July 16, 2015 Chicago Tribune 5 questions confronting Cubs heading into the second half By Mark Gonzales Health, offense and schedule are among the Cubs' five biggest questions in the second half. Manager Joe Maddon spoke often in the first half of the season of the Cubs improving in five-game increments above the .500 mark. Here are five questions they face in their efforts to improve their 47-40 record and their chances of earning their first playoff berth since 2008. Can the Cubs get and stay healthy? Miguel Montero's left thumb injury puts more pressure on an offense having trouble scoring. All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been hit by pitches 19 times but has played in all but one game. The Cubs can't afford to miss his all-around efforts for an extended period. Jason Hammel's left leg injury caused a scare to a stretched rotation. Rafael Soriano should provide depth to a well-worked bullpen that received a huge break in the final three games thanks to the endurance of Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta. However, the Cubs are scheduled to play 24 games in 24 days to start the second half, so fresh bodies are essential. What can the Cubs do to spark their offense? The Cubs are tied for 13th in the National League with a .229 batting average with runners in scoring position. They can't rely exclusively on Rizzo (16 home runs) and Kris Bryant (12) to supply the power — especially when there's no one on base. The Cubs scored no runs for Jake Arrieta in the games he lost, thus costing him a shot at improving his 10-5 record and an All-Star Game invitation. The Cubs rank ninth in the NL with a .315 on-base percentage, so they must improve in extending rallies and scoring early to give their starting pitchers a margin for error. It starts with leadoff batter Dexter Fowler, who has a .308 on-base percentage. When he scores at least one run, the Cubs are 29-13. Will Starlin Castro ever show the consistency in the field and at bat that the Cubs need from him?

Throughout the first half, many of Castro's 15 errors on routine plays have been offset by dazzling stops and accurate off-balance throws that justify the $6 million he will earn in the third season of a seven-year, $60 million contract. But his batting average has declined gradually since he hit .325 in April. More alarming is that he's hitting only .194 with six RBIs in 36 at-bats with runners in scoring position with two out. Aside from his 2013 season when he batted only .245 and was demoted to the eighth spot in the order for one game, Castro has gone through stretches where he has carried the offense with his bat. The Cubs need that production soon. Can the Cubs take advantage of a seemingly favorable schedule? At first glance, the schedule seems to break the Cubs way with 23 games against division cellar dwellers — the Phillies, Brewers and Rockies. But the Cubs have developed a tendency for playing to the level of their competition. For example, they took their season series with the Nationals and swept the Mets in all seven games, but they are just 2-4 against the Brewers. The Cubs also have a challenging six-game trip to the West Coast to play the Giants and Dodgers, perennial playoff contenders, in late August. Will the real Jon Lester show up? Lester has pitched exceptionally well in each of his last three starts, but he hasn't won since May 16. Part of the drought stems from a lack of run support, but Lester has a 5.25 ERA in the first two innings of his 18 starts. Lester won't use his transition from the American League as an excuse, but it's becoming more important for him not to fall behind early and put more stress on a team challenged to score runs. -- Chicago Tribune Intro music gets Cubs, White Sox players fired up By Phil Thompson Walk-up music in baseball? "It's about pumping me up." Don't tell David Robertson his walk-up music is just a song. In the White Sox clubhouse hours before a game early this season, the closer stabbed at the air with a finger as he vented to a team official about a song, which was mistimed for his first save situation with the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Staked to a one-run lead against the Twins, Robertson took the mound in the ninth inning, but something other than his intro music was playing. "You let them know if they ever play another highlight or ad or anything but 'Back in Black' by AC/DC, I'm not signing another thing for the White Sox," he said hours before the series finale the next day. A little later, a calmer Robertson explained his frustration: "I want this place fired up and rocking." Intro songs have been calling cards for baseball players for years — Metallica's "Harvester of Sorrow" is synonymous with Paul Konerko — so some players take their musical selections personally. Others are just fine with organ music or no music at all.

