Boxengasse » Morrison, who missed the first two months of the sea

CHICAGO -- If you want to know just how important the Cubs are to Chicago, a good place to start is at the end.In a city where fans have been known to scatter ashes of the dearly departed at Wrigley Field, families of those who could no longer wait `till next season are planting Cubs pennants and flags at the graves of loved ones or sending them off to the great beyond with Cubs hats and jerseys in their caskets.Resting easy has never been easy for Cubs fans, after all.Take the family of the late Norman and Florence Sanders. Relatives are making sure they can still do what they did their entire lives: Root for the Cubs.One of my daughters went and bought a W flag and about a week ago went to the cemetery and put it there with them, said Terry Ann Arriaga, whose father died the year the Cubs came within five outs of reaching the World Series back in 2003 and whose mother passed during spring training this year.As the Cubs try to reach the World Series for the first time since 1945 and win it for the first time since 1908, Chicago is awash in Cubbie blue and red. Children head to school decked out in Cubs gear and many grown-ups are doing the same at work. Fly the W flags are waving from car antennas, porches and museums, while bakeries are topping doughnuts and cookies with the Cubs logo. Death notices with the names of spouses, children and grandchildren now sometimes have a few words about the deceaseds devotion to the lovable losers.In lieu of flowers, go to a Cubs game and raise your glass in memory of Mary, wrote the family of Mary E. Fickenscher after she died in June.James Apostolopoulos family not only wanted to people to know that hed fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II but also cheered for the Cubs. Kenneth Muellers family honored his wishes by burying him in a Cubs T-shirt and his death notice last month asked those attending the wake to try to wear Cubs attire.And when Jane Anne Del Carlo Barredo died, the only thing written of a life that began in Illinois in 1930 and ended in May in California was this: Jane loved Jesus and the Cubs.Such a connection might help explain a suspicion among Cubs Nation that the recently departed are somehow watching the playoffs -- and maybe doing more.When Miguel Montero hit a late grand slam in the first game of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, my daughter texted me and said, `Grandmas up there pulling the strings, Arriaga said of her mother.During the tense opener of the divisional playoff series against the San Francisco Giants, Sharon Thompson said her daughter-in-law started praying to George Thompson, who died on June 1, to see what he could do.And what do you know, (Javier) Baez hit the home run, she said.The team is well known for breaking the hearts of its long-suffering fans. But the Cubs reached the NLCS last season, too, and raced to the best record in the majors this season, giving fans a fresh jolt of hope and, for Thompson and others, a very real way to ease the grief.We just feel like the only way we can get through this emotionally is by saying he is here with us spiritually, enjoying this so much, Thompson said.Peggy Kucias sister, Carol Flanagan, died in April after decades of pulling for the Cubs.You want to say, `Oh, shes probably happy up there, but I think shed be (angry), Kucia said. Shed be saying, `I sat here (at Wrigley) for 30 years and nobody would even come to the game with me. And now it happens?For all the talk about how dead fans now have great seats for the games, there are some things Kucia cant explain. For weeks and weeks, nobody in the family could bring themselves to use Flanagans season tickets. Then Kucias brother and nephew thought they could emotionally handle sitting in those seats along the third base line in the upper deck.So what happened?The first game they go to and a Cub hitter sent a ball into my nephews lap, Kucia said. Hand to God. My brother started crying, my nephew started crying.All the Cubs who played in the 1945 World Series have died. The last one, Lennie Merullo, died last year at the age of 98. His son, Len Jr., said he didnt think his dad would care about this particular run to the playoffs, not unless the Cubs get past the Dodgers.When the Cubs got to the playoffs my mom would go shopping to get a wardrobe (because) she was hoping to go, but my dad would always say nothing matters until the World Series, he said. The playoffs meant nothing to him. He was waiting for the World Series. Fake Nike Shoes Black Friday .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Nike Shoes Black Friday Discount . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. http://www.nikeshoesblackfriday.com/ .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Nike Shoes Black Friday Sale .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Nike Shoes Black Friday China . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. ATLANTA -- Chris Johnsons two-run, go-ahead double was the big hit in a four-run sixth inning that helped the Braves to a 11-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. The Braves set a season high with 16 hits and matched their high for runs. The game was tied at 3 before the Braves opened the sixth with three straight hits off Dan Jennings (0-1), loading the bases. Ryan Webb struck out Dan Uggla and Reed Johnson before Johnson gave Atlanta the lead with his double past first baseman Logan Morrison. Jordan Schafer and Andrelton Simmons added run-scoring infield singles to cap the big inning. Morrison hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Kris Medlen (6-7) gave up three runs and nine hits and two walks in six innings as the NL East-leading Braves took their fourth straight win. The Marlins three-game winning streak ended. The Braves added three runs in the eighth. Justin Upton and Brian McCann, who each had three hits, had run-scoring singles in the inning. Johnson also had three hits. Andrelton Simmons tripled in a run. Miami rookie right-hander Tom Koehler gave up three runs, two earned, and five hits in five innings. An error by Marlins left fielder Juan Pierre helped the Braves break a 2-2 tie in the fourth. Justin Upton led off the inning with a triple to right field. Freddie Freeman followed with a fly ball between Pierre and centre fielder Marcell Ozuna. Both outfielders hesitated before Pierre made a late try for the ball, which fell off his glove for the error. Upton scored for the 3-2 lead. Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs two-out single off Medlen in the sixth drove in Derek Dietrich for a 3-3 tie. After the big sixth inning, the Braves added a run in the seventh. McCanns double off Kevin Slowey in the seventh drove in Justin Upton, who walked. The Marlins couldnt score iin the second after Adeiny Hechavarrias infield hit and Rob Brantleys double to right field put runners and second and third with one out.dddddddddddd Koehler grounded out to third base and Pierre popped out to shallow centre field to end the inning. Braves centre fielder B.J. Upton left the game after the second inning with left forearm spasms. The Braves say Uptons status is day to day. The Marlins survived an injury scare in the third inning when Morrison was upended at first base when reaching for a wild throw by third baseman Placido Polanco on Medlens grounder. Morrison fell over Medlen and landed hard on his right side. Medlen was safe on Polancos error. Braves first base coach Terry Pendleton immediately signalled for help from the Marlins dugout as Morrison, who missed the first two months of the season recovering from right knee surgery, remained on the ground. Morrison finally was helped to his feet and remained in the game. Medlen had an apparent cut on his right arm following the collision. NOTES: Schafer made his first appearance since fouling a ball off his right ankle on Wednesday, and he was limping after his pinch-hit single. ... Braves RHP Cristhian Martinez, on the DL since April 7 with a right shoulder strain, said hes still having pain. Martinez returned to Atlanta to have the shoulder examined. ... Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said C Evan Gattis, on the 15-day DL since June 18 with a right oblique strain, is improving but is not ready for baseball activities. ... Marlins RHP Ricky Nolasco, 5-10 with a 5.26 ERA in 23 career appearances against Atlanta, will face LHP Mike Minor as the three-game series continues on Wednesday night. ... Marlins manager Mike Redmond said other starters will have their next starts pushed back a day to make room for RHP Henderson Alvarez, who will make his 2013 debut on Thursday night. ' ' '