TORONTO - With spring training just over a month away, many big-league baseball players are starting to get back into their workout routines in preparation for the 2015 season. New York Rangers Jerseys .For Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, the pre-season plan is a little different. The veteran right-hander has to give his nails extra attention since theyre critical for his unique pitch.I just kind of let them go in the winter, Dickey said Friday. And then when it comes time for like around late January, I start treating them with some product and making sure that theyre filed right, and the nail hardener is on there, things like that.Dickey was joined by teammates Jose Bautista, Aaron Loup, Todd Redmond and Dalton Pompey for a media availability at Rogers Centre to kick off the Blue Jays Winter Tour. The tour will include stops in Calgary, Banff and Vancouver next week. A chipped or broken nail can significantly hamper Dickeys ability to throw the unique pitch, which can float, dive and flutter en route to the plate. The over-the-counter hardener is used so the nails can withstand the rigours of a full season.Dickey tries to keep his nails at a consistent length and also has to be mindful of tasks that other players wouldnt be concerned about — like making sure a nail doesnt crack while hes doing up a zipper, for example.He doesnt go into nail salons unless theres an emergency.I do my own stuff, Dickey said in a recent interview at a different promotional event. Im probably the only major leaguer out there that could go on the disabled list for a broken nail.I dont trust many people with my nails. I do it all on my own.To throw the pitch, Dickey puts his index and middle fingers just behind the horseshoe-like seam on the ball. He digs his nails in on top and supports the bottom of the ball with his thumb on one side and fourth finger on the other.The thumb must stay off the seam to prevent the ball from spinning. Dickey then winds up and bends his wrist at an almost 90-degree angle before essentially pushing the ball out.With no spin, the ball floats toward the plate, often handcuffing batters with its slower speed and directional changes.Knuckleballers are quite rare as it can take a long time for a pitcher to master it. Dickey, 40, started out as a conventional pitcher but found the most success as a knuckler later in his career.So is it a fun pitch to throw?It can be. It can also be maddening, he said. When its going good, theres not anything better in the world. But when its going bad, it can be really ugly.Dickey won the National League Cy Young Award with the New York Mets in 2012 and joined the Blue Jays the following year. Hell be counted on to help anchor Torontos starting rotation again in 2015.Dickey reached the 200-inning plateau for the fourth straight season last year, finishing with a 14-13 mark and 3.71 earned-run average.Spring training begins next month and the Blue Jays will kick off the regular season April 6 in New York.———Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter. Martin St. Louis Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Adam Graves Jersey . It will mark the 22nd time the tournament has been held in this country and fourth in Atlanta Canada but will make its first appearance ever in played Nova Scotia. http://www.authenticnyrangerspro.com/Mike-gartner-rangers-jersey/ .J. -- Jaromir Jagr has hit so many NHL milestones this season for the New Jersey Devils that he is starting to downplay them.BAKU, Azerbaijan -- Russia qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 12 years by drawing 1-1 with 10-man Azerbaijan on Tuesday. Russia finished on top of Group F with 22 points, one point ahead of second-place Portugal which beat 10-man Luxembourg 3-0 and will go into next months European playoffs for a berth in Brazil. The Russians last qualified for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002, but under coach Fabio Capello they quickly secured the groups top spot and held it as Portugal once again came up short. "Russia was the best team. They were better than us," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "We needed to demonstrate better quality if we wanted the top spot." In Baku, Roman Shirokov gave Russia the lead in the 16th minute from a cutting pass from Alexander Samedov. Vagif Javadov headed in the equalizer in the 90th. Azerbaijan was reduced to 10 men in the 73rd when Maksim Medvedev was given a red card for a rough tackle. Portugal also had to go through the playoffs to qualify for its last two major tournaments, the 2012 European Championship and 2010 World Cup. Jaromir Jagr Jersey. It was a semifinalist at Euro 2012. The Portuguese have been dogged by inconsistency. They have won just eight of their 16 qualifiers and friendly games since Euro 2012. Their qualifying campaign was spoiled by a 1-1 home draw against Northern Ireland and two draws against Israel. Portugal, playing without suspended Cristiano Ronaldo in Coimbra, struggled to find a way through the Luxembourg defence until Aurelien Joachim was shown a straight red card for a high tackle on Andre Almeida in the 28th. Two minutes later, Joao Moutinho set up Silvestre Varela for his fourth international goal. Nani made it 2-0 in the 36th after Moutinho set him up with a neat backheel. Helder Postiga made it 3-0 in the 78th, making him the top scorer in qualifying with six goals. But the Portuguese missed a half-dozen chances to extend their lead in a game that once again exposed their shortcomings in attack. Postiga and Hugo Almeida both hit the woodwork. ' ' '