Pirate Galaxy » against Gonzalez in the past five years.Fan

CLEVELAND -- Holding the World Series trophy in his right hand, Theo Epstein grinned: We dont need a plane to fly home.After putting together the first Boston Red Sox team to win the World Series in 86 years, he masterminded the Chicago Cubs first title in 108.Good chance baseballs drought-buster will be flying to Cooperstown one day for his Hall of Fame induction.Its fitting its got to be done with one of the best games of all time, he said after Wednesday nights 8-7, 10-inning thriller over the Cleveland Indians in Game 7. Just unbelievable. What a testament to our players, their grit.A sports editor of the Yale Daily News with a 1995 degree, Epstein interned with the Baltimore Orioles, went along with Larry Lucchino to the Padres and earned a law degree at the University of San Diego. He was hired by the Red Sox under Lucchino in November 2002, at 28 the youngest general manager in major league history.Boston won the World Series in 2004 and again in 2007. Epstein quit after the 2011 season to become president of baseball operations of the Cubs, who had been bought by the Ricketts family two years earlier.After 10 years, no matter how passionate you are, you see the same issues, day after day and you are around the same people day after day, Epstein said then. You are around the same landscape day after day for 10 years and eventually you will benefit from a new landscape and fresh problems.He and general manager Jed Hoyer led a near-total makeover.Albert Almora Jr., who scored the go-ahead run on Ben Zobrists 10th-inning single, was the first player drafted under Epsteins regime, taken sixth overall in 2012. Third baseman Kris Bryant was drafted in 2013 and outfielder Kyle Schwarber in 2014, and the Cubs traded for pitcher Jake Arrieta (from Baltimore), first baseman Anthony Rizzo (San Diego) and shortstop Addison Russell (Oakland).Chicago spent on the free-agent market after the 2014 season for pitcher Jon Lester and last offseason for pitcher John Lackey, all-purpose player Ben Zobrist and outfielders Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward.Hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman, who got the win after blowing a 6-3, eighth-inning lead, was acquired from the New York Yankees in July, when Mike Montgomery, who got the save, was obtained from Seattle.Catcher Willson Contreras and second baseman Javier Baez were holdovers from the administration of Jim Hendry, the Cubs GM from 2002-11.While managing against the Cubs in the World Series, Clevelands Terry Francona praised Epstein, his boss in Boston from 2004-11.Theo had the guts to hire me up there when, I dont know, I didnt have a ton of resume and they were expected to win, and he believed in me, Francona said. We went eight years of a lot of good baseball. Youve been to Boston enough to know if you can survive with somebody through eight years there, that says enough right there.Epsteins grandfather Phillip and grand-uncle Julius J. Epstein won Academy Awards along with Howard E. Koch for the screenplay of Casablanca. While his relatives earned fame for fiction, Theo had made his mark in stark reality: ending two of baseballs most notorious streaks.Our fans just deserve this so much, and all the former Cubs -- everyone, he said. This is for so many people: Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, whos still here to come celebrate with us tomorrow when we see him. Were bringing the trophy home to you guys. Its been a century in the making.Air Force 1 Mens On Sale . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Air Force 1 Red Store . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. http://www.airforce1storesale.com/fake-air-force-1-blue-outlet.html . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Air Force 1 Mens Fake . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Air Force 1 Red Sale . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda.WASHINGTON -- It might appear that the Philadelphia Phillies are playing out the string as the last-place club in the National League East.But that is not the case for manager Pete Mackanin, whose team will end a four-game series against the first-place Washington Nationals on Sunday in Washington. The Phillies are 63-79 after a 3-0 loss on Saturday night as Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer in the eighth.I am very patient. I dont have to be happy about the losses, Mackanin said.Mackanin has not hesitated to talk this weekend about his young pitchers and what September means when the club reports to spring training in February in Clearwater, Fla.Left-hander Adam Morgan will start Sunday for the Phillies. And while he is 2-9 with a 5.90 ERA, Morgan will take his place as one of several young pitchers who has faced the Nationals this weekend.Morgan is 0-2, 5.12 in three starts in his career against the Nationals, including a 2-1 loss at home on Aug. 31 when he gave up three hits and two runs in six innings with no walks and five strikeouts.Alec Asher started Thursday and went six innings and allowed no runs on two hits.Does he think about 2017?I just control what I can control. That is go out and compete to the best of my ability, Asher said. I am going to pitch to my strength.I am going back to being me, he said of last year. It is something to build on. I was a little bit of self-evaluation. It doesnt matter how hard you throw. If it is straight, they are going to hit it. (The change) has made a world of difference so far.Jake Thompson pitched into the sixth inning and gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings on Friday.Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff started Saturday night and gave up no runs and five hits in six innings.That was a great pitching performance by him, Mackanin said. He mixed his pitches pretty well. He fought, he works hard. He was really good. I kind of expected him to be this kind of pitcher. He doesnt get rattled. He looks like hes out there to beat you.Thompson, Asher and Eickhoff were all acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers in July 2015 for veteran lefty Coole Hamels.ddddddddddddMorgan had lost nine games in a row before he beat the Miami Marlins in his last start as he did not walk anyone while giving up a run and five hits.It feels good. I wouldnt say I lost confidence, Morgan told reporters after that win. You cant lose confidence, you cant lose that belief in yourself.While the Phillies have a young staff, Washington has mostly a veteran one and Gio Gonzalez will start Sunday for the Nationals. He is 10-9 with a 4.40 ERA and he has won at least 10 games in every year since 2010.Freddy Galvis of the Phillies has faced Gonzalez 33 times and is hitting .273 against him.Maikel Franco, a right-handed hitter, is batting .077 in 13 at-bats against Gonzalez and Cesar Hernandez is hitting .211 in 19 at-bats.The Phillies will certainly start right-handed hitting Tommy Joseph against Gonzalez. Joseph is 0-for-2 against the lefty and Ryan Howard, a left-handed swinger for the Phillies, is 0-for-11 against Gonzalez in the past five years.Fans and media always ask will it be good Gio or bad Gio who takes the mound.On Tuesday at home against the Atlanta Braves, it was bad Gio, as he allowed six runs and did not get past the fourth inning. He does have a 1.40 ERA in three starts against the Phillies this year.The Nationals need Gonzalez to step up after Stephen Strasburg left his start after 42 pitches on Wednesday and has a flexor mass strain.And right-hander Joe Ross has been on the disabled list since July with right shoulder inflammation, although he did throw 60 pitches in a simulated game Saturday at Nationals Park.I guess that extra confidence just knowing, not having to worry like hows it going to feel when I get out there. (I had) a little bit of nerves going out there today, Ross told reporters. I guess it was easier in a controlled environment, live BP.Feeling good, so hopefully I get to the next start or whatever opportunity I get to go throw. Nothings really on my mind but going out there and try and get outs. ' ' '