Off Topic » care and consideration

CHICAGO - Right after Joe Maddon opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay, the Chicago Cubs were mentioned as a possible landing spot for one of baseballs best managers.Flush with prospects and ready to make a splash in free agency, the Cubs already had a manager in Rick Renteria. But they just couldnt resist the lure of Maddons sudden availability.Looking for a turnaround after five consecutive losing seasons, the Cubs announced Friday that they had hired Maddon to replace Renteria after just one year on the job. The move pairs the respected Maddon with a promising roster and a franchise with far more resources than he ever enjoyed with the small-market Rays.Renteria was fired after leading Chicago to a 73-89 record in his only season as a major league manager. It was a seven-win improvement from 2013, the last of Dale Sveums two years in charge, but not close to reaching the playoffs or putting the Cubs in position to win their first World Series title since 1908.Maddon — who may be as well suited as anyone in the industry to manage the challenges that lie ahead of us — had become a free agent, Cubs President Theo Epstein said in a statement.We saw it as a unique opportunity and faced a clear dilemma: be loyal to Rick or be loyal to the organization. In this business of trying to win a world championship for the first time in 107 years, the organization has priority over any one individual. We decided to pursue Joe.Epstein said the Cubs were transparent at all times with Renteria once Maddon became available two weeks ago.Rick often said he was the beneficiary of the hard work of others who came before him, he said. Now, in the young players he helped, we reap the benefits of his hard work as we move forward. He deserved better and we wish him nothing but the best.Renterias agent, Ken Solomon, declined comment. He also said Renteria will not comment.With Renteria in the dugout, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro each had a rebound season, and young sluggers Javier Baez and Jorge Soler were among a group of prospects who showed considerable promise in their first major league action.Now its up to Maddon to help that core group of young players to continue to improve, while paving the way for another wave of heralded prospects that includes third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell.Its a familiar situation for the 60-year-old Hazleton, Pennsylvania native, who deftly guided several young Rays rosters into contention in the rugged AL East.Maddon opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay after Andrew Friedman left the Rays front office to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 14.Maddons free agency created a buzz during the World Series, with the talk centring on where he might go and all the possibilities for his new job.The answer became public just two days after San Franciscos Game 7 win over the Royals, with Maddon becoming Chicagos fifth manager since the start of the 2010 season and the 54th in the history of the woebegone franchise.Maddon had a 754-705 record in nine seasons in Tampa Bay, leading the club to four playoff appearances, two AL East titles and a five-game loss to Philadelphia in the 2008 World Series.The two-time AL Manager of the Year was the bench coach for six seasons under Angels manager Mike Scioscia before he was hired by Tampa Bay in November 2005.While the addition of Maddon is a coup for president of baseball operations Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, the quick hook for Renteria could turn into a problem for the front office down the road.Renteria had two years left on the contract he signed with the Cubs last November, and the inevitable turnover on the major league staff could affect Chicagos ability to attract quality coaches.Renteria, who was the bench coach in San Diego before he got his first opportunity to be a big league manager, already was looking at a different staff for his second year.Hitting coach Bill Mueller resigned after Epstein announced that Mike Brumley would not return as assistant hitting coach. John Mallee, a Chicago native, was hired to replace Mueller, Eric Hinske shifted to assistant hitting coach and former Cubs outfielder Doug Dascenzo was hired as first base and outfield coach.Now their fate is unclear. Same for pitching coach Chris Bosio, who has drawn praise for his work with Jake Arrieta and a couple other pitchers who were traded away by the Cubs after they rebounded until the tutelage of the former major leaguer. JaMychal Green Jersey . This time, Tebow was in a groove the entire second half -- not just in the waning minutes -- and his teammates on defence were getting gobbled up. Ivica Zubac Clippers Jersey . - Christophe Lalancette scored a third-period goal and added the shootout winner to lead the Drummondville Voltigeurs to a 5-4 win over the Quebec Remparts in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Sunday. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/Montr...Edition-Jersey/. The English Football Association had charged the German right back with violent conduct after retrospectively reviewing video evidence of an incident that was missed by match officials at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Landry Shamet Jersey . - After spending the morning in the hospital, Logan Couture gave the San Jose Sharks the spark they needed. Tobias Harris Clippers Jersey . -- Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after having an operation on a groin muscle.The battle over how teams treat players who have suffered concussions is extending into major junior hockey. Former Barrie Colts goalie John Chartrand is suing his former team for $12 million, alleging in court documents that Colts medical and team officials cleared him to play in games mere days after he was in a violent car accident that required him to be hospitalized. Chartrands accusations are detailed in a statement of claim filed Dec. 12, 2012, in Ontario Superior Court. The Colts and the teams doctor Stuart Murdoch have filed statements of defence denying Chartrands charges. Chartrand and the team declined to comment. The lawsuit, which is active and previously unreported, comes as several provincial and state governments are investigating working conditions in major junior hockey, and as the Canadian Hockey League prepares to defend a $180 million class-action lawsuit filed in Toronto. While franchise values and team revenues have spiralled up, compensation to players has lagged, critics say. A lawsuit filed Friday by Sam Berg, a former Ontario Hockey League player and the son of former Toronto Maple Leaf Bill Berg, charges that teams are unjustly enriched based on services provided by underpaid young players. The Toronto Star first reported the Berg lawsuit. For the past several months, Unifor, Canadas largest private-sector union, has tried to organize players in Canadas three major junior leagues. The kids have nowhere to go when they have problems, Unifor President Jerry Dias said in an interview. They are at the mercy of the owners. Even in a case where a kid is hospitalized, its all about the dollar. This (Chartrand) case is a perfect example of what were talking about. Its odd that 10 days after a serious car accident where this kid was unconscious, that the team would make a judgment that he was fine to play. You would think they would err on the side of caution. Michael Mazzuca, a former London Knights forward who supports Diass efforts, said players feel immense pressure to play even when they are injured. Its a deep structural problem and power imbalance between the player and teams, said Mazzuca, now a Toronto lawyer. CHL president David Branch wrote in a statement: As members of Hockey Canada, the OHL insurance program is administered through Hockey Canada. In checking with Hockey Canada, they do not have any new information on the lawsuit at this time. Chartrand, 21, was drafted by the IceDogs in 2009 and traded to the Colts the following year. He played parts of three seasons in the OHL, appearing in a collective 61 games with the Niagara IceDogs, the Colts and the Belleville Bulls. He was not drafted by an NHL team and played 2013-14 with Nipissing Universitys mens hockey team. Chartrands allegations have not been proven in court. According to Chartrands lawsuit, which also names Colts owner Howie Campbell and head coach Dale Hawerchuk as defendants, Chartrand was involved in a car accident on Dec. 21, 2010, while he was playing with Barrie. John suffered a concussion and loss of consciousness, his court filing says. Emergency services were called to the scene and John had to be removed from his vehicle using the jaws of life. Colts team officials visited the hospital where Chartrand was taken and were advised that he had suffered a concussion and had been unconscious, the document says. Team officials were told Chartrand must stay out of hockey until assessed and cleared by a specialist in concussions, it says. Chartrand alleges the team cleared him to return to hockey less than 10 days after his accident, playing for the Colts in a Dec. 31, 2010, game against the Brampton Battalion. Thereafter, he suffered further concussions resulting in a serious brain injurry, he alleges.dddddddddddd After being prematurely re-inserted into the lineup, John developed severe headaches, balance problems and cognitive impairments. Documents say he also suffers from depression, insomnia and sleep disturbances and mood disorders related to his concussions. Chartrand says his injuries have been caused because of negligence and medical malpractice. He says the team did not perform baseline testing on him to assess future concussions, and that the OHLs concussion safety management program was inadequate to ensure his safety. Johns enjoyment of life has been irretrievably lessened and he has sustained and will continue to sustain, a loss of past and future income, a loss of competitive advantage in the workplace and a permanent impairment of his income-earning capacity, his court filing says. Prior to the mismanagement of his concussion, John was a top-ranked goalie and NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the sixth-best draft eligible goalie in North America. John has not been able to return to playing hockey and its unlikely that he ever will. The defendants knew or ought to have known that minors attempting to get drafted to the National Hockey League have inordinate pressure placed on them and require supervision and testing to ensure that they are medically fit to play hockey. The defendants knowingly prioritized winning hockey games over the health and safety of a seventeen year old boy, the documents say. In November 2010, Chartrand was the sixth-ranked goalie in North America, according to the NHLs preliminary ranking of draft-eligible goalies. By the time the mid-term rankings were released that season, after his accident, he had slipped to the 19th-ranked North American goalie. He was not listed in the seasons final rankings. In a statement of defence, lawyers for Dr. Murdoch said that he learned of Chartrands injury on Dec. 25, 2010. After his treatment at hospital, Chartrand followed a head injury protocol that included complete rest until he was free of concussion symptoms, followed by a graduated exercise plan that is standard practice for all OHL players, Murdochs lawyers wrote. On Dec. 28, Chartrand told the doctor and the Colts trainer that he no longer had any concussion symptoms, including headaches and dizziness, Murdochs court filing says. On or about Dec. 30, Chartrand completed the OHLs head-injury evaluation program, and he then finished a graduated exercise and skating program and participated in a full practice with the team, Murdoch alleges. The doctor said Chatrands head-injury test results were forwarded to the OHLs neurological consultant, and the goalie was cleared to return to the Colts active roster. Murdoch alleges he treated Chartrand on Jan. 10, 2011, for a sore toe, unrelated to his car accident, and did not treat the goalie for any concussion symptoms for the remainder of the season. Dr. Murdoch carried out the diagnosis and treatment of Chartrand in a careful, competent and diligent manner, the doctors filing says. Similarly, the Colts say that they properly assessed Chartrands condition based on the information available to them, and that he was treated with proper care and consideration. The Colts also said in court documents that Chartrand went on to play for the balance of the 2010-11 season without complaint, and that he played the entire 2011-12 season with the Belleville Bulls, and further played with the OHLs Sudbury Wolves and Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior league in 2012-13. Damages as have been claimed… are grossly exaggerated, remote, unforeseeable and unmitigated, the Colts wrote in their statement of defence. In July, Chartrands case was referred to mediation. A trial date has not been set. ' ' '