NEWS » last seasons turnaround.All you have to

CHICAGO -- The weary Chicago Cubs are scheduled to play a game for the 21st straight day Thursday -- the latest in a run of 24 consecutive dates -- as the Atlanta Braves arrive for a one-off makeup game.The match completes a three-game Wrigley Field series from late April and works out perfectly for the Braves, who open a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday.But the rescheduled night game does the Cubs no favors since Thursday was originally off-day and getaway day for a trip to Pittsburgh and a three-game series that carries Chicago to the All-Star break.Cubs manager Joe Maddon tried to give his pitching staff an extra day off during the long run. He brought up right-hander Adam Warren from Triple-A Iowa for a spot start on Wednesday -- his first of the season.We thought it was the most optimal moment to attempt to do something like this, Maddon said.Warren worked five innings and gave up just one run on three hits while striking out six. He retired the last 11 batters he faced.Whether he gets another shot after the All Star break hasnt been determined but he believes hes made a case to stay.The regular rotation resumes on Thursday with Jason Hammel, Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and John Lackey working consecutive games into the All-Star break.All four suffered losses in their previous starts.The Cubs collectively are slumping since late June with a 5-12 record while losing four of five series in the span.I really cant explain it right now but were still going to try to go out there and get the job done, said shortstop Addison Russell. Obviously the past few weeks it hasnt been working but we still have high hope and high faith.Most of the Cubs will get four days away from baseball next week before resuming the season on July 15 at home against Texas.But seven wont get time off, instead traveling to San Diego where they will participate in the All-Star Game.Five Cubs -- first baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Ben Zobrist, Russell, third baseman Kris Bryant and outfielder Dexter Fowler -- were voted National League starters while pitchers Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester were also named to the roster.On Thursday, Hammel (7-5) will make his 17th start and just his seventh at home. In his last outing he gave up a career-high five home runs and 10 earned runs over four innings in a 10-2 loss to the Mets. The Cubs are 0-5 in his last five starts.Chicago and Atlanta split the two other games in an early season series as Pedro Strop picked up the win in relief in a 6-1 decision on April 29. Reliever Hector Rondon was tagged with the loss in a 4-3 decision on May 1.While the Cubs are struggling of late, the Braves are even worse.Atlanta started the season with nine straight losses and was 6-18 by the time it left Chicago on May 1.Fortunes havent improved since. Atlanta (28-57) has dropped 10 of its last 13 and Philadelphia completed a four-game sweep of the Braves with Wednesdays 4-3 victory.On Thursday, right-hander Lucas Harrell (1-0, 1.50) makes his second appearance and start since the Braves selected his contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 2.Harrell, 31, worked six innings and allowed one run on three hits in his lone appearance -- a 9-1 Braves victory over Miami on July 2.It was his first big league appearance since April 15, 2014, while with the Astros.After Thursday, the Braves move on to play the Chicago White Sox in a weekend inter-league series. Air Max Uk Sale . 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TAMPA, Fla. -- Now that hes lifted South Florida out of the American Athletic Conference basement, Willie Taggart is aiming to take the Bulls all the way to the top of the league.The coach enters the fourth season of a reclamation project coming off an 8-5 finish that saw the team hit its stride after a disappointing 1/3 start that included losses to Florida State, Maryland and Memphis.And while contending for a conference championship has always been a goal, Taggart appears to have finally re-assembled the talent and depth necessary to realize the potential of a program generally regarded as one of the countrys fastest growing that plummeted after the Bulls climbed as high as No. 2 in the nation in 2007.When you win and see how much fun it is, its contagious, Taggart said, adding he doesnt anticipate his players having much difficulty retaining the hunger that fueled last seasons turnaround.All you have to do is remind them of last year when no one gave us much of a chance, the coach said. Were going to embrace these (heightened) expectations because thats what these guys came here for. At the same time, this team hasnt accomplished anything. They understand that.The Bulls won seven of eight after stumbling out of the gate last fall, with two-time AAC rushing champion Marlon Mack and dual-threat quarterback Quinton Flowers helping the teams so-called Gulf Coast offense hit its stride during a four-game winning streak that saw USF outscore East Carolina, Temple, Cincinnati and UCF by a combined 175-70.While a loss to Western Kentucky in the Miami Beach Bowl didnt detract from the program taking a significant step forward, it was a humbling finish that kept players motivated in the offseason.The Bulls return 15 starters, including Mack, Flowers and leading receiver Rodney Adams. Linebackers Augie Sanchez and Deatrick Nichols are back, ready to lead an improved defense.Taggart said the entire team hasnt forgotten ending 2015 on a losing note and is driven to revive the euphoria of winning.What we were last year wasnt enough, the coach said. I love their attitude. Thats what we want.Some things to watch as USF tries to build on last seasons success:AWARD WATCH: Mack, Flowers,, Adams, Sanchez and Nichols are among a school-record seven Bulls named to watch lists for national postseason awards.dddddddddddd Mack led the AAC in rushing for the second straight season, finishing with 1,381 yards and eight touchdowns; Flowers ran for 991 yards and 12 TDs, while also completing 59 percent of his passes and throwing for 22 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions, and Adams had 45 receptions for 822 yards and nine TDs. First-year co-offensive coordinator T.J. Weist said its important the players realize this is a news season. All those accolades mean nothing until we go out there and prove it.SPREAD `EM OUT: The Bulls switched to a fast-paced spread offense in 2015 and compiled some impressive statistics, particularly over the final month of the regular season, when they averaged 542 yards and 47 points per game. During that four-game stretch, the team averaged 313 yards on the ground and 230 passing. When were clicking nobody can stop us, Adams said. Thats our mindset.STAFF CHANGES: Weist and Darren Hiller have joined the Bulls as co-offensive coordinators and face the challenge of keeping the high-powered Gulf Coast attack humming. Taggart also brought in a new quarterback coach this offseason, hiring former NFL QB Shaun King to work with Flowers and the teams backups. Raymond Woodie shifts from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator following the departure of Tom Allen, who left for Indiana.STINGY DEFENSE: The Bulls adopted an attacking 4-2-5 scheme a year ago and ranked 13th nationally in tackles for loss (7.5 per game) and 14th interceptions with 17. Sanchez led the team in tackles with 117, while Nichols had a team-best four interceptions. With seven starters returning, Taggart expects the unit to be even better this year.KEEP IT GOING: Mack enters his junior year with 2,422 career yards, 309 shy of the school record. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry and had nine 100- yard games last season, including five in a row to end the season. Hes a fantastic running back, Taggart said, one of the best in the country if you ask me. ' ' '