March 31, 2017

Cubs.com, Russell, Rizzo homer; Anderson solid for 5 http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221635936/astros-cubs-combine-for-4-hrs-in-exhibition/

Cubs.com, Lester earns right to start Opening Night http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221580806/jon-lester-to-face-cardinals-on-opening-night/

Cubs.com, Cubs remain top dog in NL Central http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221652876/chicago-cubs-remain-team-to-beat-in-nl-central/

Cubs.com, La Stella relieved to learn he's on roster http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221623856/tommy-la-stella-on-making-cubs-roster/

Cubs.com, Maddon: Cubs turning page, aiming to repeat http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221628170/joe-maddon-gets-cubs-ready-for-regular-season/

ESPNChicago.com, Curse-breaking Chicago Cubs not afraid to change http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43516/curse-breaking-cubs-not-afraid-to-change

CSNChicago.com, Follow The Leader: What Makes Theo Epstein An Unstoppable Force For Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/follow-leader-what-makes-theo-epstein-unstoppable-force-cubs

CSNChicago.com, How Justin Grimm Could Be X-Factor In Cubs Bullpen http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/how-justin-grimm-could-be-x-factor-cubs-bullpen

Chicago Tribune, World Series goal achieved, Theo Epstein sets sights on Cubs empire http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-theo-epstein-cubs-empire-spt-0402-20170331-story.html

Chicago Tribune, What if Cubs had lost Game 7? Line between agony, afterglow so thin http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-world-series-almost-goats-spt-0331-20170330-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Albert Almora Jr.'s sudden power a pleasant asset for Cubs offense http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-albert-almora-power-surge-cubs-spt-0331-20170330-story.html

Chicago Tribune, After bout of food poisoning, Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks set for return http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-hendricks-food-poisoning-20170331-story.html

Chicago Tribune, New faces on the Cubs: Pitcher Wade Davis has history of winning http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-new-faces-wade-davis-cubs-spt-0402-20170331-story.html

Chicago Tribune, New faces on the Cubs: Jon Jay looking to help Albert Almora Jr. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-new-faces-jon-jay-cubs-spt-0402-20170331-story.html

Chicago Tribune, New faces on the Cubs: Koji Uehara's split-finger fastball still effective at 41 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-new-faces-koji-uehara-cubs-spt-0402-20170331-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Drop the mic? No, says Theo: `There’s a lot more work to be done’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/drop-the-mic-no-says-theo-theres-a-lot-more-work-to-be-done/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Carl Edwards Jr.’s goal: ‘Make the All-Star team this year’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-carl-edwards-jr-s-goal-make-the-all-star-team-this-year/

-- Cubs.com Russell, Rizzo homer; Anderson solid for 5 By Carrie Muskat and Alyson Footer HOUSTON -- The Cubs and Astros, two teams expected to be among the top offenses this year, gave a sneak preview of what may be to come with a high-scoring affair Thursday night at Minute Maid Park. The Astros edged the Cubs, 8-6, taking the first of a two-game exhibition set that will mark the final tuneup for both teams. Houston right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. struck out the side in the first inning, but he struggled for the next two. The Cubs tagged him for three runs on four hits in a second highlighted by a leadoff triple by Ben Zobrist and RBIs by Addison Russell and Javier Baez. "The good thing about tonight is it doesn't count," McCullers said. "That's one positive. My fastball command was pretty good today. I struggled with my breaking ball, I struggled with my changeup. To be able to see good life on my heater, being able to put it in and out. ... The breaking ball wasn't really working, The changeup, I didn't have a lot of confidence in it. That's on me, I'll figure it out. I"ve got until Tuesday." The Astros answered in the bottom of the inning behind a two-run homer by Josh Reddick, his first long ball of the spring, off Cubs lefty Brett Anderson. "The homer Reddick hit was a pitch that I probably could've hit out -- it was right on his barrel," said Anderson, who graded his stuff a "D-minus." "The defense made some really good plays behind me and I was able to get my pitch count up and get through five [innings]," Anderson said. "If this was a regular-season game, it would've given us a chance to win. There were mostly positives going forward, knowing my stuff will be better, can be better, and the fact that I got through it and my body feels good and my arm feels good and I'll get ready for St. Louis and Milwaukee." The third frame produced home runs from each team -- Russell's two-run shot into the Crawford Boxes off McCullers, and an opposite-field homer by Jose Altuve off Anderson, narrowing the Cubs' advantage to 5-3. The longest homer of the night belonged to Anthony Rizzo, who launched a solo shot into the second deck in right field off James Hoyt. Another offensive burst for the Astros occurred in the sixth. Evan Gattis' two-run double off Hector Rondon tied the game at 6, and Alex Bregman's base hit off Jhondaniel Medina gave Houston its first lead. That lead increased by one when a passed ball by Kyle Schwarber allowed the eighth Astros run to score. Schwarber started in left field but switched to catcher in the sixth, the first time he's done so in a Major League game since he tore two ligaments in his left knee last April 7. Schwarber, considered the third catcher on the Cubs' depth chart, did catch four innings in a Minor League game last Friday. Cubs Up Next: The Cubs wrap up the exhibition season Friday at 1:10 p.m. CT when Kyle Hendricks faces the Astros in his final preseason start, free on MLB.TV. The Major League ERA leader last season, Hendricks had not walked a

batter until his last outing in Las Vegas, when he walked four. He finished Cactus League play with 15 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings. Astros Up Next: The Astros wrap up their spring season Friday, free on MLB.TV against the Cubs at Minute Maid Park. Right-hander Joe Musgrove, who compiled a 2.45 ERA throughout the exhibition season to earn a spot in the rotation, will take the mound for the Astros. -- Cubs.com Lester earns right to start Opening Night By Carrie Muskat HOUSTON -- Jon Lester and Orval Overall will have something in common on Sunday night. Overall was the Cubs' Opening Day starter in 1909, the last year the franchise followed a World Series championship season. Lester will open the Cubs' defense of their championship when they face the Cardinals in St. Louis on ESPN at 7:35 p.m. CT. "Opening Day always means something to me," Lester said. "That's obviously an honor to be named that guy, especially on this staff and in this organization. I've been fortunate enough to do it a couple times. It's never easy, but it's always fun." It's not easy partly because of all the hoopla surrounding the game, he said. "It's a weird time," the lefty said. "There's so much more going into that than starting Game 1 of the playoffs, because then you've had the whole season, you know where you're at, you know what's working, you've got your scouting reports. I feel that first one is always different. But it's also fun. There's a lot of different emotions going into it." The biggest change for Lester is that his favorite catcher, David Ross, is now "Dancing With the Stars" following his retirement. Willson Contreras is the Cubs' regular catcher, and this spring, he's shadowed Lester. Contreras has caught not only Lester's Cactus League starts, but also his two Minor League games and every bullpen session. Contreras asserted himself early in camp and told Ross he wanted to learn Lester's quirks on his own. The best way to do that? "You just pitch," Lester said. "I'm still understanding how he calls the game. It goes both ways -- it's not just me sitting out there going, 'No, no, no, you're not doing anything right.' I'm learning from him, as well, and what he likes to do." What Lester figured out quickly is that he needs to duck when runners try to steal on Contreras, whose throw to second almost has more velocity than the lefty's pitches. Not many teams have a pitching staff strong enough in which the Major League ERA leader is the No. 5 starter, but that's the Cubs' rotation. Lester will start the opener and be followed by Jake Arrieta, John Lackey, newcomer Brett Anderson and Kyle Hendricks, who topped the Majors with a 2.13 ERA. Lester finished second in the National League Cy Young Award balloting last year; Hendricks was third. With all the talent, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said it was fairly easy to select Lester as the Opening Night starter. "It has to go to Jon Lester based on the body of work," Maddon said. "We feel good about that." In 2015, Lester was the new guy on the Cubs and eager to justify the six-year, $155 million contract he signed. He won 11 games and posted a 3.34 ERA. Last year, Lester was slotted into the No. 2 spot in the rotation behind Arrieta, who won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award. Lester has some work to do to catch Overall, who started four consecutive Opening Days, beginning in 1907.

"We've accomplished what I came here to do," Lester said about winning the World Series. "That's the main reason why [Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein] wanted me to get here and why I wanted to come here. You do that and that makes you feel more comfortable. The hard part is, you don't get complacent. That's where you have to still do your work and put your time in to be ready to pitch." There doesn't seem to be a change in attitude in Cubs camp from last year. "It's hard to fix something that's not broke," Lester said. "It's pretty much the same as usual. ... That's our team goal again to win a World Series, as it is every year." -- Cubs.com Cubs remain top dog in NL Central By Phil Rogers There are easier assignments than the one facing the Cardinals, Pirates and the rest of the National League Central. The question is no longer whether the Cubs will ever win the World Series, but how many they might win before Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell are done winning them. Catching the Cubs isn't an impossible task, for sure, but Theo Epstein's powerhouse is built for a long ride behind strong leadership, a loaded Major League roster highlighted by its core of young position players and a strong farm system. The Cardinals and Pirates were at the top of the Central not that long ago and still have most of their key pieces in place. The Brewers and Reds are biding time in the wings, focusing on age 25-and-under players as they try to construct teams that can compete against the ones at the top. But things can change in a hurry. For instance: Cubs While Epstein's plan has been masterfully executed, the Cubs have also enjoyed good health, especially in regard to the one part of the team that's not young -- the starting rotation. Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey and Jason Hammel made between 29 and 32 starts apiece last season, when the Opening Day rotation accounted for 152 starts overall. The lack of rotation depth has been Epstein's biggest concern in recent years, and that remains true as the organization tries to identify and develop its next wave of starters. They are maybe eight starters deep at present, with Brett Anderson (who has a history of health problems) replacing Hammel as the No. 5 starter, and Mike Montgomery, Eddie Butler and Rob Zastryzny behind him. Epstein always has his eye out for controllable starters on the trade market, and has the prospect inventory to acquire someone like Jake Odorizzi, Sonny Gray or even Jose Quintana if he ever deems it a priority. Cardinals General manager John Mozeliak believes missing the postseason last year was a blip on the radar, not the start of a downslide. But the Cardinals are counting on older arms like Adam Wainwright and a lineup that was surprisingly productive last season. Losing Alex Reyes to Tommy John surgery at the start of Spring Training was a blow to a rotation that is looking for comebacks from Lance Lynn and Michael Wacha. But the thing that has to really worry Mozeliak is what happens if the lineup doesn't produce runs at the pace it did last season. Yadier Molina's health has been a concern, but he's coming off career highs in games played (147) and at-bats (535). What if he gets injured?

The Cardinals have some nice depth in place in catcher Carson Kelly and outfielder Harrison Bader, but it's not clear if they have the pieces in their farm system to pull off a major trade for a starter like Quintana or a needed bat, should the need arise. The franchise does have the resources to pursue talent on the free-agent market, as the signing of Dexter Fowler showed, but owner Bill DeWitt Jr. and Mozeliak have been disciplined in their spending. Pirates Resourcefulness has been a calling card for the Pirates in the Neal Huntington era. The good news for the franchise this season is that its area of strength -- the Major League outfield -- is also an area where it has replacements. The recently realigned outfield of Gregory Polanco (left), Starling Marte (center) and Andrew McCutchen (right) is fully intent on engineering the long postseason run that has proven elusive. But should someone in that mix be injured, No. 2 prospect Austin Meadows or utility man Adam Frazier could step in to get Clint Hurdle's team through the crisis. Huntington has declined to include Meadows in a deal for Quintana, which would upgrade a starting rotation that is relying on unproven arms. There's a lot of love for Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow and Chad Kuhl, but the Pirates are in trouble if veterans Gerrit Cole and Ivan Nova go down. Drew Hutchison adds depth, but the next wave of prospects -- led by Mitch Keller -- is a couple years away. Brewers In a low-stakes season, the Brewers' one big gamble was allowing home run champ Chris Carter to walk away to open up a spot for Eric Thames to return from Korea. The left-handed-hitting, 30-year-old first baseman received a three-year contract, but that doesn't guarantee him success. Injuries or a lack of production from him or Ryan Braun would be deflating for a lineup filled with potentially dynamic youngsters. Jesus Aguilar, a waiver-claim pickup from the Indians, had a strong spring (seven homers, .466 average entering Friday) and may even reduce Thames to a platoon role starting the season. Right fielder Domingo Santana should elevate his production, but it could be a long season if Braun and Thames aren't big contributors. The good news is there are good prospects in the pipeline, led by Lewis Brinson and Lucas Erceg. GM David Stearns and his staff have been creative in finding players, with an eye on the future. Reds Scott Feldman starts on Opening Day, and you know GM Dick Williams would love to make like Epstein and find a way to turn him into the next Arrieta. Good luck on that, right? One of the keys to the season in Cincinnati is to get injury-plagued players like catcher Devin Mesoraco, shortstop Zack Cozart and right-hander Homer Bailey back on track. That could increase Williams' flexibility to make deals as he tries to build a second contender around Joey Votto, who soon could become the only reminder of the Dusty Baker era. If injuries remain an issue -- and Anthony DeSclafani's elbow injury is a sign that they may -- then there's always the development of 2016 No. 2 pick Nick Senzel and the '17 Draft. The Reds have the second pick overall and three of the first 38. -- Cubs.com La Stella relieved to learn he's on roster By Carrie Muskat HOUSTON -- Tommy La Stella wasn't surprised at making the Cubs' Opening Day roster. "I really wasn't paying much attention to it," La Stella said Thursday about being named to the 25-man roster along with outfielder Matt Szczur. "That stuff is so far out of your control. It was defintely a relief to find out in the last couple days."

The Cubs had planned on carrying 13 pitchers, but instead placed lefty Brian Duensing on the 10-day disabled list to give him time to build up arm strength after missing time in camp because of back spasms. They'll start the season with 12 pitchers and carry both La Stella, who does have options left, and Szczur, who does not. La Stella batted .270 in 13 Cactus League games, and provides a left-handed bat off the bench. "As spring progressed, I got more comfortable at the plate, and simplified some stuff working with [hitting coach John Mallee] in the cage and doing what I do naturally," La Stella said. "It translated in the game." • Kyle Schwarber had a giant-sized horseshoe in his locker. It was a gift from one of the Budweiser Clydesdales, who were in Mesa, Ariz., at a Cubs game last week. Apparently, Schwarber hit one of the horses on the backside during batting practice. "I hope it brings me good luck," he said of the shoe. Manager Joe Maddon and Schwarber have finalized their one-on-one message before the leadoff batter's at-bats. Last year, Maddon would say, "You go, we go," to Dexter Fowler. What's his message to Schwarber? "It's slightly X-rated, so I can't tell you," Maddon said. "It's not slightly X-rated, it's totally X-rated. I can't publicly expose." What is said in the dugout, will stay in the dugout for now. • The Cubs were careful with Carl Edwards Jr. last year in terms of back-to-back appearances, and Maddon said the right-hander has shown he can handle more work this season. "He can get anybody out," Maddon said of the right-hander. "He's got that kind of stuff. He's pitching with a lot of confidence. Watching [radar] gun readings, which is pertinent to me, when he went two days in a row, there was a little bit of a drop-off. I don't anticipate that this year." • Hector Rondon is apparently still having some fastball command issues, but Maddon did see a better slider Monday. "With these guys, let the bell ring, let them go pitch," Maddon said. "I really think you'll see all these relievers pitch better right now -- all the pitchers -- being at sea level. [Rondon is] healthy and there's nothing wrong with him. When he starts throwing the fastball where he wants, he's going to take off." • The Cubs' two-game series in Houston was a homecoming for Minor League prospect Charcer Burks, who grew up here and has dreamed of playing someday at Minute Maid Park. "I used to go to Astros games all the time, and we'd pass through the stadium, and every time I passed through, I'd say, 'I'm playing in that stadium one day,'" Burks said. "To be able to be back and playing here is awesome." Now 22, Burks started to dream about playing in the Major Leagues when he was 6 years old, and recalled watching Michael Bourn and Carlos Beltran on the Astros. A ninth-round pick in the 2013 Draft, Burks was able to take his mother to lunch Thursday, and expected about 60 family and friends at Minute Maid. "What are the chances I get to play an exhibition game here?" he said, smiling. • According to baseball historian Ed Hartig, April 2 will be the first time in 16,945 games that the Cubs will open a season as the defending World Series champions. The previous time was April 14, 1909, when they beat the Cardinals, 3-1, at the West Side grounds.

• Maddon met pregame with Steve Gleason, the former NFL player who was diagnosed six years ago with ALS, and the Cubs manager literally gave him the shirt off his back. Maddon presented Gleason his No. 70 jersey, and autographed it, and added "World Champs 2016," "Respect 90" and "Respect Team Gleason." Gleason played with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL. -- Cubs.com Maddon: Cubs turning page, aiming to repeat By Carrie Muskat HOUSTON -- Even Major League managers need to prep for the regular season. After letting first-base coach Brandon Hyde run Spring Training camp and bench coach Dave Martinez put together the lineups, Joe Maddon got his iPad and cup of coffee Thursday to write his first lineup for 2017. The Cubs are trying to maintain an even keel approach to the season after winning the franchise's first World Series championship since 1908. As far as they're concerned, it's business as usual. "From the outside looking in, it's different," Maddon said about being the defending champs. "From the inside looking out, I don't anticipate a different feeling. Spring Training, it was great, very crowded, people were outstanding, the fans complimentary. I didn't focus a whole lot personally [on the attention] and I don't think our guys did. I think our guys are ready to turn the page. We'd like to do it again." The Cubs officially begin defense of the title Sunday night when they face their rivals, the Cardinals, at Busch Stadium. On April 10 at Wrigley Field, they'll raise the banners, and on April 12, the Cubs will get their rings. Before they do that, they had Thursday's exhibition against the Astros and one more Friday, giving the players a tuneup in a Major League setting, which Maddon likes. Let the players get used to that upper deck, he said. It's also a treat for the Minor Leaguers added to the roster for the two games. "These guys don't care if it's an exhibition game or not," Maddon said of the extras. "Getting a chance to play in this park is great." There will be no preseason pep talk from Maddon, either. He addresses the players three times: Once in Spring Training, once right before the second half begins, and finally, before the playoffs start. "When it comes to Opening Day, I want them to walk in that door and they're playing another game," Maddon said. "There's enough stuff going on. ... We have to go home and it's going to be loud and it's going to be crazy and pandemonium. I've always talked about trying to play the same game on March 15, April 15, July 15. The less I can intrude on their day and try to fill them with all this wisdom, which is not going to matter one bit when that first pitch is thrown, not a bit. It's not a football game where you want to build them up into a lather before they go out there. I want them to have their normal routines." • Ian Happ, ranked No. 2 on MLBPipeline.com's list of top 30 Cubs prospects, had quite a spring, leading the Cactus League with 20 RBIs. He was third in total bases (45) and fourth in hits (23). "It's hard to have a better spring than he did, but again, it's Spring Training," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "You don't want to evaluate too much. I do think from a scouting standpoint, the ball is definitely coming off his bat better now than it has at any point previous." Happ battled a sports hernia his sophomore year of college and mononucleosis his junior year. "There might be more in there, more pop in there," Epstein said. "He put on some good muscle in the offseason. The ball is just jumping off his bat from both sides of the plate. He's taking good, aggressive swings. He's going to go have a Minor League season in which I'm sure he'll have a lot of ups and downs, but we expect him to make the adjustments building off a great spring.

"He couldn't have been more impressive -- not only with the bat, but the way he handled himself in the clubhouse," Epstein said of the Cubs' 2015 first-round Draft pick. "He won over a lot of his teammates, the coaching staff and the manager. He'll be at [Triple-A] Iowa playing mostly second base, but he'll see time at the outfield spots as well and then eventually we'll introduce him to the corner infield." • Lefty Rob Zastryzny will see time both as a starter and a reliever at Iowa, Epstein said. "The goal with him is to follow the same pattern as last year, so get locked in by making some starts and extended outings and hopefully be in a good position when we need him to carry it right up to the big leagues like he did last year," Epstein said. -- ESPNChicago.com Curse-breaking Chicago Cubs not afraid to change By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- With a new leadoff man to get things going, a new closer to finish games and new rings on the way, the Chicago Cubs will begin their title defense every bit as confident as they were a year ago at this time. While many faces will be the same on Opening Day, the champs turned over 20 percent of their roster. And they think they're better for it. "All the additions are wonderful complements," Kyle Schwarber said. "Upgrades. It's going to be really cool to see how it all plays out this season." For the first time since 1909, the Cubs enter a season as champs. Gear up for their defense mission. Schwarber isn't new, but he hasn't played a full season in the big leagues -- and he has a reimagined job description. The 24-year-old must embrace his role of setting the table for the "big guys" behind him, now that he takes over as leadoff hitter. Before, Schwarber had always been one of those big guys, but the Cubs' depth allows them to try something many other teams could not. "It's a cool spot," Schwarber said. "I get to lead off the game. Then you don't know what spot you're hitting in. ... I'll take a couple hits. I'll think hits, more than a homer. Or walks. Whatever it is. Just don't get out." While the idea of Schwarber starting things off is intriguing, the player tasked with finishing games might get even more scrutiny. With Wade Davis producing a plus-16.00 ERA this spring, some might already be wondering what the Cubs got for Jorge Soler this past offseason. If the former Royals closer can't turn it around, Chicago has other options because the front office is convinced that it has six to eight arms capable of pitching with the game on the line. "The nice thing is we have so many different guys to go to that are able to do that role at the end of games," Maddon said. Among those potential late-game candidates is 41-year-old bullpen addition Koji Uehara, who has 93 career saves. Hector Rondon is still around to set up or close when needed, and Carl Edwards Jr. showed in the postseason that he is growing into a ninth-inning option. Is there a scenario in which Edwards is closing by the end of the season? It's possible, though Davis is absolutely the guy right now, with Maddon backing his new reliever despite a rough spring. "If anything, it's a command issue," Maddon stated. "I'm seeing easy 94-95 mph ... I'm encouraged how he's throwing the ball." The low-key Davis thinks the regular season will bring out the best in him.

"The mentality will get better," he said. "Go out there, and turn the switch on." In the rotation, the Cubs are counting on another fresh face to be ready when the bright lights go on. Brett Anderson made only four starts with the Dodgers a season ago, but the ground ball machine could benefit from a historically good infield defense if he can stay healthy. You can bet Javier Baez will be starting as often as possible when Anderson pitches. "I think as we get into more sea level conditions, where the grass is a little higher and the ground a little softer and the wind isn't blowing out, he's going to pitch even better," Maddon said during Anderson's Cactus League run with the Cubs. Maddon added that Wrigley Field is the "perfect ballpark for him." If Anderson can't perform, Mike Montgomery is waiting in the wings. He picked up where he left off last season, displaying a nasty curveball that works against righties or lefties. The Cubs' ability to mix in newcomers while relying on familiar pieces is part of their recipe for success, and the amount of talent already on the roster isn't lost on the newest Cubs. "There are 10-12 players on this team that are some of the best in baseball," Davis said. "That's something you don't see often." The ever-popular Schwarber summed up the shared feeling among new and old players. "If we play our game every day, good things will happen," he said. Who could argue with him? -- CSNChicago.com Follow The Leader: What Makes Theo Epstein An Unstoppable Force For Cubs By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. — The day after Fortune magazine ranked Theo Epstein No. 1 on its list of "The World's 50 Greatest Leaders," Anthony Rizzo led the team in a standing ovation and asked the Cubs president to offer a few words before the morning workout. "I only have one thing to say about that," Epstein told the group. "It's about f------ time." Epstein always understands his audience — whether it's professional athletes, Democratic donors, Cubs Convention diehards or the pesky media — and knows how to deliver a one-liner with perfect timing. Epstein loves baseball, but he's not some poet or romantic, dropping F-bombs at the right moment and calling BS when he sees it. Of course, Epstein has a huge ego. There's no other way to end 194 combined years of curses between the Cubs and his hometown Boston Red Sox. But Epstein also didn't crash all the late-night talk shows this offseason or cash in with a quick book on leadership skills and management philosophy/fluff. The day before, Epstein had been awoken by a text message from a national baseball writer, asking for a reaction to the viral list that ranked him two spots ahead of Pope Francis. Epstein didn't even know this Internet attention grab was coming and released a copy-and-paste statement to reporters, calling it "patently ridiculous" and writing: "Um, I can't even get my dog to stop peeing in the house." But the Cubs didn't hold that pre-stretch meeting to roast Epstein, moving it to an off-limits area of the spring-training complex to settle something about South Carolina and March Madness brackets without it winding up all

over Twitter. Years ago, while touring the construction site in Mesa, Epstein turned to strength coach Tim Buss and said something sarcastic like: Take a good look around, Bussy, you'll be fired by the time this is done. Buss survived and became a Speedo-wearing star at Camp Maddon, where the manager recently nominated him to become Madonna's dance trainer. That weight room in Arizona now has a mural depicting the raucous celebration outside the Wrigley Field marquee after the Cubs won their first World Series title since the Teddy Roosevelt administration. When the 2017 Cubs are booed on Sunday during the Opening Night pageantry at Busch Stadium, they will be a reflection of Epstein's complex personality — colorful, edgy, confident, self-motivated, analytical, instinctive, inclusive, really, a worst nightmare for St. Louis Cardinals fans who used to love watching a one-sided rivalry. "He understands that we're not robots," said Rizzo, the All-Star first baseman Epstein drafted for the Red Sox, traded to the San Diego Padres and then reacquired as a foundation piece on the North Side. "He does his due diligence. You see the guys in here being good people, and that comes first. He's not bringing in guys that have talent and bad reputations, because it's cancerous in the clubhouse. "He does a good job of being very approachable, especially with the players, and easy to talk to, and not coming in there and being this dominating, intimidating figure in the clubhouse where everyone perks up." Yet even the character-driven narrative can sometimes oversimplify and undersell a Cubs Way that obsessively gathers information and sees the world as an endlessly complicated place. It's not scouting vs. analytics or head vs. heart or good guys vs. bad guys. It's all of that, all the time, when you oversee one of the most popular teams in the world, eight minor-league affiliates and employees covering everywhere from Latin America to the Pacific Rim. The Cubs dug enough to know that an ugly incident involving Aroldis Chapman would publicly surface before the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to — and backed out of — a controversial deal with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2015 winter meetings. Once Chapman served his 30-game suspension under Major League Baseball's domestic-violence policy — and the New York Yankees took the bigger PR hit and the Cubs looked like a legitimate World Series contender last summer — Epstein gave up top prospect Gleyber Torres in a blockbuster trade for the mercenary closer. Epstein hired and fired two handpicked managers with completely different personalities — Dale Sveum and Rick Renteria — and didn’t hesitate when Joe Maddon used an escape clause in his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays to become a free agent after the 2014 season. During that year, Epstein shocked the baseball world by giving Manny Ramirez a second (or third or fourth or fifth) chance and hiring him to be a player/coach at Triple-A Iowa because he thought it would help Javier Baez. "Javy Being Javy" led to a National League Championship Series co-MVP performance last year. The Cubs indulged Tommy La Stella when he refused to report to the minors last summer/took a New Jersey sabbatical — just in case they needed a left-handed pinch-hitter for a particular playoff matchup. "Look, Theo's been successful everywhere he's gone," said Mike Hazen, the new Arizona Diamondbacks general manager and former Red Sox executive. "It's not a coincidence. It's not by accident. He's probably the smartest person I've ever worked for. He's as driven a person as I've ever worked for. He's passionate about baseball, about the draft, about player development. Every small decision is monumental to him — with everything. "That wasn't like in a micromanaging way. When I was the farm director, every game report, every night, if there was something in there that he had a question about, I would get a phone call or an e-mail: 'Hey, what's going on with this? What's going on with that?' He was locked into everything. He has a huge capacity to make decisions and give advice on so many different levels."

Epstein doesn't want a preview to revolve around the idea of his next job, because he's in the first season of a five-year extension worth in the neighborhood of $50 million and not at all looking to leave Wrigleyville, a place where he can keep winning big while walking to work and raising his young family. But getting an equity stake in a big-league franchise would be the logical next step if Epstein decides to stay this involved in baseball once he nears Bill Walsh's ideal of a 10-year shelf life for coaches and executives. David Axelrod — the Cub fan/former Chicago Tribune political writer/chief strategist to President Barack Obama — asked Epstein that natural what's-next question about owning a team on "The Axe Files" podcast. "Um, sure, yeah, I think you can do things as an owner that you can't necessarily do as an employee," Epstein told Axelrod near the end of an offseason conversation that lasted more than 70 minutes, "helping the team really get involved in the community and doing some great work, using baseball as a vehicle to do some important work in society. "My twin brother is a social worker, so I try to view the world through his eyes, and he's always telling me about what's really going on in the trenches. "The reality is, these days so much of the most important work in society is done by these nonprofits, most of which don't get real government funding, so it's really important to identify the most impactful nonprofits in your community, especially in a city like Chicago right now that is battling so many critical challenges, and then support them. "Baseball is just bread and circus, right? I mean, what we do is we just entertain the masses. And, of course, at certain moments it becomes really meaningful to people and transcends that. But by and large, it's just bread and circus. "But there are rich fans who are willing to spend money to get access to games and sit in better seats or sit in the general manager's box or get autographs or have these experiences, going to dinner with players or with general managers. And if you can use that — and raise some money and redirect it to nonprofits — I think that's a great thing and really our responsibility in some ways." In the meantime, owners will keep trying to find the next Epstein and copy a five-year plan that went from 101 losses to 103 wins. That underestimates: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the Red Sox; the built-in credibility with fans and the media from the moment he arrived in Chicago; an ability to manage up and work around the initial payroll restrictions; and the shadow he casts over the entire organization. "Theo's got a long memory," said Sam Hughes, the national crosschecker who has worked for the Cubs since 1996. "We spend two weeks together (during the draft). We go every player — from the guy we might select in the 40th round (to the top pick) — and you'd be amazed at how much attention and how thorough we are with each and every guy. "It's crazy, because you're in that room and it's like a frat party for two weeks, (with) great dialogues going on. But then when you leave, it's like crickets. You don't hear from him. And then he's off to probably paying the same attention to the pro department getting ready for trade deadline. "But when he's there, he's all on. And then you might not see, hear or talk to him for six months. Out of the blue, you'll get just like a random witty e-mail or something about a player that you liked." Epstein could always drop the Theo-has-spoken hammer while discussing first-round picks like Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber or free agents like Jon Lester and Ben Zobrist. But Epstein would rather listen, ask questions and play devil's advocate. "He wants you to come to the table with an opinion," said Lukas McKnight, the assistant director of amateur scouting. "He doesn't mind when you disagree with him, which is awesome. It's great to have somebody that is more than respectful of your opinion when it differs from his.

