March 4, 2017

CSNChicago.com, Mike Montgomery Keeping Things Simple For Cubs: 'I Felt Like A Pitcher Again' http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/mike-montgomery-keeping-things-simple-cubs-i-felt-pitcher-again

CSNChicago.com, David Ross Isn't The Only Cub Joe Maddon Wants To See On 'Dancing With The Stars' http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs-players-dancing-with-stars-joe-maddon-david-ross-addison-russell-munenori-kawasaki

Chicago Tribune, Friendship with ex-big-leaguer helped Cubs prospect Ian Happ's mental game http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-ian-happ-sean-casey-spt-0304-20170303-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' defensive versatility allows Joe Maddon to stretch his bench http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-versatile-defense-spt-0305-20170304-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs will give backup pitchers a long look even after making way for rotation http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-starting-rotation-depth-bits-spt-0304-20170303-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Joe Maddon sees a more confident Jeimer Candelario http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-jeimer-candelario-20170303-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs pitcher Rob Zastryzny determined to win major-league job http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-rob-zastryzny-20170303-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs playing it safe with spring training injuries http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-playing-it-safe-spring-training-injuries-20170303-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Munenori Kawasaki has 'Dancing With The Stars' talent, says Joe Maddon http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-munenori-kawasaki-joe-maddon-20170304-story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

Chicago Tribune, Friday's recap: Reds 8, Cubs 4 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-anthony-rizzo-20170303-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs eye team home-run record: ‘I think for sure we can do it’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-eye-team-home-run-record-i-think-for-sure-we-can-do-it/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs can’t spell ‘repeat’ without the ‘D,’ says Maddon http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-cant-spell-repeat-without-a-d-says-maddon/

Chicago Sun-Times, Kyle Hendricks: ERA champ, Cy Young finalist — and mentor? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kyle-hendricks-era-champ-cy-young-finalist-and-mentor/

Chicago Sun-Times, Heyward hitless, La Stella returns, Cubs lose 8-4 to Reds http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/heyward-hitless-la-stella-returns-cubs-lose-8-4-to-reds/

Cubs.com, Eloy there! Jimenez hits first spring homer http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/217823396/tim-adleman-leads-reds-win-vs-cubs/

Cubs.com, Schwarber's ability to catch a luxury for Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/217830758/kyle-schwarber-a-luxury-as-cubs-third-catcher/

Cubs.com, Zastryzny has sights set on big leagues http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/217823612/rob-zastryzny-hopes-to-make-cubs-roster/

Cubs.com, Maddon, Cubs set to shave heads for charity http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/217823986/joe-maddon-cubs-to-shave-heads-for-charity/

-- CSNChicago.com Mike Montgomery Keeping Things Simple For Cubs: 'I Felt Like A Pitcher Again' By Tony Andracki Mike Montgomery isn't fighting for a spot on the Cubs' 25-man roster when they break camp, but he still has plenty to prove. If everybody is healthy, the Cubs will roll out Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey as their top four starting pitchers. That leaves Montgomery and newcomer Brett Anderson fighting for the fifth spot and potentially sharing a hybrid role as a quasi-six-man rotation situation. However, with two off days in the first week — and five in the first month — of the regular season, the Cubs don't figure to have a strong need for a sixth starting pitcher much in April, even if they're aiming to give the rest of their starters a break after last season's deep run. And with Anderson battling injuries so much throughout his career and Montgomery already comfortable pitching out of the bullpen, it would make the most sense to deploy Montgomery in the swingman role. The 27-year-old lefty knows he can't get caught up worrying about where he stands on the pitching staff in April when it's still the first week of March. "I feel good with how everything is," Montgomery said after starting and throwing one inning in the Cubs' 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Sloan Park Friday. "I'm gonna get ready to make good pitches, whether they want me to start or not. "Just knowing that I'm on top of my game. Today felt good. I felt like a pitcher again. I can't control that kinda stuff and I know that. The team is gonna do what's best for the team. "If I'm at my best, I'm gonna help the team some way or another. So I'm just looking forward to keep getting out there, keep getting innings and whatever they want me to do." Montgomery admitted he wished he could've gotten at least one more inning in Friday's game, but he was forced to throw 31 pitches in the first thanks to a leadoff single by Jose Peraza that Cubs centerfielder Albert Almora Jr. misplayed into a two-base error. "I had a little extra adrenaline — a guy on third and nobody out and I was trying to get out of it," Montgomery said. "It was good to have that situation. ... Just getting out of the stretch, different situations. The more you can do 'em, the more comfortable you're gonna feel."

Montgomery gave up an unearned run in the frame, but wound up striking out three, giving him five punchouts in two innings so far this spring. "The biggest thing I was looking for — and I noticed a difference — is command was a lot better," he said. "Mechanics felt smoother and I had a couple bullpens in between. I threw a lot in between and definitely made a step forward in delivery, mechanics, consistency and started to see some of the misses a little smaller and a lot more around the plate, which is a good sign. "Last time, it was a crapshoot where I was gonna throw the ball. It's early spring, so that's kind of expected. Just to get better from one outing to the next is a good sign." Montgomery doesn't know when his next Cactus League outing will come, but he said he feels his arm conditioning getting better. He threw more than 60 pitches in a bullpen earlier this week in an effort to get the feel back and he's encouraged about his prospects moving forward, even if he doesn't know how exactly he'll be deployed when the games start to count. "[The bullpen session] was one of those days where I just said, 'I'm gonna get on the mound and keep throwing until I can find it,'" Montgomery said. "It could've been 20, it could've been 50 or 60. I was just gonna get out there and throw. "I've always noticed my arm responds better to more throwing. Whether it's off the mound, in between, I like to get out there and throw a lot. And when the game comes, I have a better feel." -- CSNChicago.com David Ross Isn't The Only Cub Joe Maddon Wants To See On 'Dancing With The Stars' By Tony Andracki Joe Maddon isn't satisfied with just David Ross on "Dancing with the Stars." The Cubs manager doesn't want to stop with just "Grandpa Rossy," the former catcher turned front office executive. Maddon also wants to see charismatic infielder Munenori Kawasaki and young shortstop Addison Russell make an appearance on the ABC show. "He's got talent," Maddon said of Kawasaki, the 35-year-old Japanese infielder who dazzled teammates, coaches and the media with a stirring rendition of "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" in karaoke in his first Cubs camp last year. Kawasaki also starred in a recently-released commercial for Japanese beer and he's one of the best interviews around. Russell, meanwhile, is the 23-year-old shortstop with all-world athleticism and dance moves reminiscent of Michael Jackson. Case in point: (Video in link) "He's got the best feet, he can do the backward flip standsill; there's so many things," Maddon said. "He loves to dance. He's the guy I'd like to see eventually. They'd just have to film it maybe in January [when it would work with Russell's schedule.]" Maddon admitted Russell would have to be his own choreographer and wouldn't need much help from the professionals on "Dancing with the Stars."

Russell said he has not yet had a conversation with Ross before "Dancing with the Stars" starts filming, but joked he does have high expectations for the former catcher. -- Chicago Tribune Friendship with ex-big-leaguer helped Cubs prospect Ian Happ's mental game By Mark Gonzales The friendship began as one professional career ended and another was starting to blossom at the high school level. The bond has since grown into a source of satisfaction for former major-leaguer Sean Casey as he follows second baseman Ian Happ's quick path through the Cubs' minor-league system. "I told (Cubs President) Theo Epstein that this is a special kid," Casey said Thursday night. "He'll go to the post for you." Shortly after retiring following the 2008 season, Casey noticed Happ hitting at a Pittsburgh-area warehouse Casey shares with Patt McCloskey, Happ's coach at Mount Lebanon High School. Happ, the Cubs' first pick (No. 9 overall) in the 2015 draft, has grown on manager Joe Maddon nearly as quickly as he did on Casey. "He's very self-confident," Maddon said this week. "Not in an arrogant way, but in a 'I belong here, I can do this' kind of way. "That's going to get him here sooner. (And) the minor-league guys insist — and I believe them — that he's pretty good in the outfield too." But for all of Happ's physical abilities, it was some recommended reading from Casey that helped Happ develop into a pesky foe for pitchers. Casey advised Happ to read "The Mental Game of Baseball" and "The Mental Keys to Hitting" by the late sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman. "I was able to play 12 seasons and bat .300 and know how tough that is," said Casey, a first baseman for five teams, most notably the Reds, and now an MLB Network analyst. "But the biggest thing I learned was the mental side of the game. I told him to dive into it." Casey recalled how Happ earned freshman All-America honors at the University of Cincinnati and excelled in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2013, only to fall into a slump early in his sophomore season. He called Casey for some advice. "I told him it's not a matter of trying to win every game, every at-bat," Casey said. "It's finding a way to win every pitch. Your job is to hit the ball hard." Happ hit safely in seven of his next eight games, collecting 14 hits, and finished the season with a .322 batting average. "I'm super fortunate to pick his brain," Happ said. "He was so good at competing against the pitcher and getting me to understand that 600 to 700 (plate appearances) is a full-time job. You come to the field early, you watch video, you work on your swing and you figure it out because you're doing it every day for the entire year. "It's important for me because I'm hitting from both sides of the plate. It's a big learning process."

Happ began switch hitting as an 8-year-old while watching his older brother Chris — who played four seasons at Duquesne — attempt to master it in high school. Chris soon gave up switch hitting, but Ian was committed to becoming a switch hitter from the time he was in high school. "I'm pretty lucky to have him try it so that I could do it," Happ said. The blend of concentration and switch hitting surfaced in the Arizona Fall League championship game in November, when Happ homered from both sides of the plate for Mesa to cap a long season. "You can't teach experience," Casey said. "That's why the minors are so good." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' defensive versatility allows Joe Maddon to stretch his bench By Mark Gonzales The 13th pitcher or last position player to earn a spot on the Cubs roster can thank Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez. Their versatility provides manager Joe Maddon the luxury of resting a fatigued or injured player with the security of knowing his replacement brings no defensive drop-off. "The super utility guy expands everything," Maddon said. "It makes your bench longer." The versatility also allows Maddon to make mid- or late-inning changes without requiring a specialist, although he does like having a left-handed pinch hitter. For now, it appears the Cubs' season record for pinch hits, shared by left-handed hitters Thad Bosley (1985) and Dave Clark (1997), is safe. "Teams are placing more of a premium on versatility," said Zobrist, who appeared at five positions last season. "As the game evolves, there are fewer and fewer bench guys. They're going to get a spot start during the week or come in the fifth or sixth inning, especially in the National League. It's a different game than it was 10 years ago." Zobrist acknowledged this season will be different with the return of Kyle Schwarber to left field. But the Cubs might have more late-inning flexibility while giving Maddon more incentive to rest his veterans. "If you want to be a complete team, you're going to need a couple of versatile players," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "Maybe I'm traditional in that thought. I know there are new normals that go along with that thought, and you've got to be able to play the middle of the diamond comfortably and complement your team in any way, shape or form. "Now if you're talking about a player who can play a couple different positions like Bryant, and he ends up winning the MVP award, it's got to be the right guy, the right character, the right desire to do that. And then the team has to have that particular need." Giants manager Bruce Bochy prefers versatility over specialization, which came in handy when the Giants acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez from the Twins last season. When Bochy managed the Padres to the 1998 World Series, Jim Leyritz played first base, third base, left field and catcher. "It's critical for a team if you can keep that versatility," Bochy said. "You see what Zobrist does to the Cubs. It allows you to be creative as a manager. You can run short if you can give a guy a day or two off." Bochy occasionally plays first baseman Brandon Belt in the outfield to expand his options.

"If I keep an infielder on the bench, I want him to play the outfield," Bochy said. "It makes life easier." Maddon hasn't fretted over playing time for Baez, who started all 17 postseason games at second base with Zobrist in left. With Schwarber recovered from a knee injury, Zobrist will return to second and Baez to the bench, coming off to provide defense at second, third and shortstop. The likeliest scenario is Baez taking over at second when Zobrist replaces Schwarber in left for late-inning defensive purposes. Like Zobrist, Baez played five positions last year, while Bryant played six. "The industry is valuing quality defensive versatility and not just being able to stand at a position," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, a former infielder who played until he was 40 because of his versatility. "We know what's important, and it helps to win games. If you can put a guy out there on a certain day that covers you at a bunch of positions, a lot of times it allows you to carry that bat, and just that bat. "And it allows you to protect matchups because you can move pieces around. It allows you to rest, recover from injuries. It gives managers more choices of how to put the puzzle together, and it helps general managers recognize that's what managers want." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs will give backup pitchers a long look even after making way for rotation By Mark Gonzales With the Cubs' four returning starting pitchers make their Cactus League debuts over the next four days, manager Joe Maddon will be paying close attention to the pitchers who follow them, as well as those pitching in B games. Starting pitching depth is a major concern for Maddon in the wake of the workload Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey compiled last season. Hendricks starts Saturday against the Dodgers. There's also a close watch on left-hander Brett Anderson, who pitched in only four games last season because of back problems and will follow Hendricks against his former team. "When you leave camp and you have no starting backup that you dig in Triple A, it's a bad feeling," Maddon said. "It's probably worse than that third catcher situation." The pitchers the Cubs are watching as potential insurance include Eddie Butler, Alec Mills and left-hander Rob Zastryzny. "When you can line them up in the tarmac at Triple A that way, it really makes a huge difference," Maddon said. "Fortunately, we've been relatively healthy the past few years, and we're looking forward to the same kind of help this year. But stuff happens." Rizzo update: Maddon doesn't believe first baseman Anthony Rizzo's lower-back stiffness is a cause for concern, based on the lack of updates. "I don't think there's anything awful because I did not hear anything (Thursday night) or (Friday)," Maddon said. "I want him to play. He wants to play. I've seen him in the past with a stiff back that goes away quickly. He wants his at-bats, but we'll wait to hear from the doctor." Second chance: A pitch count limited Mike Montgomery to 31 pitches Friday, but he said he felt much sharper than his first start, in which he walked two.

Montgomery struck out three Friday and credited a bullpen session of more than 60 pitches Wednesday for finding his control. "It was one of those days I said I'm going to get on the mound and keep throwing until I can find it," Montgomery said. "It could have been 20 (pitches), could have been 50 or 60. I was going to get out there and throw. "I noticed my arm responds better to more throwing." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Joe Maddon sees a more confident Jeimer Candelario By Mark Gonzales Jeimer Candelario impressed manager Joe Maddon with his bat last spring when the Cubs' third base prospect batted .350. Candelario is off to a 3-for-18 start but has made a few dazzling plays at third base that have caught the attention of Maddon. "He’s more comfortable in his major league skin than last year," Maddon said Friday. "That’s a big part of it. When he came up, he definitely was wide-eyed. He's a great talent who struggled in the beginning. Part of it was he had done so well here, then went back and these are kids. The expectations they fill themselves with are sometimes unrealistic." Candelario, 23, received a brief promotion to the majors, batting 1-for-11 before returning to Triple-A Iowa, where he batted .333 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs in 76 games. "We have a lot of faith in this kid," Maddon said. "He's a switch-hitter with a good approach from both sides of the plate, is good fielder at third base, can play first and is a nice kid with a great arm. "For me, the maturation for him is that he feels good in his own skin. When that happens, heads up. It's like finding your voice. It's not here yet. He’s got some big boy tools." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs pitcher Rob Zastryzny determined to win major-league job By Mark Gonzales Rob Zastryzny tried to complete his third inning Thursday despite getting struck on his right calf, and the left-hander is just as determined to win the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation despite long odds. "I don’t know where I’m at in their minds," Zastryzny said. "But in my mind, I’m fighting for the fifth spot. That’s what basically makes me play better. I'm shooting for a role this year as a starter. "If it doesn’t work out, I’m shooting for a bullpen spot in the big leagues. If they sent me to Triple-A, I’ll spend my time there working to get up to the big leagues. That’s just how I play best. Left-handers Brett Anderson and Mike Montgomery are also competing for the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation, and Eddie Butler and Alec Mills were acquired to add depth and competition. Meanwhile, Zastryzny was promoted from Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 18 and gave the Cubs' pitching staff a big boost by posting a 1.13 ERA in eight appearances and limiting left-handed batters to a .138 batting average (4-for-29). Zastryzny, 25, said the time he spent in the majors was the most fun he's ever had.

Zastryzny showed a light red mark on his calf and felt much better, adding he performed some running and played catch without discomfort. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs playing it safe with spring training injuries By Mark Gonzales With opening night more than four weeks away, the Chicago Cubs are in no need to rush some of their injured players. Anthony Rizzo was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup because of lower back stiffness, a minor ailment he's coped with in the past. It's uncertain whether Rizzo will return to the lineup Friday. The team was very cautious with the handling of Tommy La Stella's hamstring, but La Stella could play as soon as Friday. Left-hander Rob Zastryzny expected his right calf to swell after getting hit by a hard grounder Thursday, but Zastryzny expects to pitch next week. There is reason for the Cubs to be cautious with all their players, especially after an MRI disclosed that infielder Jemile Weeks has a sprain of his left ACL and a bone bruise that will sideline him for up to four weeks. -- Chicago Tribune Munenori Kawasaki has 'Dancing With The Stars' talent, says Joe Maddon By Mark Gonzales Move over, David Ross. The Cubs have at least two other players with dancing talents, according to manager Joe Maddon. One is infielder Munenori Kawasaki, who displayed his footwork in a Kirin beer commercial in his native Japan. "It's the best," Maddon said Friday. "He's got talent. He needs to be on 'Dancing With The Stars.' " The recently retired Ross was named to 'DWTS', but Maddon wasn't about to overlook the dancing skills of shortstop Addison Russell, either, whose "moonwalk" dancing skills were on full display during the Cubs' World Series celebration in November. "At some point, if they were filming at the right time of the year, I’d love to see Addison as a part of that show," Maddon said. "I think he’s the guy I’d like to see eventually. So maybe they’d have to film it in January. "I’m not denigrating David." -- Chicago Tribune Friday's recap: Reds 8, Cubs 4 By Mark Gonzales

Cubs manager Joe Maddon employed his "Cape Canaveral" lineup Friday based on the players' position numbers — 9-8-7-6-DH-5-4-3-2 — and the Cubs were held hitless for 7 1/3 innings in an 8-4 loss to the Reds before a sellout crowd of 15,037 at Sloan Park. At the plate: Top prospect Eloy Jimenez continues to make the most of his playing time. He ended the Reds' no-hit bid by ripping a home run off Jumbo Diaz. Yasiel Balaguert, entering his sixth season in the organization, added a three-run homer in the eighth off Diaz. On the mound: Aaron Brooks allowed three consecutive hits and then hit two batters before being pulled during the Reds' five-run third. Brooks, acquired for outfielder Chris Coghlan last spring, lacked sharpness with his breaking pitches. In the field: Usually dependable center fielder Albert Almora Jr. misread a line-drive single by Jose Peraza that skipped past him for a two-base error. Chris Dominguez, starting in place of Anthony Rizzo, made two exceptional plays at first. Key number: 8 — Hit batsmen by the Cubs this spring. Up next: vs. Dodgers, 2:05 p.m. Saturday at Sloan Park. RH Kyle Hendricks vs. RH Kenta Maeda. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs eye team home-run record: ‘I think for sure we can do it’ By Steve Greenberg MESA, Ariz. — Over the spring and summer of 2004, Saddam Hussein went on trial for crimes against humanity, former President Ronald Reagan shuffled off this mortal coil, Michael Phelps won his first eight Olympic medals in Athens and the Boston Red Sox steamrolled toward their first World Series title in 86 years. Let’s see, what else? Ah, yes: The Cubs slugged a franchise-record 235 home runs. Also, baseball players may or may not have been taking their eggs with generous sides of bacon and performance-enhancing drugs at the time, but what does that have to do with this story? Probably nothing. Four players on that ’04 Cubs team — Moises Alou (39), Aramis Ramirez (36), Sammy Sosa (35) and Derrick Lee (32) — combined for 142 homers, a prodigious number to be sure. Not even in any of Sosa’s three seasons of 60-plus-homers had the Cubs’ top four sluggers been so productive collectively. It’s no wonder the record still stands. But that 2004 team was otherwise an abject disappointment, melting down late to miss the playoffs before Sosa kissed his Cubs career goodbye by, unforgivably, ditching Wrigley Field during the season finale. Who among us wouldn’t prefer a Cubs season such as, oh, I don’t know, 2016? Sure, only 199 balls left the yard — the top four of Kris Bryant (39), Anthony Rizzo (32), Addison Russell (21) and Ben Zobrist (18) accounting for 110 of them — but the team actually was pretty good. The World Series champion Cubs proved there’s more than one way to skin a cat. They won because of big bats, big arms, brilliant gloves, aggressive thinking. They won every which way, and then some. Yet the 2017 Cubs believe they can be even better, and one way that might show up is via the long ball. More to the point, via an assault on that club home-run record.

