The Brewers‘ new backstop wanted to get a running start when pitchers

PHOENIX (AP) — The ink was hardly dry on his $18.25 million Jose Iglesias Jersey , one-year contract with Milwaukee when Yasmani Grandal started working the phone, reaching out to as many new teammates as possible from his offseason home in Peoria. reported to spring training.He scheduled bullpen sessions with pitchers ready to work off the mound, and sat down to talk strategy with those that weren’t. He studied video of his new battery mates and even met with members of Milwaukee’s coaching staff.When Grandal showed up to camp in Phoenix last week, he was ready to work.“I didn’t want to spend a lot of time at spring training getting to know them,” Grandal said. “By the time we started, we’d already spoken, I had an idea of what guys wanted to do and different things like that.”Grandal Denny McLain Jersey , 30, was a surprising signing for a team that appeared set at the catcher position with a combination of Manny Pina and Erik Kratz. Both are regarded as glove-first options, making catcher one of the few places Milwaukee could upgrade offensively.The switch-hitting Grandal was a perfect fit from that perspective. He batted .241 with 24 home runs, 68 RBIs and an .815 OPS last season for the Dodgers.His defense is also valuable. Though he’s struggled with passed balls — something the Brewers saw first-hand against the Dodgers last fall in the NL Championship Series — Grandal has long been regarded as one of the better receivers in the game and played a big role in helping Los Angeles‘ pitching staff post an NL-leading 3.38 ERA. He’s been touted especially for his ability to steal strikes around the edge of the zone.After working with the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Kenley Jansen, he’ll take on a staff most notable for shutdown relievers Josh Hader and Corey Knebel.“There’s the old line, ‘Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-daniel-norris-jersey ,’ but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve it,” Grandal said. “I’m here to learn as much as I’m here to teach.”He also provides Milwaukee’s coaching staff with a fresh perspective. Having stood in against Brewers pitchers during his seven-year career, he’s able to offer insight on what he’s noticed — and Grandal has said he picked up plenty from watching during their seven-game playoff battle.Manager Craig Counsell said he’s been hesitant to offer insight at times, preferring to get Grandal’s outside opinion first.“It’s almost an audit on our pitchers and our scouting reports, which is helpful for us,” Counsell said. “That’s a big part of where Yasmani can be a big help, especially here in the early going. The fact that he’s taken the initiative is what you hope for. It’s part of building the relationship with guys and he’s obviously going to be a very important part of their success.” The Tampa Bay Rays have even less room for error to keep their postseason hopes alive after dropping the opener of a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays in shocking fashion Thursday night in Toronto.The Blue Jays scored seven runs in the ninth inning to win 9-8 on the third career walkoff home run by Justin Smoak.The Blue Jays also had a three-run homer from Danny Jansen in the ninth and a two-run shot from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. that tied it.Article continues below ...The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Rays and dropped them to 6 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics in the race for the second wild-card spot in the American League.“This one definitely puts us in a very difficult position http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-kirk-gibson-jersey ,” Rays infielder Matt Duffy said. “We’re going to bounce back, we’re going to do what we can. Mathematically we’re still in it so we’re going to keep going until this thing is over.”The Rays (85-67) are expected to send out Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.14 ERA) as their opener in the second game of the series Friday night at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays will counter with right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (2-3, 5.54).The Blue Jays usually have their troubles with the Rays and, despite the Rays’ loss Thursday, Tampa Bay has a 9-4 advantage in the season series.The Blue Jays and the Rays play six more times as the season winds down. The teams play three more times in Toronto and have three games left at Tropicana Field, a series that closes out the regular season.After going 0-2 with an 8.68 ERA in his first two major league starts in August Willie Horton Jersey , Reid-Foley was returned to Triple-A Buffalo briefly. In his three starts since his return, he is 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA. He has had 10-strikeout games in two of those starts.He has never faced the Rays.Castillo will be opening a game for the 10th time this season in his 41st appearance.He has faced the Blue Jays four times this season, all in relief, and is 2-0 and has not allowed a run in 7 2/3 innings.While the Rays are still alive, barely, in the race for a postseason spot, the Blue Jays are using September to give experience to their prospects called up from the minors.“I think the future is bright for us http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-victor-martinez-jersey ,” Gurriel said through an interpreter. “It’s always nice to have those guys that I played with last year and this year. I’m happy and fortunate to play with those guys and maybe some of them — probably all of them — are going to be my teammates next year. On top of that we got the win. An amazing night and I’m happy for them, too.”Rays manager Kevin Cash said his team needed a lot of help to reach a wild-card spot.“In reality, we’re much farther than people are wanting to recognize,” he said. “We need a lot of things to go in our favor. Losses like this don’t help. … Anytime you’re up 8-2 and find a way to lose the game, that’s tough.”