For the first time since 2010, fans on both the North and South sides have been listening to walk-up songs for players. The Cubs brought back the practice after trying it out for a season five years ago, when former Cub and current Reds outfielder Marlon Byrd requested it. Back then, it didn't take with fans and some players, who went back to using Gary Pressy's organ music for their at-bats. "The only reason it caught on (now) is because of all the other renovations to Wrigley, honestly," Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. "Back in the day, they just wanted to keep the ballpark the way it was with the organ and all that. Getting in the new video boards, they're incorporating more, and walk-up songs just come along with that." Jim Oboikowitch, the Cubs' in-game programming director, agrees the timing was right. "It's something that our ownership has talked about with the players each year at the end of the season and it's something that they've always asked for," he said. Cris Quintana, the White Sox's director of game presentation, maps out the music, ads, highlights, promotions, fan dedications and more at the ballpark, then directs it all on the fly during games to keep everything on schedule — as much as possible. Quintana keeps an eye on one of the stadium's pace clocks to help umpires and team officials such as Quintana keep breaks in the action brief. Generally, walk-up music starts playing with 40 seconds left. Like the Cubs, the White Sox asked players for their song preferences during spring training to show fans the players' human side. For Cubs leadoff man Dexter Fowler, his choice of Jay Z's "Blueprint 2" isn't about what it reveals to fans. "It's about pumping me up," he said. "This one's working and we're winning. I like to change it when we're not winning." Quintana said one Sox player asked to stop having a song played for him. "He just wanted to stay focused, and that's an easy request from a player," Quintana said. "If a player doesn't want to be distracted, then that's completely fine." Sometimes the music helps players focus. Before games at both ballparks, the starting pitcher that day picks the music that plays through the clubhouse sound system. The Sox starter controls the playlist through a tablet. On one Sunday, Chris Sale got good and country with "That's Just About Right" by Blackhawk and "What Might Have Been" by Little Texas. Some players like in-game music that connects them to their faith. Others choose something lighthearted or funny. "I mix it up a little bit," said Sox catcher Tyler Flowers, whose at-bat playlist has included Three Dog Night's "Shambala" and Color Me Badd's "All 4 Love." " 'Color Me Badd' ... said something about 'flowers,'" he said. "I thought this could be a good one and it kind of throws a curveball on the fans. ... Other than that I'll mix in some Christian music, Needtobreathe — especially on Sundays I like to do that, give the people a good message, remind myself what it's all about." Adam Eaton knows he bring chuckles with his pick "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan. "It's a fun-loving song," Eaton said. "When I was younger I heard (comments) a lot and now Twitter and social media fans really enjoy it, they get a kick out of it. ... I think it's a fan favorite. It's a nice chill song, it's a good song, and it reminds somebody of a good time, I'm sure."

Eaton has heard fans scream "this is how we do it" when he's on deck. Eaton also plays "Teach Me How to Dougie" by Cali Swag District and "Ray Bands" by B.o.B. The music can become woven with a player's identity. Chipper Jones and Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train." Mariano Rivera and Metallica's "Enter Sandman." Jonathan Papelbon and the Dropkick Murphys' "I'm Shipping up to Boston." Zack Gette, 23, of Yorkville, said the music can be a tone-setter and energize the ballpark. "Especially with Adam Eaton's song 'This Is How We Do It,' top of the lineup, getting things going, sparkplug for the team," he said. Added Tonya Barlow, 40, of Shorewood: "I like it when, whenever the player comes up, you hear the same song because it kind of draws you more into the game and you know who's coming up. You feel like sometimes you wonder why they picked a certain song and what it says about them." Barlow, however, isn't thrilled to hear soccer anthem "Ole, Ole, Ole," which has played during Jose Abreu's at-bats. "I'm like, we've heard that so many times," he said. "Find something new." -- Chicago Sun-Times Chris Sale, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant 3 for the ages By John Grochowski On the field and by the numbers, it has been a notable first half for Chicago’s representatives to the All-Star Game. White Sox pitcher Chris Sale is on a strikeout pace that’s elite in major-league history, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant are challenging for Cubs bests. υ Sale is averaging 11.84 strikeouts per nine innings through 17 starts, a pace that would rank 10th in major-league history among pitchers qualified for the ERA title. The list is topped by Randy Johnson with 13.41 for the Diamondbacks in 2001, and Johnson has five more seasons in the top 10. Others who rank ahead of Sale are Pedro Martinez with 13.20 for the Red Sox in 1999, Kerry Wood with 12.58 for the Cubs in 1998 and Yu Darvish with 11.89 for the Rangers in 2013. Through 2014, there were 73 pitching seasons in big-league history of 10 or more strikeouts per nine innings, and 60 had come in 1990 or later. Only three pitchers did it before 1984: the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax (1960, 1962, 1965), the Indians’ Sam McDowell (1965, 1966) and the Angels’ Nolan Ryan (1972, 1973, 1976, 1977). That speaks in part to changes in the game. When Koufax averaged 10.13 strikeouts per nine innings in 1960, National League pitchers averaged 5.5, the same as the American League average when Ryan averaged 10.43 in 1972. AL pitchers this season are averaging 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings, and the average is 8.7 in the no-designated-hitter NL. υ Rizzo (.298 batting average, .955 OPS, 4.0 wins above replacement by Baseball-Reference.com) could challenge for the Cubs’ best season by a first baseman. If he stays on the pace he’s on, he’d finish with an rWAR of about 7.4. There have been only two seasons by a Cubs first baseman with an rWAR of 7 or better. Derrek Lee is No. 1 with a .335 batting average, 1.080 OPS and 7.7 rWAR in 2005, followed by Frank Chance’s .319, .849, 7.3 in 1906. In the live-ball era, which starts in 1920, Rizzo’s 14.0 career rWAR with the Cubs ranks fifth among first basemen behind Mark Grace (43.9, 1988-2000), Phil Cavarretta (33.7, 1934-53), Lee (22.5, 2004-10) and Leon Durham (15.0,

1981-88). Ernie Banks played more than half his games at first, but 54.8 of his career 67.5 rWAR came in his shortstop years. υ Bryant could shatter Cubs bests for a rookie third baseman. Hitting .269 with an .848 OPS and a 2.9 rWAR at the break, he’s less than a win behind Jim Doyle’s 3.5 in 1911 and Ryne Sandberg’s 3.1 in 1982 (before he moved to second). With a slight adjustment for time in the minors, Bryant is on pace for about a 5.7 rWAR. That would rank 11th among Cubs third basemen, including non-rookies. Ron Santo has the top four and six of the top eight seasons, led by a 9.8 in 1967. Others in the top 10 are Heinie Zimmerman (tied for fifth with a 7.0 in 1912), Harry Steinfeldt (tied for fifth with a 7.0 in 1906), Andy Pafko (ninth with a 6.2 in 1948) and Stan Hack (10th with a 6.0 in 1945). -- Chicago Sun-Times Kyle Schwarber still raking after move to Triple-A Iowa By David Just Kyle Schwarber played six games with the Cubs last month and proved he’s ready to tackle big-league pitching. The catcher posted a .364/.391/.591 slash line and even cranked a home run in the majors before being sent to Triple-A Iowa. The move to Triple-A represented his first appearance at that level. He’d already proven he could dominate Double-A before his promotion to the Cubs, and he hasn’t slowed down since his arrival in Iowa. Schwarber owns a .333/.403/.633 slash line at Triple-A along with seven doubles, a triple and three home runs. He’s also driven in 10 runs in 17 games. He had a monster game last week, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a homer against New Orleans. Schwarber was also named the MVP of the Futures Game on Sunday, belting a two-run triple in the third inning. Schwarber, though, still needs development defensively before the Cubs can commit to him behind the plate. -- Cubs.com All hands on deck: Hungry Cubs in hunt By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Joe Maddon planned on spending the All-Star break in the same hotel he did in 2008. The Cubs' manager isn't superstitious, but that year, his Tampa Bay team reached the World Series. He's looking for the same good vibe. Maddon has been talking about getting the Cubs to the playoffs since he took over, and the team ended the first half with its best record since 2008. There will be ups and downs, which is to be expected with such a young team, and Maddon is hoping they can get contributions from everyone. "There's the old thing about a different bus driver every night -- I kind of love that," Maddon said. "When a team is going well, you talk about how every night there's a different hero. That's what you're looking for, because you don't want to lay it on one guy. For us to get this thing done, we've got to spread it out." FIVE KEY DEVELOPMENTS 1. Rizzo can do it all

Anthony Rizzo has not only led the team in several offensive categories, including home runs (16), but he hasn't blinked when facing left-handed pitching. And he's survived getting hit by a pitch a Major League-leading 19 times. 2. No egos in bullpen Hector Rondon began the season as the Cubs' closer, but Maddon decided to go with matchups rather than designate one guy to finish games. It's worked. It also helps that Maddon can rely on veteran Jason Motte if needed. 3. Rookie slugger Bryant is resilient Cubs fans expected Kris Bryant to hit a home run every at-bat, walk across Lake Michigan and single-handedly beat the Cardinals. He hasn't done all of that, but he leads the team in RBIs (51) and seems to be handling the growing pains. 4. Arrieta is an ace Right-hander Jake Arrieta finished the first half strong with a complete-game, two-hit win over the White Sox and also hit his first Major League home run. He's already matched his career high in wins (10) and leads the team in strikeouts (123). 5. Montero is an upgrade behind the plate Miguel Montero may have ended the first half injured after jamming his thumb in the first inning Saturday, but his value to the team is tough to measure. Every pitcher he's worked with gives him credit. If Montero is out for a long time, the club will miss him. FIVE STORYLINES TO WATCH 1. Do they need more pitching? The Cubs feel better about their pitching with the addition of Clayton Richard and Rafael Soriano, but they have to decide whether to pursue more depth in the trade market. Richard did well in his Cubs debut July 4 against the Marlins. Soriano, whom Maddon knows from their days together in Tampa Bay, could provide an experienced arm in the bullpen. Dallas Beeler, promoted from Triple-A Iowa to face the Cardinals, is another option. 2. Can Russell make the adjustment? The Cubs have asked Addison Russell not only to deal with big league pitching but also learn a new position. Moving the talented shortstop to second base has been fairly easy. Maddon believes in Russell. "I like his swing, I have no problems with his approach, his bat speed," Maddon said. "It's going to happen, and this kid is going to be really good." The manager even gave Russell a book to read -- Stephen King's "11/22/63" -- to give him something to think about besides baseball. 3. Will Soler provide some pop? Jorge Soler hit three home runs in his first three MLB games last August, and Cubs fans were giddy about the power he could provide. Unfortunately, he missed one month this year with a sprained left ankle. Soler is a key part of the lineup and, like Russell, needs to make the adjustments at the plate. He could be a real force. 4. Can Lester cope with the National League? It hasn't been a smooth transition for Jon Lester in his first season in the NL. He did collect his first hit -- finally -- on July 6 to end an 0-for-66 slump. However, the lefty ended the first half riding a career-high six-game losing streak and hasn't won since May 16.

