Gibbons replied: \'Yeah, Im a big Happ fan. I think hes going to

DUNEDIN, Fla. wholesale jerseys . - Manager John Gibbons offered a glimpse Sunday of the Blue Jays much-debated pitching rotation. He helped fill in some of the gaps when he said the pitching questions remaining are who will be the fifth starter and whether the team will carry seven or eight in the bullpen. Previously GM Alex Anthopoulos had talked of two openings left to fill in a starting rotation that already features R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle and Brandon Morrow. A gaggle of pitchers has been competing for the fourth and fifth sports with J.A. Happ, Drew Hutchison and Ricky Romero the leading contenders although Happs back issues had muddied the waters somewhat. Asked Sunday if Happ was the fourth starter with one position still open, Gibbons replied: "Yeah, Im a big Happ fan. I think hes going to have a heck of a year for us and all indications the other day are his backs fine. He threw very well (in a minor league game Friday). That was a big question. "Now if his back flares up, that might be a different story." Hutchison is widely believed to have already pitched his way into the rotation. In three outings this spring, the 23-year-old right-hander has given up three runs in 9 2-3 innings for an ERA of 2.79. He has struck out 16 and walked one. "Hes been pitching great," Gibbons acknowledged. "Arguably the best of anybody in camp." Then he clammed up, returning to his stock response that the lineup will be announced at the end of the spring. "So keep asking. You aint getting nothing," he said devilishly. Gibbons confirmed Dickey will pitch first with left-hander Buehrle third in the rotation. Morrow reportedly will throw fifth, which would put him on the mound for the home opener April 4 against the Yankees. The Jays open March 31 with a four-game series in Tampa. The manager declined comment on Morrow pitching fifth. But he rejected the suggestion that a veteran was needed to handle the pressure of pitching the home opener. "Its a big day but, you know what, if you dont think they can handle that day they probably shouldnt be there." Gibbons also said he had no issue with southpaws Buehrle and Happ pitching back-to-back. "Theyre both left-handers but theyre different type of pitchers," he said. In case a second opinion on the starting rotation is needed, the Jays asked fans via Twitter on Sunday to offer their suggestions. "Who do you think should be included in the @BlueJays Opening Day Pitching Rotation? Send us your 5 pitchers and rank them 1-5," the team tweeted Sunday on its official account. Gibbons confirmed locks in the bullpen are Casey Janssen, Sergio Santos, Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup and Steve Delabar. "Theyre not going anywhere," Gibbons said. "Your other guys will be your middle and long (relief) guys so were covered with our late-inning go-to guys." Pitchers Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond, Jeremy Jeffress and Dustin McGowan are out of options, meaning the team could lose them if they are sent down. McGowan is expected to be part of the opening bullpen, despite his desire to be a starter. "Theres some pretty good pitchers out there that are out of options and you cant keep them all," said Gibbons. "We also think the guys we cut loose will probably get grabbed," he added. A seven-man bullpen would give the Jays a four-man bench. "Thats the risk you take. If you take that extra bullpen guy, youre shorter on the bench." said Gibbons. "Thats not ideal but it might cover our rotation a little bit, make the pitching staff that much stronger if we go with eight." Despite the options complication, Gibbons insisted the team would take the best 25 players north. Also Sunday, the Jays optioned pitchers Kyle Drabek, Chad Jenkins and Sean Nolin to triple-A Buffalo. Reliever Neil Wagner was sent down Friday. cheap jerseys . The agreement Thursday was for $5,000 above the midpoint between the $2.4 million he had asked for and the $1.6 million the Indians had offered when the sides exchanged arbitration figures last month. cheap nfl jerseys . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday.MILAN, Italy -- Keisuke Honda always knew hed be playing in the Serie A and wearing a No. 10 shirt. The Japan forward was presented on Wednesday as an AC Milan player after signing a 3 1/2-year contract on a free transfer from CSKA Moscow. "I knew that one day my dream would be realized," Honda said. "When I was 12 I wrote in an essay that one day I would play in Serie A with the No. 10." Scores of Japanese journalists crowded in with local media at the presentation inside the San Siro. Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, a former Milan manager, encouraged Hondas move to Italy. Mired in 11th place, Milan is hoping Honda can help the club to a second-half surge. Hell team with Kaka and Mario Balotelli in attack and will likely make his debut at Sassuolo on Sunday. "I dont think the squad is in such bad condition," said Honda, who wattched Milans 3-0 win over Atalanta on Monday from the stands.wholesale nfl jerseys. "I saw the match the other day and we did pretty well. And we can probably still improve a lot." Hondas contract is reportedly worth 2.7 million euros ($3.7 million) per season. Honda was asked hed ever met a samurai. "Ive never met a samurai. But I do believe that Japanese people never give up. We have a strong mentality, were determined and we follow strict discipline," Honda said. "I think I have these characteristics and I want to show that on the field." Honda scored 28 goals in 127 matches with CSKA. He also has 20 goals in 52 appearances for Japan. Hell be the latest in a handful of Japanese players to appear in Serie A, following Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura and Yuto Nagatomo, a fullback currently with Milans city rival Inter. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' '