September 6, 2017

Daily Herald, How a wild-card game changed history for Cubs and Pirates http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170905/how-a-wild-card-game-changed-history-for-cubs-and-pirates

Cubs.com, Arrieta likely to miss 1 or 2 starts with strain http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252639516/cubs-jake-arrieta-to-miss-at-least-1-start/

Cubs.com, Hendricks strong, but Cubs can't hold late lead http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252619384/pirates-rally-past-cubs-late-for-victory/

Cubs.com, Cubs haunted by walk, bad luck in fateful 8th http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252715048/cubs-lose-lead-in-eighth-against-pirates/

Cubs.com, Rizzo nominated for Clemente Award http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252517892/2017-roberto-clemente-award-nominees/

Cubs.com, Cubs call on Quintana to end skid in key stretch http://atmlb.com/2gME90Y

ESPNChicago.com, Javier Baez, the major league shortstop, has finally arrived http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45602/javier-baez-the-major-league-shortstop-has-finally-arrived

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' bullpen keeps walking itself into trouble http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45596/cubs-bullpen-keeps-walking-itself-into-trouble

ESPNChicago.com, Jake Arrieta says he expects to miss 1-2 starts with hamstring strain http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20595234/jake-arrieta-chicago-cubs-hamstring-strain-expects-miss-1-2-starts

CSNChicago.com, The plan for Jake Arrieta after MRI reveals Grade 1 hamstring strain http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/plan-jake-arrieta-after-mri-reveals-grade-1-hamstring-strain

CSNChicago.com, The latest on Cubs catcher Willson Contreras http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/mlb-cubs-willson-contreras-rehab-assignment-porn-star-mia-khalifa-twitter-dms

CSNChicago.com, Joe Maddon’s reaction to Red Sox getting caught cheating with Apple Watch http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/joe-maddons-reaction-red-sox-getting-caught-cheating-apple-watch

Chicago Tribune, Jake Arrieta to miss at least 1 start with hamstring strain; Cubs drop 3rd straight http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-pirates-spt-0906-20170905-story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

Chicago Tribune, Walks haunt Cubs bullpen in 4-3 loss to Pirates http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-bullpen-20170905-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Jake Arrieta's immediate response to injury a refreshing reminder for Cubs http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-jake-arrieta-injury-response-haugh-spt-0906-20170905-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon credits Javier Baez for becoming everyday player http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-notes-cubs-javier-baez-everyday-player-spt-0906-20170905-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Taylor Davis overwhelmed by video attention: 'It's been hectic' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-taylor-davis-20170905-story.html#nt=oft03a-1gp3

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon cautious about injuries to Javier Baez and Jake Arrieta http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-javier-baez-jake-arrieta-injury-20170905-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Could Willson Contreras return from DL during showdown vs. Brewers? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/could-willson-contreras-return-from-dl-during-showdown-vs-brewers/

Chicago Sun-Times, Hamstring strain could sideline Cubs’ Jake Arrieta for multiple starts http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jake-arrieta-has-mri-on-hamstring-expected-to-miss-at-least-one-start/

Chicago Sun-Times, TELANDER: Injuries that Cubs avoided in ’16 are in alarming supply now http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/telander-injuries-that-cubs-avoided-in-16-are-in-alarming-supply-now/

-- Daily Herald How a wild-card game changed history for Cubs and Pirates By Bruce Miles In the course of one game -- nine innings of baseball -- one door opened and a window slammed shut. With the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh this week, it's a good time to remember how the course of history changed on the night of Oct. 7, 2015, when the Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in the National League wild-card game behind a complete game by pitcher Jake Arrieta. The Pirates were coming off a loss in the 2014 wild-card game and a three-games-to-two defeat in the 2013 NL division series. They had broken a two-decades-long postseason drought, and the future looked bright even as they finished second in the NL Central to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs, on the other hand, were "a year ahead of schedule," as the narrative went. The young team finished third in the division, with the third-best record in baseball (97-65), 3 games behind the Cardinals and 1 behind the Pirates. Baseball's second wild-card spot gave them a chance, and they grabbed it, with Dexter Fowler and Kyle Schwarber hitting home runs and Arrieta doing what he had done all season. "I don't dwell on it, quite frankly," manager Joe Maddon said this past weekend. He was completing his first season in Chicago in 2015. "I've been involved in two wild-card games, that one and the one in Cleveland a couple years before that (when he managed Tampa Bay). And they're crazy. "I just remember that. When you go into a wild-card, it's the seventh game of the World Series as the first playoff game. That's what it is. So you have to try to make your best guess as you put your right lineup out there."

There are no guarantees in sports, but think how things might have been different if the Cubs had not won in Pittsburgh that night. There would not have played the Cardinals in the NLDS, where the Cubs vanquished their Gateway Arch rivals and longtime nemesis. It was during that series that the "legend" of Schwarber was born, as he hit a home run that landed on top of the right-field videoboard at Wrigley Field in the clincher. Although they were swept four straight in the championship series with the Mets, the deep postseason run provided a valuable experience. "For us, absolutely, it accelerated our progress, no question; I cannot deny that," Maddon said. "But I never really dwell on it. I just know that I'm only a fan of the wild-card game if you're the second wild card. Then it's kind of fun. It's very interesting for the fans. It's really a different method to plan, and it's a tough game." Things are different in Pittsburgh. The Pirates missed the playoffs last year, finishing 25 games behind the Cubs with a record of 78-83. They're headed to another losing season this year, and the Pittsburgh media are skewering them. "What's certain, though, is that two years after truly seeming like they'd started something, the Pirates aren't worth your attention," wrote Sean Gentille in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. "(Star outfielder Andrew) McCutchen isn't gone, but he will be soon. The Cubs are the Death Star. The Cardinals are the Cardinals … It's over, and it ended in 2015." The Pirates heard an old charge recently -- that they're cheap -- after letting their second-best reliever, Juan Nicasio, be claimed off waivers by the Phillies simply to save a few Bucco bucks. "That is essentially the white flag being waved on the season," wrote Paul Zeise, also in the Post Gazette. "It isn't surprising because the Pirates' playoff hopes were on life support before they were embarrassed in Chicago by the Cubs (last week). This development with Nicasio, though, raises serious questions about the goal of the rest of the season. The goal is no longer winning; it can't be, based on their actions." The harshest criticism came from Dejan Kovacevic, writer and owner of DKPittsburgh.com. Kovacevic has covered the Pittsburgh sports scene for years. He formerly was the beat writer covering the Pirates for the Post Gazette. "Pittsburgh deserves better than this garbage," he wrote on the site. "Fans of the Pirates deserve better. The proud alumni of the franchise, particularly the surviving members of the 1960, 1971 and 1979 championship teams -- Bill Mazeroski, Bill Virdon, Steve Blass, Manny Sanguillen, Dave Parker, Kent Tekulve to cite a handful -- they all deserve better. "That's it. That's all I've got on that subject. It's getting harder and harder to find the words, no matter how much new material keeps coming up through this comical incompetence." That's how quickly it all can change. -- Cubs.com Arrieta likely to miss 1 or 2 starts with strain By Bob Cohn and Carrie Muskat PITTSBURGH -- An MRI on Tuesday revealed a Grade 1 strain of Jake Arrieta's right hamstring that is expected to keep the Cubs' star right-hander out for seven to 10 days, or one or two starts, he said. "It's better than it could have been," Arrieta said after the Cubs' 4-3 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park. "I don't have a very specific timeline, but seven to 10 days is probably a window that's close. A lot of it is how I feel day to day. We were able set a baseline today based on how I felt doing certain movements.

"That being said, we're gonna probably get a more specific idea of what we're likely to do day to day, starting [Wednesday]. But as of now, all signs are probably gonna point to missing a start or two." He added, "I'm gonna take advantage of the time I have to regain some strength while letting it heal somewhat on its own for at least the first couple of days. And then get back to strengthening it, maybe five, six days from now and get back on the bump and get back to work." Arrieta sustained the injury in Monday's start against the Pirates, leaving in the third inning after he said he felt something "grab" in his leg. He said he felt better later after stretching in the clubhouse and believed it was only a cramp. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said left-hander Mike Montgomery will likely step in for Arrieta. Montgomery is 5-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 38 games (11 starts). "Having Mikey in tow makes it easier to go through something like this," Maddon said. The 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner, Arrieta is 14-9 with a 3.48 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 160 1/3 innings this season. Returning to form Catcher Willson Contreras, on the 10-day disabled list since Aug. 10 with a right hamstring strain, ran the bases "at 95 percent," he said before Tuesday's game, and he pronounced himself pain-free and ready to play. Although, as he noted, "the doctors have to tell me when it's the right time to get back." Maddon, who said he wants Contreras to play a rehab game in the Minor Leagues, said his catcher would return "soon. Very soon." "The rehab has been so great," said Contreras, who has 21 home runs and 70 RBIs over 102 games. "Two weeks after I got hurt, I felt so much better. " Not camera shy Six years after signing with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent, catcher Taylor Davis is a Major Leaguer for the first time after his contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. Davis had a solid season at Iowa -- hitting .297 with six homers and 62 RBIs -- but is better known for his staring-into-the-camera antics. A video of Davis' assorted stares posted on the Iowa Cubs' Facebook page has nearly 700,000 views. "It's been hectic," he said of the attention. "Trying to fit in everybody's interviews, podcasts, radio stations, all these people and high school kids. It's been wild." Asked if he would continue the practice in the Majors, Davis said, "It's kind of my thing now. I don't really have a choice." Davis said he started the bit by mimicking a teammate who did it only a couple of times last season. "It just became a thing," he said. Day of rest Maddon gave Anthony Rizzo the day off Tuesday but said the slugging first baseman would be available to pinch-hit. It was a combination of the Pirates starting a left-hander, rookie Steven Brault, and Rizzo simply needing a break, said Maddon.

"He knows if there's a day to give him a rest, it's this," Maddon said. "It just seemed to be the right thing." Victor Caratini started at first base in place of Rizzo. Hurricane relief Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach pitcher and Houston native Duncan Robinson is spearheading a #HoustonStrong "Love Thy Neighbor" project, a donation drive for fans to send items to those in need following Hurricane Harvey. The drive will run throughout the team's playoff game on Friday at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Robinson and the Pelicans have worked with the Boys & Girls Club of the Grand Strand to sponsor a drive to send items to Houston. Fans attending Friday's game are encouraged to donate toiletries and new pairs of sneakers, T-shirts, other basic clothing items, socks and/or undergarments for youth and teens of all sizes. All items will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the Houston area. Minor League honors The Cubs named Rookie League Mesa outfielder Nelson Velazquez and Class A Eugene right-handed pitcher Jose Albertos the organization's Minor League player and pitcher of the month for August, respectively. Velazquez, 18, batted .289 with five doubles, two triples, six homers, 20 runs scored and 14 RBIs in 22 August games. His six homers led the league. Albertos, 18, went 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in five starts, giving up five earned runs over 23 innings. He struck out 30 and walked seven in that stretch. -- Cubs.com Hendricks strong, but Cubs can't hold late lead By Adam Berry and Bob Cohn PITTSBURGH -- Traditional baseball wisdom says you should never make the first or third out of an inning at third base. But what about the first and the third out? Two Pirates ran into outs at third base in the eighth inning Tuesday night, but they still rallied to beat the Cubs, 4-3, at PNC Park for their fourth straight victory. The Cubs carried a one-run lead into the eighth after 6 2/3 strong innings from right-hander Kyle Hendricks, backed by a two-run single from Ian Happ and Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly. Carl Edwards Jr. took over from there, recording the final out of the seventh and returning to pitch the eighth. John Jaso started the rally with a leadoff walk, hustled to third on Starling Marte's single to right and scored the tying run on a bloop single to left by Max Moroff. But Marte, the go-ahead run, was thrown out by Jon Jay as he tried to take third. "You don't want to run into that out at that particular point in time of the game," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was tough making two outs in that inning on the bases." Edwards struck out Andrew McCutchen, but Moroff moved to second on a wild pitch. With first base open, the Cubs intentionally walked switch-hitting slugger Josh Bell to bring up David Freese. The veteran third baseman lined a 104.5-mph single, as projected by Statcast™, to center field, bringing home Moroff and putting the Pirates ahead by one run. "David's shown the ability throughout this season [to have] big at-bats, getting on base," Hurdle said. "Another one tonight. … It was a fun game to watch, and we just stayed after it." "I feel really strongly about [Edwards] in that situation," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "That's who he is, and he had a couple of days off. He didn't have his best day, and they beat us." The Cubs have lost three games in a row, but they maintained a 3 1/2-game lead in the National League Central, as the Brewers also lost Tuesday night.

The Pirates' bullpen had been preparing for three different outcomes. If they were tied heading into the ninth inning, they would have brought in Daniel Hudson. If they were losing, it would have been Joaquin Benoit. But when they took the lead and created a save situation, it was time for closer Felipe Rivero. He didn't have much time to get ready, however, as the Cubs caught Bell trying to take third base, just as they did Marte. "I think JB was hungry, so just end the inning and get [Rivero] out there," Freese said, smiling. Quickly summoned into action, Rivero struck out two and needed only 11 pitches to work a perfect ninth inning and record his 18th save. "They had to do some musical chairs and work [to get ready] out there," Hurdle said. "Obviously he got ready." MOMENT THAT MATTERED Jordan rules: Rookie outfielder Jordan Luplow seems to have found his comfort zone since recording his first Major League hit and homer on Saturday night. Luplow's second big league blast, a two-run shot, came off Hendricks in the second inning, a Statcast-projected 431-foot shot to left-center field. Hendricks' 85.5-mph sinker came off Luplow's bat at 104.7 mph and wound up being the second-longest homer hit by a Pirate this season at PNC Park. Only Gregory Polanco hit one farther, crushing a 434-foot shot on Aug. 4. "I put a lot of pressure on myself -- unnecessary pressure on myself -- to get that first one," said Luplow, ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the Pirates' No. 21 prospect. "These guys have helped me settle in and helped me learn every day, especially with these [pitchers] I haven't faced before." What a relief: Trailing by a run, the Pirates asked left-hander Wade LeBlanc to cover three innings against a dangerous Cubs lineup stacked with right-handed hitters. LeBlanc was clearly up to the task. The veteran pitched three perfect innings on only 33 pitches with one strikeout and five groundouts. "Once LeBlanc came in with his changeup, it changed for us," Maddon said. "It's what we were able to see the first half of the season from Wade," Hurdle said. "He mixed his pitches well. … He's never been pushed as far as making pitches and getting after things against right-handed hitters. He changes speeds. He moves the ball around. Threw strikes. He was very efficient." QUOTABLE "John shows up every day and prepares to help you find a way to beat the other team, and he does it quietly. He started the rally. … He's been an impact guy off the bench as far as swinging the bat, and he has done some nice things on the bases. He's got baseball awareness."-- Hurdle, on Jaso's successful first-to-third attempt in the eighth inning "Hendricks is tough, man. I'm sure a lot of people are sitting around the last two years wondering how people don't hit this guy, but [his pitches have] a lot of movement. He knows what he's doing. He uses the strike zone. That late movement gets it off the barrel."-- Freese, on Hendricks' effective start SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Making his first big league start of the season, Pirates left-hander Steven Brault allowed three runs over five innings without a strikeout. He was the first lefty to make a start all season for the Pirates, who played their 139th game on Tuesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the latest into a season that Pittsburgh had started all right-handed pitchers; the previous high was all 137 games during the 1891 season.

Brault was also the seventh different starting pitcher used by the Pirates this season, half the total they used a year ago. The club record for fewest starters used in one season is seven (1902, '72 and '97). Brault became the second Pirates pitcher this season to not record a strikeout in a start, as Trevor Williams did over 5 2/3 innings against the Phillies on May 19. "I was having trouble finishing hitters. That was the biggest problem I had," Brault said. "That'll solve all my problems. It'll increase the consistency of being able to attack people. It'll increase my effectiveness. And it'll increase my efficiency of being able to go late into games. That's what I'm going to be working on these next few days." WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Left-hander Jose Quintana probably won't get the same run support Wednesday as in his previous start, when the Cubs beat the Pirates, 17-3. Quintana recorded a quality start in that game, but he has struggled since joining Chicago at the All-Star break -- especially in August, when he posted a 5.73 ERA. First pitch is 6:05 p.m. CT. Pirates: Right-hander Gerrit Cole will start for the Pirates as they continue their four-game series against the Cubs at 7:05 p.m. ET. Cole has typically fared well against the NL Central leaders, carrying a 9-3 record and 2.74 ERA in 13 career meetings with the Cubs. -- Cubs.com Cubs haunted by walk, bad luck in fateful 8th By Bob Cohn PITTSBURGH -- The Cubs' bullpen ranks high in several categories, but there are no guarantees when it comes to leadoff walks, wild pitches or softly hit singles. Such was the Cubs' undoing at PNC Park on Tuesday night, as the Pirates rallied for two runs in the eighth inning off reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to send Chicago to a 4-3 defeat, its third straight loss. Edwards came on in the seventh after starter Kyle Hendricks delivered another tidy outing, giving up two runs on five hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts. He departed after 101 pitches with two outs and a runner on first base, and Edwards struck out Jordy Mercer. Then came the eighth. "It's the bloopers," Edwards said. "Stuff happens. You can't go out there and throw perfect every day, and I don't look forward to throwing perfect every day." Edwards didn't pitch badly, although walking the leadoff batter -- in this case, John Jaso -- is a recipe for disaster, especially with a one-run lead, late. Starling Marte then poked a soft single that advanced a hustling Jaso to third. Rookie Max Moroff then blooped a single over shortstop that scored Jaso and tied the game. Marte was thrown out trying to get to third, and with Andrew McCutchen up, Moroff scooted to second on a wild pitch. Edwards intentionally walked Josh Bell, but David Freese hit a legitimate line-drive single to center field, scoring Moroff. Bell was also thrown out at third to end the inning, but the two runs were enough. "Like I said, it's the bloopers," Edwards reiterated. "I don't even care about the walk, but if it wasn't the bloopers it would be a different story." "[Edwards] had great stuff, there's no issue about that, but the [leadoff] walk did hurt," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Maddon also pointed to his team stranding eight runners in the first four innings against rookie starter Steven Brault. The Cubs scored just three runs off Brault, who yielded eight hits and walked two, allowing the Bucs to stay close. "That always bothers you, when you leave that many runners on," Maddon said. Hendricks, still on a pitch count after returning from the disabled list in late July, said he "definitely" could have pitched longer, but he did not quibble with the move. "I knew I was gonna be out of there," he said. "I feel really strongly about [Edwards] in that situation," Maddon said. "That's who he is, and he had a couple of days off. He didn't have his best day, and they beat us." Maddon also felt Edwards' pain over the quality of some of the hits. "Two softies," Maddon said. "Good hitting by Marte, softie by Moroff and all of a sudden we're in trouble." Edwards still could have escaped, "but Freese hits the ball up the middle, and that's it," Maddon said. -- Cubs.com Rizzo nominated for Clemente Award By Mark Newman It was 45 years ago this month when Roberto Clemente doubled to the wall for his 3,000th and final career hit -- three months before the plane crash that took his life as he tried to deliver relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. "I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give," Clemente once said. Today the legend of Puerto Rico's favorite son is stronger than ever, and the annual Roberto Clemente Award has become "baseball's most prestigious award," according to Commissioner Rob Manfred. On Tuesday, Major League Baseball revealed the 30 club nominees for the 2017 honor, whichh goes to a player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. American League nominees are Chris Davis of Baltimore, Rick Porcello of Boston, Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox, Carlos Carrasco of Cleveland, Miguel Cabrera of Detroit, Jose Altuve of Houston, Drew Butera of Kansas City, Cameron Maybin of the Los Angeles Angels (since acquired by Houston), Joe Mauer of Minnesota, Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees, Liam Hendriks of Oakland, Robinson Cano of Seattle, Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay, Cole Hamels of Texas, and Marcus Stroman of Toronto. National League nominees are Paul Goldschmidt of Arizona, Jason Motte of Atlanta, Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs, Scooter Gennett of Cincinnati, Ian Desmond of Colorado, Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dee Gordon of Miami, Matt Garza of Milwaukee, T.J. Rivera of the New York Mets, Cameron Rupp of Philadelphia, Josh Harrison of Pittsburgh, Adam Wainwright of St. Louis, Hunter Renfroe of San Diego, Buster Posey of San Francisco and Ryan Zimmerman of Washington. The list of nominees features Major Leaguers whose work in the community focuses on important issues ranging from awareness and fundraising of childhood cancer and other illnesses, education, outreach to underserved children and communities in the U.S. and abroad, care for veterans and more.

"This award represents everything Roberto stood for as a 'good Samaritan,'" said MLB goodwill ambassador Vera Clemente, Roberto's wife. "Through the Roberto Clemente Award, today's players are recognized for these same qualities." Each club nominates one current player to be considered for the Roberto Clemente Award in tribute to Clemente's achievements and character. Wednesday marks the 16th annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by MLB to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the award in his honor. Clubs playing at home on Wednesday will recognize their local nominees as part of Roberto Clemente Day ceremonies. Visiting clubs will honor their nominees on a subsequent homestand. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks. There are seven 2017 All-Stars among the nominees: Goldschmidt, Altuve, Turner, Harrison, Posey, Cano and Zimmerman. The Roberto Clemente Award winner will be selected among the group of nominees via a blue-ribbon panel that includes individuals connected to the game, including Manfred, representatives from MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS) and MLB Advanced Media, as well as Vera Clemente. Fans will be able to vote from Oct. 2-6 for the overall Roberto Clemente Award winner. The voting page will feature bios of each of the nominees and will allow fans to easily vote by clicking on the respective nominee's name. The winner of the fan balloting will count as one vote among those cast by the blue-ribbon panel. Additional information about fan voting will be shared via MLB.com and MLB social media channels. Maybin remains the Angels' nominee despite changing teams via waivers on Aug. 31. The Angels notified MLB after the transaction that they wanted him to retain the honor. In fact, Maybin will be returning as an Astro to Anaheim in mid-September, when the Angels were already planning to honor him. Last year's recipient was Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson. He was like other recipients who say at each presentation that it is the most important honor of their careers, on or off the field. "This is all part of just trying to do the legacy, like Ms. Clemente said, trying to do better each day, making it better for the next group to come up behind you," Granderson said. Willie Mays won the first of these honors in 1971 when it was known as the Commissioner's Award, to recognize players for their philanthropic work, and he is among 16 Hall of Famers who have been recipients of the honor. After 1972, the award was dedicated in Clemente's name. More information can be found at MLB.com/clemente. -- Cubs.com Cubs call on Quintana to end skid in key stretch By Bob Cohn The Cubs envisioned that Jose Quintana would help provide answers in the rotation, but the left-hander has posed a few questions instead. He will make an important start Wednesday, when the Cubs take on the Pirates and starter Gerrit Cole in the third game of a four-game series at PNC Park. The Bucs have taken the first two games of the series, winning four straight overall, while the Cubs have dropped three straight as they try to protect their National League Central lead.

When the defending World Series champs acquired Quintana from the White Sox for four players at the All-Star break, they were 43-45. Quintana was the White Sox ace (13-12, 3.20 ERA in 2016), and Chicago needed pitching help. Since then, the Cubs have gone 32-18. Quintana is 5-3 with Chicago, but he owns a 4.50 ERA -- appearing to carry over the struggles he was having on the South Side, where he was 4-8 with a 4.49 ERA. In six August starts his ERA was 5.73. Quintana is getting better run support with his new team, however, as evidenced by his most recent start last Wednesday, when the Cubs beat the Pirates, 17-3, at Wrigley Field. Quintana yielded a pair of first-inning runs and another in the sixth before he departed. It was one of his better outings of late. "Hopefully that can be a catapult for him," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said afterward. "He was very good." Maddon added he believed Quintana was "over-amped" trying to impress with his new club. The skipper added, "I still think he's settling in." Cole (11-9, 4.11) posted a 3.17 ERA in 10 starts from early July to late August but ran into trouble in his last outing, yielding five earned runs in six innings against the Reds. That was at PNC Park, where he has not won since June 13. Three things to know about this game • According to Statcast, Quintana racked up a season-high 26 called strikes in his start against the Pirates last week, the highest single-game total for a Cubs pitcher in 2017. • Cole is 2-5 with a 4.48 ERA at PNC Park, while going 9-4 with a 3.79 ERA on the road. • When the Cubs return home Friday to play Milwaukee, they will face their first opponent with a winning record since Aug. 13, a span of 24 games. -- ESPNChicago.com Javier Baez, the major league shortstop, has finally arrived By Jesse Rogers PITTSBURGH -- Just how good has flashy Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez been since he took over at shortstop for the ailing Addison Russell? In this case, statistics do tell a story. Since Russell went down in early August with a bad case of plantar fasciitis, Baez is hitting .292 with a .350 on-base percentage, seven home runs, 24 RBIs and six steals in seven attempts -- all without hitting into a single double play. He has also struck out "only" 35 times in 31 games following Tuesday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. But in Baez’s case, stats never tell the full story. They don’t describe the inside-the-park home run or the steal of home or the scamper to the plate from second base on an infield grounder. Nor do they describe his new hair style. All of those things happened over just the past five weeks. Baez was exciting as a part-time player, but he’s taking it to another level as a regular. What has been the difference? “I’m getting a chance to play every day,” Baez said. “That’s what I want to do.” It sounds simple, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t disagree, but more on that in a moment. It wasn’t a smooth start for Baez when he took over at shortstop. His play on defense left something to be desired, especially considering his raw talent. This was one of the best defenders in the league last year, but 2017 wasn’t as kind to him in the field. He had trouble with routine plays at shortstop and missed on chances to make the spectacular plays. Ten days into Russell’s injury, Maddon was left wondering where that Baez was.

“It’s just a matter of putting him out there too often sometimes,” Maddon said after poor defense led to a loss in Arizona in mid-August. “I like to give him a break once in a while. Right now, there is no break. ... We need Addison back to balance it out. When Javy is [at second base], we’re really good on the infield. That’s hopefully forthcoming relatively soon.” Then something happened. Within days, Baez turned his game around to the point where people are now asking whether he should remain at shortstop even when Russell gets back or if the Cubs might make a change come the offseason. Baez clearly has the better arm, and now he’s making the “routine play more routinely,” according to his manager. Even though it was Maddon who was responsible for his playing time, the manager says he wouldn’t have changed anything. Baez needed to be a spot starter the past couple years in order to arrive at this point in his career. “If he had [played 30 games in a row] two years ago, he would have buried himself,” Maddon said. “Absolutely. I don’t think he would have made the same adjustments at the plate. You would have seen a lot more mistakes on defense. You would have seen a lot more routine plays not handled routinely. You would not have seen the same baserunning. Even though he had [the talent] in his back pocket, I think that he’s learned how to really pick his moments there, too.” When Baez slid hard into second base over the weekend, the gasp you heard was Cubs fans wondering if they had lost yet another shortstop. He left with dizziness and then missed his first game since Russell went down due to a sore thumb. He was back in the lineup Tuesday, ready for everyday duty again -- and continuing to sport his new braids via hair extensions. “I’ll probably do it for a couple weeks,” Baez said. “Some Puerto Rican rappers have the same style. I like it.” As for his game, Maddon is convinced that the way the Cubs handled last season’s co-NLCS MVP was how Baez needed to be handled. Being allowed to start against lefties and moved to second base gave Baez the time to mature. Now he might finally be arriving. It took a lot of growing pains. “There was a lot of stuff for Javy to iron out, even coming up through the minor leagues,” Maddon said. “You could see the issues in batting practice. He’s worked them out. A lot of repetitions, a lot of coaching. I think his path has been a good one. I think the way we did it last year was perfect. Everything has happened as it should.” It’s worth a mention that, while things are going well for Baez on the field, he has family in Puerto Rico who have been bracing for Hurricane Irma. "It’s really dangerous right now,” he said. “Everybody is panicking and buying all kinds of stuff. We have to get ready and go through it. “Send prayers.” -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' bullpen keeps walking itself into trouble By Jesse Rogers PITTSBURGH -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon didn't mention it as a concern a few weeks ago, but walks from his relief staff might be moving up the list of worries quickly. In fact, general manager Jed Hoyer recently indicated some frustration with the alarming rate the club's bullpen is walking the opposition. It happened again on Tuesday, when righty Carl Edwards Jr. walked the lead-off man in the bottom of the eighth inning while the Cubs were holding a precarious 3-2 lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates. A few bloops and a solid hit later, and the Cubs were down 4-3, eventually losing their third consecutive game during a pennant race.

"If you look at our reliever numbers, we're really good this year," Maddon said afterward. "We're like second in the league. It's just the walks. The walks have hurt us. We do have a tendency to walk and it puts us in a bad spot." Edwards is among the biggest culprits, as the Cubs' bullpen has issued 86 free passes since the All-Star break, the most in baseball. And if the total doesn't give you enough context, then perhaps a ratio might. According to ESPN Stats & Information, since the break, Cubs relievers were averaging nearly five walks per nine innings pitched going into Tuesday night, also the highest in baseball. Edwards was walking batters at a rate of 5.4 per nine innings. "I feel strongly about CJ in that situation," Maddon said. "He's had a couple days off. He didn't have his best day and they beat us." Edwards came into the game in the seventh inning with two outs and quickly disposed of Jordy Mercer using only five pitches. Though Maddon often doesn't like a hurler sitting down on the bench -- and letting his adrenaline die -- and then coming back out to pitch the next inning, he let Edwards do it here. The righty has had success this year pitching multiple innings, but those lead-off walks are killers. That's been a part of baseball since the beginning of time. In a twist to that cliché, Edwards wasn't upset so much with the walk to John Jaso to lead off the eighth inning as he was with the two lightly hit balls for base hits that came after. "No, the bloopers bothered me more," Edwards said. "You can't go out there and throw perfect every day. I don't care about the walk because a broken-bat ground ball is a double play. ... [I made] good pitches and end up getting beat anyway." Backward thinking or not, the bottom line is that forcing the opposition to earn its runs isn't exactly a novel concept. A pitcher can't do much when a batter breaks a bat and sends a ball to right field, but he does have total control over, well, his control. Edwards has electric stuff, but it has to find the strike zone. The entire Cubs bullpen has to. -- ESPNChicago.com Jake Arrieta says he expects to miss 1-2 starts with hamstring strain By Jesse Rogers PITTSBURGH -- Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta said he expects to miss one or two starts after an MRI showed he has a Grade I hamstring strain. "It's better than it could have been," Arrieta said Tuesday. "Seven to 10 days is probably a window that's close. A lot of it is going to have to do with how I feel day-to-day." Arrieta left Monday's game in the third inning after grabbing the back of his right leg but seemed in good spirits when discussing the injury later that night. He wasn't even sure if he would have an MRI though he eventually did. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday that the team had planned to push back Arrieta's start regardless of what the MRI revealed. Arrieta (14-9, 3.48 ERA) was named the National League Pitcher of the Month in August after compiling a 1.21 ERA, and said the injury may help him in the long run. "As far as arm strength goes, it may help a little bit," Arrieta said. While Arrieta is just now dealing with a hamstring injury, catcher Willson Contreras is making his way back from one. Contreras, who has been out nearly a month with a hamstring issue of his own, will join Class A Myrtle Beach on Thursday in its playoff series on a rehab assignment.

-- CSNChicago.com The plan for Jake Arrieta after MRI reveals Grade 1 hamstring strain By Patrick Mooney PITTSBURGH – Jake Arrieta definitely felt something more than just a cramp in his right leg, but the Cubs also didn’t get the worst-case news that could have ruined their season. Arrieta is looking at a seven-to-10-day window to recover after Tuesday’s MRI revealed a Grade 1 hamstring strain, meaning he could miss one or two starts at a time when the Cubs are running 3.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and the St. Louis Cardinals are still lurking above .500. “You don’t want to miss a start,” Arrieta said after a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. “But at the same time, this is something that certain times you can’t prepare for. “Things happen. I think it’s good that if it had to happen – if it was going to happen – now is better than in a couple weeks. Use the next week to work with the training staff and do some things for mobility, stability and then strength. “It stinks to miss any time at all, but it should be short.” Arrieta hobbling off the field in the middle of a 12-0 Labor Day loss shouldn’t become the end scene to an excellent Cubs career where he’s won a Cy Young Award and a World Series ring, going 68-30 with a 2.72 ERA and setting himself up for a nine-figure megadeal this offseason. Arrieta keeps his body in peak condition with a fanatical strength-and-conditioning program and carries himself with the supreme confidence that made him optimistically predict: “Maybe five, six days from now, get back on the bump and get back to work.” In the meantime, lefty Mike Montgomery will stick in the rotation and face the Brewers in a Saturday showdown at Wrigley Field. All of this is prefaced with if the Cubs get to October, but after accounting for 28 starts and 160-plus innings, Arrieta (14-9, 3.48 ERA) believes his right arm will stay in good shape. “If this were to happen in April, May, I think it would be more of an issue,” Arrieta said. “Taking five or six days off of throwing is something that I’ve done multiple times this late in the season anyways. So as far as arm strength goes, I think it might even help a little bit.” Arrieta is also a power pitcher with unique mechanics who had been completely locked in during his 10 starts since the All-Star break (6-2, 1.98 ERA) and will need to rediscover the rhythm that created flashbacks to his 2015 Cy Young Award campaign. “I really don’t think it’s that difficult,” Arrieta said. “It sucks to miss a start – or to miss time at all. But as a starting pitcher, if I’m out seven to 10 days, that could only mean one start, potentially two. “I just look forward to this week, regaining the strength in the muscle, letting it kind of naturally heal on its own for a couple days. And then moving forward probably in five to six days and pick up where I left off.” -- CSNChicago.com The latest on Cubs catcher Willson Contreras By Patrick Mooney

PITTSBURGH – Where to begin with Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, who got cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday and wound up on Deadspin after an ex-porn star called him out on Twitter. Contreras – who has been sidelined since straining his right hamstring on Aug. 9 – will work out at PNC Park on Wednesday and then join advanced Class-A Myrtle Beach for Carolina League playoff games on Thursday and Friday. Contreras optimistically spoke with reporters before a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates – and before Mia Khalifa posted a tweet to her 1.8 million followers and the official Cubs account that showed direct messages from him. A spokesperson for Octagon Baseball – the Chicago-based agency that represents Contreras – told Deadspin his Twitter account got hacked. Shifting the focus back onto the field, Contreras could potentially be back in the lineup in time for this weekend’s National League Central showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers in Wrigleyville. “I’m just waiting for the trainers to say yes,” Contreras said. “It can be frustrating, but you have to see the things from a positive point. I got hurt, now I have to recover 100 percent. I have to be 100 percent sure when I come back and play 100 percent to get to the playoffs. “(But) I’ve been watching the games, learning from the games, talking a lot to the pitchers, asking them so many questions.” When Contreras went down, he had just been named the NL player of the week after blasting five homers in six games and emerging as one of the best young catchers in the game and a clubhouse force. “My mind is still positive,” Contreras said. “I was hot and I can get hot (again). I’m not saying that first game I’m going to go 4-for-4, but I have 100 percent confidence in myself. I trust myself. And I know that when I get back, I’ll be on fire, too.” -- CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon’s reaction to Red Sox getting caught cheating with Apple Watch By Patrick Mooney PITTSBURGH – Joe Maddon’s eyes lit up when a reporter mentioned the breaking New York Times story that exposed a Major League Baseball investigation into the Boston Red Sox electronically stealing signs from the New York Yankees, making the Apple Watch a new weapon in their heated rivalry. “I just heard,” the Cubs manager said near the end of his media briefing before Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. “I’m wearing a Fitbit. I still think it has the same espionage capabilities as the Apple Watch...if in fact you wanted to turn in that direction. “A lot going on there, man, a lot going on. Oh my God, it’s pretty impressive to be able to get all that done in that short amount of time.” Maddon knows how the Red Sox are wired after managing nine seasons in the American League East and leading the upstart Tampa Bay Rays into Fenway Park. The New York Times report detailed the complaint Yankees general manager Brian Cashman filed with the commissioner’s office and a system where a Red Sox training staffer would check his Apple Watch in the dugout and relay messages to players. “You can still do the old-fashioned way,” Maddon said, “just by doing it because they’re not hiding their signs properly. They have a good relay system between second and the hitter – I’m all for that. And if somebody steals our signs, that’s our fault, absolutely.

“But the camera shooting in, and whistles from the dugout, that kind of stuff, I’m not into. I don’t think that’s right.” The New York Times reported the Red Sox responded by filing a complaint accusing the Yankees of using their YES Network to try to steal signs and gain a competitive edge – and claiming their own manager (John Farrell) and president of baseball operations (Dave Dombrowski) were unaware of the sign-stealing scheme in the Boston dugout. “There’s been a lot of different ballparks (with) an urban legend behind each one,” Maddon said. “One ballpark in the American League, we used to roll our signs all the time. Not just runner on second base, runner on first base, whatever – always rolling your signs. We were concerned about it.” Was that ballpark located not too far from Wrigley Field? “Not far,” Maddon said. “Not far.” It would be naïve to think this is just limited to Red Sox-Yankees bitterness. This is the new reality for a multibillion-dollar industry obsessed with technology and saturated with Big Data. “There’s always been this concern,” Maddon said. “Light bulbs, lights, cameras, guys standing up, sitting down, towels in bullpens. All kinds of goodies. “I’ve had other friend coaches who would text or call me (when) they had been adamantly sure about different things – chicanery – going on in these different spots. “So like I said, your best method is to conceal your signs. Don’t just be so blatantly simple. Do something a little bit different. (Maybe) you give up one sign and then all of a sudden you do the exact opposite intentionally.” -- Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta to miss at least 1 start with hamstring strain; Cubs drop 3rd straight By Mark Gonzales Less than an hour after wasting a sterling pitching performance Tuesday night from Kyle Hendricks, the Cubs learned they will be without ace Jake Arrieta for at least one start. Arrieta, the Cubs' 14-game winner, learned Tuesday night that he could be sidelined from seven to 10 days after an MRI revealed that he suffered a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring. The Cubs already were bracing for the likelihood that Arrieta wouldn't pitch against the Brewers this weekend in a National League Central showdown. The best-case scenario is that Arrieta would return in time to face the rival Cardinals Sept. 15-17. "I'm going to take advantage of the time I have to regain some strength while letting it heal somewhat on its own for the first couple days and get back to strengthening it," Arrieta said after the Pirates prevailed 4-3, handing the Cubs their third consecutive loss. "Maybe five to six days from now I can get back on the (mound) and get back to work. If this were to happen in April or May, I think it would be more of an issue. Taking five to six days off from throwing is something I've done multiple times, so as far as arm strength goes, it might even help a little bit. That's not something that's going to affect me coming back when I do. So it's in my favor." Arrieta, who hurt his leg while throwing a pitch Monday, said he will spend the next week with the training staff to work on mobility, stability and strength.

"It stinks to miss any time at all, but it should be short," Arrieta said. Left-hander Mike Montgomery will remain in the rotation and start Saturday against the Brewers, followed by Hendricks — who deserved a better fate. The Pirates scored twice off reliever Carl Edwards Jr. in the eighth inning to take control. The Cubs can feel somewhat fortunate that despite their rash of injuries, they remain 3 1/2 games ahead of the Brewers with 24 games left. Hendricks retired 16 of 18 batters before allowing a two-out, seventh-inning single to Elias Diaz on his 101th and final pitch. "I definitely felt like I could have (pitched longer)," Hendricks said. "That being said, that was a situation I knew I was going to be out of there." Edwards struck out Jordy Mercer to end the inning but issued a leadoff walk to pinch hitter John Jaso that led to game-tying and game-winning hits by Max Moroff and David Freese. The Cubs' mercurial offense scored three times in the first two innings, but the final 16 batters were retired. "We left eight on in the first four innings," manager Joe Maddon said. "That always bothers you when you leave that many runners out there." Now the Cubs will try to solve Pirates ace Gerrit Cole, who is 9-3 lifetime against them, in an effort to regain some momentum. "We'd like to have our guys healthy at the end to make that run, but the guys are picking up the slack big time," Hendricks said. "We've just got to get more wins. That's it." -- Chicago Tribune Walks haunt Cubs bullpen in 4-3 loss to Pirates By Mark Gonzales From a statistical standpoint, the Cubs' bullpen ranks as one of the best in the National League. Their 3.91 ERA trails only the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, and their 203 hits allowed is tied for fourth lowest. But their 219 walks are third highest in the NL, and a leadoff walk by Carl Edwards Jr. to pinch-hitter John Jaso in the eighth inning set up a two-run rally that enabled the Pirates to steal a 4-3 victory. "It’s just the walks," manager Joe Maddon said. "The walks have hurt us. Because the batting average against us (.222) is not that high. We do have a tendency to walk, and it puts us in a bad spot." Maddon had no qualms about employing Edwards to start the eighth because he hadn't pitched since Saturday and needed only five pitches to strike out Jordy Mercer to end the seventh with the tying run at first. Maddon also pointed out that Edwards had been used previously in situations where he finished an inning and started the next inning. Edwards was victimized by soft singles by Starling Marte and Max Moroff that helped tie the game before David Freese hit a two-out, game-winning single up the middle. "(Edwards) didn’t throw the ball badly," Maddon said. "They had some good at-bats, the ball fell in, and we lost.

"That’s what I saw." -- Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta's immediate response to injury a refreshing reminder for Cubs By David Haugh We live in a professional sports world in which caution rules and athletes insulated by fear of injury too often protect their self-interest with bubble wrap, carefully plotting every move to maximize their earning potential. That safe, me-first culture occasionally pits cautiousness versus competitiveness, prudence against passion, and puts millionaire players in the uncomfortable position of placing their next contract ahead of the immediate challenge. Then there is Jake Arrieta, the Cubs' ace of the second half, whose pending free agency sounded like it was the furthest thing from his mind when asked about the right hamstring pain that knocked him from Monday's start against the Pirates. "We'll deal with it, manage and get through it," Arrieta told reporters, sounding confident he would make his next start. "I don't foresee it being a serious deal." Arrieta didn't need to consult first with agent Scott Boras, who might be slightly less enthusiastic about his client's quick return. He didn't wait to see Tuesday's MRI results revealing a Grade 1 strain or place his agenda ahead of a Cubs team in a battle to win the National League Central. He reacted like a player with something to prove, a guy who has accomplished almost everything in baseball assuming nothing. He wants to win, period, and responses like Monday's only underscored how much, offering a reminder of the urgency of a divisional race that requires a finishing sprint by the Cubs. The sight of Arrieta clutching the back of his leg after a warmup pitch at PNC Park represented one of the scariest images of 2017, up there with Kris Bryant injuring his pinkie on a headfirst slide and Jon Lester leaving the mound with lat tightness. Arrieta's grimace was genuine, the agony no act. Yet immediately after the game, the right-hander basically announced plans to cope with any discomfort without missing his next turn, a proactive approach to injury so rare in this era of entitlement that it stood out. Whenever the Cubs season ends, Arrieta will become a free agent likely to command a long-term deal in the neighborhood of $150 million. That's a neighborhood only Arrieta and Yu Darvish figure to inhabit as the two top pitchers on the market — if healthy. To his credit, Arrieta never has shied away from addressing his pending free agency or accepting the risk that comes with taking the ball every fifth day of a contract year. Not once has Arrieta introduced the idea of preserving himself for a big payday or even hinted at it. No other Cubs starting pitcher has avoided the disabled list nor has any other Cubs pitcher been better since the All-Star break than Arrieta, one of the biggest keys to a deep postseason run. The Cubs would be wise to err on the side of caution with Arrieta, no matter how jacked up Jake is to return to the mound. Nobody knows Arrieta's body better than the guy who used Pilates to change the arc of his career, but the Cubs are smart being more safe than sorry and skipping a start. They still can win the division without a healthy Arrieta but need him at full strength to have any realistic shot at beating the Nationals or Dodgers in the postseason. A healthy Arrieta starts Game 1 of the Cubs' playoff series. Of all the injured Cubs, Arrieta represents the one they can least afford to lose given the way he has pitched in the second half. And it's a long list of ailing Cubs. Lester returned Saturday from a stint on the disabled list to survive five pain-free innings — a positive step even if it was a shaky one — but has lacked Arrieta's consistency. Javier Baez returned to the lineup Tuesday after injuring

his thumb on a headfirst slide — a habit he should break — but, as valuable as he has been as the Cubs' ironman shortstop, the every-day lineup could function better without him than the rotation could survive Arrieta's absence. Catcher Willson Contreras, the team MVP before going down with his hamstring injury, expects to return soon, but the Cubs managed to win 15 of their first 23 games without him as Alex Avila and Rene Rivera have emerged as dependable options. Contreras seems closer to returning than shortstop Addison Russell, who has been out since Aug. 2 with a foot injury. As much as the Cubs relied on Russell last postseason, he was experiencing an off year at the time of his injury and Baez has been good enough in his absence to stake claim to the every-day shortstop role. The first-place Cubs have endured enough injuries in a season defined by inconsistency to take nothing for granted about a schedule that includes 14 of the remaining 25 games against the Cardinals and Brewers. Players can say they control their destiny, but the baseball gods will just laugh. The Cubs are entitled to nothing in September simply because they won the World Series last November. All that matters is the next three weeks. Good for Arrieta in walking the walk, even as he limped. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon credits Javier Baez for becoming everyday player By Mark Gonzales Manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday that Javier Baez has earned the title of every-day player. But Maddon added that wouldn't have been possible without a path that saw Baez spend most of 2015 in the minors and serve the last 1 1/2 seasons as a super utility player. Now, the Cubs have enough confidence in Baez that he started 30 consecutive games at shortstop in place of the injured Addison Russell before Baez missed Monday's game with a minor injury to his left thumb. "If we had done that with him two years ago, he would have buried himself," Maddon said. "I don't think he would have made the same adjustments at the plate. You would have seen a lot more mistakes on defense, seen a lot more routine plays not handled routinely, you would have not have seen the same baserunning. He's learned to pick his moments." Maddon said he could "see the issues" with Baez during a visit to Puerto Rico during the 2014-15 winter-ball season, but that Baez has cured them through repetition, good coaching and his ability to make adjustments. Maddon was reluctant to say how Baez would be used once Russell returns because of the uncertain stamina and strength of Russell's right foot. "I think it would be great to have Javy and Addi on the field at the same time in the latter part of the game if, in fact, Addi is ready to do that," Maddon said. "Moving down the road, (Baez) has shown right now he can be an every-day player. He's absolutely shown that." Contreras' climb: Catcher Willson Contreras will leave Wednesday night for a minor-league rehab assignment at Class A Myrtle Beach for at least two games, four weeks after he suffered a strained right hamstring. "My mind is still positive," Contreras said. "I'm not saying the first game I'll go 4-for-4, but I have 100 percent confidence in myself." Contreras admitted that getting his timing at the plate could be a challenge, especially since he was hitting so well before the injury. "It's probably going to be a little hard, but my mind is positive," Contreras said.

Catcher called up: The Cubs added Triple-A Iowa catcher Taylor Davis to the major-league roster. -- Chicago Tribune Taylor Davis overwhelmed by video attention: 'It's been hectic' By Mark Gonzales If reaching the major leagues six seasons after signing his first professional contract as a non-drafted free agent was stunning, Taylor Davis has been even more overwhelmed by the media requests following his popular video while playing for Triple-A Iowa. "It's been hectic," Davis said Tuesday in his first day with the Cubs. Davis, 27, said he's been trying to accommodate all requests, from podcasts to radio stations to high school students. The requests occurred after Davis was featured in videos produced by the Iowa Cubs in which Davis stares randomly into a camera before, during and after games. Davis said he was inspired by former Iowa teammate Kris Negron, who performed the duties last season, and the movie "Zoolander," which happens to be one of the favorite movies of Cubs manager Joe Maddon. The bearded Davis said the Iowa relievers loved it, and fans requested more videos of the stares. At the end of the season, Davis said a member of Iowa's media relations staff requested his services as a "thank you" to the staff. The video was posted on Facebook and has received about 5 million views, according to Davis. The popularity has swollen to the point where a television producer as sought Davis as a television personality in the off-season. "It would be a fun opportunity," Davis said. Davis has spent the past two springs as a non-roster invitee but finally emerged as a major league candidate after batting .297 in 102 games with Iowa. The reality of a major league promotion finally hit Davis when he was asked what number he wanted, and he received No. 43. "Wow, it’s happening," said Davis, who played at Morehead State. "It’s been a lot of fun, and this is a dream. Hopefully this shows people to never give up. For this to happen at this point shows people if you have a uniform, you have a chance." Maddon said Davis' promotion was partly as a reward from the front office and partly as an earned honor despite the fact the Cubs already have four catchers on the roster. "I love the guy," Maddon said. "We all do. A lot of guys like his abiltiies. He’s a great teammate. I don't know how I’m going to fit him in." --

Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon cautious about injuries to Javier Baez and Jake Arrieta By Paul Skrbina Joe Maddon’s rule of thumb — and hamstring — is better safe than sorry. The Cubs manager told The Score’s “Spiegel and Parkins Show” he didn’t have any updates on the status of infielder Javier Baez , who injured his thumb Sunday while sliding headfirst, or pitcher Jake Arrieta, who left in the third inning of Monday’s 12-0 loss against the Pirates with a sore right hamstring. Both Baez and Maddon said Monday they expected Baez to play Tuesday, but Maddon said he hadn’t spoken to team trainers to confirm the infielder’s status. “I want him in the lineup today but I want to make sure his thumb isn’t too sore,” Maddon told The Score on Tuesday afternoon. Baez, who had started every game at shortstop since Aug. 3 in place of the injured Addison Russell, was in the lineup Monday but was a late scratch. Maddon said he doesn’t mind headfirst slides, with one exception – into home plate. “Be safe — literally,” Maddon told the show. Maddon said the Cubs also will be cautious with Arrieta. “I’m glad it wasn’t his arm,” Maddon said on the show. “He thought it was a cramp ... An arm injury can lead to a leg injury, so we’ll just have to wait and see.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Could Willson Contreras return from DL during showdown vs. Brewers? By Gordon Wittenmyer PITTSBURGH — Barring a setback with his hamstring, catcher Willson Contreras could return from the disabled list by the end of the Cubs’ series against Milwaukee this weekend. That would be less than five weeks since pulling his right hamstring running to first base in San Francisco last month. Contreras fared well enough in vigorous running drills again Tuesday that the team scheduled him to start a minor-league rehab assignment with advanced-Class A Myrtle Beach on Thursday. That’s the second game of a best-of-five Carolina League playoff series. He’s scheduled to play Thursday and Friday and likely at least one more if the series continues. “The trainer has the last word,” he said. “It can be frustrating, but you have to see things from a positive point. I got hurt and now I have to be 100 percent sure that I come back and play and be my 100 percent.” He said he’s not sure how many at-bats with Myrtle Beach he’ll need to feel right at the plate. But the catcher who was hitting .311 with 10 homers and a 1.080 OPS since the All-Star break before his injury sounds confident he can return with similar impact. “My mind’s still positive,” he said. “I was hot and can be hot again. I’m not saying the first game I’m going to go 4-for-4, but I trust myself. And I know when I get back I’ll be on fire, too.”

Stare-master gets unlikely call Catcher Taylor Davis, who has become more famous for his camera staredowns than anything else he has done during seven years in the minors, got an unexpected September call-up Tuesday. Davis, 27, who signed after going undrafted in 2011, was a backup through much of his minor-league career before earning more playing time at Class AA and AAA and earning invitations to big-league spring training the last two years. “It’s cool. Obviously, this is a dream,” said Davis, a clubhouse favorite whose promotion was announced in an Iowa Cubs team meeting. ‘‘Hopefully, it shows some people just never give up. You just look at my career in the past and see what has happened to me. I didn’t really play early in my career, and for this to happen at this point shows people that really, if you have a uniform, you have a chance.” His signature stare into any nearby camera – a move so popular in Iowa that a video the team made of him doing it became viral — led to a recent ESPN segment on him. “It’s been wild,” said Davis, whose not sure whether to keep up the tradition in the majors. “It’s kind of a thing now, so I don’t really think I have a choice.” This and that Javy Baez returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing a game because of sore thumb. — Anthony Rizzo, who had missed only two games this season, got a scheduled day off Tuesday with left-hander Steven Brault pitching. The Cubs are in a stretch of 20 games in 20 days. -- Chicago Sun-Times Hamstring strain could sideline Cubs’ Jake Arrieta for multiple starts By Gordon Wittenmyer PITTSBURGH — Jake Arrieta’s hamstring injury could cost the playoff-minded Cubs two starts or more from their hottest pitcher down the stretch after an MRI on Tuesday revealed a Grade 1 strain in the right leg he hurt Monday. “It’s better than it could have been,” Arrieta said, adding he was told a common recovery period might be seven to 10 days. “It stinks to miss any time at all, but it should be short.” The news reached Cubs officials just as the Pirates finished off a comeback 4-3 victory at PNC Park, giving the Cubs their third consecutive loss. Kyle Hendricks, the 2016 ERA champ who pitched an impressive 6‰ innings Tuesday, said the Cubs are well equipped to handle Arrieta’s absence after dealing with injuries all season. All five starters from the opening rotation now have missed time to injury this season. “I don’t know how much of that is a product of last year and what isn’t honestly,” said Hendricks, who retired 16 of 18 batters after giving up a two-run homer in the second. “This is the first time I’ve been through this so it seems like it was probably just from the long year last year, but it could just be an anomaly, could just be something happening this year. “I think the adversity always makes you tougher.”

As Arrieta said, it could be worse. The Cubs, who won six consecutive games before the recent skid, still lead second-place Milwaukee by 3½ games with 24 to play, including seven against the Brewers. Opening Day starter Jon Lester is back from a recent stretch on the disabled list. And both Hendricks and John Lackey have pitched especially well since returning from their DL stints. Hendricks has a 2.36 ERA in nine starts in the seven weeks since he returned from a hand injury. “I think it’s good that if it had to happen, it was going to happen now,” said Arrieta, who went 7-2 with a 1.69 ERA in July and August. “It’s better than in a couple of weeks.” Arrieta said he plans to work with the medical staff to develop a clearer plan for treatment and rehab and hopes to start throwing from a mound again in five or six days. Because he has been pitching all season, he said the down time shouldn’t affect his ability to pick up where he left off in terms of endurance and delivery. “Taking five or six days off of throwing is something I’ve done multiple times this late in the season anyways,” he said. “As far as arm strength goes, it might even help a little bit.” Meanwhile, Mike Montgomery, who already had been pitching in Lester’s place in the rotation, takes Arrieta’s turn Saturday against the Brewers. “Having Mikey in tow makes it a lot easier to go through a moment like this,” manager Joe Maddon said. Arrieta felt the hamstring “grab” while pitching to the third batter of the third inning Monday and summoned the trainer to the mound. After stretching, he tried to throw a practice pitch but immediately stopped his delivery in pain. The latest in a long list of injuries this season comes just as the Cubs appeared on the verge of making a run to close the season. “We’ve gone through some good adversity,” Hendricks said. “After how last year went, we faced adversity in the playoffs a little bit and we got through that and it definitely made us tougher. I think that’s helped us face this adversity in the regular season. . . . This is going to help us going forward, hopefully in October.” -- Chicago Sun-Times TELANDER: Injuries that Cubs avoided in ’16 are in alarming supply now By Rick Telander Here’s something good. The Cubs just brought up career minor-league catcher Taylor Davis, 27, a bearded chap who finds whatever camera might be focused on him and stares it down a la Robert De Niro in “Taxi Driver” doing that “You talkin’ to me?” thing. Davis is an Internet sensation, and if you can watch him stink-eye the lens without belly-laughing, then your funny bone needs adjustment. This is not to say that Davis, who hit .297 with six home runs and 62 RBI at Class  AAA  Iowa this year and has been in the Cubs’ system for almost seven years, is going to make a difference on the field.

But he might lighten the air around a team that seems ever so close to detonating with injuries and dubious luck. The most recent issue, of course, is the hamstring injury that drove ace pitcher Jake Arrieta from the mound on Monday against the Pirates. Arrieta, who always seems to lock into near unhittability as summer winds down, had an MRI exam on the hamstring, and maybe it will heal up fast, or maybe not. You never know. The unfortunate part is that Arrieta had been 6-1 with a 1.59 ERA after the All-Star break until hurting himself early in that 12-0 disaster loss to the Pirates. The good thing is that if Arrieta can’t go, the Cubs have dependable Mike Montgomery ready to fill in. For a while. Nobody fills in for a superstar for very long and doesn’t get revealed as, well, not a superstar. After a 4-3 loss Tuesday night, the Cubs are still in first place by a nice 3½ games in the National League Central, but that lead has seemed oddly tenuous, considering the Cubs are the defending World Series champions and have about 10 times more talent than the second-place Brewers. They’ve just been inconsistent, and they’ve been sprinkled with those troubling injuries that often derail even the best teams. Javy Baez messed up on a headfirst slide the other day, injuring his thumb, and infielder Addison Russell has been out for what seems like forever with a foot injury. Athletic catcher Willson Contreras is still out with a hamstring injury (uh-oh). Pitcher Jon Lester’s recent lat injury (from which he has returned) was scary, if for no other reason than that anything that happens to a pitcher is like tinkering with a barely-held-together Rube Goldberg machine. This reporter still remembers, sadly and painfully, when young ace Mark Prior’s bad calf led to a bad back, which led to a bad shoulder, which led to a “loose shoulder,” which led to Steve Bartman, or maybe it was vice versa. But disaster lurked from the ground up. Yes, these are the Cubs, and old failures die hard in old brains. You’d like to see the team putting it all together right now, as they did down the stretch last season, when they won the division by 17½ games over the Cardinals, with the best record in baseball, 103-58, way ahead of the second-best Nationals and Rangers at 95-67. The Cubs have a 3½-game lead over the Brewers, who trail the Rockies by 2½ for the second wild-card spot. So the chance of falling into that one-game playoff adds a touch of drama. Again, the Cubs are in first place and should make the playoffs. They have the best team in their division. They have guys like Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward dotting the lineup. But one thing that was so unusual about last year’s march to the mountaintop was that injuries had virtually no impact on the Cubs. For the World Series, every single starter, including all the pitchers, was healthy. Even Kyle Schwarber made a miraculous entrance after missing almost the entire regular season. It was crazy, really. No team ever is that fortunate. The World Series foe Indians were missing pitchers and their best hitter, Michael Brantley. And, of course, starting pitcher Trevor Bauer was limited by — you couldn’t make this up — a drone-repair accident. So stick together, Cubs. And tread delicately through September. If nothing else, you’ve got late call-up Taylor Davis there to melt all those prying video cameras before they fall on your heads. --