January window, but who is the player previously labelled the new Patrick Vieira? Stoke signed Imbula on Deadline Day for a club record fee of £18.3m from FC Porto, and the former France U21 international has signed a five-and-a-half year contract.The midfielder has been compared to the legendary midfielder by sections of the French press, but Imbula has shrugged off such suggestions. Heres all you need to know about the midfielder the Potters hope will plug the gap left by Steven NZonzis summer departure... Profile Imbula has played in the Champions League for Porto this season Name: Giannelli ImbulaAge: 23Place of Birth: Vilvoorde, BelgiumFormer clubs: Guingamp, Marseille, PortoPosition: Central midfielderBackground Imbula thrived under Marcelo Bielsa at Marseille Imbula started his professional career at French club Guingamp in Ligue 2 after rising through the academy. Before that, his youth career was spent at Racing Club and Paris Saint-Germain.At Guingamp, Imbula became the youngest player in Ligue 2 history to make his debut aged 17. He cemented his place as a first-team regular, and in the 2012/13 season he won promotion with the club to Ligue 1 as well as picking up the honour for Ligue 2 Player of the Season.After such a successful term, Imbula was signed by Marseille for €7m (£5.3m), but struggled to make a significant impact in his first season despite making 33 appearances.However, the following 2014/15 season he thrived under manager Marcelo Bielsa as part of a 3-3-3-1 formation where he developed a strong understanding with now-West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet, Swansea forward Andre Ayew and Tigres striker Andre-Pierre Gignac.Imbula then moved to Porto in the last summer transfer window for €20m (£15.2m). He made 10 league appearances, getting one assist.Style of Play Stoke City manager Mark Hughes is delighted to have secured the signing of Imbula Imbula is known as a physical holding midfielder, and a strong passer who likes to create from a deep midfield position. He has been compared to the likes of Vieira in the past as well as Claude Makelele. Stoke fans may see him as a fitting replacement for Stephen NZonzi, who left the club for Sevilla last summer.Despite not being known as a player who will contribute greatly to the goals and assists count, in just his ten appearances for Porto this season, Imbula has created on average one chance a game. That stat is almost double the amount over Stokes best central midfield creators with Charlie Adam and Ibrahim Afellay averaging 0.6 chances a game.Considering Stoke have smashed their club record transfer fee to bring Imbula to the club, the chances are high he will take a starters role as one of the two central midfielders in Mark Hughes conventional 4-2-3-1 formation.What they say about him Niall Quinn & Paul Merson give their reaction to the news that City have signed Porto midfielder Imbula for a club-record fee of £18. Cheap Marshawn Lynch Jersey. 3m Stoke City chairman Peter Coates: He played against us in Singapore and Mark liked him, and weve been tracking him ever since. Were always trying to improve the club and this is a big signing for us.Weve had a good look at him and hes a good age, so if weve got the player we think weve got, he should be a good player for us and a good value player as well.Weve missed NZonzi. He had a terrific season for us last year and weve missed that extra quality in midfield, so were hoping Imbula is going to supply that.Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: Giannelli is a good young player. He has great power, good ability on the ball and a great range of passing and theres no doubt he will add to the quality that we already have at the club.He played against us in pre-season, and although I was already aware of him, seeing him at first hand resonated with me.Sky Sports pundit Niall Quinn: I dont think theres as much pressure on this signing as there would be had he signed for a Spurs who are going for a title for instance, or an Aston Villa who need to stay up. This is a nice signing for both right now and I think it will work out.What he says Imbula says its a dream to be able to play in the Premier League Im very excited, Im feeling very well and Im happy to discover my new partners and to play as soon as possible, he said.I believe all players dream to play in the Premier League. Im really pleased to have become a Stoke City player - its a very exciting moment for me in my career. Everyone talks about the Premier League. Its the biggest championship in the world and I really hope to be part of it very soon.Its really important the fact Mark Hughes has shown a desire to sign me. I will give my best for him and the club.The last months Ive spent in Porto have been difficult; I really hope everything will be fine here. It was important that the coach wanted me. I watched many Stoke City games and Ive really appreciated the way they play football.Stoke is a top 10 club, Ive watched a lot of the games and I know most of the players. Also See: Five that got away Top 10 Premier League deals Mersons transfer window grades Van Ginkel swaps Stoke for PSV Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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