Jose Vidro, a three-time National League All-Star second baseman with the Montreal Expos from 1997 to 2004, says that Montreal baseball fans must continue the fight to restore Major League Baseball to the city. “My message to the fans is to keep pushing and not to lose hope,” Vidro said. “I would love to be a part of the return of baseball to Montreal.” Vidro made his debut at the age of 22 with the Expos on June 8, 1997. One of his rookie season highlights was playing with the likes of Pedro Martinez. “It was a lot of fun to be around Pedro Martinez. The way he went about his business, and the way he treated his teammates, he was a professional. And when he was on the mound, our relievers knew they didn’t even have to put their spikes on. Pedro was going to throw nine innings. His recent Hall of Fame honour is well deserved.” It took Vidro a couple of seasons before he would find his .300 hitting form. He credits Manager Felipe Alou with helping him make the transition to the big leagues. “It was great to have a manager who spoke my language and who loved to help young players. Baseball is a hard game and Felipe made it easier.” In a career that spanned 11-plus seasons with Montreal, Washington and Seattle, some of Vidro’s most bittersweet memories were during the 2003 Expos campaign. On August 28, 2003, the Expos completed a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies and sat tied atop the wildcard playoff standings. The team was banged up but feeling positive, anxious to take on reinforcements when Major League Baseball rosters expanded on September 1. But the call-ups never came. “Most of our position players had played 140 games or so and we were tired. When we were told that there wouldn’t be any September call-ups, we were in disbelief. We felt betrayed. Our bullpen needed help and we needed fresh legs in the lineup. We really thought that it was going to be our year.” Owned by Major League Baseball, the Expos had a set budget and were not permitted to exceed it in order to add players to the roster for September. With no help on the horizon, and with some of its home games down the stretch played in Puerto Rico, the Expos faded. During the final Expos season in 2004, Vidro signed an extension with the organization, believing that the contract offer meant that the team would remain in Montreal. He went on to play two more seasons with the franchise when it moved to Washington, D.C. in 2005, before being traded to Seattle in 2007 and being released by the Mariners in 2008. When pressed to name the best players he ever played with, Vidro cited Vladimir Guerrero and Felix Hernandez. “My locker was next to Vlad. I learned a lot from him, how to mentally prepare for the game. Vlad never stopped trying to get better.” Vidro was also happy to see Guerrero’s recent assertion that he would prefer to don an Expos cap should he be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in the future. “There is no doubt in my mind that Vladimir Guerrero is a Hall of Famer. He put up unbelievable numbers. We are still good friends. I will be there on the day that he gets inducted.” Currently involved in baseball in his native Puerto Rico, Vidro admits that Montreal is still a very special place for him. “I considered Montreal my home and it was a beautiful time in my life. I never got the chance to thank the fans of Montreal. From the bottom of my heart, my family and I thank everyone up there for embracing us as they did. We look forward to returning one day.” Kevin Durant Nets Jersey . 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Pearce had a career-high four hits and drove in two runs, and Wei-Yin Chen shut down Texas again as the Orioles completed a four-game sweep of the Rangers with a 5-2 victory on Thursday night.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Despite having their five-game winning ended, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers still control much of their post-season destiny.Now if they can just get their offence to look as it did for most of the season.Even after the worst statistical performance of Rodgers career, the Packers (10-4) still have solid playoff prospects — if they win their final two games.Doing so would give them the NFC North title.That would mean winning at Tampa Bay next Sunday and then beating the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on Dec. 28.But first, Rodgers and the rest of the Packers offence need to get back on track.In Sundays 21-13 loss to the Bills, Rodgers was 17 of 42 — the 25 incompletions were a career high — for 185 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 34.3, the lowest mark of his career.He entered the game as the NFLs highest-rated passer (119.0) with 35 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.I know Aaron didnt feel very good the way it panned out, coach Mike McCarthy said Monday, as the Packers turned their attention to the Buccaneers (2-12) and a trip to Tampa, Fla., where Rodgers is 0-2 as a starter.(But) I look for him to have a big game in Tampa.Rodgers did not speak to reporters during Mondays availability session — his scheduled day is Wednesday — but he reiterated McCarthys stance on the playoff picture and took the blame for the loss after the game.It wasnt my best day by any stretch of the imagination, Rodgers said. Ive got to play better for us to win, and I expect more of myself.(But) everything is right in front of us. We win out, we still win the North. Were a tough team, a good football team, and we just didnt play very well on offence.No, they didnt. Against a Bills defence that hasnt alllowed a touchdown passing in the past four games, Rodgers didnt get much help from his receivers, who by the coaches count dropped nine passes.ddddddddddddWe had all sorts of chances and just didnt make them, for whatever reason, said leading receiver Jordy Nelson, who dropped what could have been a 94-yard touchdown when he was wide open late in the third quarter.Obviously, my drop could have won the game for us. Weve got to make those no matter how easy or hard they are.A second loss to the Lions, who havent won a game in Wisconsin since 1991, would give them the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Packers.Having won all seven of their home games this season, McCarthy, Rodgers and others have acknowledged that the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs is their goal. But the loss to the Bills made that more difficult for Green Bay.After entering Sundays game as the leagues highest-scoring offence, the Packers failed to score multiple touchdowns for the first time since their Week 3 loss at Detroit.Offensive co-ordinator Tom Clements was brusque in his answers to questions about Rodgers and the offence.It just wasnt working, Clements said. We didnt play as well as we had been playing. You have to give them credit. They won the game, they scored more points than we did, but we certainly werent at our best.NOTES: McCarthy did not have an update on right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who suffered a concussion against the Bills. Clements, however, said, I think Bryan will be available. ... Cornerback Davon House, who suffered a shoulder injury against Atlanta on Dec. 8, said he wont play Sunday but is praying to return for the finale against the Lions.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '