February 23, 2017

Daily Herald, Cubs make time to make sick kids' day http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170222/sports/170229570/

Daily Herald, Cubs' Maddon, Bryant don't think changing intentional walk will speed up game http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170222/sports/170229575/

Cubs.com, Cubs reveal rotation for first 4 spring games http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216754588/cubs-reveal-rotation-for-first-4-spring-games/

Cubs.com, Contreras catches on quick, earns place as backstop http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216752982/cubs-willson-contreras-catcher-work-pays-off/

Cubs.com, Jimenez out to prove himself in first camp http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216734232/cubs-eloy-jimenez-tries-to-make-impression/

Cubs.com, Cubs host young fans from Chicago hospital http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216724906/cubs-host-chicago-childrens-hospital-group/

Cubs.com, Bryant favors traditional intentional-walk rule http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216726348/kris-bryant-prefers-4-pitch-intentional-walks/

CSNChicago.com, Kris Bryant: Major League Baseball Could Be Going Down 'Slippery Slope' With Rules Changes http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/kris-bryant-major-league-baseball-could-be-going-down-slippery-slope-rules-changes

CSNChicago.com, After Winter Of Taking Heat, Cubs Still Have Joe Maddon's Back http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/after-winter-taking-heat-cubs-still-have-joe-maddons-back

Chicago Tribune, Wade Davis' starting experience a big help to him as a closer http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-wade-davis-repertoire-cubs-spring-spt-0223-20170222-story.html#nt=oft03a-1gp2

Chicago Tribune, Cubs close door on possibility of Sammy Sosa return http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-close-door-sosa-20170222-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Golf no longer a big part of Joe Maddon's game http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-golf-game-20170223-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Early playing time a juggling act for Joe Maddon and Dave Martinez http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-early-playing-time-bits-cubs-spt-0223-20170222-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Kris Bryant believes baseball's fine just the way it is http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-kris-bryant-believes-baseball-s-fine-just-the-way-it-is-20170222-column.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Eloy Jimenez to Cubs’ young core: There’s more core on the way http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/eloy-jimenez-to-cubs-young-core-theres-more-core-on-the-way/

Chicago Sun-Times, Bryant against new IBB rule, warns of ‘slippery slope’ on changes http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bryant-against-new-ibb-rule-warns-of-slippery-slope-on-changes/

Chicago Sun-Times, 5th-starter candidate Mike Montgomery to start Cubs spring opener http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/5th-starter-candidate-mike-montgomery-to-start-cubs-spring-opener/

-- Daily Herald Cubs make time to make sick kids' day By Bruce Miles MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs made Wednesday a pretty special day for nine kids and their families. Think of those nine kids as representing each position on a baseball diamond. The Cubs partnered with Advocate Children's Hospital in Chicago and American Airlines to bring the kids and their families from O'Hare to Mesa to spend the day at Sloan Park, meet the players and tour the team's spring-training facility. Bright and early Wednesday morning, the kids joined the players on the field and some stretched and exercised right alongside their favorite Cubs. The kids are current or former patients at Advocate Children's Hospital, and each has battled or is battling through various illnesses. "It brought tears to my eyes," said Adrienne Balow of Des Plaines. Balow's 11-year-old son, Aidan, was among the guests of honor. "To see Aidan, he was hoping he had a chance to meet Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Those are his favorites; he's a first baseman. He said those were the two he really wanted to meet. To watch him out there, stretching and hanging out, it's just amazing. A lot of these kids have been through so much. Today they forget about all that." Opinion seemed split among the group as to whether Bryant or Rizzo was the favorite. "It was unbelievably amazing," said Sara Trznadel, mother of 11-year-old Saida, of Carpentersville. "She was so, so excited. It meant the world to her to get this once-in-a-lifetime chance." Saida confirmed that she was indeed excited. "I was going to pass out," she said. "I would just fall over and pass out. Anthony Rizzo was standing three feet from my face." Olivia Gryson, 8, of Elgin, was in the Bryant camp. "He's cute," she said. Olivia has Type 1 diabetes, and she must take insulin shots and have her finger pricked multiple times each day. She bravely carries on. "Sometimes I like to watch it (the shots) so I know when it goes in," she said. "But sometimes I have this ball that I squeeze." Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he was more than happy his players were so willing to oblige.

"That came extemporaneously," he said. "They (the families) were here, and I wasn't aware they were going to be on the field. I was doing something else. I'm glad I got out there in time. It was beautiful. That's what I like for us to be able to do. We just did it. "It was the right thing to do. I know it made their day. It made family -- mom, dad, whoever was there with them -- it made their day, also. I love the way our players reacted. I think it really adds to balance and perspective. The kids are awesome. It's terrible that they have to be there in those circumstances, but again, it's wonderful. I thought it went over really well." Rotation roulette: The Cactus League season will open for the Cubs Saturday. They'll play a pair of split-squad games, hosting the Oakland Athletics at Sloan Park. Another team of Cubs will make the short trip to Scottsdale for a game against the Giants. Joe Maddon said Mike Montgomery will pitch against the A's while Rob Zastryzny will work against the Giants. Jake Buchanan will pitch Sunday at home against Cleveland, and Brett Anderson will go Monday against the White Sox at Sloan Park. It will be into March before the Cubs' top four pitchers (Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey) start games. Having split-squad games off the bat presents challenges. "It's kind of awkward," Maddon said. "We have enough minor-leaguers in camp and also the satellite group that's going to be here. It's hard to handle two nine-inning games with your regular guys because even after they've played on Saturday, to have them play on Sunday is not a good idea. You have to really balance this out. "Everybody wants you to use at least four regular guys, but we're also including starters and closers among the four that are going to be playing in the games. It's really hard in the beginning especially when you start with a deuce on that first day." -- Daily Herald Cubs' Maddon, Bryant don't think changing intentional walk will speed up game By Bruce Miles MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is the kind of guy who goes by the axiom of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But Maddon also seems flexible enough to roll with some of the changes to baseball. That includes the expected change this year from pitchers throwing four pitches for an intentional walk to managers merely signaling their intention to walk the batter. That idea, among others being discussed, is aimed at speeding up the pace of play and cutting the time it takes to play the games. "I've always been that guy," Maddon said Wednesday of preferring to leave things alone. "I always talk about organic methods of change. I'm not a tinkerer although you might say different things I've done, whether it's shifting on defense, utilization of different plays we've done, whether it's the first baseman coming in, in the slot between the mound (and base). I don't know if that's tinkering. That's just a new method." With intentional walks, there is always the possibility -- however slim -- of something going haywire, such as a pitcher uncorking a wild pitch, a batter swinging at a ball close to the plate and lining a hit or even the defense tricking the batter and throwing a strike on a 3-2 count.

"That's the anomaly moment," Maddon said. "I have seen the ball hit. I have seen the ball hit to benefit the offense. It's kind of like a push with me. I know some (pitchers) that I've had in the past that don't like to do that because they don't like to throw the four pitches. So you're taking away even a small threat, but there's a threat nevertheless, that a guy just can't do that, and you can benefit from it offensively. "By the same token, if you have a guy that doesn't like to do it from the mound, you kind of like it because he doesn't have to go through the angst of going through that four pitches. It's just of those things. I don't think it has that much of an impact on the game. It will be a new normal in a relatively short period of time. Right now it's going to elicit a lot of discussion. I get it." Many players over the years have voiced the opinion of keeping things the way they are. Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant echoed them Wednesday. "It doesn't seem like it's going to speed up the game any more," Bryant said of the new intentional-walk rule. "If anything, it might hurt it because I think it (four-pitch walks) puts pressure on the pitchers to make that pitch. It seems like it's not stressful at, but anytime you're not throwing it full effort for a pitcher, there's a chance we could do damage on that. "There's been plenty of times a guy has thrown away an intentional walk. It will be interesting to see how that works out." Pace of play and time of games have been topics talked about for the last 20 years. Pitch clocks, limiting visits to the mound and making hitters stay in the batter's box have either been tried or talked about as have shortening commercial breaks between innings. That's a sticky topic because of the advertising revenue the commercials generate. With game times often exceeding three hours, Major League Baseball has been concerned that younger people don't have the patience to sit through a long afternoon or evening. Maddon says he doesn't notice the length of games. "If I had more interior information, maybe you could be more supportive of it," he said of the speed-up efforts. "I've talked about it in the past. I don't really understand the pace-of-game issues, because I really don't pay attention to that. I'm just locked in to managing the game. The nine innings goes 2 hours and minutes or 3 hours and 20, as long as you win, I don't care. "That's where I come from. But there's obviously something larger than that that's really causing a lot of these discussions. From my office, I don't really know what that is. But I do know new normals may occur with more education or definition. I may support it more easily. I just don't know. I've never been concerned about that from my chair." -- Cubs.com Cubs reveal rotation for first 4 spring games By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs went 11-19 in Spring Training last year, then forgot about Cactus League play and got off to a red-hot start that ended with the franchise's first World Series championship since 1908. On Saturday, the defending champs open Spring Training with split-squad games. Mike Montgomery, who was on the mound for Game 7 of the World Series and got his first professional save, will start Saturday at Sloan Park in the Cubs' spring home opener against the Athletics, while Rob Zastryzny will start in Scottsdale against the Giants.

"You're not going to see the big boys yet," manager Joe Maddon said of starters Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey. Those four were not projected to pitch until the second week of games because of the extra work load last year caused by postseason play. Jake Buchanan, who, like Zastryzny, is considered insurance for the rotation this season, will start Sunday against Indians, who likely are still smarting after losing the World Series to the Cubs. Brett Anderson, a candidate for the fifth starter spot, along with Montgomery, will start on Monday against the White Sox. The Cactus League games will give Jason Heyward a chance to see if the changes he's worked on this offseason with his swing have paid off. Kyle Schwarber will test his surgically repaired left knee in the outfield for the first time since the freak accident April 7. Fans shouldn't read too much into the early lineups. Bench coach Dave Martinez is in charge of those, and the goal now is just to get at-bats. Before the games begin, fans will have a chance to take a photo with the World Series trophy on Friday. The Cubs and the city of Mesa will host a rally from noon to 4 p.m. MT on Friday at Sloan Park. Fans will hear from Maddon, Mesa mayor John Giles and several players. Gates will open at 10 a.m. with live music, food and beverages starting at 11. • Willson Contreras is being paired with Lester as the Cubs find a replacement for catcher David Ross, who retired after last season. "Everything is going well," Contreras said. "[Lester] is a good guy. We've been talking about how he wants me to set up for different pitches. Everything's been going great." • Outfielder Eloy Jimenez, ranked No. 2 on MLBPipeline.com's list of top 30 Cubs prospects, is making the most of his first big league camp. "I look at the guys, look around and try to learn as much as I can, and listen to the good things they have to say," Jimenez said through interpreter Henry Blanco. Maddon complimented Jimenez, 20, on his routine as well on Tuesday. "Joe said, 'Keep doing what you're doing, don't change anything, and we'll see when the games start,'" said Jimenez, who batted .329 with 14 home runs at Class A South Bend last season. -- Cubs.com Contreras catches on quick, earns place as backstop By Phil Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- Among hundreds of good decisions that allowed the Cubs to break their World Series drought, one of the best was made when Willson Contreras put on shinguards for the first time. Boredom, more than brilliance, triggered Contreras' move from third base and the outfield to catcher. It happened, in large part, because of what he did when he was left out of the lineup one day in Instructional League, at almost the exact time that Theo Epstein was being hired to run the Cubs. "One game I wasn't playing at all," Contreras said Wednesday at Cubs camp. "I was kind of bored in the dugout. I saw catcher's gear on the floor in the dugout and put it on." Contreras moved down from the dugout to the bullpen and began warming up pitchers. He caught the eye of Oneri Fleita, who was then the Cubs' farm director.

