TAMPA, Fla. -- Masahiro Tanaka knows that first appearance in a spring training game for the New York Yankees will be scrutinized. Tanaka and Hiroki Kuroda will follow starter CC Sabathia in Saturdays game against Philadelphia at Steinbrenner Field. All three are expected to throw two innings or 35 pitches. "Obviously, I understand that some of the people are just going to look at the numbers of the game that Im pitching in, but Im not really too focused and worried about that," Tanaka said Wednesday through an interpreter. Tanaka signed a $155 million, seven-year contract in January. He was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year while leading the Rakuten Golden Eagles to their first Japan Series title. "I feel that Im getting into the rhythm, used to things," Tanaka said. Bud Selig Jersey . Floundering in the English Premier League, United has delivered better performances in Europe this season and stunned Bayern by taking the lead against the run of play through Nemanja Vidics header in the 58th minute. Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week. Jake Faria Jersey . Thats 14 consecutive losses to the two-time defending champs, and most of them were over before they even began. Result notwithstanding, Sundays game had a very different feel to it. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/1919y-ryan-braun-jersey-brewers.html . Yup, he definitely needed this one. Craig homered twice and had three RBIs Wednesday night to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Craig went 4 for 5 and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals, who salvaged the final game of a three-game set in hopes of staying within shouting distance of front-running Milwaukee in the NL Central. Keston Hiura Brewers Jersey . These teams will see plenty of each other in the next few weeks as three of the Canucks next nine games are against the Wild (after today they meet February 9th in Minnesota and again February 16th at Rogers Arena). Travis Shaw Jersey . Mesoraco hurt his hamstring while scoring from second in Friday nights 5-4 loss at Atlanta. Chapman was hit by a line drive during an exhibition game on March 19, breaking his nose and a bone above his left eye. The left-hander looked strong while throwing 43 pitches in batting practice before Saturday nights game against the Braves.ST. LOUIS - Michael Sam dismissed the thought that his sexuality has cost him a spot in the NFL.I dont like to think that way, Sam said in an Oprah Winfrey Network documentary that aired Saturday night. But I do believe Im a very talented football player and Im going to continue working hard and try to get that opportunity to play in the league.The first openly gay player drafted in the NFL has no regrets.I did everything I was supposed to do. I did everything right, Sam said. I am proud of how I handled things.Sam said coming out was the right thing to do. He would have preferred the news come out after he informed the team that drafted him, but he feared it would be revealed and felt pressure to control the situation.It didnt need to be public, Sam said. Why do gay people have to do it?The production was billed as the players first TV appearance since being cut by the Dallas Cowboys in mid-October and played like a personal Hard Knocks. The 90-minute program was followed by a one-on-one with Winfrey, who asked Sam whether he believed sexual orientation is hurting his chances, and how long hed keep trying.As long as I can, Sam replied.The documentary details countless anxious hours during the NFL draft, which Sam called the longest three days of my life. The New York Jets telephoned his agents to say they werent interested, and the Cowboys texted to say they were out, too.Sam, who rose to stardom after a difficult childhood in tiny Hitchcock, Texas, asked that the sound on the TV be turned down at one point before the St. Louis Rams took him late in the seventh round.Am I going undrafted? a frustrated Sam asked agent Cameron Weiss. This phone still has not beeped.Sam said the reassuring hand of his boyfriend, Vito Cammisano, on his shoulder during the wait to get picked affirmed the decision last February to reveal his sexual orientation to the nation. He informed Missouri coaches and players befoore his senior season and was the team MVP and SEC co-defensive player of the year.ddddddddddddIn that moment, I was like I dont care what happens. I made the right choice to come out, Sam said.Sam broke down in sobs when Rams coach Jeff Fisher telephoned just before the team made him the 249th pick of the 256-pick draft. He had been projected to be chosen as early as the fourth round.Sam kissed and hugged Cammisano and then the two smashed cake in each others faces as a national television audience looked on.Some say the kiss, the cake, it was all just too much, Winfrey said in the voiceover prom for the program. Some say he wasnt good enough. Others say he should have never come out, one saying during the introduction to the program that he would be the mother of all distractions.Sam called it the infamous kiss. He said it was spontaneous and added hed thought the cameras had been turned off.Everyone made a big deal out of it, Sam said. Its just a kiss. Did you forget that I was gay? Should I be kissing a woman instead?Sam was among 21 players waived by the team to reach the 53-player limit before the season opener.Echoing his remarks after making the pick, coach Jeff Fisher said several times it was purely a football decision. The Rams were well-stocked with pass rushers, and undrafted Ethan Westbrooks grabbed the final defensive end spot.I will tell you this: I was pulling for Mike, Fisher said then. I really was, and I dont say that very often. Mike came in here and did everything we asked him to do.On Twitter, roughly an hour after he was cut, Sam thanked the Rams and the city of St. Louis. He also wrote The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson Ive always known. The journey continues.Sam spent seven weeks on the Cowboys practice squad before being released and is currently a free agent.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '