TAMPA – Mark Buehrle spun a gem on his 35th birthday, pitching as if he had evening plans to celebrate. "Go home, drop the family off at the airport so time to go home and clean up the house and get it ready for getting stuff shipped," said Buehrle of what will be a quiet night. Buehrle made his noise on the mound, tossing 6 1/3 innings of seven-hit, one-run ball against a Yankees lineup that featured every starter save for an injured Jacoby Ellsbury. He threw 94 pitches, 59 for strikes and was his usual efficient self, issuing no walks. He didnt strike out anyone, either. The Blue Jays won 3-1. "Hes looked a little different this spring," said manager John Gibbons. "Everythings just right. His locations on. I think hes popping the ball a little bit better. Of course I saw him last year, I hadnt seen him in any spring before that but I know hes feeling good and I think hes a little bit surprised about how good he feels and thats a good thing." Buehrle hadnt pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 7. On that day, he threw 31 of 44 pitches for strikes and was insistent that his changeup was the best it had been in any game in three years. In between, Buehrle made two starts in minor league games. Cognizant of his opponent, Buehrle threw fewer offspeed pitches on Sunday, focusing on his fastball. "We face these guys a lot so I came out and just said, hey, lets work on a lot of fastballs, location," said Buehrle. "I dont want to say trick them because obviously Ive been in the league for 12, 13 years so they know what I throw but just didnt want to show them everything." The plan is for Buehrle to start on Friday night in Montreal, the first of two exhibition games the Jays will play against the New York Mets at Olympic Stadium. Pitching coach Pete Walker draws up the assignments and didnt give Buehrle the choice of traveling or staying back in Florida to throw in a minor league game. Thats just fine with Buehrle, whos looking to pitch in front of a large crowd, in a large stadium, this close to opening day. "It definitely helps out," said Buehrle. "You get in that atmosphere, the adrenaline pumps a little more, theres a bigger crowd even coming here, everything just kind of clicks and it just becomes real once the game starts." Fridays start wont be Buehrles first at the Big O. His only previous outing came on June 18, 2004, an 11-7 White Sox win over the Expos. Buehrle pitched six innings but, as he put it, he got his "ass kicked." He allowed seven runs on 10 hits and got a no-decision. Reyes Update Jose Reyes wasnt in the Blue Jays lineup on Sunday, one day after leaving Saturdays win over the Tigers in the fourth inning with stiffness in his left hamstring. "It feels a little better," said manager John Gibbons. "We still dont think its a big deal." Reyes is listed as day to day. The Second Catcher Erik Kratz and Josh Thole are in a battle for the second catchers job behind Dioner Navarro. Its going down to the wire. "The number one job is going be able to catch Dickey," said Gibbons. "You want some offence but the number one thing (is) theyve got to be able to catch Dickey." Navarro played in 89 games for the Cubs last season, far and away his most since appearing in 115 games for the Rays in 2009. With that in mind, the Jays anticipate the second catcher having to play more. Kratz offers more offence but Dickey is most comfortable pitching to Thole. Dickeys thrown 565 2/3 career innings with Thole as his battery mate. Henry Blanco, at 127 innings, ranks a distant second. "I think theyve both done a good job so its a tough call," said Gibbons. Dickey, as he did last spring when the decision was made to take Blanco over Thole, insists he doesnt have, and insists he doesnt want, input in the process. Timeline for Roster Finalization Gibbons hopes to have his final roster determined before the Blue Jays leave for Montreal, where theyll play two exhibition games versus the Mets on Friday and Saturday, before the club departs on Thursday evening. "Well have a good idea before that what the roster is going to look like," said Gibbons. "Of course, well bring some extra guys with us anyway but well know in the next couple of days; with the catching, anyway." Gale Sayers Jersey . Hoefl-Rieschs exit — from the downhill course into safety nets, then airlifted from the slope by helicopter — left Anna Fenninger of Austria favourite to win her first giant crystal trophy one month after becoming an Olympic champion. Mitchell Trubisky Bears Jersey . The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. 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Lefty was in good spirits Monday at the British Open, except for having to return the claret jug.NEW YORK -- The Yankees got $22 million in extra spending money Saturday. Alex Rodriguezs season-long suspension gives New York some space under the $189 million tax threshold just as coveted free-agent pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is negotiating with major league teams. But arbitrator Fredric Horowitzs decision Saturday leaves many questions: --Who will play third base for the Yankees? --Will Rodriguez be with the team at spring training? --Exactly how much space has been created in their luxury tax payroll? Among the internal options at third base, Kelly Johnson has played 16 major league games at third -- all with Tampa Bay last year, and Brendan Ryan has played 29 games at third but none since 2008. While Eduardo Nunez has appeared in 78 games at third, he seems more comfortable as a shortstop. Mark Reynolds became a free agent but could be re-signed, and Michael Young also is on the market. New York might ask free-agent Stephen Drew whether hed be interested in moving to third. "A number of teams have spoken to Stephen about playing positions other than shortstop," said Drews agent, Scott Boras. Rodriguez has a record $275 million, 10-year contract that calls for him to make $25 million this year, $21 million in 2015 and $20 million in each of the final two seasons. The ruling relieves the Yankees of most of his 2014 salary. "The New York Yankees respect Major League Baseballs Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the arbitration process, as well as the decision released today by the arbitration panel," was all the team said in its only comment. Before the decision, New Yorks luxury tax payroll stood at $175.7 million for 13 signed players. Add in Brian Roberts pending $2 million deal and about $11.5 million for benefits, and the total was $189.2 million. That figure also doesnt include five players eligible for salary arbitration: outfielder Brett Gardner, pitchers Ivan Nova, David Robertson and Shawn Kelley and catcher Francisco Cervelli -- who is returning from a 50-game drug suspension. And then there are the rest of the players who fill out the 40-man roster. Horowitz ruled Rodriguez is entitled to 21-183rds of this years salary, or about 11.5 per cent, a persoon familiar with the decision said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the ruling was not made public.dddddddddddd Thats because the drug agreement sets the number of days of lost salary based on games suspended over the 183-day season regardless of the total of days a player is banned. Rodriguez will receive $2,868,852, and the $22,131,148 in lost salary lowers Rodriguezs contract total to approximately $252.87 million. The suspension does not impact the final $3 million payment of Rodriguezs $10 million signing bonus, which is due Wednesday. He has counted for $27.5 million on the Yankees luxury tax payroll in each of the last six seasons, and the Yankees could argue they should be credited for the difference between that figure and the new $25.3 million average, either as refunds for tax payments in the last six years or as an additional amount to be spent without incurring tax in the future seasons. The decision would be up to MLB and the players union. Also unclear is whether Rodriguez will be at the Yankees spring training camp, which starts in mid-February at Tampa, Fla. The drug agreement specifies spring training games are not included in any suspensions, and players getting ready to serve suspensions have appeared in exhibition games -- such as Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz and Oakland pitcher Bartolo Colon, both last year. But MLB and the Yankees could attempt to keep away Rodriguez, arguing he has no season to prepare for. A-Rod has spent parts of the last six years on the disabled list due to a string of injuries, and he made his 2013 debut on Aug. 5 -- hours after his suspension was announced. He hit just .244 with seven homers and 19 RBIs in 156 at-bats and will be 39 when he is eligible to return. Whether Rodriguez ever plays for the Yankees again is a matter to be decided later. In addition to his remaining pay, he can earn $6 million for each of five milestone accomplishments. They were contemplated to be tying the home run marks of Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Bonds (762), and breaking Bonds major league record. Rodriguez has 654 homers. Given his pride and the monetary incentive, its hard to envision him leaving the baseball without trying to add to his on-field accomplishments. ' ' '