Some of these guys aren’t the least bit shy talking about it. “I think it’s very much possible,” Bryant said. “It would be cool to see. And I think that’s kind of where the game is going; people are looking more at hitting the ball in the air and just trying to drive it, do more damage. The more I think about it, yeah, I definitely think it’s a possibility.” The more Bryant and everyone else lays eyes on Kyle Schwarber, the more it just plain has to seem doable. Schwarber’s contribution to last season’s long-ball cause: a sad, lonely zero. That tends to happen to a guy who misses essentially the whole season with a wrecked knee. If Schwarber can return to his folk-hero ways of 2015, how many might he put over the fence? Thirty? Fifty? OK, let’s go with 30. He’ll certainly get his chances with manager Joe Maddon planning to bat him in the leadoff spot. But it goes way beyond one guy. Together, with more playing time, are Javy Baez and Willson Contreras capable of eclipsing the 26 they combined for a season ago? Of course they are. Better question: Are they capable of doubling it? “I hope so, man,” Baez said. “If we’re all healthy, we’re all going for it. Obviously, we’re just trying to win and, in any way, be in the playoffs again. But yeah, yeah for sure, I think we can do it.” Rizzo pumped the brakes when asked how many homers the team can hit, calling the very subject “not smart.” It’s about productive at-bats, he advised, and nobody’s arguing with him. Working counts, hitting behind runners, two-out RBI — that’s the stuff of offensive success. On the other hand: “I hope we’re all hitting 50-plus home runs a year,” Rizzo allowed. “But we’ll see how it plays out.” And we’ll see how it blows out. The wind, that is. The Cubs lineup is packed with young hitters who project to get not only better, but also stronger. For that reason alone, 235 might not have much of a chance to stand. But then there’s also this: “Check out the Farmer’s Almanac,” Maddon said. “Seriously. Wind direction might play into that, too. I thought last year the wind was blowing in a lot. I thought even last year those numbers would’ve been higher — I mean, significantly higher. “If there’s any kind of break in the weather, where the weather’s neutral more or the wind is more neutral, that in and of itself is going to permit more home runs.” Hot air from Maddon? Never. Hot air from Mother Nature? It could send balls flying out of Wrigley like never before. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs can’t spell ‘repeat’ without the ‘D,’ says Maddon By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs’ pitching staff led the majors last season with a 3.15 ERA, 36 points better than the second-best team. They also led the majors in turning balls in play into outs with 82 runs saved 31 more than the second-best team. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in sabermetrics to understand the magnitude of a group of fielders that saves a run every two games, or the impact that has on the quality of a pitching staff.

The question this spring, as Cubs manager Joe Maddon walks around camp in a “D-peat” T-shirt, isn’t so much whether they can do it again, but whether they can get even better at the often underrated catching-and-throwing part of the game. “I think the amount of room that we have grown on defense is pretty substantial,” said shortstop Addison Russell, a Gold Glove finalist in his first full season in the majors last year. “I believe we’re just scratching the surface as far as how good we can be.” Russell isn’t even counting the upgrades the Cubs could see in center field and behind the plate, depending on how often Albert Almora Jr. plays and what Willson Contreras looks like for a full season. They also could get a boost in the infield if Javy Baez gets more playing time than last year. “We’re all getting better,” Russell said. “We’re all getting stronger, faster, more wise.” The Cubs had four Gold Glove finalists last year, with right fielder Jason Heyward and first baseman Anthony Rizzo winning. Pitcher Jake Arrieta also was a finalist. “Talking about D-peat, I like the way we’re catching the ball,” Maddon said of what he has seen in camp, especially when he discounts outfield play because of the often tough conditions in Arizona. “I think we’ve been looking really good on the dirt. That’s what I want us to really focus on, the defense, and I think it’s been outstanding.” Maddon even has talked up the projected weak link, left fielder Kyle Schwarber. He lauded the way Schwarber tracked balls in left Thursday night and has said more than once this spring, “This guy played much better left field than he was given credit for [in 2015].” Not that Schwarber puts Maddon’s “D” in “repeat,” but if the Cubs pull off another November finish, the T-shirt figures to tell an important part of the story. “A big part of what people think of as pitching is really defense, too,” team president Theo Epstein said. “You can’t really separate the two. We’re trying to do everything we can to put pitchers in the position to have success, and that includes a strong defense behind them.” NOTES: Anthony Rizzo missed his second consecutive game because of soreness in his lower back, but the Cubs said they don’t consider it serious. He could return Monday. “We’ve seen him in the past where he comes in with a little bit of a stiff back, and it normally goes away pretty quickly,” Maddon said. υ Left-hander Rob Zastryzny said he felt fine Friday, the day after getting drilled on the calf by a ball hit back to the mound. He doesn’t expect to miss his next turn. υ The Cubs’ top four starting pitchers will make their spring debuts the next four games: Kyle Hendricks on Saturday, Jon Lester on Sunday, Jake Arrieta on Monday and John Lackey on Tuesday. -- Chicago Sun-Times Kyle Hendricks: ERA champ, Cy Young finalist — and mentor? By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. – For three seasons Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks has grown into one of the top pitchers in the major leagues, on smarts, command, confidence and one of the most effective changeups in the league. Now, after winning an ERA title, beating Clayton Kershaw to clinch the Cubs’ first National League pennant in 71 years and starting Game 7 of the Cubs’ first World Series title in 108 years, can Hendricks do anything more for the organization?

Even beyond building on all that success during a 2017 with all eyes upon him? Some believe he can. Hendricks hopes he can. And, in fact, he’s already doing it. “He’s a great guy to learn from,” rookie left-hander Rob Zastryzny said. “A lot of guys say he doesn’t overpower you, but he really does. He overpowers with location. He overpowers you with outthinking you. That’s something that anyone can learn. “He’s mastered it, and if you can master what he does, then you can pitch like him, then you can be third in Cy Young voting, or whatever he was – I mean, I’ll take any advantage I can get.” Between his thinking-man’s pitching game and his good nature and communication skills, Hendricks is already helping groom other young pitchers coming through the system. “He enjoys doing that, and we’ve sent a couple young pitchers his way to learn some things from him,” team president Theo Epstein said. “Especially with [Alec] Mills and [Eddie] Butler, two right-handers who have good changeups who are learning how to use them in the big leagues, learning how to throw them right-on-right is important. And Kyle’s one of the best in the league at that.” Certainly, it’s a reach to look at Hendricks as a part of the Cubs’ vaunted pitching infrastructure led by pitching coach Chris Bosio and unsung strategist Mike Borzello. But for an organization set up to acquire pitching from all directions, and seeking ways to strengthen its prospect pipeline, Hendricks could be an especially useful resource over the next several years. “I hope so. I would love to do it,” said Hendricks, who went 16-8 with a 2.13 ERA last season. “Even when I was in college, by my junior year, I just loved kind of helping out the freshman guys, making them comfortable, bringing them along. I wasn’t offering much as far as advice on pitching at that point – but just to help them out in any way I could. And I think being up here, it’s more of the same. “You don’t feel it as a responsibility. I enjoy it.” He has certainly become a mentor to Zastryzny. A rival scout watching him pitch last year called him a “left-handed Kyle Hendricks” the way he pitched. And even though the left-right translation adds a little nuance to the communication, Zastryzny soaks up what he can from Hendricks daily. “I talk to him a lot about the way he does a bullpen, the way he prepares for games, because I like the way he goes about it,” Zastryzny said. “The way he throws his bullpen, it’s very precise. He’s not just randomly throwing pitches. Everything has a purpose. That’s kind of how I go about my business now.” Bosio said he sees Hendricks as a leader by example, if a young pitcher wants to pay attention. “You have to watch what he does to really appreciate what Kyle Hendricks is,” Bosio said. “The one thing that we’ve worked extremely hard with on Kyle is pitching off previous pitches. That’s where Kyle can really be a mentor with a lot of our young guys. “A lot of our young guys that we have – yeah, they’re not top draft picks, they’re not top prospects, because we’re a position-player organization. And our infrastructure says that. That’s who we are.” Bosio said the Cubs look for young pitchers that can throw strikes, are aggressive and are smart. “Kyle Hendricks is that kind of guy,” he said. And if Kyle Hendricks can help the club build more of the same kind of guys? “I think he’s got a lot to offer,” Epstein said.

-- Chicago Sun-Times Heyward hitless, La Stella returns, Cubs lose 8-4 to Reds By Gordon Wittenmyer The Cubs dropped their second game to the Reds in as many days, falling 8-4 in Mesa, Arizona. They went scoreless through seven innings after going scoreless through six Thursday. Top prospect Eloy Jimenez hit a solo homer and prospect Yasiel Balaguert a three-run shot in the Cubs’ four-run eighth. Heyward watch Bounce-back hopeful Jason Heyward walked, grounded to first and struck out in his fifth game as he tries to load up on at-bats. He’s 0-for-13 with two walks. “I just want him to be comfortable,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I’ve liked his at-bats.” Not a full Monty Lefty Mike Montgomery reached 31 pitches by the end of a five-batter first inning and had his request for a second inning declined in his second start. Part of that might have been the “60-something pitches” he threw in the bullpen Wednesday to rediscover a feel he said was missing. He gave up an unearned run and struck out three. Five of his six outs this spring have come on strikeouts. Tough inning Right-hander Aaron Brooks struggled in the third, allowing consecutive singles to load the bases. Then he hit Eugenio Suarez with a pitch, got a tough out on a line drive to first and hit Dilson Herrera with a pitch. At that point, he was pulled. Dallas Beeler took over, immediately hit another batter and walked a fourth run in before getting the final two outs of the inning. La Stella returns Infielder Tommy La Stella, who had been held out of games because of a tight hamstring, flied out in two at-bats and handled second base without issue. On deck Dodgers at Cubs, Mesa, 2:05 p.m., Ch. 9, cubs.com audio, Kenta Maeda vs. Kyle Hendricks. -- Cubs.com Eloy there! Jimenez hits first spring homer By Carrie Muskat and Mark Sheldon MESA, Ariz. -- Tim Adleman threw three hitless innings, Patrick Kivlehan hit his first spring home run, and the Reds took advantage of miscues by the Cubs to post an 8-4 victory on Friday in front of 15,037 at Sloan Park. Three Reds batters were hit by pitches with the bases loaded in a five-run third inning. Adleman, who was 4-4 in 13 starts last season with the Reds and is a candidate for their 2017 rotation, walked one and struck out two. "It was a lot better today, the command overall," said Adleman, who did not fare well in his debut vs. the Giants on Sunday. "But the biggest difference was being able to find the bottom of the zone with the sinker. That pitch, when it's up, is very easy to hit. When it's down, it's very tough to hit. That was the biggest difference for me today."

The Cubs were held hitless until top prospect Eloy Jimenez belted his first spring home run, connecting against Jumbo Diaz with one out in the eighth. Minor Leaguer Yasiel Balaguert added a three-run shot as Chicago began to make up for some earlier gaffes. The Cubs' problems started in the first inning. The Reds' Jose Peraza singled to center to lead off the game and Albert Almora Jr. misplayed the ball, allowing Peraza to reach third. He scored one out later on Eugenio Suarez's single. Peraza went 2-for-4 to lower his Spring Training average to .563. He's hit in all five of the Reds' Cactus League games. Cincinnati sent 10 batters to the plate in the third and took advantage of Chicago's control problems to go ahead, 6-0. The Reds loaded the bases and Aaron Brooks then hit Suarez with a pitch to force in a run. One out later, Brooks plunked Dilson Herrera and another run scored. Dallas Beeler replaced Brooks, and he hit Desmond Jennings and walked Tucker Barnhart to plate two more runs. One more run tallied when Hernan Iribarren grounded into a fielder's choice. Mike Montgomery, a candidate for the Cubs' fifth-starter spot, gave up two hits and struck out three in one inning in his second spring start. He tried to lobby for another inning, but the Cubs told the lefty that he'd reach his pitch limit. Plus, Montgomery had a 60-plus-pitch side session prior to Friday's game in which he was able to work on some things. "[The side session] was one of those days when I said, 'I'm going to get on the mound and keep throwing until I find it,'" Montgomery said. "It could've been 20 [pitches], it could've been 50 or 60, but I was going to keep throwing." The more work, the better he feels. Montgomery said he "felt like a pitcher again" on Friday. It was a nice day on the mound as well for Reds prospect and rotation candidate Robert Stephenson, who struck out four over his two innings after being hit hard in his first game of spring. "All I want to do out here is just continue to pitch the way I did today," Stephenson said. "The rest of it is in the coaches' and front office's hands." Up next Cubs: Kyle Hendricks makes his first Cactus League start on Saturday when the Cubs host the Dodgers at Sloan Park. First pitch will be 2:05 p.m. CT. Hendricks is hoping to build off last year when he finished as the Major League leader with a 2.13 ERA. Relievers Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. also will make their spring debuts. Fans can watch the game live on MLB.TV or listen live via an exclusive free webcast at cubs.com. Reds: Scott Feldman will make his second start when the Reds face the Royals at 3:05 p.m. ET Saturday in Goodyear. Rotation candidate Cody Reed and Drew Storen are also slated to pitch. The game can be heard live on Gameday Audio. -- Cubs.com Schwarber's ability to catch a luxury for Cubs By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Manager Joe Maddon wasn't ready to announce when Kyle Schwarber might catch in a Spring Training game. Just knowing that he'll have Schwarber on the Cubs' roster as the third catcher is comforting.

"When you have two catchers, you'll play Willson [Contreras] and [Miguel Montero], you know something may happen in the latter part of the game," Maddon said Friday. "From a managerial perspective, knowing you have a third catcher under those circumstances is very comforting." Schwarber, who is coming back after tearing two ligaments in his left knee, started in left field Thursday night against the D-backs, and he ran a nice route to catch a ball. His play in the outfield has gone well. "He is a left fielder slash catcher right now," Maddon said. "Maybe as the years progress and the knee gets better, we'll look at him differently, but for right now, him understanding all of that is very important to his success and ours." Worth noting • Anthony Rizzo could return to the Cubs' lineup on Saturday. Rizzo was scratched from Thursday's game because of stiffness in his lower back. "I want him to play, he wants to play," Maddon said. "We've seen him in the past when he comes in with a little bit of a stiff back and it goes away pretty quickly." • On Friday, Aiden Hawk, 14, could forget about the four rare diseases he's dealing with, including kidney disease. He was happy for his 11-year-old brother, Mason, who got to meet his favorite Cubs pitcher, Jake Arrieta. The Hawks were guests of Maddon's "Respect 90" foundation and treated to a day at Cubs camp. "He's a great kid -- you'd never know there's something wrong with him," Maddon said of Aiden, who underwent a liver transplant, then developed the other diseases. "He really wanted to do this for his little brother." The two boys, accompanied by their parents, Lisa and Joe, were flown to Mesa from their home in St. Petersburg, Fla., and got to meet Arrieta, Wade Davis, Ben Zobrist and Schwarber. Plus, they sang the seventh-inning stretch at Friday's game. • Bench coach Dave Martinez is responsible for the Spring Training lineups, and his combination on Friday prompted Maddon to dub it the NASA or Cape Canaveral lineup. If you list the players according to their position numbers, it was 9-8-7-6-DH-5-4-3-2. "It was totally unintentional," Maddon said. • Prospect Carson Sands, who was the Cubs' fourth-round pick in 2014, underwent surgery to remove bone chips in his left elbow. If all goes well in the pitcher's rehab, he could be back in action by June. The news wasn't as good for right-hander Corey Black, who underwent Tommy John surgery this week. Black will be out for the year. -- Cubs.com Zastryzny has sights set on big leagues By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Rob Zastryzny's leg was fine one day after he was hit by a comebacker on the right calf. The left-hander isn't going to let something like that stop his pursuit of getting to the big leagues. Zastryzny is one of several pitchers the Cubs are looking at as depth in case one of the five starters is hurt or needs a breather. This spring, the Cubs aren't worried about their Nos. 1-5 starters, but who will be Nos. 7-9? "It's kind of nice -- [Nos.] five, six are [Mike Montgomery and Brett Anderson] and then the other guys are in the mix, too, like [Eddie] Butler, [Alec] Mills, etc.," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Friday. "When you leave camp and you have no starting backup that you dig in Triple-A, it's a bad feeling, man. ... When you can line them up on the tarmac in Triple-A that way, it makes a huge difference."

The Cubs relied on their big five -- Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey and Jason Hammel -- last season and didn't use a sixth starter until right before the All-Star break, and that was by design. With Hammel going to the Royals, Anderson and Montgomery are battling for the fifth spot, with the other one most likely ending up in the bullpen. This spring, Zastryzny, Butler, Mills, Jake Buchanan, Ryan Williams and Aaron Brooks are among the arms being considered for backups in the Minors. "To have that kind of quality in the background is comforting. You need that," Maddon said. Zastryzny got a taste of the big leagues last season when he was promoted and appeared in eight games, making one start. "I don't know where I'm at in their minds, but in my mind, I'm fighting for the fifth spot, and that's what makes me play better," Zastryzny said Friday. "I'm shooting for a role as a starter, and if it doesn't work out, I'm shooting for a bullpen spot in the big leagues. If they send me to Triple-A, I'll spend my time there working to get up to the big leagues. That's how I play best." Is he motivated because he got a taste of it last year? "I try to play it cool, but the big leagues is a lot of fun," Zastryzny said. "It's the most fun I've ever had. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. I'm going to work as hard as I can to get there." Hendricks, who led the Major Leagues in ERA last season, will make his Cactus League debut on Saturday, beginning a stretch in which the starters begin their spring outings. Once he's given the go-ahead following Thursday's scare, Zastryzny will pitch out of the bullpen in games. "You have to pay attention to guys like him," Maddon said of the lefty. "They don't pitch to the gun, but they know how to pitch. We have several. ... A lot of the young guys have gotten the opportunity pitching-wise, and I'm seeing things which are really good. I think it really speaks well for the group. We'll need that kind of help coming out of Triple-A at some point." -- Cubs.com Maddon, Cubs set to shave heads for charity By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs prospects Taylor Davis and Pierce Johnson both have long blonde hair that reaches their shoulders. And both may get their hair cut on Saturday to help raise awareness for pediatric cancer research. Manager Joe Maddon will host his third "Respect Bald" event prior to the Cubs' game against the Dodgers on Saturday. A select number of fans can participate by donating $100 to get their heads shaved alongside the players and receive an official "Respect Bald" T-shirt. Maddon, several members of his coaching staff and some Cubs players take part in the event. Davis hasn't had his hair short since 2013. "It'll definitely be a big change, but it's worth it," Davis said Friday. Davis lost his high school baseball coach, Brack Hardee, to brain cancer a few years ago. His wife's aunt, his aunt and a close friend have battled breast cancer.

"It's all been a whirlwind of one after another in the past five years," Davis said. "What better cause to support than for the kids? I think everybody's role in life should be to have a purpose for somebody else, you know? Hopefully, this will raise awareness for something." The message hit home this past week when Davis, Johnson and Anthony Rizzo visited children at a local hospital. "Those kids have so much more to fight for than we do," Davis said. "It brings so much more perspective into life. To raise awareness, I'll do whatever it takes." --