"He called me in after," Contreras said. "[He] said, 'Hey, you want to play catcher?' I said, 'Yes, I'll play wherever you want.'" Contreras pitched and played center field as a child growing up in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, a fishing town on the northern coast. His strong arm, speed and aggressiveness put him on the radar when he made his first visits to the Cubs' Venezuelan academy, conveniently located near his home. "The thing that stuck out the most about him was just a presence," said Fleita, who is now scouting for the Tigers. "It seemed like he had some energy about him. He had a fast motor that you like to see in guys. It's a lot easier to slow the motor down than to speed it up. He was just one of those guys you couldn't get enough of. At that age, you don't know what guys are going to turn into. I like to write reports that the tools profile at as many positions as possible. The more positions, the better chance you have to get a big leaguer." Contreras isn't just a big leaguer. He's arguably the best young catcher in the game, and he has a World Series ring to validate the belief he's always had in himself. When Contreras was summoned from Triple-A Iowa, David Ross greeted him loudly. The veteran threw his hands in the air and yelled across the clubhouse. "He's here!" Ross screamed. "The Prodigy is here! The Next Big Thing is here!" Contreras smiled sheepishly, shook hands and got to work. He homered off the Pirates' A.J. Schugel in his first Major League at-bat -- a blast to center field -- and then put together a seven-game hitting streak before an 0-for-3. Contreras was so hot that Cubs manager Joe Maddon played him in left field and had him hit cleanup when he wasn't catching. Contreras went on to hit .282 with 12 home runs and an .845 OPS in 76 games, including 45 starts at catcher. He didn't slow down much in the postseason either. Contreras delivered a two-run single off Will Smith in the middle of the ninth-inning comeback that allowed the Cubs to eliminate the Giants in the National League Division Series, and while he was only 2-for-19 in the World Series, one of the hits was a run-scoring double off Corey Kluber in Game 7. "To do what he's done is a testament to his will," said Mark Johnson, a former Major League catcher who managed Contreras as he climbed through the Cubs' system. "He's just a very willful person. He wants it more than anybody I've ever coached. It's a thirst. It's a will. Whatever you want to call it, he has that about him. It's something special." Nothing was more challenging for Contreras than learning to catch. He was fortunate that he started when he was still a teenager, and that the Cubs gave him both time and strong instruction from Tim Cossins, Johnson and their Major League coaches. Cossins, hired away from Miami in another of the hundreds of good decisions during the Epstein era -- was essential in helping Contreras learn both the mechanics and the nuances of catching. "He is like everything for me," Contreras said. "Instructional League. During the season he went to where I was -- Rookie League, low [Class] A, [Class A Advanced]. He helped me on little things. He was always calling. Still in the big leagues we keep talking by the phone, texting. He's always helping me." Contreras rose slowly through the lower Minors before a Double-A batting title established himself as someone capable of joining Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez in the Cubs' young core. "Nobody saw his bat coming like it has," Fleita said. "If anybody says they did, they're lying. I liked him as a catch-and-throw guy with an adequate bat. But we didn't think he'd hit enough to play third base. He has really turned into something. It's incredible. The only comp I can give from scouting is the young Russell Martin."

There were times in Contreras' climb when some in Epstein's front office wondered if he'd ever develop into an adequate pitch framer. Yet as a rookie he ranked 23rd among 114 Major League catchers, according to statcorner.com. It was a strength of the Cubs' staff, as teammates Miguel Montero and Ross both ranked in the top 10. Conteras loves to show off his arm. He threw out 13 of 35 runners attempting to steal last season. That came as no surprise to Johnson, who managed the 2012 Boise Hawks. Contreras threw out 23 of the 49 runners who tested him in his first year as a catcher. Dave Martinez, the Cubs' bench coach, says Contreras likes to throw behind runners so much that he gets annoyed when Martinez signals for a pitcher to throw over to first base, shortening their lead. There's nothing he likes better than to pick off someone who strays too far from first base. Ivan Rodriguez was like that, and he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July. Contreras is just getting started, but seems on his way to a great career. Good thing he grabbed the gear and headed to the bullpen that day in Instructional League. -- Cubs.com Jimenez out to prove himself in first camp By Logan Newman MESA, Ariz. -- John Lackey walked toward the weight room with fellow Cubs pitcher Jon Lester, joking with team personnel along the way. The two had just faced batters in a pitching drill. As they passed the batting cages, 20-year-old outfielder Eloy Jimenez, the youngest player in the Cactus League, exited a cage and took a seat inside the facility. This is the first time Jimenez, a non-roster invitee who is ranked No. 13 on MLBPipeline.com's list of the top 100 prospects in baseball, has been in Spring Training. The approaches to camp of Lackey and Jimenez are as different as their ages. Jimenez was only 3 years old when Lackey was taking part in his first Spring Training. And Lackey had played four seasons in the Major Leagues before Jimenez even took up baseball while growing up in the Dominican Republic. Veteran players like Lackey know exactly what they need to get done in spring to get ready for the season. Lackey said he is going through the process of "a slow buildup" of his arm. Newcomers like Jimenez have to feel their way, and hope that they leave the best possible impression with the team's decision-makers. His objective is to prove himself for the future. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he has to handle young players differently. "Sometimes with the younger guys, you've got to lighten them up a little bit and make sure that their brain is showing up good," Maddon said. "With the veteran guys, it's just a straight-up conversation regarding what you're seeing and what their role is going to be." Maddon said it also is important to monitor the progress of players coming off injuries. Lackey, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012, has learned to take better care of his body. "You have definitely got to improve things as you get older, for sure," Lackey said. "I eat a lot better than I did in my younger days … but as far as workout-wise, I haven't changed much." Maddon said Lackey looks as if he's in better shape now than he did when he was younger.

Their connection stretches back to 1999, when Lackey was drafted by the Angels and Maddon served part of the season as the club's interim manager. Maddon was the Angels bench coach when Lackey made his MLB debut in 2002. "The guy himself has not changed a lot," Maddon said. "I used to hang out with the bullpen guys and a lot of the pitchers postgame, and so we went out a lot. John was very entertaining." Now, Maddon is trying to get to know Jimenez. He said the young outfielder came into his office to introduce himself and, Maddon figures, "to make sure I knew who he was." Maddon knew. He said young players are "often slightly overwhelmed," but that's not the case with Jimenez. "Eloy's in a different category," he said. "We had a nice conversation, and he believes he belongs here. He's a very bright young man." Jimenez, speaking through an interpreter, said Maddon told him, "Just to keep doing what I need to do, or just do what I did last year, and stay ready, in case." Unlike Lackey, Jimenez is still learning a daily routine at camp, but he is trying to learn "from the best" as he hopes to get a shot with the big league club sometime this season. "That's what one would assume with working hard and staying positive for when the moment arises," Jimenez said. -- Cubs.com Cubs host young fans from Chicago hospital By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Nine patients from Advocate Children's Hospital in Chicago were treated to a day with the Cubs on Wednesday. The kids ranged in age from 7 to 14, and included a spina bifida patient, another dealing with heart defects, another battling Crohn's disease, and a girl who was in hospice care. Despite their difficult situations, there were lots of smiles. "It's a chance of a lifetime," said Adrienne Balow of Des Plaines, Ill., whose 11-year-old son, Aidan, was a guest on the trip. The kids and their families were flown to Arizona courtesy of American Airlines, and had a chance to shake hands with the players before Wednesday's morning stretch. The children were positioned inside a circle of players as they did their exercises. Some of the kids joined in, especially when it came time to do jumping jacks. "It's beautiful," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the experience. "It made their day, it made their families' day also. I love the way the players reacted. I think it adds to balance and perspective. The kids are awesome. It's terrible that they have to be there under those circumstances, but it's wonderful [they were here] and it went over well." Pitcher Kyle Hendricks also spent time with the group, part of the "Kids, Cubs and Cactus Road Trip." One of the kids was a boy whom catcher Willson Contreras met during a visit to the Chicago hospital in January before the Cubs Convention. "He's my new best friend," Contreras said of the boy. "He's so special and sweet. I love him. "Their lives are way too difficult compared to our lives. That keeps us thinking about where we are, and where we came from. It keeps us humble."

-- Cubs.com Bryant favors traditional intentional-walk rule By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- In the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, the Cubs had a runner at second and one out, and the Indians opted to intentionally walk Anthony Rizzo to face Ben Zobrist. Zobrist came through with a go-ahead double, and Rizzo eventually scored. What Kris Bryant wanted to know was, what if one of Bryan Shaw's four pitches during that intentional walk had skipped away, allowing the runner to move up? "What if the ball got away?" Bryant said Wednesday. "That's huge, especially in that type of situation, Game 7 of the World Series, you want to put pressure on the pitcher any way you can." Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday that an automatic intentional walk could be a rule change this season. MLB is trying to speed up the pace of play. "I've had some guys in the past who don't like to do that, they don't like to throw the four pitches," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday. "There's a threat that a guy just can't do that and you can benefit from it offensively. By the same token, if you have a guy on the mound who doesn't like to do it, I like it because he doesn't have to go through the angst of the four pitches. I don't think it has that much of an impact on the game. I have no really strong opinion about it." In high school, Bryant said batters would automatically be awarded first base without the pitcher having to throw a pitch. Bryant doesn't think the pace of play needs changing. "The real fans are going to the game and they don't care [how long it is]," he said. "If it's the bottom of the ninth and the game is 10-0, fans will leave just because [of the score]. I'm fine with it. If there's a long pitching change, it gives me time to space out at third and regroup." Bryant wasn't sure about altering play, especially when he considered the 10th inning of the World Series. "That's history right there," Bryant said. "I like to force guys to make a pitch. You're in the box, you want to force someone to make a pitch. A pitch is [part of] an intentional walk." Maddon said he doesn't really understand why pace of play is an issue. "I'm just locked into managing the game," Maddon said. "The nine innings go 2 hours, 15 minutes or 3 hours and 20 [minutes] -- as long as you win, I don't care." Major League games aren't too long for Bryant. "It's an experience," he said. "You want the hot dogs, you want to be with your family, you want to make the most of how much you spend on your tickets. I think the real fans don't really care about [length of the game]. I don't see that [as a problem]. I don't make the rules." -- CSNChicago.com Kris Bryant: Major League Baseball Could Be Going Down 'Slippery Slope' With Rules Changes By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. – Kris Bryant has led a charmed baseball life – Golden Spikes Award winner, Arizona Fall League MVP, consensus minor league player of the year, two-time All-Star, Hank Aaron Award winner, National League Rookie of the Year and MVP and World Series champion – all before his 25th birthday last month.

So, no, the Cubs superstar doesn't see the need for any dramatic overhaul to a sport that's desperately trying to connect with Bryant's demographic and keep up at a time when iPhones are killing everyone's attention spans and the entertainment options are endless. "I love the way it is," Bryant before Wednesday's workout at the Sloan Park complex. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred essentially fired a warning shot during Tuesday's Cactus League media event at the Arizona Biltmore, threatening to unilaterally impose pace-of-play changes – think pitch clock, limited mound visits, new strike zone – for the 2018 season if the players' union doesn't cooperate. The first reported difference is the traditional four-pitch intentional walk turning into a dugout signal, which seems to be more of a cosmetic change than an actual efficiency measure. "You're in the box, you want to force someone to make a pitch," said Bryant, who remembered Anthony Rizzo’s 10th-inning matchup against Cleveland Indians reliever Bryan Shaw. "Just the World Series, for example, when 'Rizz' got intentionally walked. There were a couple that were low. What if the ball got away? That's huge. Especially in that type of situation – Game 7 of the World Series – you want to put pressure on the pitcher any way you can. "It seems like it's not stressful at all, but any time you're not throwing at full effort for a pitcher, it seems like there's a chance that we could do damage on that." That's actually Manfred's agenda in an age of grinding at-bats, specialized bullpens and defensive shifts – trying to create more action and eliminating some of the dead air more than simply cutting the length of games by a few minutes. "The game's been the same to me since I was young, so I don't think there's anything wrong with it," Bryant said. "I think that's what makes our game great. It is a long game and we play 162 games a year and there's more strategy involved with it. I think it could be a slippery slope once you start changing all these things. "The people you really need to ask are the fans. The diehard fans are going to be the ones who oppose more changes. They're the ones who pay to watch us play. Those are the opinions that you need." In using this power in the new collective bargaining agreement as leverage, Manfred is looking at the future of a $10 billion industry, insisting the game isn't broken when more than 75 million people visited major-league stadiums last season. But even Cubs manager Joe Maddon – who’s usually open-minded and in tune with these kind of big-picture ideas – doesn’t get the pace-of-play focus. "I'm not privy to all the reasons why it's so important," Maddon said. "It just appears to be important for the people in New York. My job is not to make those decisions. My job is to ultimately make the Cubs play well again, etc., so there are certain things that I don’t quite understand. "If I had more interior information maybe you could be more supportive of it. On the surface – I've talked about it in the past – I don't really understand the pace-of-game issues because I don't really pay attention to that. I'm just locked into managing the game. The nine innings go 2 hours and 15 minutes, or 3 hours and 20, as long as you win, I don’t care. "That's where I come from, but there's something obviously larger than that that's really causing a lot of these discussions. Again, from my office, I don't necessarily know what that is. But I do know new normals may occur." --

CSNChicago.com After Winter Of Taking Heat, Cubs Still Have Joe Maddon's Back By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. — It only took 21 minutes into spring training — or the first press conference on the day pitchers and catchers officially reported to Arizona — before Joe Maddon listened to another question about all the heat he took for his World Series Game 7 decisions. More than 2,000 miles away at Yankee camp in Florida last week, Aroldis Chapman told the Chicago Sun-Times that he "was just being truthful" when he used the conference call to announce the biggest contract ever for a closer — five years and $86 million — to inform the New York media that Maddon misused him during the playoffs. Nothing lost in translation there. Miguel Montero finally declared a ceasefire on Monday night, getting the sit-down meeting the Cubs felt should go longer than the standard meet and greet after the veteran catcher's jarringly critical comments on WMVP-AM 1000 (if only because it happened on the same day as the championship parade and Grant Park rally). "It's such an unusual situation," general manager Jed Hoyer said, "because we won the World Series, and theoretically you think that people would be really happy." As ex-Cub manager Dale Sveum might say: "Ya think?" Ending the 108-year drought might lead Maddon's Hall of Fame plaque someday, but it also led to waves and waves of second-guessing and speculation about how it might impact his clubhouse credibility. But with Maddon and Montero declaring their Andreoli Italian Grocer summit a success, gonzo strength and conditioning coordinator Tim Buss cruising onto the field in a Ferrari for the first wacky stunt of 2017 and Cactus League games beginning on Saturday, it's time to remember that the Cubs still have their manager's back. "Everyone says they don't see or read anything," pitcher Jake Arrieta said. "We see and hear a lot of the stuff. But I just think that critics are going to find holes in something always. "Joe was our leader all year last year. He obviously set the tone in spring training and gives us all these freedoms that help us play the way we played. So the people that matter — and know what Joe's about — are on the same page with his philosophies. "The way he expresses himself to us is the most important thing. And we stand behind him. We trust that he's going to do what's in our best interest. And we know that any decision he makes is geared towards trying to help us win." Within the last two seasons, the Cubs have won 200 games, five playoff rounds and their first World Series title since the Theodore Roosevelt administration. Maddon readily admits that the scouting and development wings of Theo Epstein's front office did most of the heavy lifting and credits the strong coaching staff he largely inherited. Spending more than $475 million on free agents like Jon Lester and Ben Zobrist certainly helped. But all this doesn't happen without Maddon and the environment he created. The Cubs Way absolutely needed a ringmaster for this circus. Arrieta developed into a Cy Young Award winner. Kyle Hendricks transformed into an ERA leader. Kris Bryant burst onto the scene as a Rookie of the Year and the National League MVP. Addison Russell became an All-Star shortstop by the age of 22. Maddon didn't prejudge Javier Baez, immediately appreciating the dazzling array of skills and super-utility possibilities. Surprised by the Maddon backlash? "Yes and no," All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "Because there needs to be a story. But what he did — people who are real involved know that since Day 1, he came in and he set the tone.

"He completely flipped the way people think, the way we believe, and everyone has bought into it. The credit he deserves — he gets a lot of it — but I don't think he gets enough of it. Because he lets me be me. He lets Javy be Javy. "Willson (Contreras), Kris and Addie — everyone has their different personalities. He understands that. And it's not easy to do." It's such an impossible job, at times, that even Cubs officials and players have acknowledged their frustrations with some of Maddon's in-game decisions and communication gaps. This can't just be written off as a media creation. But imagine the grumbling if the Cubs didn't have a leader with seven 90-win seasons and three Manager of the Year awards on his resume. "We have a competitive group of guys," Hoyer said. "Every guy wants to be on the field at the right time. Every guy wants to be on the roster. Every guy wants to pitch in winning games. "That's not realistic sometimes. It comes from a great place. It doesn't come from a place of selfishness. It comes from a place of: 'I want to contribute to winning.' "The meetings we've had have been awesome. Our camp is unbelievably focused. We are just as focused as last year. I really don't look at it as a negative." The last word from Maddon, who turned 63 this month and has a $25 million contract, a wide range of off-the-field interests and the championship ring that will make him a legend in Chicago forever, no matter what kind of heat he took this winter. "Stuff like that doesn't bother me at all," Maddon said. "Regardless of what people may have thought — like any other game that I worked all year long — I had it planned out like that before the game began. So it wasn't anything I tried to do differently game in progress. Had I not done what I thought I was supposed to do — then I would have second-guessed myself. "So, no, I have no problem with that. I really don't mind the second-guessing from anybody. I kind of encourage it. Please go ahead and do it, because I'll take that kind of second-guessing after winning a World Series on an annual basis. Thank you very much." -- Chicago Tribune Wade Davis' starting experience a big help to him as a closer By Mark Gonzales Both the Rays and Royals ultimately decided Wade Davis was more valuable to them as a reliever than a starter. But the lessons Davis learned during three seasons in the rotation allowed him to carve a niche from which the Cubs seek to benefit in 2017. As primarily a starter from 2009-11 and in '13, Davis learned to sharpen his curveball, develop a cut fastball and throw an occasional changeup to complement his 96-mph fastball. That has separated him from fellow elite closers such as Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, who both rely heavily on fastballs. "He has three dominant pitches with command," Jim Hickey, Davis' pitching coach with the Rays, said in December. "It's unusual that he can use them in a short stint yet be so efficient."

Davis, 31, stands to cash in next winter in the same the way Chapman, Jansen and Mark Melancon did as free agents last December. But Royals bullpen coach Doug Henry wonders what Davis could have been if he had remained a starter. "I have no doubt he would be one of the best in the game," Henry said. Royals manager Ned Yost marveled at the way Davis prepared for his relief role during a brief minor-league stint with one small request. "Wade said, 'If you don't mind, I'll throw an inning, take a day off, throw an inning, come back and be ready to go,' " Yost recalled. Yost agreed but wondered why. Davis told him: "As a starter, I'm pitching. As a reliever, I'm giving you all I have, and I want to do it for one inning." After one outing when Davis struck out five and allowed one hit in two innings, the Royals brought him back to the majors, where he has led all relievers since 2014 with a 1.18 ERA and 0.15 home runs allowed per nine innings. "The ship may have sailed because he has become an elite closer, but I'm curious how he would perform now as a starter with the closer mindset he has acquired," White Sox director of player personnel Chris Getz, a former executive with the Royals, wrote in an email during the offseason. "I know Zack Greinke partially credits his transformation from an inconsistent starter to the best in the game to his stint in the (bull)pen." According to The Bill James Handbook, Davis threw his fastball only 50 percent of the time last season, compared to Jansen's 94 and Chapman's 81. Davis says he can rely less on his fastball because he learned how to control the speed of all his pitches, particularly his curve. As a starter he got a lot more reps throwing his whole repertoire. "The more reps, the better you get," Davis said. "I got to throw my curve a lot before I figured it out. Then I got to do different things with it. Now I can consistently throw it how I want to. "In the bullpen, you've got so much adrenaline. If I never got those reps, I can see where I'm throwing everything hard. Maybe it helps to back down when you need to back down. I'm still working on it. There are some stages where I need to back off." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs close door on possibility of Sammy Sosa return By Paul Sullivan Whatever chance Sammy Sosa had of reconciling with the Cubs apparently is over. According to multiple sources, Sosa’s comments in an interview with blogger Chuck Wasserstrom were deemed so bizarre it convinced the organization to close the door on the possibility of ending his 13-year exile. In the interview Tuesday with Wasserstrom, a former Cubs media relation employee, Sosa compared himself to Jesus Christ when asked about speculation he’d used performance-enhancing drugs, while also pointing out that “not even Mr. Cub Ernie Banks” hit as many home runs as him. But Sosa said if the Cubs invited him back, he’d say yes. He has not returned since walking out on the team on the final day of the 2004 season. “Why not?” he said. “One day, if they invite me, a lot of people will be very happy about it.”

Sosa added the Cubs "know where to find me.” The Cubs do know where to find Sosa, but that day is not coming. Over the years Chairman Tom Ricketts has repeatedly been asked about bringing Sosa back to a Cubs Convention, or to throw out a first pitch of sing the seventh-inning stretch. Ricketts always left the situation open-ended, waiting for Sosa to come clean and admit his mistakes. “Nothing has really changed from the way I really feel about this,” Ricketts said at the 2016 Cubs Convention. “At some point, something will happen that will allow us to welcome Sammy back. I look forward to that day. Until that day, I don’t have anything to add.” The Cubs declined to comment on Sosa’s latest remarks, but Ricketts and other high-ranking officials apparently weren’t happy with the interview and have decided to stop talking about him. The organization clearly is tired of answering questions about a possible Sosa return, especially after finally winning a championship and now focusing on a repeat. So the door quietly has been slammed shut on Sosa, once and for all. -- Chicago Tribune Golf no longer a big part of Joe Maddon's game By Mark Gonzales Joe Maddon was a two-sport star at Lafayette College in the 1970s, but the Chicago Cubs' manager confesses that he's not a great golfer. "There was a time I played decently when I was released (as a player)," said Maddon, who said obligations and time constraints have limited his free time. "I was in the Monterey Peninsula hanging out on a daily basis. I got decent." But Maddon expects to take a backseat Thursday when the Cubs hold their annual golf tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. "I’m actually a hindrance to anyone attempting to win it," said Maddon, who used to golf with former Cubs coach Wendell Kim in Mesa several decades ago. "But I will enjoy myself. I don’t get to play enough." Maddon anticipated that his starting pitchers, led by Kyle Hendricks, are likely to excel. "They’re not messing with their swing," Maddon said. "They got one swing. They got mucho time on their hands." -- Chicago Tribune Early playing time a juggling act for Joe Maddon and Dave Martinez By Mark Gonzales Dave Martinez has interviewed for managerial positions with the Cubs, Dodgers and Nationals, and manager Joe Maddon continues to give his longtime bench coach opportunities to gain experience. Martinez, in his third season as the Cubs after serving under Maddon with the Rays, has the ominous task of mapping out playing time for his players during split-squad games on Saturday and a game on Sunday.

