OAKLAND – The following is a question this writer did not expect to type this season: where would the Blue Jays be without the contribution of J.A. Happ? Happs seven wins are second on the staff to Mark Buehrles 10. Win-loss record is an antiquated stat, sure, but win total is generally an indication of a pitchers ability to work deep into games, enough to be personally affected by the result. Efficiency has been an issue for Happ during his time in Toronto. Hes acquired a reputation as a five-inning pitcher, driven prematurely from outings because hes plodded along to 100 pitches far too soon. Its gotten late, often, far too early. Something has changed. Suddenly, in more starts than not, Happ is working deep, positively affecting the result. When he returned to the rotation on May 5 in Philadelphia, Happs future was being determined on a start-to-start basis. The leash is now longer. Since being acquired from the Astros in July 2012, Happ has been a starter and a reliever; hes been injured, first with a fractured foot two seasons ago and then with head and knee injuries last year, the result of a horrifying line drive off his skull on May 7, 2013 in Tampa Bay. His back flared up in spring training, resulting in a horrible March that cost him his spot in the rotation and landed him on the disabled list for opening day. There have been periods of self doubt, he admitted to TSN.ca. "I certainly would be lying if I said no to that," said Happ. "Last year there was a point where I tried to talk to (pitching coach) Pete (Walker) one on one and was just like, What have you got? I know Im capable of more and Im willing to do whatever it takes to get over the hump. I never thought I was far away but I just couldnt quite get over the hump for whatever reason. It comes and goes and it still does." Happ is a quiet guy. He doesnt say much, at least not when media have access to the players. Nobody would accuse Happ of seeking the limelight. He laughed in spring training, after he was away from the team for two days to deal with the back problem, when it was pointed out to him that a guy so quiet couldnt seem to avoid controversy. Hes heard the talk and hes read the articles. He knows he has his critics and his doubters; hes been one himself. Happ isnt bitter. "I think you write what you see and if thats what you see then thats your interpretation and understanding," said Happ. "Thats how this thing works. I cant be mad at anybody for what they feel like or whatever. I just know what I knew, or know, Im capable of so thats why I try to defend myself in situations where Im maybe not in a position where Id like to be." Happ has allies in two of important places: the managers and coaches offices, where John Gibbons and pitching coach Pete Walker reside. Gibbons has consistently defended his left-hander, quick to point out Happs ordeal last season and confident that a slight arm slot adjustment ultimately would pay off. "Ive always been a fan of the guy," said Gibbons. "Ive always known what hes capable of, but the bottom line is hes got to go out and do that. Hes had his ups and downs along the way but everybody in the game at this level, I mean, very few guys take this game by storm year after year." "I think hes comfortable in that slot right now," said Walker. "Its not as high as it used to be and its not as low as he first started when we dropped him down. Its kind of that in-between slot and I think hes really comfortable throwing there. I think hes in a good place physically and mentally he looks forward to that ball every five days." Happ has been told to attack the strike zone. Hes been told to pitch to contact. Hes been told to more aggressively use his fastball. Hes doing both. Consider this: in his start against the White Sox on June 26, a 7-0 win in which he went 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball, Happ threw 124 pitches, 111 of which were fastballs. The relationship with Walker is an important one to Happ, forged when he joined the Blue Jays two years ago. Walker was the bullpen coach at the time. Happ was a reliever who believed he should be a starter. The two meshed. "Hes a guy that I always felt like he felt that I was capable of more and expected more and kind of knew that it was in there," said Happ. "I know thats kind of part of his job and he probably does it to everybody but hes very good at individualizing things and I always felt like he kind of had my back and I felt the same way about Gibby too. Maybe thats the reason why Im still here." There will be future outings when Happ struggles. The aim, of course, is to turn those into the exception rather than the rule. That June 21 start in Cincinnati, for example. Happ got rapped for seven earned runs in four innings. He bounced back with that gem against the White Sox and a strong start against the Brewers. The doubters who believed Happ, version Cincinnati, was the real guy were forced to reconsider. So if this is the real Happ, what happened? Why did a left-handed pitcher with a mid-90s fastball lack mound presence? Why did it appear that he didnt trust his repertoire? "Any answer to this is going to sound like an excuse and thats the last thing I want it to be," said Happ. "I let myself get caught up in a situation, playing on a team that wasnt very successful and I allowed that to affect me mentally as much I tried to not (let it). I think I probably got into some bad habits." Those bad habits were both mental and mechanical. Success, however, breeds confidence. Happ has had some success. His body language on the mound projects confidence. Maybe Yogi Berra was right when he suggested that 90 per cent of baseball is half mental. "Youve got to believe and youve got to really believe that you guys have got a chance out there in order for it to happen," said Happ. "You cant just wish things to happen in this game. They just dont. Youve got to go make it happen. I had a tough couple of years trying to kind of find myself and who I think I should be and I feel good about getting in a place where my body feels good, my mechanics feel good and Im just a little more free in everything. I felt like I had to be perfect for a lot of the time for things to go right and thats just not the case." Kansas City Royals Pro Shop . MacArthur scored two goals, and the Senators outlasted Detroit in a testy third period to beat the Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night. Kansas City Royals Store . It was the start of one nice night for the goalie and the Minnesota Wild. Backstrom made 33 saves in his first win of the season and the Wild defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Saturday in a rematch of their first-round playoff series. https://www.cheaproyals.com/. Arsene Wenger reportedly wants to convert the player into an attacking force, much like he did with Robin Van Persie. Kansas City Royals Gear . Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN. Royals Jerseys China . 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. SAN FRANCISCO -- Ehire Adrianza became the latest pinch-runner in the majors to make a decisive dash. Adrianza scored the winning run in his big league debut, speeding home Sunday on Angel Pagans single in the 11th inning to lift the San Francisco Giants over the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2. In a week that saw Cincinnatis Billy Hamilton and Bostons Quintin Berry score key runs as pinch-runners, Adrianza did his part. "That was so exciting," Adrianza said. "I have been waiting for this moment since I was 3 years old. It was pretty amazing and it feels great. As a pinch-runner it was an honour to win a game like that." Adrianza has been a minor league shortstop in the Giants system since he was 16 in 2006. Hector Sanchez hit a leadoff single in the 11th against Joe Thatcher (3-2). Adrianza moved up when Gregor Blanco reached safely on a sacrifice bunt and beat the throw home on Pagans single. Javier Lopez (3-2) got the win. Sanchez also drove in a run for the Giants, who split the series with Arizona. "I just tried to put the ball in play and took advantage of the hole," Sanchez said. "I feel great right now. Im comfortable swinging. I feel amazing." Eric Chavez and A.J. Pollack each drove in runs for the Diamondbacks. "We have not swung the bats very well at all, especially in the good situations," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "Were not in a good streak right now." Gibson was ejected in the 10th for arguing after first base umpire Tom Hallion reversed his original call. The Diamondbacks had runners at first and second with two outs when Aaron Hill grounded to first baseman Buster Posey. After bobbling the ball, Posey flipped to pitcher George Kontos covering the bag. Hallion called Hill safe, then consulted with the other umpires and ruled him out. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter. Bumgarner remaiins winless over his last seven starts.dddddddddddd "It doesnt matter if I get the win or not, thats out of our control," Bumgarner said. "All the starters are trying to do is compete, eat up some innings and keep us in it." Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley went seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out three. Joaquin Arias singled to lead off the eighth for the Giants and went to second on Tony Abreus sacrifice bunt. He was left there. Matt Davidson walked to lead off the ninth for the Diamondbacks but pinch-runner Tony Campana was caught stealing. Miguel Montero followed with a single but was stranded. Miley retired nine of the first 10 hitters before running into trouble in the fourth. Tony Abreu walked and Posey doubled to open the inning. One out later, Sanchez bumped a single into right field to score one run and Posey later scored on a wild pitch. The Diamondbacks scored twice in the eighth against Santiago Casilla, Chavez hit a sacrifice fly and Pollack had an RBI single. NOTES: OF Hunter Pence needs a home run to become the first Giants player to record at least 20 home runs and 20 steals in a season since Barry Bonds in 1998. ... The Giants sold out their 237th regular season home game, doing it while the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Green Bay Packers in their regular-season opener. ... RHP Tim Lincecum (9-13, 4.50) makes the start for the Giants on Monday night when Colorado arrives to open a three-game set. Hes 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA against the Rockies this year. ... The Diamondbacks will start RHP Randall Delgado (4-5, 3.69) in their series opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Monday. Hes allowed three earned runs or less in 12 of his 15 career starts. ... Arizona IF Martin Prado missed his second straight game with an illness. ... Diamondbacks INF Cliff Pennington returned to Arizona after the game to be with his wife, who will undergo induced labour on Monday. ' ' '