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TORONTO - When the Toronto Maple Leafs brought Stephane Robidas in for a free-agent visit over the summer, team brass told the veteran defenceman what they envisioned him doing if he signed.In his role, we felt that he would be a guy that could provide leadership, not only to our younger players but some of our older players, coach Randy Carlyle said. He can share minutes and he can make a contribution (more than) on the ice.On Wednesday, Carlyle told Robidas that would include wearing an A on his chest as one of the teams alternate captains along with Joffrey Lupul. Robidas replaces Jay McClement to complete the leadership group with captain Dion Phaneuf.Leadership was a major question late last season when the Leafs lost 12 of the final 14 games to fall out of playoff contention. The 37-year-old Robidas, who wasnt around to be scarred by that collapse, brings a respected voice in the locker-room.Thats what hes done all his career, so we dont look at it that were asking him to do something hes not comfortable doing, Carlyle said.The Leafs made a significant commitment to Robidas on July 1 by inking him to a US$9-million, three-year deal even though he was still working to get back from a broken leg suffered during the playoffs. Hes expected to be on the first defensive pairing alongside Phaneuf, at least to start the season.I think that he adds a lot to our team, Phaneuf said. He plays the game hard night in and night out, hes very smart. ... Hes good with the puck in tight areas, he makes real good short plays in the defensive zone to relieve pressure.Off the ice, Robidas already seems well-liked by his new teammates. He played in just one exhibition game, the final one, but hes a go-to voice in the room.It shows a lot of confidence in me, Robidas said of being named an alternate captain. Its something that I dont need the A to be a leader and you dont need letters to be a leader. (Its) something that I take pride in. I just want to be myself. Im not going to come in and change everything. Im just going to play like I can play and be myself.Robidas has credited Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien for helping him develop when he was a young player. Therrien coached Robidas in the AHL for three years with the Fredericton Canadiens and Quebec Citadelles.All the credit goes to him because he had passion, he had character and hes such a good person, Therrien said. He was a great warrior on the ice. For a small player, he played really hard and thats the reason why he made it to the NHL and he ended up having a great career.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Trent Murphy Jersey .J. -- Freshman Eli Carter scored a career-high 31 points and hit the go-ahead basket in the second overtime as Rutgers rallied to stun No. Charles Clay Jersey . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. http://www.thebillsgearshop.com/Bills-Ad...n-Draft-Jersey/. A groundswell for raising the number of playoff qualifiers to seven in each conference figures to get plenty of support from the 32 owners. Most notably, Arizonas Bill Bidwill, who saw his Cardinals go 10-6 and not get in, while Green Bay (8-7-1) qualified by winning the NFC North. Taron Johnson Jersey . The third-ranked Buckeyes were down eight points to Notre Dame with less than 2 minutes to play and their offence was nowhere to be found. Andre Holmes Jersey . -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot.PITTSBURGH -- Pedro Alvarez mashed two home runs that travelled an estimated 831 feet Friday night. It was a series of sprints by the burly Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman, however, that ignited a 12-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Alvarez broke open a close game in the sixth by beating out a potential double play, followed it up with the fifth stolen base of his career then scored with a deft slide around St. Louis catcher Yadier Molinas tag that gave the Pirates the momentum they needed to pull away. "I thought the stolen base was key," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He puts a lot of focus on running the bases and hes arguably one of our best baserunners when hes on." It certainly looked like it, as Alvarezs outstretched left arm slid across the plate a split second before one of the games best defensive catchers could nab him. The Cardinals imploded from there as Shelby Miller (0-1) continued to struggle against Pittsburgh. Miller fell to 0-5 with a 5.92 ERA against the Pirates in his brief career after tying a career-high by allowing five runs in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 16-5 with a 2.34 ERA in his 33 other major league appearances. "Its not the park. Its not the team. I just pitched poorly today," Miller said. "I guess it just lines up that way where I dont pitch well when I face them." Travis Ishikawa added his first major league home run in nearly two years for Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole (1-0) gave up two runs in seven innings in his first start since losing the deciding Game 5 of the NL division series to St. Louis last October. Six months removed from a taut NLDS that pushed the eventual NL champions to the brink of elimination, the Pirates sent an early message they have no plans of going away. Cole is considered the ace in waiting after a stellar rookie season in which he was arguably Pittsburghs best pitcher over the final six weeks. Eager to take the next step in his development, the 23-year-old kept the Cardinals in check by mixing a fastball that consistently reaches the upper 90s with improved offspeeed stuff.dddddddddddd He also showcased some of his maturity, working out of a bases loaded situation in the fourth by getting Jhonny Peralta to fly out. His only mistake came in the fifth when Carpenter drilled a shot into the right field stands to pull the Cardinals to 3-2. Otherwise he teamed with catcher Russell Martin to keep St. Louis in check. "I think it was just a really well-played ballgame on our part," Cole said. "I cant say enough about what Russ did behind the plate. Not sure there are any other catchers in the entire world that could handle what I threw at him tonight." Pittsburghs offence -- which mustered all of 20 hits in 35 innings of a season-opening series against the Chicago Cubs -- made sure it didnt stay close for long after pounding out 16 hits in eight innings against the NL Central favourites. Alvarez began the year in a 1 for 15 slump but ended that with a home run to the gap in left-centre for his first home run of the season. He added his second two innings later with a long drive to right-centre that travelled an estimated 448 feet. His hustle down the first-base line in the sixth allowed Pittsburghs rally to continue and the Pirates pressed the advantage. Molina committed a rare error after Alvarezs slide, botching a potential rundown at third base when his throw hit Martin in the back and rolled into the stands. The miscue gave the Pirates a 5-2 lead and Pittsburgh poured it on in the late innings. NOTES: Ishikawas solo home run in the fourth was his first since May 15, 2012 while playing for the New York Yankees. ... The start of the game was delayed 1:05 by rain, the third straight game a Cardinals game was delayed by weather. ... Injured Cardinals 2B Mark Ellis is starting baseball activities but it remains uncertain when hell be ready to return from left knee tendinitis. Ellis went on the 15-day DL on March 27 and is eligible to return on April 11. ... The series continues on Saturday. RHP Joe Kelly will make his season debut for the Cardinals against Pittsburghs Francisco Liriano (0-0, 0.00). 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