Alfonso Soriano in leadoff: WHY!?!?!?!  On a bad year this guy will hit 30 homeruns.  Last year (I can't remember the exact number) about half of his homeruns were wasted solo shots.  Also he strikes out WAY too much for a leadoff role, pops out too often, and no longer has the legs to support the only viable reason to hit him leadoff: Stolen Bases.  He'll be lucky to swipe 20 this year.  The reason the change hasn't been made to put him in a far more appropriate spot in the lineup: “I'm uncomfortable hitting anywhere else.”  Soriano, grow up and realize that you play the game to win, and you can't help the team win hitting leadoff.  2. Felex Pie in Center Field: Reed Johnson needs to start, and he needs to hit leadoff.  He plays comparable defense, hits for average, has better plate awarenes, and is the piece of the Cubs puzzle that has been making the offense role to the top scoring team in baseball.  Felix may very well be the Center Fielder of the future, but the Cubs lineup is aging and needs to win this year or they may not have a realistic chance in the next few years.  3. Kerry Wood closing: WHY!  Other than the amount of money the Cubs have thrown at him over the last 10 years, there is no reason for him to be closing.  Carlos Marmol is the best pitcher, not just the best relief pitcher, but best pitcher on the staff.  Put him at the closer spot and he'll be the best closer in baseball by far.  Seriously.  Oh, and in case you didn't hear: Kerry Wood blew another game tonight (May 1st) against the Brewers.  I love the Cubs.  So much that I'm willing to throw the lineup as it needs to appear in order for the Cubs to win the World Series this year.  Batting Lineup/Position1 Reed Johnson/CF2 Ryan Theriot/SS3 Derrek Lee/1B4 Alfonso Soriano/LF5 Aramis Ramirez/3B6 Kosuke Fukodome/RJ7 Geovanni Soto/C8 Mark Derosa/2B9. It is April 8, 1952. The Montreal Canadiens have forced this Game 7 in the semi-finals against the Boston Bruins.For Montreal, the most important event in the world is happening at the Forum.The game is tough because this is a great rivalry escalated by the Game 7 atmosphere. Boston has done everything they can to shut down Rocket Richard and the Canadiens have replied in kind.Everyone is bruised and tired.Big Boston defenceman Leo Labine smashes into Rocket Richard in the second period Stunned, the Rocket falls to his knees. Bill Quackenbush knees Rocket in the head and Rocket is spread-eagle on the ice.

Roch Carrier, author of Our Life With the Rocket, described it best:“The Rocket collapses onto his back, spread-eagled, arms outstretched Fans think of the crucified Christ. At this time of year, in the Catholic province of Quebec, thoughts are on Good Friday, the day when Christ died on the cross.  The silence in the Forum is distressing The people would like to get down on their knees. Easter, the day of His resurrection isn’t far away either…Suddenly the Rocket moves The crowd explodes. Christ is resurrected!”Rocket, his face bloody and his body being supported by the team doctor, makes his way to the clinic to thunderous applause The doctor says he ought to go to the hospital Rocket refuses. He gets the necessary six stitches and wants to get back to the bench. He has no memory of what just happened.Back on the bench, Rocket asks the score 1-1 is the reply Moments later, he’s forgotten again. His vision is blurry and he’s obviously dazed.There’s four minutes left in the third.

If the Canadiens don’t win, they’ll be eliminated Once again, the Rocket asks the score Once again he’s told it’s a tie He wants to score the goal the Canadiens need. He goes over the boards and into the game.Play is in the Canadiens’ zone. Behind the goal, Butch Bouchard snatches the puck from Woody Dumart He looks up and sees Rocket on the ice Surprised, Bouchard passes the puck to him. Rocket takes off for the Bruins’ zone.In his way are Quackenbush and Bob Armstrong. Quackenbush won’t give up, even though he’s skating backwards Rocket has drifted too far and can’t shoot. Instead of heading behind the net, he surprises the big defenceman by turning and heading to the front of the net. Boston goalie “Sugar Jim” Henry prepares himself.The Rocket takes his time preparing his shot The Bruins begin crowding him.

He pushes them out of his way with one hand while he stick-handles the puck with the other.Waiting patiently, he sees his opening.Rocket Richard shoots.The crowd explodes.“Halte la, halte la, halte la, les Canadiens sont la!” they chant. They think the Canadiens will win the Cup this year.After the game he shakes hands with the Bruins. Someone captures him shaking hands with Sugar Jim, Jim with two black eyes and Richard with blood on his face and jersey. It later becomes one of the most iconic images of hockey.With his face still bloody, Maurice Richard makes his way to the locker room. He still can’t remember the score.In the locker room, his father Onesime is waiting Maurice collapses on the bench. His father puts his hand on Maurice’s shoulder and suddenly the Rocket is sobbing uncontrollably.Despite Rocket’s heroic goal and the team’s best efforts, the Canadiens lose to the Red Wings in the finals, but that Game 7 of the semi-finals is what the fans remember most from that season It is one of the shining moments of the Rocket’s career.. The Pistons and Sixers were the only game in town.

Literally.In the only playoff game in the NBA Thursday night, Detroit closed out the “Philly Cinderelly” story tonight (much to my surprise) by winning big in what was a carbon copy of game five; they got out to a substantial lead in the first quarter and the young Sixers could not dig themselves out. In watching the Pistons for 30-plus years, I have seen them go through the same ordeal. You have to learn how to win, but you have to learn what it takes to do it consistently. The Sixer team that won two games in this series was a stark contrast to the one that lost four games as you could see the confidence sucked from them. I know that sounds elementary, but their losses were so decisive that it took the shine off their wins.