March 23, 2018

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Kris Bryant enthused over encouraging signs he sees throughout lineup http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-kris-bryant-optimism-20180322-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon hoping his pink flamingos — Ron and Ernie — fetch a fair price for charity http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-joe-maddon-pink-flamingos-20180323-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Pedro Strop feels 'great' after first spring outing but waiting for Cubs' seal of approval http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-joe-maddon-pedro-strop-20180322-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon ecstatic over way players have bought into team-first mentality http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-joe-maddon-pleased-notes-20180322-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Jose Quintana survives six innings but Giants walk off on Cubs in 9th https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-jose-quintana-survives-six-innings-but-giants-walk-off-on-cubs-in-9th/

Chicago Sun-Times, Nothing lost in translation between Cubs’ Yu Darvish and Willson Contreras https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/nothing-lost-in-translation-between-cubs-yu-darvish-and-willson-contreras/

Chicago Sun-Times, Strike force: Cubs’ Carl Edwards Jr. vows to take command in 2018 https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/strike-force-cubs-carl-edwards-jr-vows-to-take-command-in-2018/

The Athletic, What the Cubs saw in Eloy Jimenez and why the White Sox might have the next Miguel Cabrera https://theathletic.com/284533/2018/03/22/what-the-cubs-saw-in-eloy-jimenez-and-why-the-white-sox-might-have-the-next-miguel-cabrera/

The Athletic, With new coaches in their ear, watch out for the Go-Go Cubs in 2018 https://theathletic.com/284007/2018/03/22/with-new-coaches-in-their-ear-watch-out-for-the-go-go-cubs-in-2018/

Cubs.com, Bryant believes lineup could be 'pretty special' https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/kris-bryant-thinks-cubs-offense-will-be-scary/c-269438032

Cubs.com, Quintana says he's 'ready' after sharp outing https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-jose-quintana-says-hes-ready-for-season/c-269463506

-- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Kris Bryant enthused over encouraging signs he sees throughout lineup By Mark Gonzales Kris Bryant was aware that he didn’t hit his first spring home run until Wednesday, but the Cubs slugger’s high walk total so far and the trust he has in those batting around him are what’s so encouraging to him “I was driving home (from Surprise, Ariz.,) and (thinking) pretty much everyone in our lineup can hit 25-plus home runs,” Bryant said Thursday. “And if that happens, that would be pretty special. I kind of got goose bumps driving home. “We could have a 30-home run leadoff hitter — that would be pretty dang impressive. Hopefully it will translate with what we’re doing here in spring training into the season. If we do that, we’re going to be even better than when we won a World Series.” Despite the struggles of several young hitters, the Cubs finished with 223 home runs last season — 12 shy of their 2004 franchise record of 235. Ian Happ, projected to handle a chunk of the leadoff duties, hit 24 home runs in 115 games after being promoted from Triple-A Iowa in mid-May. That Bryant — who has averaged 31.3 home runs in his first three seasons — is willing to take his walks speaks to his plate discipline and confidence in the lineup. “It has been obvious watching it,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s not giving up the zone. He’s not permitting the pitchers to expand. He knows that into the season, if he walks into it with that mindset, his batting average will be much higher just by accepting walks. “You can’t cover 600 plus plate appearances unless you really get a little bit lucky and hit .300. So by accepting your walks, forcing the guy to throw the ball over the plate and being good, all those numbers will be insane.” Bryant has learned to be more patient, even in spring training. He was aware that he drew only two walks last spring — seven fewer than had he entering Thursday night’s game against the Giants. “I’m seeing a lot of pitches, which is great,” Bryant said. “Sometimes in spring training you just want to swing the bat and hit the ball. So far I’m taking my walks and seeing a lot of curves and other pitches. That really has helped me prepare for the season. “(Drawing walks) is not something I need to work on. I think I do a great job of taking my walk, and I’ll continue to do that. In spring training you just want to get out and swing, which isn’t a bad thing. Everyone wants to hit the ball right away. I feel I’m at my best when I’m taking my walks. It’s good to do that so early.” Maddon has been pleased new hitting coach Chili Davis has brought a philosophy that he and Hall of Famer Rod Carew stressed in batting practice when they were with the Angels.

Swing at strikes. Don’t expand your zone just to get your swings in. “I love that (Davis) is getting that point across,” Maddon said. Bryant has noticed the trust throughout the lineup and the coaching staff, which features newcomers Andy Haines, Brian Butterfield and Davis. “All that really adds to why we’re doing so well and why we’re going to do well,” Bryant said. “It’s so awesome to see guys grow into themselves as players.” -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon hoping his pink flamingos — Ron and Ernie — fetch a fair price for charity By Mark Gonzales The pink flamingos that stand behind manager Joe Maddon at his daily media briefings were gone Thursday. But they weren’t missing, as “Ron” and “Ernie” were relocated to the Cubs’ agility field, where players and coaches autographed the metal birds for a specific purpose. “I want to get them signed so when we take them back to Chicago, I’m still trying to figure out how and where to auction them off,” said Maddon, who plans to sell the flamingos to raise money for his Respect 90 Foundation. “That’s what it’s been all about from the beginning. I’d love to keep them, but it’s unfair. I’d rather get the guys to sign them. “Who knows? They could end up in a restaurant. I’m not sure. But as of right now, the idea is to take them back, and then auction them.” Maddon was hoping to get the signatures of guest instructors and Hall of Famers Billy Williams, Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg to sign the birds. “We want to put out a good message and raise money for the foundation,” Maddon said. -- Chicago Tribune Pedro Strop feels 'great' after first spring outing but waiting for Cubs' seal of approval By Mark Gonzales It turns out manager Joe Maddon’s knee — not Pedro Strop’s calf — received more medical attention Thursday night. Maddon was in obvious discomfort and had to leave the visitor’s dugout during the latter stages of the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. But Strop, who suffered a left calf injury earlier this spring followed by a bout of the flu, seemed to pass a big test when he pitched a scoreless seventh in his spring training debut.

“I felt great,” Strop said after retiring Pablo Sandoval, Nick Hundley and Austin Jackson in succession. “No problems at all. I had good rhythm, good tempo. My secondary pitches were there whenever I wanted for strikes or a get-them-out pitch. My fastball command was there, so was my sinker. I don’t feel anything different.” The team will wait to see how Strop feels Friday before deciding his next assignment — either Saturday or Sunday. “I don’t know what they’re thinking right now,” Strop said. “I do know they had a little concern about the outings I was going to get, but that could be enough for me because I feel good. I’m just being honest with them. I don’t know what they think right now. I just going to prove what I said. I feel good.” Strop is not picky about how he’s used this season. “It’s not a big deal for me,” Strop said. “I like to win. If they use me in the fifth or sixth, if this is the way I’m going to help the team win, I’m fine with it. “I like to pitch. I don’t like to sit around five days, four days. You lose your rhythm. But if they’re going to pitch me, I don’t mind what inning.” -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon ecstatic over way players have bought into team-first mentality By Mark Gonzales The only ingredients missing from Camp Maddon are a campfire and marshmallows. “I’ve been around a lot of good spots,” Joe Maddon said Thursday as his 13th spring training as manager nears its end. “This spot right now, regarding how the players are going about their business, is about as good as I’ve seen.” Maddon said that a rejuvenated Kyle Schwarber has yet to ask him to face left-handed pitchers, two days after Schwarber said he would be happy with any at-bats he gets. “They have so bought into the team concept,” Maddon said. “I think they think if they came to me and say something like that, they would be working against the team concept. That’s what I really believe I’m seeing. It’s something we’ve been preaching — a unity situation. “Some of the conversations guys normally would have had with me by now have not occurred. That’s because they get that we do our best with the right nine out there. We do our best to make sure everyone gets their plate appearances.” Maddon spoke of his dilemma last season of trying to find enough plate appearances for Ian Happ, Jon Jay and Albert Almora Jr. “They know it can be done,” Maddon said. “We’ll be very vigilant trying to get it done. Injuries will occur. Someone is going to get hot. All that is a part of it. I think, what I’m seeing is they don’t want to be that guy who talks about himself.”

Pitching probe: Closer Brandon Morrow threw 11 of 16 pitches for strikes against the Rockies’ Triple-A team on Thursday. Morrow said he’s scheduled to pitch again Friday against the Brewers. Left-hander Justin Wilson also pitched in the minor-league game. Jon Lester will pitch Saturday in a minor-league game. Left-hander Mike Montgomery will face the Rockies at Mesa and Eddie Butler will face the Mariners at Mesa in split-squad games Saturday night. Kyle Hendricks reported he’s feeling much better after strep throat limited him to a bullpen session Tuesday. Hendricks is scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Royals in the Cactus League finale at Surprise. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Jose Quintana survives six innings but Giants walk off on Cubs in 9th By Gordon Wittenmyer SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Giants first baseman Jerry Sands singled through the left side of the infield to drive home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Cubs bullpen hopeful Randy Rosario to beat the Cubs 4-3 Thursday night in their Cactus League game. Rosario already faced an uphill battle to catch right-hander Eddie Butler for what’s likely the final bullpen job. Q factor Jose Quintana finished his spring buildup toward the regular season, grinding out six innings and navigating enough traffic to give up just three runs (on a two-out, three-run homer by Buster Posey in the third). Quintana, who struck out five and walked two, has a scaled-back tuneup scheduled for Tuesday in Fort Myers, Fla., against the Red Sox, before making his season debut April 2 in Miami. “I feel really good, and I’m ready to start the season,” said Quintana, who pitched to his starting catcher, Willson Contreras for the first time this spring. “I hugged him before the game and said, `I miss you, buddy.’ “ Catching fire Contreras continued his hot hitting with two more hits, including a double, and a walk – scoring in the first inning on a two-out wild pitch. He’s 12-for-33 (.364) with seven extra-base hits (.818 slugging) and three walks (.417 on-base percentage) this spring. Enough time for Strop? Setup man Pedro Strop pitched his second inning of the spring – first in a big-league game – after being slowed this spring by a calf injury.

He got two popups and a strikeout in the 1-2-3 seventh and afterward said he’d be ready to open the season on time. “I don’t know what [team officials] think right now. I do know thy had a little concern about how many outings I would get,” said Strop said, who pitches again either Saturday or Sunday. “I’m just going to prove what I said: I feel good.” Hendricks watch Kyle Hendricks, who threw a lengthy simulated game Tuesday when he skipped a scheduled start because of strep throat, was better by Thursday. And manager Joe Maddon said he remains on schedule to make his final exhibition start, Sunday against the Royals. Lester schedule Opening-day starter Jon Lester has been scheduled to throw his final spring tuneup in a minor-league game Saturday afternoon rather than pitch in one of the Cubs’ split-squad night games Saturday. Lefty long reliever Mike Montgomery is scheduled to start for the Cubs in Saturday night’s home game against Colorado; Butler is scheduled for the road half against the Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. On deck: Brewers at Cubs, Mesa, Ariz., Brandon Woodruff vs. Tyler Chatwood, 3:05 p.m. Friday, 670-AM. -- Chicago Sun-Times Nothing lost in translation between Cubs’ Yu Darvish and Willson Contreras By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — Yu Darvish saw the Willson Contreras’ umpire-debate highlight reel and witnessed his over-the-top emotional play in person as a Dodger opponent. “At first it was kind of intimidating,” Darvish said of his new catcher. “But as I got to know him — he’s very nice and polite. So I think we’re in a good relationship.” How much of that was an attempt at humor and how much was actual acknowledgment of emotions is hard to tell with Darvish using a translator. Willson Contreras "just might be that guy that always has that fire," says Cubs manager Joe Maddon. But if the results on the mound this spring are any indication, Darvish seems at least sincere about the relationship part. And that could be an especially important part of the Cubs’ success this season. Manager Joe Maddon reiterated Wednesday that Darvish’s past with former personal catcher Chris Gimenez will not be a factor in how he uses his catchers this season.

Contreras is his starter — five or six times a week, ideally, Maddon said. The only strict rule he plans to apply to either catcher is to make sure Contreras catches Jon Lester each turn. Contreras figures to catch most or all of Darvish’s starts in a first season with the Cubs in which his mere presence in the rotation has made the Cubs a World Series favorite again. “The communication that I have with him has been surprising,” Contreras said. “Even though it seems like he doesn’t talk during the game, he likes to communicate with the catcher. I love that. I think that’s a really good, positive point on our side.” Unlike his briefings with the media, Darvish has no use for a translator with teammates. The pitcher whose first language is Japanese converses easily with the catcher whose first language is Spanish — as long as they stick to English. “It’s harder for me to learn Japanese,” Contreras said, smiling. “Our English is good for what we do, and the communication’s been there. It’s all good.” Mr. .300? Kris Bryant, the 2015 National League MVP, has hit .275, .292 and .295 in his three big-league seasons. Can he hit .300 this year by swinging the bat less? That’s part of the plan, as Bryant entered Thursday’s late game against the Giants with nine walks this spring (and a .367 average) after walking just twice all last season. “I feel I’m best when I’m taking my walks, so it’s good to kind of do that early,” said Bryant, who walked a career-high 95 times last season, which led to a career-high .409 on-base percentage. “So far I’ve taken my walks and seen a bunch of curveballs, all sorts of pitches. That’s really helped me prepare for the season.” Said Maddon: “He’s not giving up the zone. He’s not permitting pitchers to expand him. He knows if he walks into the season with that mindset his batting average will be much higher just by accepting walks. You can’t cover 600-plus plate appearances, unless you really get a little bit lucky, and hit .300.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Strike force: Cubs’ Carl Edwards Jr. vows to take command in 2018 By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — It’s no accident reliever Carl Edwards Jr. chose video of Mariano Rivera and Kenley Jansen to binge-watch over the winter in preparation for this season. “I was just looking at those guys and just trying to figure out how I can make myself better and how I can get up to their level,” Edwards said of the heralded closers. “They were just like bulldogs, like, ‘Here you go, hit it. If you hit it out, you hit it out. If you don’t, you don’t.’ ’’.

Edwards, 26, has the velocity, the stuff and a strong enough makeup to become the pitcher that finally makes the front office think twice about going outside the organization each year for a closer. “He’s that guy in the making,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He can absolutely do that kind of stuff.” And with veteran Brandon Morrow asked to be the closer for a World Series contender with little experience in the role, Edwards might even become a Plan B this year if Morrow struggles. Except for one thing. He can’t walk more than 5½ guys per nine innings like he did last year (including an even worse rate in the playoffs). Opponents have trouble hitting the ball anywhere against Edwards, who strikes out 12.6 per nine innings. They’ve hit just .132 (.491 OPS) against him in his 114 career appearances, including .134 (.503) last year. “His stuff is fabulous. Look at the numbers — bizarrely good,” Maddon said. “The big thing with him was just command of his pitches at the end of the year last year.” That’s where the strike-obsessed Rivera and Jansen come into the picture — and into Edwards’ mindset. And where Edwards’ dad, his original pitching coach, comes into play. “He said, ‘Son, you’re there for a reason. There was no mistake,’ ’’ Edwards said. “ ‘You have to just go out there and [pound] the strike zone. I don’t care if it’s 0-2; don’t waste a pitch. Just get him out. That’s your thing.’ ’’ The 96 mph fastball with late life, the knee-buckling curve: What’s the worst that can happen if he throws a strike? “More of a mindset, just telling myself to just go right at guys,” Edwards said. “Don’t shy away from contact. Let them make contact. You’ve got seven guys behind you who can make a play.” It’s easier said than done for a young pitcher. “It’s because you see veteran guys [in the batter’s box] that you grew up watching,” Edwards said. “You watched them hit numerous home runs, and a lot of young guys are afraid to give up that one pitch, the home-run thing. I think a lot of young guys are like that.” That’s what makes this the biggest number of his spring: Zero. That’s how many walks Edwards has given up in seven outings this spring, including a four-up, four-down appearance in the eighth and ninth innings against the Rangers on Wednesday. “It’s a really big deal,” he said. The only runs he gave up came at bandbox Cashman Stadium in Las Vegas on a Mike Napoli two-run homer Saturday. “I was actually happy about that,” said Edwards, who opened the inning with a strikeout, then gave up a ground-ball single to Jason Kipnis and got ahead of Napoli 1-2 before the home-run pitch.

“I needed that,” Edwards said. “Not really the home run. . . . But that was the first time I actually had contact, balls in play. I actually had to get down and really focus on stuff.” He gave up another single on a grounder before getting a strikeout and groundout to end it without throwing another ball in the inning. “I locked it back in,” he said. “It’s just about being aggressive in the strike zone.” -- The Athletic What the Cubs saw in Eloy Jimenez and why the White Sox might have the next Miguel Cabrera By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. — Louie Eljaua likes to say that it takes a different cat to be able to perform when the lights go on at Wrigley Field, a belief hardened after decades of scouting prospects around the world. Eloy Jimenez is the best way to understand the state of Chicago baseball, the expectations surrounding the 2018 Cubs and the rise of the young White Sox, which coincidentally might be synched to the potential end of The Bryzzo Era. Eljaua’s evaluation of Jimenez remains the same, even after last summer’s seismic Jose Quintana trade with the White Sox. It’s just that Jimenez is now billed as the charismatic future star of a different rebuild on the South Side, where the end goal is a championship parade launching from 35th Street instead of routed down Michigan Avenue. We don’t know if all those young pitchers like Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Michael Kopech, Alec Hansen and Dylan Cease — the other headliner in the Quintana deal — will stay healthy enough to form a playoff staff. Rick Renteria is a good man who knows the game, treats people well and handled his one-and-done year as Cubs manager with remarkable poise, but he will be under constant scrutiny until the White Sox are “ready to win,” because that’s how it works in professional sports. Check back next spring to see if Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert took huge leaps forward and the White Sox actually spent big money on a spectacular class of free agents. But this much is clear: There is no spin around the Cubs that they sold high and got rid of a bad dude. There is no sense that Jimenez is a product of the Cubbie hype machine. “On and off the field, he was just something that we were enamored with,” said Eljaua, the Cubs director of international operations and a special assistant to team president Theo Epstein. “We loved everything about him. But obviously the talent has to be there first. And he had everything you look for in a player.” The Cubs targeted Jimenez leading up to the international signing period in the summer of 2013. Jim Hendry’s group had already built a strong pipeline in Latin America, relying on guys like Eljaua and Jose Serra, who once signed Starlin Castro and still oversees operations in the Dominican Republic. Around that time, the Ricketts family participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the team’s new academy in the Dominican Republic, where the Cubs already had an embedded, loyal following through the WGN superstation that broadcast Sammy Sosa’s exploits throughout the island. Eljaua also credited area scout Carlos Reyes for making an introduction with Jimenez.

“Carlos Reyes was the first team rep or scout that gave him a hat,” Eljaua said. “We were the first team that gave him any gear. He remembered that and it helped us get the ball rolling with the relationship.” Now listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Jimenez got his size from his father, Luis, a schoolteacher who used to play professional basketball in the Dominican Republic. His mother, Adelaida Solano, worked with a police unit that focused on medical response. The Cubs understood their $2.8 million bonus wouldn’t be the biggest offer. Jesse Sanchez, who thoroughly covers the international market for MLB.com, reported the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers made higher bids for Jimenez, who at the age of 16 trusted the relationships and took less money to become a Cub, which would later become a trend for big-league free agents. “Good family. Good people,” Eljaua said. “That had a lot to do with our decision in making that kind of investment. Not just what we’re seeing on the field, but off the field, too. And Eloy, of course, was what we describe as always having ‘plus makeup.’ Loved to play. Always had a smile on his face on the field. Engaging personality. Really smart kid.” Eljaua grew up in Miami, the son of Cuban parents, and would later supervise the construction as the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates built facilities in the Dominican Republic. Eljaua once followed Epstein’s instructions during the Jose Contreras negotiations, renting out a block of rooms at the Hotel Campo Real in Nicaragua, trying to box out the New York Yankees and get closer to the Cuban pitcher. Red Sox executive Larry Lucchino famously delivered his “Evil Empire” line to The New York Times after losing that 2002 bidding war. Eljaua got his start with the Florida Marlins, where he got to know a young Miguel Cabrera, whose mother, Gregoria, played for years on the Venezuelan national softball team. Just like Jimenez, Cabrera didn’t necessarily grab the highest offer, valuing structure and a support network. Eljaua generally believes that players from strong families move quicker through the farm system because they can assimilate faster and absorb coaching and new concepts. Jimenez earned his high school equivalency degree at the Cubs academy in the Dominican Republic and later graduated from the team’s English proficiency program. Eljaua is unassuming and walks throughout the Cubs complex in Mesa without drawing attention to himself. He speaks carefully in a low, distinctive voice. He doesn’t dismiss the Cabrera/Jimenez comparison Cubs manager Joe Maddon made last year in spring training. “Miguel, just like Eloy, had that kind of ‘it factor,’” Eljaua said. “He’s a guy that’s engaging. He’s a guy that obviously had a lot of talent, but also a guy off the field that was a good student. A very good personality, a guy that people gravitate to. They both have those qualities. “Offensively, both showed — I probably saw or scouted both of them at the same stage, kids that are age 15, 16 — an advanced approach at the plate. They knew the strike zone. They could really hit the ball the other way. They showed tremendous power potential. “I think Cabrera was probably a little more advanced, as far as being a more polished hitter, if that exists at that age. But he was probably the most advanced and most polished teenage hitter I’ve ever seen.

“Eloy was very polished and very advanced, maybe not to the level that Cabrera was at the time. But I think eventually — I don’t know if he’s going to win a Triple Crown — [Eloy’s] got a chance to be a guy that can hit for power and average and be a physical, middle-of-the-order guy. “They’re two of my favorite guys, not just ability-wise, but off the field as well. Their intangibles are off the charts.” Of all the surreal moments during the rebuilding years, one that definitely stands out is Dale Sveum spinning a football in the Oakland Coliseum clubhouse, talking about his glory days as a high school quarterback in that stadium and answering questions about the teenagers the Cubs were giving low-seven- and high-six-figure bonuses. July 2, 2013 marked the opening of a new international signing period and the franchise-changing date when the Cubs announced the Jake Arrieta trade with the Baltimore Orioles. Within days, the Cubs would finalize a $6.7 million deal for Kris Bryant as the No. 2 overall pick in the amateur draft. As manager, Sveum’s brutal honesty and even-keel demeanor didn’t always play well with his bosses and the cameras during a 96-loss season. But he was great for explaining big-picture concepts, going along with any wide-angle questions when no one seemed to want to read about the big-league club and the top executives rarely traveled with the team. Sveum gave good, accurate quotes about the special talent available, correctly identifying it as another opportunity to help build a contender. The Cubs analyzed the collective bargaining agreement, weighed their scouting reports and decided the cost of — and penalties for — blowing past their spending cap would be worth it. Venezuelan shortstop Gleyber Torres became the centerpiece to Epstein’s “If not now, when?” Aroldis Chapman trade with the Yankees in the middle of the 2016 dream season. At that point, Jeferson Mejia, a 6-foot-7 right-hander out of the Dominican Republic, had already been packaged in the Miguel Montero deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Taiwanese pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng made his major-league debut last September. Cashing in Jimenez as a trade chip led to Quintana, whose club-friendly contract also helped the Cubs fit Yu Darvish’s six-year, $126 million deal into their budget. “It’s hard,” Eljaua said, “because when you sign these guys, you envision them playing in Wrigley one day and helping us win the championship and contribute to our sustained success. But as this business goes, sometimes you have to give up something to get something. “In both cases — with Gleyber Torres and with Eloy — it was one of those where it was hard. It was hard for Theo. Theo loved both guys. But if we don’t get Chapman, we don’t win the World Series. If we don’t get Q last year, we might not make the playoffs. “They’ll probably go on and be stars in the big leagues. Hopefully, they don’t burn us later on, but you wish them well. You hope that they become superstars, [like] you always thought they would. “But at the same time, hey, maybe at some point they’ll be Cubs again. That’s kind of the way that this business works. You never know. They were both torn, man. They were heartbroken when we gave them the news. Both kids were very bummed out and disappointed. But they both understood that this is part of it.” This season White Sox fans will be where Cubs diehards were years ago, checking minor league box scores, watching grainy videos and drooling over their Twitter accounts. In a culture obsessed with

prospects — fans, media, teams — Jimenez is 21 years old and about as good as it gets and not long for Double-A Birmingham. Soon enough, Jimenez will get his shot at Wrigley Field. -- The Athletic With new coaches in their ear, watch out for the Go-Go Cubs in 2018 By Jon Greenberg MESA, Ariz. — Going into Thursday's spring training game, the Cubs had stolen 31 bases in 43 attempts, headlined by four in five attempts by the Running Man himself, the newly svelte Kyle Schwarber. That's the second-most in all of baseball, just one behind Colorado. Last spring, as the Cubs were still cleaning the sparkling wine out of their eyes, they stole 15 bases all spring training, tied for 26th in baseball, and were caught 12 times. (Minor League infielder Ryan Court leads the Sloan Park Cubs with a 5-for-5 performance — shortstop Mike Freeman is 4-for-4 –while outfielder Peter Bourjos has been caught four times in six attempts.) Is this a meaningless spring training statistic or a trend to follow? With new first base coach Will Venable acting as the Cubs’ base stealing coach, working under base running guru Brian Butterfield, fans of the stolen base, a lost art in today’s modern game, just might see the Cubs picking up stolen bases this season. Or you might not. “We’re going to run more” is a bit of an old spring training cliche and spring training numbers aren’t exactly predictors of regular season success, but there is an impetus on aggressive baserunning this spring at Cubs camp. It’s not an accident. Despite scoring 822 runs last season, the fourth-most runs in baseball and 18 more than in 2016, the Cubs kept the same roster but made changes to their coaching staff to improve what they saw as slippage in the team's situational baseball skills. “There were times we got away from [a team offense] last year, where we felt like we [were] sitting around waiting for the homer and not doing a good job cashing in runs when we had a chance to cash in runs,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer told me. “We also felt like our baserunning, and frankly, our defense tailed off a little last year and we really wanted to re-energize that. I think bringing in a guy like Brian Butterfield — who’s got a great way about him, so upbeat, so vocal and his reputation is so good working with fundamentals with infielders and working on baserunning — we just felt like he was a perfect fit for some of the things we felt like we lacked last year.” Chili Davis was added to improve the situational hitting and Butterfield and Venable were brought in for baserunning and positional play. As a unit, the Cubs were already supposedly skilled in baserunning — Kris Bryant is considered one of the best in the game — but the front office saw room for improvements. The Cubs have young athletes, but there is more to baserunning than quick-twitch muscles. That's why the Cubs are so excited about adding Butterfield, and it’s not just his skill at windmilling his arm at third base. This is how he talks about baserunning.

“The way we’ve always looked at baserunning is speed is a good thing to have,” he told reporters this spring. “But it is not the most important. It’s the ability to anticipate. Be fearless. One of the things that happens at the big-league level is a kid comes from Triple-A or Double-A and they see. They trust in their eyes when they’re playing in Double-A or Triple-A because they’re nice and relaxed and they trust what they see and they break and they’re not afraid of running into outs. Once they get to the big leagues, some of them – I shouldn’t say some of them – most of them err on the side of caution because they don’t want to enter the big leagues and make a base-running mistake. “So it’s our job to coach it up right. You can’t jump a guy the first time he runs into an out going two bases. You’ve got to applaud everything that he does, especially if it’s on the assertive side. So that’s our job, try to get an aggressive, attacking style and then behind closed doors if we do run into outs that are a little bit too overzealous, then you just grab that big horse and you say, ‘OK, slow it down.’ “You’d rather pull the reins on a veteran and a young player than this guy that you got to keep prodding and pushing, saying, ‘Look, that’s a missed opportunity. That center fielder is moving away from his target. You probably should have been on third base going from first to third.’ It’s much better to take that guy, pull the reins on him than to push and prod. You’re probably going to end up having – in the end – a very good base-running team.” Last year, Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez tied for the team lead with 10 stolen bases apiece. That tied Alfonso Soriano in 2013 for the fewest stolen bases to lead the Cubs since Don Kessinger and Adolfo Phillips stole nine each to lead the 1968 Cubs. But it wasn't a huge drop from 2016, when Dexter Fowler had 13, Baez 12 and Jason Heyward 11. (In 2015, Fowler had a respectable 20 and Rizzo 17, with the duo combining to get thrown out 13 times.) Bryant, for all his baserunning prowess, stole seven bags last season, but was caught a team-high five times, including a head-first mishap on July 19, where he sprained his very valuable pinkie finger. As a team, the Cubs stole 62 bases, 24th in baseball. In 2015, the Cubs were ninth in baseball with 95 steals. They dropped to 20th with 66 steals in 2016. Obviously, the Cubs offense can score runs in bunches, but they'd like to get back to more of an assembly-line approach. “We have the speed,” shortstop Addison Russell said. “We have plenty of speed. Will was spot-on when he said we could utilize that speed to push more runs across the board. It would just be another facet of the game we could be great at.” As Butterfield noted, attention to detail in this department could pay off. How much did the Cubs tail off in this regard last season? FanGraphs attempts to measure baserunning prowess with its BsR metric. The Cubs were 24th in that category in 2017 after ranking fifth the season before. The numbers, opaque as they might seem, bear out what the Cubs front office saw with their own eyes. “I don’t know if it’s stolen bases, but it’s being aggressive on the bases,” Hoyer said. “Whether it’s going to first to third, whether it’s stretching singles into doubles. We have an athletic team and I think we should play that way. We have had some great baserunners. Bringing in Butterfield, I think he’s a great base running teacher. He’s going to emphasize that. Put the pressure on the defense. “I just think to myself, you want to be a difficult team to play, you know? You want to grind your at-bats. You want to push the envelope from a baserunning standpoint. I think all of those things make the game more difficult for your opponent. We don’t want to be a team that kind of waits around for a three-run homer. We can do that and I think we can hit homers. But I also think we’re young and athletic and we

should be able to do both. We should be able to put pressure on the other team make them uncomfortable and have the ability to put up the crooked number when we need to do.” Cubs manager Joe Maddon straddles the new and the old worlds of baseball. He wants his players ready to steal bases if it’s advantageous to them. If the pitcher has a slow delivery or the catcher a candy arm, that’s one thing. But Maddon doesn’t see anyone on his roster who has a green light at all times. Not yet. “We don’t really have that one fella who’s just going to run out and run at any time or arm strength from the catcher,” he said. “I’d just like to get us better situationally. “That’s the point. Everyone always talks about base stealing when you talk about baserunning. But it’s baserunning. I want us to be known as the best baserunning team in baseball. That the best stealing team? That would be wonderful because it would mean you have a lot of speed. But I want the group that goes first to third, second to home, works good secondary leads, advances on ground balls in the dirt, that heads-up kind of stuff.” Venable, who stole 135 bases in his nine-year career, told me Butterfield put him in charge of base stealing, which makes sense since he’s the first base coach. What's his philosophy on the stolen base? “I think it’s important whether or not your team philosophy is to be ultra-aggressive or not aggressive,” Venable said. There are just opportunities the game presents itself. Regardless of your risk tolerance, taking advantage of opportunities are just things you have to do if you want to succeed. If you’re a team that’s as good as these guys are and you can take advantage of all of these opportunities, you put yourself in a pretty good situation to win some games.” And what is Venable doing with the players? “Teaching us to get comfortable with our leads,” Russell said. “Getting comfortable taking off, sliding, all that good stuff. He’s giving us tips about what we could do to pick up tendencies from pitchers, something that might help us have a quicker first step.” Since the Cubs don’t have Rickey Henderson on this roster, who could be their breakout base stealer? Venable pointed to Addison Russell. I asked Russell and he agreed that he could be the guy. But there’s a fine line between the theoretical and the practical. “Yeah that’s something I’ve always been open to,” he said. “For one, it puts pressure on the defense and two, if you take bags here and there [it] puts [the] team in good position to put more runs across the board.” Maddon, who enjoys hyping up his players, isn't setting any stolen base goals for Russell quite yet. “I don’t want to run for the sake of running,” Maddon said. “[Russell] is more under the classification of a situational base stealer right now as opposed to a real base stealer. Maybe one day he will be. Addison has a lot of room to grow into that and Will is a good teacher.” But, Russell has been limited to 11 stolen bases in his major league career for a variety of reasons. One is health. Russell doesn’t think that will be a factor this season, but he can't know that for sure. “I think that has a little bit to do with kind of like history me pulling hamstrings,” he said. “And now I’m at a point where I feel very confident in my body and it’s time to just let it fly, you know?”

And the other, of course, is performance. He has to get on first base to run to second. Last year he had a .239 batting average and a .304 on-base percentage. He walked just 29 times in 385 plate appearances, a 7.5 walk percentage. It was still better than Baez’s 5.9 percent, but it wasn’t good. From Russell to Baez to Rizzo, the Cubs' 2018 plan is to be a more well-rounded offensive club. That's why they changed the coaching staff. But the improvement starts with attention to detail. Could more stolen bases be part of that equation? Keep your eye on Venable and Butterfield when Cubs get on base. -- Cubs.com Bryant believes lineup could be 'pretty special' By Carrie Muskat SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Kris Bryant was driving back from the game in Surprise, Ariz., on Wednesday and started thinking about the power potential of the Cubs' lineup. "Pretty much everybody in our lineup could hit 25-plus home runs and if that happens, that would be pretty special," Bryant said Thursday. "I kind of got goosebumps driving home. "It could be a 30-homer leadoff guy -- that'd be pretty dang impressive," Bryant said. "Hopefully, we all translate what we're doing here in Spring Training into the season. If we do that, I think we're going to be even better than when we won the World Series." Think about that for a second, Cubs fans. In 2016, the Cubs won 103 games and posted a plus-252 run differential. Manager Joe Maddon can feel it. "I've been in a lot of good spots," Maddon said Thursday, "and this spot now, regarding how the players are going about their business, is about as good as I've seen." The Cubs didn't have a bad season in 2017 -- they reached the National League Championship Series for the third conseuctive year only to lose to the Dodgers -- and they finished second in the NL with 822 runs scored. But there's been a different vibe this spring. "I just like the lineup," Maddon said. "I thought when they get to this point in their development, this is when you'll see them become good Major League hitters based on their at-bats and level of experience. I can call us 'young' but I can't call us 'inexperienced' any more. "I like what I'm seeing a lot," he said. "We should be a good offensive club. We've been playing really well and that's what I've been focused on. There's no reason that cannot continue. It's not like this is an anomaly moment, it's not like we've never played this well before, it's not like we haven't played with this kind of energy. We've done all of those things. It's a group that's been together, and they're coming off rest and really focused and motivated for this year. I really anticipate this to continue." It's not out of the question that the Cubs could have eight players with at least 20 home runs. It's only March, but Bryant was asked if the Cubs could also have that many Most Valuable Player candidates.

"It's pretty easy to see that," said Bryant, who won the National League MVP Award in 2016. "A lot of the guys on our team can be the best player on some of the other teams. It's nice to have that collection of guys. That'd be something if we had eight MVP candidates. I don't think it's out of the question. If guys here play up to their full potential, it's very possible. Every fan of our team and every player here should be very excited." The Cubs get started in one week when they open the regular season March 29 against the Marlins. "Spring Training is great," Bryant said, "but we're ready to get out of here and play some meaningful games." -- Cubs.com Quintana says he's 'ready' after sharp outing By Carrie Muskat SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Before Thursday's game, Cubs pitcher Jose Quintana and catcher Willson Contreras hugged. It was the first time this spring that the two have been matched up together in a Cactus League game. "I got a hug before the game," Quintana said. "I said, 'Oh, I miss you buddy.' I said, 'It's good to see you.'" The two were together for six innings on Thursday in the Cubs' 4-3 loss to the Giants, and did just fine. Quintana struck out four and scattered seven hits, including a three-run homer by Buster Posey in the third. "I feel really good," Quintana said. "I'm ready [for the regular season]. One more left, a little shorter, in Fort Myers [Fla.] and ready to go for the season." Quintana will get his last tune-up on Tuesday against the Red Sox. What's also been a smooth transition this season for the left-hander is learning to understand catching coach Mike Borzello's scouting reports. That took some time for Quintana, who joined the Cubs last July after a trade with the White Sox. "We're on the same page now," Quintana said. "It's better preparation before the games. I like it -- it's a really good scouting report and it's simple. You can catch everything. Now I understand what he says and try to be on the same page." Bryant staying disciplined So far this spring, Kris Bryant has walked nine times and struck out 10 times. Compare that with his 2016 numbers when the Cubs third baseman walked three times and struck out 15 times. "In spring, you want to get out there and swing, which is not a bad thing because everybody wants to go out and hit right away," Bryant said. "I feel I'm at my best when I'm taking my walks. I think I had two walks last Spring Training. I feel pleased in that area."

Actually, he drew eight walks last year, but it might have felt like two. Manager Joe Maddon has seen the difference this spring in Bryant. "He's not giving up," Maddon said. "He's not giving up the zone, he's not permitting pitchers to expand him. He knows in the season, if he walks into it with that mindset, his batting average will be much higher just accepting walks. By accepting your walks and forcing guys to throw over the plate, and just being good, all the numbers will be good. He knows that. That's the maturity level I've been talking about." New hitting coach Chili Davis is encouraging the Cubs to swing at strikes, even in batting practice. Maddon said he saw that when he was with Davis and Rod Carew on the Angels. "I love that he's getting that point across," Maddon said. Bryant senses a difference with the Cubs this spring, period. "Adding new people -- [coach Brian] Butterfield, Chili, [assistant hitting coach Andy Haines], plus guys getting used to themselves and who they are as players and trusting themselves, it all adds to why we're doing so good and why we think we're going to do good," Bryant said. "It's so awesome to see guys just kind of grow into themselves and realize who they are as players." Team-first approach The Cubs players have bought into the importance of the team over any individual. In the past, Maddon says a player often will ask about getting more at-bats. No one has done that so far this spring. "They're so bought into the team concept, I think they think if they came to me to talk about something like that, they'd be going against the team concept," Maddon said. "It's something we've been preaching -- unity situation. I think some of the conversations that guys would normally have with me by now have not occurred. I think they get that we do our best with the right men out there, we do our best to make sure everybody gets their plate appearances." It's also true of the pitchers as well. "I don't think about roles," reliever Pedro Strop said Thursday. "It's not a big deal for me. I like to win. If you use me in the fifth or sixth [innings] and this is the way I'm going to help the team win, I'm fine with it. I like to pitch." Injury updates Strop, who has been slowed because of a tender left calf, retired the side in the seventh inning on Thursday, his first Cactus League action. Whether the right-hander will be able to go on Opening Day could determine how many relievers the Cubs carry. "I feel great. No problems at all," Strop said after Thursday's outing. "I felt [I had] good rhythm, good tempo. My secondary pitches were there whenever I wanted, whenever I wanted them for a strike. My fastball was there, my fastball command, my sinker." What's next? The Cubs were expected to wait and see how Strop felt Friday before deciding when he'll pitch next.

"I don't know what they think," Strop said. "I know they had a little concern about how many outings I was going to get before we leave. I told them it will be enough for me because of how I feel. I don't know what they think now. I feel good." Camp battle Maddon said picking the backup catcher will be the toughest decision this spring. Do they go with Victor Caratini, who made his Major League debut last season, and who Maddon says could be a starting catcher on most teams now? Or, do the Cubs add veteran Chris Gimenez, who has had a good spring and is familiar with both Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey? Maddon does have a strong belief in developing players and Caratini might find himself at Triple-A Iowa because of that. The only thing he doesn't have is experience. On Thursday, Caratini followed Contreras and grounded out in his only at-bat. Gimenez had Thursday off. • Two giant-sized metal pink flamingos have been in the back of the Cubs' complex since Maddon saw them and bought them. He named them Ernie and Ron, after Cubs Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Ron Santo. On Thursday, players and the coaching staff autographed the metal birds' "feathers." Maddon said he was considering auctioning them off. Stay tuned. Up next On Friday, Tyler Chatwood makes his final Cactus League start when the Cubs play host to the Brewers at Sloan Park in Mesa for a 3:05 p.m. CT start. Chatwood has looked sharp this spring, striking out 18 over 16 innings in his five previous starts. The game can be heard on Gameday Audio. The Cubs play their final game of 2018 at Sloan Park on Saturday night, when they play host to the Rockies and Mike Montgomery will get the start. It's half of split-squad games as the Cubs will also send a team to Peoria to play the Mariners on Saturday night. Eddie Butler will start against the Mariners. --