DUNEDIN, Fla. Nathan Shepherd Jersey . -- Jose Reyes reported to Blue Jays camp two days early, donning a Superman T-shirt, a wide grin and an optimistic attitude on what he expects will be a much improved season. The four-time All-Star shortstop spent much of the morning Tuesday working out and joking with teammates in the clubhouse. "Were very excited about this year, because last year was a tough year for me and for the whole team," Reyes said. "This year, I feel like Im 100 per cent and back to normal. I just cant wait to go to the field and do what I do best, and help this ballclub get where we need to get." The speedy Reyes was limited to just 92 games last season because of a broken ankle. Hurt in April, he says the injury continued to nag him after he returned from the disabled list in June. But with more time to rehab, Reyes says his ankle has gotten "way better." He says he is not worried about what kind of effects the artificial turf at Rogers Centre could have on it. "I feel like this off-season, I was able to move how I wanted to," Reyes said. "Last year, it was kind of tough for me. Running the bases, going from first to second. Stuff like that bothered me a little bit. But this year, its not a concern at all." Reyes said he is eager turn the page on the past two years, which he described as the hardest of his major league career. After spending his first eight seasons with the New York Mets, Reyes opted become a free agent in 2011. He signed a six-year, $106 million contract with the Marlins, believing a revamped roster could help them contend for a World Series title. But after the Marlins stumbled to a 69-93 record, Reyes was shipped to Toronto along with pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle as part of an off-season purge by Miami to dump salary. The results didnt get much better for Reyes in a new uniform. Picked by many to be playoff contenders, the Blue Jays were crippled by injuries and poor starting pitching and finished 74-88, last in the AL East. "It is tough, because you come with high expectations in spring training," Reyes said. "But in baseball, you never know whats going to happen. You have to put it in the past. This is a new year." Reyes said he kept in touch with sluggers Jose Bautista and Melky Cabrera during the off-season. And while it wont be easy, they agree if the Blue Jays continue to build chemistry, they can contend in the division and return to the playoffs. "We just need to put it together on the field," Reyes said. "If we put it all together -- pitching, hitting, out there on the field -- why can we not compete? The team is still here. We still have the star players that we need to have. We just need to stay healthy and go from there." NOTES: Manager John Gibbons announced that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will be the teams opening day starter for the second consecutive season, on March 31 against the Tampa Bay Rays. "Itll be Dickey opening up in (St. Petersburg), where he has pitched very well," Gibbons said. "Hes had some good outings down there and hes our guy." Gibbons said he has not yet determined the rest of the rotation order. ... CF Colby Rasmus and 3B Brett Lawrie also stopped by the clubhouse. ... The Jays signed OF Brett Carroll to a minor league contract. Carroll, 31, is expected to report to Triple-A Buffalo. Isaiah Crowell Jets Jersey . Just as the meeting was beginning, Major League Baseball unveiled Rule 7.13, an experimental rule for the 2014 season aimed at eliminating what the league calls “egregious” runner/catcher collisions at home plate. Custom New York Jets Jerseys .com) - The San Francisco Giants delivered plenty of big hits to tie the World Series. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Sam-Darnold-Jersey/ . The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August.As Cristiano Ronaldo continues to adapt his game, Gareth Bale has the chance to become Real Madrid’s most important attacking player, writes Adam Bate. According to Guillem Balague, it was only when it became apparent that Cristiano Ronaldo was likely to be staying at Real Madrid this summer that Robert Lewandowski cooled on the idea of signing for the Spanish club. It was the enormous potential of a Bale-Lewandowski partnership that appealed to the Pole. Competing with Ronaldo was a different matter.Its a nugget of information that puts Bales decision to join Real in the summer of 2013 into context. The Welshman had made his name at Tottenham by showcasing a similar skill-set to Ronaldo with his dribbles down the flank, long-range shots and distinct style of taking free-kicks. Indeed, Bale has visibly modelled his approach on the celebrated forward. So its perhaps understandable that there have been times in his three-year stay in