"As long as you're thorough — and as long as you can back it in evidence and talk thoroughly about it — he loves that." Epstein is 43 years old, but this will be his 26th major-league season, which gives him an incredible network of sources and a database of experiences to draw from as the Cubs try to win back-to-back World Series titles for the first time since 1907 and 1908. Epstein remembered the 2005 Red Sox opening their season in The Bronx on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" — and how finally winning it all didn't exactly allow manager Terry Francona to relax. "Yeah, it sucked," Epstein said with a laugh. "We had a bunch of injuries in our rotation, so David Wells had to pitch Opening Day and got hit pretty hard and we lost. And then we came back and Matt Clement pitched (and we) lost. And then before the third game of the season, Tito started having like heart palpitations. "I ended up going to the hospital with him. We listened to the third game of the season from Tito's hospital room. We felt like if we lost, neither one of us were going to be welcome back in Boston because we were getting swept at Yankee Stadium, even though we were coming back to get our rings. "So I hope the series in St. Louis goes better. But if it doesn't, I'll have been through it before." -- CSNChicago.com How Justin Grimm Could Be X-Factor In Cubs Bullpen By Patrick Mooney Justin Grimm doesn't care what role he's in anymore, a sign of growth from the past few years when he still held out hope of getting a chance to become a starter again or a more glamorous late-inning role if he had to be in the Cubs bullpen. Grimm is now just focused on taking that next step forward, however he can. "I know my talent. I know what I'm capable of doing," Grimm said. "I'm in a really good spot this spring mentally, physically. I feel good and that's all I'm concerned with right now. "Just being ready to go April 1. Whatever's asked of me, not getting caught up in, 'Aw man, I don't have this role.' I really think that's hurt me in the past. And I think that's why you see me probably excel in games that are tight, because I embrace that. You know they're confident in you to come in, shut it down, whatever it may be." Grimm is focused on consistency, eyeing a full season of dominance instead of flashes that last a month or two at a time. From June 27 through Sept. 13 last season, Grimm gave up just one run in 22.2 innings, striking out 30 batters while allowing only 20 baserunners. Yet even with that spectacular run, Grimm's season ERA was still 4.10 after a bad June overall (10.38 ERA) and five earned runs allowed in his last five appearances. Grimm acknowledges that step forward has to come from between his ears. The talent and stuff is there, as evidenced by his 132 strikeouts in 102.1 innings the last two seasons — a mark that ranks him 12th in baseball in that span (among pitchers with at least 100 innings), just behind dominant relievers like Cody Allen, Ken Giles and Shawn Kelley. "It's just a mental confidence thing," Grimm said. "It's not even necessarily getting caught up in [the role]. You come into a seven-run game, you get a little comfortable.

"It's finding ways not to do that. Like, 'OK, well it's 0-0 right now, even though we're winning by eight.' And I feel like that's going to happen a lot this year because we got an offense that's going to put up a lot of runs. "How to handle that and stay locked in, I think it's just having a chip on my shoulder. All the guys are getting all the talk and I like it that way. I'm just in the shadows, doing my job and staying locked in. And I think it's going to help out a lot." Grimm’s self-awareness is on point: With a bullpen that added Wade Davis and Koji Uehara to a group that already included Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Carl Edwards Jr., Grimm is something of a forgotten man. Only Rondon and Strop have predated Grimm in the Cubs bullpen and the 28-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.29 ERA across 213 appearances over the last four seasons. This year figures to be more of the same, settling into that "mid-innings closer" role Joe Maddon talked up last year with Grimm and Travis Wood. "He fits in everywhere. Probably earlier in the game, he'll be a great bridge guy," Maddon said. "I've always liked the middle-innings closers. They're the kind of guys that help win games. "All our guys are capable to pitch at almost any time. There's going to be some guys that are probably relegated more to earlier in the game and [Grimm] probably will be one of them, unless we get on a nice roll and everybody's a little bit overused. "But I'm here to tell you, man, when he's throwing the ball right, he can get anybody out and he's very good against lefties." When the Cubs sent Jorge Soler to the Kansas City Royals for Davis over the winter, Grimm was immediately drawn to baseball's ERA leader over the last three seasons. In Davis, Grimm sees a guy who's gone through the starter-to-reliever transition and morphed into one of the top arms in the game. Grimm spent a lot of time around Davis this spring, grabbing the veteran to break down Grimm's game in the video room. "I just looked at him like, 'Wade, it's there. I just gotta find a way to consistently do that for six months, not five months, and have one month where I implode,'" Grimm said. "He's been there. He knows. I look to learn a lot this year from him. It's cool to have a guy like that around. I was saying two years ago when Kansas City came to Wrigley, I would just love to sit down and talk with that guy. When we [traded for] him, I was pumped. "It's time to learn something from him. Everybody's different, so you can't really try to be like that guy, per se. You just gotta find little things that might work for you, that might change a little bit and help you out. That was the majority of our convo. I literally felt like I was reliving my career listening to him. It was pretty cool." Now it's just a matter of carrying it all over into the games that matter. "I'm not worried about what the hell my role's gonna be," Grimm said. "It's here; it's right now. I know what I'm capable of doing. It's just as much as anybody in this room." -- Chicago Tribune World Series goal achieved, Theo Epstein sets sights on Cubs empire By Paul Sullivan As the defending World Series champion Cubs open their season Sunday night in St. Louis, the question lingers like a batting-practice fastball hanging over the middle of the plate. After breaking two prolific title droughts and sealing an induction into Cooperstown by 43, what's left for Theo Epstein to prove?

In his first five years on the job, the Cubs president built a team with so much talent it should be on cruise control for the foreseeable future, with or without him at the helm. He already has given Cubs fans the one thing they've dreamed of all their lives, so anything else is gravy. He has helped the Ricketts family nearly triple the value of the franchise, according to Forbes, turning Wrigley Field into a gold mine and transforming Wrigleyville into Rickettsville almost overnight. Epstein signed a five-year extension worth a reported $50 million last September to lead the organization through 2021, but some speculate he'll move on to new adventures before the deal is up. On a recent sunny day at the Cubs spring training home in Mesa, Ariz., Epstein insisted he's only focused on the work at hand. "I do expect to be here the whole time," he said. "But it's also a long life, and there probably are other things I want to try out at some point. I haven't given it much thought. One championship every 108 years isn't exactly what we're shooting for. We're trying to get two in 109, and maybe three in 110 or 112." In other words, a Cubs dynasty is the real goal, not just a single championship to temporarily appease the masses. Twice would be nice, but still not enough. As Chairman Tom Ricketts said in spring training, the Cubs don't just hope to become the modern-day version of the 20th century Yankees, they want to be an organization like Manchester United or the All-Blacks that defines the word "winners" to a worldwide audience. President Theo? So the blueprint for a potential Cubs empire has been drawn up. Whether Epstein's reign in Chicago will be a long one, however, remains to be seen. Would the former boy wonder ever switch gears and move into politics, as former President Barack Obama joked in January when he said he asked Epstein to become chairman of the DNC? "He will," said Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen, who worked in Boston under Epstein. "He'll do it. Do I think he's going to be president of the United States? Maybe. "He'd be successful at anything he did. Anything." Sure. But President Theo? "I wouldn't mind it, to get him outside of this game," cracked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who played for the Red Sox when Epstein was general manager. "No, Theo is one of those guys that has a skill set to do a lot of different things and the ability to lead and connect people. "We have a lot of history. He's well on his way to Cooperstown and he's a special person. I think Theo could succeed in anything he put his mind to." Despite the prodding of his friends, and a recent Fortune cover story deeming him the "world's greatest leader," Epstein said holding elected office is not in his future. He called the Fortune article "absurd," noting he couldn't even house-train his dog, Baxter. Epstein insisted Hazen was "not serious" when his one-time protege conjured up a vision of Epstein sitting in the Oval Office. Running for any political office, Epstein said, is not going to happen.

"Not politics, per se," he said. "You have to have a death wish to run for public office these days. It's such a cynical world, so hard on families. The 140-character news cycle cheapens the whole experience. "There are ways to make a positive impact on society without holding public office," he said. "I'm inspired by my twin brother (Paul), a social worker his whole life. Maybe there is an issue or two I feel strongly about and see if I can make a small dent in it someday." Time for an encore For the time being, Epstein is content with running the Cubs and trying to become the first repeat champions since the Yankees' three-peat of 1998-2000. Epstein's Red Sox won two titles over a four-year span from 2004-07, but were thwarted in their bids to repeat on both occasions. After ending an 86-year title drought in '04, the Red Sox lost ace Pedro Martinez to the Mets via free agency. They tied the Yankees with 95 wins in '05 but were the AL wild-card team because of tiebreaker rules and were swept by the eventual champion White Sox in the division series. After their '07 title, the Red Sox made it back to the American League Championship Series, only to lose to Joe Maddon's Rays in Game 7. What lessons did Epstein learn in '05 and '08 that can help the Cubs in 2017? "Both years in Boston following our titles, we won 95 games, so I'd sign up for that right now," he said. "That's a nice number. We lost in the first round in '05 and came within one bad inning in the ('08) ALCS of getting back to the World Series. "The biggest takeaway is not to make any assumptions. Players do get pulled off in different directions in the winter following winning, and you can't assume that just because it's the same group of guys they'll come together in the same way. "We've tried to have an open dialogue this camp about how important it is to put the team first and to opt back first into that team concept, do all those little things that create the right kind of environment to allow a team to reach its potential. "Our players have been awesome. It's the type of stuff they talk about, and they have fun on a daily basis anyway. But we didn't want to take it for granted, so it's always good to talk about that stuff. From day one of spring training, from our opening speech on, that's been the theme." Epstein has evolved since his days in Boston, where the privacy of the hometown hero was almost nonexistent after the Red Sox ended their drought. A Vanity Fair article in 2005 reported Epstein "stopped working out in local gyms and, by all accounts, does not enjoy the fact that he not infrequently receives marriage proposals, to say nothing of the gifts of women's undergarments." Now happily married for 10 years and the father of two boys, Epstein's crazy days are in the past, though he and his staff ate goat in the bleachers to mark the demise of the Cubs' famous Billy Goat curse. In Chicago, Epstein is able to watch oldest son Jack's Little League games or head to the local Jewel for a carton of milk without having to go incognito. He's still a local celebrity but without the hassle of having to live up to anyone's preconceived notion of how he should act. The comfort zone of living in a Midwestern town like Chicago allows Epstein the space to do his job without worrying about his reputation, and he doesn't have a contentious relationship with the team's owner, as he did during his waning days in Boston. Living up to a standard Now that the Cubs finally have won a World Series, Epstein's most pressing task is keeping the core together to do it again, and again, and again. With salaries exploding, it won't be easy.

"The good thing is most of these guys are going to be here at least through 2021," he said. "Not everybody. (Kyle) Hendricks is up after '20, and Jake (Arrieta) obviously is up after this year. "But most of the guys are here through '21, so that's a nice, long run together. And we'll see if we can find ways to extend the window maybe even a little longer. "It's not something you think about every day, but we try to have sessions where we contemplate longer-term planning issues and see if there are things we can accomplish now, help the outlook." Since the victory parade in November, Cubs players obviously have enjoyed the spoils of victory, from Disney World to the White House. Epstein said the Cubs' vibe "brings back some good memories" from the Boston titles, and acknowledged an organization "changes a little bit" when you finally end a historic drought. "A little bit less of a feel that you have to prove yourself as an organization and more a feel of being proud of the identity the players have created and trying to maximize it and win every year," he said. "Now there is a new standard — the standard to win the World Series. And you want to live up to that every year. "It's been a little different feel around camp. There's still an edge, but the edge used to be that you had to prove yourself, that you belong. Now the edge is proving how good you can be." But for Epstein, the best part of being a renowned curse-breaker is hearing Cubs fans tell him how much they appreciate a job well done. Almost overnight, the Cubs culture has changed from waiting for something bad to happen to expecting greatness. "In interactions with the fans, you don't get any more woe-is-me tales," Epstein said. "You get a lot of nice anecdotes about how proud they are and how much it has meant to them. Those interactions are precious. "It's a privilege to have someone come up and share details like that, how much the World Series meant to their families, and that will happen now for the rest of our lives, and that's such a great honor." Now it's time to move on and begin another quest. Last year means nothing now, and the Cubs have to prove themselves all over again. One championship doesn't make the Cubs an empire. But it's a good start. -- Chicago Tribune What if Cubs had lost Game 7? Line between agony, afterglow so thin By Dan Wiederer It's weird. Kyle Schwarber admits that much. But every time the Cubs outfielder circles back to watch Game 7 of last year's World Series — "It has happened plenty" — he gets edgy. Obviously, Schwarber knows the ending. He knows his 10th-inning leadoff single ignited a two-run, tie-breaking, curse-lifting breakthrough. He knows the final score: Cubs 8, Indians 7. He knows the rapture that followed. He knows that, very soon after, he wound up in a mind-blowing parade down Michigan Avenue and as a talk-show guest alongside Kelly Ripa in New York City. Still …

"It's all nerves when I'm watching," Schwarber said last week at spring training. "Even now. You're sitting there wondering what's going to happen. You obviously know where it's all headed. But you're still nervous and asking yourself, 'Are we going to pull this out?' " It's that anxiety that leads to questions Schwarber has considered, but only fleetingly. What if it all had ended differently? What if Game 7 had gotten away? What if the Indians had been the team to uncork the champagne and halt their own lengthy championship drought? What if the Cubs were heading for opening day not as World Series champions but as tormented souls walking into Year 109? "It would definitely be different," Schwarber said. "I know there would be that pit in the stomach. I just don't like to think about it." Still, this is definitely odd. The Cubs are headed for opening day Sunday night and for the first time in more than a century, a city and a fan base that typically reflects on previous seasons with a deep "What if?" affliction instead has found itself immersed in a joyful afterglow, empowered by what was accomplished. Sliding doors Baseball always has been a fickle sport with forks in the road in just about every inning. But last year, the dynamics were extreme with the World Series needing extra innings in Game 7. In essence, what became one of the greatest baseball fairy tales ever told was one pitch, one hop, one slip-up from morphing into the most gut-wrenching loss in a history full of them. Schwarber felt the stress of that tightrope during Game 7's 17-minute rain delay. With the Cubs' four-run lead gone and players still shaken after Rajai Davis' game-tying homer in the eighth, the worry felt heavy. The sight of normally intimidating closer Aroldis Chapman bawling proved jarring. "All of a sudden," Schwarber said, "you're trying to get all of the emotions out of the way and let everybody have their time to do what they needed to do to regroup." Through that lens, it's easy to wonder what would be different now if the collapse had continued, if the rain hadn't helped the Cubs rinse away their dread. Sure, David Ross still likely would be a beloved figure, having homered in the final official at-bat of his 15-year career. But if the Cubs had lost, would Ross really have spent his first six months of retirement crooning on "Saturday Night Live," clowning with the Harlem Globetrotters and now competing against Simone Biles and Mr. T on "Dancing With the Stars"? Or would he have been left to dwell on the ball he threw into right field on Jason Kipnis' two-out squibber up the third-base line in the fifth inning of Game 7? Would he have been haunted by the wild pitch he couldn't block sufficiently later that inning, a stumble that allowed two Indians to score? And what about a young player such as Javier Baez, a star in the making whose exuberance and passion has fueled his ascension. Imagine how different Baez's emotional state might have been this offseason if the Cubs had lost Game 7 and he was left processing a 2016 finale in which he committed two errors and then failed to get down a safety squeeze with the go-ahead run at third base in the ninth. Instead, with the Cubs' triumph, rather than dealing with that avalanche of disappointment, Baez rode through Disney World in a parade that included Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Addison Russell. His biggest problem now is dealing with his increased renown.

"Everywhere we go," Baez said. "Even in San Diego, I went to a Panda Express to eat, and this whole family came up to me and said they wanted a picture and an autograph. I was surprised." 'As special as it gets' That's how thin the line can be. Legendary: Jason Heyward's rain-delay pep talk, the sermon that soothed the angst. Not so legendary: Heyward's .104 postseason batting average, which would have been a much more vexing topic of conversation this offseason without a World Series championship. And don't forget manager Joe Maddon himself, whose aggressive use of Chapman in Games 5 and 6 likely contributed to the closer's untimely unraveling in the eighth inning of Game 7. For months, Maddon has been a picture of both confidence and stubbornness in standing behind his moves. He believes in the instinct behind his decisions and knows the end result was what the Cubs wanted. So why agonize over hypothetical scenarios? "You only know one reality," Maddon said. "And to get caught up in the wishing and hoping or trying to understand what things might feel like otherwise makes no sense. … For people to pontificate a different outcome and different emotions based on a set of events that never occurred is just really bizarre thinking to me." Still, as a deep thinker with a penchant for introspection, Maddon considers the flip side to the "What if?" riddle, more drawn to emphasizing the psychological boost the Cubs did gain because they won it all. He thinks about that bus ride Nov. 4, from Wrigley Field to Grant Park. "You hear the word parade — OK," Maddon said. "But then you actually participate in one of the largest gatherings in human history, and it's a truly impressive moment. "My mental snapshots (after winning the World Series) are all tied to that moment and that day. That's about as special as it gets." Maddon recalls stepping to the microphone on the stage in Grant Park and looking out over a sea of joy, stretching toward the horizon. He felt like Richie Havens. "Cubstock," he called it. And the tranquillity that washed over him still grips him. "You're on that stage and for whatever reason, you're totally calm," Maddon said. "I have no idea why. I didn't feel anything but calm. You're staring out at thousands and thousands of people and you know they're hearing you, but there was no rush of sound coming back at you. Just very peaceful. It was really strangely cool." This is exactly the kind of memory and sensation he wants his players to recall as they start a new championship pursuit in 2017. The perks of last year's accomplishment, Maddon believes, have to be cherished. And last year's World Series triumph needs to be recognized for the growth it has provided. For these Cubs, that's what matters most. -- Chicago Tribune Albert Almora Jr.'s sudden power a pleasant asset for Cubs offense By Mark Gonzales The first-pitch grounders have turned into full-count sharp singles to left field. And as a bonus, some of those sharp swings have resulted in home runs.

Much of Albert Almora Jr.'s ascent to the majors was his gradual acceptance of waiting for a pitch to drive instead of chasing a borderline breaking ball — a point Cubs officials stressed to him during his first few seasons in the minors. Now that Almora is assured of no worse that sharing center fielder with fellow Miami native Jon Jay this season, he has added another pleasant dimension manager Joe Maddon believes will enhance his credentials — power. "This Almora guy has power and it's going to keep getting bigger and better," Maddon said one day after Almora hit two home runs Sunday against the Reds in Las Vegas. "He's still young. As he understands more, you're going to see the ball go in the air often and far." Maddon stressed that Jay, 32, will get plenty of playing time. And President Theo Epstein and Maddon are careful not to fall in love with spring statistics. But Almora, 22, hasn't shown signs of being overmatched at the plate since arriving on June 7 last season when since-departed Jorge Soler suffered a leg injury. "It goes to show you I put in a lot of work," said Almora, who had 12 extra base hits to go with a .339 batting average in 62 at-bats this spring. "It's not going to stop, either. You can't stop in this game. You have to learn and keep doing things to compete at this level and stay consistent. … It's an exciting time right now." Almora can't pinpoint the exact moment when his fortunes changed and when Cubs followers became more optimistic of his future after fellow first-round picks Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber reached the majors. But it's evident that as he gained trust in his pitch selection, his confidence soared. "I just get a pitch I can hit and hit it as hard as I can and just have the confidence I can hit it," Almora said. "Whatever the count, it doesn't matter. Either early in the count or 2-2, with two strikes, it doesn't matter. It's just being able to have the confidence in myself and my ability." Maddon has been impressed that Almora has maintained consistency and balance in his swing while hitting for more power. But he cautioned that increased playing time wouldn't guarantee the same results. "Just go play and let us make those decisions," Maddon said. "But I like a lot of what he's doing." Maddon said the Almora-Jay tandem in center won't be a strict platoon, adding that the right-handed hitting Almora would start against right-handed pitchers against whom he matches up favorably. But even when Almora doesn't start, he's likely to be used late in games for defensive purposes. The Cubs' decision to carry him on the postseason roster paid off when he made a diving catch in the right field corner of AT&T Park to thwart a Giants rally in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series. "This team is special, without a doubt," Almora said. "Really, it's not that different from last year, with the exception of a few guys. I see ourselves as hungry as ever." -- Chicago Tribune After bout of food poisoning, Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks set for return By Mark Gonzales Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks will start Friday against the Astros after recovering from a bout of food poisoning stemming from a meal in Las Vegas. “I feel much better now,” Hendricks smiled. “I survived. I’ve had it two other times.”

Hendricks will have seven days’ rest before his first regular season start at Milwaukee on April 8 and admitted he’ll try to maximize his time. “Sometimes you can use that reprieve,” Hendricks said. “There could be one day where I’ll throw a very long bullpen, almost like a start. “There’s nothing you can do. There are so many off-days at the start. It’s weird. You make the most of it. You can get your throwing in, get your extra lifting in to keep you ready for that first series.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Drop the mic? No, says Theo: `There’s a lot more work to be done’ By Gordon Wittenmyer HOUSTON — Tracing the story of Theo Epstein and baseball always seems to involve Game   6 of the 1986 World Series, when 12-year-old Theo and his brother stood on their couch in the den of their Brookline, Massachusetts, home, anticipating the final out of what looked like, finally, the elusive championship for their beloved Boston Red Sox. “To be jumping in midair during that moment,” said Paul Epstein, Theo’s fraternal twin. “The jump happened, but the ball went through the legs. The elation didn’t happen.” That story got circulated widely after Theo helped end his, Paul’s and the rest of Red Sox Nation’s baseball misery with a 2004 championship in his second year as the Red Sox’ general manager. Thirty years and a week after Bill Buckner’s error on the TV in the den that night, the kid on the couch also achieved the most elusive championship in American sports, sending much of Chicago so high their feet still haven’t hit the ground. Just like that, the Cubs’ team president had a spot reserved in the Hall of Fame and joined the likes of Branch Rickey in the conversation for baseball’s greatest executive. Never mind beating out the pope for the world’s greatest leader, according to Fortune magazine. Now what? If there’s such a thing as a drop-the-mic moment for a baseball executive, last fall’s World Series was it. “I just think there’s a lot more work to be done here,” said Epstein, who at 43 is in the first year of a five-year, $50 million contract extension. “If we go and have four bad seasons now, I’ll feel like I didn’t do my job — I didn’t do my whole job. We’re trying to turn this place into a perennial contender and hope to win multiple championships. There’s still a lot more work to be done here. I just think it’s navel-gazing to sit here and contemplate legacy or contemplate next steps when there’s so much more to be done right now in the moment here.” For now, that means trying to engineer the first World Series repeat championship in 17 years, and the first for a National League team in 40. It means continuing to search for the starting pitching that can sustain the Cubs’ recent success after Jake Arrieta and John Lackey hit free agency. Dynasty? “They’re going to be a force to be reckoned with for a while,” Pittsburgh Pirates general man-ager Neal Huntington said the week after the World Series.

“The sky’s the limit,” said New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman, whose teams won four of five World Series from 1996 to 2000. It’s still hard to imagine topping what Epstein already has accomplished in Boston and Chicago — and to imagine what’s left for him to do in baseball, whether in the context of this post-Series moment or at the end of his contract. But during that conversation in the middle of the Cubs’ playoff run last fall, Paul Epstein found it hard to imagine his brother doing anything else, in any other industry. “He was definitely a total stat-head and ripped the sports pages out of my hand and read the box scores before I could even get it,” Paul said of their childhood, calling it “a complete and total obsession with the sport.” “I know this is where he wants to be,” Paul added. “And it didn’t surprise me that he wanted to re-up regardless of what happened [in 2016]. There was so much speculation about if they win, would he be out. . . . He wants to be here.” Clearly, everything has changed for the organization and everyone connected to it since the championship. But those in the front office say the changes are minimal, if any, with the guy running the operation. “Just wearing a hat a little more often,” Theo said of the Cubs’ overall higher profile. “You just get recognized a little more. It hasn’t really changed that much.” Beyond this year, and certainly beyond the contract, Epstein swears he hasn’t given thought to what he might do next. “I’ll know when it happens,” he said. It might not be too far outside the box when it does. Politics? Another sport? “A lot of people seem to think he’ll do something outside the sport of baseball,” Paul said. “Given his passion for the game, his love of the game of baseball, his skill at doing things within the sport, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a baseball lifer.” Of course, the commissioner’s seat is already taken for the foreseeable future, with Rob Manfred taking over last year. “I’m not looking beyond this. I’m not looking to next,” Theo said. “If you’re constantly looking for the next thing, then you never truly enjoy where you are. And right now is a great time to enjoy being in the Cubs organization.” -- Chicago Tribune New faces on the Cubs: Pitcher Wade Davis has history of winning By Mark Gonzales Wade Davis was lucky enough to be drafted out of high school by a Tampa Bay Rays franchise about 90 minutes west of his hometown. But there is one aspect of Davis' career that he's grateful for — never playing on a team with a losing record in his eight-year career. "It's been a huge blessing to be on good teams," Davis said.

The Cubs anticipate Davis, 31, will help them repeat as World Series champions. Davis can be considered a hired gun, since he can become a free agent after this season, and talk about his future with the Cubs seems nonexistent. The focus is on winning and blending with a group of veterans and talented youngsters. "I've thought about that before, being on playoff teams and learn a lot from doing that," Davis said. "And being around good players has been beneficial. "Every team I've been on has had better players than me. I've gotten to learn from those guys, pick their brain and see why they're good and why they're able to be durable or see their offseason works." Davis' presence could help youngsters like Carl Edwards Jr., a potential future closer. Davis, like Edwards, was a former starting pitcher who has flourished in a new role. Davis leads all relief pitchers with a 1.18 ERA and an average of 0.15 home runs allowed per nine innings since the start of 2014. "There's definitely an uptick from starting to relieving," said manager Joe Maddon, who managed Davis when he made the transition with the Rays in 2012. "You'd see flashes of that as a starter. You see him more consistently, stuff-wise, as a reliever." Davis said he learned as a rookie from more experienced pitchers such as James Shields, David Price and Jeff Niemann. The process continued after a trade to the Royals, where he accompanied Shields and was influenced by Greg Holland before taking over the closer duties late in 2015 after Holland's arm injury, helping the Royals to the World Series. "Paying attention and not being too stubborn has helped a lot," Davis said. The observation process continues by watching John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and some of his new bullpen mates. "I'll pick their brains and see what little things I can pick up," Davis said. -- Chicago Tribune New faces on the Cubs: Jon Jay looking to help Albert Almora Jr. By Mark Gonzales Even after winning a World Series title in his second major-league season, Jon Jay never forgot his Miami roots. So when in 2013 another young player worked out at the University of Miami in preparation for his first full professional season, Jay provided as much support as possible. That bond solidified Nov. 29 when Jay signed a one-year contract with the Cubs, in part so he could help mentor the kid he met four years ago — Albert Almora Jr. Jay, 31, has been a starting outfielder for five of his first seven seasons. But the Cubs see Almora as their center fielder of the future. Jay, who grew up in Miami and went to the University of Miami, seeks another World Series ring as well as the chance to help Almora. "Everything is going to work itself out," said Jay, who won a Series ring with the 2011 Cardinals. "You want to be with guys who have good attitudes and work hard, and all that other stuff will take care of itself. ...

"That's the same message I told Albert. We don't know what's going to happen. We've just got to be ready to play every day, and everything will work itself out." Jay is careful not to boast about his five postseasons, pointing out that teammates Jason Heyward, Jon Lester and John Lackey also have Series rings and similar postseason experience. "Last year was my first year I missed (the playoffs), and it was kind of hard to watch on television," said Jay, who was limited to 90 games with the Padres because of a broken right forearm. "Obviously, I was rooting for my buddies, hoping for them to get a ring. "But it's nice to be back in that atmosphere, and I'm looking forward to doing it again this year." The left-handed-hitting Jay gives manager Joe Maddon plenty of options with his ability to play all three outfield positions and bat at the top of the order. But it didn't take long for Almora, the Cubs' first pick in the 2012 draft, to recognize and gain respect for Jay, who graduated from Columbus High School, which also produced former Cubs general manager Ed Lynch. "I remember seeing him play at Miami when I was a kid, and that he came off a World Series title with the Cardinals," Almora said. "Of course, you know your guys in the area, guys like Manny (Machado), Yonder (Alonso), Jay, Gio (Gonzalez). I could go on and on from the guys from Miami. Everyone knows each other." -- Chicago Tribune New faces on the Cubs: Koji Uehara's split-finger fastball still effective at 41 By Mark Gonzales Longtime Cubs fans can recall the Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter's success and his split-finger fastball that became a trendy pitch for about 20 seasons. That pitch started to vanish after several pitchers suffered severe elbow injuries because of the stress caused by the grip. But Koji Uehara remains fearless. So do the Cubs, who signed the 41-year-old Uehara figuring he can help the bullpen with the devastating sink on his pitch. Uehara said he started to throw the pitch in 2002 — when he won 17 games in 26 starts to go along with a 2.60 ERA to lead the Yomiuri Giants to the Japanese Series Championship and earn the Sawamura Award as Nippon Professional Baseball's top pitcher. That pitch has helped him earn 93 major-league saves. And it helped him average 12.06 strikeouts per nine innings last season with the Red Sox — the second-highest single-season rate of his career. "He has such great control with his splitter," former Cubs catcher David Ross wrote to the Tribune in a text message. "It looks just like his fastball. It's one of the best pitches I've caught." Manager Joe Maddon emphasized he will be careful not to tax Uehara, who spent 45 games on the disabled list last season because of a right pectoral strain, and not due to any elbow concerns. "I don't feel that it's a pitch that puts a lot of stress on the elbow, so I don't think I'm doing anything special," Uehara said.

The movement on his split-finger pitch, however, might cause some to disagree. Catcher Willson Contreras said Uehara's split-finger pitch tends to move sideways as well as down, thus messing with the eye level of opposing batters. Uehara threw the split-finger pitch 45 percent of the time last season, and it could provide an effective change of pace in a bullpen of hard throwers like closer Wade Davis, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. Uehara seems energized by his new teammates. "This team has a lot of youngsters, a lot of youthful enthusiasm," said Uehara, who closed every playoff series win during the Red Sox's run to the 2013 World Series with a strikeout. And the fact that team officials didn't shy away from him despite his age reinforces their faith in his health and effectiveness. "If the front office signed me, they feel I have a lot more to give," Uehara said. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Carl Edwards Jr.’s goal: ‘Make the All-Star team this year’ By Gordon Wittenmyer HOUSTON — Carl Edwards Jr. has done nothing at the ballpark for the last two weeks except pitch well and talk about his beloved South Carolina Gamecocks. Edwards, who grew up less than an hour from the campus, has closely followed — and boasted about — both the men’s and women’s basketball teams making the NCAA Final Four, especially the long-shot men, who barely got in the field. Whether that Cinderella run continues in the national semifinals Saturday, a question for the Cubs is whether Edwards can become the South Carolina of their stout-looking bullpen this year. “He can get anybody out. He’s got that kind of stuff,” said manager Joe Maddon, who “absolutely” is willing to use him in any situation — and whose biggest challenge might be resisting the temptation to use him too much in a series of tight games. “You saw what he’s capable of, and you saw the confidence we had in him at the end of the year pitching in the seventh game of the World Series.” Edwards allowed just one earned run in eight Cactus League outings this spring (eight strikeouts, 7 1/3 innings). Speaking of confidence . . . “My goal is to make the All-Star team this year,” said Edwards, who got the first two outs of the 10th inning of Game 7 last fall. “It’s what I’ve been telling myself.” Doing that figures to require becoming the Cubs’ primary late-inning setup man. But the way Edwards has looked since he was called up as a rookie last season, it’s not out of the question. Maddon has said more than once he has the stuff to be a closer someday. Edwards said he takes nothing for granted — even the roster spot that was assured entering camp. “I feel like as long as I keep my intensity level up and go out and do my job, it’s going to help me out a lot,” he said. “You never know — I might be the reliever of the year. You never know.” Only good things to say

Shortstop Addison Russell (back) returned to the lineup for the first time in more than a week and looked especially healthy. He made two sharp plays in the first inning of an 8-6 loss to the Houston Astros, including a play deep in the hole for a long out, then singled home a run in the second and homered in the third. “Body feels good, mind feels good, back feels good,” Russell said. Maddon said he hopes to have him play again Friday. He’ll catch on Left fielder/emergency catcher Kyle Schwarber got his first work behind the plate in a big-league game, taking over in the sixth. La Stella exhales Infielder Tommy La Stella said he wasn’t necessarily sweating out whether he’d survive the Cubs’ final roster decision this week. “Those are things I can’t control,” he said, but added, “It was definitely a relief” to make the cut, along with outfielder Matt Szczur. --