DETROIT – Alex Anthopoulos likes to say the perception of a player is directly tied to his production. If a team is winning and a player is excelling, the guy becomes known as a "leader" or a "positive clubhouse influence." When a team is losing and a player is struggling, his character is questioned. Its easy to be enamoured with Mark Buehrle because of the year hes having. By now you know the statistics: 10-1, a 2.10 ERA and in his only no-decision of the season, Buehrle left with the lead. Even last season, when Buehrle struggled through the first half of the Blue Jays haltingly poor year, he drew no negative attention. He went about his between-starts routine despite his weight-related self-deprecation. He was always approachable despite his claims that he detests speaking into a microphone. What became clear, quickly, was Buehrles devotion to his family. Married with two kids, he looks in advance at the schedule and plots out homestands that will facilitate relatively lengthy visits. His father, John and mother, Pat, seem to be constants around the ballclub, even though John estimates they attend about 30 games per season. When this reporter renewed acquaintances with Buehrle on the first day of spring training and casually asked how his offseason had gone, it took the pitcher less than five seconds to begin to explain the difficulty he had saying goodbye to his children, who are now old enough to understand their dad has to leave home to go to work but wish that he wouldnt. John is in Detroit for the brief road trip, having scheduled a personal matter in the Motor City to coincide with the Jays lone visit to the Tigers. Hed have it no other way. "Our whole family was brought up as a family," said John Buehrle. "Everything we failed in or excelled in we shared as a family, our trials and tribulations if you will. When Mark did well in school, high school, college, everybody shared. When my other sons did well, everybody shared. They were brought up as a family, just as I was. They were brought up with respect." Mark Buehrle is making $18 million this season and is due $19 million in 2015, the final year of the four-year pact he inked with the Miami Marlins in the 2011-2012 offseason. When it comes to respect, money isnt an object in the Buehrle household. Johns three sons, Mike, 40, Jason, 37, and Mark, 35, and his one daughter Amy, 32, are expected to adhere to a set of rules when they visit. "Even today, they come to my house, they sit down at my table, their hat comes off," said John Buehrle. "Ill sit there and Ill stare them down. They wont even look at me, they can feel it. They can feel me looking at them because its manners. Theyll say Yes sir, no sir and Yes maam, no maam and open the door for the wives and their wives because thats the way they were raised." Mark is four wins shy of 200 for his career. Not many pitchers make it to the big leagues, let alone last long enough to win that many games. Johns son has never been placed on the disabled list. Hes pitching in his 15th big league season. John is pleased for Marks success but shows his youngest son no favoritism. "Any parent is proud anytime their child excels or succeeds at anything, regardless of what it is," said Buehrle. "Im just as proud of Mark for being where he is today as I am of my one son whos driving a concrete truck whos never had an accident. And thats a lot to say for concrete truck drivers, believe me, because I used to be one." Asked about Toronto, John returns to what matters most. "Toronto is as much of a family-oriented town as what we had found Chicago to be," said Buehrle. "We were there 12-and-a-half years in Chicago. Everybody in Chicago was like family. Every place we went, they were so nice." He admitted to uncertainty about Toronto after the trade with the Marlins and no, the fact Johns sons pitbull dog wasnt allowed to move to Ontario wasnt his top concern. "We didnt know, coming to Toronto, big city, we didnt know what it was going to be like," said Buehrle. "From day one, the people, everyone, not just the team, the staff, the people we ran into in the restaurants, it was genuine, you can tell when someones putting it on, but you could really tell there was a genuine Were glad youre here." The Blue Jays are glad to have Buehrle. Since last years All-Star Break, Mark is 17-5 with a 2.66 ERA. With an impending second knee replacement surgery scheduled soon, John hopes to be able to travel to Minneapolis for this years All-Star Game. He expects Mark will be a participant. "Hes having a real good year and I couldnt want or wish any better for him or the team," said Buehrle. "Im really happy for the fans, too, because the fans, I guess in a certain way through Mark see a little hope and glimmer and think, Oh, we may just pull it off this year. Its not just Mark. You look at Joey Bats, Edwin, Melky. Everyones having an awesome year." Cheap Jerseys From China . Scheffler told The Associated Press on Wednesday he made the choice because he had three concussions over the past four years. Fake Jerseys From China . RAPTORS STRUGGLING: The bottom line is the true test in sports isnt just how you handle failure, but how you handle success. https://www.fakejerseysfromchina.com/. He was 90. The team announced Monday that Adams had died, saying he "passed away peacefully from natural causes." The son of a prominent oil executive, Adams built his own energy fortune and founded the Houston Oilers. Wholesale Jerseys . The two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medallist informed ESPN on Monday he plans to compete in Apsen, Colo. Fake Jerseys For Sale . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Gary Kubiak was all set to stay in Baltimore, where hed had a terrific comeback as the Ravens offensive co-ordinator after getting fired from his head coaching job in Houston the year before.He turned down opportunities to interview for the head coaching vacancies with the Bears and Jets, and planned a vacation with his wife, Rhonda.Then, his cellphone buzzed.It was John Elway.Cancel the sand and the surf.Pack the skis instead.It was just a game-changer, Kubiak said Tuesday after being introduced as the 15th head coach of the Denver Broncos, where he spent 13 seasons either backing up Elway at quarterback or drawing up blueprints as his offensive co-ordinator.This place is special for me Kubiak said.And Kubiak held a hallmark spot in Elways plans after the Broncos general manager parted with John Fox a day after Denvers dismal showing in a 24-13 playoff loss to Indianapolis.He was at the top of the list, no question, Elway said, stressing, in my mind there is not a better guy to take over the Denver Broncos.Kubiak isnt fixing a 4-12 jalopy with high draft picks and low expectations but rather a 12-4 team that featured an NFL-high 11 Pro Bowlers. Yet, this team showed a striking lack of fire in that playoff loss to the Colts two weeks ago when the mantra all year was about atoning for that 35-point loss to Seattle in last years Super Bowl.Kubiak steps into a pressure cooker where Elway reiterated its always Super Bowl or bust, and where Foxs 49-22 record wasnt nearly good enough.Kubiak, who said his health scare in 2013 taught him to rely more on those around him, didnt flinch.Thats what I want to be a part of, Kubiak said, noting he thrived in that environment of high expectations as a player from 1983-91 and then serving on Mike Shanahans staff from 1995-2005, coaching the Texans from 2006-13 and assisting the Ravens last year.If youre working in this business, thats the opportunity you want, to win a championship. You want to be around people where thats the way they go about business, Kubiak said. So, I see that as a plus and thats something that I welcome and I look forward to.So, Kubiak, 53, is once again Elways No. 2.Believe me, he is the boss, Kubiak said. Thats all right. I want to coach.When it comes to football philosophies, Elway and Kubiak are kindred spirits, though.JJohns the most competitive human being Ive ever been around, whether youre playing cards or pingpong, it doesnt matter, Kubiak said.dddddddddddd I think Im very competitive, too. Thats probably why were still standing in this league because if youre not, youre not going to hang out for very long.I know what Gary Kubiak is about, Elway said. Ive had the pleasure of knowing him for 30 years, had a chance to play with him and play for him. I know his philosophies and I know what he can do. I know his goals are the same as mine and thats to win — and to win world championships.Thats something the Broncos havent done since Elway was QB and Kubiak was his offensive co-ordinator in 1998, when Denver won its second straight Super Bowl title.The big question now is will Kubiak be calling plays in 2015 for Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler?Manning is mulling retirement after a difficult stretch run marred by a thigh injury and a dismal playoff performance.Kubiaks offensive philosophies are rooted in Bill Walshs West Coast system featuring the zone-blocking schemes that the Broncos fine-tuned in the 1990s and 2000s. But he said hes also one to adapt to his players strengths.Kubiak, who was unsuccessful in his attempt to talk Elway into putting off retirement in 1999, said hes spoken with Manning and plans to meet with him when things slow down. He said he would welcome back the five-time MVP, who turns 39 in March, and would mesh his offensive ideas with Mannings style.The offence Peyton runs, hes tremendous at it, back there in the gun controlling the game, controlling the line of scrimmage. Nobody has ever done it better and hes the master at it, Kubiak said. Actually, Im looking forward to learning that style and that system that he has.Were going to do what our team does best and what our players do best, and if Peyton Mannings playing, thats what he does best.Notes: Kubiak hired Joe DeCamillis as special teams co-ordinator. Coaches expected to stay on staff are: Tyke Tolbert (receivers), Eric Studesville (running backs), Luke Richesson (strength & conditioning) and Clancy Barone (from tight ends to O-line). Kubiak is expected to bring Rick Dennison (offensive co-ordinator) and Brian Pariani (tight ends) with him from Baltimore.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '