August 25, 2016

ESPNChicago.com, Willson Contreras, Kyle Hendricks take another step in their development http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/40838/willson-contreras-prepping-for-playoffs-as-he-and-kyle-hendricks-take-another-step

ESPNChicago.com, Summer of (David) Ross takes a detour to Sea World http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/40832/summer-of-david-ross-takes-a-detour-but-is-back-on-track-after-trip-to-sea-world

CSNChicago.com, Kyle Hendricks Keeps Rolling As Cubs Sweep Away Padres http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/kyle-hendricks-keeps-rolling-cubs-sweep-away-padres

CSNChicago.com, Cubs Catcher Willson Contreras Looks Ready For Prime Time http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-catcher-willson-contreras-looks-ready-prime-time

CSNChicago.com, How Soon Before Cubs Make Javier Baez An Everyday Player? http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/how-soon-cubs-make-javier-baez-everyday-player

Chicago Tribune, Working out of jams good playoff simulation for Kyle Hendricks http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-hendricks-pitching-jams-bits-cubs-spt-0825-20160824-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs offense on full display completing sweep of Padres with 6-3 victory http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-hitting-on-display-spt-0825-20160824-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Kyle Hendricks sneaky good in eyes of Joe Maddon http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-kyle-hendricks-joe-maddon-20160824-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Javier Baez defensive magnet for Joe Maddon http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-javier-baez-joe-maddon-20160824-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Awards talk can wait for Cubs' Joe Maddon http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cubs-joe-maddon-20160824-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, ERA leader Hendricks, Cubs rotation pit dominance vs. prudence http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/era-leader-hendricks-cubs-rotation-pit-dominance-vs-prudence/

Chicago Sun-Times, The Javy Dilemma: versatility value vs. Gold Glove D at one spot http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-javy-dilemma-versatility-value-vs-gold-glove-d-at-one-spot/

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' Arrieta edges closer to 20 wins http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160823/sports/160829499/

Daily Herald, Imrem: Chicago Cubs fans need to just trust in Joe http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160824/sports/160829370/

Cubs.com, Big bats back Hendricks, bring brooms to SD http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/197437880/kyle-hendricks-cubs-beat-padres-for-sweep/

Cubs.com, Contreras keeps stepping up to big league challenges http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/197473312/cubs-willson-contreras-keeps-proving-himself/

Cubs.com, Hendricks battles in 3rd to extend dominance http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/197472690/cubs-kyle-hendricks-continues-dominance/

Cubs.com, Dodgers welcome Cubs, Ross for 3-game set http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/197441524/dodgers-welcome-cubs-ross-for-3-game-set/?tcid=tw_share

Cubs.com, Maddon: Versatility on field helping Baez's bat http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/197430578/javier-baez-handles-several-infield-positions/

Cubs.com, Ross set to bid Los Angeles farewell http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/197434974/cubs-david-ross-to-say-goodbye-to-los-angeles/

-- ESPNChicago.com Willson Contreras, Kyle Hendricks take another step in their development By Jesse Rogers SAN DIEGO -- Raise your hand if you had Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks and catcher Willson Contreras as big-time playoff participants this season. To be more specific, raise your hand if back in spring training, you had that combination doing big things this fall. If you’re being honest, your hand is at your side. That’s the beauty of baseball. Players emerge over time, and now it would be hard to find anyone who doesn’t think these two will be counted on come October. Hendricks isn’t really an upset -- he started in the playoffs last season -- but Contreras has taken the league by storm at the hardest position to break in at, especially at midseason. “We’ve been rolling for the last five, six starts,” Hendricks said of himself and Contreras after the Cubs' 6-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday. “It’s been easy.” It wasn’t as easy for Hendricks as it has been, as he allowed the leadoff man to reach in each of the first four innings, but that adversity might come in handy come the postseason, when it is going to be more difficult than it is in any regular-season game. “You learn from the good. You learn from the bad,” Hendricks said. “In the playoffs, you’re going to have both. You have to learn how to deal with both those things.” "Dealing" with the good might be easier, but you learn more from the bad. Hendricks’ signature moment Wednesday came in the third inning. The tying run was on third base with no outs before the righty induced two popups and a called third strike on an 89 mph fastball to Ryan Schimpf to end the threat. The Padres never did tie the game. “My command was a little off, but my two-seamer was just moving a lot,” Hendricks said. “A couple of those I made some bad pitches. ... The biggest at-bat was when I had [Wil] Myers at third base there, and I got two popups.” There was no hesitation between Hendricks and Contreras, even during those moments of adversity. That's a change from when Contreras first came up. On Tuesday night, he caught a nearly unhittable Jake Arrieta, then just a few hours later, he dealt with Hendricks, who was less than perfect.

The baseball student who moved to the neighborhood in the middle of the school year might be ready for the next step: starting catcher in the playoffs for the best team in baseball. Manager Joe Maddon reeled off his latest accomplishments. “Holding the edges on Hendricks, being able to handle the really wild movement of Arrieta. He’s done both of those things,” the manager said. “This guy, he’s a machine.” We haven’t even gotten to the fun stuff with Contreras. On Monday, the Padres were aggressive on the base paths, but on Tuesday, Travis Jankowski got caught wandering off third base, and Contreras promptly picked him off. It was the third time he’s done that to a runner during his short stay in the big leagues. On Wednesday, the Padres stopped running, and Contreras hit a no-doubt home run to the opposite field. He’s showing that he can do it all. “I was waiting for someone to run,” Contreras said with a half-smile. “They didn’t run.” Whether or not the Cubs did it on purpose, bringing the rookie up as early as they did is proving to be a very smart move. If they had waited until late July or August, there would be more doubts about his experience during the pennant stretch. But we’re in the stretch run now, and Contreras is handling things just fine -- and with some flair. “That was an amazing pickoff,” he said of Tuesday’s play. “I’m way more comfortable now. The first two weeks, everything sped up to me.” As the game slows down for Contreras, he continues to play fast. His throws to first make Anthony Rizzo wince when he catches them, and there is no easy ground ball out when the rookie puts the ball in play. Taking after a mentor, Miguel Montero, Contreras even runs to first base on walks. He’s high-energy all the time. “This team is like a family,” Contreras said. “I’m just going day-by-day right now.” Contreras even has his clichés down. That’s OK because his performance is speaking volumes. It starts on defense, but when he revs up his bat speed, he can do some damage. “That was loud,” Maddon said of Contreras' eighth home run. “That was really loud.” -- ESPNChicago.com Summer of (David) Ross takes a detour to Sea World By Jesse Rogers SAN DIEGO -- The Summer of David Ross -- West Coast edition -- called an audible in Denver but got back on track in San Diego as the retiring catcher swam with Beluga whales and fed polar bears before the Chicago Cubs played the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. “It was amazing,” Ross said of his trip to Sea World. “The Belugas were the nicest, most docile animals. Like having a big puppy. ... The Polar bear brought out its claws. They feed it with tongs. If they snagged a piece of your skin they would rip it off.” Ross is trying to enjoy every moment of his final weeks as a major league baseball player but not all activities have gone as planned. The water was deemed too low in Denver for his white-water rafting trip, then a rain-delayed, extra-inning affair on Friday ruined his hiking plans. So Denver turned into a trip to the spa. “I got a pedicure,” He laughed. “It felt good. I kind of liked it.” After Wednesday’s matinee at Petco Park, Ross and teammates Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward are renting a helicopter to take them up the coast to Los Angeles for the Cubs' series against the Dodgers this weekend. First is

dinner in Malibu on Wednesday, then golf on their off day on Thursday, followed by a trip to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and a comedy club Thursday night. Then Ross plans on saying a special goodbye to Vin Scully as he soaks up his final visit to Dodgers Stadium over the weekend. It’s where he first broke into the big leagues. “Some of it will be emotional,” Ross said before the start of the road trip. “There will be certain times I get nostalgic, but in between I’m going to take it all in and have a good time.” So far so good. -- CSNChicago.com Kyle Hendricks Keeps Rolling As Cubs Sweep Away Padres By Patrick Mooney SAN DIEGO – Kyle Hendricks reported to spring training as a fifth starter, leads the majors in ERA in late August and could pitch Game 1 in a playoff series. That gradual evolution from possible question mark at the back of the rotation into a National League Cy Young Award candidate highlights how the Cubs have transformed from a team that won the offseason to one that owns the summer and maybe this fall. In his own understated way, Hendricks smashed any perceptions of that ceiling, performing at a level and with a consistency that matches the franchise’s young hitting stars, mirroring their baseball IQ and grounded nature, without the billboards and flair for social media. Hendricks kept rolling on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon at Petco Park, knocking the San Diego Padres off-balance and finishing the three-game sweep with a 6-3 victory. That pushed the Cubs to 36 games over .500 for the first time since finishing their 1945 pennant-winning season at 98-56. The best team in baseball could play a little over .500 (19-17) down the stretch and still reach 100 wins. A Dartmouth College graduate with an Ivy League degree in economics helped create all this momentum – and certainly knows what he wants to do on the mound – but Hendricks as an ace still seems beyond the wildest internal preseason projection. “I thought he ended really well last year and that there was a lot to look forward to,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s just taken it to another level right now. He’s in that 26-27-year-old range where a young pitcher who’s had some major-league experience can really find his next level. And I think that’s what’s going on. He’s such a wonderful student. The difference between last year and this year is the confidence thing: ‘I belong here. I can do this. I’m one of the best.’ “A lot of our guys are going through that moment right now. And I think that’s what you’re seeing out of Kyle. I’ve talked about the couple tweaks he’s made regarding the four-seam fastball and curveball usage. That makes him a little bit different. But more than anything, I think he believes he’s among the best right now.” The Padres (53-74) looked a little checked out and didn’t really put much pressure on a Cubs team that should get an adrenaline boost this weekend at Dodger Stadium. Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant opened the game with back-to-back doubles before Ben Zobrist lined a two-run triple into the right-center field gap. Within six minutes of Paul Clemens’ first pitch, Jorge Soler’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0. Hendricks hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 17, a run of 17 straight outings that has sliced his ERA from 3.51 to 2.19 while pushing his record to 12-7. Hendricks hides his emotions and didn’t get flustered when the Padres put the leadoff man on base in each of the first four innings, working around the traffic to limit San Diego to two runs and finish with eight strikeouts.

Hendricks made it through six innings – he’s now gone at least five in each of his 24 starts this year – after beginning the day with a FanGraphs soft-hit rate (26 percent of batted balls) that led the majors and would be the highest mark in the last five seasons. Hendricks has to pitch a different game than Jake Arrieta, but with an 8-1 record and a 1.38 ERA in his last 13 starts, he might be this year’s breakthrough performer who helps carry the Cubs into October. “I’m just trying to stay where I’m at and keep the consistency,” Hendricks said. “Keep my pitches feeling good, keep my command. It’s just staying in my routine and really not doing too much – not doing less – just kind of riding it out until I feel something change.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs Catcher Willson Contreras Looks Ready For Prime Time By Patrick Mooney SAN DIEGO – Within 24 hours at Petco Park, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras handled the wild movement of Jake Arrieta’s pitches and framed the edges of the strike zone for Kyle Hendricks, showing the dexterity to handle a playoff rotation. Contreras looked ready for prime time on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon, helping shut down the San Diego Padres and complete a three-game sweep where two National League Cy Young Award candidates found a rhythm while throwing to a rookie catcher. “Everything’s a lot easier,” Contreras said after a 6-3 victory. “I’m way more comfortable right now, because my first week everything was speeding up on me. But now I’m able to slow down the game and do my job.” The day after Arrieta fell one inning short of a two-hit, complete-game shutout, Hendricks credited Contreras for calling more curveballs and getting him through a stretch where the Padres put the leadoff man on base in each of the first four innings. “From the get-go, I wasn’t shaking him off,” Hendricks said. “We’ve been rolling for the last five, six starts, at least. It’s been easy.” Contreras has now caught Arrieta twice, and got one-start exposure to Jon Lester, while developing chemistry with Hendricks, John Lackey and Jason Hammel, which means veteran catcher Miguel Montero might not have a spot on the postseason roster if this continues. Contreras is a dynamic presence, launching his eighth home run on Wednesday afternoon and keeping the Padres stationary after Tuesday night’s laser throw to pick off a runner at third base. “I was waiting for somebody to run,” Contreras said. “But they didn’t run, so I’ll have to save it for another game.” The Cubs are nearing the point where a 24-year-old player who didn’t make his big-league debut until June 17 could be behind the plate for the biggest games in franchise history. “In this clubhouse, we are like a family,” Contreras said. “Once you get here, you start feeling comfortable the first day. You don’t even know that you are a rookie who just came up.” -- CSNChicago.com How Soon Before Cubs Make Javier Baez An Everyday Player? By Patrick Mooney