5. What will Joe do next? So far, the Cubs had a D.J. entertain in Spring Training and wore shorts and a sport coat to Miami. A magician performed before a series in New York. The Cubs' players celebrate each win as if it's the seventh game in the World Series, with loud music, disco lights and smoke. Maddon will repeat his preseason messages on Friday: "Respect 90" and "Do Simple Better." It's only a matter of time before an animal arrives in the Cubs' clubhouse. FIRST-HALF AWARDS MVP: Rizzo. Maddon calls Rizzo a "complete player," and the first baseman was recognized with his second straight All-Star selection. Cy Young: Arrieta. In his five starts before the break, Arrieta went 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA, and he is the first Cubs pitcher with 10 wins at the halfway mark since Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano did so in 2008. Rookie: Bryant. Promoted to the big leagues April 17, the third baseman is off to a great start. He was named NL Rookie of the Month in May, selected to the NL All-Star team in July and led the Cubs in RBIs at the break. Top reliever: Motte. Maddon has leaned more toward matchups rather than relying on one pitcher as the closer, and Motte has stepped in when needed in save situations as he did with the Cardinals. PLAYERS TO WATCH IN SECOND HALF Lester: Maddon is convinced Lester is now more comfortable, and he projects good things for the second half. All Lester needs is a little run support. The Cubs have scored three runs in his past four starts. Russell: The rookie has been forced to learn a new position at the big league level. The question is, will his development be hurt if he continues to struggle at the plate? Soler: The Cubs are hoping for more power and production from the rookie right fielder, who missed a month because of a sprained left ankle. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs: Five things to watch in the second half By Jesse Rogers The Cubs are in contention and that means it will be an exciting second half in Chicago. Here’s what we’ll be watching: 5. July 31 trade deadline: It makes the list only because it gets so much attention, but it’s an overrated aspect of the season each year. The Cubs will or won’t make the playoffs based on who’s on the team now -- not who could be on the team. There are exceptions to the rule – see Cubs, 1984 – but unless a blockbuster is coming, the makeup of the team will be relatively the same. There will be a time when Starlin Castro, Javier Baez or some other big names get moved but that’s probably an offseason deal to be done. Right now, a fifth starter and a Ben Zobrist type of player seem legitimate avenues to explore. In fact, don’t be surprised if it’s Zobrist himself who comes. 4. The return of Schwarbs: After a successful stint in the majors as a designated hitter for a few days, fans have been clamoring for the return of 2014 first-round pick Kyle Schwarber. He may not have caught enough games in the minors to stick around for good by the time the Cubs need a designated hitter again in mid-August, but one way or another his bat should be here for the final push to the playoffs. The Cubs have put his development as a catcher ahead of everything else and it might just pay dividends in the long run.

3. Power surge: The Cubs rank just seventh in the NL in home runs after finishing second in 2014. Chicago weather wasn’t exactly conducive to the long ball in the first half, but there have to be some hot and humid days ahead, right? More than anything players such as Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and even Addison Russell, who has shown some pop, should have a better understanding of the pitching they’re up against – as well as the strike zone. Additionally, if a few other veterans like Castro get hot, the Cubs should climb the home run ladder. 2. Schedule: The first five series’ after the All-Star break are against teams below .500. Just the very notion that the Cubs have seven games with the Philadelphia Phillies remaining should have fans giddy. There will be some tough moments during a 10-day road trip in the middle of September but at least those Phillies break up a stretch against St. Louis and Pittsburgh. The schedule just feels better as the Cubs will sleep in their own beds from Aug. 6-24. 1. Joe Maddon: Only once with Tampa Bay, since 2008, did Maddon have a below .500 record in the second half – and that was a 36-37 mark in 2009. He has been more mindful than most about getting rest for starters while keeping his pitching rotation intact. While many teams might skip a starter after a day off or a rain out, Maddon has maintained his five-man rotation. In fact, just once, has he skipped his No. 5 starter eschewing the many chances to get Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester or Jason Hammel an extra start. Remember, the Cubs had four rainouts in the first half. And Maddon has vowed some days off for the rookies so they’re ready for a September push. The Cubs have the right manager for the right time. -- ESPNChicago.com Kyle Schwarber could soon become a force for Cubs in the second half By Jerry Crasnick Kyle Schwarber has the offensive tool kit, work ethic and competitive mindset to make the Chicago Cubs think he's destined to be a featured part of their batting order for years to come. As he completes his apprenticeship in the minor leagues, he has already shown he has a gift for making the most out of cameo appearances. When the Cubs summoned Schwarber from the Double-A Tennessee Smokies for a designated-hitter stint in June, he made an instant impression by going 4-for-5 against Cleveland in his first MLB start. In six interleague games, Schwarber went 8-for-22 to ingratiate himself with Cubs fans who were already giddy over the prospect of watching Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and friends progress as building blocks at Wrigley Field. The Cubs sent Schwarber back to Triple-A Iowa City to smooth out the rough edges in his catching on June 21, and now it's a matter of punching the clock and waiting for a return engagement. That could happen shortly if Chicago catcher Miguel Montero's thumb injury requires some extended downtime. If not, Schwarber appears to be a lock to rejoin the big club in September when the rosters expand to 40. Schwarber, 22, is OK with waiting if that's what the organization decrees. He attracted some attention during the All-Star break by winning the MVP award at the Futures Game in Cincinnati. But any day that includes sweat, dirt, a little pine tar and the exhilaration of the pitcher-batter competition is usually a good day. "I don't think Kyle even knows it, but the way he walks to the plate, it's like, 'I'm here to do battle, and I'm here to put a hurting on this baseball,'" said Jason McLeod, the Cubs' senior vice president of player development. At a solid 6-0, 235 pounds, Schwarber looks as if he should be swinging an ax or pulling up tree stumps for a living. He grew up about 40 miles from Cincinnati in the town of Middletown, Ohio, where his father, Greg, is a police chief and his mother, Donna, works as a nurse. At Middletown High School, Schwarber spent his springs punishing baseballs and each autumn crushing running backs and receivers as a linebacker on the football team. He received a mere three baseball scholarship offers -- from Indiana, Miami of Ohio and the University of Cincinnati -- before heading to Bloomington, Indiana, to play for

the Hoosiers. But he could just as easily have landed a Division I football scholarship if he had chosen to take that route. Schwarber developed his selectively aggressive approach to hitting while attending games at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati as a teen and taking mental notes on his favorite player, Reds first baseman Joey Votto. In 621 minor league plate appearances, Schwarber has a slash line of .333/.429/.613. If he expands the strike zone with runners on base, it won't be by much. "I love watching Joey Votto hit," Schwarber said. "He has this awesome approach at the plate, and I tried to make it into my own when I was in college. He just wants to get his pitch, and when he gets his pitch, he doesn't miss it. That's what I took from it. I tried to make it my own and I kind of hound myself on it." The most pressing long-term question surrounding Schwarber is, where will he play in the field? Some talent evaluators are skeptical about his future as a catcher and think he will ultimately gravitate to left field. "He was one of the best amateurs I've seen as far as hitting for a high average with plus power, but his catching and receiving are just OK," said a National League scout. "He has enough arm to keep non-base stealers honest. I think he could do it. However, catching every day is a beatdown [position], especially for his body type. I'd prefer that he play left field where he can stay fresh for longer. The risk of him catching every day and hindering his bat is too great." For now, the Cubs are assessing Schwarber's future from the diametrically opposite perspective. They think he provides so much value as a hitter, he has a chance to be a perennial All-Star if he's able to make himself into even an average defensive catcher. Schwarber has shown glimpses -- like the game in early June when he made YouTube magic by throwing out Twins mega-prospect Byron Buxton with a 1.94 "pop time" from home plate to second base on an attempted steal. The Cubs are investing a lot of time and resources into making Schwarber the best catcher he can be. Big league catching coach Mike Borzello and minor league field coordinator Tim Cossins have formed what McLeod calls an organizational "tag team" to tutor Schwarber on the nuances of the position. Swinging a bat comes more naturally to Schwarber, and he's an equal-opportunity masher vs. righties and lefties. One of the most fulfilling games of his season took place July 7, when he doubled twice and homered off left-hander Justin Nicolino, one of the Miami Marlins' top prospects. The Cubs are confident that Schwarber will be their catcher of the future. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast Schwarber's interactions with his fellow Cubs in spring training and again in June made it clear that he won't be daunted or overwhelmed by the big stage once he gets a crack at a promotion. "I don't want to overblow this, but he's a guy you really want in your dugout," McLeod said. "He's all about competing and winning and picking up his teammates. In the short time he was here, guys really gravitated to him. He interacts with everyone -- whether it's the American players or the Latin guys, the veterans or the younger players. He's very comfortable with who he is. For a guy who's really confident, there are no airs about him." Use the word "blue-collar" to describe Schwarber's approach to baseball and life, and he takes it as a compliment in the truest sense. "I don't think I'm better than anyone else," he said. "I always try to be myself and be the same person around everyone, because that's what my parents taught me when I was growing up." With an injury here or a sliver of an opportunity there, Schwarber will soon rejoin Bryant, Russell and the coterie of young talent that has Cubs fans harboring postseason hopes and daring to dream big in 2015. The next time he's summoned to Chicago, it could very well be for the long haul. --

ESPNChicago.com Midseason roundup: Chicago Cubs By Staff With the first half of the MLB season in the books, our ESPN.com baseball analysts and the folks at Grantland have put together their lists of where each team stands and what players should be singled out thus far. Here’s what they had to say about the Chicago Cubs (47-40): ESPN.com Power Ranking: 10 Grantland Midseason Stock Report ranking: 8 Jim Bowden’s trade deadline status (Insider): Buyers Individual acknowledgements ESPNChicago.com Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers offers his midseason grades for management and each player and awards for several members of the team. First baseman Anthony Rizzo was named an honorable mention for NL Most Valuable Player of the first half by Jayson Stark. In addition, Stark listed third baseman Kris Bryant as a runner-up for NL rookie of the half year and skipper Joe Maddon as a runner-up for NL manager of the half year. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs 2015 midseason grades By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- These first-half grades come with a caveat: Not all players are graded on the same scale. Freshmen (rookies) get a break, while big-money veterans (seniors) are held to a higher standard. MANAGEMENT Front Office (GM Jed Hoyer pictured right) It's simple. The Chicago Cubs' lack of starting pitching depth is a negative but the addition of Addison Russell, while bringing up Kyle Schwarber for a stint, were good moves. Plus, role-player additions of Chris Denorfia and Jonathan Herrera went under the radar but were solid. Their second-half grade is important as well. Manager Joe Maddon Consider: Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks started slow, the bullpen almost imploded in early May and the offense has been struggling for the past two months. Plus, he had a shaky defense early on. But Maddon has kept the ship afloat and the Cubs have won the second most one-run games in the league. STARTING PITCHERS Jon Lester He was the toughest to grade, though it's much easier if you just consider the whole half and not try to break it down. His 3.59 ERA tells a good story. And the guess here is he would give himself about the same grade. Jake Arrieta

He actually had about five starts that were un-Arrieta-like but they came back in May and early June. He has been rolling for most of the first half, highlighted by his pitching a complete game and hitting a home run in Sunday's finale. Jason Hammel A little dip late in the half may have cost him an All-Star bid but his 0.95 WHIP jumps off the page. He had a good first half last season for the Cubs -- this one was even better. Kyle Hendricks Talk about an up-and-down half. He ended it on a 22-inning scoreless streak but had six starts earlier in the year in which he gave up four or more runs. His past three were top-notch. Tsuyoshi Wada Things started out well, then went south, then Maddon told him to be a "bad ass" and he pitched well again. The "minus" is for his oft-injured status. RELIEF PITCHERS Justin Grimm Six of his 17 inherited runners have scored -- that's a little high. But his 36 strikeouts in 22 innings have come in handy. James Russell He has quietly put together a nice first half in his return to the Cubs. Just two of his 23 inherited runners have scored and he has produced a 1.71 ERA. His 1.29 WHIP is a little high for a specialized lefty but it hasn't hurt him. Edwin Jackson He hasn't been that bad as a reliever though he's a highly paid middle man and four of 11 inherited runners have scored on him. But he hasn't given up a home run and his ERA is only 3.19. What are you going to do? Travis Wood Handed the fifth starter's role, he couldn't hold onto it, but he has thrown all right as a reliever. There has been some solid innings and some that he has been hit hard in, but his 1.27 WHIP is OK -- though a 4.40 ERA isn't. Hector Rondon He has absolutely pitched better than you think and the numbers support that. But Maddon never felt real comfortable with him closing so he has a different role. But how bad could he have been with a 2.17 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 12 saves with only three blown ones? Pedro Strop The only reason he gets a "minus" is for a stretch in May when he blew up, but he has more than righted the ship and falls into Rondon's category as pitching better than you think. His "problem" is he throws only in high-leverage situations, so when he has an off night, it's glaring. Jason Motte

The further he has gotten from his arm surgery the better he has looked. Did you know he has six wins and five saves in five opportunities? He's only in the game when it's on the line, and more often than not he has performed. CATCHERS Miguel Montero He's still pretty good at pitch framing and he has shown pop, but he has warts to his game as well. His arm hasn't been much of a deterrent on the base paths while he has hit just .125 in game situations deemed late/close. That's last on the team. He still knows how to draw a walk though. Remember, a "C" means average, not awful. David Ross You were expecting an "F" just because he's hitting .189? You don't actually think the Cubs are surprised by this, do you? His pitch framing is even better than Montero's and he has been every bit the clubhouse leader the Cubs expected. INFIELDERS Anthony Rizzo He's easily the most dangerous hitter in the Cubs' lineup and his work against lefties -- from Clayton Kershaw to Chris Sale -- has been outstanding. His 46 strikeouts to 45 walks (plus 19 hit-by-pitches) might be his most impressive statistic. Addison Russell You might think with a .226/.296 slash line this grade is too high -- even for a 21-year-old rookie -- but it might be too low. His 1.1 Defensive WAR is second in the National League among second basemen. With time at his new position he has reduced the errors and most defensive metrics show him in the running for a Gold Glove already. And his 16 doubles is all you need to know about his potential. Chalk up the rest to youth. Starlin Castro The "plus" comes from a few game-winning hits but overall it has been an awful year for the five-year veteran. Sabermetrics aren't needed to analyze him as his .247 batting average, .283 on-base percentage and 15 errors -- many on routine plays -- tell the whole story. Kris Bryant Where would the Cubs be without his team leading 51 RBIs? Sure, he's on pace to strike out close to 200 times but his strikeout-to-walk ratio isn't far from 2-to-1. That works. He has reduced his miscues at third but needs to be more reliable with his arm. Johnny Herrera If you think that grade should be lower because of a .256 batting average, then you don't know how hard it is to come off the bench and produce. He's 4-for-16 as a pinch hitter and has been solid as a spot starter. OUTFIELDERS Chris Coghlan His batting average on balls in play is well below his career numbers. He has hit the ball hard with less to show for it than most and he has probably played a little better than expected in left field. Maddon must like him. He appeared in every game save the final one of the first half.

