June 30, 2017 Cubs.com, Jay powers 3-run 9th as Cubs rally to top Nats http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/239502146/cubs-score-3-in-9th-to-top-nats-in-finale/ Cubs.com, 'Frosh' faces spark depleted Cubs lineup http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/239577954/young-cubs-essential-in-9th-inning-rally/ Cubs.com, Bryant's right ankle sprain feeling 'a lot better' http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/239519042/cubs-kris-bryants-ankle-injury-improving/ Cubs.com, Epstein: Cubs still searching for edge, identity http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/239505198/president-theo-epstein-talks-cubs-identity/ Cubs.com, Montgomery, Cubs looking to gain ground http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/239502254/montgomery-cubs-looking-to-gain-ground ESPNChicago.com, From the win column to the clubhouse, these Cubs are nothing like last year's Cubs http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44786/from-the-win-column-to-the-clubhouse-thesecubs-are-nothing-like-last-years-cubs ESPNChicago.com, Inside the Cubs' ninth-inning rally to beat the Nationals http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44779/inside-the-cubs-ninth-inning-rally-to-beat-thenationals CSNChicago.com, Cubs Have What Nationals Desperately Need And Wade Davis Has No Doubts: We ll Be There http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-have-what-nationals-desperately-need-and-wade-davis-hasno-doubts-well-be-there CSNChicago.com, Cubs Finally Starting To See Wins Don t Just Happen Because You re Talented And You Show Up http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-finally-starting-see-wins-dont-just-happen-because-youretalented-and-you-show CSNChicago.com, Kris Bryant s Attitude With Cubs At Low Point: What Doesn t Kill You Makes You Stronger http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/kris-bryants-attitude-cubs-low-point-what-doesnt-kill-you-makesyou-stronger Chicago Tribune, Cubs 'freshmen and sophomores' lead 9th-inning rally in 5-4 win over Nationals http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-nationals-spt-0630-20170629-story.html Chicago Tribune, Kris Bryant feels 'a ton' better after spraining ankle, hopes to avoid DL http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kris-bryant-sprained-ankle-better-spt-0630-20170629-story.html Chicago Tribune, Kyle Schwarber in Iowa: 1-for-3 with a single, walk and strikeout on Thursday http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-iowa-cubs-stats-20170629- story.html
Chicago Tribune, Cubs pitchers will have more say calling pitches as young catchers mature http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-pitchers-young-catchers-cubs-notes-spt-0630-20170629-story.html Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon on Cubs' lack of winning edge: 'We ve been playing from behind' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-theo-epstein-joe-maddon-20170629- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs prospect Eloy Jimenez invited to Futures Game http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-eloy-jimenez-futures-game-20170629- story.html Chicago Tribune, Trade bores: Can Cubs make big second-half push without outside help? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/trade-bores-can-cubs-make-big-second-half-push-without-outside-help/ Chicago Sun-Times, Risky business? Montero DFA means little experience among Cub catchers http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/risky-business-montero-dfa-means-little-experience-among-cubcatchers/ Chicago Sun-Times, Ankle sprain could keep Cubs Kris Bryant out until at least next week http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/ankle-sprain-could-keep-kris-bryant-out-until-at-least-next-week/ Chicago Sun-Times, There s lots of blame to go around for 2017 Cubs debacle-in-the-making http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/theres-lots-of-blame-to-go-around-for-2017-cubs-debacle-in-the-making/ Chicago Sun-Times, Hall of Fame to honor Cubs 2016 World Series run with new exhibition http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/hall-of-fame-to-honor-cubs-2016-world-series-run/ Chicago Sun-Times, Should the Cubs bring back Grandpa Rossy? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/should-the-cubs-bring-back-grandpa-rossy/ Daily Herald, Cubs have standings, NL Central, calendar in their favor http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170629/cubs-have-standings-nl-central-calendar-in-their-favor Daily Herald, Bryant says ankle feels much better; no timetable for return http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170629/bryant-says-ankle-feels-much-better-no-timetable-for-return Cubs.com Jay powers 3-run 9th as Cubs rally to top Nats By Kyle Melnick and Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON The Nationals' bullpen has proven time and again that anything is possible against it, regardless of the lead it holds. That was reinforced Thursday against the Cubs. With two outs in the top of the ninth and the Nationals ahead by two, the Cubs laced together three consecutive hits and three runs to take the lead before Wade Davis threw a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to seal the 5-4 victory. "A win's a win it doesn't matter how it looks, how we get there," Chicago starter Jon Lester said. "We'll take two of four from a really good team. Hopefully, this can build a little momentum for us."
The Nationals lost more than the game, revealing afterward that shortstop Trea Turner had a broken bone in his right wrist from a HBP in the seventh. Turner was hit by a Pedro Strop fastball, but stayed in the game until the top of the ninth when he was replaced by Stephen Drew in a double switch. Postgame X-rays revealed the fracture. The Nationals did not announce a timetable for Turner's return. Braves star Freddie Freeman sustained a similar injury six weeks ago and is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. Washington has 13 weeks remaining in the regular season and holds a 9 1/2-game lead over Atlanta in the National League East. The loss marked the Nationals' Majors-leading sixth when entering the ninth with a lead. "I just didn't execute," said Blake Treinen, who's 3-for-5 in save opportunities this season. "Joe [Ross] threw a great game, and the offense did everything they could to get us out of here with a win, and I came in and didn't do my job. I need to be better. It's getting exhausting, and I'm sure these guys are sick of seeing the same result when I'm out there." The Nationals claimed the lead in the seventh inning when Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer and Brian Goodwin knocked an RBI single. The lead lasted until Jon Jay's double scored the tying and winning runs. "That was a big rally," Jay said of the Cubs' three-run ninth. "We kept the line moving and had some great at-bats there." The Cubs' success against the Nationals' bullpen spoiled Ross' second quality start in as many outings. The righthander allowed two runs and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. Lester allowed just one run in his six innings and struck out seven. "We are a really good team now," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said, "but we still need some help." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Man on the run: Turner ran all over the Cubs this series, stealing seven bases and setting a career high with 35 swiped bags for the season Thursday. On Tuesday, the Nationals stole seven bases, including four from Turner, with Miguel Montero behind the plate. Turner stole two more bases Thursday, but the Cubs caught him stealing for the first time in the four-game set when he delayed his steal of third in the first inning, limiting the Nationals to just one run in the frame. Willson Contreras also caught speedster Michael Taylor stealing second in the fifth inning, stabilizing Washington on the basepaths for the first time this series. Candy man: The Cubs were without Kris Bryant (ankle), but rookie Jeimer Candelario filled in at third, hitting his first Major League home run leading off the seventh for a brief 2-1 lead. Candelario was making his fourth consecutive start since he was called up when Jason Heyward (hand) went on the disabled list. The rookie launched an 0-1 pitch from Ross 425 feet to right-center. "I was trying to throw a fastball inside," Ross said. "It was just left over the middle. He put a good swing on it and put it out to right field. It was a hot day today, so kind of off the bat I knew it was gone." Candelario was hit by a pitch on the left knee in the ninth. He stayed in the game, but could barely run to second. X-rays were negative and he has a painful contusion. QUOTABLE "Obviously, [the Nationals'] starting pitching is outstanding, they have some speed and just like advertised, their bullpen, they're probably going to do something about that. The starting pitching is outstanding, power, speed, good defense. They played really well. We got to their bullpen tonight. I think what we had heard [about them] coming in was pretty much true." Cubs manager Joe Maddon
"[Treinen's] got great stuff, probably the best stuff on the team. So to even see him get hit sometimes, I'm pretty surprised." Ross SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Davis retired the side in the ninth to pick up his 16th save in 16 tries. His 16 consecutive save conversions to begin the season extends the Cubs' franchise record. BAKER EJECTED Baker was fired up after Ryan Raburn struck out in the sixth inning, seeming to believe Raburn fouled the ball off on the final pitch. Baker left the dugout and argued with first-base umpire David Rackley before he was ejected for the first time in his two years with the Nationals. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Mike Montgomery will make his fifth start on Friday when the Cubs open a three-game series against the Reds. The lefty is coming off a loss to the Marlins in which he gave up three unearned runs in the first inning, then didn't allow another. First pitch will be 6:10 p.m. CT from Great American Ball Park. Nationals: Tanner Roark will look for his first quality start since June 4 when the Nationals begin a three-game series against the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m. ET Friday at Busch Stadium. Washington won the series when the teams met in April. Cubs.com 'Frosh' faces spark depleted Cubs lineup By Carrie Muskat With Kris Bryant nursing a sprained ankle, Jason Heyward sidelined with a sore hand, Ben Zobrist beginning a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee and lots of kids on the roster, manager Joe Maddon struggled to put together a lineup. He had a bunch of kids mainly freshmen and sophomores and they delivered. Rookie Jeimer Candelario hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh but the Cubs needed a three-run rally in the ninth to beat the Nationals, 5-4, and split the four-game series. "It's good to see the freshmen and sophmores coming through today," Maddon said. "The frosh had a good day." Not only did the Cubs get the win, but hopefully, with it some confidence. "That's the kind of game they have to know they can do that, we have to know we can do that," Maddon said. "Young guys who have not been here a long time, they need to take that I don't want to say the leadership role but they have to get to the next level that, 'I belong here, I can do this, I can win.' Hopefully, we'll find out [Friday] if it has that kind of impact." It was a day Candelario won't forget. Making his fourth consecutive start at third since he was promoted from Triple-A, he led off the seventh with his first Major League home run, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead. He had an even bigger at-bat in the ninth when he was hit by a pitch with one out. That started the Cubs' rally. Candelario couldn't celebrate. He was plunked on the left knee by Blake Treinen, and the good news for the Cubs is that X-rays were negative. He was barely able to walk under his own power and has a contusion. His status for Friday is uncertain. His status in the game was clear he was done. Candelario walked slowly to first, and was
easily forced at second on rookie Victor Caratini's ground ball. Javier Baez then singled and pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella smacked an RBI single. "There was no panic, no worry," La Stella said about the feeling on the Cubs' bench. Jon Jay, the upperclassman in the lineup, then delivered a two-run double for the game-winner. Maddon wasn't sure who would play where in the ninth with Candelario unable to continue. "When I saw him in the duogout, there was no chance for him to play," Maddon said. "When you lose him, you'll do whatever it takes to win [bullpen catcher Chad] Noble's got to play, [coach Franklin] Font's got to play. It worked out well. Tommy had a great at-bat and Jon Jay, struggling all night, then hits the ball in the gap." Jon Lester started, and didn't factor in the win. He got to watch the drama. "That lineup never gives up," Lester said of the Nationals. "They've got some boppers in there who put up good atbats. It doesn't mater how it looks a win's a win." Jay, who was 0-for-10 before his double, agreed that an inning like the ninth is something the youngsters can build on. "That was big, especially for them to let them know we're never out of a game," Jay said. "No matter what's going on, you have to finish the whole game, 27 outs. That was a big experience for those guys and we have to keep building off of it." The Cubs are one game above.500 (40-39) heading into Cincinnati. They've split four-game series against the Marlins, and now, the Nationals. "I'll take that," Maddon said. "I know our record is not the best but our position in the standings is great, so I'll take that now over the record. The boys got it done today." Cubs.com Bryant's right ankle sprain feeling 'a lot better' By Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON Kris Bryant was more concerned about getting an omelette Thursday morning than his right ankle, which is good news for the Cubs. Bryant suffered a mild-to-moderate ankle sprain on Wednesday when he awkwardly stepped on third base after catching Matt Wieters' popup. Bryant had to be helped off the field with manager Joe Maddon and athletic trainer Ed Halbur as his "crutches." On Thursday, the right ankle was swollen but Bryant was feeling better. "It's obviously some kind of a sprain," Maddon said. "We're not applying any kind of finish line to it. I saw him walk on the bus and I thought it was encouraging to see that. We just have to give this a couple days." "I feel a lot better," Bryant said. "After the game we did a bunch of [rehab] stuff that didn't feel good but it made me feel better today. I feel a ton better." It was a freakish play. "The ball started pretty far over from the bag and I thought I was far away from [the base] but the ball came back to the field," Bryant said. "I heard Javy [Baez] say something, like, 'Watch out for the bag,' and it was one step. I can't believe it happened.
"I've sprained a lot of ankles before and I've had way worse," he said. "You feel it and you're like, 'Oh, that's not good.'" Could he pinch-hit on Thursday in the series finale against the Nationals? "No clue," Bryant said. "I'm going to go eat an omelette." With Miguel Montero no longer on the Cubs' roster, they are relying on very young catchers in Willson Contreras, 25, and Victor Caratini, 23. Maddon said the pitchers may need to call pitches to help the two. "I prefer when a pitcher gives a signal to a catcher in advance of the next pitch a lot of guys do it," Maddon said. "I think there's methods where the veteran should take charge of the situation, whether it's the pitcher or the catcher. "These are two really good young catchers to grow with. They're great students, they're great kids." Maddon said. Maddon said he would text Kyle Schwarber soon to see how the slugger is doing since he was optioned to Triple- A Iowa. Schwarber, who was batting.171 with the Cubs before he was sent down, started play there Monday. "From what I'm hearing, he's saying all the right things and going about it the right way but I haven't heard anything specifically," Maddon said. The 2017 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard is right around the corner but Maddon admitted he needs to do some homework regarding the National League pitching staff, which he will manage. He and Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio, who is also going to the game in Miami, will meet with Major League Baseball officials on July 10 to discuss how they'll use the pitchers. "I don't even know who's pitching well, who's leading in ERA," Maddon admitted. "I'll have to bring myself up to speed next week." Cubs.com Epstein: Cubs still searching for edge, identity By Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON It's one thing to try to find a leadoff hitter. The Cubs are trying to find their identity. Since taking over as the Cubs' president of baseball operations, Theo Epstein has stressed building a winning culture and that point was emphasized on Wednesday when Miguel Montero was designated for assignment after criticizing Jake Arrieta. It's been a disjointed start to the season for the defending World Series champs, who have hovered around the.500 mark. "I don't think we've established our identity yet. I don't think we've found our edge yet that we'll need to play with to win games," Epstein said. "Wins don't just happen because you're talented and you show up. You have to come to the park with an edge every day and come together as a team and play together to win and play with a certain edge. We're going to find it." Montero wasn't the problem but Epstein feels the team's decision to act as it did reinforces the team concept. He hopes it pays off the remainder of the season. "They did it last year it's in our guys, I think it's in their DNA," Epstein said. "The single best thing we ever did with this organization is turning it over to the players, to this group of players, because we believe in them. It has to manifest and it has to show up and we do have to find that identity. New year, new identity to a certain extent. I think this will be a step in us getting there." So, how does a team find its identity?
"It's a hard thing to define," Epstein said. "It's like the Supreme Court said about pornography you know it when you see it. I think our identity last year was all our guys got to the point where they felt they were part of something bigger than themselves, they felt completely connected with one another, they felt they were on a mission to win the World Series for the first time in 108 years. "Part of their identity [last year] was that they were keenly aware of how talented they were and what a special opportunity it was and how as long as they had each others' backs, things would work out really well for this group," Epstein said. "That meant maybe playing multiple positions or taking less playing time or backing up a teammate rather than playing a leading role. "For the most part, we really did that and that was a huge part of this club's identity and nothing was going to get in the way of the group working together to make history and taking advantage of the special opportunity they had." Cubs manager Joe Maddon has had to juggle lineups because of injuries to key players such as Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist and Kyle Hendricks. The average age of Monday's lineup was 24, youngest in the Major Leagues for any game at that point. "We're missing a lot of key components that drove us to the World Series last year," Maddon said, "and now we're building another group of components who can take us back there again." Who expected Ian Happ to be playing a significant role this early? The Cubs are young but they're still in the race in the National League Central. "It's unrealistic to think we'd be 15 games over.500 with this group right now c'mon," Maddon said. "These guys are finding their way. To be where we're at actually, to me, is kind of good. I like where we're at based on everything that's occurred to this moment. "I think we're very skillful, we're very talented, we're good," he said. "We lack experience on the Major League level now. I'm still confident we can do this, very confident." Cubs.com Top prospect Jimenez called for Futures Game By Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON Cubs top prospect Eloy Jimenez, who shined in last year's event, was named to the World Team for the Futures Game for the second consecutive year. Catcher Victor Caratini also was named to the World Team but was promoted to the Cubs on Wednesday and will miss the event. The 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game takes place on Sunday, July 9, at 4 p.m. ET at Marlins Park in Miami and can be viewed live on MLB Network and MLB.com. Now in its 19th year, the Futures Game features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of All-Star Sunday. The U.S. Team leads the all-time series, 11-7. Last year in San Diego, the World Team defeated the U.S., 11-3, snapping a six-game U.S. winning streak. Last year, Jimenez hit a three-run homer and a double and finished with four RBIs. He also made a tremendous catch that was the defensive play of the game. Cubs manager Joe Maddon saw Jimenez in Spring Training this year.
"This kid is quite a talent, great kid, too, and very bright," Maddon said. "It's an easy conversation with him. He's open and he listens well and he adapts well. Besides being this physical specimen with all kinds of tools, he has something going on between his ears which I think will benefit him. I don't know when it will be, but he's going to be here at some point for a long period of time." Ranked No. 1 among the Cubs' top 30 prospects by MLBPipeline, Jimenez, 20, was batting.269 in 33 games with Class A Myrtle Beach this season, hitting seven home runs, four doubles and one triple. Major League Baseball, in conjunction with MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League clubs, selected the 25 players currently on each team. Each Major League organization is represented and players from all fullseason Minor League teams were eligible to be selected. Cubs.com Montgomery, Cubs looking to gain ground By Carrie Muskat The Cubs have had to deal with injuries, inconsistent pitching and an underachieving offense, and aren't running away with the National League Central Division the way they did last year. On Friday, Chicago has a chance to gain some ground in the division when it faces Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park. The Cubs are 5-1 against the Reds so far this season. "The good thing for us is that no team has really taken charge in the division and as poorly as we feel like we've played from time to time, I believe we're only a game back," said Jake Arrieta, who will start the series finale on Sunday. "We've still got plenty of time to play." On Friday, Mike Montgomery will make his fifth start of the season when he faces former Cubs pitcher Scott Feldman, who leads the Reds in innings pitched and has posted a 3.68 ERA in five June starts. The Cubs may be without Kris Bryant, the reigning NL Most Valuable Player, who sprained his right ankle Wednesday when he awkwardly stepped on third base after catching a popup. Bryant's status was day to day. He may try to rush his rehab. Bryant has batted.300 with five home runs, seven doubles and 20 RBIs in 21 games at GABP. Bryant also wants to help the Cubs get back on track. "This is different than what I've experienced the last two years," said Bryant, of the Cubs playing.500 baseball. "I just think it's important that we learn from it and all the things we're going through now and it makes us better for the future. This point, being as low as we are right now and where we're at will make us better." Considering that the Cubs are relying on what manager Joe Maddon calls "underclassmen," they're feeling pretty good about being close to the first-place Brewers. "In spite of all the baseball adversity we've had this year, we're actually in pretty good shape," Maddon said. "Of course, I don't like our record... but positionally speaking, not bad." Three things to know about this game Montgomery's 27.5-percent called-strike rate in his last outing was the highest by a Cubs starting pitcher this season. Among the lefty's 25 called strikes, 12 came on the first pitch. Zack Cozart (strained right quad) may return from the disabled list on Friday. Reds manager Brian Price said he wants to keep Scooter Gennett in the lineup when Cozart returns. Gennett has played second base, and was batting.317 this month. Cozart has been sidelined since June 17.
"We're going to get through today, and he could be as early as [Friday], but we'll get to [Friday] and define that for sure," Price said. "I think today is just going to be a day of rest. And I think there's a good chance tomorrow, or certainly this weekend, that he'll be back in the lineup." Ben Zobrist (left wrist) began a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Tennessee and he'll return when he tells Maddon he's ready. Jason Heyward (left hand abrasion) has been throwing and hitting in the cages but still needs time to heal. ESPNChicago.com From the win column to the clubhouse, these Cubs are nothing like last year's Cubs By Jesse Rogers WASHINGTON Remember that feeling a year ago when the Chicago Cubs rode a 25-6 start to a 103-win season and looked like a runaway train that nothing could stop along the way? Well, just one look at the standings shows how much has changed in the short time since their 2016 season culminated with a November championship parade through downtown Chicago. Nobody has learned more about the ripple effects of that change than catcher Miguel Montero, who was sent packing for calling out pitcher Jake Arrieta earlier this week. Publicly criticizing teammates is the third rail in sports, but even Montero could have survived the moment had Chicago's record mirrored its place in the 2016 standings. The Cubs said as much while dismissing the charismatic and popular, though controversial, veteran. "Had we been in a spot where this group had already formed its identity and was clicking on all cylinders and had overcome adversity and come together as a team... maybe it could have been handled differently without action from above," said Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. But this year is nothing like last year. Seeking an identity A season ago, Chicago rarely strayed from looking like a team that was enjoying ending 108 years of heartbreak. Nearly halfway through this season, the team is still struggling to define who it is and where it is headed. This season has been one of starts and stops leading to a frustrating record: The Cubs have never been worse than two games under.500 or better than four games over. They've been exactly.500 16 different times this year. "I don't think we've established our identity yet," Epstein said. "I don't think we've found our edge, yet. Wins don't just happen because you're talented and you show up. You have to come to the park every day and come together as a team every day." Wins also don't happen if core guys aren't available. Jason Heyward (hand), Ben Zobrist (wrist), Kyle Hendricks (finger) and now even Kris Bryant (ankle) are missing in action. And in a season of well-documented issues off the field and injury issues on it, Addison Russell has been a shell of himself compared to last season when he produced big hit after big hit. While the Cubs have battled injuries keeping key players out of the lineup, they have also missed David Ross's clubhouse presence. Though much of the veteran's impact can only be defined as intangible, Ross is the kind of leader that could help find the missing edge Epstein mentioned. "It's hard to create edginess under those circumstances," manager Joe Maddon said. "We're missing some folks from last year, and we've been injured a little bit. "We have some underclassman playing right now. So we're breaking in that group."
The result of all the instability is an even younger team than when the Cubs were rebuilding. On Monday, they fielded the youngest lineup in baseball this season with an average age of 24.8 years. In fact, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, that lineup was the youngest for a defending champion since the 1998 Florida Marlins, who were in a rebuild after winning it all the year before. A silver lining? Youth, injuries, evolving leadership, constant change and inconsistent play might sound like a formula to test any manager, but Maddon sees a bright side to what his team is going through. Sure, the injuries are keeping them from going on a run or quickly finding that identity but they're also keeping guys who have played two long seasons in a row off their feet. Come August and September, Maddon plans on unleashing the dogs. "I see, in a perverse way, a lot of benefits being derived from all this," Maddon said. "Keeping guys healthy and well going into August and September kind of digging on that." Last year was about "embracing the target" as Maddon steered his team through pressure and expectations from Day 1. But he knows from experience that managing is a year-by-year exercise, and the most important thing is having his team ready to play when the games matter most. When he was a coach in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels often "faded" in the last months of the season. After he became manager in Tampa Bay, he made sure the end of the year wasn't the end for the Rays. "The thing that we did often down there was finish strong," Maddon said. "We did. The one that sticks out [in a bad way] is 2009 after the World Series, when we did that. That always stuck in my mind post-deep run into playoffs. That's what I'm trying to avoid right now so the guys are fresh come August and September. Hopefully, some other teams are wearing down by then." Coming off their run to the 2008 World Series, Maddon's Rays were 15-12 in August of 2009 but went just 9-17 in September and faded out of contention in the American League East race as a result. One key difference between this year's Cubs and those 2009 Rays is the competition within each team's division. While Tampa Bay had to compete with a 103-win New York Yankees team that went on to win the World Series and a 95-win Boston Red Sox squad, the Cubs are very much in the thick of a mediocre NL Central race. So even though it has been hard to find many similarities to last year's team, this edition still has plenty of time to come together and leave a mark of its own. "It doesn't always happen," Epstein said. "You could be striving for an identity all year and not find it. We need to find it, and I think we will. "It's in our guys. It's in their DNA. They did it last year. The single best thing we did in this organization is turning it over to the players. It has to manifest. It has to show up." The fact that "it" hasn't shown up yet is the reason Montero was shown the door. As the culture develops, the Cubs simply didn't want his poor judgment to be a part of it. And being 0-for-31 throwing out base runners this season certainly didn't help his case. But even though the front office deemed Montero's departure necessary, his exit adds another question mark to a season of uncertainty. What they gain in jettisoning an unstable attitude and questionable arm behind the plate, they lose in experience. Can the Cubs really go all the way with two young catchers? With Willson Contreras and freshly summoned rookie Victor Caratini the only two backstops on the current roster, Maddon was asked about bringing in a veteran.
