Black- and Whitelist » which is usually something I dont

There was something a tad naive about the voracity with which Toronto FC fans greeted the final whistle Wednesday night, as their team triumphed 2-1 over the Whitecaps. If it was just an MLS regular season game, the reaction might have been warranted. Jermaine Defoe and Michael Bradley, Torontos two superstars scored on either side of half-time in top dollar fashion... with cool, composed precision. On any other day, that would have been three points with the two highest profile players justifying their worth. But this was not just a game, this was the first leg of two-game total goals series, in which away goals count as the first tiebreaker. And Torontos opponent wasnt a full-fledged MLS experienced squad, it was a team of kids including three 17-year-olds. A 19-year-old (Kekuta Manneh) came off the bench and bagged a critical goal in second half stoppage time, that puts the Whitecaps in pretty good shape heading home for that second leg next Wednesday at BC Place (7:30pm pt). It was a Whitecaps team that averaged just over 22 years of age, or about five years younger per player than those in red. The average salary per player, well... that was about a 15-1 difference favouring TFC on the night. And so the context of Wednesdays win should have garnered a different reaction from the home faithful. They should have been annoyed that TFC didnt capitalize on some of its gilt-edged chances in the first half, which might have seen a much wider scoreline at the break. And they should have been devastated at conceding a goal in the dying embers of the second half, having just been put in a great 2-0 position by Michael Bradleys marauding run and clinical finish minutes before. And all of that occurring at home, against a team that is still learning how to shave! The combatants Wednesday gave us an interesting illustration of two entirely different approaches to building a club. I, for one, have absolutely no problem with a team in Canada executing arguably the biggest off-season double swoop in MLS history. Its a top-down approach which has (its early, yes) seemingly paid off already. Interest has been renewed along with many season tickets, in a market that has been exceedingly tolerant of rebuilds. But theres a temporary feeling to that philosophy, much like BMO field itself. Built for today, not for tomorrow. (That, by the way, will change upon approval of an ambitious $100 million redesign to TFCs home.) To use a Mothers Day example, is it better to give Mom a beautiful store-bought bouquet or pick the ones you grew in your garden? If Moms happy either way, does the method matter? The Whitecaps are committed to growing their own. Perhaps thats the reason for so much enthusiasm in Vancouver right now; the sense of sustainability from a foundation built on youth. The tangible potential was there for everyone to see, even though the end product wasnt. Time will tell which supporters will be cheering the loudest on final whistles to come as two Canadian clubs chart their courses into the future. But I get the feeling after Wednesday, Whitecaps fans are pretty optimistic about the ship theyre sailing on. Black Friday Shoes . -- So much for concern that running back Marshawn Lynch would be absent from the Seattle Seahawks minicamp. Discount Shoes . - Even with a new coach, the Denver Nuggets still love to push the basketball. https://www.fakeshoeswholesale.com/.com) - The top spot in the AFC South will be on the line when Houston native Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts shoot for their fourth straight win when they take on the Texans at NRG Stadium. Cyber Monday Shoes .Y. -- Florida Panthers captain Ed Jovanovski finally has something to show for all the pain he went through in overcoming a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the past two years. Wholesale Shoes . -- Brandon Hope stopped 46 shots and Kurtis MacDermid scored with 27 seconds remaining in overtime as the Owen Sound Attack edged the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 5-4 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action.SEATTLE -- Hisashi Iwakuma was impressed with his likeness on the bobblehead the Seattle Mariners handed out on Saturday night. The fans who got them were likely more impressed with the real version on the mound. Iwakuma pitched a career-high 8 2-3 innings, and Kyle Seager and Robinson Cano homered to lift the Mariners to a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics. Iwakuma fanned five of the first six batters he retired en route to eight strikeouts overall. The right-hander allowed five hits and faced the minimum in all but three innings. After giving up a single to start the ninth, the right-hander retired two straight, but Brandon Moss two-run home run chased him from the game, one out shy of his first complete game. It also snapped his 20-inning scoreless streak, the longest by a Mariners pitcher this season. It was the 12th time in 63 career starts that Iwakuma pitched at least eight innings. "Just looking at the numbers today, the results today, Im very happy with that," Iwakuma said. "Having that being on the bobblehead day is special. We have a lot of fans out there, very electric out there. "The last game of the first half (for me), I wanted to finish strong. Im glad that I did finish strong." In his last three starts, Iwakuma is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA (3 earned runs in 21 2-3 innings), 25 strikeouts and no walks. Brandon Moss two-out, two-run home run off Iwakuma in the ninth. The successful stretch follows a forgetful two games in which Iwakuma allowed a combined 10 runs. "I think one of the things that probably hurt him a little bit is his game planning," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Not so much on his part, but on my part. Might have become a little bit predictable. "Hes got a nice mix, hes in and out, hes up and down, hes using all his pitches. I think that makes him pretty tough..dddddddddddd" Seagers fifth-inning home run -- a two-run shot -- was his 15th of the season, and 13th at Safeco Field. His 42 RBIs in 47 home games leads the American League. Canos ninth-inning, three-run home run was his seventh of the season, and gave the Mariners a 6-0 lead. Dustin Ackley gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead in the second with a single that scored Corey Hart from second. Hart came within feet of hitting a home run, but the ball caromed off the top of the wall in left-centre field, and the Seattle designated hitter settled for a double. Oakland starter Jesse Chavez allowed three runs and a career-high 10 hits. He walked two and struck out six in 5 2-3 innings. "I felt a little bit mechanically off as far as my landing," Chavez said. "I wasnt able to get on my front side a little more, which caused a lot of balls to be inside, and then having to get back even in the count having to come back over the plate, which is usually something I dont do til I need to." As left fielder Yoenis Cespedes threw out Willie Bloomquist trying to score from second in the eighth. It was Cespedes major league-leading 11th outfield assist this year, and his 30th since 2012. NOTES: Oaklands Stephen Vogt extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the sixth. ... Oakland OF Josh Reddick (strained right knee) is scheduled to start playing rehab games in the next couple days. ... Oakland LHP Drew Pomeranz (broken right hand) allowed a run and one hit, and struck out seven in four innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton (shoulder soreness) threw a three-inning simulated game and is expected to start for Single-A Everett on Thursday. ... Seattles Chris Young and Oaklands Sonny Gray will face off Sunday in the series finale. ' ' '