Madrid that finding the right role within the team has not seemed straightforward. While predecessor Mesut Ozils reputation for selflessness complemented Ronaldo perfectly, Bales similarity was seen as something that counted against him. See Bales latest trick as he juggles a golf ball between a club and his feet The statistics bore that out in that first season. While the campaign was a triumphant one, culminating in a Champions League victory in which both men scored, Ronaldos presence did inhibit Bales effectiveness. In fact, he netted more goals in the seven games he started without Ronaldo than the 17 in which they were named in the starting line-up together.Even now his scoring record when Ronaldos not around is a goal a game. In his first two seasons in Madrid, he scored 19 in 44 starts when the Portuguese played too. However, those numbers began to change last season. Bale scored 15 goals in 19 La Liga games alongside Ronaldo and suggestions of issues between the pair began to dissipate. Bale stepping out of the shadow? With Ronaldo Without Ronaldo Apps Goals Apps Goals 2013/14 17 7 7 8 2014/15 27 12 3 1 2015/16 19 15 2 3 TOTAL 63 34 12 12 There were several factors in that. Trenton Cannon Jets Jersey. Rafael Benitez had prioritised Bales positioning, giving him opportunities more centrally, and Zinedine Zidane continued to encourage this freedom of movement. But the biggest change was simply the ticking of time. The 31-year-old Ronaldo is a very different animal to the one that once tore at opposition defences.In their first season together, Bale and Ronaldo averaged 2.5 and 2.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes respectively. But Ronaldos dribbling numbers have been falling year on year to such a degree that last season he recorded the lowest figures of his career to date. His dribbling days are all but over. Its as an accumulator of goals that he excels now. Dribbling differences Dribbles per 90 Gareth Bale Cristiano Ronaldo Difference 2013/14 2.5 2.4 +0.1 2014/15 2.3 1.6 +0.7 2015/16 2.2 1.4 +0.8 He is now just a goalscorer, La Liga expert Terry Gibson told Sky Sports. He is now almost a full centre-forward. It was in this role that Ronaldo helped Portugal to glory at the European Championship this summer, scoring three times - including the opener against Bales Wales in the semi-final - but seldom being involved in the build-up play.Ronaldos game has changed and the onus is on him to adapt. But for Bale, its an opportunity for him to seize the initiative and become the driving force of this Real Madrid team. The players who were once deemed too similar can now complement each other - the dribbler and the finisher. Those at the club are far from oblivious to the changes. Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. Guillem Balague Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid, said Balague recently. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. He is picked to play in and around the box so there is more work to do for the others and more work to do for Bale.Bales efforts in France impressed in Spain. In his AS column, Lothar Matthaus rated him alongside Antoine Griezmann as one of the two faces of Euro 2016 while Marca talked of his reputation and importance to Real Madrid continuing to grow. A contract that expires in 2019 is expected to be extended to the summer of 2021 or beyond. In the more immediate future, theres a big season ahead. Bale reports for duty at the end of July having had some time to relax, proposing to his long-time partner and embarking on a golf tour of Scotland. His competitive return will come in the European Super Cup against Sevilla in Trondheim in the first week of August. Ronaldo will not be fit.The plan for Zidane and Real is that the 2016/17 journey ends with what theyre already calling Duodecima - the clubs 12th European Cup success. And where is the final to be played? Bales home city of Cardiff. He might have lost his personal battle with Ronaldo at Euro 2016, but Bale could yet be the big winner as the power shifts at Real Madrid. Win Sky Q Ultra HD with Sky Sports 43 LG TV plus a Sky Q Ultra HD package including Sky Sports to be won EVERY DAY - enter now! Also See: WATCH: Bales golf skills Ronaldo wants new deal Cheap Hockey Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Hockey Stars Jerseys Cheap Hockey Wild Jerseys Cheap Hockey Predators Jerseys Cheap Hockey Blues Jerseys Cheap Hockey Jets Jerseys Cheap Hockey Ducks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Hockey Flames Jerseys Cheap Hockey Oilers Jerseys Cheap Hockey Kings Jerseys Cheap Hockey Sharks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Canucks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Golden Knights Jerseys Hockey Team Canada Jerseys ' ' '