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WINNIPEG -- A grim-faced coach Tim Burke was left scrambling to replace his top receiver Wednesday after Cory Watson was injured on the last play of the weeks last practice for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Burke bit his tongue when asked to comment on the hit by safety Dan West but said even when practising at full speed, the rule is you dont hurt your teammates. "Were going to have a personnel meeting right after this. Thats why you dont hurt your own teammates on the last play of the (last) practice of the week," he said. "Now youve got to rework your game plan with no practice." The Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts on Friday. Watson was going for a long ball near the sidelines and as he caught it he pushed West off. West came back with a hard push out of bounds that sent Watson tumbling. The slotback almost hit the teams camera and he rolled on the ground, clearly in pain, until he was helped, limping, off the field with what has initially been diagnosed as a hamstring injury. With 215 yards so far this season, he is well ahead as the teams leading receiver and Burkes replacement options are few with a game so close and his injury list so long. Chris Matthews, last years leading receiver and CFL top rookie, was already questionable for Friday. Veteran Terrence Edwards is still recovering from a shoulder injury. Doug Pierce is starting and Carl Fitzgerald was already going on the roster to replace longsnapper Chris Cvetkovic, out with back issues, but Burke said everything was up in the air Wednesday. Earlier in the week, expressing his displeasure with parts of the offence, Burke had talked of making some roster changes. But this wasnt what he was envisioning. "If we were going to make those roster changes theyve all gone out the window with injuries this week and who might or might not play," he said. Its a question of who is healthy enough to go in as the Bombers cope with a fairly long list of injuries for just the fourth week of the CFL season. But Burkes problems are magnified because Watson is also the best blocker of the receiving corps and a key to the running game. This might even open a door for local boy Brett Carter, a Winnipeg Rifles product who the Bombers liked enough to keep around on the practice squad after camp. "It was a downer at the end of practice," Burke said of Watsons injury. "Thats not something you want to end practice on but weve got to regroup and theres no excuses, weve got to line up and play as hard as we can play." The Bombers offence has been their weakest link this season but theyre not alone in the CFL East. In fact, they remain in a four-way tie at 1-2. Quarterback Buck Pierce remains convinced the Bombers can turn things around. "Were 1-2. Were tied for first in the East. Everybody around us wants to push panic buttons now," he said. "I believe its a long season and were growing and were making strides." Offensive lineman Chris Greaves agrees they have to make changes after allowing six sacks last week in Guelph against Hamilton and essentially making the same mistake twice. "Thats unacceptable," Greaves said after practice. "Weve just got to make changes and weve got to pick up everything. Thats our job and what we get paid for and thats what we have to do and were going to do it." . PETERSBURG, Fla. . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. CHICAGO -- James Shields is pitching considerably better for the Chicago White Sox -- but hes been unable to pick up a victory in his last two starts due to zero run support.Shields will try to continue his progress as he takes the mound for the opener of a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night in Chicago.The right-hander allowed three runs in his last 15 2/3 innings in a 2-0 loss to the National League-worst Braves and a 1-0 defeat to the Angels. Shields gave up nine runs in his last 33 1/3 innings after surrendering 21 runs in 8 2/3 innings in his first three starts with the White Sox, who acquired him from the Padres on June 4.When youre going bad, you have all these people telling you what youre doing wrong, Shields told the Chicago Tribune. You need to fix this. You need to fix that. But Ive never been one of those guys whos been like I need to get complete 180 fixed, maybe little things here and there in the bullpen sessions.I go out there with my heart on my sleeve, and I go out and compete the best I can on the mound, he added. Having that mentality of not thinking about my last outing, Ive always been that way, so thats where I got back to.Shields will have to deal with extreme conditions Thursday -- the forecast is predicting highs in the 90s. The ball can travel when the temperature heats up at U.S. Cellular Field.I just make sure Im hydrated, Shields said. Im in condition, so I feel pretty good about it. The main thing is to not cramp up and stay hydrateed.ddddddddddddome-field advantage could be a welcome change for the reeling White Sox (46-48), who are fourth in the American League Central. Capped by a 6-5 extra-inning loss on Wednesday in Seattle, the team is coming off a 1-5 road trip against the Angels and Mariners to open the second half of the season.It is tough, especially when youre leading both the ones that you lose late, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. Those are always tough to be able to bounce back. Our guys have bounced back. You just need to be able to add on (runs).The White Sox will play a six-game homestand against the Tigers and National League Central-leading Cubs.The Tigers (49-46) lost two straight to the American League-worst Twins and are 3-3 in the second half, 7 1/2 games behind the division-leading Indians in the American League Central.We werent overlooking them, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told MLB.com after losing the series finale to the Twins 4-1 on Wednesday. Were just in a funk offensively, to be honest with you. It started before they arrived.Right-hander Mike Pelfrey (2-9) is scheduled to start for Detroit. He allowed four runs in six innings in his last start against the White Sox on June 15 for a loss. He has won just one of his last eight outings.My job doesnt change, Pelfrey told MLB.com about the expected hot weather in Chicago. Throw strikes and execute pitches. ' ' '
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