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he gave me a good pitch to hit."
Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork. Shaq Thompson Jersey .com) - The Chicago Cubs formally ushered in another new era by introducing former Tampa Bay Rays skipper Joe Maddon as their new manager on Monday. The team also announced that Maddon agreed to a five-year contract in which financial terms were not disclosed, though ESPN reported the deal to be worth $25 million and includes incentives tied to making the postseason. The Cubs moved quickly to obtain Maddons services after the two-time American League Manager of the Year opted out of his contract with the Rays on Oct. 24, shortly after Tampa Bay general manager Andrew Friedman left the organization to become the president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maddon, who guided the small-market Rays to four playoff appearances and the 2008 AL pennant over the past seven seasons, joins a long-suffering Cubs franchise that has endured five consecutive losing campaigns and last won the World Series in 1908. This is a 1-in-107 a year opportunity for me, said Maddon during Mondays press conference. The challenge is so outstanding. How could you not want to be in this seat? The Cubs future appeared bright even before the hiring of the enthusiastic and ever-optimistic Maddon, though. Chicagos present farm system is ranked among baseballs strongest and the Cubs are expected to be significant players in free agency this offseason, something Maddon never experienced during his successful nine-year run with the low-budget Rays. Those factors, coupled with Friedmans departure and the presence of Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein -- who nearly hired Maddon as the Red Sox manager in 2004 while then Bostons GM -- played a role in Maddons decision. I knew there was a lot of common ground philosophically, said Maddon. I know that the synergy between the front office and the manager is really, really important. This is a really good fit for me personally. I feel very comfortable here. The 60-year-old takes over a Cubs team that showed improvement in Rick Renterias lone season as manager, with Chicago posting a 73-89 record in 2014 after winning 66 and 61 games the previous two years. Despite those strides, Epstein informed Renteria last week of his intention to pursue Maddon and make a switch. Renteria was offered another position within the organization but predictably declined. Even though they annually operated with one of the lowest payrolls in the majors, the Rays were a consistent contender for much of Maddons reign. Lauded for his ability to work with young players and to maximize the available talent on hand, the charismatic manager guided Tampa to six consecutive winning seasons that began with the unexpected 2008 World Series run. Joe is a combination of just about everything we look for in a manager, said Epstein. Everyone associates him with new-school because theyve used analytics in Tampa and hes so open-minded and so progressive. But this is an old-school baseball guy with a wealth of knowledge. Its hard to find old- school and new-school in the same package. The Rays, who had never won over 70 games in their first 10 seasons prior to that 2008 breakthrough, also reached the playoffs in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Maddon amassed a 754-705 overall record in Tampa Bay, easily the most of any manager in club history. Rashaan Gaulden Jersey . The All-Pro left tackle agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. Peters was signed for 2014, and his new deal adds four years through 2018. Wes Horton Jersey . "Theyve been good against everybody," he said. Carlos Gomez launched a three-run homer and Matt Garza battled into the seventh inning for his first win in four starts to help the Brewers continue their mastery of the Rockies with a 7-4 victory Saturday.CLEVELAND -- Indians manager Terry Francona gave his team a pep talk Saturday after they lost for the seventh time in nine games. Cleveland responded Sunday, rewarding Francona with a 6-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. David Murphy hit a three-run double in the sixth inning and John Axford worked out of bases-loaded jam in the ninth as the Indians avoided a series sweep and broke a three-game losing streak. The Indians won 92 games and made the playoffs as wild-card team last season by getting contributions from as many areas as possible. That formula, which had been missing for much of the early season, was a key element against the Blue Jays. "Thats probably the best way we are as a team," Francona said. "Thats the way were built, get it across the board." Francona didnt want his players dwelling on their 7-10 start going into Sunday. "Nobody likes coming to the ballpark and look at your record when its not what you want it to be," he said. "Thats plain and simple. Saying that, I dont want them dragging in here, because its a new day. During a baseball season theres a lot of grinding that needs to be done. Sometimes the games easier than it is (at other times). Thats simple fact. So when its not going perfect, you grind the best you can." "Hopefully, this is exactly what we need to get on a roll," Murphy said. "We havent been playing terrible, but we havent been playing characteristic of ourselves." Cleveland entered the sixth trailing 4-2, but reliever Aaron Loup (1-1) walked the bases loaded before Murphy delivered a line drive past third base that kicked off the stands and caromed into shallow left field, allowing all three runners to score. Axford, the fourth Cleveland reliever, loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before retiring Edwin Encarnacion on a groundout. Josh Outman (3-0) recorded the final out of the sixth and Clevelands bullpen pitched 3 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. Michael Brantley hit a solo homer in the second and added an RBI double in the fourth. Toronto scored threee times on four hits in the fourth. Wholesale New York Jets Jerseys. Jose Bautista and Juan Francisco had RBI singles while Brett Lawrire added a run-scoring groundout. Brandon Morrow allowed three runs and was pulled after Nick Swishers leadoff single in the sixth. Loup got Jason Kipnis on a fielders choice. After Kipnis was caught stealing, Loup walked Carlos Santana, Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera to fill the bases. Murphys liner past third bounced off the stands a few feet beyond the tarp and rolled into shallow left. By the time Melky Cabrera tracked it down, the runners had raced home and Cleveland had the lead. "Thats about as tough a lefty that Im going to face," Murphy said. "Fortunately, he gave me a good pitch to hit." "Walks hurt you," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "These guys laid off it pretty good. And of course Murphy ends up getting the big hit there. We made a run at it late, it just didnt happen." Carlos Carrasco retired the first nine hitters, but Jose Reyes led off the fourth with a double. Melky Cabreras single sent Reyes to third before Bautistas single to right tied it. Franciscos single scored Cabrera and Lawries groundout made it 3-1. Reyes added an RBI single in the fifth. Carrasco hasnt recorded a victory in his last 16 starts. The right-handers last win as a starter came on June 29, 2011, against Arizona. His last victory came in a relief appearance on Aug. 20, 2011, against the Los Angeles Angels. Carrasco, who missed the 2012 season because of elbow surgery, is 0-11 with an 8.28 ERA since his last win as a starter. NOTES: Bautista has reached safely in all 19 games. ... The Blue Jays are off Monday and begin a three-game series at home Tuesday against Baltimore. .... The Indians are expected to activate DH Jason Giambi (broken rib) from the 15-day DL Monday. He was hit by a pitch in a spring training game. ... Cleveland opens a four-game series against Kansas City at Progressive Field on Monday. RHP Zach McAllister (2-2) faces RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-0). 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