I was thinking about Melky Cabrera the other day and his odds of being named Comeback Player of the Year. Wily Peralta Jersey . After all, he was a disaster in his first season with the Jays in 2013. It was only after the fact we learned he needed surgery to have a tumour removed from his back, which seriously impeded his abilities last season to be the player he had been in San Francisco and Kansas City. Right now Melky is hitting .298 with 11 homers and 37 runs batted, and is playing better defence in left field than at any point last year. Hes even beginning to put the PED suspension in the review mirror. Yes, he would be a worthy pick for American League Comeback Player of the year. This really is a fascinating award. Its often said it is one no player really wants to win because it means at some point your career has gone off the rails or youve suffered a serious, possibly career-threatening injury. Only one Blue Jays player has even won the award. On May 29 of 2008, second baseman Aaron Hill suffered a concussion when he collided with teammate David Eckstein. Hill missed the remainder of the season. He came back though with a vengence in 2009, batting .286 and 37 doubles, 36 homers and 108 runs batted in. He went to the All Star Game in St. Louis in July, was named Blue Jays Player of the Year, and ultimately, American League Comeback Player of the year. Its interesting that there are actually three versions of this award. The original and the one with the most historic cache was established by the Sporting News in 1965. The Players Association created its version in 1992 followed finally by Major League Baseball in 2005. Two players won it after coming back from heart attacks, Tony Conigliaro of the Red Sox in 1969 and Scarboroughs own John Hiller - the Tigers starter turned closer. In addition to Hiller another Canadian "Hall of Famer" Fergy Jenkins won the award in 1974 with Texas. In 1976, the National League honours went to Tommy John, naturally for the year he had after undergoing the landmark elbow reconstruction surgery that still bears his name. In the American League, three men have won the award twice - Norm Cash of the Tigers, "Boog" Powell of the Orioles and Royals right hander Bret Saberhagen. In the National League, the club is even more exclusive. Former Expos first baseman Andres "The Big Cat" Galaragga won in Colorado in 1993 and Atlanta in 2000, while former Blue Jays right hander Chris Carpenter won twice with St. Louis in 2004 and again in 2009. Former pitcher and current broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe stands alone as the only player to win in both leagues. He did it in 1987 with the Cubs and 1992 with Baltimore. Talk about impressive runs, from 1977 through 1979, future Hall of Famers won in the National League three years running, with Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell and Lou Brock so honoured. But the ultimate comeback story is unfolding this season in Cincinnati. Heck this guys entire career has been one gigantic comeback story. Alfredo Simon is a 33 year old right-hander out of the Dominican Republic. He was signed back in 1999 by the Phillies as an amateur free agent. But in those days he went by the name of Carlos Cabrera. He hid his true identity so he could conceal his true age. The Phillies thought he was younger and didnt find out the truth until 2004. Simon has bounced around a lot and didnt actually crack the Majors until 2008 with Baltimore. He had brief snatches of success with the 0s saving 17 games in 2010 and starting 16 in 2011, but in 2012 he was claimed on waivers by the Reds off the Orioles. Before this season, Alfredo Simon had a career record in six years of (17-18) with 19 saves. He had been with six organizations, three of them twice. Yet the other night at 33 he become the National Leagues first 10-game winner this season. In fact he is (10-3) with a 3.05 ERA and he is convinced he can pitch 200 innings this season even though his previous high was 115 2-3 with Baltimore in 2011. A truly amazing story. All of which brings us to Ricky Romero, whos been slogging it out in Triple-A Buffalo trying to find the old Ricky who used to be the ace of the Blue Jays staff three years ago. We learned Thursday, that Ricky had to undergo surgery on his left knee and is done for the rest of this season. Ricky will be 29 years old next season and in the final guaranteed year of his contract. The Jays will be paying him another $7.5 million dollars. Maybe the knee surgery will make a difference and Ricky can author the kind of comeback story that Alfredo Simon has. One more thing on Simon. He had to battle back from Tommy John surgery as well after getting injured in just his second start for the Orioles in 2009.. This weekend marks a special anniversary at Rogers Centre. Saturday it will be 14 years since the only no-hitter in the history of the facility was pitched there. Oaklands Dave Stewart accomplishing the feat on June 21, 1990. Ironically later that same night, Fernando Valenzuela no-hit St. Louis. It was the only time in Major League history two no-nos have been thrown on the same day. Three years later Stewart won a World Series with the Jays and later became their assistant General Manager. Jason Hammel Jersey . - A late-game interception by defensive back Malcolm Butler saved the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots. Danny Duffy Jersey .Then came December.Three straight losses, including a crushing 27-24 defeat to Washington (4-11) on Saturday, has the Eagles (9-6) on the brink of playoff elimination. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/Customized/ . -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday.MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Jeff Green has helped Memphis win seven of eight games since joining the team two weeks ago.The team got Green in a three-team trade from Boston on Jan. 12 in the hope the forward can push the Grizzlies deep into the post-season. Inserting one player, even with Greens talents, means a transition for all, so the Grizzlies are busy redefining roles to find the best combinations.The changes are working so far. Memphis has been winning and Green has reached double figures in six games, including 21 points on the road at Orlando and 18 last weekend in a home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.He is averaging 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds since joining Memphis.Were going to get it right, forward Zach Randolph said. Its a good thing, trying to figure out the chemistry with Jeff.Memphis improved to 33-12 after a 109-90 win at Dallas on Tuesday night, good for second in the Western Conference. Green, a 6-foot-9 player in his seventh season out of Georgetown, gives the Grizzlies a much-needed scorer as they try to reach the Western Finals for the second time in three years.Green can slash to the basket and provide another alternative to the front-line bulk of Randolph and centre Marc Gasol, an All-Star starter. Green can shoot from outside, helping ease the pressure on guards Mike Conley and Courtney Lee.Memphis coach Dave Joerger said theres a lack of practice time to implement plays designed for Green, so the Grizzlies are bringing back some plays they used when Rudy Gay played smalll forward. Jorge Soler Jersey. Hes just trying find himself on when he can attack, Joerger said of Green. And were trying to create lanes for him to attack where he knows theres not going to be a big in front of him.But adding a new player in the middle of the season means changes for players and reserves who helped the Grizzlies turn in the best start in franchise history. Green has played at least 26 minutes and up to 32 minutes so far.Defensive stalwart Tony Allen, who is dealing with an ankle injury, missed a start as did Lee, who scored in double figures in five straight games before Green replaced him in the starting lineup Jan. 21. That left reserve forward Jon Leuer out of the rotation temporarily, but his minutes have increased in recent games.Green said hes still is adapting, but remains confident hell blend with the team as one of several offensive options for the Grizzlies. Thats a switch from his tenure in Boston, where he was a primary focus of defences.You get comfortable with repetition and time, Green said. Its been great having Marc and Zach looking for me on cuts. The lane has been there for me, Ive just got to be aggressive.The Grizzlies have 27 games left in the regular season, starting Thursday night when Denver visits Memphis, to figure out the best combinations.You want to find something that everybody is comfortable with, Conley said. Were going to experiment and see what works. Well see as the games go on, and hopefully well figure it out sooner than later. 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