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VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps will be without their top central defender Saturday when they host the New England Revolution. Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie said Tuesday he does not expect Andy OBrien to play. OBrien suffered a hamstring injury in a weekend loss at Seattle, and remains out indefinitely. His absence leaves the Whitecaps with a shortage at central defender due to injuries. Captain Jay DeMerit (ruptured Achilles) is out indefinitely while Brad Rusin (calf) is at least two weeks away from returning, and Carlyle Mitchell, recalled from lower-tier Edmonton, is recuperating from an ankle injury. "Its just the timing," Rennie of the impact of the injuries. "Its unfortunate that theyre all hurt at the same time. Ive never really seen that. In recent times, there was one or two players in similar positions. "But to lose four is tough. Its hard to deal with." OBriens injury resulted two days after the Whitecaps traded versatile veteran Alain Rochat, who has experience playing central defender, to D.C. United for a pair of draft picks. Rennie said an MRI showed that OBriens injury "doesnt seem too major," but there is no timeline for his return. Mitchell, who described himself as 75- to 80-per-cent fit, is the most likely candidate to replace OBrien. "His ankle seems to be getting stronger, so thats an encouraging thing for us," said Rennie. "Obviously, weve got a lot of players out at that particular position. So there could be an opportunity for him. Hopefully, hell come through this week well, and hell be ready to go." Mitchell, a 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native who has represented his country internationally, played at total of five games for Vancouver in 2011 and 2012, but was loaned to Edmonton at the start of the season in order to get more playing time. He expressed a willingness to play hurt, if necessary. The Whitecaps (4-5-4) sit seventh in the Western Conference while the Revolution, 5-4-5 before Wednesdays home game against New York, are also below the playoff bar in the East. "Its a big challenge stepping in this weekend," Mitchell said. "But its all about three points (for a win), and Ill do anything to get three points, so the injury doesnt matter now." But the Whitecaps will be hard-pressed to replace OBriens experience, leadership and calm, steady play. He has quarterbacked the back line, barking out instructions to teammates to get in the proper position while playing every game this season and starting all but one. Mitchell is expected to play alongside an unfamiliar partner in fellow central defender Johnny Leveron, a Honduran international who has recently established a place in the lineup as a result of Rusins injuries. Rusin suffered a concussion before hurting his calf. Rennie said Mitchell, whom Edmonton coach Colin Miller has described as his best player, can also be vocal if called upon. But, Rennie added, it will be necessary for players in all positions to communicate effectively without OBrien directing the play. The Whitecaps were leading the Sounders 2-1 in the second half before more than 53,000 fans at CenturyLink Field when OBriens injury turned the tables in favour of the home side. His replacement, Greg Klazura, committed a foul as a result of sloppy tackling in the Vancouver box, enabling Seattle to tie the game 2-2 on a penalty-kick. And another defensive breakdown by Leveron and Klazura led to Seattles winning goal from short range. Vancouver striker Kenny Miller said OBriens injury spells a "huge loss," because he has been a "real presence" thanks to his experience and defensive qualities. Somebody will have to step up to fill the void, and Mitchell has a chance to claim a permanent position. 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Karl-Anthony Towns Timberwolves Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Mets fans can buy a few jerseys featuring names of players in the teams instructional league.Cespedes jerseys, theyre big sellers.Cone jerseys, available as throwbacks.Of course, those are for Yoenis Cespedes and David Cone, and not the instructional leaguers -- Ricardo Cespedes and Gene Cone. No, the only of the 58 players getting a spotlight in this camp with the Mets is Tim Tebow, the quarterback-turned-baseball hopeful whose No. 15 jersey is already a hot seller even though he has yet to take one professional at-bat.The Mets are cashing in already, and Tebow has a book coming out next month. Yet both the team and its new star of sorts insist this is no publicity stunt, even though the odds seem stacked very high against a 29-year-old former football player finding his way to the major leagues. And its certainly worth noting that the revenue from any Tebow apparel bought off the Mets site gets shared with other big-league clubs.The good thing is that I dont have to say anything, Tebow said when asked what he would say to those who think it is a stunt. I dont.Day 2 of the Tebow experiment with the Mets arrived Tuesday, when he returned to the minor league complex in Port St. Lucie for more running, throwing, catching and hitting. The media contingent chronicling his every move was much smaller Tuesday, and there were fewer fans as well. One man left shortly after the gates opened for Tuesdays workout, saying he went only to get a picture for his grandson.For their part, the Mets players seem fine with the baseball version of Tebowmania. A few even asked Tebow for advice on wholl win college football games this weekend.I think its cool, said Mets left-hander Steven Matz, who was working out on an adjacent field Tuesday and will be back in New York this week. Hes a hard worker. Hes just another player and you can tell thats all he wants to be. Hes just here to work hard and see if he can make the big leagues.Thats why Tebow says hes here.Tebow is taking the workouts seriously. Hes acknowledged that he still has a lot to learn -- even with regard to what equipment he needs to take to the field for practice -- and said he was hoping teammates would be comfortable having him around.To him, this is just playing the game he loved as a kid. Except back then, money wasnt an issue.dddddddddddd It is this time, as is almost always the case in pro sports.Tebow signed a deal with the Mets that included a $100,000 signing bonus. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson defended it earlier this month, saying before a game in Atlanta the team wouldnt spend that kind of money so we can sell a couple hundred dollars worth of T-shirts in Kingsport, referring to the Tennessee city where New York has a rookie league team.But merchandise isnt just on sale in Kingsport -- its everywhere. The Mets web site listed the $119.99 jerseys and $29.99 T-shirts as top sellers Monday, and some fans who didnt want to wait for shipping were lined up at the teams complex on Floridas Treasure Coast to buy Tebow apparel.I heard that was something that they might be selling. What do I think about it? Its cool, Tebow said.Tebow has a book coming out next month called Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Lifes Storms. He wouldnt seem to need baseball as a platform to promote the book; hes an analyst for the SEC Network and his fans are devout, whether hes on TV or not.But he did spend time after his first Mets workout answering questions about the book, talking about how his playing days under Bill Belichick for the New England Patriots ended in 2013.The whole first chapter is about the last two days with the New England Patriots and getting cut from them and what its like and that meeting, walking into coach Belichicks office and being told that youre not enough, Tebow said. And so the goal with this and why its title is `Shaken is every single person in this room and every single person probably in life goes through times when they get told theyre not enough.For Tebow, having a chance to play is enough.He looks at baseball as a way to tell his story a new way. A few weeks ago he was in his native Philippines, saying he hiked into remote areas and helped care for children who faced serious medical problems.Im always grateful for that platform to make a change in someones life, Tebow said. Hopefully for the better.---AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report. ' ' '