"Depends on who the guy is," he responded. "I like our catchers now.... These are two really young catchers to grow with." There's the rub. The Cubs are trying to develop and win at the same time. It worked last year, but then again, everything worked in 2016. "We'll be looking for outside help in the sense you always have to have depth at catcher," general manager Jed Hoyer said. So no matter how much Maddon likes his current options, it's hard to imagine the trade deadline passing without a veteran catcher unpacking his belongings in Chicago's clubhouse. It has been tough enough trying to get something out of John Lackey or even Arrieta these days. They might need a David Ross-type. And notice the word "type" Ross says he's not considering the job for himself. All of this means the Cubs must try to turn Montero's departure into a positive, if that can be done. "I look at the situation as a negative, but I look at having adversity as sort of a good thing," Hoyer said. "Our clubhouse culture is fine. Having one incident isn't indicative of a bad culture." But it could be indicative of a fragile one. That's not saying anything extraordinary, as it would be expected for a clubhouse full of young players. Is there frustration? Of course, with World Series expectations and a 40-39 record, how could there not be? But it stems from the feeling that the tide is about to be turned until it's not. "It's around the corner, but we need to do what we can to prioritize it," Epstein said. "It has not come as naturally for us this year, and we need to make it happen." Arrieta added: "Some of the frustration comes from getting on a roll and kind of going the opposite way for a certain period of time. That's kind of the story of the year." Are the wins coming? Maddon is banking on it all coming together after the All-Star break. His walking wounded, including Bryant, should be ready. Russell will be that much further from his off-the-field issues. And his pitching staff will be as rested as any. But if the culture isn't developed by then, it might never develop. And if the run doesn't happen at that point, it may never happen. In a year when we've said "it's coming" many times only to watch the Cubs go backward, the final moments of clarity about this team are coming. Not yet, but soon. Can the 2017 Cubs meet the challenge in the way the 2016 team did? "I like the experience they're getting, and we're getting some guys well," Maddon said. "Recordwise, of course I'd like to have a better record, but positionally-wise we're in good shape." ESPNChicago.com Inside the Cubs' ninth-inning rally to beat the Nationals By Jesse Rogers WASHINGTON The Chicago Cubs didn t declare Thursday s ninth-inning rally over the Washington Nationals a needed victory, but it sure felt good to them nonetheless. Let s go inside the inning that earned the Cubs a dramatic split of their four-game series. Cubs trail 4-2, top 9.
After Addison Russell struck out against Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen, the rally began with rookie Jeimer Candelario getting hit by a pitch near his left knee. He went down to the ground in clear pain but stayed in the game. He got hit pretty darn good, manager Joe Maddon said afterward. Candelario was taken for X-rays after the game they were negative but he could be seen inside and out of the Cubs clubhouse still in pain. To wear that hit-by-pitch, man, that was big, teammate Jon Jay said. A near double play off the bat of Victor Caratini almost ended the game, but the ball was bobbled at second base, allowing Caratini to reach. Javier Baez kept the inning going with a base hit, moving Caratini to third. There was no panic when we got down, especially in that last inning, infielder Tommy La Stella said. Everyone was on the same page. La Stella strode to the plate as a pinch hitter with the Cubs still down 4-2 but the tying runs on base. Just getting something I can handle, making sure I don t expand the zone, La Stella said. [Treinen] has power stuff, so I wanted to make sure I got something I can hit and take a nice, easy swing at it. La Stella took a 1-1 pitch over the shortstop s head for an RBI hit as Baez moved up to third. That made it 4-3, and it led to a new nickname for La Stella, whom Maddon famously dubbed "3 a.m." Tommy is like a gnat, starter Jon Lester said. He finds that ability to foul off pitches and have good, quality atbats. Same with Jay. You look up and Jay s 3-2 or 2-2 and it s a seven- or eight-pitch at-bat. These guys always have good at-bats. Jay was next. The key moment of the night was upon us. The tying run was 90 feet away, with the lead run standing at first base. Trying to have a good at-bat, building off my teammates there, Jay said. Candy wearing that hit-by-pitch and Tommy with a good at-bat. Just trying to do my thing and keep the line moving. Jay didn t wait long. He hit a 1-0 pitch to the gap in right center as Baez and then La Stella crossed the plate. The Cubs had their third, and final, lead of the game, 5-4. Situation you want to be up in, Jay said. You slow things down. That was awesome. To rally back the way we did was good for us. It reminds us we re a good team and we never quit. Maddon added: Tommy [had a] great at-bat and all of a sudden the ball is in the gap [with Jay]. There we have it.... The last two series, tough places to play, and we came out of it.500. I ll take that right now. Maddon indicated his frosh and sophomores came through as the Cubs are fielding a very young lineup right now. There were no Rizzos or Bryants in the middle of this rally. Lester agreed. I don t really care what people s names are, he said. They re big leaguers.... To come up with two big hits from those guys was huge for us. La Stella summed up the mood in the clubhouse afterward. You never want to say you need a win, because we definitely didn t, but it was nice to get that one, he said. It was the Cubs' league-leading fourth win when trailing after eight innings. And it was a good one, perhaps the best of the season considering the opponent and circumstances.
You re always looking for that moment [to spark you], Maddon said. You don t know until the next day s game is played. But I loved the way we fought to the very end. CSNChicago.com Cubs Have What Nationals Desperately Need And Wade Davis Has No Doubts: We ll Be There By Patrick Mooney WASHINGTON Wade Davis scanned the clubhouse near the end of spring training and called the Cubs a crazy talented group, counting 10 or 12 players among the best in Major League Baseball. Davis has been as good as advertised, the All-Star closer the Cubs would have for an entire season instead of a rental like Aroldis Chapman, fueling optimism/delusions the defending champs could actually be better than last year s World Series team. But all that on-paper talent has translated into a 40-39 record and a high-water mark of four games over.500 (in late May). The Cubs are running a half-game behind a first-place Milwaukee Brewers team with a $56 million Opening Day payroll. Board member Todd Ricketts who once told a Screw you, Matt Harvey! story at the 2016 Cubs Convention still called out the Washington Nationals during this week s White House visit and told Donald Trump: We re going to run into these guys in the playoffs. You ll see them crumble. The reality check for the Cubs is that it has become a matter of getting there. But Thursday s 5-4 ninth-inning comeback victory and the scattered boos at Nationals Park after another bullpen meltdown showed how Washington could be this year s San Francisco Giants. That would be the team with great starting pitchers, a strong everyday lineup and the nowhere-to-turn bullpen the Cubs exploited in last year s first-round series. That makes Davis 16-for-16 in save chances and 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA after finishing off both wins in this four-game series such a difference-maker if the Cubs get to October. I ve been on teams before where you know their confidence is lacking, Davis said, and people don t necessarily believe this year they re that good. I don t think you see that here on any of our guys. I think we ll be there. We know what to do. The Nationals (47-32) will have to do something to fix a bullpen with a 4.98 ERA and 13 blown saves or else risk wasting another season of Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer s brilliance. Not that anyone else around the Cubs would talk trash and back up Ricketts prediction. I m not into billboard-material quotes, general manager Jed Hoyer said. We got to worry about our own house right now, in my opinion. We re one game over.500. That s exactly where we deserve to be. We haven t played well enough beyond that. (The Nationals) have taken care of business. These guys look great. They ve run away with the division. They ve lived up to their potential. And we should be looking up to them right now. They ve played this season so far the way we should play this season. Hopefully, we ll play that way the rest of the year. But right now, they re in a much better position than we are. Davis a calming presence in the bullpen and playoff-tested after getting the final out of the 2015 World Series for the Kansas City Royals doesn t believe in hangovers or overreactions.
Baseball s going to be different every year, Davis said. I don t care how good you are or what you win. (This is) what the flow of the season is how we re playing, what we re executing, the breaks we re getting or not getting. It s where we are right now, but we feel we re in a good spot. I think we ll end up being where we need to be. Everything is like a building block. You get better at certain things. And at some point, you hope you re right where you want to be and then you take off. CSNChicago.com Cubs Finally Starting To See Wins Don t Just Happen Because You re Talented And You Show Up By Patrick Mooney WASHINGTON If the Cubs hadn t just won the World Series less than eight months ago and Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon didn t already have Hall of Fame resumes this indictment would sound a lot like the team president putting the manager on the hot seat. I don t think we ve found our edge yet that we ll need to play with to win games, Epstein said after dumping veteran catcher Miguel Montero. Wins don t just happen because you re talented and you show up. You have to come to the park with an edge every day and come together as a team every day and play to win. You have to play with a certain edge that we re striving for as a group. It would look a lot like this 5-4 comeback win on Thursday at Nationals Park: Jon Lester delivering as the $155 million ace, a B lineup scraping together a two-out, three-run, ninth-inning rally against an awful Washington bullpen and Wade Davis slamming the door on a first-place team. There are only so many buttons left to push and Epstein clearly wanted to rattle the clubhouse, because Jake Arrieta isn t the sensitive type and didn t really care about or disagree with Montero s scathing comments about his inability to control the running game. But for all the drama so far, the Cubs are 4-4 on a road trip that began with the Kyle Schwarber-to-Iowa news and now a game over.500 as the season nears the halfway point this weekend in Cincinnati. We ve never been able to get on a roll, and with that comes that edgy kind of a feeling, Maddon said. We ve underachieved offensively. And our starting pitching has not been as good as we thought. So we ve been playing from behind a lot. It s hard to create edginess under those circumstances. We re missing some folks from last year, and we ve been injured a little bit. So, again, I understand the comment. And to a certain extent I totally agree with it. But it s not for a lack of effort or lack of caring. With reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant resting a sprained right ankle, Jeimer Candelario launched his first big-league homer in the seventh inning off Joe Ross and started the ninth-inning comeback when Blake Treinen s 99-mph fastball smashed into his left knee (the X-rays were negative). We got some underclassmen playing right now, Maddon said. We re breaking in that group, so it s different. It s hard to accuse these guys of not quite getting it, because they re still trying to figure some stuff out. There s a difference from last year to this year, I think. And, again, in spite of all the maladies to this point, thank God we re in this division right now." The Cubs are running out of shock-value moves and not playing like a team that will force the front office to pick up rental players or win an insane bidding war for a top-of-the-rotation starter. Whatever that edge is, the Cubs will either find it and have Wrigleyville rocking in October or slowly turn this into a developmental season.
We re right there, said Lester, who gave up one run in six innings and got the no-decision. The record and the way we ve been playing is not ideal. We all can admit to that here in this clubhouse. But at the end of the day, we re one (Milwaukee) loss away from being in first place. That s what you re playing for during the season to make the playoffs no matter how you get in. CSNChicago.com Kris Bryant s Attitude With Cubs At Low Point: What Doesn t Kill You Makes You Stronger By Patrick Mooney WASHINGTON Kris Bryant called it the lowest point of his charmed career as a Cub after a 9-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field dropped the defending champs to 30-31 on June 10. Since then, Kyle Hendricks (right hand tendinitis) experienced a setback that will likely delay his return to the rotation until after the All-Star break. World Series MVP Ben Zobrist (left wrist inflammation) and Gold Glove outfielder Jason Heyward (left hand abrasion) went on the disabled list. All-Star shortstop Addison Russell had to answer questions about divorce proceedings and a Major League Baseball investigation. Playoff legend Kyle Schwarber got demoted to Triple-A Iowa. Veteran catcher Miguel Montero torched Jake Arrieta in an epic postgame rant and got designated for assignment. The Cubs won nine of their next 17 games. Almost forgot: Bryant heard his right ankle pop on Wednesday night at Nationals Park when he awkwardly landed on third base while catching a pop-up. The reigning National League MVP walked through the visiting clubhouse on Thursday afternoon carrying a book recommended by mental skills program coordinator Darnell McDonald: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F-. I don t know if it s any different, said Bryant, who felt relieved and a ton better, doubting that the sprain would force him onto the disabled list. It s still kind of just you win a game, you lose a game, you win a game. It s OK, you re keeping your head above water, but it s just different than what I ve experienced. There s going to be times like that. But I just think it s important that we learn from all the things that we re going through now, so that it makes us better in the future. I definitely do think that this point and being as low as we are right now is still going to make us better. Where Anthony Rizzo had been part of Cubs teams that lost 286 games between 2012 and 2014, Bryant helped the franchise win 97 games and two playoff rounds during his Rookie of the Year campaign and then deliver its first World Series title since the Theodore Roosevelt administration. What the Cubs need now are the qualities that separate Bryant beyond just his sweet swing and athleticism mental toughness, emotional intelligence and the ability to process failure. This is someone who as the No. 2 overall pick in the draft went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts in his Class-A Boise debut in the summer of 2013. And whiffed three times and went 0-for-4 when he made it to The Show in April 2015. Bryant joked about Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Cody Bellinger. He s starting off way too hot, Bryant said. I didn t hit a home run for my first 20 games or something. But that stuff does go a long way and help you (when you realize): I ve been through this before. I ve hit under.200 for a month. You just fall back on those things. What doesn t kill you makes you stronger.
Chicago Tribune Cubs 'freshmen and sophomores' lead 9th-inning rally in 5-4 win over Nationals By Mark Gonzales The underclassmen celebrated Thursday like graduates passing their toughest examination. And with some help from their veteran seniors, the Cubs treasured one of their most satisfying victories without one of their top players. That made it easy to forget that they are only one game above.500, as they rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to steal a 5-4 victory from the formidable Nationals. "I know our record (40-39) is not the best, but our position in the standings is great," manager Joe Maddon said. "I'll take that right now over the record. Either way, you want to be in first place. We're handy right now. The floaties are on, and the boys got it done." Without the services of Kris Bryant who may return from a right ankle injury as soon as this weekend the Cubs leaned on clutch hitting from rookie Jeimer Candelario and part-time players Tommy La Stella and Jon Jay to salvage a split of this four-game series against the National League East leaders. "It's good to see the freshmen and sophomores coming through," Maddon said. "And the frosh had a good game. That's the kind of game they have to know they can do. We have to know they can do that. Young guys who have not been here for a long time need to get to that next level." Candelario smacked his first major-league home run to put the Cubs ahead 2-1 in the seventh. Then he was drilled on the left knee by a 99-mph pitch from Blake Treinen to start a ninth-inning rally with the club down two runs. La Stella hit a game-tying, pinch-hit single with two out and Jay followed with a two-run double that prompted nearly the entire dugout to empty. "I don't really care what their names are," Jon Lester said after pitching six innings of three-hit ball in 89-degree heat. "They're big leaguers. Tommy is like a gnat. He finds that ability to foul off pitches and have good quality atbats. The same with Jay." Candelario might be unavailable for at least Friday's series opener at Cincinnati after suffering a painful bruise. Switch-hitting infielder Ben Zobrist will stay with Double-A Tennessee through at least Friday. For his part, Bryant made remarkable progress after receiving on-going treatment that reduced the swelling and allowed him to walk without a limp. "We do lean on (Bryant) a lot for the offense and stuff like that, but there are plenty of guys in this clubhouse who are plenty capable of picking up the slack," La Stella said. Bryant, the reigning NL most valuable player, believes he and his younger teammates will benefit from the challenges that this season has presented, so far falling short of expectations while coping with injuries. "It's important we learn from things we're going through so it makes us better in the future," Bryant said. "At this point, and being as low as where we're at, it's going to make us better." Chicago Tribune Kris Bryant feels 'a ton' better after spraining ankle, hopes to avoid DL By Mark Gonzales