"It's hard to handle two nine-inning games (on Saturday)," Maddon said Wednesday. "To have them play on Sunday is not a good idea. You have to really balance this out." Organizing playing time is very important because the Cubs don't want to tax their veterans early in spring training after an extended postseason. But Major League Baseball advises teams to start at least four veteran position players in each game. "There are so many moving parts that we're trying to build those things to balance everyone out," Maddon said. "Part of it is telling people in advance what days they'll have off. So Davey is responsible for building the lineups." Maddon added, with a smile, "If you don't like them, I'm not responsible." Rotation roundup: The competition for the fifth spot starts Saturday with Mike Montgomery facing the A's at Sloan Park while Rob Zastryzny will face the Giants at Scottsdale. Jake Buchanan will start against the Indians on Sunday at Mesa, followed by Brett Anderson against the White Sox at home Monday. Montgomery and Anderson are competing for the fifth spot, while Zastryzny and Buchanan are projected to start at Triple-A Iowa. Time for kids: Every Cubs player and coach greeted nine patients from Advocate Children's Hospital who traveled from Chicago to attend Wednesday's workout. "I know it made their day," Maddon said. "It made the day of their families. I love the way our players reacted, and it adds to balance and perspective. "The kids are awesome. It's tough they have to be here under those circumstances. But it's wonderful. And I thought it went over very well." Short work: The Cubs' workout Thursday will be brief because of the team's annual spring golf tournament, and Friday's workout also will end early because of a rally at Sloan Park. -- Chicago Tribune Kris Bryant believes baseball's fine just the way it is By Paul Sullivan Last May in Kauffman Stadium, White Sox reliever Tommy Kahnle came into a game in the ninth inning and threw a wild pitch on an intentional walk before serving up a game-winning hit. The Royals scored six runs in the ninth to win the game, and Kahnle's inability to throw an intentional ball to catcher Alex Avila factored into the meltdown. "It just got away from me," Kahnle said the next day. "It's part of the game, so you have to be able to do it." Not anymore. Major League Baseball, in its continuing crusade to change the game, has instituted a rule change in 2017 to allow managers to walk hitters intentionally without making their pitchers throw a pitch. Cubs closer Wade Davis was there that day with the Royals, and remembered the struggles Kahnle was having. The reliever was sent down to the minors shortly after the outing and was called back up later. "You could probably see people get affected by that long-term," Davis said. "So you're making lesser of some guy's career, or maybe you're not going to see this guy because they have a little mental thing about it. Just an opinion.

"As long as we're not changing the (actual)game, I'm OK with (the new rule). Some people might like seeing people throw it away on the blooper reels." Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said the new rule seemed "unnecessary" and wouldn't speed up the game as intended. "If anything, it might hurt (the game) because that puts pressure on the pitchers to make that pitch," he said. "It seems like it's not stressful at all, but any time you're not throwing it full effort for a pitcher, it seems like there's a chance to do damage on that. There have been plenty of times when a guy has thrown away (a pitch on) an intentional walk. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out." Bryant pointed out Anthony Rizzo saw some low pitches when he was walked intentionally in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series. "What if the ball got away?" he said. "That's huge, especially in that type of situation — Game 7 of the World Series. You want to put pressure on the pitcher any way you can. That's another way it can affect the game. … That's history right there." Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday that "our fans, both avid fans and casual fans, want us to respond to and manage the change going on in the game." When told that most players think the game is fine the way it is, Manfred said "we know based on fundamental research what the fans think about the game." He did not reveal what the research actually said. Bryant said the game experience is fine and "real fans don't really care" if the game is shortened 10 minutes. "The game has been the same to me since I was young," he said. "I don't think there is anything that is wrong with it. That's what makes our game great — it is a long game and we play 162 games a year and there's more strategy and stuff involved in it. It could be a slippery slope once you start changing things. The ones you really need to ask are the fans. The die-hard fans are going to be the ones who oppose more changes, and they're the ones who pay to watch us play. Those are the opinions you need (to hear)." Davis is OK with the intentional walk rule, and said fans want to see the pitchers actually pitch, not toss a ball to a catcher. "It's OK to (change) something like that that doesn't make sense," Davis said. "Letting someone go to first base free? Let him go. If I'm a fan of baseball, I like watching guys do what they do, which is seeing guys throw as hard as they can and try to get people out. "… I've always agreed with that. You don't want to lose a game on a more unathletic type of thing." Cubs President Theo Epstein, speaking in general last week on changes to the game, said MLB is just thinking ahead. "It's important to stay ahead of the game," he said. "Baseball has done a wonderful job growing the game and revenues are incredible right now. But the commissioner is justifiably very aggressive and is looking ahead 20 to 40 years. We have to make sure we don't lose the young fan. "If the young generation that is tomorrow's consumer of baseball has a shorter attention span or needs a slightly more exciting product or something wrapped in a different way, it's going to change anyway. It's great to think through those things ahead of time, honoring the tradition of the game, as our commissioner does, and being thoughtful about it. "Dialogue doesn't hurt. Conceiving new ideas doesn't hurt. Thinking through and implementing the ones that make sense in the big picture so you can capture the young fan, that makes all the sense in the world. We're supportive of the dialogue and we trust the commissioner and the game overall to do what's right.

"There will be some changes I'm sure, along the way. But I think the essence of baseball will never be lost. That's what makes this sport great. And the timelessness of baseball will never be lost. But there will be some changes along the way, and I think 20 to 30 years down the line you'll look back and say 'That was a great idea and we're still really popular because we were willing to embrace change on our own terms instead of being reactive after we've lost a generation of fans." MLB also is considering moving the strike zone up in 2018 to force pitchers to bring the ball up and theoretically give hitters more chance to make contact. They can implement the change without the permission of the players union. "I'd love it," Bryant said, adding the umpires do a good job. "You see more and more guys complaining to umpires, but that's just because the game is getting harder and harder and guys are getting more frustrated." Bryant said he's up for anything that gets the calls right, including robo-umps. Davis just smiled and declined to talk about the possibility of a smaller strike zone. -- Chicago Sun-Times Eloy Jimenez to Cubs’ young core: There’s more core on the way By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — He’s only 20, in his first big-league spring-training camp, and Cubs prospect Eloy Jimenez already stands out in a crowd — a broad-shouldered, 6-4, power-hitting outfielder. He doesn’t say much, but he’s hard to miss, and he has made a strong first impression on manager Joe Maddon and the coaching staff. It’s the last impression, however, that Jimenez is more focused on. “I’m going to just keep working and hopefully break with the [big-league] team,” he said in Spanish through coach/translator Henry Blanco. Say what? Break camp with the team? Could he seriously believe he has a shot after playing last season in the Class A Midwest League? “I think [it’s possible],” he said. “All I’ve got to do is play good and prove to them that I’m ready to play and see what happens.” It’s not going to happen. It wasn’t going to happen even if the Cubs actually had an opening or two in the outfield. Jimenez probably will open the season with advanced-Class A Myrtle Beach, with a chance to get as far as Class AA Tennessee before the season is over. But it’s not hard to see why Maddon considers this guy “a different cat, man” and why the Cubs believe in his ability to advance quickly through the system. Well, that and his prodigious power, advanced hitting approach and athletic play in the outfield. He might have had the best catch in the 18-year history of the Futures Game in July, nearly hurdling the wall in foul territory in right to make a leaping catch. “He’s such a special player and special kid,” farm director Jaron Madison said. “You never know [the big-league timeline] with a guy like that. There’s no reason to rush him because we’re pretty set at the big-league level. He’s an advanced player and advanced hitter. It’s just a matter of growing into his frame and seeing better pitching.”

Jimenez, signed as a Dominican amateur for $2.8 million in 2013, is the Cubs’ top-ranked prospect by Baseball America and others. He offers a reminder that the Cubs’ farm system might not be done producing impact hitters, whether they have room for them on their big-league horizon or not. “Everybody thinks all of our talent’s already here,” Maddon said. “Timeout. There’s other guys coming.” Ian Happ, a first-round pick in 2015, also is in his first big-league camp and earning early praise. Outfielder Mark Zagunis, catcher Victor Caratini and Happ got a these-guys-“can-really-hit” Twitter shoutout from special instructor Rick Sutcliffe. But Jimenez is ranked No. 1 for good reason — he’s the guy the Cubs held back when they gave up shortstop Gleyber Torres, Jimenez’s pal, in the Aroldis Chapman deal. Torres is now the Yankees’ top-ranked prospect. Jimenez didn’t need translation help to smile and say, “yes,” he’s happy to still be with this club. “It was a big deal,” he said through Blanco. “After everything was clear [following the trade], I thought, ‘OK, they want me in this organization. I’m going to be the best I can be to be a better player,’ and that’s what I did.” Jimenez hit .329 with 14 homers and a .532 slugging percentage (.901 OPS) in 112 games at Class A South Bend last year. In addition to the catch in the Futures Game at San Diego’s Petco Park, he also doubled home a run and homered off the Western Metal Supply building beyond the left-field wall. Talk about making impressions. “The other day, I’m just sitting in my office, just listening to music, just doing some stuff,” Maddon said. “He came in, sat down, said hello, wanted to reintroduce himself to me to make sure that I knew who he was. He didn’t say that, but that’s what I gleaned from it. “We had a nice conversation. He believes he belongs here.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Bryant against new IBB rule, warns of ‘slippery slope’ on changes By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — Memo to Major League Baseball: The National League MVP doesn’t like your new high school-like rule that no longer requires pitchers to throw the ball four times to intentionally walk a batter. Intentional walks now can be signaled from the dugout, sending the batter to first without a pitch thrown. Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant heard about the rule, which goes into effect this season, and he was quick and clear about his distaste for it. “Anytime you’re not throwing that full effort for a pitcher, it seems like there’s a chance we could do damage on that,” he said. “There’s been plenty of times where a guy’s thrown away an intentional walk. “I just like to force guys to make a pitch. You’re in the box, you want to force someone to make a pitch. And [four pitches] is an intentional walk. I don’t know. I think the pitchers at this level are good enough they should be able to intentionally walk a guy, and if they can’t, the other team’s going to score.” Baseball history is filled with examples of passed balls, wild pitches and hits on attempted intentional walks. Just last year, the Yankees’ Gary Sanchez homered against the Rays on an attempted intentional ball. Ty Cobb, Joe Adcock, Bob Boone and Miguel Cabrera (in 2006) are among players who have delivered hits on IBB attempts. Other prominent players have taken swings over the years, including Willie Mays and Pete Rose.

“Exactly,” Bryant said. “Could you imagine — like just the World Series [last year], for example, when [Anthony Rizzo] got intentionally walked [in the 10th inning of Game 7]. I mean, there were a couple that were low. What if the ball got away? That’s huge. “Especially in that type of situation, Game 7 of the World Series, you want to put pressure on the pitcher any way you can. I think that’s another way it could affect the game. I guess it’s yet to be seen.” In general, Bryant is against tinkering with the rules of the game, even when it comes to accelerating pace of play, an emphasis of the commissioner’s office. “The game’s been the same to me since I was young. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,” he said. “I think it could be a slippery slope when you start changing all these things.” -- Chicago Sun-Times 5th-starter candidate Mike Montgomery to start Cubs spring opener By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — Let the Cubs’ fifth-starter battle begin. The top two candidates for the job will start in the first three days of Cactus League play, with Mike Montgomery getting the call against the Athletics in the home half of season-opening split-squad games Saturday — exactly 115 days after throwing the final pitch of the World Series. Newly signed Brett Anderson, whose track record suggests he could be the favorite if healthy, starts Monday at home against the White Sox. The Cubs’ other starters in that opening stretch: Rob Zastryzny against the Giants in Scottsdale in the other split-squad game Saturday and Jake Buchanan against the Indians at home on Sunday. The Cubs’ four returning starters from the World Series — Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey — won’t be scheduled until about a week into games as part of the team’s pitcher-preservation plan. NOTE: The Cubs hosted nine patients from Advocate Children’s Hospital and their families on the field before practice Wednesday. Manager Joe Maddon said he knew the kids were coming but didn’t know the planned visit involved them being on the field. “But it was beautiful,” he said. “I love the way our players reacted, and I think it really adds to balance and perspective. The kids are awesome. It’s terrible that they have to be there under those circumstances, but then again, it’s wonderful.” --