February 25, 2016

Chicago Tribune, Tom Ricketts plans to make Theo Epstein baseball's highest paid executive http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-tom-ricketts-supports-theo-epstein-20160224-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs hitting coach John Mallee living dream in honor of father http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-hitting-coach-honors-dad-haugh-spt-0225-20160224-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Relaxed Tom Ricketts lightly dismisses barb from Yankees fan Donald Trump http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-tom-ricketts-donald-trump-cubs-sullivan-spt-0225-20160224-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs believe top prospects now can develop naturally under radar http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-natural-development-stage-spring-spt-0225-20160224-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' workouts tailored to Joe Maddon's fundamental style http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-prefers-brisk-workouts-20160224-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs teammates giving David Ross retirement tour http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-david-ross-retiring-20160224-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs single-game tickets on sale Friday; will 2008 record fall? http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-tickets-sale-20160223-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Versatility brings back Little League memories for Kris Bryant http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kris-bryant-likes-outfield-20160224-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Chris Coghlan expects takeout slide rule to change http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-chris-coghlan-expects-takeout-slide-rule-to-change--20160224-column.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs owner: Theo Epstein deserves to be baseball's top-paid exec http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1351588/cubs-owner-theo-epstein-deserves-baseballs-top-paid-exec

Chicago Sun-Times, 'Unsustainable' no more: Tom Ricketts says Cubs in 'good spot' to support payroll arc until TV deal http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1351512/unsustainable-tom-ricketts-says-cubs-good-spot-support-payroll-arc-tv-deal

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs' chairman: 'surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom' http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1350171/cubs-chairman-surreal-donald-trump-threatens-mom

Chicago Sun-Times, Tom Ricketts says Cubs are good enough to win it all, and this time he might actually be right http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/1350714/tom-ricketts-says-cubs-good-enough-win-time-might-actually-right

Cubs.com, Fun tops agenda for Cubs' full-squad workout http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/165353284/cubs-have-fun-on-first-full-squad-workout-day

Cubs.com, Ricketts: Good vibrations at Cubs' camp http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/165344668/cubs-owner-tom-ricketts-addresses-media

Cubs.com, Reining in Schwarber a challenge for Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/165359434/cubs-kyle-schwarber-has-a-lot-of-energy

Cubs.com, Guest star: Sutcliffe 'took one for the team' http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/165327424/rick-sutcliffe-earns-yellow-star-in-cubs-camp

ESPNChicago.com, First full-squad workout for Cubs a short one http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/36544/first-full-squad-workout-for-cubs-a-short-one

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs owner, Theo Epstein still on 'same page' regarding new contract http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/36536/cubs-owner-theo-epstein-still-on-same-page-re-new-contract

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' Kris Bryant ready to 'continue' his 2015, celebrate David Ross http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/36531/kris-bryant-ready-to-continue-his-2015-david-ross-to-provide-lighter-moments-for-him

CSNChicago.com, Cubs' Ricketts on Theo Epstein extension: 'Nothing to report' http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-ricketts-theo-epstein-extension-nothing-report

CSNChicago.com, Joe Maddon perfectly captures 'Little League' mindset with Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/joe-maddon-perfectly-captures-little-league-mindset-cubs

CSNChicago.com, Cubs chairman Ricketts: 'It's surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom' http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-chairman-ricketts-its-surreal-when-donald-trump-threatens-your-mom

-- Chicago Tribune Tom Ricketts plans to make Theo Epstein baseball's highest paid executive By Mark Gonzales Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts understands the price of success.

In this case, he appears prepared to make President Theo Epstein the highest paid executive in major league baseball. "He's the best at what he does in the game," Ricketts told reporters after addressing Cubs players before the first full-squad workout. "And from a compensation standpoint, it should be reflected. We're generally on the same page. We spend a lot of time together, not just on the contract." Epstein is in the final year of a five-year, $18 million deal that is small in comparison to the five-year, $35 million pact Andrew Friedman signed with the Dodgers before the 2015 season. "It's not a very high-stress conversation," Ricketts said of his negotiation with Epstein. "It's a matter of 'Let's think it through and get it done soon.'" Ricketts seems comfortable about the Cubs' projected payroll of more than $145 million — highest in franchise history. "We're in a good spot," Ricketts said. "And to be able to have this payroll with an old TV deal is pretty good. With a new TV deal, we should have more financial flexibility." Discussion with city officials regarding improved security around Wrigley Field are on-going, and the pursuit of hosting the All-Star Game will accelerate once park and plaza renovations are completed. Pen probe: Manager Joe Maddon said his staff is weighing whether to carry seven or eight relievers. Much will depend on how equipped his starters are to pitch deep in games at the start of the season and the versatility of reserve players. Many of the Cubs' projected relievers are able to throw more than one inning. Maddon admitted there was a sense of urgency when he pulled Jason Hammel in the fifth inning with a 5-2 lead over the Giants on Aug. 6, and Maddon subsequently opted for his bullpen with more frequency. "I might let that slide early in April," said Maddon, who added he said to himself, "'I need to play this as a playoff game.' I don't want to tell that to the players or my guys." Not so huge: Ricketts stressed he and his family had nothing to hide regarding a threatening tweet by presidential candidate Donald Trump. “It’s a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom," Ricketts quipped in response to Trump's tweet that the Ricketts family has a lot to hide after it was revealed that matriarch Marlene Ricketts contributed heavily to an anti-Trump committee. "But the fact is whether it’s my mom or my dad on his Ending Spending stuff or my sister on marriage equality or my brothers on what they do, or what we do with the team, we’re pretty much an open book. We stand up for what we believe in. We support the causes we think are important. And that’s what America should be. That’s who we are. "Look, if we had something to hide, you guys would have found it by now, I’m sure." Extra innings: Maddon stressed there are no plans to use shortstop Addison Russell at second base. … Maddon declined to say whether there were physical similarities between stocky left fielder-catcher Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Dan Vogelbach. "Let me see," Maddon said. "Who am I going to be insulting?" --

Chicago Tribune Cubs hitting coach John Mallee living dream in honor of father By David Haugh On the day before Cubs hitting coach John Mallee left for spring training, he visited his father, a retired Chicago Police Department officer by the same name. The elder Mallee raised his son to be a Cubs fan at home in Hegewisch — traditional White Sox territory. Calling dad in December 2014 to say he had left the Astros to join his beloved boyhood team still ranks as one of John's proudest moments. So before John departed two weeks ago for Arizona after what would be their final visit together, the man who instilled his love for Cubbie blue beamed with optimism like everybody else in town. "He looked at me before I left and said, 'You and the Cubs are going to win the city a World Series this year,''' Mallee recalled Wednesday at Sloan Park. "I said, 'Pops, we're going to give it our best shot.' That was the last time I saw him.'' Four days later, John D. Mallee died at the age of 82. At the well-attended wake, many people who came to celebrate the life of the Korean War veteran and longtime youth baseball coach shared with John their memories of him taking ground balls from his dad long after games. The father would put a glove on his left hand and hold a bat in his right, drilling grounders at his son in the name of working harder. "He'd flip the ball up and hit it and I'd fire it back to him,'' John said. "I'd stay after to take extra ground balls from Little League until high school. I resented it at the time but it really was good for me. It made me not settle for being average, taught me work ethic and made me who I am today.'' Today, Mallee basically is the guy enlisted not to screw up the Cubs collection of dangerous young hitters. His directive for the Cubs is familiar to so many doctors: First, do no harm. Mallee merely chuckled when asked if he is the guy most likely to feel heat if the Cubs don't hit well in 2016. "We don't really talk about pressure, we talk about the process and living in the moment,'' Mallee said, parroting manager Joe Maddon. "To learn to play the game in the moment, there's no past and no future. Your only task at hand is the next pitch.'' Mallee deflects attention and only reluctantly agreed to be interviewed, praising his partnership with assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske and the leadership of Cubs veterans. As the Cubs' big three — Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward — took batting practice Wednesday, Mallee offered selective input between at-bats but considers his role as much psychologist as technician. He reports to the ballpark at 10:30 a.m. for night games to start breaking down videotape. His individualized scouting reports can include complex sabermetrics to prepare hitters for what happens in the box or simple reminders for what goes on between the ears. The approach for Javier Baez, for example, will differ from, say, Heyward. "We spend all day trying to clear up the message and give them bits and pieces,'' Mallee said. "These young kids we have now, their personalities, the intelligence, the desire to be great, they all have that, which is amazing because it's hard to find.'' A 12th-round draft pick of the Phillies in 1991, the product of Mount Carmel and Illinois-Chicago never hit higher than .237 in two minor-league seasons. But, as the adage goes, those who can't do, teach. And teaching always came naturally to the baseball junkie. "The guy just sits at the computer all day and breaks it down and then goes to the hotel and looks at it in his bed, I think, just baseball 24/7,'' Bryant said. "When I was down last year, he picked me up and when I was going good he made sure I stayed on top of my routine.''

Added Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber: "He tries to keep it simple as possible but if you want to get complicated, he can get complicated. He's actually a very funny guy. We're lucky to have him. We all trust him and he connects great with the players.'' That knack became obvious to Mallee one day in 1995 when he was working a White Sox youth camp. After Mallee exceeded his time limit speaking to a group, then-White Sox coach Ron Jackson pulled him aside for a question. "Would you be interested in coaching professional baseball?'' Jackson asked Mallee. The answer was an emphatic yes. Two weeks later, the Brewers' Class A affiliate in Beloit, Wis., hired Mallee as hitting coach. Only one problem existed: Mallee always planned on making his father proud by following his footsteps into the CPD — a family calling that caused him immediately to reconsider a career in baseball. "I went to my dad and said, 'Pops, you know I want to be a cop like you, so I'm not going to do this thing in Beloit,''' Mallee said. "And he told me, 'No, this is your dream …''' Mallee's words trailed as emotion overcame him. "He wanted me to live my dream,'' he said. Wearing the jersey of his dad's favorite team, Mallee most certainly is. -- Chicago Tribune Relaxed Tom Ricketts lightly dismisses barb from Yankees fan Donald Trump By Paul Sullivan Cubs board member Todd Ricketts made some waves last month when he ripped Mets fans during the Cubs Convention. But his brother, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, wouldn't take the bait Wednesday when asked about a Twitter attack on his family from a Yankees fan who also happens to be running for president. The battle of billionaires began when Ricketts' mother, Marlene, put $3 million in a PAC opposing Republican front-runner Donald Trump. That led Trump to respond with a tweet saying the Rickettses "are secretly spending $'s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!" After delivering his annual "Knute Rockne speech" to Cubs players before the first full squad workout of the season, Tom Ricketts was asked about the cryptic threat from Trump. "It's a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom," he said, drawing laughs. "The fact is whether it's my mom or my dad on his Ending Spending (PAC) or my sister (Laura) on (supporting) marriage equality, or my brothers on what they do, or what we do with the team, we're pretty much an open book. "We stand up for what we believe in. We support the causes that we think are important. That's what America should be. That's who we are." So what does he think Trump was referring to in his tweet? "Look, if we had something to hide, you guys would've found it by now I'm sure," he said. "I have no idea." Most of the stuff the Cubs tried to hide over the years already has been exposed, including Sammy Sosa's corked bats and Ted Lilly flooding the visitors' dugout at Dodger Stadium after the 2008 playoff loss, when he smashed the pipes with a bat.

If Trump can reveal who smashed Sosa's boom box in 2004, maybe he's really on to something. Either way, having the 2016 season begin with the Cubs ownership on the list of Trump targets could be a good omen. Politics and baseball don't really mix, though the Rickettses like to dabble in both sports. A few years ago when the Cubs were cutting the ribbon on their new spring training complex, one of the local politicians mentioned that Laura Ricketts was the only Democrat on the stage. Cubs President Theo Epstein sheepishly raised his hand from the end of the stage, but the politician didn't take notice. The ownership of the Cubs apparently is fair game during political campaigns as well. When Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts was running for the office in 2013, Beau McCoy, one of his opponents in the Republican primary, criticized him for the Cubs sponsorship of a float in the Pride Parade in Chicago. Pete responded that he loved his sister, adding: "I disagree with her on this issue." Tom Ricketts seems to steer clear of politics, even though his parents and siblings are heavily involved in their causes. "I support everything that happens on the political side," he said of his family. "It's just not my daily focus." That daily focus would be putting the Cubs in position to win a World Series for the first time since shortly after the Model T began production. This was the seventh year Ricketts has addressed his team before the first full workout in spring. He refers to it as "real Knute Rockne stuff," and the message is usually the same — "respect" the Cubs logo, "behave accordingly," and "treat fans like gold." I've covered all seven of Ricketts' media gatherings in Arizona. The first one in 2010 became contentious because of questions about the Cubs' proposal to add a surcharge on all Cactus League tickets to help fund their spring facility. Ricketts' spokesperson abruptly cut off the news conference. Last year he was visibly perturbed over questions about whether the Cubs would welcome Sosa back to the organization. Wednesday was the most relaxed he ever has looked. Winning cures everything, and having "The Plan" working out so well must be sweet. "For years we've been doing what we have to do to build the best organization in baseball," Ricketts said. "And the hard work and time and patience and energy we put into that started to pay dividends last year. Players and fans know that this is now one of the best organizations in baseball, and now we have to prove it on the field." Ricketts said Wrigley Field renovations are going smoothly and they continue to talk with the city about closing down Clark and Addison streets on game days, despite a response from Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office that the idea was a non-starter. He said he expects to keep Epstein around after his contract ends this season, and that the Cubs are in a "good spot" as far as financial flexibility. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs believe top prospects now can develop naturally under radar By Mark Gonzales

Cameras captured Jason Heyward hitting line drives in the same group with Anthony Rizzo and John Lackey catching a few football passes from old friend Jon Lester. Missing from the Cubs' ballyhooed first full-squad workout Wednesday was the attention given to the next wave of prospects — a rarity from past camps that were fixated on the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell. That's a good thing according to general manager Jed Hoyer. "Those guys aren't expected to come up and be the centerpiece anymore," Hoyer said. "They'll be able to come in like any young player on a Fall League team and focus entirely on helping a team win and be a complementary player. "It's a credit to Kris, Anthony and Kyle. They came up and were expected right away to hit in the middle of the lineup. I'm glad our young guys (now) can break in in a more stabler way than our guys have in the past." There is an apparent gulf between Bryant, Schwarber and Russell and the next wave of prospects in camp that include catcher Willson Contreras, outfielder Albert Almora and pitcher Pierce Johnson. But that's because Bryant, Russell and Schwarber ascended quicker than projected last season, with reliever Carl Edwards Jr. receiving a September promotion. "I don't know if there ever will be a time (again when) there are so many young people coming up at the same time," Bryant said. "That's part of what made it good for us. We all had the young guy next to us. But us going through (the system) so recently and then you have Albert and (Dan) Vogelbach and other guys coming up soon, we definitely can share what we've learned and how to handle the pressure when you really don't need to think about it. Bryant remains close to Almora and Vogelbach and shares what he has learned since reaching the majors. "It's good for them, and it's good for me, too," Bryant said. Hoyer tempered expectations for Almora, 21, who's in his third spring training camp as a non-roster invitee after receiving extra attention as the first first-round draft pick (sixth overall) of the Theo Epstein administration in 2012. "It's amazing," Almora said of the quick ascent of Bryant (second overall in 2013) and Schwarber (fourth overall in 2014). "Those are all my buddies. The first couple of days here I hung out with Schwarber and KB, and I like picking brains. "They told me about the lifestyle and what they do to get ready. I try to learn. I love learning. Now with Heyward, he has been a great help, as well as Rizzo and Miguel (Montero). I'm excited for what the spring holds." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' workouts tailored to Joe Maddon's fundamental style By Mark Gonzales The first full-squad workout for the Chicago Cubs started with an array of individual and group meetings and concluded with Jon Lester throwing a tight spiral and fellow pitcher Jason Hammel making an impressive two-handed catch while wearing orange gloves. Manager Joe Maddon kept the Cubs’ brisk workout to about two hours in an effort to keep his players sharp with plenty of work and time ahead.

“I like the spring training dance,” Maddon said. “I think it should be a slow dance.” Maddon also recognized that several players arrived at the spring training complex several weeks in advance of their first workout, but he doesn’t want them experiencing a state of lethargy or complaining that spring training is too long. One area Maddon plans to shore up is the team’s fundamentals. Maddon expressed his displeasure over the poor play one week into the 2015 exhibition season “If you really dig down to last spring training, I was not happy with the fundamentals early on,” Maddon said. “Unless you think about it, you lose sight of it. I really fully anticipate the proper approach to fundamentals this year where guys are totally invested in it mentally and guys aren’t going through the motions and by the end of this camp being able to nail all that stuff down.” Maddon emphasized he wants to keep drills basic and simple. “Whatever we choose to do, let’s do it right and well.” Maddon said he did not discuss playing time at second base with shortstop Addison Russell. “He didn’t bring it up, either,” Maddon said. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs teammates giving David Ross retirement tour By Mark Gonzales Kris Bryant wants to make sure Chicago Cubs teammate David Ross receives the same glorious treatment that Derek Jeter enjoyed in his final season. "He’s very underrated," Bryant said Wednesday of Ross, 38, who is retiring after this season. "You see all the retirement tours for Jeter and (David) Ortiz. It’s very deserving. But we think Ross deserves it, too. But we're going to do it in our little way. "Rossy is probably the best teammate I’ve ever had. I’m definiltey going to miss him. I want him to stay. Hopefully he comes back as a manager." Anthony Rizzo and Bryant have documented Ross' final season with an Instragram account titled grandparossy_3. Bryant, 24, was quick to share his amusement over Ross' age and slow understanding of social media. "One time last year we were on a bus ride going to the hotel," Bryant said. "I was called to the back of the bus by Rossy, who said, 'I need to get a hashtag for my tweet.'" Bryant raved about Ross' even temperament during Bryant's rookie season in 2015. "I can’t really put into words what he’s done," Bryant said. "I just see how much fun he has, and that’s how we all should do it. There are times before the season you don’t want to play, you’re doing so bad. "But Rossy is goofing off and laughing and he’s batting .168. Something to that that says a lot. I think we can all take that from Rossy. I’m certainly going to miss him." --

Chicago Tribune Cubs single-game tickets on sale Friday; will 2008 record fall? By Tim Bannon Regular-priced single game tickets for the Cubs 2016 season go on sale Friday. Starting at 10 a.m., fans can buy tickets at either cubs.com or by calling 800-843-2827. (A virtual waiting room will accept customers starting at 9:30 a.m.) Because of construction at Wrigley Field, there will be no sales at the ballpark until closer to the start of the season. In 2015, the Cubs drew 2.95 million fans, an average of 36,540 per game. The total would certainly have been higher if the bleachers had not been closed for part of the season. Wrigley Field holds rougly 42,000 people, including standing-room-only ticket holders. The team's all-time high in attendance was in 2008, when it sold 3.3 milllion seats, with an average of 40,743 per game. Will 2016 sales top the 2008 record? "Following a deep postseason run and exciting offseason, there is tremendous demand to watch the Cubs this year," Colin Faulkner, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in a statement. "Between impressive renewal rates among our largest season ticket holder base in team history, to early sales of our multigame ticket packs, we have seen many of our popular games sell quickly already." For fans who are willing to pay a premium charge of up to 20 percent, tickets have been available since Tuesday. This season, the average price for Cubs tickets went up about 10 percent. The number of marquee games was increased from nine to 14 in the bowl and the bleachers, while one section of outfield terrace reserve has been reclassified to corner box reserve, with a 43 percent increase. "We've clearly seen an increase in demand, so that helped factor into an increase in our prices," Faulkner said last November when the price increase was announced. "Our goal is to remain competitive for the long term and provide value to our fans for a competitive baseball team, but also (value) in their tickets." The 2016 season at Wrigley begins April 11 against the Reds. -- Chicago Tribune Versatility brings back Little League memories for Kris Bryant By Mark Gonzales Kris Bryant said he's not ready to give up his hopes of playing the outfield on occasion, even with the addition of Jason Heyward and Javier Baez working out in center field. In fact, Bryant -- the Cubs' 2015 National League Rookie of the Year third baseman, said playing the outfield reminds him of his Little League days in Las Vegas. "Think back to when you started playing baseball," Bryant said Wednesday morning. "It always so much more fun in Little League. Now it’s like Little League in the big leagues. "It's one of the things that makes Joe (Maddon) such an unbelievable manager. You never know what you’re going to do and don’t know what to expect in the clubhouse, and I think more guys should be like that."

Bryant played 19 games in the outfield, including 10 starts. "I’m ready for anything," Bryant said. "But you never know. I was out there my fourth game in the big leagues. You never know. I’m up for it. I’m up for everything." Bryant didn't think that playing the outfield would diminish his skills at third. "It's good to move around," Bryant said. "It gets you so you’re not complacent. I don’t like going to the field and seeing I’m batting third or fourth or third and fifth and playing third. It’s cool to see I’m batting second today and playing left field. "It’s fun. It just comes from me growing up. I played all over the place and didn’t expect anything. I never knew exactly where I was going to play, so I enjoyed it. That’s the fun of the game. "I’m up for it. and I told (Maddon) that. We got a very packed outfield out there." -- Chicago Tribune Chris Coghlan expects takeout slide rule to change By Paul Sullivan Chase Utley’s takeout slide that broke the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada in last year’s playoffs resulted in a suspension for Utley and ignited a debate over a possible rules change. Lumped into the discussion was a takeout slide by the Cubs Chris Coghlan last September in Pittsburgh that broke the leg of Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang. Whether it was fair to compare the two slides doesn’t matter to Coghlan. “I don’t care,” Coghlan said. “They’ll change the rule. That’s just what happens. Anytime somebody, a good player gets hurt, they change the rule. “Buster Posey (gets injured and) they change the rule. There were plenty of good catchers that got run over before Buster Posey. The rule never changed. Buster Posey (gets injured), the rule changes. “That’s just the society we live in nowadays.” Tejada told reporters at Mets camp he doesn’t forgive Utley for the dirty slide. Kang said at Pirates camps he agrees with changing the rules, saying “it's to protect the players." But Kang reiterated Coghlan was not to blame for his injury. "I don't think it was intentional at all," Kang said. "The player, Coghlan, was just breaking up a double play." Coghlan pointed out that Kang absolved him. “You can’t compare the two slides,” he said. “They’re two totally different (slides). Watch the video and I don’t even have to describe it. You can see the difference.” Coghlan will probably hear about his slide whenever he goes to Pittsburgh. "I’m sure they’ll boo me and do different things, but that doesn’t mean nothing. I’m not a marked man. I know they’ve got video. I didn’t do anything wrong. I have no hesitation or feelings towards that.” Coghlan said he will remain aggressive on the basepaths.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m going to do the same thing,” he said. “I just hope (the infielder) will jump. You don’t want anybody ever to get hurt. You don’t go in maliciously, and you don’t go in real late. You just go within the rules ... If (Kang) doesn’t get hurt, it doesn’t get brought up,” he said. “That’s the Buster Posey rule.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs owner: Theo Epstein deserves to be baseball's top-paid exec By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. – Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and team president Theo Epstein appear to be close to starting talks on a contract extension for the head of baseball operations that has been the subject of questions and speculation for more than a year. Specific terms have not been discussed, say multiple sources, but Epstein is expected to become the highest-paid baseball executive in the game by the time a deal is done – something even Ricketts suggested Wednesday. “I think he’s the best at what he does in the game, and I think from a compensation standpoint it should be reflected,” Ricketts said. “We had dinner [Tuesday] night. We’re on the same page. We just have to sit down and hammer it out.” Industry sources say they expect Epstein to get a five-year deal worth between $45 million and $50 million. Sixteen months ago, Andrew Friedman was hired away from the small market Rays and reportedly paid $35 million for five years to head the Dodgers’ baseball department. Since then, the Giants promoted three-time World Series-winning general manager Brian Sabean to a similar post and gave him a three-year contract, and Dave Dombrowski left his GM job with the Tigers to become team president of the Boston Red Sox. Terms have not been reported on either of those contracts. Epstein is in the final year of his original, five-year, $18.5 million deal, and by all accounts there is no drama holding up the process, with both sides adamant about their commitment to each other. “We agree on the fundamentals,” Epstein said Friday, suggesting something could get done this spring. “I don’t know how other owners and their heads of baseball get along, but I can’t imagine a better relationship than what Theo and I have,” Ricketts said Wednesday. “It’s not a very high stress conversation. It’s a matter of let’s just think it through and get it done.” -- Chicago Sun-Times 'Unsustainable' no more: Tom Ricketts says Cubs in 'good spot' to support payroll arc until TV deal By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. – The Cubs still point to the “game-changing” jump in local TV revenues they anticipate in four years as the defining event that will dictate the long-term level of support for Theo Epstein’s baseball department. But what about the ability until then to sustain the payroll trajectory they’ve accelerated with the sudden success of their young core? Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts sounded optimistic the money will be there in the next few years for his baseball department to continue to supplement a roster that is projected to open the season with a franchise-record $146.6 million payroll.

“We certainly have brought the payroll up over the last few years,” Ricketts said Wednesday during his annual spring training media briefing. “We’ve done a lot of great things on the business side of the equation, and we have more people in the park. So that allows us more financial flexibility to bring in other guys. “We’re comfortable with where our payroll is today, and can it go forward? Yeah.” It was only three years ago this month that Ricketts called the club’s recent payrolls at the time “unsustainable,” foreshadowing steep cuts to the baseball budget as attendance declined and the club continued a tanking/rebuilding process. Left unsaid that day: Spending restrictions resulting from the terms of the highly leveraged sale required by Sam Zell when he sold the club to the Ricketts family in 2009 played a significant role in the bottom line. The terms required by Zell expire after the 2019 season, which coincides with the expiration of the team’s TV contract with CSN and the ability to offer regional rights for all 162 games to a single outlet for the first time since teams from Philadelphia to Texas and Los Angeles started cashing in on mega broadcast deals. “To be able to have this kind of payroll with an old TV deal is pretty good,” Ricketts said. “Obviously, as we get toward that TV deal we should get even more financial flexibility.” In the meantime, a 308,000 increase in attendance last season meant more than $23 million in additional revenue last year (according to internal metrics), along with, according to sources, another $12 million boost from playoff-related revenues. A hefty ticket price increase this year, another projected increase in attendance and growing advertising revenue (including a large Pepsi deal since last year) made it more palatable to the business side to agree in November to an increase over the original 2016 baseball budget. And Epstein’s front office made it work with creatively structured contracts to bring in free agents Jason Heyward ($184 million, eight years), Ben Zobrist ($56 million, four years) and John Lackey ($32 million, two years). Baseball ops created a two-year window of near cost containment for 2016-17, based on projected budgets. And the long-term deals don’t rise significantly even in 2018-19. But after 2017, last year’s rookies start hitting arbitration paydays, and Jake Arrieta and Lackey both become free agents – which could mean a megadeal to keep Arrieta or a potential need to buy more starting pitching elsewhere. Count on more ticket increases if the Cubs sustain the competitive run they started last year. And don’t be surprised if the Cubs strike a TV deal ahead of 2019 with CSN – the only outlet available to host the games on a new deal before 2020. Sources say the Cubs have talked with CSN extensively about that possibility and suggest the station has floated figures that might be close to the Cubs’ target price. Whatever ground Crane Kenney’s business department makes up on the baseball plan’s more accelerated pace in the next few years could have a disproportionate say over how well Epstein is able to manage – and lengthen – the window of opportunity that opened last year. “The fact is we’ve done a lot to grow the revenues of the team over [the past three years],” Ricketts said. “And we’re in a good spot.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs' chairman: 'surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom' By Gordon Wittenmyer

MESA, Ariz. — Two days after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump took a Twitter shot at the Ricketts family over the Cubs’ owners’ efforts to defeat him, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts sounded like he’s still not sure what to make of it. “It’s a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom,” Ricketts said Wednesday during his annual spring training media session on the first workout days for the full squad. “The fact is, whether it’s my mom or dad on his Ending Spending stuff, or my sister on marriage equality or my brothers what they do, or what we do as a team, we’re pretty much an open book. We stand up for what we believe in; we support the causes we think are important. That’s what America should be.” In a tweet Monday morning, Trump referenced the Ricketts family spending money to oppose him in political ads in recent weeks, tweeting, “They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!” What’s Trump referring to? “Look, if we had something to hide, [the media] would have found it by now, I’m sure,” Ricketts said Wednesday. “I have no idea.” The super PAC targeting Trump in the recent ads is funded almost entirely by $3 million in donations from family matriarch Marlene Ricketts, according to Federal Election Commission documents. The super PAC challenges Trump’s credentials as a conservative. Her husband, Joe Ricketts, is the founder of TD Ameritrade, which has made billionaires out of the family. Their four kids make up the controlling bloc of the Cubs’ board of directors – including Pete Ricketts, the Republican governor of Nebraska. Pete’s brother, Todd Ricketts, is the director and CEO of Ending Spending, Inc., an organization affiliated with the family-funded super PAC of a similar name that supports conservative policies. The super PAC originally targeted public spending on private interests. Public controversy over their political causes are nothing new to the Rickettses, who bought the Cubs in a highly leveraged deal from Tribune Company owner Sam Zell in 2009. In 2012, a New York Times report revealed a $10 million plan by Joe Ricketts to fund a super PAC to attack President Obama with racially tinged political ads. It so infuriated Obama friend and ally Rahm Emanuel that the mayor withdrew support for $150 million of public stadium-renovation funding that was considered all but assured until then (with no apparent opposition from the Ending Spending campaign). It set back the Wrigley Field renovation plans by more than a year. “Obviously, this is my No. 1 responsibility,” Tom Ricketts said of operating the Cubs when asked about balancing the job with the high-profile political actions of the family. “This is what I focus on. I’m executing against our plan to win a World Series. That’s my job. What other people in my family do is their day jobs, and I support everything they do. It’s just not my focus.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Tom Ricketts says Cubs are good enough to win it all, and this time he might actually be right By Rick Morrissey MESA, Ariz. – Would this be a bad time to point out that, before every season, Tom Ricketts has said the Cubs were going to be contenders, including the season in which they ended up losing 101 games? Yeah, it probably would be a bad time for a reminder.

So forget all that. If you’re a Cubs fan, sit back and enjoy the chairman’s thoughts on this year’s model, which actually is a title contender. “The goal is to win the World Series,’’ Ricketts said Wednesday. “That’s the goal for everybody. That’s the ultimate definition of success. Obviously, to get there you have to win the division. To do that, you have to stay healthy and play well all year. I think those are things we have to really focus on.’’ It really is a remarkable world when a Cubs owner can talk about a championship in front of a roomful of media members and not get scoffed and cackled at, let alone not get ridiculed right out of the building. After 107 seasons without a World Series title and 70 years without a World Series appearance, the Cubs are good enough this season to be almost cynic-proof. Will it be a failure if they don’t win it all? “To get to the World Series, you have to get to the playoffs,’’ Ricketts said. “We want to win our division and we don’t want to be back in a wild-card game, if we can avoid that. If you don’t achieve that goal, is that failure? I don’t know. “The fact is we have a great team, we want to win the World Series and we hope we’re there.’’ If you’re good enough to win it all, then, by definition, not living up to that potential is a failure. Some Cubs fans would reply that context is necessary: The team’s young nucleus gives hope for a championship in any of the next several seasons. That sounds familiar: If not this season, then maybe “next year’’ or the “next year’’ after that. It’s best to embrace some sage advice that has been handed down in sports over the years: Take advantage of the opportunity in front of you because you never know when you’ll have it again. We’ve probably spent more time discussing how this Cubs team was built than Romans have spent discussing how Rome was built. We’ve debated whether the Cubs tanked to get where they are today. They’re here. They’re the favorites to win the World Series, and that’s the most important thing. But when Cubs executives explain that the team was simply going young during a brutal four-year span of losing, they’re trying to avoid saying they lost on purpose. “Going young’’ is a euphemism for tanking. With that in mind, here’s what Ricketts said about Cubs fans Wednesday: “They really have been fabulous, and without them, none of this success would have occurred because I think there are a lot of teams where they couldn’t do the things they have to do to get young and to focus on development.’’ When Ricketts lauds the fans for their patience during the Cubs’ rebuilding process, I’m sure it’s heartfelt. But he’s lucky that those same fans, who were put through some terrible baseball, followed the team’s lead like lemmings and didn’t arm themselves with pitchforks and torches. One man’s praise of Cubs fans is another man’s indictment of them. OK, enough with the history lesson. The Cubs are here, and they’re the favorites to win the World Series. No matter how the story plays out, it will be an interesting one. “Obviously the team has all the talent and the right leadership to go all the way this year, and you might as well just accept that and, as (manager Joe Maddon) says, embrace the target,’’ Ricketts said. “I think the guys are ready for it. It’s a different vibe than we’ve had in the past, but it’s one everyone accepts and I think everyone is excited to get the season started.’’

Ricketts was a Cubs fan long before his family bought the team in 2009, so he knows a thing or two about congenital heartbreak. With all the lofty expectations, there has to be a part of him saying, “Things are good – too good.’’ “It kind of goes back to ‘embrace the target,’ ’’ he said. “It’s different, right? The fact is that if this team stays healthy and executes and performs like we know they can, then we should have a team that competes in the postseason. That’s a different feeling than we’ve had going into some of the other seasons.’’ Same prediction, different feeling. -- Cubs.com Fun tops agenda for Cubs' full-squad workout By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Kris Bryant remembers his Little League days, when coaches would let kids run to whatever position they wanted to play. He was reminded of that last year when he was moved to the outfield for a few games, and he expects Cubs manager Joe Maddon to continue to mix things up this season. "When you think back to when you started playing baseball, it was always so much more fun in Little League," Bryant said Wednesday. "Now, it's like Little Leagues in the big leagues. I think that's one of the things that makes Joe such an unbelievable manager. You never know what you're going to do, what to expect in the clubhouse. I think more guys should be like that." Maddon didn't bring juice boxes, but he did emphasize having fun on the first full-squad workout day. "I like the idea that they're out here just playing," Maddon said. "I spoke about that with Javy [Baez], that playing a bunch of different positions takes a little bit of emphasis off his offense, thus he'll play better offense. When our guys come to the ballpark, they have to be ready to do different things." Baez is projected to see time in the outfield as well as the middle infield this spring as the Cubs develop him into a more versatile player. He won't be the only one needing multiple gloves. Ben Zobrist is projected as the starting second baseman, but he could sub in the outfield if needed. Chris Coghlan played first, second, third and the corner outfield spots last year. "The thing for me is to just be ready," Coghlan said. "I don't need a role, I don't need to be boxed in." Zobrist was an inspiration, Coghlan said. "I know there were guys before him, but in our era, my era, he's the main guy who developed that utility [role]," Coghlan said. "'Utility' was quote-unquote maybe more of a negative turn, like, 'Hey, you can't play every day.' [Zobrist] made it a cool thing. That started with Joe giving him opportunities [in Tampa Bay]. "I know when I was in Miami before I got here, playing against Ben, I was like, 'Man, that's how I want my career.' It's really about winning, and when you realize that and you can do different roles, it makes you accessible to the manager and the team." Players should know Maddon's plan is to finish each game with the best defensive team on the field, which could be a motivator. One thing was clear Wednesday: the Cubs' players were eager to get started. "I look at [Spring Training] as a continuation of last year and smelling the grass and all that -- it's going to be fun," Bryant said. "We're not putting any pressure on ourselves. It's just another year where we have some new guys in the clubhouse, and we're all looking forward to [the season] and having some fun with it."

-- Cubs.com Ricketts: Good vibrations at Cubs' camp By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts addressed several topics Wednesday, including Theo Epstein's contract, a potential All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, and even Donald Trump, while noting the vibe is much different around the team this year. "Obviously, the team has all the talent and the right leadership to go all the way this year," Ricketts said of the 2016 Cubs. "I think the guys are ready for it. It's a different vibe than we've had in the past. I think everyone's excited to get the season started." Ricketts and Epstein had dinner Tuesday night, and one topic to be settled is an extension for the Cubs' president of baseball operations, whose contract ends after this season. Ricketts said there was no update, adding "we're on the same page and we just have to hammer it out." The Cubs have not hosted an All-Star Game since 1990, and Ricketts said Major League Baseball requires teams to apply for the event. They need to finish the renovations at Wrigley Field before the All-Star Game can be considered, he said. "We need to execute on our side first before it's really an option for us," Ricketts said. "I believe the league would be open-minded to an All-Star Game [at Wrigley Field] at some point." Fans won't see too many changes at Wrigley this year -- most of it has been behind the scenes, involving replacing steel and concrete -- but the players will be delighted as they christen a new 30,000-square-foot clubhouse. "Your payroll, more so than any other time in history, doesn't determine how many wins you'll have," Ricketts said. "It's not about how much you spend, but how much talent you put on the field and how they perform. "Whether the payroll is [$150 million] or [$105 million], what happens on the field is what matters. The players on the field determine if you're going to win." The most bizarre topic Ricketts was compelled to address involved Trump, the Republican presidential candidate who took a jab at the Ricketts family this week on Twitter, saying, "I hear the Rickets [sic] family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $'s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!" Although he didn't follow up, Trump's tweet was believed to be related to Joe Ricketts' wife, Marlene, who donated $3 million to a super PAC that spent money in ads and mailings opposing Trump, according to a USA Today report. "It's a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom," Ricketts said. "Whether it's my mom or my dad on his ending spending stuff, or my sister on marriage equality, or my brothers and what they do, or what we do with the team, we're pretty much an open book. We stand up for what we believe in, we support the causes we think are important, and that's what America should be. That's who we are." Ricketts said he wasn't sure what Trump was referring to. "If we had something to hide, [the media] would've found it by now. I have no idea," he said. It's the first time Ricketts has had to address politics in his pre-Spring Training address. "[The Cubs are] my No. 1 responsibility, this is what I focus on," Ricketts said. "I'm executing our plan to win the World Series. That's my job. What other people in my family do is their day jobs, and I support everything they do,

it's just not my focus. I focus on the things we have to do to win the World Series, improve Wrigley and be better in the community." -- Cubs.com Reining in Schwarber a challenge for Cubs By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs have a problem with Kyle Schwarber, and it has nothing to do with broken car windshields. "The problem is that this guy wants to work all the time," manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday. "That's the only problem we have -- and is that a problem when you have a guy who wants to work too much?" Schwarber has been working with the catchers since they reported last week. Now that the full squad is in camp, he also will be doing outfield drills. The goal is to keep his bat in the lineup, and the Cubs feel he's not ready to be a full-time catcher. After Wednesday's workout, Schwarber was with bench coach Dave Martinez and outfield instructor Doug Dascenzo on Field 1, doing extra work. Maddon talked to the coaching staff about pacing Schwarber, who apparently has endless energy. "Everybody's on the same page," Maddon said. "Now we have to get him to cooperate." • The Cubs are debating whether to have a seven- or eight-man bullpen. "A lot of that would depend on how you feel about the guys on your bench and who you want to keep there and how it will play out," Maddon said. "It always depends on the length you think you'll get out of your starters. The difference with our group is you look at that, and at the versatility of our bullpen." The Cubs have several versatile relievers who recently have been starters, including Travis Wood, Clayton Richard, Trevor Cahill and Adam Warren. • When Maddon had his one-on-one sessions with Addison Russell, the topic of playing second base did not come up. Russell is projected as the full-time shortstop, but he said Tuesday that he'd like to get some reps at second, as well. Maddon said they spoke exclusively about shortstop and Russell's relationship with second baseman Ben Zobrist. The manager also complimented Russell on last year and noted the areas to improve on this year. • Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg was in Cubs camp Wednesday. He will be an instructor. ... Thursday will be the first day of live batting practice. • Quote of the day: "I really like the Spring Training dance. I think it should be a slow dance." -- Maddon, on how he doesn't want players to try to win a job on the first day, but to pace themselves -- Cubs.com Guest star: Sutcliffe 'took one for the team' By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The first "star" in Cubs camp went to Rick Sutcliffe. Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez awards yellow-star stickers to players or coaches, and Sutcliffe, who is in camp to work with the pitchers, got one Wednesday after he was struck by an errant throw from outfielder Jorge Soler. Sutcliffe documented his new stardom on Twitter. "Yes the 1st STAR of #Cubs camp goes to The Red Baron!" Sutcliffe posted.

"For those who don't know a STAR goes to a guy who did something extraordinary the day before! #Cubs #ESPN" "FYI it's also my 1st Career Star!!" Martinez said Sutcliffe got the sticker, which he put on his cap, because he "took one for the team." First-base coach Brandon Hyde tried to pull Sutcliffe out of the way, but the ball still struck the big redhead. Hyde also got a star for his efforts. Sutcliffe thought Chris Coghlan had made the throw. "I said, 'Whoever did it, I'm going to kick their [butt],'" Sutcliffe said. "I felt pretty confident if it was Coghlan, but now that I know it was Soler, I don't know." Soler does throw hard. "It hurt like hell," Sutcliffe said. -- ESPNChicago.com First full-squad workout for Cubs a short one By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon kept to his less-is-more mindset for Day 1 of full-squad workouts at Cubs spring training on Wednesday. The pitchers did their work separate from their teammates, who performed infield drills then took batting practice thrown by coaches. “It made for a short, crispy kind of day and I liked it,” Maddon said afterwards. “I don’t want anyone to push hard early. I don’t want anyone to try and make the team early.” In the coming days, Cubs pitchers will face Cubs hitters and that’s when the intensity will rise to another level, but for now it’s just about getting their work in before the desert heat gets to them -- though Wednesday was the coolest day of the spring so far. “I like the spring dance,” Maddon said. “It should be a slow dance.” In other words, there’s plenty of time to get ready. But one thing Maddon wants to focus on right from the start is fundamentals. The Cubs were slow to come around in that department last year. “If you dig down into last spring training I was not happy with the fundamentals early on,” he said. “I fully anticipate the proper approach to fundamentals this year where guys are invested mentally and not just going through the motions. Having said that, we don’t do a whole lot of stuff.” The message: Before practice, the team gathered for a state-of-the-union address by owner Tom Ricketts as well as the front office. That was followed by Maddon discussing his “Embrace the Target” strategy for the season. His team is the favorite and Maddon isn’t shying away from it. “I try not to be redundant but there are some components you want to be redundant with,” Maddon said of his annual address. Maddon indicated he stumbled some during his address to the team due to technical difficulties with his iPad but that once he got to the “embrace the target” part of his speech he fell “into rhythm.” “You look at the guys as you’re talking and they’re really paying attention,” Maddon said. “They legitimately are.”

Maddon was asked if he reminds the players what it would mean to fans if the Cubs had a big year. He answered that as much as he respects the fans -- and Maddon made that part clear -- he thinks playing for something bigger like that can cause problems. Keep your mind clear and things simple is Maddon’s philosophy. “I don’t want to get into what a big season means to the fans in Chicago,” Maddon said. “You can never want to do it for someone else.” He likened it to his days with the Angels when the talk around the team was to win for owner Gene Autry. Maddon says it “held them back.” Arming the bullpen: Maddon indicated the team would discuss whether to keep seven or eight bullpen arms once the regular season starts. One factor is the relievers’ ability to throw multiple innings. The Cubs have several who are capable, which means keeping seven arms might be possible while still not pushing the starting staff too hard. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs owner, Theo Epstein still on 'same page' regarding new contract By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- Though Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and team president Theo Epstein met on Tuesday night, there was no new progress on a new contract for Epstein, whose deal is up after this season. In fact, the topic wasn’t really addressed. “We had dinner last night,” Ricketts said on Wednesday morning at Cubs camp. “We’re on the same page. We just have to sit down and hammer it out.” Epstein’s contract isn’t up until the end of the 2016 season so there’s plenty of time to get a new deal done. Whenever either side has been asked about a new deal, both have been adamant it will happen. “I can’t imagine a better relationship than what Theo and I have,” Ricketts said. “It’s not a high-stress conversation. It’s a matter of let’s think it through and get it done soon.” Epstein joined the Cubs as the highest paid executive in the game in 2011 but he’s been surpassed by several others since then. With a team on the rise and a rebuilt farm system, Ricketts admits Epstein deserves to be paid accordingly. “I think he’s the best at what he does in the game,” Ricketts stated. “From a compensation standpoint it should be reflected. We’re generally on the same page.” -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' Kris Bryant ready to 'continue' his 2015, celebrate David Ross By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- Picking up where he left off shouldn’t be a problem for the National League Rookie of the Year, considering Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is treating 2016 like a “continuation” of last season. As for the pressure of his team being picked to win it all, he’ll worry about that later. “'Expectations' is a word we don’t have to pay attention to yet,” Bryant said Wednesday. Bryant and his teammates will take the field Wednesday for the first time this spring with potential All-Stars all over the diamond. “I’m looking at it as a continuation of last year with a three to four month break,” he said.

That could be bad news for opposing pitchers, as Bryant belted 26 home runs with 99 RBIs in his rookie season. This time around, he wants to make more contact. “Something that stood out to me this offseason is when I got my pitch, I didn’t hit it all the time,” Bryant said. “I fouled it off or swung through it. That’s exciting to me, because the year I had last year was pretty good, but if I could get better at hitting those pitches, it could be even better. So I’m excited for that.” Bryant is unique in that he actually embraces his struggles. “It’s a roller coaster ride,” he said. “I wouldn’t be playing this game if it wasn’t like that. I enjoy the adversity because it only gets better.” As for those team expectations, spring training isn’t the place for them to sink in. Maybe once the regular season starts, but with the Cubs' young, talented core combined with veteran additions like Jason Heyward, the last thing Bryant or anyone else is feeling is pressure. “At ease is a perfect word,” Bryant said. “Us young guys have our feet wet. We’re not nervous, we’re not trying to go out there and do everything all in one at-bat. It’s nice to have that pressure lifted off of you and just go out and play your game.” To keep things light when the pressure does mount, Bryant and his teammates have David Ross. Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo are going to document the popular catcher’s final season in the big leagues using an Instagram account: @Grandparossy_3. “He’s very underrated,” Bryant said. “You see all the retirement tours for Derek Jeter and David Ortiz. We think Ross deserves it too, but we’re going to do it in our own little way, have fun with it, probably because Ross is the best teammate I’ve ever had. I’m definitely going to miss him. Hopefully he comes back as a manager someday and I get to play for him.” The 38-year-old Ross and 24-year-old Bryant are from different generations, and once in a while it comes up, like when Ross called Bryant to the back of the bus on a road trip last season. “He’s like, ‘Kris, I need a good hashtag for my tweet,’” Bryant recalled. “That’s when you know he’s a little older. I don’t know if he understands Instagram. We’re having fun with it. We hope to catch him in those moments where he’s not expecting it. It will be fun for the fans to see, because he’s a trip.” Why so much respect for Ross? “I just look at him and how much fun he has and why he plays the game, and that’s how we all should do it,” Bryant said. “He thinks us young guys are just stupid.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs' Ricketts on Theo Epstein extension: 'Nothing to report' By Tony Andracki MESA, Ariz. - The baseball world is going to have to wait a little longer to see what kind of contract Theo Epstein will get next. Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said there is "nothing to report" with regard to a possible Epstein contract extension, as the Cubs president of baseball operations is only signed through this season. Ricketts and Epstein had dinner Tuesday night, but still have to "hammer out" the details, a phrase both Epstein and Ricketts have been using for more than a month.

Ricketts did specify he and Epstein are on the same page and said he wasn't stressed about getting a deal done. "I don't know how other owners and their heads of baseball get along, but I can't imagine a better relationship than what Theo and I have," Ricketts said. "It's not a very high-stress conversation. It's a matter of just thinking it through and getting it done soon." In just four seasons, Epstein has led the charge turning around the Cubs franchise. The Cubs have turned over almost the entire roster in Epstein's time, with Javier Baez as the only player acquired under former GM Jim Hendry who figures to play a prominent role for the big-league club this season. Ricketts said Epstein has delivered on everything he promised when he first came over from the Boston Red Sox in November 2011 - building from the bottom up with a strong farm system and developing talent before going out and acquiring top players on the free agent market - like Jon Lester, Jason Heyward, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist over the last two seasons. The Cubs enter 2016 as the World Series favorites, from oddsmakers and bettors to baseball experts and those around the game. So does that mean Epstein deserves the most money as any president of baseball operations in the game? "Any time you're the highest-paid anything in baseball, it's always a short-term position," Ricketts said. "It seems like someone's always gonna come in with more money. Obviously, there's been guys that have come in the last few years that make more money than Theo does. "I think he's the best at what he does in the game. I think from a conversation standpoint, it should be reflected. "But once again, I think we're generally on the same page. We've spent a lot of time together. We just haven't spent a lot of time focusing on the contract." -- CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon perfectly captures 'Little League' mindset with Cubs By Tony Andracki MESA, Ariz. - Everybody knows Joe Maddon loves when his players are versatile - able to hit in any spot in the lineup and play all over the field. But it's much harder to pin down why it works so well, producing a successful product between the white lines. Baseball players are creatures of habit. They love their routine. Yet Maddon's desire for flexibility is the opposite of "routine." The way Maddon manages, players never truly know where they're playing or where they're hitting in the lineup until they get to the ballpark that day. Sort of like...Little League. "I think that's a perfect way to describe it," Kris Bryant said. "When you think back to when you started playing baseball, it was always so much more fun in Little League. "And now it's kinda like Little League in the big leagues."

Less than a week after Bryant was called up to the majors last season, Maddon already had the rookie out of his natural position of third base, playing center field with Dexter Fowler banged up. Bryant had some experience in the outfield in college and took some reps out there in spring training, but he had never played anywhere but third base in his professional career until that moment in Pittsburgh...in his sixth MLB game. Bryant said he's ready for anything now, which is kind of like Little League, when kids aren't pigeonholed into one spot and play six or seven different positions in one game. Maddon spent Tuesday talking about the possibility of Bryant winning a Gold Glove at third base, a statement that would have been considered a longshot when Bryant was coming up through the minors with his defense at the hot corner as his biggest question mark. Yet even after Bryant has proved his worth with his glove and arm at third base, he insists he wants to keep playing the outfield, too. "I think it's good to move around," he said. "It gets you so you're not complacent. That's what I like. I don't like going to the field and seeing, 'Oh, I'm batting third or fourth or fifth and playing third every day.' "It's kinda cool to see, 'Oh, I'm batting second today and playing left field.' It's like, you're more ready. It's fun. "I guess that just comes from me growing up - I played all over the place and didn't really expect anything. I never knew exactly where I was going to play and I enjoy it. That's the fun of the game." Addison Russell is clearly the Cubs' best defensive option at shortstop, yet he wants to stay ready and flexibile at second base, too. Chris Coghlan hadn't played infield for years (and hardly at all in the big leagues) before Maddon moved him to third base, then second base and then even first base last season. Kyle Schwarber is getting in work at both catcher and left field. Javier Baez is learning center field and can already play all over the infield. Ben Zobrist is the king of versatility, playing solid defense at four, five or even six defensive positions. Jason Heyward has mastered right field and now is being moved to a more demanding position in center. Maddon thinks the players being ready for anything can actually benefit them. "I like the idea that they're out here just playing," Maddon said. "... When our guys come to the ballpark, they have to get ready to do a lot of different things. So their mind just can't be drawn or focused on one thing - whether I'm hitting or not. "I think that's what gets guys in trouble more than anything is where they're at on the hitting spectrum right now and their day depends on that. I'd rather their day depend on us just winning and what they can do to help us win. "We have so many guys that [are versatile] and I don't feel like we're losing anything in regards to catching the ball and maintaining a solid defense." Maddon joked with the Little League mindset, the Cubs need to find somebody to bring the juice boxes. And on a team with a bunch of guys who are barely old enough to drink, that Little League style fits in perfectly.

"I think that's one of the things that makes Joe such an unbelievable manager is that you never know what you're gonna do," Bryant said. "You never know what to expect in the clubhouse and I think more guys should be like that." -- CSNChicago.com Cubs chairman Ricketts: 'It's surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom' By Tony Andracki MESA, Ariz. - Donald Trump has gone after seemingly everybody during his campaign and that extended to the Chicago Cubs and their owners earlier this week. Trump Tweeted the Ricketts family had "a lot to hide" after discovering Marlene Ricketts gave $3 million to an anti-Trump campaign: Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred brushed aside Trump's Tweet later that day and got together with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts Tuesday in a prearranged meeting. As Tom Ricketts met with the media before the Cubs' first official workout Wednesday, Trump's Tweet naturally came up: "It's a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom," Ricketts said. "The fact is, whether it's my mom or my dad on his Ending Spending stuff or my sister on marriage equality or my brothers and what they do or what we do with the team, we're pretty much an open book. "We stand up for what we believe in. We support the causes that we think are important. That's what America should be. That's who we are." Ending Spending is the Super Pac against President Obama that Joe Ricketts - Tom's father - donated to that caused a stir back in 2012. When asked what Trump might have been referring to with what the Ricketts could be hiding, the Cubs chairman shrugged. "Look, if we had something to hide, you guys [the Chicago media] would've found it by now, I'm sure," Ricketts said. "I have no idea." --