ORLANDO - Julio Cesar would have preferred a different start to his Toronto FC career. The Brazilian international goalkeeper was beaten twice in the first 12 minutes of his Reds debut in a 3-1 preseason loss to Columbus Crew in Florida earlier this week. There wasnt much Cesar could do about Federico Higuains excellent free-kick, or the thunderbolt from Josh Williams that followed shortly after. Despite conceding the goals, it was a relatively quiet afternoon for the World Cup winner. Cesar was rarely called into action, but that didnt mean he wasnt involved. When Toronto FC announced Cesars signing on loan from Queens Park Rangers last week, Reds head coach Ryan Nelsen talked about the leadership and organizational skills the veteran will bring. That was clearly evident in Orlando against Columbus as Cesar talked his way through the game, managing his teammates in front of him. "It is part of the job of the goalkeeper because he can watch all of the games," Cesar told me following the game at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney. "Many times I like to talk with my defenders and the midfield. We need to work hard tactically especially. The most important thing is to understand the coach and what he wants. "I am a little sad because it was my first game and we lost, but I am happy because I am back to playing after eight months and that was tough for me. I am really happy because the coach gave me the opportunity to start with the team." A key figure amongst the defenders in front of Cesar will be club captain Steven Caldwell, and the former Scottish international is well aware of what the Brazilian can bring to the team. "Its fantastic to have him behind us with his experience," said Caldwell. "Hes very comfortable on the ball and strong playing out of the back. Its going to be a great experience for everybody who has the privilege to play with Julio and so far he just seems like a fantastic guy. Were all going to learn off him and it is an honour for this football club to have him play for us." One of the things that has been lacking in past seasons at Toronto FC has been leadership on the pitch, but that certainly cant be said about this squad of players. With Cesar in goal and Caldwell in the centre of defence they have two excellent communicators. When you add in US international Michael Bradley as the general in the centre of midfield, TFC has a very strong leadership core. "You want every guy taking a big role in the team with personality and leadership and commitment," said Bradley. "When you walk in that locker room there is a team full of guys who are ready to do that, so thats nothing but positive." Toronto FCs next test in preseason is on Saturday when they will return to action in Florida in their second match of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic against hometown team Orlando City. Management and players alike will be hoping to see further improvement and progression as the team builds towards its March 15 season opener in Seattle. "For us its about building the understanding and working on the things we have been working on in training," said Dwayne De Rosario. "We will continue to build and there is still a long way to go. The game (against Columbus) brought us back to reality and showed us things that we need to work on. Now we need to improve on those things that they exposed us on. Were where we want to be but there is still a lot to do." "Against Columbus we had a few guys that were having their first minutes of preseason," said head coach Ryan Nelsen. "We needed to see a few of the weaknesses that we have so that we can work on it. Theyve just got to play together. They have to get used to each other and get minutes under their belt. We will progress on from here." Nike Air Max 1 Discount . Head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed the news after the Leafs morning skate on Monday. Kozun was hurt during Friday nights home game against the Red Wings and did not make the return trip to Detroit for Saturdays game. Wholesale Air Max 1 Cheap . -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. http://www.wholesaleairmax1.com/ .com) - Devin Booker scored 19 points and top-ranked Kentucky put on a defensive clinic in an 83-44 obliteration of UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic. Air Max 1 Clearance . Edmonton opened the season with 14 straight victories before falling Friday night 10-8 to the host Colorado Mammoth in National Lacrosse League action. Air Max 1 Wholesale .com) - Top seed Klara Zakopalova reached the second round, while former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone came up a loser Tuesday at the inaugural Rio Open tennis event.Trouble in the Reds outfield, the Blue Jays rotation could have a new look, an interesting catcher option in Colorado and injuries to Davis, Kipnis, Cain and more. INJURIES - Reds RF Jay Bruce is facing knee surgery for a torn meniscus and it could cost him a month of playing time. Chris Heisey, who has