SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Theo Epstein is rising to a new reality.For the last few years Ive had a semi-recurring dream, maybe five or six times, where Ive woken up, wow, we just won the World Series with the Cubs. Thats unbelievable, he recalled Monday night.And then about 10 seconds later I realize it was just a dream, and then the rest of the day stinks, right? Its a pretty great feeling and then back to reality. The last five days or whatever its been, Ive been waking up with the same realization and then it takes a couple seconds. Wow! It really happened!Days after the team he designed ended a long championship drought, Epstein was voted The Sporting News Major League Baseball Executive of the Year for revitalizing the Chicago Cubs.Balloting by 56 big league executives took place before the postseason. The Cubs led the majors with 103 wins during the regular season, then beat Cleveland in a seven-game World Series last week for their first title since 1908.During the parade I kept telling my wife we need to go home to change some diapers and do some laundry, because this is not real life, he said. Weve got to get our feet back on the ground.Epstein was presented with the award at the start of the annual general managers meeting. He received 13 votes, followed by Clevelands Chris Antonetti (nine), the New York Yankees Brian Cashman (eight), Texas Jon Daniels (seven), Clevelands Mike Chernoff and Washingtons Mike Rizzo (three each), and Baltimores Dan Duquette and the Cubs Jed Hoyer (two apiece).Now 42, Epstein was the youngest general manager in major league history when Boston hired him at age 28 in November 2002. He helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series, their first title since 1918, and a second championship in 2007.Winning at 42 vs. 30, I have a greater appreciation for how hard it is and how many people have to contribute and how lucky you have to get along the way, too, he said.Epstein left Boston after the 2011 season to become president of baseball operations with the Cubs, who lost 91 games that year. As he rebuilt the team, the Cubs dropped 101 games in 2012, 96 the following year and 89 in 2014. They won 97 games last year to gain a wild card, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2008 only to get swept by the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series.This year, Chicago defeated San Francisco in the Division Series, overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series and then became the first team to rally from a 3-1 World Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals.Chicagos 10th-inning rally in Game 7 was sparked by Albert Almora Jr., the first player drafted under Epsteins regime, taken sixth overall in 2012. Third baseman Kris Bryant was drafted in 2013 and outfielder Kyle Schwarber in 2014, and the Cubs traded for pitcher Jake Arrieta (from Baltimore), first baseman Anthony Rizzo (San Diego) and shortstop Addison Russell (Oakland).Jon Lester was signed as a free agent after the 2014 season and fellow pitcher John Lackey, all-purpose player Ben Zobrist and outfielders Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward were signed last offseason.Chicago gave Epstein a new five-year contract in September. Now the challenge is to win two in a row and match the 1907-08 Cubs.It does make you hungry just to validate it. When you can win two, I think it means even more, he said. Wed love to be the type of organization that national baseball fans think of when you think of October baseball.Aroldis Chapman, Fowler, Jason Hammel and Travis Wood have become free agents. Epstein already has been thinking about roster alterations.The mix has to change a little bit, he said. If you look to just bring back every single component and try to recreate the past, its going to change by definition. Group dynamics change. Human beings change. And so maybe its better to change it in some small ways on your terms and some intent behind it rather than just let it come back exactly the same and be stale. ... Well make some smaller changes, but I do have a feeling this nucleus is going to stay intact a lot longer than what we did in Boston.Founded in 1886, TSN ended its print edition in 2012 but remains available online.Hydro Flask 24 Oz Mint . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Cobalt Blue Hydro Flask . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. http://www.cheaphydroflaskstore.com/graphite-hydro-flask.html . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Hydro Flask 32 Oz Purple .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Olive Green Hydro Flask . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break.The Wests Tigers finals ambitions have been dealt a big blow, with young playmaker Luke Brooks picking up a knee injury in his sides 23-8 NRL win over Parramatta.Brooks picked up the injury early in Saturdays match but valiantly attempted to play on, twice getting on-field treatment from the trainer before finishing out the half.However, the Tigers No.7 failed to come out of the sheds after the break, with coach Jason Taylor sweating on scans to determine the extent of the injury, and possibly their finals hopes.Its certainly not like an ACL. Seems to be PCL, but well see, Taylor said post-game.Brooks absence didnt stop the Tigers going on to claim a vital two points against the Eels and edge closer to the top eight with just five regular-season games remaining.And although they remain in 10th spot, the Tigers join the 7th-placed Gold Coast, Penrith and the Warriors on 22 points ahead of next weeks clash with North Queensland.Tigers captain Aaron Woods said the team had a genuine opportunity to break a four-year finals drought.At the end of the day, if we just keep winning games, we dont have to worry about results, he said.In front of a crowd of 14,428 at ANZ Stadium, long-range tries to David Nofoaluma and James Tedesco in the space of two minutes whisked the Tigers to a 14-2 lead by the 13th minute.Nofoaluma made the most of Mitchell Moses enterprising play in the 11th minnute, before Tedesco finished off a clean Josh Aloiai break through the middle not long after.ddddddddddddDespite the double setback, the Eels, one day after releasing troubled star Kieran Foran from his four-year contract, were rewarded for their effort with a 37th-minute try to Vai Toutai.However, that was as close as the home side were able to get, with Moses twice nailing penalty goals in the second half before sealing the win in the 74th minute with a grubber for Sauaso Sue to score.The Tigers pivot capped off a strong performance with a field goal minutes from fulltime.I thought Mitchell Moses really controlled the game well. He had to step up when Brooksy went down obviously after 30 or 25 minutes, Woods said.Fill-in five-eighth Clinton Gutherson and fullback Michael Gordon tried hard for the Eels, while Tepai Moeroa was the only forward to crack the 100-metres gained mark.Eels coach Brad Arthur bemoaned the absence of a number of first-choice regulars, including injured trio Michael Jennings, Semi Radradra, Beau Scott and suspended pair Manu Mau and Corey Norman.Its hard, but it gives other boys an opportunity, he said.They just need to make sure they step up and take it. Tim (Mannah) was the only player in our top 10 earners that played. ' ' '