Hard und Software » e defense limited Tulsa to 77 rushing yards

CHICAGO -- Javier Baez is putting on quite a show for the Chicago Cubs. And he just might be turning these playoffs into his personal stage.Whether hes hitting a game-winning home run or making some spectacular defensive play, Baez has been hard to miss in these playoffs. And hes a big reason why the Cubs are in the NL Championship Series for the second straight year.Ive got a job to do, Baez said. Im not surprised. I know what I can do. I know what this team can do. Im just having fun right now and obviously trying to win.It must be fun to be Baez these days.The Cubs came into the postseason with the best record in the majors and their sights set on their first championship since 1908.They knocked out San Francisco in four games in the NL Division Series in no small part because of Baezs play at the plate and at second base. They open the NLCS against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field on Saturday, and if they take out Los Angeles, a franchise defined more by curses and heartbreak will go to the World Series for the first time since 1945.On a team loaded with stars, Baez has been putting on quite a show in the postseason.He hit the winning home run off Johnny Cueto in the opener against the Giants and the go-ahead single in the ninth in Game 4.On defense, playing mostly second base, it was as if the Baez highlight reel was on a nonstop loop with no shortage of diving stops and lightning quick tags.Even when he was chewing gum in the dugout Baez managed to amaze. Take this gem from Game 4 of the NLDS.The gum popped out after Baez put it in his mouth, but what happened next was about as impressive as any play he made in the field. He juggled it a few times, finally snagged it with his right hand. Baez pointed at a trainer as he was about to put it back in his mouth, then looked the camera, and grinned.I saw the camera, Baez said. I didnt know if he got it or not, but I caught it.No surprise.After all, the 23-year-old Baez has been catching just about everything that comes his way this season. And if thats not enough, he also hit .273 with 14 homers and 59 RBI in 142 games.Thats a big jump considering he struck out 95 times in 213 at-bats .169 after he debuted for the Cubs in 2014. But his swing is more compact now. He closed his stance and cut down the big leg kick he had when he first arrived.Now, hes looking like a breakout star.Manager Joe Maddon noticed the potential watching Baez in winter ball in Puerto Rico, right after he was hired two years ago.Everybody was talking about his hitting and the fact that he needed to hit better at the plate and be more selective, he said. And I was, `OK, I get that. I was impressed by everything else that he did. Sometimes we get caught up on somebodys weaknesses and dont glorify their strengths. I mean, his strengths are pretty outstanding.Baez was taken by the Cubs with the ninth pick in the 2011 amateur draft and worked his way through the minors as a shortstop. But with Addison Russell there, he has become a super-utility player.That could change down the line, depending on the moves the Cubs make. But they are relying on him to play multiple positions -- and to play them as well as anyone.Baez just might be the best defensive second baseman, shortstop and third baseman on the team. And considering Russell could win a Gold Glove, thats saying something.When the Cubs believe more balls will be hit to the right side, they put Baez at second. When they think the left side is where the action will be, he might start at third. And when Russell needs a breather, well, who better than Baez to fill in at shortstop?You have to get used to being flexible, not knowing what the lineups gonna look like and just jumping in there and being ready to help and do whatever you can, said Ben Zobrist, who has built his career around playing multiple positions. And hes done a great job of that this year. Theres been days he hasnt played. And theres been days he has. And theres been days hes come in mid-game or late in the game for defensive purposes. Whatever role they put him in this year, hes done really well and hes had a great attitude about it. Yeezy 350 Clearance . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Yeezy 350 Replica . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. https://www.cheapyeezy350outlet.com/ .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Yeezy 350 Cheap . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Yeezy 350 China .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio States stout defense hasnt allowed a touchdown in two games against overmatched Bowling Green and Tulsa. Urban Meyer knows the first real test will come at No. 14 Oklahoma next week.The Buckeyes intercepted four of Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans passes Saturday -- including pick-sixes by safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Marshon Lattimore -- in in a 48-3 victory.Our defense is playing so well right now, Meyer said. Obviously, the challenge will come next week against a very good team, and were going to jump on that one early and get ready to go.The offense, on the other hand, was a little slow to get going Saturday.After piling up a school-record 776 yards last week against Bowling Green, Ohio State (2-0) didnt score an offensive touchdown against until quarterback J.T. Barrett ran in from 11 yards with 9:42 left in the third quarter.Tailback Mike Weber, Barrett and H-backs Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson added scoring runs later in the second half to put the game out of reach.Wilson said Ohio State must come out gunning next week in Norman.It will be tough, it will be tough, Wilson said. Thats the plan not to start that way, and I dont think well start that way. Weve got to establish the running game. Once the running game pops we can start doing better.Tulsa (1-1) managed only Redford Jones 37-yard field goal in the first quarter and was limited to 188 total yards on offense.We got some things going but just didnt finish when we got in the red zone, Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery said. We just made too many crucial mistakes at bad times.Barrett was a pedestrian 14 for 22 for 149 yards and no touchdowns after throwing for six last week.Weber gained 92 yards on 17 carries and scored his first touchdown as a Buckeye.Lightning in the area extended halftime to about 70 minutes and driving rain fell throughout the second half, chasing away many of the 104,410 fans.THE TAKEAWAYTULSA: The Golden Hurricane played tough against Barrett and the Ohio State offense in the first half, but Tulsas offense made too many mistakes to stay in the game.Right before the half, the picks were a tough pill to swallow, Montgomeryy said.ddddddddddddHIO STATE: Ohio State again flexed its defensive muscle and showed its secondary could be among the best in the country. The Buckeyes managed just 158 yards of offense in the first half against a four-touchdown underdog, but the harder the rain fell in the second half, the more they scored. They finished with 417 yards.KEY NUMBERS:Samuel again put together a solid game, catching five passes for 62 yards and rushing for 78 yards on 8 carries....The Ohio State defense limited Tulsa to 77 rushing yards on 36 carries for a 2.1 yards-per-carry average....Hookers second-quarter interception was his third of the season. He returned it 26 yards for a touchdown, marking the second-consecutive game an Ohio State defensive back has a pick-six. Later in the second quarter, Lattimore returned an interception 40 yards for a score....Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard tallied a career-high six tackles. Linebacker Raekwon McMillan led the Buckeyes with nine.MAKING ADJUSTMENTSBarrett said Ohio State was confounded by the Tulsa defense in the first half, but halftime adjustments kick-started the attack in the rainy second half.That was a hard thing in the first half, he said. They threw the kitchen sink at us. It was a really good defense. With that being said, trying to adjust to that on the sideline was kind of rough in the first half. Once we got to halftime we made better adjustments.He said the driving rain wasnt a factor.POLL IMPLICATIONS:No. 4 Ohio State walloped a weaker opponent as expected. No. 2 Clemson struggled with an underdog so could possibly lose some votes.UP NEXTTULSA: A home game against FCS team North Carolina A&T next week.OHIO STATE: The real season starts as the Buckeyes travel to Oklahoma to take on the Sooners. Oklahoma slipped to No. 14 in the polls after an opening loss to Houston.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '