MESA, Ariz. Patrick Robinson Saints Jersey . -- 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. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys . Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday. Kurt Coleman Saints Jersey .C. -- Lucy Li made two double bogeys, a triple bogey and finished her historic round at the U. http://www.authenticfootballshopsaints.com/Youth-Marcus-Davenport-Elite-Jersey/ . "Opinion: Womens World Cup is the best Soccer of the year," Hanks tweeted to his 8.73 million followers on Friday. "Hey FIFA, they deserve real grass. Put in sod.ROME -- Mario Balotelli scored twice and also hit the crossbar but AC Milan still had to scramble for a 2-2 draw at promoted Livorno in the Serie A on Saturday. Also, Napoli surrendered the lead twice in a 3-3 draw with Udinese and wasted a chance to pull level with second-place Roma. In Livorno, Balotelli put Milan ahead seven minutes in after redirecting a cross from Kaka then scored the equalizer in the 82nd with a splendid free kick over a Livorno wall. Balotelli nearly produced a winner in the 89th but his long-distance effort banged off the underside of the crossbar and bounced in front of the goal. Livornos Luca Siligardi made it 1-1 in the 26th with a shot from beyond the area and Paulinho put the hosts ahead in the 58th by finishing off a counterattack. Milan moved into eighth place while Livorno moved to fifth from bottom. Balotelli has scored four goals in his last three matches after a six-match scoreless streak in all competitions. "Ive always been fine. There were never any big problems like was written," Balotelli said. "Wee were just lacking some goals. Cameron Meredith Saints Jersey. . ... And we need to be more attentive when our opponents go on counterattacks." Milans next match is versus Ajax on Wednesday at the San Siro in the Champions League. Napoli also has a key European match on Wednesday against Arsenal. At the San Paolo stadium, Goran Pandev scored for Napoli in the 38th and 41st. First, the Macedonia striker was set up by Federico Fernandez then for his second he took a pass from Gonzalo Higuain and shot between a defenders legs. Udinese pulled one back in the 45th with an own goal from Fernandez, who was attempting to block a header from Thomas Heurtaux, then Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes equalized with a long lob in the 70th that caught Napoli goalkeeper Rafael out of position. Blerim Dzemaili restored Napolis lead a minute later, knocking in a rebound of a shot from Higuain, and Dusan Basta took advantage as Napolis defenders stood idle to equalize in the 80th from close range. Napoli moved two points behind Roma, which hosts Fiorentina on Sunday. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '