Tiervermittlung Frankreich » of pride over his sides performance.I thin

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs own a staggering 13-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.But manager Joe Maddon is keeping focused and calm.The teams wrap up a four-game series Sunday night at Wrigley Field.The Cubs (73-42) took the first two games before the Cardinals won 8-4 on Saturday to snap Chicagos 11-game winning streak.My thought process hasnt changed at all, Maddon said about handling the big lead. Its when you get ready and you walk out there, wheres your mind? Its all about your mind. If your mind is locked in and if youre really, truly focused on today, its pretty easy.If you want to take the blinders off and open this whole thing up and look at the macro component, you might get somewhat complacent or lazy, or your focus may wonder. As long as you just approach today, it doesnt matter.Right-hander John Lackey (9-7, 3.56 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs and try for his fifth straight quality start. He allowed three hits and one run in eight innings in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in his last start Tuesday.The Cubs are getting used to his emotional side.Hes not going to be out there smiling and hes going to be upset with the umpires, Maddon told MLB.com. Hes going to be upset with his manager. Hes going to be upset with teammates on occasion, but thats who he is. When you know that, its OK.Lackey is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA this season in three starts against the Cardinals -- his only starts against his former team. He went 16-13 with a 3.10 ERA in 43 starts with St. Louis from 2014-15.The Cubs are 6-6 against St. Louis this season.For the Cardinals, right-hander Mike Leake (8-9, 4.79) is expected to start. In his last outing, he walked a season-high four, struck out none for the first time this season, and allowed three runs in six innings against his former team the Cincinnati Reds. He gave up 19 earned runs in his previous three starts.Leake is 9-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 20 career starts against the Cubs. He ranks second among National League pitchers, behind Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a ratio of 1.42 walks per nine innings.Though well behind the Cubs in the division, the Cardinals (61-56) remain in the mix for a wild card spot.The Cardinals are looking for a leadoff hitter now that Matt Carpenter is batting third in the absence of Matt Holliday, who sustained a broken thumb when he was hit by a Mike Montgomery pitch Thursday. Greg Garcia went 0-for-5 batting leadoff Saturday, when Holliday went on the disabled list. Carpenter was 2-for-5 with three strikeouts.The three spot is as much psychological as it is strategic, manager Mike Matheny said. We also need somebody to step up to be that guy at the top of the order. We have a few guys who look like they can help us, kind of give us freedom to be a little more creative with Carpenter. Mike Ditka Jersey . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Tom Waddle Youth Jersey . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. http://www.chicagobearfootballauthentic.com/authentic-mike-singletary-bears-jersey/ . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Gale Sayers Bears Jersey . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Brian Urlacher Bears Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. NSW Swifts coach Rob Wright has described Sundays amazing trans-Tasman netball grand final as the best domestic game hes ever been involved with.It was a case of so close yet so far - yet again - for the Swifts after their heartbreaking 69-67 double overtime loss to the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane.In last years grand final, the Swifts led all match but were pipped by the Firebirds with 14 seconds remaining.But Wright still maintained a sense of pride over his sides performance.I think thats the best game domestically Ive ever seen, Wright said.I said to the group that last years (grand final) - even though we were on the wrong end - it was something really incredible and really fantastic to be a part of and today I thought that took it to a new level.It was an incredible game and a privilege to be a part of it.Scores were locked aat both fulltime and after two seven-minute periods of added time, with Queensland taking the win in sudden-death play by becoming the first team to go two goals ahead.ddddddddddddSwifts skipper Kimberlee Green said she felt as if her side had let it slip, after dominating the early stages and smothering Firebirds ace Romelda Aiken under the ring.In extra time we just needed to get one more turnover from them and then we were in with a chance, Green said.Over the course of the game it was a real tussle up and down.We fought back in to draw the game and there were definitely times we thought we could win it, but it definitely takes more than sixty minutes as it turns out.It just wasnt good enough in the end. 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