TORONTO -- Four games into the MLS season, the Toronto FC training room is packed. Cheap Nike Air Max Outlet . And more worrying, it is filled with marquee talent. Toronto (3-1-0) could be without as many as five starters for Saturdays visit by the Colorado Rapids (2-1-1) including two designated players whose combined pay this season is close to US$13 million. Catch the game on TSN starting at 4pm et/1pm pt. England striker Jermain Defoe (hamstring) is out for the second straight week. American midfielder Michael Bradley missed another practice Friday, his body feeling the effects of games for both the U.S. and Toronto last week. "Were giving him every single chance ... well make a decision (Saturday)," manager Ryan Nelsen said of his teams midfield general. Centre back Doneil Henry (knee) will sit out a second straight game. Jonathan Osorio (hamstring) is "probably a no" for the third week in a row and fellow midfielder Alvaro Rey (hamstring) is "very very questionable." Because of injuries and suspensions, Toronto has only five players who have started every game so far: goalkeeper Julio Cesar, defenders Mark Bloom and Justin Morrow and midfielders Bradley and Rey. And that number could be down to three after this weekend. Defoe was sidelined by a hamstring injury at Spurs earlier this season. Nelsen has said the two injuries are not linked and repeated Friday that the England star was dealing with a mild strain. Hamstrings are tricky things, especially for elite soccer players. Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke, for example, ran 12.2 kilometres in Wednesdays Champions League semifinal against Barcelona. Toronto, which has used 19 players to date, has had to put the brakes on Defoe, who has wanted to resume training. Nelsen, however, sees a bigger picture. "The one thing that we dont want is obviously him coming back and getting re-injured. And so if we have to sacrifice an extra week, we have to sacrifice an extra week." Nelsen said the team has been reviewing everything at its disposal -- from heart rate to distance travelled in training -- to see if things could be done differently. The club is also learning the ins and outs of the bodies of new players like Defoe, he added. The TFC manager says there are no alarm bells about the current spate of injuries. A challenging opening to the schedule and the long winter that has kept practices until this week to artificial turf under a bubble at the team training centre havent helped. Most top soccer pros would rather gargle cod liver oil than set foot on artificial turf. Nelsen believes that this is just the kind of injury run that all clubs go through at some point. "It happens at Chelsea, it happens at Man City, it happens at every single club. Hopefully were just getting all of them done now." Said captain Steven Caldwell: "Its disappointing that weve got a few injuries but a lot of them are nobodys fault." In the case of Toronto, this is a squad that brought in at least seven new starters this season. Time has been needed on the training ground to get everyone on the same page. Youre damned if you, damned if you dont, Nelsen said of practice regimens. "Because if you pull them out of training and just rest them, then theyre not ready for the demands of a game. Were sitting with three wins because the guys are fit and organized. But we couldnt have done that if we had all wrapped them up in cotton wool." Bradley presents an interesting case in point. Rested this week, he is probably the exception to the rule that starters need to practise. If he doesnt start, speculation will grow that he is dealing with more than the variety of strains the club has pointed to. The good news is the injuries have not slowed Toronto down so far. Missing Defoe, Osorio, Henry and the suspended Caldwell last week, it still managed to topple previously unbeaten Columbus away from home. Also on the plus side, squad players like rookie defender Nick Hagglund and second-year midfielder Kyle Bekker have stepped up. And veteran Bradley Orr showed his moxie in smoothly shifting over to centre back. Nelsen says his reserves have stepped up to the challenge during the current injury glut. But he is not about to say debate over his teams depth is over. "I always got told that anybody can play one, two, three games at any level," he said. "But its the ability to spit them out week in, week out ... thats the mark of what a really good player is." Orr will likely partner Caldwell in central defence with Bekker deputizing for Osorio in midfield again. Dwayne De Rosario could start on the flank for Rey with Issey Nakajima-Farran who scored off the bench last week, possibly partnering Gilberto up front. Jeremy Hall may get the nod if Bradley cant go. The pitch at BMO Field, poor for the home opener thanks to the brutal winter, should be better Saturday although the players know it will take time to return to top condition. "Its not going to be ideal," said Caldwell, who returns from his one-game suspension. Colorado, under new head coach Pablo Mastroeni, has already defeated Portland and Vancouver this season and tied the New York Red Bulls. The lone loss was a 3-2 decision to defending champion Sporting Kansas City. "Theyve got a really nice team thats been around together as well for a bit," said Nelsen. "Theyre a team, for me, that has no real weaknesses. Theyre just a lovely, solid MLS team thats going to be very difficult." Spanish midfielder Jose Mari -- real name Jose Maria Martin Bejarano-Serrano -- introduced himself last week with two goals against Vancouver. The first, a swerving left-footed rocket, was judged the leagues goal of the week. Fake Nike Air Max Replica . You can watch all the action on TSN and TSN GO beginning at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt. Minnesota dropped the first two tests of this best-of-seven set at Chicagos United Center and was outscored by a combined 9-3 margin in those setbacks. However, the Wild righted themselves at home by taking Game 3 by a 4-0 count before knotting the series at two games apiece with Fridays 4-2 triumph at Xcel Energy Center. Nike Air Max Sale . PAUL, Minn. https://www.wholesalenikeairmaxshoes.com/cheap-air-max-270/ . Barnard, 28, was 1-0 with a 0.53 ERA in three appearances, including two starts, with San Angel o this season. He struck out 19 batters and walked just one in 17 innings pitched. He has previous American Association experience with the Lincoln Saltdogs, El Paso Diablos and Amarillo Sox. CALGARY - This could be the year Mike McEwens curling team shakes the label as the best team never to play in a Brier. McEwen, third B.J. Neufeld, second Matt Wozniak and lead Denni Neufeld won six of eight events in the first half of the season, including wins over Olympic champion Brad Jacobs in the finals of both The National in November and the Canada Cup in December. McEwens Fort Rouge Curling Club rink from Winnipeg is running away with the No. 1 ranking on the World Curling Tour with $114,000 in prize money so far. A team at a crossroads in February after losing its fourth provincial final in five years — and falling one win short again of a trip to the Canadian mens championship — decided to remain intact for an eighth season and reinvent itself. Very slowly we kind of gathered our thoughts and decided what we had together as a foursome was still very strong and important, but we had kind of lost our way as far as growing as teammates and as athletes, McEwen said Thursday at the Continental Cup. We made a commitment to find how to do that again. The four men began working with the Canadian Curling Associations sports psychologist Kyle Paquette to heal the trouble spots in their game. They stepped up their physical fitness with a personal trainer. Theyve been a solid team on the WCT since their formation in 2007 and were among the eight Canadian mens teams who qualified for the 2013 recent Olympic trials. But winning Manitoba and representing the province at the Brier means beating world and Canadian championship Jeff Stoughton to get there. Stoughton eliminated McEwen from contention in four of the last five Manitoba provincials. We had too many weaknesses, McEwen said. We were good before but we had some things in certain situations that were cutting us off at the knees when we really needed to be our best. We had gotten really good and then kind of stopped getting better. Other teams are obviously pushing the limits and we hadnt figured out how to keep growing as a team. Under Paquettes guidance, McEwen says he and his teammates have forged a stronger team chemistry. Theyre committed to sticking to their plan, win or lose. His approach has made us really change how we think and how we operate as a team, McEwen explained. Hes really challenged us to be more accountable. Its really hard to re-wire the brain, but thats what weve been attempting to do. Were very much more supportive and understanding than we ever have been. Were more of a team now than we ever have been. We got a little individualistic at times and it hurt us. Youve got to look at your fitness, health, eating, physical training, mental focus and how you practise. Its like any other sport. Curling has grown into having a really high degree of professionalism. Just like hockey or anything else, if you leave holes you will get bit when maybe it really matters. The Manitoba provincial mens championship is Feb. 4-8 in Brandon. The winner advances to the Tim Hortons Brier from Feb. 28 to March 8 in Calgary at Scotiabank Saddledome. I dont want to just play in it. If Im going to the Brier, Im going there to win, McEwen said. Stoughton, a two-time world and three-time Canadian champion, will be in the field again in Brandon. There was a time when oh man, we have to play this guy or that guy but now I get more excited than ever to play a top team, McEwen said. Whether its Glenn Howard, or Brad Jacobs or Jeff Stoughton, now Im excited for the challenge more than I ever have been. McEwens team is part of the Canadian side at this weeks World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling in Calgary. Theyve substituted Ben Hebert in at lead as Denni Neufeld and his wife were expecting a baby this week. The Continental Cup is a chance for McEwen to have his wife Dawn as a Canadian teammate. She plays lead for Olympic champion Jennifer Jones. The tournament features Canada against Europe in a four-day competition of team, mixed doubles, hot-shots and skins games. Canada took an early five-point lead over Europe after three draws Thursday. In the third draw, McEwen edged Scotlands David Murdoch 5-4 in mens play, while John Morris led his rink past Norways Thomas Ulsrud 6-3. In womens competition, Jones and Scotlands Eve Muirhead tied 4-4. In Draw 2, Canadians Carter Rycroft and Lori-Olson Johns hammered Swedens Oskar Eriksson and Russias Ekaterina Galkina 10-3 in mixed doubles. Ryan Fry and Emma Miskew downed Swedens Niklas Edin and Russias Anna Sidorova 9-6. Rachel Homan and E.J. Harnden split a point tying 5-5 with Norways Torger Nergaard and Swedens Maria Pryz. In the morning team competition, Jacobs beat Edin 4-1, Homan picked up another point for Canada with a 7-2 win over Swedens Margaretha Sigfridsson. Sidorova saved a point for Europe with a 7-2 win over Val Sweeting. The day after losing yet another provincial mens final to Stoughton on Feb. 2, McEwen flew to Sochi, Russia, to cheer on his wife and teammates en route to their gold medal. The couple were married in July of 2013. Dawn McEwen has noticed a change in her husbands body language at the rink this season. Hes definitely more confident, Dawn said. I can see it in him. Just the way he carries himself and how hes playing out there, hes definitely stepped up the confidence on the ice and off the ice as well. I think its amazing. Theyre a great teaam and theyre finally getting . Discount Nike Air Max Wholesale. . . in the curling world, their competitors know theyre a good team. Now the fans of the curling game are starting to see and recognize the team more. McEwens Fort Rouge Curling Club rink from Winnipeg is running away with the No. 1 ranking on the World Curling Tour with $114,000 in prize money so far. A team at a crossroads in February after losing its fourth provincial final in five years — and falling one win short again of a trip to the Canadian mens championship — decided to remain intact for an eighth season and reinvent itself. Very slowly we kind of gathered our thoughts and decided what we had together as a foursome was still very strong and important, but we had kind of lost our way as far as growing as teammates and as athletes, McEwen said Thursday at the Continental Cup. We made a commitment to find how to do that again. The four men began working with the Canadian Curling Associations sports psychologist Kyle Paquette to heal the trouble spots in their game. They stepped up their physical fitness with a personal trainer. Theyve been a solid team on the WCT since their formation in 2007 and were among the eight Canadian mens teams who qualified for the 2013 recent Olympic trials. But winning Manitoba and representing the province at the Brier means beating world and Canadian championship Jeff Stoughton to get there. Stoughton eliminated McEwen from contention in four of the last five Manitoba provincials. We had too many weaknesses, McEwen said. We were good before but we had some things in certain situations that were cutting us off at the knees when we really needed to be our best. We had gotten really good and then kind of stopped getting better. Other teams are obviously pushing the limits and we hadnt figured out how to keep growing as a team. Under Paquettes guidance, McEwen says he and his teammates have forged a stronger team chemistry. Theyre committed to sticking to their plan, win or lose. His approach has made us really change how we think and how we operate as a team, McEwen explained. Hes really challenged us to be more accountable. Its really hard to re-wire the brain, but thats what weve been attempting to do. Were very much more supportive and understanding than we ever have been. Were more of a team now than we ever have been. We got a little individualistic at times and it hurt us. Youve got to look at your fitness, health, eating, physical training, mental focus and how you practise. Its like any other sport. Curling has grown into having a really high degree of professionalism. Just like hockey or anything else, if you leave holes you will get bit when maybe it really matters. The Manitoba provincial mens championship is Feb. 4-8 in Brandon. The winner advances to the Tim Hortons Brier from Feb. 28 to March 8 in Calgary at Scotiabank Saddledome. I dont want to just play in it. If Im going to the Brier, Im going there to win, McEwen said. Stoughton, a two-time world and three-time Canadian champion, will be in the field again in Brandon. There was a time when oh man, we have to play this guy or that guy but now I get more excited than ever to play a top team, McEwen said. Whether its Glenn Howard, or Brad Jacobs or Jeff Stoughton, now Im excited for the challenge more than I ever have been. McEwens team is part of the Canadian side at this weeks World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling in Calgary. Theyve substituted Ben Hebert in at lead as Denni Neufeld and his wife were expecting a baby this week. The Continental Cup is a chance for McEwen to have his wife Dawn as a Canadian teammate. She plays lead for Olympic champion Jennifer Jones. The tournament features Canada against Europe in a four-day competition of team, mixed doubles, hot-shots and skins games. Canada took an early five-point lead over Europe after three draws Thursday. In the third draw, McEwen edged Scotlands David Murdoch 5-4 in mens play, while John Morris led his rink past Swedens Thomas Ulsrud 6-3. In womens competition, Jones and Scotlands Eve Muirhead tied 4-4. In Draw 2, Canadians Carter Rycroft and Lori-Olson Johns hammered Swedens Oskar Eriksson and Russias Ekaterina Galkina 10-3 in mixed doubles. Ryan Fry and Emma Miskew downed Swedens Niklas Edin and Russias Anna Sidorova 9-6. Rachel Homan and E.J. Harnden split a point tying 5-5 with Swedens Torger Nerard and Maria Pryz. In the morning team competition, Jacobs beat Edin 4-1, Homan picked up another point for Canada with a 7-2 win over Swedens Margaretha Sigfridsson. Sidorova saved a point for Europe with a 7-2 win over Val Sweeting. The day after losing yet another provincial mens final to Stoughton on Feb. 2, McEwen flew to Sochi, Russia, to cheer on his wife and teammates en route to their gold medal. The couple were married in July of 2013. Dawn McEwen has noticed a change in her husbands body language at the rink this season. Hes definitely more confident, Dawn said. I can see it in him. Just the way he carries himself and how hes playing out there, hes definitely stepped up the confidence on the ice and off the ice as well. I think its amazing. Theyre a great team and theyre finally getting . . . in the curling world, their competitors know theyre a good team. Now the fans of the curling game are starting to see and recognize the team more. ' ' '