Chris Denorfia He was on his way to a lost season with two different hamstring injuries but never stopped hitting in-between. His role as a leader has been understated as well. Dexter Fowler It's a "D" if you just look at his on-base percentage (.308) compared to his past. It's bad. It's a "C" if you think he has played pretty well in center field and has been the recipient of the most head-scratching calls by home plate umpires this season. Jorge Soler He doesn't get quite the pass the other rookies do as he had extended time in the majors last season, but more often than not he has looked like a different hitter this time around. He's had little feel with men in scoring position or the game on the line, but his defense has been pretty good. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' 2015 midseason award winners: MVP, LVP and MCP By Jesse Rogers With the first half in the books and the second half just ahead, Jesse Rogers hands out his midseason awards for the Chicago Cubs. MVP: Anthony Rizzo The first baseman wins it in a landslide. The 25-year-old has been a consistent on-base machine against both lefties and righties while providing young leadership. His willingness to get hit by a pitch is a perfect example of what kind of a team player he’s become. Rizzo is the complete package right now. LVP: Edwin Jackson Jackson gets this honor almost by default, as he really has no role on the team. And there's that $13 million of salary he's eating up. That's a ton for a mop-up middle reliever. He has pitched OK, but there's little value in his outings -- and even less for a potential trade partner. How long can a contending team keep him on the roster? MCP (Most Confounding Player): Starlin Castro No player elicits a wider range of opinions than the Cubs shortstop. He might be the most criticized multiple All-Star -- but the most deserving of it as well. Many thought his hot April was a sign of things to come, as Castro was finally able to blend in on a good team. But since May 1 he has hit .221 with three home runs. And his defense has suffered as well. Where is the Castro with all that raw talent? Social media wonders the same thing on a daily basis. -- CSNChicago.com Cubs: Can Theo Epstein land a big fish at the trade deadline? By Patrick Mooney Theo Epstein doesn’t know if the Cubs will make a splash at the trade deadline. But at least July 31 won’t be about James Russell sending Jeff Samardzija off with a cigarette and a beer and Jason Hammel’s pregnant wife bursting into tears.

The Cubs sold high with last summer’s Fourth of July blockbuster trade, getting two first-round picks from the Oakland A’s (Addison Russell and Billy McKinney) and hoping they wouldn’t have to do that type of deal again. The Cubs are looking to buy in Year 4 of the Epstein administration. The president of baseball operations promised to make difficult decisions with emotional detachment and the big picture in mind, methodically building The Foundation for Sustained Success. So how much of the future are the Cubs willing to sacrifice now? The Cubs are 47-40 at the All-Star break, which is good enough to hold a one-game lead over the New York Mets for the National League’s second wild card. Baseball Prospectus (69 percent) and FanGraphs (64.3 percent) give them a good chance to make the playoffs. Those computer simulations also see the Cubs as buried behind the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, giving them almost no chance to win the division (6.2 percent to 4.8 percent), which could mean a one-and-done playoff game on the road. “Teams do consider the differences between wild-card contention and winning the division,” Epstein said. “It’s a significant difference. But at the same time, you have to look at where you are. For us, any type of postseason play – or the opportunity to go win in the postseason – is a significant step and would mean a lot to us for a lot of different reasons. “So I don’t think you take anything lightly – or discount the importance of that postseason berth – just because it may look like the wild card now.” Also remember that last year’s two World Series teams – the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals – got into the tournament as wild cards. So if the Cubs want to build off this momentum and expose their young players to October pressure – not to mention keep the turnstiles moving at Wrigley Field and dress up the product for the next rounds of TV negotiations – a three-month rental player could still be a fit. “It depends on the acquisition cost,” Epstein said. “It’s always about who you’re getting, what kind of impact they make, and then the acquisition cost. It’s easy to make deals. But it’s hard to make deals that make sense.” It’s harder to make deals if you have less than $5 million to play with and need an established starting pitcher and could use a veteran outfielder and another power arm for the bullpen. “I do think we have some flexibility,” Epstein said. “We didn’t spend all the money – we built in a little bit of a cushion for in-season moves.” If that hasn’t eliminated someone like Cole Hamels from consideration, then let’s look at a farm system that so far hasn’t been mortgaged in a win-now trade. If Russell, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber are (understandably) off the table now that they have become a big-league second baseman, an All-Star third baseman and a Futures Game MVP, do the Cubs even have a blue-chip prospect to entice a team like the Philadelphia Phillies? Besides Schwarber (No. 6), the Cubs placed two more hitters on Baseball America’s midseason list of the industry’s top 50 prospects. Gleyber Torres (No. 28), a shortstop out of Venezuela, is 18 years old and playing at Class-A South Bend. McKinney (No. 30), who projects as a corner outfielder, is hitting .303 with two homers and 24 RBI through 51 games at Double-A Tennessee.

As far as the surplus of middle infielders, Javier Baez (.922 OPS) hasn’t played for Triple-A Iowa since June 7 because of a fractured finger. Arismendy Alcantara can’t generate the same buzz after struggling to adjust to a super-utility role in April (2-for-26). Carl Edwards Jr. is working out of Iowa’s bullpen now and could become a factor in the season’s second half. Pierce Johnson – who has dealt with injuries throughout his career – is 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA in six starts for Tennessee this year. If the Cubs had any big-time prospects close to joining the rotation, you would have heard about them by now, instead of seeing Donn Roach, Clayton Richard and Dallas Beeler make spot starts. “It’s been a good year in the system,” Epstein said. “A lot of guys have performed. The system’s strong. We’ve graduated a lot of good players, but we still have a top system. Not the top system. But a top system.” Epstein also acknowledged: “It doesn’t matter what we think. It matters what other teams think.” Epstein is certainly aware of the way the team is covered – and can use the media to shape public perceptions – but he won’t make deals to win tomorrow’s headlines. Star manager Joe Maddon keeps saying the Cubs can compete with anyone, and the players wear “We Are Good” T-shirts. A big trade could give the clubhouse a shot of adrenaline. “I think it gets misstated at times and people make it a binary thing,” Epstein said. “Like: ‘The front office needs to make this trade in order to show support to the players, to reward them and recognize that they’ve done their job.’ “We have to support our players every single game of the season, and there are a lot of different ways to do that. “We’ve taken an aggressive mindset all year, whether it’s calling up Schwarber to DH, or not worrying about Super Two (financial implications) at all with any of our prospects, or making small trades here or there. “You can’t always land like the big fish at the trade deadline. “If you do, great. If you don’t, it certainly doesn’t mean that you don’t support the team or the players or reward them. I think that’s sort of a false notion.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs: Home Run Derby an 'emotional roller coaster' for Bryant family By Tony Andracki CINCINNATI — Kris Bryant wasn't the only one who had a dream come true by participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday night. Mike Bryant — Kris' dad — had been waiting for this moment for 35 years. Kris enlisted Mike as his personal pitcher during his first Home Run Derby appearance, the first time Mike got to enjoy the life of a big-leaguer. It was just the latest step in a whirlwind year for the Bryant family. From Kris' big-league debut April 17 at Wrigley Field to his first All-Star selection to Monday's Home Run Derby, it's almost too much for Mike to handle. The elder Bryant had to hold back tears in the locker room after the Derby, some two hours after he threw his last pitch to his son.

"Right now, I feel so mentally drained," Mike said. "It was incredible. ... It's a roller coaster of emotions. He's on a roller coaster of emotions and he's handling it. I'm at home, watching every pitch. You know, this is the big leagues now." Kris was knocked out in the first round of the Home Run Derby, hitting nine homers to Albert Pujols' 10. But for Kris, he didn't mind the result. "I didn't care if I won or lost or how many homers I hit," Kris said. "It was more of the experience and enjoying [it with my dad]. ... It was great. I wouldn't trade that for anything. Just getting to experience that with him. "I know he had a great time, too. Just to see my dad out there having a blast put a smile on my face. "He's a big part of my success and a big part of who I am. Having him out there was icing on the cake, really." Mike admitted he had some trouble calming down the nerves while pitching, struggling to find a way to slow his heart rate down and breathe. Kris, on the other hand, "doesn't get nervous," his dad says. "That's bucket list stuff right there," Mike said. "We talked about this when he signed, like, 'Kris, I know it's a little premature, but if you ever make the big leagues and you become an All-Star and you get invited to the Home Run Derby, I want to pitch to you.' "He said, 'Of course, Dad. You've been throwing to me all my life.' I did OK out there and he did the best he could with the way I was pitching him. It was OK, but there's better BP pitchers than me." Before he started throwing to Kris, Mike went behind the mound and drew initials in the grass of an old college baseball teammate who passed away recently (just a week after seeing Kris play in New York). "I was taken in that moment, looking up at all 50,000 eyes thinking, 'Man, so this is what it's like to stand out there on the field and watch that many people watch you perform,'" Mike said. Mike was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the ninth round of the 1980 MLB Draft and spent two years playing in A-ball before being released. As a guy who doesn't want to leave the field — "I can't think of a place I'd rather be than be at the ballpark for eight hours" — Mike never got to realize his dream of playing in the big leagues. Now, he can live through Kris' experiences. "I like to say when he made it, I made it," Mike said. "Now I'm going through everything that he's going through and that I didn't get to experience as a minor-leaguer and I never got there. "So I'm going through it with him and I'm too old for this. This roller coaster, I can't handle it. Kris handles it. He's right there, he stays right in the middle. "I've been blessed and lucky to have a kid like that and coach him like that." Mike said the reward is even greater now that Kris is fulfilling his dreams of playing in the majors. "You know what, I wish that for every parent, to be able to say that," Mike said. "It is better. The disappointment that I went through when I got cut and I was sent home, I didn't want him to have to go through that. "So it is better. A whole lot better." --