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Alex Burl Jersey Online .com) - The Chicago Cubs formally ushered in another new era by introducing former Tampa Bay Rays skipper Joe Maddon as their new manager on Monday. The team also announced that Maddon agreed to a five-year contract in which financial terms were not disclosed, though ESPN reported the deal to be worth $25 million and includes incentives tied to making the postseason. The Cubs moved quickly to obtain Maddons services after the two-time American League Manager of the Year opted out of his contract with the Rays on Oct. 24, shortly after Tampa Bay general manager Andrew Friedman left the organization to become the president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maddon, who guided the small-market Rays to four playoff appearances and the 2008 AL pennant over the past seven seasons, joins a long-suffering Cubs franchise that has endured five consecutive losing campaigns and last won the World Series in 1908. This is a 1-in-107 a year opportunity for me, said Maddon during Mondays press conference. The challenge is so outstanding. How could you not want to be in this seat? The Cubs future appeared bright even before the hiring of the enthusiastic and ever-optimistic Maddon, though. Chicagos present farm system is ranked among baseballs strongest and the Cubs are expected to be significant players in free agency this offseason, something Maddon never experienced during his successful nine-year run with the low-budget Rays. Those factors, coupled with Friedmans departure and the presence of Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein -- who nearly hired Maddon as the Red Sox manager in 2004 while then Bostons GM -- played a role in Maddons decision. I knew there was a lot of common ground philosophically, said Maddon. I know that the synergy between the front office and the manager is really, really important. This is a really good fit for me personally. I feel very comfortable here. The 60-year-old takes over a Cubs team that showed improvement in Rick Renterias lone season as manager, with Chicago posting a 73-89 record in 2014 after winning 66 and 61 games the previous two years. Despite those strides, Epstein informed Renteria last week of his intention to pursue Maddon and make a switch. Renteria was offered another position within the organization but predictably declined. Even though they annually operated with one of the lowest payrolls in the majors, the Rays were a consistent contender for much of Maddons reign. Lauded for his ability to work with young players and to maximize the available talent on hand, the charismatic manager guided Tampa to six consecutive winning seasons that began with the unexpected 2008 World Series run. Joe is a combination of just about everything we look for in a manager, said Epstein. Everyone associates him with new-school because theyve used analytics in Tampa and hes so open-minded and so progressive. But this is an old-school baseball guy with a wealth of knowledge. Its hard to find old- school and new-school in the same package. The Rays, who had never won over 70 games in their first 10 seasons prior to that 2008 breakthrough, also reached the playoffs in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Maddon amassed a 754-705 overall record in Tampa Bay, easily the most of any manager in club history.
Steve Wright Jersey Online . Alfredo Simon lowered his ERA to 0.86, and the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Friday for their 16th win in their last 17 games at the Friendly Confines.
Josh Whitman Jersey Online . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil.EDMONTON -- Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist as the St. Louis Blues won their season-high sixth game in a row, 5-2 over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Chris Stewart, Maxim Lapierre, David Backes and Patrick Berglund also scored for the Blues (30-7-5) who have gone 11-1-2 in their last 14 games to move two points back of the Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks. Nail Yakupov and Mark Arcobello replied for the Oilers (14-27-5) who have lost five of their last six games and 11 of 14. St. Louis controlled the pace in the early stages of the game, out-shooting Edmonton 9-1 through the first eight minutes with Oilers starter Ilya Bryzgalov forced to make a number of big saves. Edmonton had the best scoring chance of the opening half of the first period, however, as Jordan Eberle picked up a rebound in the blue paint before goalie Brian Elliott dove across to make a pad save. The Blues took a 1-0 lead with just over seven minutes to play in the first as Stewart teed up a blast from the point on the power play that cleanly beat Bryzgalov for his 14th goal of the season. Edmonton had a great chance to pull even to start the second as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a clean short-handed breakaway, but Elliott was able to make a big glove save on his backhand shot. The Oilers took advantage of another giveaway at the St. Louis blueline a minute-and-a-half into the second period, however, as David Perron sent Yakupov streaking up the wing and he put a wrist shot past Elliott. The Blues responded just 42 seconds later, though, as Lapierre pushed rookie Brad Hunt off the puck along the boards and calmly took the puck to the net and hooked a shot past Bryzgalov. It was difficult to tell how the goal actually went in, but the refs checked for a hole in the net and the goal counted. Lapierre was playing in his 500th career NHL game. Edmonton kept pace with a goal five minutees into the middle frame to make it 2-2.
Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping. Luke Gazdic sent a pass from behind the net and Arcobello was able to chip it up and over Elliott and into the St. Louis net. St. Louis regained the lead with nine minutes left to play in the second as the Blues power play unit kept the Oilers hemmed in their own zone for a minute-and-a-half before Backes finally picked the top corner for his 17th of the season. The Blues made it 4-2 with six minutes left in the second as a face-off win allowed Tarasenko to score on a quick shot from the top of the circle. Blues forward T.J. Oshie had to be helped off the ice late in the third period after a knee-on-knee collision with Taylor Hall. Berglund iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute. The Blues play the second game of a three-game Western Canadian trip on Thursday in Calgary. The Oilers next play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. Notes: The Blues came into the game riding a wave of success against Edmonton, having defeated the Oilers in six of seven and in 12 of the previous 15 meetings. They had also won three in a row and six of their last eight in Edmontona The disparity between the two teams was well illustrated as the final Olympic teams were announced on Tuesday. St. Louis has 10 players heading to Sochi for the Winter Olympics, while Edmonton has just three. One of those Oilers, Anton Belov was picked for the host Russian team, despite being a healthy scratch for Edmonton the last three gamesa Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak returned to the lineup from an illness. Defenceman Roman Polak (lower-body) and leading scorer Alex Steen (concussion) remain outa Oilers defenceman Corey Potter (groin injury) missed his sixth game while defenceman Philip Larsen continued to be absent with an illnessa Oiler forward Ales Hemsky left the game after taking a first period hit from St. Louis Ryan Reaves. ' ' '