ekansekans's blog: "df"

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs misery now stretches to 104 years and the Houston Astros will depart the National League with a whimper. Lance Briggs Womens Jersey . Obviously theres no winner in a season finale between a pair of 100-loss teams. Bryan LaHair homered and hit the winning single in the ninth inning, and the Cubs beat the Astros 5-4 Wednesday in Houstons final game before switching to the AL next season. In the first series between 100-game losers in the major leagues since 1962, LaHair homered in the second and broke a 4-all tie in the ninth against Hector Ambriz (1-1). "I was pretty psyched up about todays game," LaHair said of his rare start. "I talked to my grandma last night and I wanted to get one more (home run) for her. Luckily, I did. It was a good feeling right there." The 29-year-old LaHair held down the starting first base job through much of the first half after spending most of the previous nine seasons in the minors. His story reached its peak when LaHair was selected to the NL All-Star team, but his playing time dropped drastically once prospect Anthony Rizzo was called up in late June. "To go through the adversity hes had to go through after having a great start, the All-Star game, then obviously losing a lot of playing time, it was a great finish to his year," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "The best way you can finish a season is be at home and have a walk-off win." The Cubs, who last won a World Series in 1908, went 61-101 for their most losses since dropping 103 games in 1966. "A lot of hard work was put in this year," LaHair said. "Unfortunately, the record didnt say that, but just to finish the season with a win, its always fun to do that." Carlos Marmol (3-3) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win. Cubs starter Travis Wood allowed one run, three hits and five walks in 6 1-3 innings, giving up Carlos Corporans RBI single in the first. Wood also chased Astros starter Edgar Gonzalez with a two-run single. Houston went 55-107 and set a club record for losses with one more than last year. The Astros became the first team with 106 or more losses in consecutive seasons since the 1964-65 New York Mets. Houston finished its NL tenure with 3,999 regular-season wins, 4,134 losses and five ties. The Astros are moving to the AL West next season, creating three divisions of five teams in each league. The Astros were 16-25 under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco, who took over after Brad Mills was fired on Aug. 18. Washington third base coach Bo Porter already has been hired as Houstons manager for next season. "Its going to be a game Ill always remember," DeFrancesco said of his last gig at the helm of the Astros. "I just went around to everybody and thanked them for everything they did. I appreciate it. Theyre ready to go home. Its been a long season." Justin Maxwell hit a tying, three-run homer for Houston in the eighth off Shawn Camp. Gonzalez gave up four runs, five hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings. Houston pitched 28 consecutive scoreless innings before LaHairs homer in the second. Most of the Cubs regulars were given the day off. The exception, Starlin Castro, became the first player in franchise history to play shortstop in all 162 games, and the first major leaguer to do it since Philadelphias Jimmy Rollins in 2007. Castros 195 consecutive games played is the longest active streak in the NL. NOTES: The Cubs dismissed third base coach Pat Listach after the game. . Chicago drew 2,882,756 fans to Wrigley Field, the first time under 3 million since 2003. ... Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano said he is open to being traded in the off-season if the Cubs dont plan on contending the next two years. "I just want to have one more shot to go to the World Series before I (retire)," Soriano said. The 36-year-old said he will seriously consider retiring when his contract expires after the 2014 season. He is slated to make $18 million each of the next two seasons. Devin Hester Elite Jersey . "We started to get sloppy," said Drew Doughty of the 4-0 victory. "And he made sure to give it to us and tell us we cant be playing like this because you cant take your foot off the gas. Brian Urlacher Elite Jersey . While the Devils first marker was scored by Ilya Kovalchuk, there continued to be contributions from those whose names are found much further down the marquee. http://www.chicagobearsgears.com/brian-urlacher-jersey/ . -- Chris Wondolowski scored his MLS-leading 26th goal and the San Jose Earthquakes came back twice in the second half for a 2-2 tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday. William Perry Jersey . LOUIS -- Thirty-eight years ago, the last time the Arizona Cardinals were 4-0, their home was St. Brandon Marshall Camo Jersey . -- As far as Aaron Rodgers is concerned, the five big guys who will line up in front of him Sunday compare favourably with any offensive line he has played behind during his time in Green Bay.MIAMI -- Chris Bosh recently peered down the hallway that links the Miami Heat locker room and the teams home court. Though nearly a year has passed, he still feels the pain. Its what the Heat call "Championship Alley," the photo-covered walls paying tribute to the NBA championship run in 2006. For Bosh, it has a totally different meaning. Its the place where the sting of losing the finals a year ago made him drop to his knees in anguish, a moment captured for the world to see by television cameras he didnt know were there. "I want it to be different this time," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "I want these guys to feel what they see every day in this arena." What they see -- hundreds of photos of Miamis title celebrations -- represents what this team is chasing. What the Heat were a year ago, in the first chapter of the "Big Three" era in Miami, was probably best described as angry and spiteful. So now, with the start of another playoff run looming, Wade and Bosh say the mental approach is going to be considerably different this time around. The Heat open the post-season at home against the New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon, claiming to be just as driven by a title as they were a year ago, except this time they believe for more of the right reasons. "Last year we played to shut everybody up and to prove people wrong instead of playing to win a championship," Wade said. "We should have played the way we had our whole lives -- to raise the trophy up and be called champions. We didnt have that mindset. Thats different now." Thats been a mantra of sorts for Miami throughout this season, beginning around the start of training camp when LeBron James -- the player at the epicenter of Heat hate a year ago -- said he was going to try and get past the issues that he thinks held the club back last season. James said he didnt play the game with joy, like he typically did as a kid growing up in Akron, Ohio, and then for his first seven seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers. This year, James said many times that he indeed was able to successfully change his approach. It apparently rubbed off on everyone else in the Heat locker room as well. "You just have to play the gaame," Bosh said. Brian Urlacher Camo Jersey. "I think last year I got too caught up in, This is it. We have to win. Were going to win. Sometimes it doesnt happen like that. You just have to play the game." Most players walked down the hallway from the court to the locker room as the Dallas Mavericks were celebrating the title showing very little emotion. A few said afterward they didnt know how to react in those first few moments, saying the overriding emotion was shock more than anything else. Bosh didnt wait to react. Backup centre Erick Dampier helped him down the hall, as Bosh walked with a hand covering his face. Hes not embarrassed by the moment. "I own it. I embrace it," Bosh said. "I dont like to lose. I didnt know there were cameras in the back and everything. That was a private moment, honestly, for me. It wasnt for anybody. But I was heartbroken. I had my heart torn from my chest and broken. That wasnt a good feeling. I dont cringe from it. It reminds me of what can happen. That was just that one moment, but we live it until this day, until we get over the hump." For all the attention James and Wade get, and rightly so, both say that Bosh may be the key to Miami getting over that hump. Its not a deflection of responsibility. Its a statement about numbers. When Bosh scored 20 points or more this season, the Heat were 19-3. Since Bosh came to Miami, the Heat are 50-15 in two years -- including last years playoffs -- when he gets to 20. Its not all about scoring, either. When he gets 10 rebounds, Miami is 39-10. "I think I have that wild-card effect," Bosh said. "I can lay in the weeds and we can maybe win or maybe not. But if I have a good game, our records are winning ones." And theres no shortage of motivation for Bosh and the Heat in these playoffs. Especially after what happened in last years playoffs. "Obviously, losing burns," Wade said. "And it hurts. But we wanted it last year just as much as this year. That wound is still there. Going into the post-season you have to relive kind of the moments from last year so you can feel that hurt a little bit, and refocus. But we want it just as bad." Their first chance to show that comes on Saturday afternoon. ' ' '