Kritik und Lob » Western Conference, though they have two

One way to realize just how long its been since the Chicago Cubs last reached the World Series is to look at how much the game has changed since then, on and off the field.The Cubs are making their first appearance since 1945 and chasing their first title since 1908.Some of the ways the game has changed since the Cubs lost Game 7 to the Detroit Tigers some 71 years ago:INTEGRATION: Jackie Robinson became the first black player to reach the major leagues in 1947, two years after the Cubs last World Series appearance. Baseball has turned into a virtual melting pot in the seven decades since. The Cubs roster includes players from Cuba (reliever Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Jorge Soler), along with Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, as well as the United States.EXPANSION: There were 16 teams in the majors in 1945, including two in St. Louis, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago, and three in New York. The total is up to 30 now.GO WEST: There were no major league franchises west of St. Louis in 1945. The Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and the New York Giants headed to San Francisco in 1958. In 1969, the Seattle Pilots showed up -- they went 64-98 in their first year, then became the Milwaukee Brewers.DIVISIONAL PLAY: There were no divisions in 1945, just eight teams in both the American League and National League. They split into East and West divisions in 1969. Then a Central was created in 1994, with the Cubs shifting from the NL East to the NL Central.PLAYOFFS PLUS: Extra teams and divisions resulted in expanded playoffs. The League Championship Series began in 1969, the Division Series started in 1995 and a one-game wild-card playoff came in 2012. A longer postseason pushed the World Series deep into October and beyond. If the Cubs and Cleveland go the distance this year, Game 7 would be on Nov. 2.FREE AGENCY: When Phil Cavarretta and Peanuts Lowrey helped lead the Cubs to the 1945 Series, they were bound to the team until they were traded or released. Curt Flood tested baseballs reserve clause in the early 1970s and took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, helping pave the way for players to move around as free agents. Jon Lester, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist are among the players the Cubs acquired this way.DESIGNATED HITTER: The designated hitter joined the American League lineup in 1973. The DH debate is still hot, with the leagues playing by different rules. When this years World Series opens at the AL park, both teams will use the DH; when the Cubs host, the pitchers will hit.LIGHTS AT WRIGLEY: The Cubs were the last team in the majors to play only day games. That changed when lights were installed at Wrigley Field in 1988. The games there have always been played outdoors on green grass, never under a dome or on artificial turf, trends that became popular starting with the Astrodome in the mid-1960s.Bob Ojeda Indians Jersey . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Vada Pinson Indians Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/1348u-francisco-lindor-jersey-indians.html . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Dan Otero Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Bob Ojeda Jersey . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net.Two clubs from opposite sides of the country -- and on opposite sides of the red line in the MLS standings -- square off Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., as the New England Revolution host the Colorado Rapids.The Revolution (6-12-9, 27 points) are winless in their last four matches (0-3-1) and the skid has left them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind sixth-place DC United for the final playoff spot in the conference. The blame falls on the offense as the Revolution have been shut four straight times. The scoreless streak is at 362 minutes, the longest in the clubs 21-year history.The Rapids (11-4-10, 43 points) are tied for second in the Western Conference, though they have two games in hand relative to Real Salt Lake, which also has 43 points. The Rapids lost to Real Salt Lake in their last match for only their second setback since April 9..ddddddddddddhe Revolution won the only match between the two squads last season, a 2-0 victory in Colorado -- their first there since 2002. The Rapids havent won at Gillette Stadium since 2010.The biggest difference between the two clubs this year has been defensive. In two more games, New England has scored one more goal (29) than Colorado (28), but the Revolution have allowed more than twice as many goals (47-22).New England will be without two players (Je-Vaughn Watson and Kei Kamara with Jamaica and Sierra Leone, respectively), who are away on international duty. Colorado will be short five players (Tim Howard and Jermaine Jones, United States; Shkelzen Gashi, Albania; Marco Pappa, Guatemala; and Mekeil Williams, Trinidad & Tobago). ' ' '