SAN DIEGO — The airtight defensive alignment for October would have to include Javier Baez, a game-changing force moving in all directions. The Cubs have seen Baez make barehanded plays and laser throws, take charge on bunts and frustrate hitters with an uncanny ability to improvise and make split-second decisions. Baez and Addison Russell are two of the best athletes in the entire game, Jake Arrieta said after Tuesday night’s win over the San Diego Padres, so put the ball in play and let those two middle infielders take over. There could be playoff lineups where Baez starts at second base and bumps Ben Zobrist to the outfield. But manager Joe Maddon isn’t about to hand Baez an everyday job, sticking with the super-utility formula and versatile philosophy that’s helped the Cubs become the best team in baseball. “It depends on how we morph as a group over the next couple years,” Maddon said Wednesday at Petco Park. “Right now, I like the way it’s working out. I like the fact that (Javy’s) getting rested (and) not playing every day. Look at his at-bats — they have gotten better, too. He is making adjustments or adaptations during the at-bat. He’s not just out of control every swing.” Baez has channeled his aggressiveness, hitting .276 with 13 homers, 47 RBIs and 83 strikeouts through 343 plate appearances, becoming a more mature and well-rounded player at the age of 23. “You’re seeing a lot of progress,” Maddon said. “Who knows if by playing sporadically this is becoming more part of who he is? As opposed to playing every day, maybe getting caught in the trap of not hitting well, whatever, and all of a sudden he takes it on defense. It’s natural progression. He’s an everyday player, there’s no question, in maybe a couple years.” The Geek Department and scouting reports will ultimately influence where Baez plays, because Maddon wants him wherever the ball will most likely be hit most often. When Jon Lester pitches, that can mean Baez starting at third base and Kris Bryant moving to the outfield. The Cubs promised Zobrist the second-base job when he signed a four-year, $56 million contract, agreeing the focus on one position would help reduce the wear and tear on his body at the age of 35. The Cubs still need Zobrist’s switch-hitting skills and World Series experience in the lineup. Maddon also wants to keep Jorge Soler involved — because he’s a presence other teams have to account for — and maybe that will mean sacrificing Jason Heyward’s Gold Glove defense in right field at times. But Baez is the type of defender the Cubs will want to see out there in one-run, low-scoring playoff games. “He’s unbelievable,” Bryant said. “Any ball hit his way — whether it’s in the air, on the ground, on line — you kind of just expect him to make the play and make it look good. That’s what he’s been doing all year. I certainly think he’s Gold Glove worthy, but he plays all over. I feel like there should be a utility man Gold Glove, because he definitely (deserves it).” -- Chicago Tribune Working out of jams good playoff simulation for Kyle Hendricks By Mark Gonzales Kyle Hendricks allowed the Padres' leadoff hitter to reach base Wednesday in the first four innings. And that was a sampling of what Hendricks likely will experience in the National League playoffs — pitching with a degree of adversity. With the help of his curveball, recommended by rookie catcher Willson Contreras, Hendricks allowed only two runs in six innings and maintained his NL ERA lead at 2.19.

"You learn from the good and you learn from the bad, and you have to have all that in the playoffs," said Hendricks, who induced two popups to third base and a strikeout after Wil Myers' RBI triple in the third. "You have to know how to deal with those things." Hendricks extended his streak of allowing three earned runs or fewer to 17 starts — the longest for any major-league pitcher this season. He has an 8-1 record and 1.38 ERA over his past 13 starts. Contreras' calling: It's becoming more evident that Contreras will handle the majority of the catching during the playoffs. Manager Joe Maddon was impressed with Contreras' ability to frame Hendricks' borderline pitches one day after handling the "wild movement" of Jake Arrieta's throws. "I wasn't concerned about him playing day game after night game," Maddon said. "He has been a machine." Hendricks said he and Contreras have been "rolling the past five to six starts," adding he didn't have to shake off Contreras to throw a curveball. As for the chance to start in the playoffs, Contreras said, "I'm just getting by day-by-day. If I will be the catcher in the playoffs, it will be a lot better." The Padres didn't attempt to steal on Contreras, who capped his performance with an opposite-field home run in the seventh. "That was loud," Maddon said. "He knew it was a homer as soon as it was hit." Extra innings: Reliever Hector Rondon said his right arm felt fine after playing catch for the first time in a week. Rondon hopes to play catch again Friday or Saturday at Dodger Stadium. … The Cubs announced that their Sept. 24 game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field will start at 12:05 p.m. to accommodate a national Fox telecast. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs offense on full display completing sweep of Padres with 6-3 victory By Mark Gonzales About three weeks after the Cubs executed two squeeze bunts to help win games, T-shirts with the words "Bunt to win" and a drawing of a player bunting were distributed throughout the visitor's clubhouse at Petco Park. But in the last eight games, the Cubs have possessed plenty of long-awaited power to support a stingy rotation. Willson Contreras put the finishing touches on a three-game sweep of the Padres on Wednesday when he ripped an opposite-field home run to right field in the seventh inning of a 6-3 victory. Contreras' blast was the only Cubs homer as their streak of hitting at least two ended at seven games — their longest since hitting multiple homers in eight straight from June 25-July 2, 1961. The combination of power and finesse has made the Cubs' offense even more formidable. "Our team is more like the way we're playing right now," said Kris Bryant, who doubled off the center-field fence during a three-run first. "The offense is built more to hit home runs, but we'll need people who will play small ball and get the run in whenever we need it." The Cubs now have scored three or more runs in their last 23 games. According to Elias, that streak is second to the Orioles' 28-game mark from June 1-30.

The Cubs are 18-5 during their run — including an 8-2 mark in their last 10 games. Bryant is batting .414 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in his last 16 games. On Wednesday, they knocked out 10 hits, including three doubles, a triple and a homer. "We just utilize our strengths," said Addison Russell, who had five homers in his last five games before going 0-for-4 Wednesday. "We try to tap into something that we believe in. All of us have it in us. We have a lot of power. We can bunt. "Everyone on this team is versatile. You look up and down the lineup. We have athletes. We have (Matt) Szczur, who pinch hits in key situations, guys who can track down fly balls left and right. We have pitchers who can bunt and hit. It's just a team of athletes. It's pretty cool to see." After tripling Tuesday night, ace Jake Arrieta was surprised to learn that he was only tied with Jason Hammel for most hits among Cubs pitchers with 14. "In the NL, they always talk about the pitcher being an out," Hammel said. "I can tell you from 1 through 8, there's not an out with our hitters. A lot of guys have come on impressively. Our job as pitchers is to turn that lineup over by getting on base or making a productive out. That's all we have to do. "We take great pride in this. You can see we're doing all right with it because (manager) Joe Maddon doesn't have us bunt that often. We want to help ourselves out if we can." First baseman Anthony Rizzo received a rest as the offense supported Kyle Hendricks (12-7) with three runs in the first that featured three consecutive extra-base hits to start the game. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Kyle Hendricks sneaky good in eyes of Joe Maddon By Mark Gonzales Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Kyle Hendricks “bent a little bit but did not break” Wednesday in pitching out of jams frequently during his six innings in a victory over the San Diego Padres. Hendricks, not known for his velocity, still managed to earn eight strikeouts - including several during key situations – to earn his 12th victory. “You don’t see the velocity and don’t think there’s a strikeout in there, but the movement and the changeup provide the strikeout and his knowhow,” Maddon said. Hendricks had trouble harnessing his wildness in the first few innings before regaining his command. “I just need to get that from the get-go,” Hendricks said. Maddon stressed repeatedly about Hendricks’ confidence in his two-seam and four-seam fastballs that have fooled several hitters. Maddon noticed that Hendricks’ fastball was clocked frequently at 90 mph – a sign his velocity actually was consistently high for him. This has been an amazing ascent for Hendricks, who has ascended from being the Cubs’ fifth starter to posting a National League-low 2.19 ERA. “There’s a lot to look forward to,” Maddon said. “He’s just taking it to another level. He’s in that 26-27-year-old range where a young pitcher with major league experience can find his next level.” --

Chicago Tribune Cubs' Javier Baez defensive magnet for Joe Maddon By Mark Gonzales Javier Baez is too valuable to leave at one position. That’s the current assessment of manager Joe Maddon, who has recently shuttled his slick-fielding infielder between second and third base for the past four games. “If you’re going to play him, put him at the spot where he’s more likely to be hit to in the infield,” Maddon said Wednesday before Baez made his 30th start at third base. Baez has said numerous times that he would eventually like to settle in at one position, but Maddon often aligns his defense to tailor the tendencies of where opponents hit the ball against his starters as well as juggle the lineup to give his starters a rest. Baez, 23, has started 30 games apiece at third and second, 13 at shortstop and one at first base. After starting at second for most of the season, Ben Zobrist has played the outfield more recently. During his free agency, Zobrist expressed a preference to play second base, and the Cubs accommodated him by trading Starlin Castro to the New York Yankees before agreeing to terms with Zobrist. Zobrist, 35, is signed through 2019, and Maddon wasn’t sure how soon Baez would settle in at one spot. “It depends on how we morph as a group over the next couple years,” Maddon said. “Right now I like the way it’s working out. I like that he’s getting rested and not playing every day. You look at his at-bats, and he’s getting better and making adjustments. “Who knows if by playing sporadically, if this is becoming more a part of who he is rather than playing every day and getting caught in the traffic if you’re not hitting well.” Third baseman Kris Bryant, who plays the outfield usually when Baez starts at third, paid his teammate a high compliment for his exceptional defense. "I think he’s Gold Glove worthy, but he plays all over," Bryant said. "I feel like there should be a utility man Gold Glove (award) because he definitely deserves it." -- Chicago Tribune Awards talk can wait for Cubs' Joe Maddon By Mark Gonzales There are 5 ½ weeks left in the regular season, and Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon isn’t about to get carried away with the heavy media speculation regarding the superb seasons of many of his players. Maddon wasn’t about to assess Kris Bryant’s chances of winning the National League most valuable player honors before Wednesday’s game despite the fact Bryant was tied with Nolan Arenado of Colorado for the NL lead with 33 entering play Wednesday. Maddon already spent a chuck of his time last weekend answering questions from Denver area reporters about the credentials of Arenado.

“I really don’t know who else is involved in it this discussion,” Maddon responded to a reporter’s suggestion that Bryant was the front-runner for the award. “I don’t pay attention to it at all. I think if you asked him about it, his only concern is getting into the playoffs and winning the World Series. “Individual awards, for me, take care of themselves. I’ve never been one to focus on that stuff. People ask me who belongs in the Hall of Fame. I have no clue. I don’t have any clue. I don’t know some people who are in the Hall of Fame.” Last season, the Cubs dominated the postseason awards with Jake Arrieta winning the NL Cy Young Award and Bryant winning NL rookie of the year honors. “You worry about the team component, and the individual stuff takes care of itself. If you’re good, you’ll be recognized.” -- Chicago Sun-Times ERA leader Hendricks, Cubs rotation pit dominance vs. prudence By Gordon Wittenmyer SAN DIEGO – Nobody could blame major-league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks for thinking after his second strong start of the Cubs’ road trip Wednesday how he might stack up in this week’s Sun-Times rotation power rankings. “I think I’ve still gotta be up there,” said Hendricks, laughing, after surviving some trouble early to beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 for a series sweep. In fact, Hendricks – who also shut down the Rockies for six innings at Coors Field over the weekend – takes over the top spot in the Cub rotation rankings this week, just ahead of reigning Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta. “Nobody’s pitched better than him. Nobody has,” manager Joe Maddon said of the third-year right-hander, whose ERA rose slightly, to 2.19, after he gave up a pair of early runs in his six-inning start Wednesday. “Everybody talks about everybody else, but Kyle leads the National League in ERA,” Maddon added. “If we just scored him some runs, this guy would have a tremendous won-loss record right now.” A Cubs rotation that leads the majors in ERA by a wide margin is steamrolling through August with at least three legitimate Cy Young candidates leading the way in Hendricks (12-8), Arrieta and Jon Lester. The starters are 15-1 with a combined 1.83 ERA this month. The team has won 22 of its last 27 games. And it has swept five of its last seven series. That second-half surge has provided their biggest division lead of the season, a 36-games-over-.500 record for the first time since 1945, and made the next six weeks all about October. And that means making a priority of conservation tactics over the final 36 games, especially for a group of starters who are set up to be the reason the Cubs make history this fall – or don’t. “That’s our game plan,” said Arrieta (16-5), who on Tuesday night took over the National League lead in victories. “We want to be as strong and as dominant as we can be, but still in the back of our mind understanding that late September, early October – mid-October – is really the most important time for us as a ballclub, as an organization.” That’s why an “unhappy” Lester on Monday and a “mad” Arrieta on Tuesday sucked it up and focused on happy playoff thoughts when hooked from starts while still feeling strong in victories this week in San Diego.

Hendricks, who’s in a 12-start zone reminiscent of Arrieta’s Cy Young drive a year ago, doesn’t flinch when he’s told he’s done at 99 pitches, like he was Wednesday. Arrieta wasn’t as calm the night before when he was pulled at the same number of pitches after eight scoreless innings. “But at the same time, [Maddon] came over to me and said, `Hey, just remember last year, and let’s conserve some things for October and the end of September,’ ” said Arrieta, who has admitted that fatigue played a factor in his final two starts of the playoffs last year, when he wasn’t as sharp as he had been. So when they laugh and jockey for position in the Sun-Times power rankings, that’s also part of the look toward October, a weeklong snapshot of their strength as they get closer to one of the toughest decisions Maddon’s staff and the front office will make: Who’s in that playoff rotation and how do they line up? Whether one or more line up as Cy Young finalists by then, they all seem to have their focus on the three to seven starts each plans to make, starting Oct. 7 at Wrigley Field. “I’m just trying to stay where I’m at,” said Hendricks after Wednesday’s eight-strikeout performance, that included retiring 12 of the final 14 he faced. “Keep the consistency, keep my pitches feeling good where they’re at, keep my command. Just staying in my routine.” Sun-Times Rotation Power Rankings The Cubs’ rotation leads the majors (2.85) by almost 70 ERA points – and is 15-1 with a 1.83 ERA this month. At this rate, the team’s toughest call of the year will be deciding on a playoff rotation. How the starters rank today: Pitchers (W-L, ERA), Comment 1. Kyle Hendricks (12-7, 2.19), Home stats (8-1, 1.31) scream Gm 1 or 2 start 2. Jake Arrieta (16-6, 2.62), Dude, the guy is 6-0, 0.20 in Calif. last 2 yrs. 3. Jon Lester (14-4, 2.81), 20 QS deserves more? “Made-up stat,” he says 4. Mike Montgomery (0-0, 2.08), 4.1 IP in 1st start; Cubs expect full Monty in LA 5. Jason Hammel (13-6, 3.07), What a difference a day at Coors Field makes 6. Trevor Cahill (1-0, 0.00), Might be one of top 6th starters in NL Central NR: John Lackey (9-7, 3.41, on DL with shoulder soreness); Adam Warren (0-0, 1.80, traded to Yankees); Brian Matusz (0-0, 18.00, back in minors). Note: All stats for part-time starters are for Cub starts only. -- Chicago Sun-Times The Javy Dilemma: versatility value vs. Gold Glove D at one spot By Gordon Wittenmyer SAN DIEGO – Is it time to just give young Cub Javy Baez the everyday job at second base and let him run with it? With all due respect to Ben Zobrist, Baez is the best second baseman on the team – its best overall infielder by some estimations. “He’s unbelievable,” teammate Kris Bryant said. “Any ball hit his way, whether it’s in the air, on the ground or on a line, you expect him to make the play and make it look good.” Baez did it again in Tuesday’s late game in San Diego on a designed bunt defense with the pitcher batting, charging from second base while first baseman Anthony Rizzo stayed back – then whirling for the perfect throw to second that started a spectacular double play. The Cubs have only used that play twice this season, both with Baez at second as the key to the play.

“He makes it look like a normal, everyday, routine play,” manager Joe Maddon said. Baez has pulled off the spectacular from every position on the infield this season – underscoring his value as a moveable defensive piece while at the same time suggesting untapped value as an everyday player at his best position. Maddon’s not ready to commit to the latter yet. “Depends on how we morph as a group over the next couple of years,” the manager said. “Right now I like the way it’s working out. You’re seeing a lot of progress. And who knows if by playing sporadically this is becoming more a part of who he is as opposed to playing every day and maybe getting caught in the trap of not hitting well or whatever, and all of a sudden he takes it out on defense? “He’s an everyday player, there’s no question. Maybe in a couple of years he’s that.” So he continues to stay alert for starts anywhere, anytime. Wednesday he started at second for the 31st time this season. He also has made 29 starts at third, 13 at short and one at first. “My spot is going to be there, either now or coming soon,” said Baez, who has calmed his hitting approach to produce a .275 average to go with 13 home runs this season – improvement Maddon repeatedly points out. “I’m just trying to help the team win,” Baez added. “Obviously, I’m not the only one moving around. I don’t mind it, because everywhere I go I do my job right and I help the team win.” The pitchers have noticed, especially the way the 23-year-old Baez makes the middle look alongside 22-year-old Gold Glove candidate Addison Russell at short. “When you have Addison and Baez in the middle of the infield – two of the best athletes in all of baseball – you want the ball to go to those guys,” ace Jake Arrieta said. Said Bryant: “I certainly think he’s Gold Glove worthy, but he plays all over. There should be a utility man Gold Gove because he definitely deserves it.” Notes: Setup ace Hector Rondon (triceps) threw Wednesday for the first time since going on the disabled list last week and said he felt no pain. He expects to throw again Friday or Saturday in Los Angeles, and barring a setback, he’s on track for an early September return. …Rizzo got a scheduled day off Wednesday, ahead of the team’s day off Thursday. … Game time for Sept. 24 home game vs. the Cardinals has been set for 12:05 p.m. (Fox TV). … The injury-wracked Dodgers haven’t announced their starters for the weekend series against the Cubs – who go with Mike Montgomery Friday, Jason Hammel Saturday and Jon Lester Sunday. … With Wednesday’s 6-3 victory for the sweep in San Diego, the Cubs have swept five of their last seven series (also vs. Miami, at Oakland, vs. the Angels and vs. the Brewers). … They Cubs (81-45) are 36 games over .500 for the first time since the last year they played in the World Series. They finished that 1945 season 42 games over .500. … Third baseman Kris Bryant has a seven-game hitting streak and is batting .414 (29-for-70) with seven homers and 18 RBIs over the last 16 games. -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' Arrieta edges closer to 20 wins By Bruce Miles The toughest thing Jake Arrieta of 2016 has to compete against is Jake Arrieta of 2015. His Cy Young season of a year ago featured dominance of historic proportions that would be hard to duplicate by any pitcher.

Even though Arrieta's numbers this year aren't as eye-popping as they were a year ago, they're still pretty good. And in case you hadn't noticed, Arrieta stands a decent chance of winning 20 games for the second year in a row. That would make him the first Chicago Cubs pitchers to post successive 20-victory seasons since Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins reeled off six in a row from 1967-72. Arrieta (16-5) started Tuesday night's 5-3 victory at San Diego and walked the first batter he faced, mirroring recent troubles. But he got out of the inning without any damage. He finished his night going 8 shutout innings, allowing only 2 hits. He also had 6 strikeouts while walking three. The Cubs' offense got rolling with Kris Bryant's 33rd home run, a solo shot in the third inning. Ben Zobrist drove in Bryant with a double in the fifth to make it 2-0. Addison Russell's 19th homer, a 2-run shot, made it 4-0 later in the inning. Bryant's sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Arrieta, who had tripled, to complete the Cubs' scoring. San Diego scored 3 runs off reliever Felix Pena in the ninth before closer Aroldis Chapman came on to pick up the save for Arrieta. Last season, Arrieta went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and a WHIP of 0.86. His wins above replacement (WAR) of 7.3 was second only to that of Clayton Kershaw's 8.6. Heading into Tuesday, Arrieta was 15-5 with a 2.75 ERA and a WHIP of 1.06. His WAR of 3.3 was eighth in the National League and best among Cubs starting pitchers, outpacing Kyle Hendricks (3.0), Jon Lester (2.9) and John Lackey (2.8). There are good reasons Arrieta hasn't "looked" or "felt" as dominant as he was last year. Much of it deals with command and control of his pitches. Arrieta walked all of 48 batters last season in 229 innings. Entering Tuesday he had walked 59 in 153⅔ innings. His walks percentage had risen from 5.5 in 2015 to 9.5 heading into Tuesday, and his walks-per-9-innings went from 1.89 to 3.45. On top of that, opposing batters are swinging at 5 percent fewer balls out of the strike zone against Arrieta compared with last season. Arrieta walked 7 in 5⅔ innings in last Thursday's 9-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. "Jake, last game out, had a little bit of a tough time with the command," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said on his WSCR 670-AM radio pregame show. "I see it on the side." "Outside of that, everything is really, really good." -- Daily Herald Imrem: Chicago Cubs fans need to just trust in Joe By Mike Imrem Now that Major League Baseball has released the postseason schedule, a popular exercise is mapping the Chicago Cubs' playoff pitching rotation.

Ain't fantasy sports great? Myriad weeks and games from October, the idea of planning is absurdly absurd. Yet plumbers, doctors and sports writers wake up in the middle of the night in cold sweats. "Oh, no," they groan, "what if I pick Jake Arrieta to pitch Game 1, he's shelled early and the Cubs lose the series?" Relax, you goofs. Here's a dirty little secret: You have no say in anything that happens. All you can do is watch games with your fingers crossed, in your lucky athletic supporter, while partaking in the family superstition of eating chicken soup with chopsticks. Otherwise, unless the Cubs are paying you millions of dollars for your advice, all decisions are above your pay grade. Just wait for Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who isn't going to consult you about the Cubs' pitching rotation, to think of something. Later you can rip him if the Cubs flop. The only certainty is that Maddon will do what he wants to do. What isn't certain is how exotic Maddon will be. Make no mistake about it, he will concoct something exotic. The conventional isn't in Maddon's DNA. His mind is whirring as we speak, perhaps after a couple of bottles of wine from Binny's. At some point Maddon publicly will reveal in detail his rationale. The explanation will be something like, "We went with (pick a pitcher) because his waist size fits opening games on chilly October weeknights when the barometric pressure is somewhere between up and down and his breaking ball is fluent in Mandarin." Nobody will understand what Maddon is talking about because we don't speak geniusese, but we'll all smile and nod knowingly. Now let's guess what Maddon will come up with? Lefty reliever Travis Wood might start the first game of the National League division series on the mound with Jake Arrieta in left field. After retiring one batter, Wood will move to shortstop, Arrieta to the mound, Addison Russell to left field and Pat Hughes to TV. Remember, you heard it here first. Another possibility: Maddon won't shrink the rotation with one or two starters exiled to the bullpen. The NLDS is a five-game series. The Cubs have an outstanding five-man rotation. Maddon could schedule each to start one of the games. Game 1: Arrieta. Game 2: Kyle Hendricks. Game 3: Jon Lester. Game 4 (if necessary): Jason Hammel. Game 5 (if necessary): John Lackey.

The only problem is that Lackey would demolish the Cubs' gaudy new clubhouse if they lost in three or four games and rendered him unnecessary. Speculating sure is fun, but in the end this might come down to what managers like to point out: These things have a way of resolving themselves. Arrieta might average 7 walks per game through September. Jon Lester Surgery might replace Tommy John Surgery as the orthopedic rage. Hendricks and Hammel might remember that they're Hendricks and Hammel. Lackey might bite off his own head in anger at summer turning to autumn. Whether circumstances or Joe Maddon dictate the postseason rotation, none of us will have a vote anyway. Get some sleep and don't worry about it. -- Cubs.com Big bats back Hendricks, bring brooms to SD By Carrie Muskat and AJ Cassavell SAN DIEGO -- Remember Ray Prim? The left-hander won 13 games for the Cubs in 1945, the last time they played in the World Series. Prim was the last Cubs pitcher to lead the National League in ERA. Kyle Hendricks could change that. Hendricks got a big boost from the offense before he took the mound, thanks to a three-run first, as the Cubs beat the Padres, 6-3, on Wednesday at Petco Park to sweep the series and improve to 36 games over .500 for the first time since 1945, when they finished that season at 98-56. Hendricks began the day leading the Major Leagues with a 2.16 ERA, and despite serving up two runs, he's still on top at 2.19, ahead of the Giants' Madison Bumgarner (2.44). Hendricks had to battle as the Padres' leadoff man reached in the first four innings. The Cubs' right-hander has given up three or fewer earned runs in each of his past 17 starts, the longest streak of any Major League pitcher this year. "You don't see the velocity and don't think there's a strikeout in there, but it's the movement and the changeup that provide the strikeout and his know-how," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Hendricks, who fanned eight. "It may not have been his best effort, but I still thought he was pretty good today." Ben Zobrist hit a two-run triple in the first and rookie Willson Contreras smacked a solo homer in the seventh to spark the Cubs, who have won 22 of their past 27 games. Cubs starting pitchers are 15-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 22 games in August, totaling 17 quality starts -- including three against the Padres this week. "Offensively, we just didn't really muster much, no consistency of at-bats," Padres manager Andy Green said. "We weren't really in a lot of positions to score. You could chalk it up to a lot of teams having trouble with [Jon] Lester, [Jake] Arrieta and Hendricks this year. But we have to figure out a way." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Quick start: Some fans had yet to find their seats at Petco Park before the Cubs got started. Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant both doubled and then scored on Zobrist's triple in the first against starter Paul Clemens before Jorge Soler hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead. The Cubs are 41-10 when Fowler scores at least one run, and they now have outscored opponents, 84-53, in the first inning. Ace of on-base: With his leadoff double in the first inning, Travis Jankowski extended his on-base streak to 23 games, the longest such active streak in the Majors. Jankowski has batted first in 49 games for the Padres, and he's reached base in 26 of those leadoff plate appearances -- good enough for a .531 on-base percentage, the best in the Majors.

"[I'm] just trying to get on base any way I can, whether that's a hit, a walk, reaching on base with an error -- just anything to start a rally," Jankowski said. Vroom, vroom: Bryant and Zobrist both singled to open the Cubs' sixth, and one out later, they moved up on a wild pitch by Clemens. Addison Russell then lined a ball toward shortstop Luis Sardinas, but he overran it for an error. Bryant and Zobrist both scored to open a 5-2 lead. Russell now has 83 RBIs, leading NL shortstops. Captain hook: When Clemens finds a groove with his curveball, the pitch has been practically unhittable this season. Entering the game, opponents were hitting just .105 with a .353 OPS against the hook. Problem is, it typically takes him a few innings to get a feel for the pitch. He didn't use it much in the early stages, when Chicago scored three runs. But as the game progressed, he began to use it more frequently and notched four of his six strikeouts with the curveball. "I feel like I'm right there, man," said Clemens, who spoke about potentially ramping up his pregame bullpen sessions in the future to try and simulate early-game situations. "It's just a matter of limiting the damage early in the game and working into the seventh inning." QUOTABLE "It's a similar blueprint. Nobody wants to be patient, nobody wants to wait, everybody wants to win it this year. The Cubs are in position to finally do that. You look back to 2013, I think Anthony Rizzo was the only name on the roster at that point in time. … They did a very good job in stocking it up pretty quick." -- Green, on the Padres' looking to emulate Chicago's path to success SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Ryan Schimpf notched a double and a triple on Wednesday, adding to his already-absurd extra-base-hit totals. Schimpf now has 40 hits on the season, and only 10 of them are singles. He's on pace to become just the second batter in history to record at least 200 plate appearances with a batting average below .250 and a slugging percentage above .550. Ken Griffey Jr. did so for Cincinnati in 2003. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: After an off-day on Thursday, the Cubs will open a three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday. Lefty Mike Montgomery will make his second start for the Cubs. In his first outing, he took a no-hitter into the fifth against the Rockies and then served up a solo home run. This will be his first career appearance against the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. CT. Padres: Jarred Cosart returns to Miami to face his former club as the Padres open a three-game set with the Marlins on Friday at 4:10 p.m. PT. The 26-year-old right-hander came over to San Diego in the Andrew Cashner deal, and he has been sharp in his past two outings, tossing one-run ball in each. -- Cubs.com Contreras keeps stepping up to big league challenges By Carrie Muskat SAN DIEGO -- Willson Contreras passed another test on Wednesday. The Cubs' rookie catcher was behind the plate for the daytime series finale against the Padres after catching the night game on Tuesday. Before the game, manager Joe Maddon said he wanted Contreras to start in an attempt to slow down the Padres' running game. The rookie showed off his arm on Tuesday with a key pickoff at third in the first inning to get Travis Jankowski. The Padres, who rank third in the National League in stolen bases, did not attempt to run on Contreras on Wednesday.

"I was waiting for somebody to run," Contreras said. "They didn't run. I have to save it for another game." He guided starter Kyle Hendricks through six innings and backed his pitcher up with a solo home run in the Cubs' 6-3 victory to complete a sweep. "He was great today," Hendricks said of Contreras. "I wasn't shaking him off. We've been rolling for the last five, six starts." The Cubs' pitchers have raved about the young catcher. He can handle the movement of Jake Arrieta's pitches and is able to deal with Hendricks, who spots the corners. It also helps when Contreras can smack an opposite-field homer, as he did in the seventh. "You knew that was a homer as soon as he hit it," Maddon said. "I feel a lot better, and I'm feeling better with all of them," said Contreras, who made his 27th start behind the plate since he was promoted from Triple-A Iowa in mid-June. "I'm trying to keep it simple. I'm trying to do my best behind the plate so they feel comfortable with me." Everything is easier for Contreras, who was promoted to learn at the big league level from veterans Miguel Montero and David Ross. "I'm way more comfortable now [in the big leagues]," Contreras said. "My first two weeks, everything was speeding up. Now, I'm able to slow it down, and I'm able to do my job." It helps to have the support of players like Montero. "Everyone in this clubhouse is like family," Contreras said. "Once you get here, you start feeling comfortable from the first day. Even if you're a rookie, and you just come up, you're spending time with your family." He may be the Cubs' best option behind the plate in the postseason, but Contreras isn't looking that far ahead. "I'm just going day by day for now," he said. -- Cubs.com Hendricks battles in 3rd to extend dominance By Carrie Muskat SAN DIEGO -- The key inning on Wednesday was the third for the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks. The Padres had pulled within one after Wil Myers' RBI triple. There was nobody out, and Hendricks had to face San Diego's 3-4-5 hitters. But Hendricks didn't blink. The right-hander got both Yangervis Solarte and Alex Dickerson to pop up to third baseman Javier Baez, and then he struck out Ryan Schimpf to end the inning. That helped Hendricks notch his 12th win in the Cubs' 6-3 victory at Petco Park. "The biggest at-bats were when I had Myers at third and got two popups," he said. "The command got better at the end, and [I] picked up a few strikeouts and a few more easy outs. I need to get that from the get-go. "You learn from the good, you learn from the bad. You have to deal with both of those things." Hendricks hasn't had much bad happen this season, and despite giving up two runs over six innings, he still leads the Major Leagues with a 2.19 ERA. Who would've predicted that with Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester on the Cubs' staff? Hendricks has given up three or fewer earned runs in each of his past 17 starts dating to May 22, the longest stretch by any Major League pitcher.

