TAMPA, Fla. -- Brian Roberts remembered back a decade ago, when he was standing on second base and Derek Jeter approached. "He just said, "You can hit .300 in this league," Roberts recalled Monday. "To hear it from somebody like that, it kind of opened your eyes." Not that he took Jeters analysis too literally. "I dont think its just me. I think he does it to everybody," Roberts said. "But for some reason when he tells it to you, you think youre the most important person in the world." Now theyre teammates, and Roberts has a locker next to Jeters in the New York Yankees spring training clubhouse. With a void at second base following the departure of Robinson Cano, the Yankees have given the position to Roberts, a two-time All-Star who made five trips to the disabled list totalling 481 days over the past four seasons. His many maladies included a strained abdominal muscle, pneumonia, two concussions (one self-inflicted), a groin strain, hip tear and hamstring strain. "I know he hasnt played a full season in the last few years and hes obviously a guy that has some age on him, too, but my plan is to run him out there almost every day," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Now 36, Roberts had hoped to be a Baltimore Orioles lifer, just like Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer and Cal Ripken Jr. "Ive come to love the city, the fans," he said in February 2009 when the Orioles gave him a contract guaranteeing $48 million over five years. "This was the only place I wanted to be the rest of my career." It didnt work out that way. After hitting .283 in 2009 with 16 homers, 79 RBIs and a big league-high 56 doubles, he missed most of the following spring training with a herniated disk in his back. His first concussion was sustained on Sept. 27, 2010, when he knocked himself on the batting helmet with his bat after striking out in the ninth inning at Tampa Bay. His total of 77 games last season was his highest since the injuries began, and the switch-hitter batted .249 with eight homers and 39 RBIs. Baltimore made no effort to keep him after he hit .246 with 15 homers and 78 RBIs over the past four years. The offensive performance would have been decent but not spectacular had he compiled it over a single season. "I dont know that you can necessarily put great words on how frustrating it is to have to sit on the sidelines and watch," Roberts said. "Ive had numerous times over the last three or four years where I wondered if, for one, Id be able to play again, and I think certainly going into last season I had no idea what the next year would hold, whether I would have a job in 2014, whether I wouldnt, whether Id want a job." New York signed him for the bargain price of $2 million, plus the chance to make $2.6 million in bonuses based on plate appearances. Hell be counted on for offence, given that the Yankees had 114 RBIs from second base last year, tops in the majors, according to STATS. "Theres going to be people that will want to look out there and say, Well, hes not Robby. And Im not going to be Robby. Im not going to try to be," Roberts said. "Im going to be Brian Roberts and, hopefully, thats good enough most days." New Yorks infield is more Take A Chance than Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance. First baseman Mark Teixeira played just 15 games last year because of a hand injury, and Jeters broken ankle limited him to 17. With Alex Rodriguez serving a season-long drug suspension, Kelly Johnson figures to platoon at third with Brendan Ryan, Eduardo Nunez and possibly Scott Sizemore. "Its not the infield that we had in 2009," Girardi said. "But we believe that theres a lot of capable players in here to put up offensive and defensive numbers, and when you look at those numbers as a whole, theyre going to be pretty good." Roberts remains in touch with his former Orioles teammates. "A lot of my closest friends in the world are there. So sure. Ive talked to them all in the last couple days. Is it weird? Is it different? Do I miss them? Yeah," he said before recounting his friendships with Jacoby Ellsbury, Jeter and Brian McCann. After Roberts spent 13 seasons in Baltimores black and orange, the Yankees pinstripes will take getting used to. Like McCann, he heard many people tell him "anybody but the Yankees" when he was a free agent. "You either love them or you hate them, right? And thats OK," he said. "Now I love them." Hydro Flask Kaufen Schweiz . - Defensive end-linebacker Mike Neal apparently is returning to the Packers. Hydro Flask Günstig Kaufen . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best. http://www.hydroflaskflasche.ch/hydro-fl...ierflasche.html. Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday. Hydro Flask Kinder Trinkflasche . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Hydro Flask Bestellen . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After sitting out six games with an injury, Evander Kane wanted to make up for lost time. Kane returned to score a goal and added an assist, leading the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. "I put on my skates and I tried to help this team win -- thats just how I am," said Kane, who had been out since Nov. 29 with a lower-body injury. Mark Scheifele and Bryan Little also had goals for the Jets, with Al Montoya making 22 saves. "I felt confident and the team did a good job tonight. I cant say that enough," said Montoya, who got the start because Ondrej Pavelec had given up five goals in a 6-4 home loss on Saturday. "(The Blue Jackets) didnt have too many chances." A slow, checking game with few good scoring opportunities for most of the first two periods turned into a sprint in the third period, with the teams scoring three times inside 3 minutes. Kanes goal proved to be the winner. "I thought (Kane) looked good for a guy whos been out for a little while," Winnipeg coach Claude Noel said. "His shot on the 3-on-1 was great. And his pass to Scheifele was also good." R.J. Umberger and Fedor Tyutin had the goals for the Blue Jackets, who had a first-period goal disallowed. They had picked up points in five of their past six games (4-1-1). The Jets, coming off an 0-2-1 homestand, opened the scoring when Scheifele notched his fourth at the 13:59 mark of the second. Finding his teammate on a nifty 2-on-1 pass below the hash, Kane sent a pass to Scheifele that he lifted high into the top of the net. Thanks to a double-minor for high sticking against Cam Atkinson, the Jets made it 2-0 at 2:28 of the third. A seemingly innocent one-timer from the blue line by Dustin Byfuglien was redirected by Little, who merely stuck out his stick. The puck ricocheted off it and also off the skate of Columbus defenceman David Savards skate. Umberger collected a pass from Matt Calvert behind the net and scored on the wraparound to cut the lead to 2-1 at 8:48. Moments later, however, David Savard got caught pinching in and it resulted in a 3-on-1 rush with Kane blistering a high shot to push the lead back to two goals at the 10:35 mark.dddddddddddd "We played solid with the puck," Kane said. "When youve got a 3-1 lead youve got to put them away. We played a solid game. But its nothing to jump up and down about, though." Once again the Blue Jackets countered, this time when Nick Foligno stole the puck in his offensive zone. Montoya stopped his shot, but Mark Letestu then fed Tyutin, who was crashing the net from the wing to make it 3-2 at the 11:39 mark. Mike McKenna, who had 29 saves, was starting his fourth consecutive game since backup Curtis McElhinney (lower body) was injured -- in relief of last years Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (groin strain). In the final minute of the scoreless first period, there was a wild scramble in the crease led to Calvert being checked into the cage just as the puck went past Montoya into the net, possibly off the stick of Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba. But referee Tim Peel immediately waved off the goal while the crowd booed loudly. Peel said Montoya did not have room to make a play. "I didnt see a goaltender interference on that play," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "Youre disappointed in the call, but that was one play of many, many in the game." The crowd booed louder each time the replay was shown on the centre ice monitors. The officials deliberated for 45 seconds, but Peel then announced that the call was non-reviewable. "I felt I was pushed in and I tried to dodge (Montoya)," Calvert said. "I thought the puck was in the net before I was but it was a situation where the official had to make a quick call." Notes: The Jets were without RW Anthony Peluso, suspended for three games by the NHL for a hit on Saturday against Dallas Alex Goligoski. ... The Blue Jackets should get RW Marian Gaborik (sprained knee) and D James Wisniewski (upper body injury) back this week. ... Columbus D Dalton Prout (upper body) and C Derek MacKenzie (lower body) were both hurt in the first period and did not return. ... Blue Jackets C Ryan Johansen extended his points streak to a career-best nine games (four goals, seven assists). ' ' '