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MESA, Ariz. -- No matter what the record says, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein insists he sees progress as he begins his third season in charge. It hasnt shown at the major league level. "The people that we have in place in this organization -- the coaches, scouts -- I believe are impact, and I believe in the processes that we have in place," Epstein said Thursday. "It takes time to turn our organization around. It takes time to build impact talent and to build requisite depth. But its happening. People in those meetings, the people in this organization, really believe that were on the verge of something special. And we understand that were perceived otherwise, and thats our fault because weve been a last-place club the last couple years. Were not protesting. We need to earn our way into a position where were championship contenders on an annual basis, and we feel like that is certainly moving in the right direction." It hasnt been an easy process, and while success might be on the horizon, it doesnt appear to be at hand. Pitchers and catchers reported on Thursday, and for the Cubs, it doesnt look like much will be different this season. They were relatively quiet in the off-season, although they did hire manager Rick Renteria to replace the fired Dale Sveum and made a run at star Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, but mostly it looks like they are in for more rough times at the major league level as they wait for their top prospects to develop in the minors. Their most recent winning season was when they went 83-78 under Lou Piniella in 2009. With four straight sub-.500 seasons, theyve matched their longest streak since 1984 to 1988. And another losing season would put them on their longest run since they finished below .500 six years in a row from 1978 to 1983. For now, the Cubs continue to sell hope, a promise that better days are coming. They tout their minor league system, and while renovations to Wrigley Field remain on hold, they can point to new facilities in the Dominican Republic along with a spring training home that just opened. As for the Cubs record, it cant get much worse. Theyve dropped 91 or more games each of the past three years and are coming off a two-year run under Sveum that produced a 127-197 record. Theyre hoping Renteria will provide the right atmosphere for young major league players such as shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo as well as top prospects Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Albert Almora and Kris Bryant. They believe they have three solid starters in Travis Wood, Jeff Samardzija and Edwin Jackson, although Jackson struggled last season and Samardzija is a potential trade chip after he was unable to reach a long-term agreement and took a one-year deal. Jake Arrieta, a candidate to start, might not be ready for the beginning of the season because of tightness in his right shoulder. General manager Jed Hoyer revealed Thursday that Arrieta, acquired from Baltimore last July, experienced some tightness this winter and is being brought along slowly. Hoyer announced Arrietas injury after confirming the Cubs agreed to one-year contracts with starting pitchers Jason Hammel and James McDonald. Both could be candidates to be traded before the deadline if they succeed, considering thats exactly what the Cubs did with Paul Maholm and Scott Feldman the past two seasons. "We know we have some numbers now," Hoyer said. They also have hope that better days are coming. "Theres a real dichotomy between how the organization is perceived from the outside and how we look at it internally and the morale that we have internally," Epstein said. NOTES: Renteria tabbed newcomer Jose Veras as the closer. ... Hoyer basically dismissed the idea of moving Castro to another position even though he and the White Soxs Alexei Ramirez led major league shortstops with 22 errors last season and Baez is in the pipeline. "Castros our shortstop," Hoyer said. "We have all the confidence in the world that hell remain our shortstop and hell keep working hard and keep improving. And he knows theres (room) to improve there." ... Hoyer said reliever Kyuji Fujikawa will soon start throwing off the mound. Hes coming off Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow. ... Epstein said the Cubs will look to draft pitchers going forward, although not necessarily with their first pick. Air Jordan 3 Retro Outlet .FIFA says it is relaxing the rule which forced match officials to leave its international list at the end of the year they turned 45. Discount Air Jordan 3 Retro . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C. http://www.cheapairjordan3retro.com/ . - The New England Patriots needed help on defence so they added three experienced players at midseason. Air Jordan 3 Retro Sale . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. White Air Jordan 3 Retro .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Colts by 5RECORD VS. SPREAD — Cincinnati 8-8, Indianapolis 11-5SERIES RECORD — Colts lead 18-10LAST MEETING — Colts beat Bengals 27-0, Oct.VANCOUVER - Kevin Glenns fill-in role with the B.C. Lions took on greater importance Friday as they prepared for their 2014 CFL season opener. The Lions placed starting quarterback Travis Lulay on the six-game injured reserve list in advance of Saturdays game against the Edmonton Eskimos at B.C. Place Stadium. The move means that Glenn, a 14-year veteran who has built a standout career by being a stand-in, will start for the Lions in more games than planned, barring injury. You can watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO in the second half of a doubleheader at 6pm et/3pm pt. "It takes the pressure off of (Lulay), it takes the pressure off the club. … Its just the smartest thing to do," said Lions coach Mike Benevides. Glenn, a 35-year-old Detroit native, was acquired from the expansion Ottawa RedBlacks in an off-season trade to help offset the effects of Lulays off-season shoulder injury. Benevides was even more grateful for the deal which he sincerely dubbed "the trade of the century" after he admitted the club "miscalculated" Lulays recovery period. It was already known that Glenn would start against the Eskimos, but Lulay, who was placed on the one-week injury list at the start of this week, was expected back soon. Now Lulay, who took part in a walk-through Friday, can not practise with the team for at least four weeks under rules that were revised by the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and players association. Glenn went 10-3 with the Calgary Stampeders last season while helping them post a 14-4 record that was the best in the CFL. But despite a 66.6 per cent completion rate that was the second highest of his career, he was made available in the expansion draft. The RedBlacks claimed him, but he balked at being a backup with the first-year club after it signed former Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Henry Burris. Glenn was in limbo before the Lions sent a 2014 first-round pick to Ottawa for him on May 13. He has quickly made an impression with B.C. by helping his new club go unbeaten in two exhibition games. "The guys have gravitated to him," said Benevides. "Hes a guy thats overcome a lot of obstacles. Hes a winner. He took his team to a championship game (in Calgary in 2012 and Winnipeg in 2007.)" Glenn, who will try to bring the Lions back to glory after his Stampeders beat them in the 2012 Western Final, says hes thankful for his chance with B.C. "I think its a pretty good situation," he said before the club revealed Lulays revised status. "I get an opportunity to continue to keep playing. I get an opportunity to be on the field. … Its just an opportunity to put forth an effort to help a team win in that capacity of the team." Glenns acquisition has emerged as the most important of several changes made by the Lions, who lost former backup quarterback Thomas DeMarco to Ottawa in the expansion draft and veteran signal-caller Buck Pierce to retirement. He is the only healthy Lions quarterback with CFL experience, but has felt comfortable with thee schemes injected by new offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones, who was a teammate and coach while they were with Hamilton.dddddddddddd "I think were on the right track," said Glenn. "Nobody ever won the Grey Cup in Week 1. But at the same time, you want to see progress, and Ive seen it from the time we started (training) camp until now — and I expect us to keep going up that road." Added B.C. receiver Courtney Taylor: "With (Glenn) here, its almost like we didnt miss a beat." The third-year Lion attributes Glenns success thus far in B.C. to his familiarity with Jones and his experience. "Hes familiar with the offence," said Taylor. "Thats one of the key things why we havent missed a beat. He came in. He knew where guys were supposed to be. Hell tell you where youre supposed to be." With Glenn set to guide the club for a third of the season, if not longer, the challenge now is for the Lions to start proving they can adapt to other changes as smoothly — notably on the offensive line where rookies Andre Ramsey, a 28-year-old left tackle from Ball State and T-Dre Player, a 22-year-old Winnipeg native who played at Northwestern State, will start at left tackle and left guard, respectively. Despite limited experience playing together, centre Matt Norman does not have any concerns about the new-look offensive-protection unit. "Throughout all of training camp, weve had guys rotating in and out of positions, and everybody has shown their worth and their capability to earn those spots," he said. Quarterback protection will also be a key issue with the Eskimos under new coach Chris Jones and their extensively revamped playing and coaching ranks as they try to improve on a disappointing 4-14 record last year. The Eskimos will also start two rookie offensive linemen in left guard Tony Washington, a 28-year-old Abilene Christian product and Andrew Jones, a 21-year-old out of McMaster. Mike Reilly, who was sacked more than any other CFL quarterback last season and put on about 20 pounds of muscle in the off-season to help him withstand hits better, looks forward to seeing how Edmontons offensive and defensive schematic changes, and such personnel additions as free agent cornerback Pat Watkins from Toronto, play out against the Lions. "Theyve been good changes," said Reilly. "Theyve been changes to help us become a championship football team." Notes: Earlier Friday, the Lions announced they had re-signed receiver Courtney Taylor and defensive tackle Eric Taylor to contract extensions. Both were entering the option year of their previous contracts. ... B.C. wide receiver Marco Iannuzzi is out with an undisclosed in injury. … Linebacker Jamall Johnson, who signed on for a second stint with the Lions in the off-season, was elected as a team captain by his teammates. … Rennie Curran is slated to start at middle linebacker in place of the injured J.C. Sherritt (lower body) while rookie Dexter McCoil will start at an outside linebacker spot as a result of the moves. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '