Baseball season is just under two weeks old… Are you tired yet? For a sport which can cite the speed of the game as one of its major detractors, the 2014 season has already seen developments come to light to call into question whether the game needs to be sped up. Willis Reed Knicks Jersey . The advent of instant replay on select plays, allowing managers to challenge contentious calls, has added yet another stall tactic to the great summer spectacle. Naturally, two weeks in, a pattern has emerged. Many organizations have employed or utilized a “video coach” whose job it is to keep an eye on a monitor when close plays come about and to double-check whether the right call was made. In order to give managers better odds of winning challenges, a trend has now emerged where skippers saunter out to the umpire to discuss the call while awaiting a signal from the bench to decide whether or not the play is “challenge-worthy”. Sometimes it is not and the game proceeds. Sometimes it is and more time is spent actually reviewing the play in question. So, whats the solution? Well, according to a report from ESPNs Buster Olney earlier this week, one MLB executive believes seven-inning games would help get the games done in roughly two-and-a-half hours. But is that really the best way to speed up the game? Solutions have been pitched before, however. In 2007, the MLBs official rules were altered to reduce the maximum amount of time a pitcher was allowed between pitches without runners on base. Under these rules, a pitcher was allowed no more than 12 seconds between pitches (down from 20) with the bases empty. The penalty for exceeding that time limit is an extra ball added to the batters count. Still, games clock in regularly at north of three hours. So, is the seven-inning game a viable solution for Major League Baseball? Changes have been made in the past to alter the quality of the game both on- and off the field including the advent of the live-ball era, the lowering and raising of the pitchers mound and – most notably – the restructuring of the Leagues substance abuse policy in the wake of the “Steroid era”. Speaking of which: Wouldnt a switch to seven innings be a clever way to asterisk the records that Major League Baseball is hesitant to recognize? “Sure, Barry Bonds is the all-time home run king… but that was during the nine-inning era.” What do you say? Would you be in favour of just heading home at the seventh-inning stretch? As always, its Your! Call. Kevin Knox Jersey . - Chris Davis hit a two-run double, scoring Nelson Cruz in his Orioles debut in Baltimores 9-7 win over to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Anthony Mason Knicks Jersey . Various media outlets, including the Detroit Free Press, indicate a deal is close, while USA Today cited an unidentified person directly involved with the negotiations as saying the pact is for two years. http://www.knickssale.com/kids-charles-oakley-knicks-jersey/ . The Leafs were back on the ice Wednesday following an 10-day break. It apparently wasnt long enough, as Team Canadas 2-1 win over Latvia didnt conclude before the Leafs began practice. "I was thinking we might get a little delay, but it was nice to get out there," said Tyler Bozak of watching Wednesdays game.TORONTO - Netminders Zach Fucale and Eric Comrie have already locked down spots on the Canadian world junior team.Whats far less certain is who will get the nod when Canada opens tournament play Dec. 26 against Slovakia. Head coach Benoit Groulx said Friday that the starting job is up for grabs.Theyre on the team, but theyve got to compete and theyve got to prove themselves, Groulx said. Theyve got to have the right attitude and so far were very pleased with Eric and Zach because theyre both competitors. You can tell they enjoy the game. They love to compete and they love to be out there.I think thats what we need and its a healthy competition among the two of them.Like team brass did last year, Canada finalized its goalies in advance. A third goalie could always be added during the tournament if needed.That takes a little pressure off the netminders in the buildup to the Dec. 26-Jan. 5 world junior hockey championship in Montreal and Toronto. The other 28 players in camp will battle it out for the remaining 20 roster spots.Fucale appears to be the favourite to land the first starting assignment. The Halifax Mooseheads goalie was on the team at last years tournament in Malmo, Sweden, where Canada settled for a fourth-place finish. Fucale was also drafted in the second round (36th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens and is from Rosemere, Que.So it would seem logical that hed play Canadas opening group stage game, given that it will be at the Bell Centre. However, Groulx said the job is open and the netminders performances in practice and exhibition games over the next two weeks will be key.We believe in both of them and weve been evaluating them for two years, he said. The evaluation process is still an ongoing process every day.The two goaltenders are quite similar. Both are 19 years old, both are six foot one, and both weigh about 180 pounds. They were both drafted in the second round last year, with Comrie taken 59th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.They have posted similar records this season and have been teammates at various tournaments in the past. Theyre also roommates and good friends. So while the battle is underway, there does not appeear to be any tension. Tracy McGrady Jersey. Theyre both saying the right things and seem very supportive of each other and the team.Im not looking at it as a competition, said Comrie, whos from Edmonton and plays for the Tri-City Americans. Im looking at it as were a team here. Were building towards one single goal.Were not fighting against each other to reach a gold medal. Were fighting with each other to reach a gold medal.Groulx said each goalie will get a start when Canada plays exhibition games against the CIS Toronto Selects this weekend before heading to St. Catharines, Ont., for pre-competition camp.Me and Eric, we have a lot in common, Fucale said. One of those things is were team players and we just want to help the team every time we get out there. Its good that were on the same page and we have the same goal in mind. I think thats very good for the team.Canada is hoping to end a five-year gold medal drought at the tournament. Fucale, one of seven returning players from last years team, said he has made strides over the last 12 months.I have become better mentally, stronger physically and technically everything has got better, he said. I feel very good, I feel great coming into this event. Its a great opportunity once again. Im just looking forward to the whole experience and living in the moment.Groulx put the players through a tough 90-minute workout Friday morning at MasterCard Centre. It was the first full team workout as seven players missed the opening session a night earlier due to travel delays.A timeline for player cuts has not been finalized. There could also be some late additions since NHL clubs have until the Dec. 19 roster freeze to decide whether they will loan players to the team. The goaltending picture is the one area thats clear, even if the starting assignments remain up in the air.Its always good to have internal competition, Fucale said. Coms is a competitor and so am I. For sure, we want to be ready for each game and like I said, we both have the same goal in mind — thats just to help the team win.So whoever is out there, well try our best to help the team and thats all that really matters.———Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter. ' ' '