NINO D'ANGELO FORUM :: - However, should Pronger officially retire,

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nino e il cinema - However, should Pronger officially retire,

yuguhun - Gio Feb 04, 2016 6:58 am
Oggetto: However, should Pronger officially retire,

CHICAGO - Cubs fans got on their feet and roared, a rousing ovation for the person they hope will lead their favourite team to prominence.

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.Joe Maddon was the man of the moment Saturday, and the reception for Chicagos new manager was every bit as warm as it was loud.Maddon is quite popular around town these days, particularly on the North Side. After all, many believe the long-suffering franchise is poised for bigger things and hes just the guy to lead them there.Bring on the expectations, he said.The Cubs did just that this off-season, signing ace Jon Lester to a six-year deal worth $155 million at the winter meetings in December. But the move that signalled they really were ready to accelerate their rebuilding project happened in late October, when they hired Maddon away from Tampa Bay.Never mind that they had already told Rick Renteria he would be back for a second season. The Cubs couldnt resist going after one of the games top managers.Now, hes got a team that features a three-time All-Star in Lester at the top of the rotations established young players such as shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the lineup and a line of promising prospects that the Cubs hope can help them end a World Series championship drought that dates to 1908.All that optimism aside, the fact remains — Chicago has five straight fifth-place finishes in the NL Central. The Cubs won just 73 games last season, although that was an improvement from 66 in 2013. And while prospects such as Javier Baez and Jorge Soler arrived at the majors, there are still big questions surrounding this team.Please hold us accountable, President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein told fans. Were trying to win. Were also continuing to try to grow the organization. That means were going to be throwing a lot of young players out there. We ask for your patience with them because its a process. But hold us accountable.Its not just the roster that has a different look.The long-awaited renovation to Wrigley Field is finally underway, a five-year, $575 million overhaul of a ballpark that turned 100 last season and the surrounding area.President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said the organization discussed playing a year or two at Miller Park in Milwaukee but decided against that.The left- and right-field bleachers are being replaced this winter, but they wont be ready until May. The centre-field bleachers will also remain closed until then because of the construction.The team also said the left-field videoboard should be ready by April 5, but the smaller one in right wont be until May.Meanwhile, Chairman Tom Ricketts confirmed the Cubs bought several neighbouring buildings and plan to run them as rooftop businesses.He also said Sammy Sosa remains estranged from the organization and that some things have to change before he is welcomed back. Ricketts would not say exactly what those things are for the former slugger whose huge home run totals were tainted by **** suspicions.The Cubs arms are wide open for Maddon, a two-time AL Manager of the Year.He deftly guided several young Tampa Bay teams to contention in the AL East, leading the Rays to two division titles and a pennant in 2008, and his new bosses are looking for similar results.There are some differences.Instead of managing in a dreary stadium, he will be working at what he referred to as the finest cathedral in all of major league baseball — Wrigley Field. He will have to contend with more day games, which he acknowledged wont be easy for someone who is not a morning person.On Saturday, he faced a wide range of questions.One young fan wanted to know who will play third base — Luis Valbuena, Mike Olt or prized prospect Kris Bryant?Who do you want? Maddon said.Kris Bryant, the boy responded.Maddon praised Bryant as a wonderful young man who is a huge part of our future but said who plays third will be determined at spring training.Another fan asked if he would go for a shot and a beer. In fact, Maddon offered to buy a shot and a beer for everyone at his introductory press conference at a bar across from Wrigley.There was another question about his RV — the Cousin Eddie. Maddons interview with Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer happened outside the Winnebago at an RV park in Pensacola, Florida.Cousin Eddie is in Mesa, Arizona, near Maddons children and the Cubs spring training complex. He is not sure if he will have someone drive it to Chicago.Ill keep you posted on that, Maddon said.

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.C. -- Mike Krzyzewski may have poured too much emotion into No.

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. Marian Gaborik had two goals and an assist and Martin Jones made just 17 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season as the Kings snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over the lowly Oilers on Thursday.Chris Prongers playing days in the NHL are effectively over. Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren confirmed that the former captains NHL career on the ice is done in an interview with The Hockey News. "Ill say it, Chris is never going to play again," Holmgren told The Hockey News. "I have no problems saying it." Pronger has not played since November of 2011 due to complications surrounding an ocular concussion he suffered against the Toronto Maple Leafs in late October of that year. The 39-year-old Pronger still has four seasons remaining on a seven-year, $34.55 million contract he signed with the Flyers in 2009. Because he was 35 at the time he signed the deal, the Flyers remain responsible for the entirety of the contract regardless of whetheer he plays or retires.

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. The Flyers have avoided Prongers salary counting towards their salary cap obligations since he went down to injury through the use of the long-term injury replacement provision in the NHLs collective bargaining agreement. However, should Pronger officially retire, the Flyers will be responsible for the full $4.9-plus million cap hit. Pronger is a veteran of 1,167 career NHL games with the Flyers, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks. He has scored 157 career goals and added 541 assists. He has won numerous awards over the course of his professional career including the 2000 Hart and Norris trophies, the 2007 Stanley Cup with the Ducks as well as Olympic gold medals in 2002 and 2010 with Team Canada.

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