of the season, it was the opposite for some Toron

DENVER - New Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich is a Harvard graduate who looks at baseball from more of an analytical angle.He was promoted from within the organization after a fourth consecutive losing season and counts as his protege longtime GM Dan ODowd, who resigned Wednesday after a mostly unsuccessful tenure.A fresh start or more of the same? That was debate around the Mile High City soon after the Rockies announced their decision.ODowds wasnt exactly a rousing success, with his time at Coors Field reading like this: 15 years, four winning seasons, two post-season appearances, including a four-game World Series loss to Boston in 2007.He wasnt the only team executive to resign Wednesday. Senior vice-president Bill Geivett followed him out the front office door.Bridich understands the skepticism from fans, given his ties to ODowd. He insisted this wont be more of the same.Four straight years of losing baseball? If you ask anybody in this organization, its unacceptable and its tiring, said Bridich, who was promoted from senior director of player development. Its certainly not what people want and expect inside and outside the organization.While introducing Bridich, owner Dick Monfort said he was excited about a fresh start. Also at the gathering was manager Walt Weiss, who said a clean slate is the way we have to look at it. ... Its time to turn this thing around and bring playoff baseball back here.The last time Colorado made the post-season was five years ago.The highlight of ODowds stint came in 2007, when the Rockies rode the wave of winning 21 of 22 games all the way to the World Series.But ODowds power began to dwindle in recent years with the rise of Geivett, who was promoted to senior vice-president of baseball operations in August 2012.Geivett was given an office in the clubhouse, which at times made things a little uncomfortable for players and coaches. Geivett began focusing on roster management, particularly as it related to the pitchers, and evaluating the coaching staff and the rest of the players.That played a role in manager Jim Tracys resignation after the 2012 season, with a roughly $1.4 million deal still on the table. It opened the door for Weiss to manage the team he once helped on the field.And while having Geivett in such close quarters was an unconventional way by baseball standards, Weiss said he didnt have a problem with it.Contrary to popular belief, we got along just fine, Weiss said. Weve got to perform. Its time to do that.Through all the losses, Monfort remained fiercely loyal to ODowd and his staff. He thanked them on their way out.They have been friends and colleagues, and their families have been a part of the Rockies family, for a very long time, Monfort said.The call for some sort of change grew louder and louder from fans this season. Monfort even received emails from angry patrons; he responded by saying that if the fans werent happy with the bad baseball they were witnessing, maybe they shouldnt come to Coors Field. And that perhaps the city wasnt deserving of a major league team anymore. He later softened his stance.It was Monfort himself who raised expectations by predicting a 90-win season in the spring.Instead, the Rockies finished 66-96 and 28 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.Bridich takes over a team for which two of its biggest stars — Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and Carlos Gonzalez (knee) — missed chunks of the season with injuries. Tulowitzki has longed maintained he wants to play for a winner.I wouldnt limit that to Troy and CarGo. Id be surprised if any player said, I dont want to play for a winner, Bridich said. Im not going to sit here and tell you I have all the answers scripted in my supposedly analytical head right now and its going to work out perfectly. Thats going to be a process.The few bright spots in 2014 included Justin Morneau capturing the NL batting title and left-hander Jorge De La Rosas steady performance on the mound, especially at hitter-friendly Coors Field.We didnt perform to the expectations we had on ourselves, outfielder Michael Cuddyer said.An impending free agent, Cuddyer said before the Rockies last road trip that he would be open to a return.I believe in the guys that we broke out of spring training with, Cuddyer said. I believe in that team. Unfortunately, we werent able to put that team on the field very often.Whether Im here or not — the off-season is going to dictate that — but if I am, its because I believe in this team. Nike Zoom Comprar Online .com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season. Nike Zoom España . -- For one night, Nick Calathes provided a big reason to believe the Memphis Grizzlies might be able to withstand the loss of Mike Conley on a short-term basis. http://www.nikezoombaratas.es/ . Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, Nowitzki was another of seven Dallas players in double figures with 11 points and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-104 Tuesday night. Zapatillas Nike Zoom Baratas . Sundays race will be held at the Sepang circuit, adjacent to Kuala Lumpurs main airport where the ill-fated flight took off earlier this month. Authorities now say it is almost certain it crashed in the Indian Ocean, killing all 239 people aboard. Nike Air Zoom Ofertas . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No.SUNRISE, Fla. -- It took a trip to sunny South Florida to cool off the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tim Thomas made 20 saves, Brian Campbell had two assists and the Florida Panthers beat Toronto 4-1 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak. The Maple Leafs had won three straight in frigid Toronto and were 9-1-1 in their last 11 coming into the game. Tom Gilbert, Jesse Winchester, Shawn Matthias and Marcel Goc scored for the Panthers. David Clarkson had the goal for Toronto, and Jonathan Bernier stopped 44 shots. Florida made it 3-1 with 6:38 left when Matthias wrist shot from the right circle beat Bernier on the short side. Goc added an empty-net goal with 2:30 remaining. Every skater on the Panthers had at least one shot on goal. "It was probably our best game of the year," Matthias said. "It was an exciting game for us." Toronto closed to 2-1 on Clarksons goal in the third period following a turnover by Tomas Kopecky in the Maple Leafs zone. Nazem Kadri stole the puck from Kopecky and passed to Clarkson, who beat Thomas at 9:31. "When you score a goal like that and you have a couple shifts where youre moving the puck and getting the puck into their zone, weve shown were a team that can come back from that," said Clarkson, who returned to the lineup after missing eight games with an elbow injury. "We didnt come to play right away tonight." Just when it appeared the Maple Leafs might make a comeback, the Panthers scored twice on Matthias goal and then the empty-netter. "I think it was pretty solid," Panthers coach Peter Horachek said. "Even when there was down time and the game was going the other way, momentum shift, we took it back pretty quickly." The Panthers stretchhed their lead to 2-0 on Winchesters goal at 5:21 of the third.dddddddddddd Scott Gomez made a drop pass to Campbell and his shot from the right circle deflected off Winchester and over Bernier into the top of the net. Campbell was originally credited with the goal before an official scoring change after the game gave it to Winchester. The Panthers had a goal disallowed about a minute later. A shot by Erik Gudbranson was initially ruled a goal, but video review showed the puck hit the post, went across the crease and tight-roped the goal line but never crossed it. While the Panthers felt it was one of their best games of the season, it was the opposite for some Toronto players. "Theres no excuse for the way we played," Maple Leafs forward Mason Raymond said. "Weve had a few tough games this year but nowhere near this bad." The Panthers took a 1-0 lead on Gilberts power-play goal at 1:14 of the second. Gilberts shot from the point got past Bernier, who was screened on the play by Floridas Scottie Upshall. The power-play goal was only the Panthers second in their past 53 opportunities. The Maple Leafs started slow, did not register their first shot until 7:19 in and were outshot 19-4 in the first. "We didnt have anything going except one person in the lineup is outstanding for our hockey club, and that was our goaltender," Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. "We didnt seem to have any jump or passion to play the game and its kind of mind-boggling right now." NOTES: James van Riemsdyk, fighting the flu, flew in Tuesday morning to join the team in time to play in his 300th NHL game. ... Kadri has three goals and five assists during his four-game point streak. ... Gilbert has 12 points in his last 17 games. ' ' '