TORONTO - Toronto Blue Jays president and chief executive officer Paul Beeston is giving his general manager a vote of confidence despite a mediocre season and a third-place finish in the American League East. Christian Jaros Jersey . The future of general manager Alex Anthopoulos has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks. He overhauled the roster two years ago but the Blue Jays have gone 157-167 since and extended their playoff drought to 21 years with an 83-79 finish this past season. Alex I can say for a fact is back, Beeston said Friday in an interview on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. Anthopoulos has been with the franchise for over a decade and has served as GM for the last five years. He hasnt finished what he started out to do, Beeston said. Im 100 per cent supportive of him. I think that he has done a very good job. I think we are now seeing the benefits of what happened with his development (and) his investment in the farm system. I think thats only going to be better for the future. Beeston also said he expected manager John Gibbons to return next year. Anthopoulos has also voiced his confidence in the Blue Jays skipper, who has a rolling contract that kicks in every Jan. 1. The Blue Jays had a strong first half in 2014 but struggled after the all-star break and fell out of the playoff picture last month. Beeston said the teams payroll of about US$135-137 million will rise in 2015. The 69-year-old native of Welland, Ont., also confirmed that hes in the last year of his contract but said he has no plans to leave the organization. Im here as long as Rogers wants me here, he said. I enjoy what Im doing. Also Friday, the Blue Jays announced they have outrighted infielder Munenori Kawasaki, first baseman Dan Johnson and catcher George Kottaras to triple-A Buffalo. Johnson and Kottaras, a Toronto native, have both elected free agency. Matt Duchene Jersey .com) - The Chicago White Sox have officially announced that the club has agreed to terms with utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a team option for the 2016 season. Cody Ceci Jersey . - A retired Indiana school principal who was NASCAR star Jeff Gordons drivers education teacher was killed with his wife in a Tennessee crash while returning from watching Gordon race. http://www.senatorsauthority.com/authentic-logan-brown-senators-jersey/ . QUARTERBACKS Carson Palmer (vs Colts)Last week: 30/42, 419 yards, 2 TDsWinners of their last three and now tied for the final wild card spot in the NFC, the Cardinals are worth keeping an eye on.WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Jeff Gordon shouted "Oh, yeah boys! Yoo Hoo!" over his radio, then punched his right arm skyward when he emerged from his No. 24 Chevrolet as his resurgent season continues. Gordon turned a fast lap of 129.466 mph on Saturday to win the pole for the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen, edging road racing ace Marcos Ambrose and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson in the second and final round of knockout qualifying. It was Gordons first pole of the season, third at Watkins Glen, and 75th of his stellar career. Just like old times at Watkins Glen International, where Gordon has won four times. And on his son Leos birthday no less. "This year has been phenomenal," said Gordon, whose last pole at the storied road course was 11 years ago. "I wished him a happy birthday this morning and said, All right, Im going to try to get you that pole. "I wasnt real confident in that statement, and now I really cant wait to talk to him." Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch rounded out the top five. AJ Allmendinger was sixth, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Newman. Defending race winner Kyle Busch will start 19th. Just missing the final round of qualifying was five-time Watkins Glen winner Tony Stewart, who will start 13th. Danica Patrick, who crashed in final practice on Friday and will start at the rear of the field, used the session for practice and ran 11 laps. With five races left until the Chhase for the Sprint Cup championship begins, the drivers on the cusp of making the 16-driver field didnt fare well. Cheap Senators Jerseys. Greg Biffle will start 28th, two spots in front of Kasey Kahne. Rookies Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon were 23rd and 31st. Ambrose, who has won two of the past three Cup races at Watkins Glen, set a track record of 129.491 mph in the first round of qualifying and had the fastest lap of the second round until Gordon went out at just the right time with no other drivers to contend with. Ambrose sped out in the closing seconds in an attempt to make one final run at the top spot but was too late and had to settle for second. "I wish Jeff was a little kinder to me to let me get the pole," said Ambrose, who needs a victory to make the Chase and is at the track where hes the odds-on favourite. "It was a pretty good lap, though, and I will take it. You have to be happy with front-row starts." Indeed. The last four winners at Watkins Glen came from the top 5 in qualifying. Keselowski, who won the pole for the Nationwide race at The Glen earlier Saturday and has finished second in the Cup race here the last three years, had traffic on one run and had to do a second trip around the 2.45-mile layout. "It kept all stacking up," Keselowski said. "I feel like we are really fast in race trim, we have a lot of speed. We just need it to not fall off so much. It we can do that, we will have a shot to win." 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