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TORONTO -- Joffrey Lupul knows he shouldnt have pushed it. When the Toronto Maple Leafs winger with a history of lower-back issues felt the area tighten up before training camp started, he acknowledged rest would have been the best approach. When he tried to skate through it, the spasms cost him a week of time on the ice with teammates. But after Lupul got through his first practice Wednesday, he was confident that mistake wont set him back too much as he tried to prepare for the start of the regular season. "Obviously not the way I wanted to start the camp, but just happy everythings feeling better now," Lupul said. "Were taking it slow. Its obviously not the same way youd probably treat an injury in the regular season. Its good that way. I guess times on my side." Barring a flare-up of back problems, Lupul is expected to get some pre-season games in before the Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens for opening night Oct. 1. Starting with Thursdays game at the Ottawa Senators, they have six left, so there are plenty of opportunities. But Lupuls focus is on getting ready for games that matter. In that regard, Wednesdays practice -- which lasted almost two full hours -- shed some light on what Torontos forward lines could look like. He skated on left wing with centre Tyler Bozak and right-winger Phil Kessel, a line that spent limited time together last season because the 29-year-old Lupul played just 16 games due to a broken arm and concussion. James van Riemsdyk and David Clarkson skated together, though Nazem Kadri seems more likely to centre that line than Joe Colborne once things get underway. David Bolland between Mason Raymond and Nikolai Kulemin is also a possibility for the third line. "Im not exactly sure whos going to be playing with who," Lupul said. "Im sure well be mixed and matched a little throughout the year, but I think its a good mixture of speed and size. Weve added some grit, and hopefully for some guys, some experience." Some size was lacking from Leafs practice, given that enforcers Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren didnt skate with teammates. Orr, who has missed the start of camp with a leg bone bruise, skated before practice and could join team workouts over the weekend, according to coach Randy Carlyle. McLaren is out at least two weeks with a fractured right pinky finger. Lupul is fortunate that he doesnt have to sit out that length of time with back problems, and Carlyle expects him to be available for pre-season duty soon. After playing the Senators, the Leafs have a home-and-home series with the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and Sunday, which gives the team and Lupul some options. "Hopefully the back spasm issues are behind him," Carlyle said. "Hes moving much better, felt much better and we think hes an option for us in the next couple exhibition games." Joking that he wanted to mimic former NBA star Allen Iversons famous rant about practices not being games, Lupul isnt stressed about coming out strong whenever he makes his pre-season debut. "Everyones focus is on Oct. 1, mine included," he said. "This isnt the time to really push through an injury, and were not treating it like we would if it was the regular season or playoffs or anything right now. Its just making sure that everythings 100 per cent. Were being a lot more cautious than typically you would." Once games count, dont expect Lupul to be noticeably more cautious because of the various injuries that have at times derailed his career. "Obviously you want to try and stay healthy, but youve also got to stick with what got you there and what makes you successful," Lupul said. "I think it would be a mistake to stay you cant go to the front of the net or cant get in the way of pucks or anything like that. Im hoping to just have a little better luck, and well see." Carlyle acknowledged theres "probably some merit" to the idea that Lupul goes into high-risk areas, but hes not demanding change. "I wouldnt say it has to be toned down," Carlyle said. "I think that he has to pick and choose, maybe, a little bit more, I guess, cautiously in some situations. I think what happened with him was more the fact that he was frustrated with his injuries and then trying to come back and make an impact right away." This time, Lupul can ease back in. He went full tilt in the first half of Wednesdays practice but was held out of the second half as planned. "At this stage in the season youre taking it slow and make sure youre feeling good for Oct. 1," Lupul said. "Theres still plenty of time till opening day." Notes: Troy Bodie missed practice with an oblique strain, according to Carlyle. ... The Leafs cut down to 34 players in camp by assigning forward Tyler Biggs and defenceman Jesse Blacker to the AHLs Marlies. T. J. 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Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence.This has been unquestionably the worst season in the history of the Colorado Rockies. They are in last place in the National League, have the worst record in the Senior Circuit and are tied with Texas for the worst record in the Majors at 47-74. To make matters worse, they lost their two biggest stars, Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez this week on back-to-back days to season-ending injuries. Tulowitzki, who turns 30 in October, needs surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. The 28-year-old Gonzalez is a former batting champ and Gold Glove outfielder who needs an operation to repair a partial tear of the patella tendon in his left knee. While not directly demanding a trade, a couple of weeks back Tulowitzki strongly hinted at one by saying he was sick and tired of all the losing in the Mile High City. With he and Gonzalez in their line-up this season the Rockies were 28-27. Without them they were just 19-47. Colorado, barring a trade of one or the other or both in the off-season, will be paying them a combined $36.5 million next season or roughly a third of their payroll. But this story isnt really about Tulowitzki and Gonzalez. Its about their teammate, 35-year-old Michael Cuddyer. You may have forgotten, as I did, that he won the National League batting title a year ago with a .331 average. He was off to a decent start this year as well when he injured his left shoulder making a diving play at third base. Right now, hes finishing off a rehab assignment and should be ready to rejoin Colorado shortly. In the midst of a dreadful Rockies season, Cuddyer will still be motivated. Hes in the final season of a three-year, $31.5 million contract. He claims to want to stay in Denver and definitely doesnt want to retire. But he could be the perfect rental player for a team like, say, the Blue Jays. Though primarily an outfielder, he has played third base and first base and could DH. Hes also a right-handed hitter who would help the Jays out against left-handed pitching - something Toronto has struggled against this season. Cuddyer would be relatively cheap as well, since he is owed somewhere around $3 million for the remainder of this season. Its just a thought. But if the Jays arent motivated to check out any big ticket items before the August 31 waiver trade deadline, they might want to check out Cuddyer in the bargain bin. Another man the Blue Jays maybe should be interested in is Cubs reliever Carlos Villanueva. The 30-year-old right-hander actually spent two years with the Jays before moving on to the Cubs as a free agent. CCarlos filled a valuable role with the Blue Jays as a spot starter and long reliever, but ultimately he jumped to Chicago for a little more money than the Jays wanted to pay and for the chance to be a starting pitcher - something the Blue Jays werent willing to let him become.dddddddddddd In that regard, maybe the Jays were right. Villanueva hasnt been all that effective as a starter with Chicago, but has been doing a great job since they basically cemented him in a relief role. Villanueva, like Cuddyer, would be a relatively cheap rental. Hes only owned around $1.6 million for the rest of the season before he becomes a free agent again. Both of these guys are character players, and in Villanuevas case, he was a respected confidante in the clubhouse in his former role as the Blue Jays players rep. Id wager the Blue Jays could get both of these guys for a couple of lower to mid-range prospects. It sure wouldnt hurt. I guess youre always rolling the dice a bit when you trade prospects for established rental talent. Take the Texas Rangers. They picked up Canadian-born righty Ryan Dempster from the Cubs on July 31, 2012 to pump up their staff a bit for the stretch run. Dempster made 12 starts for the Rangers, but despite a 7-3 record got hit around a bit to the tune of a 5.09 ERA and needless to say Texas didnt win the World Series. Dempster moved on to Boston, and after a so-so 8-9 campaign for the Bosox decided to take this year off to get away from the game, spend some time with the family and determine whether he wanted to play any more. So what did the Cubs get in return? Well they landed a third base prospect named Christian Villanueva and a fringe pitching prospect by the name of Kyle Hendricks - not to be confused with the Phillies Kyle Kendricks. Two years later Hendricks is the talk of Chicago, at least on the north side. The soft-tossing 24-year-old 63" right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.73 ERA. Hes struck out 26 and walked only nine while utilizing a Mark Buehrle-like array of off-speed pitches including a great change-up. Texas could certainly use him now with practically their entire rotation on the disabled list including Yu Darvish, whos expected to miss a couple of starts with a neck issue. Speaking of the Rangers, ex-Jay J.P. Arencibia actually got to pitch an inning in a 10-1 blowout loss to Tampa Bay the other night. He threw all fastballs, averaging just over 72 miles per hour and peaking at just above 74. J.P. did pretty well, giving up just an infield single to the four batters he faced. 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