shown some pop (43 home runs, .736 OPS in 1218 career plate appearances) takes over in right for the Reds. - The Reds are also missing LHP Tony Cingrani, who has shoulder tendinitis, but Cincinnati can get away with a four-man rotation for the time being. - A torn tendon in his right hand leaves RHP Brandon Morrow on the 60-day DL, giving J.A. Happ a chance to return to the rotation. Happ has been rocked in three relief appearances this year, so it may not be long before Marcus Stroman gets his turn. Stroman, a 2012 first-round pick, has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, where he was 2-2 with a 1.69 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. Stroman starts in the bullpen but figures to be next in line for a rotation opening. - With 1B Chris Davis on the DL due to a strained oblique, Steve Pearce is getting regular playing time for the Orioles. Pearce has done little (.222 AVG, .556 OPS) in 27 plate appearances this year, but since joining the Orioles in 2012, he has seven home runs, 29 RBI, a .253 average and .748 OPS in 248 plate appearances. - A strained hamstring has put White Sox CF Adam Eaton on the DL, giving Jordan Danks a shot at some regular playign time. In 300 career plate appearances, Danks is hitting .207 with a .606 OPS and a dozen stolen bases, so he hasnt clicked in the bigs yet, but had a respectable .772 OPS in four seasons (1566 plate appearances) at Triple-A. - Indians 2B Jason Kipnis is out with a strained oblique, and the Tribe has turned to 21-year-old Jose Ramirez. Ramirez doesnt have any power to speak of, but hit .308 with a .765 OPS and 75 stolen bases, in 1172 minor-league plate appearances. - Need a catcher? While Rockies C Wilin Rosario deals with a viral infection, consider Jordan Pacheco, who is the primary backup in Colorado. Pacheco had played primarily first and third base with the rockies, but, prior to this season, had seen action at catcher in 22 of 213 career games. This year, Pacheco has caught in 10 games, and is hitting .278 with a .769 OPS. He hasnt hit enough to have value as a corner infielder, but as a catcher? Thats a different story. - Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez is on the DL due to a laceration on his finger, giving LHP Robbie Ray (3-2, 1.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 21 K, 29 1/3 IP at Triple-A) a turn in the Detroit rotation. Ray was acquired from Washhington as part of the Doug Fister trade in the offseason.dddddddddddd. - A run-in with a kitchen knife has sent Giants RHP Matt Cain to the DL, opening up a spot in the rotation for Yusmerio Petit, the 29-year-old who has a 3.31 ERA in 73 1/3 innings with the Giants since 2012. - Angels 3B David Freese suffered a broken finger on the weekend, leaving the hot corner in the hands of Ian Stewart, the one-time top prospect who has power (hit 25 HR in 2009), but is hitting .186 with seven home runs in 396 plate appearances since the start of 2011. - Twins RHP Mike Pelfrey is sidelined with a groin problem, giving Samuel Deduno a chance to return to the starting rotation. Dedunos strikeout rate has improved, working out of the bullpen this year, though hes also giving up more base-runners than he did last season, when he was 8-8 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 18 starts for the Twins. GOOD ADDS (Available in at least 40% of TSN leagues) Jhonny Peralta, SS, St. Louis - 7 HR, 15 RBI, .222 AVG, 13 R, 108 AB (Available: 48.6%) Omar Infante, 2B, Kansas City - 2 HR, 19 RBI, .282 AVG, 13 R, 110 AB (Available: 49.5%) Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati - 5 HR, 18 RBI, .269 AVG, 17 R, 3 SB, 97 AB (Available: 40.6%) Chris Young, CF, N.Y. Mets - 2 HR, 9 RBI, .273 AVG, 10 R, 3 SB, 55 AB (Available: 95.8%) Juan Francisco, 1B, 3B, Toronto - 3 HR, 6 RBI, .277 AVG, 8 R, 47 AB (Available: 98.7%) Corey Kluber, RHP, Cleveland - 2-3, 3.60 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 48 K, 45 IP (Available: 82.4%) Travis Wood, LHP, Chicago Cubs - 2-3, 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 37 K, 37 2/3 IP (Available: 86.1%) Jonathon Niese, LHP, N.Y. Mets - 2-2, 2.20 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 24 K, 32 2/3 IP (Available: 77.0%) CLOSER NOTES - Sergio Santos has lost the Blue Jays closer gig after blowing back-to-back save appearances. Aaron Loup is the short-term option there, while Casey Janssen is due back from injury soon. - After being removed from the closers role, Angels RHP Ernesto Frieri may be about to reclaim the job from sidearmer Joe Smith. Frieri ha worked four perfect relief outings since he was bumped from the job. - The lonely Houston Astros closer job is being split, by Anthony Bass and Chad Qualls. As if one couldnt handle all those opportunities. - Oaklands Jim Johnson has pitched 10 1/3 IP since he was knocked out of the closers job, but that stretch has put him at the head of the committee which includes Luke Gregerson and Sean Doolittle. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '