find a way to win, Samardzija said.Anderson ran into trouble in the

TORONTO – Tom Cheek. Tony Fernandez. Joe Carter. George Bell. Dave Stieb. Cito Gaston. Pat Gillick. Paul Beeston. Roberto Alomar. As of Sunday afternoon, approximately 1pm, Carlos Delgado will join those esteemed names on the Blue Jays Level of Excellence. Its time. More than four years after playing in his last major league game and almost nine years after concluding his tenure in Toronto, Delgado, the clubs all-time leader in several offensive categories, will be recognized for his achievements. He wasnt sure the day would come. "This was a surprise," said Delgado. "I would say that I played the game to try to win, to go out there and do the best that I can with my abilities. I was not into awards or recognition. Having said that, I can say that when I got that phone call from Mr. Beeston, I was super excited. I look up at that Level of Excellence and you see some great names, some great ball players and some great icons of the Toronto Blue Jays history. So Im completely honoured and flattered." Delgados 336 home runs, 1,058 RBI, 827 walks, 889 runs, 2,786 total bases, 343 doubles, .949 OPS are all franchise marks. A two-time All-Star in 2000 and 2003, Delgado won three Silver Slugger Awards and was the winner of the Hank Aaron Award and Sporting News Player of the Year Award in 2000. The accolades are there but Delgado isnt held in the same esteem as Alomar, Carter, Fernandez and others who played in the heyday of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its likely because he was the face of teams which, even if they won more than they lost, didnt make the playoffs. "It was always tough," said Delgado. "But I want to believe you play it out on the field. We played against some of the great Yankees teams in the late-90s, early-2000s. Boston always had great teams. We had our chances. We didnt have the deep pockets that they had. If you look at it on paper, they probably had better squads than us, but I believe this is about execution. Sometimes we made a push and fell short at the end." He played with some good ones. Delgado broke in as Alomars and Carters time in Toronto was ending. He remains good friends with Shawn Green and watched as Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay came into their own. On a personal note, his four-home run game against Tampa Bay on September 25, 2003 stands out as a highlight. He remembers signing as an amateur free agent in 1988. Only 16 years old, Delgado was assigned to the Blue Jays Class-A affiliate in St. Catharines. He chose Toronto, there were other teams interested, because of the organizations history with Latin American players. George Bell, Tony Fernandez and Manny Lee were among a strong Caribbean contingent that called Toronto home. "My dad had a big influence in this," said Delgado. "They had a good relationship, they always showed a good relationship toward the Latino players... We thought that was going to be important because you wanted to be treated fairly and they always did. Its great to represent Puerto Rico. Its great to represent Latin America. In Latin America, in the Caribbean, theres such a rich baseball tradition and were very proud about that. Since youre like two years old, youve got a bat and a ball in your hands." Delgado, like many others, didnt author his own exit from the game. Early in the 2009 season, only 27 home runs shy of 500 for his career, he underwent what was thought to be routine hip surgery. There were bone spurs that needed removal and a labrum tear to be sewn up. Despite a 10-12 week rehabilitation period, Delgado didnt return. Then he needed another hip surgery. Then another. Suddenly, unplanned, his career was over. He isnt bitter. "It was easier to swallow because I just couldnt play," said Delgado. "Even if I wanted to play, physically I couldnt play. I couldnt perform at this level. I think it would have been a lot harder if I rehabbed, was good to go and didnt get a job. That would have been devastating, but it didnt work to the point where eight months ago, I had to go in for a total hip replacement. So I have a brand new one with a 20-year warranty, so well see how that goes. It would have been great to get 500 home runs, it would have been a nice round number. It just didnt work out, things happen for a reason but I can always look back and say I did everything that I could." Spending most of his time in Puerto Rico, he shoots down rumours of an interest in political office and is hesitant to comment on the current state of the Blue Jays. He doesnt get to see many games but is aware of the clubs record, has heard about the unfulfilled expectations and understands the frustration. "I usually dont but Im going to give them some advice," said Delgado. "Second half, just take it one game at a time. Dont start looking at the standings. Dont start trying to figure out how many games you need to win to make it to the playoffs. Just go out, have fun. But they have to play it out. Obviously theyve found out that good players on paper dont win championships. You have to figure out a way to gel. You have to figure out a way to pick each other up." "No panic but theres got to be a sense of urgency," he added. On the subject of leadership, and there was no doubt the Jays clubhouse belonged to Delgado after the departures of the early-1990s stars, he believes being a unifying force is an important role. "Because you hit .300, it doesnt make you a leader," he said. "It helps, because its easier to earn the respect from your teammates when your performance is better. Having said that, its not necessary. Its important for a leader to be accountable, be a guy thats a standup guy, good times and bad times, and is always willing to go the extra mile, is always willing to share some of his knowledge." Delgado will be remembered as a man who, whether or not one agreed with his stance, stood on principle. He quietly declined to stand for renditions of "God Bless America" in 2003 after the United States began a military campaign in Iraq. For that, he was booed at Yankee Stadium. Delgados on-field accomplishments as a Blue Jay shouldnt be diminished because the teams he led didnt have the same success as those which preceded his era. His numbers speak for themselves. Delgado is one of the Blue Jays all-time greats. He will be recognized as such on Sunday. Nicholas Castellanos Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Dillon Maples Cubs Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. https://www.cheapcubs.com/610t-shawon-dunston-jersey-cubs.html . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Ian Happ Cubs Jersey . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Jose Quintana Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. DENVER -- Kelby Tomlinson wont be penalized for being picked off first base earlier in the game.That fine has been officially waived by manager Bruce Bochy. His big hit was payment enough.Tomlinson lined a one-out, tiebreaking single in the ninth and the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Tuesday night.Just hoping to get a pitch that I could handle and get it in play there, said Tomlinson, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento last week.Moments before that, Tomlinson tried to lay down a suicide squeeze. But he popped it into foul territory where it just eluded the diving attempt of Gerardo Parra. In the fifth, Tomlinson couldnt scramble back to the bag in time and was picked off.Its frustrating, but to be able to kind of help and make up for it is always good to get that opportunity, Tomlinson said.Eduardo Nunez had a solo homer in the third and a game-tying RBI groundout in the eighth.Javier Lopez (1-2) got one out in the eighth to earn the win. Santiago Casilla pitched the ninth for his 31st save. He got Parra to hit into a double play to end the game.Buster Posey began the top of the ninth by hitting a grounder to shortstop Daniel Descalso, who overthrew first baseman Parra and allowed Posey to cruise into second. Hunter Pence followed with an infield single off closer Adam Ottavino (0-2), who was then replaced by lefty Boone Logan.After Brandon Crawford struck out, Tomlinson lined an 0-2 fastball into left field to bring home Posey with the decisive run.Thats what its about -- the guys picking each other up, Bochy said. Kelby did tonight for us.Its a toss Descalso would love to have back.I just didnt make a good throw at a bad time in the game, Descalso said. I made that throw thousands of times. It sailed on me there and nobody feels worse than me -- putting the guy on second base there. I feel like it cost us the game tonight.The Giants finished with eight hits, breaking a string of five straight games in which they have been held to four or fewer. The Giants are hitting .124 over their last six games.DJ LeMahieuu added a two-out, infield single in the third in which Raimel Tapia kept on running from second to score.dddddddddddd Tapia had a sacrifice fly in the fifth.Colorados Tyler Anderson and Jeff Samardzija were locked in a pitchers duel most of the game.Anderson threw 7 1/3 crisp innings, giving up two runs and six hits. The lefty with a deceiving hitch in his delivery has a 3.04 ERA at Coors Field this season.Samardzija matched the rookies performance as he allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings. Samardzija struck out nine.Thats what its all about, especially in September -- got to find a way to win, Samardzija said.Anderson ran into trouble in the eighth by surrendering singles to Gorkys Hernandez and Trevor Brown. After a sacrifice bunt, Anderson was taken out for Jordan Lyles. Nunez grounded out to short to bring home the tying run.Nunezs solo shot in the third was a rare homer for the Giants, who have 37 since All-Star break -- the second-fewest in the league.LeMahieu, who is in a close race for the NL batting title with Washingtons Daniel Murphy, went 3 for 4 on Tuesday and raised his average to .343.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: RHP Jake Peavy (strained lower back) threw a bullpen session Monday and could be activated off the DL on Wednesday. ... Bochy gave INF Joe Panik and OF Denard Span a night off.Rockies: OF Charlie Blackmon missed a fourth straight game with tightness in his lower back. Hes definitely closer, manager Walt Weiss said. ... OF Ryan Raburns bruised left foot remains sore, Weiss said.ROSTER MOVESThe Rockies recalled RHPs Eddie Butler and German Marquez, along with C Dustin Garneau. They also selected the contracts of INF Pat Valaika and OF Jordan Patterson.To make room, the team designated INFs Ben Paulsen and Rafael Ynoa for assignment.UP NEXTGiants RHP Albert Suarez (3-3) will make his ninth major league start Wednesday in the final game of the series. The Rockies will throw LHP Jorge De La Rosa (8-7). ' ' '