"You don't see the velocity and don't think there's a strikeout in there, but it's the movement and the changeup that provide the strikeout and his know-how," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Hendricks. "It may not be his best effort, but I still thought he was pretty good today." Maddon thought he saw more 90-mph fastballs than in previous starts by Hendricks, which shows that the right-hander is still strong. "He's just taken it to another level now," Maddon said of his fifth starter. "He's in that 26-, 27-year-old range where a young pitcher who has Major League experience can find his next level." Success leads to confidence, and Hendricks is one of many young Cubs who have done well and feel they belong in the big leagues, Maddon said. "More than anything, he believes he can do this," Maddon said. "Where I'm at, I'm just trying to stay where I'm at," Hendricks said. "Keep the consistency, keep my pitches feeling good. I'm staying in my routine, not doing too much and just riding it out until I feel something change." It's working. -- Cubs.com Dodgers welcome Cubs, Ross for 3-game set By Carrie Muskat The Cubs cruise into Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in a three-game series beginning Friday that will be sentimental for Chicago catcher David Ross and possibly frustrating for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Los Angeles is sorting out its starting pitching for the series after putting Brett Anderson and Scott Kazmir on the disabled list on Wednesday. Bud Norris is scheduled to start Friday for the Dodgers in the series opener, while Saturday's and Sunday's pitchers remain to be determined. Norris is 6-7 with a 5.18 ERA in 17 starts this season, and his his last start was Aug. 19 against the Reds, lasting 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander gave up six runs on seven hits and four walks in that outing. Mike Montgomery will make his second start for Chicago in the opener. He'll feel right at home even though it's his first career appearance against the Dodgers. Montgomery is a native of Mission Hills, Calif., which is northwest of Los Angeles. Ross, who was drafted by the Dodgers and played for the team from 2002-04, will be making his final visit to Chavez Ravine as a player. At 39, he is retiring after this season, so this will be his chance to say goodbye. He'll catch Jon Lester in Sunday's series finale. The Cubs' focus is to keep surging ahead. Chicago enters the series with the best record in the Major Leagues and the best rotation. When these two teams played at Wrigley Field from May 30-June 2, the Cubs won the series, 3-1. Chicago may have two legitimate National League Most Valuable Player Award candidates in Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, but manager Joe Maddon doesn't put the focus on them. "When you talk about playing good baseball, pitching and defense, to me, come first," Maddon said. Things to know about this game

• The Cubs will have to find a way to shut down the Dodgers' Corey Seager, who leads the team in batting average at home. • The Cubs hope John Lackey (right shoulder strain) and Hector Rondon (tightness in right triceps) can throw bullpen sessions this weekend. Both have made progress and are expected to come off the disabled list when rosters expand on Sept. 1. • After Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Padres, the Cubs now have scored three or more runs in each of their past 23 games, which is the second longest streak this season. The Orioles had a 28-game stretch from June 1-30. -- Cubs.com Maddon: Versatility on field helping Baez's bat By Carrie Muskat SAN DIEGO -- Javier Baez has played all four infield positions for the Cubs this season, and he has definitely shined at second base. Shouldn't he be settling down at one spot? "It depends on how we morph as a group over the next couple of years," manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday. "I like the way it's working out." That's because Baez not only has handled himself well defensively, but he has also improved offensively. He entered Wednesday's game batting .276, with a .333 batting average on balls in play. "You're seeing a lot of progress," Maddon said of Baez. "Who knows if by playing sporadically, this is becoming a part of who he is as opposed to playing every day, getting caught in the trap of not hitting well, which sometimes affects the defense. He's an everyday player, no question." But Baez won't be an everyday player right now. Maddon likes that Baez has to prepare to play second, short, third or even first, which gives him less time to think about his batting average. "I believe playing more defense and playing different positions can help a young player become a better offensive player," Maddon said. The goal now, the skipper said, is if Baez plays, put him at the spot where the ball is most likely going to be hit. Worth noting • So who's the Cubs' most valuable player? It depends on the day. Kris Bryant entered Wednesday tied for the National League lead in home runs with 33, and he is on a roll, going 8-for-22 through the first five games of the road trip. But Maddon doesn't pay attention to the NL MVP Award discussion. "Individual awards, for me, take care of themselves," Maddon said. "If you're good, you'll be recognized." • Prior to Tuesday's game, Maddon met with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. "It's great to see a guy who has had that kind of success is kind of, like, that normal," Maddon said. "He's a really good fellow." Among the topics was Warriors guard Steph Curry and how he can make the amazing three-point shots. Kerr told Maddon that Curry practices the impossible shots because then the difficult stuff becomes routine. • Hector Rondon, on the disabled list with tightness in his right triceps, played catch on Wednesday. He could throw a bullpen session this weekend in Los Angeles. John Lackey, on the DL with a right shoulder strain, also was

expected to throw on the side at Dodger Stadium. Rondon was expected to come off the DL on Sept. 1 as scheduled; Lackey could be activated at that time, as well. -- Cubs.com Ross set to bid Los Angeles farewell By Carrie Muskat SAN DIEGO -- David Ross will say goodbye to where he started his professional baseball career this weekend. The farewell tour for the 39-year-old catcher, who is retiring after this season, will be in Los Angeles this weekend when the Cubs play the Dodgers in a three-game series, starting Friday. Ross was the Dodgers' seventh-round pick in the 1998 Draft, and he made his Major League debut on June 29, 2002. Ross has made the most of his final season. He caught Jake Arrieta's no-hitter in April, hit his 100th career home run, has played golf at Pebble Beach and spent Tuesday with a beluga whale at Sea World in San Diego. With Ross at Dodger Stadium for the last time as a player, it may finally hit him that this is it. He will catch Jon Lester on Sunday in the series finale. "This is where it all started," Ross said of his time with the Dodgers from 2002-04. "I've got a lot of friends who are still there who have seen me grow up. It's fun to talk to them. [Manager] Dave Roberts is a special friend of mine. The whole thing -- the organization, how I was brought up -- [the Dodgers] taught me the game." That includes former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. "You feel like he's your baseball dad," Ross said, remembering the speeches Lasorda would give to the Dodgers' Minor Leaguers. Ross expects to do more than remember games he played there. "Every time I've gone back there, I get a couple fans who still remember me, which is cool," Ross said. "There's a lady, Jo, who brings me brownies every time. She'll be right by the dugout during batting practice." Ross has sent Roberts, who was a former teammate, a text message, saying the catcher is going to crash the manager's media session. The Cubs are presenting legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully with a gift, and Ross will deliver that on Friday. It will be tough to say goodbye. "This is going to be the one [when it hits]," Ross said. --