Kuechly was the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, while Newton w

Barry Bonds, for whatever you may think of him or his methods, still holds the all-time record for home runs in the month of May. He slugged 17 back in May, 2001. The Jays Edwin Encarnacion has brought back memories of that prodigious feat by cranking out 11 homers in 21 games so far this month, including five in his last four games. Encarnacion has nine games left in May -- all in the homer-friendly Rogers Centre -- to take a run at Bonds mark. Thats six homers to tie or seven to break Bonds record in nine games. Not likely to happen, but not impossible either. Inspired by Encarnacions power display, I decided to go back through Blue Jays history and look at the numbers for some of the Jays all-time home run leaders. I decided to take their three peak home run seasons with the club and add them up to get a read on where Encarnacion stands. Over his past three seasons, Encarnacion has hit a total of 95 homers but that includes 17 in 2011. With 13 already this year, he can easily supplant that total and push his three year peak to well over 100. In the mid to late 80s, the Blue Jays go-to guys for homers were Jesse Barfield and George Bell. Barfield led the American League in "round trippers" in 86 with 40 and his three-year total from 1985 through 1987 was 95; the best three-year run of his career. Bell hit a then club record 47 in 1987 and beat out the Tigers Alan Trammell for the American Leagues Most Valuable Player award. Bells peak three-year total was 102 homers. Next up the ladder is the "Crime Dog" Fred McGriff. The tall, rangy first baseman belted a three-year total of 105 homers from 1988 to 1990 before being dealt, along with Tony Fernandez, to San Diego in the most important trade in franchise history for Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Interesting to note; McGriff went on another great three-year power run, unlike the others from 91-93 with San Diego for two-and-a-half seasons and then a half season with Atlanta. He smacked another 103 homers over that span and finished his career with 493. Joe Carter, another key player in those back-to-back World Series victories, hit an even 100 homers from 1991 through 1993. Jose Canseco had one magnificent season with the Blue Jays in 1998, where he hit 49 homers and stole 29 bases. But since it was only one season with the Jays, I dont consider him to be part of the mix in this storyline. Next up is Shawn Green. From 1997 through 1999, the tall wiry right fielder hit 93 homers, including his top total of 42 in 1999, just before he was dealt to the Dodgers for Raul Mondesi. But Green was just getting started. In L.A from 2000 to 2002, he belted 115 homers, including 49 in 2001 and 42 in 2002, but for the purposes of this story, only the Blue Jays years count. Finally, we get down to the two men who so far have had the best three-year home run in franchise history. Carlos "the Captain" Delgado hit 124 from 1999 through 200, including 44 in 99 and 41 the following season. Delgado wound up his career just 27 shy of 500 with 473. That brings us to Jose Bautista, who equaled Delgados three-year run with 124 homers from 2010 to 2012, including a franchise record 54 in 2010. So to break that obscure mark of 124 homers over a three year period, Encarnacion would have to hit 47 home runs this season. In other words, he needs 34 more over the final 114 games, including 60 at home, to be considered the elite slugger in franchise history over his peak three years. Its not a milestone many would even consider that important but it should be a fun chase to watch nonetheless. The Blue Jays, on the strength of a 14-7 month of May, have bumped their record to four games over .500 at 26 and 22 entering Friday nights three-game set at home against West Division-leading Oakland. They already have more victories than they did over the entire months of April and May a year ago, when they went 23-32. Sad to see Texas out-right J.P Arencibia to their Triple "A" Round Rock affiliate earlier this week. In his first game with the "Express," Arencibia was the DH and went for four with a strikeout. Arencibias final game with the Rangers was last Friday night at Arlington, when he caught Yu Darvish. Arencibia went without a hit in that one and Drew Hutchison out-dueled Darvish and pitched a complete game shutout. Ironically, in Darvishs next start against Detroit on Thursday at Comerica Park, Chris Giminez - the catcher called up to replace Arencibia - came up with the first four-hit game of his career. He had never even had a three-hit game before. Texas won 9-2, as Giminez also caught Darvish for the first time in his career and did a solid job behind the plate. All of that came on the same day the Rangers announced that Prince Fielder had opted to undergo season-ending neck surgery to have two discs fused in his neck, and 2B Jurickson Profar was likely gone for the rest of the year as well with a torn shoulder muscle. Fielder was the prized acquisition by the Rangers in the offseason in the Ian Kinsler trade with Detroit. The funny thing about that is, according to the Dallas Morning News, Fielder had mentioned to people in Detroit he had problems with neck pain when he was still in Motown. Yet, neither team asked for physicals for either player before the deal was made. Strange to say, the least. A couple of more notes on Arencibia. Since he broke in with the Jays on that magnificent day on August 7, 2010 with two homers in that wild 17-11 victory over Tampa Bay, there are only eight players left from that roster still with the organization just 4 years later. The eight include Encarnacion, Bautista, Adam Lind, Brandon Morrow (whos on the DL), Casey Janssen, Brett Cecil and two pitchers stranded at Buffalo in Kyle Drabek and Ricky Romero. Talk about turnover! Interesting too, that one of Arencibias teammates at Round Rock is a Canadian -- 34 year old right hander Scott Richmond, who hails from BC. Richmond had a stint with the Blue Jays before Arencibia arrived. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins is drawing ever closer in his quest to become the franchises number one hits man. He needs just 17 more to pass Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. 16 of the Phils next 22 games are at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils have got to be hoping Rollins can reach the milestone in front of the home fans. Cheap Jordan Shoes Australia . 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Jordan Shoes Australia Online .C. -- When Michael Jordan speaks, people still listen.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Panthers say theyd like to find a replacement for longtime No. 1 wide receiver Steve Smith in this years NFL draft. The big question is when theyll do it. The Panthers have the 28th overall pick, but the NFC South champions have a variety of needs after getting hit hard in free agency, and could go in a number of directions with their first-round choice. General manager Dave Gettleman said recently that wide receiver, offensive tackle and cornerback are among the teams top needs, but qualified that statement by adding he wont got out of his way to land one. "When you reach for a position of need youre in trouble," he said. Gettleman said he has some reservations about drafting a receiver in the first round because it often takes them longer to adjust to the NFL game than those who play other positions. "History tells you that its a very difficult position to assimilate into (the NFL), especially with the current game being played at the college level," Gettleman said. Gettleman called it a "wide receiver heavy" draft that includes several players whove put up big numbers. He said the trick is finding guys who can easily make the transition to the next level. "Ill look at a guy and hes caught 90 balls ... but of those 45 were flash screens," Gettleman said. "The other 45 he caught, he ran to three spots. So, do they understand coverage? Theyre going to have to learn the whole route tree. How long is it going to take them to assimilate? Its an issue. Its a problem." Smith was released in a salary cap move earlier this off-season. Replacing his toughness and production wont be easy. He caught 836 passes for 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns for the Panthers in 13 seasons. However, after averaging 76 receptions for 1,284 yards receiving and 5.5 touchdowns in his first two seasons playing with quarterback Cam Newton, Smiths numbers fell off in 2013. He caught 64 passes for 745 yards and four TDs. The Panthers signed free agents Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood, but none is expected to become the next No. 1 receiver in Carolina. Five things to watch from the Panthhers in the draft: ON THE FRONT BURNER: Jordan Gross retired this off-season, leaving a huge hole at left tackle — one the Panthers potentially could address in Round 1.dddddddddddd. Gettleman said there are some tackles in the draft dont have "left tackle feet," but said that doesnt necessarily matter. "There are only so many elite tackles," he said. "There are plenty of guys playing left tackle in this league that dont have classic left tackle feet." Finding a left tackle might take on added importance given Newton is coming off ankle surgery this off-season. FIRST ROUND SUCCESS: The Panthers have had tremendous success with their first-round picks the last three seasons. They grabbed defensive tackle Star Lotulelei from Utah at No. 14 in 2013, and he looks like hes going to be around the league for quite a while. They drafted linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 11 in 2012 and quarterback Cam Newton first overall the year before that. Kuechly was the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, while Newton was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011. BLUE GOOSE: Last year, Gettleman said the Panthers needed to add some "hog mollies," or big linemen. This year, the Boston native switched gears, saying if there is a "blue goose" pass rusher available at No. 28 he wouldnt pass on him. Tough to know what a blue-winged bird native to Ethiopia has to do with building a football team, though. CORNERBACK ON RADAR: The Panthers lost starting cornerback Captain Munnerlyn to Minnesota in free agency. While they signed free agent Antoine Cason, dont rule out cornerback as an option with one of the teams top three picks. The Panthers have one pick in each of the seven rounds. DONT BE REACHING: The Panthers are determined not to reach for picks at positions of need. They followed that plan last year and took defensive tackle Kawaan Short from Purdue in the second round — even after selecting Lotulelei in the first. "Last year, K.K. (Short) was obviously the best value in that second-round pick," Gettleman said. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '