DETROIT - Justin Verlander is doing his best to take Max Scherzers departure in stride.Yes, the Detroit Tigers will miss Scherzer, one of the games top right-handers. But his exit via free agency was by no means a shock.Obviously you dont want to see a teammate go, but you can kind of see it coming too, Verlander said Thursday. I think once that deal was turned down last year, I think the probability of him coming back went way down. Thats the nature of the sport.Scherzer signed with the Washington Nationals this week after a five-year run in Detroit that included four division titles, a Cy Young Award in 2013 and strikeout totals that even Verlander had a hard time keeping up with. Now the Tigers will try for a fifth straight AL Central championship with a retooled rotation that also lost Rick Porcello. This may be the first time in a while that Detroit isnt a solid favourite to win the division.Scherzer turned down a lucrative deal with the Tigers before last season, and he ended up signing a $210 million, seven-year contract with the Nationals.Obviously, you lose a player of that calibre, its always tough. I think this organizations been preparing for that since last year, and I think if anybody, this staff has the capability to lose a guy of that calibre and still not miss a beat, Verlander said at the start of the Tigers winter caravan. I think were still going to be one of the best staffs in baseball, if not the best. Youve just got to perform. I know Ive got to pitch better and I will.Verlander was the American League MVP in 2011 and remained dominant the following year as well, but his performance dipped a bit in 2013, and last year he went 15-12 with a 4.54 ERA. At this time last year, Verlander was recovering from core muscle repair surgery, so hes hoping a more normal off-season will help.The rotation has been the backbone of the Tigers success over the last few seasons, but it looks a lot different than it did at the beginning of 2014. Detroit acquired star left-hander David Price at last years trade deadline, sending starter Drew Smyly to Tampa Bay in that deal. The Tigers then traded Porcello in the off-season for Boston outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.Detroit also traded for right-handers Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon this off-season, and its those two newcomers who now face the daunting task of replacing Scherzer and Porcello.I have a lot of expectations for myself, and theyre probably higher than most peoples expectations for me, said Greene, who went 5-4 with a 3.78 ERA as a rookie for the New York Yankees last year.Price may be the key to Detroits division title defence. The Tigers can look forward to having him for a full season, although he can become a free agent at the end of it.Price went 4-4 in 11 starts with the Tigers, but he ended last season on a good note, shutting down Minnesota in a division-clinching victory in Game 162. He also pitched well in his lone playoff start, although the Tigers were swept by Baltimore in the AL Division Series.We want to pick up, not where we left off last year, but we want to continue the success that the Tigers have had in recent years, Price said. We want to build on that as well and be the last team playing in October.Losing Scherzer was certainly a setback, but it doesnt have to be a crippling one.I talked to Max the day it kind of broke. Max is a good guy. Hes got a great sense of humour, Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. I was happy for him. I kind of knew, it kind of seemed all along that he wasnt going to be coming back here as a Tiger, so Im just glad he went to the National League.NOTES: Ausmus said hes been in touch with slugger Miguel Cabrera, who had off-season surgery on his right ankle. Hes out of the boot, as of a week ago maybe. Hes in shoes, Ausmus said. Hes got another appointment mid-February, just before spring training, and were hoping that all goes well, and the doctor says he can really start doing some stuff on it. Nike Tns Wholesale Australia . JOHNS, N. Nike Vapormax Mens Australia .com) - Novak Djokovic captured a mens Open Era-record fifth Australian Open title on Sunday by defeating rival Andy Murray in the final in Melbourne. http://www.vapormaxaustraliashoes.com/bu...stralia/97.html. The Yankees made the moves before Tuesdays game against Baltimore. Robertson was listed retroactive to Monday. Robertson posted two saves in three games as the replacement for retired Yankees closer Mariano Rivera before getting hurt. Cheap Nike Vapormax Australia .com) - There may be a debate in Philadelphia about who should be the starting quarterback of the Eagles. Vapormax Shoes Wholesale .Hoffenheim forward Anthony Modeste opened the scoring on a counterattack in the 15th minute, shooting though Jaroslav Drobnys legs after Lewis Holtby lost the ball in midfield.PHOENIX -- Cornerback Patrick Peterson says hes confident he will get a new contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He just doesnt know when. The Cardinals and his agent are in the early stages of negotiations, Peterson said, with no timetable on reaching an agreement. One thing for sure -- it will be a big deal. Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman just signed a four-year, $57 million contract with $40 million guaranteed. Peterson, a two-time All-Pro selection who has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in the NFL, wouldnt say whether his contract should be bigger than Shermans. But Peterson said he "kind of" had a smile on his face when he saw the terms of Shermans deal. He spoke Monday to announce a drive by his Patrick Peterson Foundation for Success to provide help to low-income and inner-city youth to have the resources they need to succeed. The foundations goal is to help 30,000 at-risk Arizona youth by 2015. A fundraising event, with his teammates serving at a local restaurant, is set for June 9. Peterson said that from the moment he became a professional football player, he decided his charity work would be aimed at helping children. Peterson congratulated Sherman on his contract and said the cornerback position has become a valuable one. "I think cornerbacks are definitely worth the dollars that they get because now this league is a passing league," he said. "You need that shutdown corner to lock down one side of the field, or like myself, go out there the entire field." Rather than play one side on defence, Peterson goes from side to side to defend the opponents best receiver. His skill and worth to the team may well drive his contract higher than Shermmans.dddddddddddd The Cardinals just picked up the option on Peterson for 2015, and hes not sure any deal will get done before the coming season. He knows the Cardinals are eager to keep him, though. "I think Ill be here for a while," Peterson said. "Thats a definite guarantee, Ill be here for a while." Coach Bruce Arians has said he wants to ease up on Petersons punt-return duties, and there is less chance he will be used on offence. Peterson tied an NFL record by returning four punts for touchdowns as a rookie but has not done it since. He said hes "cool" with Arians moves. "At the end of the day, I believe coach wants to put me in the best position that he can to keep me healthy, for one, and be successful," Peterson said. "Teams are starting to game-plan against me. Youve got teams kicking it to the sidelines, not kicking it as deep as they did the week before." Peterson likes the look of the secondary with the addition of cornerback Antonio Cromartie and last weeks selection of hard-hitting safety Deone Bucannon from Washington State, in the first round of the draft. Tyrann Mathieu, coming off knee surgery, is expected to fill the other safety spot with Rashad Johnson adding depth to the position. Peterson said he believes Cromartie "has a lot left in his tank." "You hear a lot of talk Oh, can he stay healthy? Is his hip going to be OK?" Peterson said. "But talking to him he says this is the best hes felt since he first entered the NFL." Bucannons addition drew a rave review from the star cornerback. "Im excited to see him fly around and knock off some chin straps -- legally," Peterson said. ' ' '