Wir suchen Dich! » Chicago native will be hoping to beat the Bul

CINCINNATI -- The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, who both made moves impacting their future on Friday, will face each other for the second-to-last time this season on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.Manager Joe Maddon believes continuity is the key to sustained success for the Cubs franchise. So, he was pleased to see general manager Jed Hoyer and scouting and VP scouting and player development Jason McLeod get their contracts extended through 2021 on Friday.Its a great infrastructure, Maddon said. Its nice to keep the band together. Continuity is very important. There are strong relationships. Everyone trusts one another.The moves for Hoyer and McLeod came two days after president of baseball operations Theo Epsteins contract was extended. Terms were not disclosed for that deal.Jed and Jason are simply the best at what they do and have played fundamentally important leadership roles in helping the Cubs build a healthy and thriving organization, said Epstein. We feel honored to have the stability and support that we enjoy throughout Baseball Operations and look forward to many years of working together in Chicago.Hoyer and McLeod joined the Cubs on Nov. 1, 2011, and, along with Epstein, helped lead the organizations overhaul which resulted in a 40-win improvement from year one in 2012 to today. This season, Chicago became just the third team in major league history to win at least 100 games within four years of a 100-loss season.Also on Friday, Cincinnati made a move to secure its immediate future and bolster its rebuilding process when manager Bryan Prices contract was extended through 2017 with a club option for 18.Weve been talking about it (a new contract) since the last homestand. It just took some time just working out the terms of the contract. Price said. There is a mutual desire to stay connected. For me its been an unbelievable opportunity. It is a storied franchise. I have really enjoyed my coaches and my team.On Saturday, left-hander Jon Lester will make his final regular season start for the Cubs, and looking to carry some momentum into the playoffs.With a victory, Lester (19-4, 2.28) will reach 20 wins in a season for the first time in his career. Hes 1 1/3 innings shy of 2,000 for his career IP and 2 1/3 innings shy of 200 for the season. All four of his starts against Cincinnati this season have been quality starts.The Reds will send right-hander Tim Adleman to the mound on Saturday. Hes making his 13th career appearance and start, his ninth since being promoted from Triple-A Louisville. Adleman is among 12 Reds players to make their major league debut this season.With their 7-3 win on Friday night in the series opener, the Cubs (102-57) improved to 14-3 this season against the Reds, including an 8-2 mark at Great American Ball Park. Custom Cavaliers T-shirts .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Authentic Custom Cavaliers Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. http://www.customcavaliersjersey.com/ . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Cheap Cavaliers Jerseys . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Kyrie Irving Jersey Large . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. NEW YORK -- James Harden and the Houston Rockets spent plenty of energy trying to knock off the champs. They had more than enough left a night later.Harden had 30 points and 15 assists, and Houston routed the New York Knicks 118-99 on Wednesday night.Were a special group and were fairly new, Harden said, so the more were going to continue to build and do things and play the right way no matter who were playing, the better off well be.The NBAs leader coming into the day with 11.8 assists per game, Harden toyed with the Knicks defense, setting up teammates for lobs or open 3-pointers as the Rockets easily bounced back from a 128-120 loss in Cleveland on Tuesday.Eric Gordon added 21 points for Houston, which has won seven straight at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks havent defeated the Rockets at home since Jan. 26, 2009, so long ago that their coach was current Houston coach Mike DAntoni.Harden also grabbed six rebounds, a night after he had 41 points and 15 assists. And the Rockets got a boost from their bench, particularly Montrezl Harrell, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds.Those guys helped us keep going and then James is James, DAntoni said. Hes really good and I think he can play every night.Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points for the Knicks, who besides their poor defense also heard loud boos for their rebounding and turnovers in a dismal performance.If we dont start playing defense, were going to keep getting smacked like this, guard Derrick Rose said. It comes with effort. It comes with everybody being on the same page.The Knicks were also playing for the second straight night, but only they appeared to have tired legs. Houston quickly extended a 33-25 lead after one quarter into double digits and was ahead 68-51 at halftime.Gordon opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer to make it a 20-point game and Harden closed it with another 3 that sent the Rockets to the fourth quarter with a 100-78 lead.TIP-INSRockeets: C Nene sat out to rest on the second night of the Rockets back-to-back.dddddddddddd ... DAntoni went 121-167 with the Knicks from 2008 until resigning in March 2012.Knicks: New York has lost 21 of the last 23 meetings with Houston. ... Rose and Courtney Lee scored 16 points each.DEKKER HITS THE DECKSam Dekker was headed for what would have been a breakaway basket when he stumbled and fell near the free throw line, the ball bouncing off the court, then off his face and out of bounds. Dekker went to the court again moments later after Kyle OQuinn blocked his shot.HORNACEK IN HOUSTON?Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, after being fired in Phoenix, interviewed for the Houston job last spring before the Rockets hired DAntoni. With Harden in place and believing Ryan Anderson would sign there, Hornacek was interested. Obviously the pieces theyve added have made them dynamic on the offensive end, Hornacek said. Theyre going to be hard to stop and so when you look around at jobs and they call you and want to talk, that was great.CHICAGO IS HIS KIND OF TOWNRose was hoping the World Series went to the Cubs, who had his son, 3-year-old Derrick Jr., throw out a first pitch earlier this season. On Friday, the Chicago native will be hoping to beat the Bulls in his first game against his former team. He expects a mixed reception from fans. I know Im going to get some boos here and there but its all part of the game, its all part of the sport, he said. Its not going to affect the way I play or how badly I want to win that game.UP NEXTRockets: Visit Atlanta on Saturday to continue five-game trip with visit to former Houston center Dwight Howard. The Hawks have won the last five meetings.Knicks: Visit Chicago on Friday in first trip back to the United Center for former Bulls All-Stars Rose and Joakim Noah. ' ' '